The 2026 NFL Draft wide receiver class might lack a clear-cut top-five talent, but it makes up for it with impressive depth. I have five players carrying first-round grades heading into the season and a total of 41 receivers with draftable grades. Simply put, this is a strong year for any NFL team in need of wideout help.
Top 5 wide receivers in the 2026 NFL Draft
1. Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
At the top of the board is Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson, the 2024 Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year after transferring from Colorado. Tyson brings size, strength, and a physical presence on the perimeter. He closed last season on a tear, posting at least 125 receiving yards in each of his final three games. The red flag is durability, as his resume includes a season-ending knee injury in 2022 and a broken collarbone last fall. If he can stay on the field this year, Tyson has the talent to crack the top 15 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.
AP Preseason Honors ‼️
— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) August 18, 2025
Jordyn Tyson named to the @AP All-America first team!#ForksUp /// @tyson_jordyn pic.twitter.com/dDltY2tFe2
2. Zachariah Branch, Georgia
One receiver I’m higher on than most evaluators is Georgia’s Zachariah Branch. I have him graded as a mid-first round talent, while the consensus at NFL Mock Draft Database slots him closer to the late second round. Branch’s tape tells a different story. His elite speed, sudden change of direction, and natural playmaking ability make him a potential Pro Bowl-level slot receiver. He also adds value as a dangerous return man, giving him an immediate path to contributing on Sundays. The concerns are clear: he’s undersized and can struggle with contested catches in traffic. But in the right system, Branch has the tools to be a dynamic offensive weapon at the next level.
3. Malachi Fields, Notre Dame
Notre Dame’s Malachi Fields is another receiver I’m much higher on than the consensus. While most boards slot him as a fifth-rounder, I have him graded as a first-round talent. Fields brings size, physicality, and toughness at the catch point. According to Pro Football Focus, he secured 52% of his tight-window targets last season, powered by strong hands that allow him to outmuscle defenders. He also dropped only two passes all year, underscoring his reliability. The question for Fields is speed. His 40-yard dash will go a long way in determining where he lands. If he proves he can separate, he has the tools to rise well above his current projection.
Malachi Fields with a RIDICULOUS CATCH 🤯
— ACC Football (@ACCFootball) September 1, 2024
📺 ACCNX | @UVAFootball pic.twitter.com/OxUmV6N4UM
4. Carnell Tate, Ohio State
Ohio State has built a reputation as WRU with five first-round receivers in the past four drafts, and Carnell Tate has the talent to continue that trend. While he has never been the Buckeyes’ top option and will not be this year with Jeremiah Smith in line to be a top-five pick in 2027, Tate shows the tools of a late first-round prospect. He has ideal size at 6-foot-3, reliable hands with only three drops last season, and enough speed to stretch the field vertically. The area he needs to improve is physicality. Too often he relies on quickness and agility instead of imposing his frame, and showing more strength at the catch point could push his stock higher.
More 2026 NFL Draft at NFL Mocks:
5. Denzel Boston, Washington
Washington’s Denzel Boston leaves no doubt about his physicality. He consistently outmuscled Big Ten defensive backs last season and made a number of tough contested grabs. He finished the year with 63 receptions for 834 yards and nine touchdowns, including back-to-back standout performances against Northwestern and Rutgers where he posted a combined 13 catches, 246 yards, and four scores. Along with his strength, Boston shows surprising agility for a bigger receiver, especially in his route breaks. The concern is top-end speed. Without elite burst, his ability to separate vertically will determine whether he earns a spot in the first round.
Sleeper
Eugene Wilson III, Florida
Florida’s Eugene Wilson III is one of the more intriguing sleepers in this class. Similar to Zachariah Branch, he projects best as a speedy slot receiver who can create after the catch. The consensus has him in the sixth round, but I grade him as a third-round talent. His stock is suppressed because he played in only four games last year. When healthy, Wilson is electric. In 2023 he produced 480 yards after the catch and forced 18 missed tackles, proving he has the explosiveness to change games. If he stays on the field this year, he could rise quickly up draft boards.