In many recent NFL drafts, wide receiver has consistently been a very strong position, with a number of good classes containing excellent talent in the early rounds, on the second day, and some mid-round steals. The 2023 NFL Draft was seen as a bit of anomaly in that only one wide receiver ended up as a top-20 pick, which was Jaxon Smith-Njigba at No. 20 to Seattle. Three other receivers went in the first round right after Smith-Njigba, but the 2023 class was seen as a down year compared to other recent drafts. The 2024 NFL Draft could be a bit of a rebound, according to NFL team sources. They stated they see the wide receiver position as having the potential to feature a deep class of talent again next April.
Sources mentioned a number of prospects as having early-round potential for the 2024 NFL Draft. Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. is a consensus top-10 pick for next April. And after him, there are another seven receivers who are considered potential first- or second-round prospects in Florida State’s Keon Coleman, Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka, LSU’s Malik Nabers, South Carolina’s Xavier Legette, Texas’ Xavier Worthy, Texas’ Adonai Mitchell and Washington’s Rome Odunze. Other receiver prospects could emerge over the back half of the college football season and the leadup to the 2024 NFL Draft as well.
Seven potential receivers who could end up with first-round grades would lay the foundation for a strong draft class even if a few of those wide receivers end up sliding to Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft. In previous Hot Presses, we disclosed that teams feel this is a strong draft for offensive tackle talent with some cornerback depth for Day 2. Every draft is different, but as we enter the home stretch of the college football season, team sources are saying it will be a good draft for wide receiver, offensive tackle, and cornerback talent.
