Bucs Draft 2025 Preview + Bucs Best Bets: WR

Pewter Report analyzes the top players in the 2025 NFL Draft with its position previews. Scott Reynolds starts the previews with the wide receiver position, offering a comprehensive look at what the Bucs have and what they need at receiver.

Matt Matera then analyzes a detailed list of this year’s top wide receiver prospects while Reynolds provides the annual Pewter Report Bucs Best Bets – the most likely receiver for the Bucs to select in Rounds 1-3, and in Rounds 4-7.

What The Bucs Have At Wide Receiver

The Bucs have one of the best wide receiver duos in the game in future Hall of Famer Mike Evans and future Ring of Honor member Chris Godwin. Evans and Godwin are the two best receivers in franchise history and have a chance to become the league’s all-time receiving yardage duo over the next three seasons with continued productivity. Throw in No. 3 receiver Jalen McMillan, the team’s third-round draft pick last year, who is coming off an eight-touchdown rookie season, and Tampa Bay has a very talented trio of receivers.

The Bucs have eight more receivers on the roster, but truthfully, all of them are expendable. Veteran Sterling Shepard was re-signed because of his experience, but at age 31 he’s nothing more than a complementary receiver. Trey Palmer was a disappointment last year as a receiver and a return man and took a statistical step backwards, while undrafted free agent Kameron Johnson disappointed because he couldn’t stay healthy.

Rakim Jarrett,  Ryan Miller, Tanner Knue, Marquez Callaway and Dennis Houston are all practice squad-caliber receivers. Will any of them take a step forward this offseason and in training camp? That remains to be seen.

What The Bucs Need At Wide Receiver

The Bucs were without Mike Evans and Chris Godwin for a three-game stretch after both were injured during a 41-31 loss to Baltimore on Monday Night Football. Tampa Bay lost that game and all three where the team was without both Evans and Godwin. The Bucs were even missing Jalen McMillan in the Monday Night Football defeat in Kansas City, which showed what life was like without the team’s top weapons in the passing game. Tampa Bay doesn’t want to have to endure that scenario again.

Both head coach Todd Bowles and general manager Jason Licht have said the team needs to draft another receiver – perhaps one that could eventually wind up as a starter. That could come as early as the first round, as the team has had Texas’ Matthew Golden in for an official 30 visit after interviewing him formally at the NFL Scouting Combine. Or it could come on Day 2 with the selection of Iowa State receiver Jaylin Noel, who was also in Tampa Bay for an official visit. But by the end of the 2025 NFL Draft, the team will have added another wideout – likely one with terrific speed.

Top Wide Receivers In 2025 NFL Draft

1. Arizona WR Tetoira McMillan – Junior – 6-4, 213 – 4.53

McMillan has been compared to Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans, and understandably so. He has great size and tracks the ball with incredible ability because of his height and overall limberness. A formal volleyball player, McMillan has used those skill sets to help pinpoint the ball and get to it before the defender is able to. 

He had a ton of production over the last two seasons at Arizona. McMillan had 90 catches for 1,402 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2023 while going for 84 catches, 1,319 yards and eight scores in 2024, which also made him a first-team All-American. McMillan has average speed and could bulk up more, but he has a big catch radius that is inviting for any quarterback. He’s projected to be a first-round selection – perhaps in the Top 10.

2. Texas WR Matthew Golden – Junior – 5-11, 191 – 4.29

If a team is looking for a receiver that can take the top off of a defense, Golden is the guy. His 40-yard dash time was incredible and it translates directly to his game. Golden is a deep threat but there’s much more to his game than just that. He can make contested catches on jump balls with his ability to float through the air.

Teams can rely on him on third down and he has come through in the clutch, such as scoring the game-tying touchdown in overtime during the college football playoff against Arizona State. Golden played two seasons at Houston and then transferred to Texas. He led all Longhorns players with 987 receiving yards and nine touchdowns with a lot of talented players on that unit. Golden could be drafted in the Top 20.

3. Missouri WR Luther Burden III – Junior – 6-0, 206 – 4.41

Get the ball in Burden’s hands and let him do the rest. Although he plays receiver, Burden certainly runs like a running back, leading him to get plenty of yards after the catch. Mostly a slot receiver, Burden lined up everywhere, including the backfield just so Mizzou could make sure they used all of his skills. 

While Burden plays with a violent nature with the ball in his hands, it’s his route running to get open that needs more work. His numbers dropped a significant amount going from 1,212 yards in 2023 to 676 yards in 2024. Poor quarterback play was part of the issue, but he still had enough big plays to be named first-team All-SEC. Burden is projected to get drafted in either the first or second round.

4. Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka – Senior –  6-1, 201 – 4.48

Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka – Photo by: USA Today

There’s an argument to be made that Egbuka is the most polished wide receiver coming out of the draft. He’s been doing it for quite a while now as a three-year starter for Ohio State and he just became a national champion. He makes life so much easier for quarterbacks with his ability to get open and locate the ball with brief but important nuances to find a window of opportunity. 

Egbuka joins Marvin Harrison Jr. as the only players to have two, 1,000-yard seasons in Buckeyes history. He did it in 2022 and then last season in 2024 with 1,011 yards on 81 catches and 10 touchdowns.

5. Iowa State WR Jaylin Noel – Senior – 5-10, 194 – 4.39

Noel is one of the more explosive wide receivers in this year’s draft class. His 4.39 40-yard dash and 11-foot, 2-inch broad jump was also the best number for any receiver at the Combine, which further reinforces the fact that Noel is an explosive receiver.

Noel was a three-year starter for the Cyclones where he totaled 245 catches for 2,855 yards with 18 receiving touchdowns. After catching 66 passes for 820 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior, he took his game to a new level as a senior. He hauled in 80 receptions for 1,194 yards and eight touchdowns. Noel is also viewed as a Day 2 prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft.

6. Ole Miss WR Tre Harris – RS Senior – 6-2, 205 – 4.54

Harris has great hand-eye coordination and just seems like a natural when he’s playing the game. With the RPO system that Ole Miss ran, Harris did a lot of post-snap reads that’ll help him at the next level. 

His route running was more quick routes based on that style of offense, so he could use some more work in that area. Harris missed five games last season with a groin injury and yet still led his team with 1,030 receiving yards to go with 60 catches and seven touchdowns in eight games.

7. Iowa State WR Jayden Higgins – Senior – 6-4, 214 – 4.47

A big-bodied receiver with a good catch radius, Higgins is a player that continues to get better and better each season. He does a really good job with his footwork in closer areas and is very competitive attacking the ball. 

Higgins had a 1,183-yard, nine-touchdown season, the best of his career. He was a third-team All-American and second team All-Big XII.

8. Stanford WR Elic Ayomanor – RS Sophomore – 6-2, 206 – 4.44

Ayomanor is a true split end receiver. He burst on to the scene in 2023 against Colorado when he repeatedly torched Buffaloes cornerback Travis Hunter while catching 13 receptions for 294 yards (22.6 avg.) and three touchdowns. After that game he racked five 100-yard games, including three in the 2024 season.

Last year, the Cardinal offense slipped due to poor quarterback play and his numbers dipped. Ayomanor caught 63 passes for 831 yards and six TDs.

9. Utah State WR Jalen Royals – Senior – 6-0, 205 – 4.42 

There is an exceptional burst that Royals has when running against defensive backs. He also has a great ability to make defenders miss once he has the ball and really gets it going, bringing a physicality to his game.

A foot injury forced him to miss five games last season. He still managed to record 55 catches, for 834 yards and six touchdowns. That got him to make second-team All-Mountain West Conference.

10. TCU WR Jack Bech – Senior – 6-2, 214 – N/A

TCU WR Jack Bech – Photo by: USA Today

Bech can be a deceptive route runner that can get open instantly. He has exceptional hands to go with it. His hand-eye coordination is off of the charts and Bech also brings a physical nature to his game that overpowers defensive backs.

He’s not the fleetest of foot, but Bech finds a way to get the job done. Bech began his career at LSU, playing there for two seasons and then transferring to TCU. Last season he recorded 62 catches for 1,034 yards with nine touchdowns, helping him reach second-team All-Big XII.

11. Texas WR Isaiah Bond – Junior – 5-11, 185 – 4.37

The speed immediately jumps out when looking at Bond’s game. He’s the type of receiver that can stretch out a defense and give them a ton of issues. Bond ran track in high school and it shows. The change of direction he has when running a route makes him difficult to go up against.

Size will be a bit of a problem in the NFL and he’s also inconsistent when catching the football. He began his career at Alabama but then played last year with Texas and 34 catches, 540 yards and five touchdowns. Bond can also return kicks, adding value for teams of interest, but teams do need to do a character assessment after sexual assault allegations.

12. Washington State WR Kyle Williams – RS Senior – 5-11, 190 – 4.40

Cutting in and out of shorter routes is where Williams is at his best. He can accelerate at any moment but also slow it down when he needs to get open. This puts a lot of stress on corners when they try to cover him in close quarters. Williams can make the big play on deep balls, too.

Like other smaller receivers, size is going to hurt him a bit. He also can lose concentration at times and drop the football when it’s catchable. Williams played three seasons at UNLV and then transferred to Washington State and played two more years. Last year was the best of his college career, having recorded personal bests with 70 catches, 1,198 yards and 14 touchdowns in 13 games. He also led his team in receiving.

Best Of The Rest:

13. Colorado State WR Tory Horton – RS Senior – 6-2, 196 – 4.41

A team leader as a captain for Colorado State, Horton has exceptional speed. He adjusts well to the football when thrown his way and his kick returning skills brings an added element to his game. Injuries really shortened his final season, but when healthy Horton can be an explosive player.

14. Virginia Tech WR Jaylin Lane – RS Senior – 5-10, 191 – 4.34

Lane is an after-catch creator. He is a quick-twitch athlete with impressive speed. He works best when he is getting quick touches that let him accelerate quickly. Lane is a limited route runner who exaggerates his false steps. But one area where he can fit on an NFL team is his ability to stretch the defense when deep and be a factor as a return specialist.

15. TCU WR Savion Williams – RS Senior – 6-4, 222 – 4.48

Williams isn’t your traditional kind of receiver. He has fantastic size and uses it with a physical nature to get advantages. Williams has good speed and runs with a ton of aggression. He even took a fair amount of snaps as a Wildcat quarterback last year at TCU. There are plenty of inconsistencies with his routes and his ability to hold onto the ball, so play-callers need to get creative to get the most out of his attributes.

16. Oregon WR Tez Johnson – RS Senior – 5-10, 154 – 4.51

Former Oregon WR Tez Johnson Photo by: USA Today

Johnson really benefited by how well he did at the Senior Bowl where he was tough to guard. He is a receiver that is very smooth in his game and is able to create lots of separation between him and the defender to get open and make a big play for his team. While he lacks size and speed, Johnson is very quick and knows how to get open.

17. Maryland WR Tai Felton – Senior – 6-1, 183 – 4.37

Felton has more burst than long speed, creating room early in the route. He pairs that explosive lower half power with spectacular contact balance to make defenders miss after the catch while creating additional yards. Felton is the definition of a chain-mover. His stop-start ability shows up as both a route runner and with his yards after the catch.

18. Auburn WR Keandre Lambert-Smith – RS Senior – 6-1, 190 – 4.37

Lambert-Smith has good straight-line speed heading down the field on go-routes. He has a knack for the big play and had some highlight reel catches throughout his career. His competition level is off the charts. Lambert-Smith has to hold onto the football more if he wants to succeed at the next level.

19. UNLV WR Ricky White – RS Senior – 6-1, 181 – 4.50

White’s career yards per catch average in college was 14.8 and he had 20 catches on throws of 20+ air yards in the past two seasons. White has caught seven of his 13 downfield contested catch opportunities. He has also proven to be explosive after the catch. White doesn’t have the smoothest transitions at the top of his stem, especially against man coverage, and is most comfortable working deep-breaking routes like posts, corners or deep digs against zone.

20. Miami WR Xavier Restrepo  – RS Senior – 5-10, 202 – 4.85

Another player that had a good Senior Bowl, Restrepo is slippery with his route running, finding ways to get open. He is as tough as they come and willing to put it all on the line for the success of his team. He has solid body control when locating the ball. Restrepo is as reliable as they come, but a super slow 40-yard dash time will hurt his draft stock.

21. Florida WR Chimere Dike – RS Senior – 6-1, 196 – 4.34

A 40-yard dash time like Dike had is going to give him a chance with teams based on his speed. He’s quick to get off the line and get that first step ahead of the defender for his advantage. Dike has a reputation for having a great work ethic, highlighted by getting named as a team captain last season.

22. Georgia WR Arian Smith – RS Senor – 6-0, 179 – 4.35

There’s talent all across the board on a team like Georgia and it was Smith that led the team in receiving with 817 yards last season. He used to run track so he has incredible speed, but concentration and drops have been a huge problem. Smith has solid footwork to go along with the overall quickness, making him a threat to opponents in games.

23. Illinois WR Pat Bryant – Senior – 6-2, 204 – 4.61

Putting together his technique has seen Bryant improve season by season. He’s understood how to get leverage on defensive backs with his big frame and make plays catching the ball by having great body control and finding ways to win at the point of attack. Bryant will adjust when the ball is out and also can get extra yards after the catch for big plays. Bryant has good hands, he’ just not the fleetest of foot.

Bucs Best Bets – By Scott Reynolds

ROUNDS 1-3: Iowa State WR Jaylin Noel

The Bucs are looking to add a speed receiver in this year’s draft and Noel checks that box with a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. Noel was primarily a slot receiver for the Cyclones where he had breakout season with with 80 catches for 1,194 yards (14.9 avg.) and eight touchdowns playing opposite outside receiver Jayden Higgins in Ames, Iowa. Noel is a tough receiver who plays bigger than his 5-foot-10, 194-pound frame would suggest with the way he attacks the ball in the air and makes contested catches. He was brought in for an official 30 visit after informally interviewing with Tampa Bay at the Combine.

The Iowa State star had a very impressive showing at the Senior Bowl and upped his draft stock. Noel proved to be a big-play threat for the Cyclones where he had eight catches of 50 yards or more over the past two years, which was the third-most in the FBS. The Kansas City native plays the game with some swagger and has enough size and speed to also win from the outside if offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard wants to play him there. The Bucs are smitten with Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden, but if he’s not there at No. 19 then drafting Noel on Day 2 could be a great consolation prize.

ROUNDS 4-7: Virginia Tech WR Jaylin Lane

If the Bucs miss out on the speedy Jaylin Noel on Day 2 there’s a chance they could draft the speedy Jaylin Lane. Either way there’s a chance Tampa Bay comes away with a Jaylin in this draft. Lane is a player that the Bucs had a formal interview with at the NFL Scouting Combine and also had in for an official 30 visit. The 5-foot-10, 191-pound Virginia Tech product ran a 4.34 in Indianapolis and was one of the most explosive receivers at the Combine. He ran his share of end-arounds and screens for the Hokies, but he can also run the route tree as a developing young receiver.

Lane could also help Tampa Bay on special teams as he has experience returning punts. He had a 58-yard punt return for a touchdown last year at Virginia Tech. Lane is a high character prospect who can function well in the slot. His skill set is similar to that of Kameron Johnson, an undrafted free agent last year who struggled to stay healthy in his first season in the NFL. Lane ran for a pair of touchdowns, caught two TDs and even threw a touchdown pass last year, in addition to his punt return score. Lane could be an option for the Bucs in the fourth or fifth round. If he’s gone by then and the team is looking for another speed receiver, Maryland’s Tai Felton, could be the pick on Day 3.