We’re wrapping up the skill positions in our 2026 NFL Draft preview with a wide receiver position that figures to have a stronger group than the quarterbacks, running backs, and tight ends this year.
But unlike those three positions, there seems to be less consensus around who the No. 1 wide receiver prospect is in 2026. Ohio State’s Carnell Tate gets the plug most often, but not everyone loves him. Maybe that’s only fitting for such a tough position to analyze where the player is so dependent on his teammates. How accurate was his quarterback? How good were his other receiving teammates? How often did they throw the ball?
That’s even before you get into the usual questions about the quality of competition faced and their playing style, to say nothing of their athletic profile.
But the fact is most NFL teams view wide receiver as a premium position that’s up there with edge rusher for the highest-paid position outside of quarterback. There are 17 wide receivers making at least $25 million per season in 2026 with Jaxon Smith-Njigba recently resetting the market after Seattle extended him on a 4-year deal worth a record $168.6M. That’s $42.15M per season for a wide receiver after he won a Super Bowl.
Where did JSN go to college? Ohio State, the wide receiver factory where this year’s top prospect, Carnell Tate, went to. But after Marvin Harrison Jr.’s slow start with Arizona, there’s still no such thing as a can’t-miss receiver prospect, and this 2026 class doesn’t have one of those anyway up to the hype of a Calvin Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, or Ja’Marr Chase.
Given the money teams are spending on wideouts, it’s crucial to hit on these high picks and find someone who can be productive right away while you have them on a cheap rookie contract. That price tag to keep them around is only going up, so drafting wide receivers is a great talent to have that even some of the game’s best minds (namely Bill Belichick and Andy Reid) have struggled with over the years.
Using the prospect rankings from NFL Mock Draft Database, we are going to look at the top 10 wide receivers this year projected for the top 67 picks, how their skills might translate to the NFL, and which team would be the best landing spot for them.
Table of Contents
1. Carnell Tate (Ohio State) – No. 8 Overall Prospect
Carnell Tate looks to become the next great wide receiver in a growing line of them for Ohio State. When he joined the Buckeyes in 2023, he was fifth on the team with 264 receiving yards as he had to share the ball with the likes of Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka.
In 2024, Tate was as good as any WR3 in the nation with 733 yards, playing behind Jeremiah Smith and Egubka. Then in 2025, you still had the greatness of Smith, who would be the WR1 ahead of any wideout in this class. But Tate finished second on the team with 875 yards and 9 touchdowns.
That means Tate comes into the NFL with far weaker statistics than the likes of what Egbuka, Harrison Jr., Jaxon-Smith Njigba, Garrett Wilson, and Chris Olave had going back to 2021.
On the one hand, it makes sense because of how good Smith is. He’ll likely be a top-five pick when it’s his turn to go pro. But we have seen other Ohio State offenses with better numbers than this from the WR2, so Tate curiously gets WR1 status in this draft class from many despite never being WR1 on his own team in three college seasons.
So, what’s the skinny on Tate? He’s been lauded for his ball skills and great hands (very few drops). He has size (6’2”) but he isn’t overly big in his frame and physicality. He’s fast enough but not a top-end burner (4.53 40-yard dash). He can make big plays with a nation-high six touchdowns of 30-plus air yards. Great route runner and elite body control to win contested catches.
Best Fit – Washington Commanders (No. 7 Pick)
I’ve seen people mock Carnell Tate to the Chiefs at No. 9, but I really don’t think that’s a good pick unless the front office is confident they are not bringing Rashee Rice back for a second contract. You have to give it another year of working with Rice and Xavier Worthy together, and they can get big plays from Tyquan Thornton if they use him better.
Tate should go in the top 10, but I think you can forget No. 1 (Fernando Mendoza), No. 9 (Chiefs need to nail that pick since they shouldn’t be picking this high again), and No. 10 (Bengals would be so gross to do this).
People have picked the Titans at No. 4 as a trendy destination for Tate, but I truly believe Jeremiyah Love at running back is a better fit for them. The Giants already have Malik Nabers. The Browns could do it at No. 6 after passing on Travis Hunter last year.
But the team I think that does it is Washington at No. 7. You get the Three Amigos going with Jayden Daniels, Terry McLaurin, and Carnell Tate. McLaurin would be a good mentor for Tate, who wouldn’t need to be the WR1 until further down the road when McLaurin is 32 or 33 years old.
It just fits. But if the Titans, Browns, and Commanders all pass on Tate, then things get very interesting. Would the Saints really pull the trigger when Chris Olave is considered a similar player as Tate? Already discussed the Chiefs and Bengals.
At least we know the Dolphins would be in a rush to turn in the card for Tate at No. 11 since they don’t have anything even close to resembling a WR1 anymore. But Miami might be the only way in 2026 for Tate to finally be a WR1 on his own team.
We’ll find out on April 23 if he’s the first wideout off the board in this class or not.
2. Makai Lemon (USC) – No. 13 Overall Prospect
Makai Lemon spent his three college seasons at USC. In 2024, he had a breakout season with 764 yards. In 2025, he had 79 catches, 1,156 yards, and 11 touchdowns to catapult his draft stock to the top 15.
There’s a lot of tall wide receiver prospects this year, but Makai Lemon is just 5’11”, putting him on track to be a slot star like perhaps Amon-Ra St. Brown (also went to USC) in Detroit. Lemon should be quarterback friendly as he does well against both man and zone coverage.
He’s smaller and not as explosive as other prospects this year, but he’s going to overachieve and play hard for the team that drafts him. Is that worth a top 15 pick? Probably not in most years, but the 2026 draft is not strong at the top.
Best Fit – Miami Dolphins (No. 11)
The Dolphins won’t have Tyreek Hill or Jaylen Waddle in 2026, so someone needs to be there to catch the ball for Malik Willis. You have to do better than Tutu Atwell, Jalen Tolbert, and Malik Washington. I’d take Lemon at No. 11 and know I’m going to get full effort from a high-volume receiver.
3. Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State) – No. 14 Overall Prospect
Jordyn Tyson might be the most polarizing wideout in this draft class. Some feel he’s the best overall prospect there is at 6’2” with the ability to play any receiver position after learning toughness from Hines Ward at Arizona State. Tyson had 1,812 yards and 18 touchdown catches in 2024-25.
But most are concerned about Tyson’s long injury history, which includes injuries to his knee ligaments (torn ACL/MCL/PCL in 2022), collarbone (2024), and both hamstrings (2025). Is he always going to be on the injured list in the NFL? That’s a real concern. Certainly don’t send him to the 49ers.
But the physical skills and production are there and they will entice someone in the first round.
Best Fit – New York Jets (No. 16 Pick)
The Jets can go edge rusher with the No. 2 pick. But they need playmakers on offense beyond Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson. I could see them taking the risky wideout in Jordyn Tyson, but if you think his medical is just bad luck and won’t be a lingering problem, then he’s a talent.
4. Omar Cooper Jr. (Indiana) – No. 24 Overall Prospect
Omar Cooper Jr. spent all four years with the Indiana Hoosiers, though he didn’t take off until 2024 when coach Curt Cignetti arrived. Suddenly, Cooper was productive with 594 yards and 7 touchdowns. He averaged 21.2 yards per catch. In 2025, Fernando Mendoza became his quarterback, and Cooper led the team with 937 receiving yards. He also caught 13 touchdowns.
Guess we’ll find out how much these Indiana players are legit studs thanks to better coaching, or if Cignetti’s coaching staff made them look dominant in college but not the pros.
But some scouts love the tape on Cooper Jr. Noted draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah has Cooper Jr. in his top 20 prospects in this draft class. Cooper is 6’0” and has played outside before working primarily in the slot in 2025. But he’s been compared to Deebo Samuel for his physicality and ability to get yards after contact.
Best Fit – San Francisco 49ers (No. 27 Pick)
It’s probably not going to happen, but it’d be a dream for Cooper to fall to the Raiders at No. 35 to reunite him with Mendoza, which should help them both get more comfortable faster in the NFL. But it’s more likely the Raiders would take Indiana’s other productive wideout, Elijah Sarratt, in the second or third round.
But I mentioned the Deebo Samuel comparison for Cooper. Well, guess who has the No. 27 pick this year? The 49ers could be looking for their YAC monster of the future with George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey getting older, they lost Deebo last year, and Mike Evans is more of a short-term rental. They need that long-term weapon since Brandon Aiyuk’s situation blew up in their face, so I think it’s possible they’d take Cooper here.
The Browns (No. 24), Bills (No. 26), and Dolphins (No. 30) should all be interested as well in the first round.
5. Denzel Boston (Washington) – No. 29 Overall Prospect
On the plus side, he’s not related to David Boston, so he should be clean off the field. Denzel Boston was a 4-year player at Washington where he did little in his first two seasons before he went over 830 yards in both 2024 and 2025 and scored a total of 20 touchdowns. He was the leading receiver for Washington’s offense last year.
Boston is 6’4” and a good athlete. He’s drawn comparisons to Puka Nacua, though I’m not sure I’m seeing that on tape for him.
I’m thinking Boston is more like what the Bills wished Keon Coleman would be for them. Someone who can win contested catches but still run some nasty routes at his size.
Best Fit – Tennessee Titans (No. 35 Pick)
I’m still not convinced the Titans are going wideout with the No. 4 pick, so they can circle back at No. 35 for another weapon for Cam Ward. I think I’d go with Denzel Boston for them as he’ll likely be the best one available.
But the Bills (No. 26) could be the pick too if they want to throw in the towel on the Cookie Monster known as Keon Coleman.
6. Kevin Concepcion (Texas A&M) – No. 32 Overall Prospect
I think Kevin Concepcion has great potential for both the NFL and having a memorable nickname. Just don’t ask me to give him one because I only have concepts of a plan at the moment.
But Concepcion seems to be one of the more polarizing wide receivers in this draft. The arguments against him are that he’s basically lacking the top-end speed to justify a first-round pick, and he plays the game at the same speed (“more quick than fast”) all the time. Also, not much of a blocker and can drop too many passes.
However, he’s one of those receivers who just knows how to get open in the soft zones and beats any type of coverage quickly. Short catches, chain mover with good nose for YAC. Those players are valuable, and even someone like Wes Welker used to have a good number of drops because of how many quick targets he’d see in a season. It’s not a deal breaker.
Concepcion has also proven he can succeed in multiple systems. He had 839 yards and 10 touchdowns as a 2023 freshman for NC State. After going to Texas A& last year, he had 919 yards and 9 touchdowns as that team’s leading receiver.
Best Fit – New England Patriots (No. 31 Pick)
If the Chiefs weren’t trying to make Xavier Worthy happen, I’d say Concepcion would be a great pick for them at 29. Alas, I think the Patriots should take him at No. 31. Make him their new Wes Welker/Julian Edelman type in the slot. Or for another AFC East comparison, think Davone Bess in Miami.
If you want the ball out of Drake Maye’s hands faster to cut down on those sacks, give him a receiver who can win quickly like Concepcion.
7. Chris Brazzell (Tennessee) – No. 50 Overall Prospect
Chris Brazzell was a Tulane transfer, spending his last two seasons with Tennessee. It was a slow transition in 2024 when he had just 333 yards in 13 games. But in 2025, he exploded for 62 catches, 1,017 yards, and 9 touchdowns as the team’s most productive receiver.
Brazzell’s father played in the NFL, so he’s got good genes with 6’4” height and a 4.37 40-yard dash that makes him an interesting deep threat with size and speed. He has drawn comparisons to Christian Watson (Packers) and Martavis Bryant (ex-Steelers), though hopefully he’ll be healthier and make better decisions off the field than that.
A knock on him will be a gimmicky Tennessee offense that hasn’t exactly translated to NFL success yet for its players. But Brazzell’s athleticism is likely going to lead to a second-round pick.
Best Fit – Cleveland Browns (No. 39 Pick)
When Jerry Jeudy is your best wide receiver, you need more options. The Browns could be a spot for Brazzell, who could bring down some YOLO balls from Shedeur Sanders in a Todd Monken offense that will want to create separation like he had in Baltimore.
I really don’t see Brazzell lasting past No. 44, which is the Jets, the franchise that drafted his father in the sixth round in 1998. But when you have a speedy wideout coming from a questionable college offense with boom-or-bust qualities to the pick, that just screams one of the AFC’s Little Sisters of the Poor (Browns, Titans, Jets) being the one to pull the trigger early on Night 2.
8. Chris Bell (Louisville) – No. 51 Overall Prospect
Chris Bell spent all four of his years at Louisville, which feels like an increasing rarity in the transfer portal era. But he kept getting more productive each season, and in 2025, he had 72 catches for 917 yards and 6 touchdowns to lead the team in each category. They’ve developed a solid offense there with coach Jeff Brohm.
Bell is 6’2” with a desirable mixture of size and athleticism but he is coming off a torn ACL late in the year that could hurt his draft stock and 2026 impact.
Best Fit – Philadelphia Eagles (No. 54 Pick)
The kind of team who should be taking Bell is the Jets, who hold the No. 44 pick. But I get the sense we might see a smart, playoff-caliber team that knows it can bring Bell along slowly will be the one who takes him in the second round and gets the best from him in what might be considered a steal in this draft.
That’s why I think Howie Roseman and the Eagles could be the spot for Bell. Whether they trade A.J. Brown or not, they could use a third wideout or an eventual replacement for Brown and some size to complement DeVonta Smith.
9. Germie Bernard (Alabama) – No. 55 Overall Prospect
Alabama’s fallen off a little as a dominant wide receiver factory for the NFL. But you still trust the Crimson Tide more than most schools to make it work at this position. Ryan Williams isn’t ready for the pros yet, so the 2026 Alabama prospect is Germie Bernard, who went from Michigan State (2022) and Washington (2023) to Alabama in 2024-25 where he had a total of 1,656 yards and 9 touchdowns.
Bernard led the team with 862 receiving yards last season. He’s 6’1”, a decent route runner, solid after the catch, but he’s more of a WR2 or high-end WR3 than any team’s WR1 at the next level.
He’s drawn comparisons to Robert Woods.
Best Fit – Pittsburgh Steelers (No. 53 Pick)
I might have said the Patriots (No. 63) would be the pick here since Bernard seems like the kind of Alabama prospect they would have loved. But getting Romeo Doubs from the Packers kind of fills that void, and in fact, I’d say that departure could make the Packers (No. 52) an interesting spot for Bernard as well.
But I’ll go right after Green Bay to the Steelers at No. 53. For many years, the Steelers were as good as anyone at finding quality wideouts in the second and third rounds. They’ve gotten away with that in trading to get D.K Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. the last two offseasons.
Bernard could play the slot and be a nice complementary piece to Metcalf and Pittman in that regard. If Aaron Rodgers is really coming back, he and Mike McCarthy loved having the deepest wide receiver corps in the NFL during their heyday, so you can never have enough good receivers for them, and the Steelers went tight end crazy last year. They need to go wideout crazy this year and get back to nailing those Day 2 wideout picks.
10. Malachi Fields (Notre Dame) – No. 67 Overall Prospect
He was a 4-year player for Virginia where he had just over 800 yards and 5 touchdowns in each of the 2023 and 2024 seasons. He transferred to Notre Dame for 2025 where in a run-controlled offense, he averaged 17.5 yards per catch and caught another 5 touchdowns.
Fields is 6’4” and the kind of possession receiver you want to win down the field on contested catches. He’s not a burner (4.61 40-yard dash), but he has great size and frame to help him win those 50/50 balls.
Best Fit – Miami Dolphins (No. 75 Pick)
After losing Tyreek Hill (released) and Jaylen Waddle (traded to Denver), the Dolphins need a fresh start at wide receiver to go with their new coaching staff and quarterback (Malik Willis). Maybe that means a new approach as Hill and Waddle were smaller, faster receivers.
Malachi Fields in the third round could give Willis a jump-ball type of target and someone to win over the middle on contested catches.
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