2026 NFL Draft WR Breakdown: Carnell Tate and Makai Lemon headline top prospects

NFL Mocks continues its position breakdown after covering quarterbacks and running backs, now turning to wide receivers. While this 2026 NFL Draft class lacks an elite standout, it is deep and productive. Six receivers could go in the first round, and I have 33 wideouts with draft-able grades.

Top Player: Carnell Tate, Ohio State

Ohio State wideout Carnell Tate sits at the top of the 2026 NFL Draft receiver class and is firmly in the mix to go top ten. His edge comes from rare athletic traits paired with elite ball skills. Per PFF, he secured 12 of 14 targets in tight coverage this season and did not record a single drop. Tate is also an advanced route runner. For a player of his size, he is sudden at the top of routes, consistently separates, and brings a well-rounded game that should carry over to the NFL right away.

Guy I Would Stand on the Table For: Makai Lemon, USC

USC’s Makai Lemon is a player who projects as a high-quality NFL slot receiver, coming off a season where he led the FBS with 1,156 receiving yards and won the Biletnikoff Award. His game translates well to the next level. He excels at catching the ball in traffic thanks to his impressive strength and ability to consistently track the ball into his hands. Lemon is also dangerous after the catch, totaling 502 yards after the catch this season. Expect him to be a late first-round pick and a receiver who can reliably post 70-plus receptions year after year in the NFL.

Biggest Risk: Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

Arizona State receiver Jordyn Tyson comes with real risk because of an extensive injury history. He missed time this season with a hamstring injury, suffered a season-ending broken collarbone in 2024, and previously tore his ACL in 2022. For a projected first-rounder, durability is a legitimate red flag. There are also questions about his explosiveness. Tyson does not have true home-run speed, averaging only 11.7 yards per reception this season, and he is not a consistent vertical threat. He has the tools to be a capable NFL wideout, but investing a first-round pick in him is a clear roll of the dice.

Sleeper: Trebor Pena, Penn State

A Big Ten player who could emerge as a sleeper in the 2026 NFL Draft is Penn State’s Trebor Pena. The main reason Pena may slide further than he should is a down season at Penn State, though much of that can be attributed to the Nittany Lions’ lackluster passing offense. In a more productive system at Syracuse, Pena led the ACC with 84 receptions and caught 78 percent of his targets. As a pro prospect, he projects well as a slot receiver thanks to his quickness, ability to win after the catch, and comfort catching the ball in traffic. If he falls into the seventh round, he has the chance of being a late-round steal.

Non-Power 4 Standout: Ted Hurst, Georgia State

The top non-Power Four wide receiver on my board is Georgia State’s Ted Hurst, my ninth-rated receiver overall with a third-round grade. His appeal starts with his physical profile: 6-foot-3 with 4.51 speed, a combination that consistently shows up on film. That translated to 1,004 receiving yards this season, 17.2 yards per catch, and a school-record nine touchdown receptions in 2024. Hurst also holds up well in traffic, catching 59 percent of his contested targets this season according to PFF, reinforcing his ability to win down the field and in tight windows.

Special team’s standout: Kaden Wetjen, Iowa

The top special teams prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft is Iowa’s Kaden Wetjen. A two-time winner of the Jett Award, given to the nation’s best returner, Wetjen has recorded six kick returns for touchdowns over the past two seasons, including three punt return scores this year. He also set a PFF record with a 95.5 punt return grade this season, the highest they have ever given. A team looking to improve its special teams would be wise to target Wetjen in the sixth or seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Overrated: Chris Bell, Louisville

The most overrated wide receiver in the 2026 NFL Draft is Louisville’s Chris Bell, who carries only a fifth-round grade on my board for several reasons. Despite standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 220 pounds, he is not physical after the catch, breaking just nine tackles this season according to PFF. Bell also struggles to consistently create separation, which limits his effectiveness against tighter coverage. To make matters worse, he suffered a torn ACL at the end of the season and is expected to miss at least the start of the 2026 season, further adding risk to an already overrated profile.