Over the past four NFL Drafts, there have been 44 wide receivers selected in the first two rounds. In both the 2020 and 2022 drafts, there were six wide receivers taken in the first round and seven selected in the second round.
The 2024 NFL Draft could exceed those numbers, with potentially 17 wide receivers that could be selected in the first two rounds. Let’s take a look at the top end of what could end up being a historic wide receiver class.
1. Marvin Harrison Jr, Ohio State
The son of the original Slim Reaper is the best prospect in the 2024 NFL draft. He’s an athletic freak and plays with his dad’s attention to detail. With his ball skills, route running and athleticism, it won’t take long for Harrison Jr to start tormenting NFL cornerbacks.
2. Rome Odunze, Washington
The Huskies wide receiver passes the eye test with his size, athleticism, and play strength. Odunze is able to vary his route speed to keep defensive backs off balance and has a lot of branches on his route tree.
3. Malik Nabers, LSU
Nabers is arguably the best YAC threat in this class. According to Pro Football Focus, Nabers racked up 580 yards after the catch this season and forced 30 missed tackles. On top of being dynamic in space, Nabers is a detailed route runner who explodes in and out of his breaks. If he makes the first defender miss, he could be making a house call.
4. Keon Coleman, Florida State
There is no such thing as a 50-50 ball with Coleman. Everything is 80-20 for the Michigan State transfer. He has big-time ball skills with outstanding body control. He has the long strides and speed to win vertically, along with the toughness to make the difficult catches over the middle of the field.
5. Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
Just another Ohio State Buckeye wide receiver who’s ready to make an impact in the NFL from day one. Rinse and repeat. Egbuka is a detailed route runner with the route savviness of a 10-year veteran. He’s able to shift gears and has clean footwork to constantly create separation.
6. Troy Franklin, Oregon
Franklin is an explosive playmaker who has outstanding tracking skills. While his route tree is lacking branches, every team could use a dynamic playmaker like Franklin with his ability to take the top off a defense.
7. Brian Thomas Jr, LSU
The 6-4, 205-pound LSU prospect enjoyed a breakout campaign this past season, hauling in 60 receptions for 1,079 yards and 15 touchdowns. Thomas Jr is long and explosive. He has the straight-line speed to win vertically. He tracks the ball well and has a large catch radius.
8. Adonai Mitchell, Texas
Mitchell is a long wide receiver with smooth body control. Mitchell accelerates quickly off the line of scrimmage and wins vertically with his long strides. The Georgia transfer has strong, accepting hands and according to PFF, he has just one drop on the season.
9. Xavier Worthy, Texas
A former track athlete, Worthy is a big-play creator with his instant accelerator. Worthy finished the regular season with 73 receptions for 969 yards and five touchdowns. He also returned a punt for a touchdown. He’s a shifty wide receiver who can be a terror in space due to his quickness. According to PFF, Worthy racked up 547 yards after the catch this season.
10. Ja’Lynn Polk, Washington
Polk has made a habit of making highlight reel-worthy catches all season. Polk has enjoyed a breakout campaign this season for the Huskies, with 60 receptions for 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns. He has outstanding body control and strong hands to make catches in traffic look like a walk in the park.
