Early 2026 Nfl Draft Wr Rankings Underrated Ohio State Wr Msn

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Nov 17, 2025, 4:22 AM

early 2026 nfl draft wr rankings underrated ohio state wr msn

Mike Fanelli's 2026 NFL Draft wide receiver rankings and projections. His top 12 WRs for 2026 and fantasy football rookies: Jordyn Tyson, Antonio Williams, Carnell Tate, and more. While the 2025 NFL Draft is in the rearview mirror, it’s never too early to look ahead to next year’s draft class. Unfortunately, Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith and Alabama’s Ryan Williams aren’t eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft. Therefore, the upcoming wide receiver draft class will lack an elite prospect. Yet, the wide receiver draft class has several talented candidates.

Let’s dive into an early 2026 NFL Draft top 12 wide receiver rankings. Last on our list is Lemon, following his breakout season last year. He was the team’s top wide receiver in 2024, leading the squad in receptions (52) and receiving yards (764). However, the talented player only had three receiving touchdowns. Lemon could have a career season in 2025 with Zachariah Branch transferring to Georgia. As the calendar nears November, more NFL fans are considering their teams' futures - specifically in April for the NFL Draft.

The 2025 NFL season hasn't gone as well as hoped for some teams across the league and they'll look to find future stars to build around in the next draft class. They'll be rewarded with an intriguing group of prospects. The 2026 NFL Draft was initially touted as one rife with quarterback talent. That hasn't exactly panned out as expected thanks to multiple potential first-round quarterbacks regressing (Texas' Arch Manning) or suffering season-ending injuries after inconsistent performances (Penn State's Drew Allar). Still, some passers have risen in the ranks thanks to breakout seasons. They're not alone.

Wide receiver was initially expected to be a one-player position in the first round - Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson - but players from multiple different programs are playing their way into first-round consideration. Offensive tackle offers few finished products but plenty of talented, traits-filled prospects for coaching staffs to mold into long-term starters. It's a good year to need a linebacker, too, as well as versatile edge rushers. The 2026 NFL Draft wide receiver class could be a continuation of the NFL‘s “golden age” of wide receiver evaluation. There’s no Travis Hunter or Tetairoa McMillan-level prospect at this stage, but the potential energy is there for the 2026 class to stack up down the line. Early on in the 2026 NFL Draft process, who are the most promising WR prospects?

Who has the most NFL potential, which prospects are the most productive and well-rounded, and how do they rank on PFSN’s board at this stage? Below, we discuss. Since 2016, Ohio State has helped bring up standout NFL WRs including but not limited to Michael Thomas, Curtis Samuel, Terry McLaurin, Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Marvin Harrison Jr., along with... Is Carnell Tate next? Many of the surface-level factors bode well for Tate. He’s a former five-star recruit with eye-catching vertical explosiveness at a long 6’3″, 191 pounds.

And after a reasonably productive 2024 campaign, he’ll be in line for an increased role alongside Jeremiah Smith. Right now, Tate’s on-field evaluation is incomplete. While he’s a strong vertical athlete, he doesn’t have elite long speed as a deep threat or hip sink as a separator, and focus drops can be an issue on occasion. But his size, burst, and catch-point playmaking invite excitement. Editor’s note: This is the 10th installment of Dane Brugler’s 2026 NFL Draft Summer Scouting series. Previous rankings: Edge rushers | Running backs | Defensive tackles | Tight ends | Linebackers | Interior offensive linemen | Cornerbacks | Offensive tackles | Safeties

The best wide receiver in college football is Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith — there is no question that he is ready for the NFL right now (and would be a candidate to be the... 1 pick in April). However, we have to wait until the 2027 NFL Draft for him to be eligible. As for the 2026 NFL Draft class, there might not be a slam-dunk top-10 prospect, but this looks like a deep receiver class full of complementary starters and Day 2 projections. It will be interesting to see if any receivers separate themselves over the next eight months. With so many prospects closely graded right now, I expect these rankings to fluctuate once we have 2025 film.

(Note: Asterisk represents draft-eligible underclassmen. Heights and weights are what NFL teams have on file for each player, with a “v” representing verified measurements and “e” for estimated measurements.) 2024 Season Metrics | Data: PFF | Model & Chart: @Elite_Drafters The 2026 NFL Draft may be a full season away, but early indicators are already starting to shape the wide receiver landscape. At Elite Drafters, we analyze wide receivers through a performance-driven lens — not just by eye test or volume stats, but by efficiency. This early 15-player preview uses 2024 single-season data (not full career numbers), offering a snapshot of where each prospect currently stands.

Important context: Many of the most intriguing players in this class are expected late declares — meaning their 2025 senior campaigns could significantly change how they’re evaluated. What you see here is not final — but it’s a strong directional guide. Let’s dive into how these prospects grade out using the traditional Elite Drafters model which focuses on: All Access Football Newsletter Presented By Sports Management Worldwide. It’s Back! The SMWW Football GM & Scouting Course — Starting June 9th!

2026 NFL Draft Rankings: S || CB || LB || ER || DT || C || OG || OT || TE The wide receiver room in Columbus has served as a revolving door for bonafide first round picks. Known as ‘the other’ Ohio State wide receiver, NFL decision-makers are going to have to wait one more year for the tantalizing blue-chip talent of sophomore Jeremiah Smith and ‘settle’ for the spellbinding, draft-eligible... His size, speed and route running make him the next in line in the OSU-to-NFL wideout pipeline. A big, physical target who thrives in contested catches situations, Jaden Greathouse is expected to carry the momentum from his breakout College Football Playoff performance into this season. Greathouse is also a sound route runner who can create separation, a big year lies ahead.

As football has shifted further into a pass-first era, the players on the receiving end have evolved right along with it. Today’s wide receivers win in so many different ways that lumping them all into a single ranking doesn’t fully capture their distinct skill sets, nor does it reflect how NFL teams value and prioritize... With that in mind, I’ve broken my early 2026 NFL Draft receiver rankings into three sub-position categories: X receiver, Z receiver and slot. At the end, I’ll compile them into a numerical top 10, but first, let’s break down the top five in each role. In a traditional sense, the “X” receiver is the wideout who lines up outside, close to the sideline, and on the line of scrimmage. Remember, offenses are required to have at least seven players on the line of scrimmage—the five offensive linemen plus two others, typically a mix of wide receivers and tight ends.

Because the “X” aligns on the line so often, they’re usually (though not always) positioned opposite the tight end, isolated against single or even double coverage. This alignment means they don’t benefit from extra space between themselves and a press defender pre-snap, making it critical for an “X” receiver to win physically. Size, length and strength are the prerequisites for this role, allowing them to beat press coverage and make contested catches. Beyond those traits, route polish and ball skills are what elevate an “X” into true WR1 territory. Boston was on a tear early in 2025, racking up 492 receiving yards over his first six games—an 82.0 yards per game average. He finished the season with a 95.7% catch rate on catchable passes and a 52.0% contested catch rate, showcasing his strong hands and physicality as a true “X” receiver.

But Boston isn’t just a big-bodied target; he also brings plus movement skills for the role, with sharp route running, impressive acceleration and a YAC-focused mentality. With defenses now keying in on him, the question is whether he can sustain those strong numbers against heightened attention.

Early 2026 Nfl Draft Wr Rankings Underrated Ohio State Wr Msn

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