After evaluating the quarterback and running back classes, NFL Mocks turns to one of the deepest positions in the 2026 NFL Draft: wide receiver. I currently have 26 receivers with draftable grades, the most of any position, ahead of safety, which sits second with 24. The strength of this class shows up in the bottom of Round 1, where as many as five wide receivers could come off the board in a tight cluster.
1. Carnell Tate, Ohio State
Carnell Tate takes the top spot on my wide receiver board because his floor is higher than anyone in this class. He may not have elite traits, but he consistently wins with strong deep-ball tracking and reliable hands, finishing second in the FBS in 2025 with nine receptions of 40-plus yards while not recording a single drop. He likely won’t develop into a true No. 1 option, but he projects as a long-term, dependable No. 2 receiver who can stretch the field and be trusted in key situations.
2. Makai Lemon, USC
Makai Lemon was strongly considered for the top spot, as he and Tate are essentially neck and neck, but some character concerns give Tate the edge. On the field, Lemon projects to have a strong NFL career as a slot receiver thanks to his ability to make catches in traffic and his strength after the catch. He also brings added value as a kick returner, which is something he could be asked to handle early in his career.
"No. 6 (Makai Lemon) is as good as I’ve seen. Going back 20-plus years, I don’t know if anybody’s impacted the game more. I can think of one guy, maybe. But he’s a really outstanding player."Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz
3. KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
KC Concepcion, the 2025 Paul Hornung Award winner as the nation’s most versatile player, brings a dynamic skill set with his ability to create yards after the catch thanks to his quickness and vision. He shows strong agility, consistently makes tough catches, and adds value in the return game, finishing second in the FBS with 460 punt return yards while also becoming the only player in school history to record a receiving, rushing, and punt return touchdown in the same season. The main issue he must clean up is consistency on routine plays, as he dropped seven passes last season.
4. Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
Jordyn Tyson is the riskiest prospect in the 2026 wide receiver group due to an injury history that has caused him to miss 34 percent of his team’s games over the past four years. When he is on the field, however, he is highly productive and often the focal point of the Sun Devils’ passing attack, accounting for 54% of Arizona State’s wide receiver yards in 2024. He plays a physical style, consistently creates separation, and tracks the deep ball well. If he can stay healthy, he has Pro Bowl-level upside, but durability remains the major question.
Jordyn Tyson. What a catch for @ASUFootball 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/4QoArOJYyj
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 30, 2024
5. Zachariah Branch, Georgia
I’m higher on Zachariah Branch than most, as many view him as a third-round pick, but I have a solid second-round grade on him. His game-breaking speed makes him a threat every time he touches the ball, and he proved he can handle volume by setting Georgia’s single-season record with 81 receptions. On top of that, he’s an elite return specialist, winning the Jet Award in 2023. The main concern is his size at 5-foot-9 with 29⅜-inch arms, which limits his catch radius.
Overall rank
1. Carnell Tate, Ohio State (first round)
2. Makai Lemon, USC (first round)
3. KC Concepcion, Texas A&M (second round)
4. Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State (second round)
5. Zachariah Branch, Georgia (second round)
6. Denzel Boston, Washington (second round)
7. Skyler Bell, UConn (third round)
8. Ted Hurst, Georgia State (third round)
9. Bryce Lance, North Dakota State (third round)
10. Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana (third round)
11. Malachi Fields, Notre Dame (third round)
12. Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee (third round)
13. Kevin Coleman Jr., Missouri (third round)
14. Elijah Sarratt, Indiana (third round)
15. Germie Bernard, Alabama (third round)
16. Deion Burks, Oklahoma (fourth round)
17. Ja'Kobi Lane, USC (fourth round)
18. CJ Daniels, Miami (fourth round)
19. Chris Bell, Louisville (fifth round)
20. Antonio Williams, Clemson (fifth round)
21. Brenen Thompson, Mississippi State (fifth round)
22. De’Zhaun Stribling, Ole Miss (fifth round)
23. Kaden Wetjen, Iowa (fifth round)
24. Jeff Caldwell, Cincinnati (fifth round)
25. Josh Cameron, Baylor (fifth round)
26. J. Michael Sturdivant, Florida (sixth round)
27. Eli Heidenreich, Navy (sixth round)
28. Trebor Pena, Penn State (sixth round)
29. Eric McAlister, TCU (sixth round)
30. Eric Rivers, Georgia Tech (sixth round)
31. Keelan Marion, Miami (sixth round)
32. Aaron Anderson, LSU (sixth round)
33. Barion Brown, LSU (seventh round)
34. Vinny Anthony II, Wisconsin (seventh round)
35. Hank Beatty, Illinois (seventh round)
36. Dane Key, Nebraska (seventh round)
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