Via 247sports.com
Though there are still several months until opening weekend in the NFL, the draft cycle never stops. Earlier this week we took a dive into the top five draft eligible quarterbacks, now it is time to look at who leads the upcoming receiver class.
1- Marvin Harrison Jr – Ohio State
Ohio State continues to churn out NFL receivers at a ridiculous rate, but Marvin Harrison Jr. is head and shoulders above the previous Buckeye receivers who landed in the first round, and honestly most receivers in recent memory.
Harrison is listed at 6’4, 205 pounds, but runs like a 5’10” receiver. He has ridiculous body control along to go along with the most sure hands in the class. Harrison’s numbers may dip as the Buckeyes enter the post-CJ Stroud era, but he should have no problem landing inside the top-five in next year’s draft.
2- Troy Franklin – Oregon
When you think of Oregon, you think of track speed. And Troy Franklin has speed to burn. Franklin is a bit thin for the modern NFL, but his 6”3 frame has room to grow. Franklin, however, does play bigger than his size would suggest, with a contested catch rate of 63.6% per PFF.
Franklin will need to add some weight to survive a full season in the NFL, but his traits are next level. He has the opportunity to solidify himself as an early first rounder and potential NFL superstar.
3- Emeka Egbuka – Ohio State
The Ohio State University continues to churn out talent at a ridiculous level. Not only do they have Harrison Jr., but Emeka Egbuka is another top talent in this year’s class. He’s a sudden athlete who excels as after the catch, with the ability to break tackles and make defenders miss with ease.
Egbuka isn’t the contested catch, X-receiver-type, but his competitive nature and ability with the ball in his hands will earn his quarterbacks trust early in his career.
4- Malik Nabers – Louisiana State University
Nabers joins the long-standing tradition of top-rated receivers at LSU. While he doesn’t quite have the size of Harrison, Nabers is a crafty route runner with top-end acceleration and speed. Nabers calling-card is his ability to create yards after the catch. He’s a threat to take any catch to the house.
Nabers’s game fits perfectly into today’s NFL, and he could become a good WR2 for most teams in the league.
5- Xavier Worthy – Texas
Texas football is back, and they have a star receiver for the first time in a long-time. Xavier Worthy is another burner and is one of the best deep threats in the class. He’s a natural runner with the ball in his hands and can turn the corner and blaze past defenders.
Worthy has a bit of Marquise Brown to his game and should hear his name called in the same range as Brown, near the bottom third of the first round.
For more NFL Draft content, check out the links below!
–Top Five 2024 Draft Eligible Quarterbacks
