2025 NFL Draft WR Rankings: Can Matthew Golden Surprise Tetairoa McMillan, Be First Wide Receiver Selected?
The search for the next stud wide receiver is on as we head into the 2025 NFL Draft from Green Bay — and Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan is leading the charge. With -235 odds to be the first WR drafted, the books are buying in. But is he worth backing at that price? In this draft betting preview, NFL handicapper Matt MacKay breaks down the top five wideouts in the class and gives you the inside scoop on whether to ride or fade their “First WR Drafted” odds.
Matt MacKay
| 6 min
2025 NFL Draft WR Rankings: Can Matthew Golden Surprise Tetairoa McMillan, Be First Wide Receiver Selected?
NFL fans and sports bettors alike are gearing up for the highly-anticipated 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 24th, from Green Bay, Wisconsin. Currently, Arizona Wildcats WR Tetairoa McMillan is valued as the first wide receiver off the board at -210 odds. Heisman Trophy winner, Travis Hunter, is not included in this betting market due to being valued as an Athlete and multi-position prospect.
In this NFL Draft betting preview, NFL handicapper Matt MacKay will assess the current top five wide receivers in the 2025 NFL Draft class. He'll rank each wide receiver accordingly and recommend whether to tail or fade their First WR Drafted odds at current price. Make sure to follow Matt's X account for more NFL Draft insight and free picks during the 2025 NFL Draft.
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NFL Draft Wide Receiver Odds
First Wide Receiver | Odds |
|---|---|
Tetairoa McMillan | -235 |
Matthew Golden | +250 |
Emeka Egbuka | +2000 |
Luther Burden Jr. | +15000 |
Click here for complete NFL Draft Wide Receiver Odds
2025 NFL Draft WR Rankings
1. MATTHEW GOLDEN (+250 to be First Wide Receiver)
Oddsmakers are favoring Tetairoa McMillan as the first wide receiver selected in the 2025 NFL Draft but I'm bullish on Texas Longhorns WR Matthew Golden. Golden dazzled during his tenure with the Longhorns, recording 58 receptions for 987 yards and nine touchdowns, which led all Texas wideouts.
Golden's 5-11 and 191 pounds, five inches shorter than McMillan. Yet, Golden is graded higher by NFL Draft analyst, Daniel Jeremiah, due to his consistency and versatility at the wide receiver position.
At +155 odds, Golden is likely going to be the prospect worth tailing at a value in the First WR Drafted futures betting market. McMillan is currently -210 to be the first wide receiver off the board but Golden's overall game is more polished.
Golden competed in the SEC and played well during the College Football Playoff. McMillan lacks this experience and is less physical and explosive compared to Golden. Let's bet a unit on Golden to be the first wide receiver drafted at +155 odds
2. TETAIROA MCMILLAN (-235 to be First Wide Receiver)
I've spent time criticizing Tetairoa McMillan but he's still an elite prospect with plenty of size and ball skills. He's -210 to be drafted as the first wide receiver for a reason, measuring 6-4 and 219 pounds, with 10-inch hands.
Daniel Jeremiah's latest mock draft projects McMillan to be selected as the second wide receiver behind Golden, going at No. 22 to the Los Angeles Chargers. Some of McMillan's most notable flaws entering the NFL Draft include route-running and failing to separate from defenders at the line of scrimmage and when tracking deep balls.
McMillan's best traits are winning contested catches, instinctual adjustments mid-route, and performance along the perimeter. If you want to drink the juice on McMillian to be drafted as the first wide receiver at -210 odds, it's justified, due to his size and top-tier ball control.
3. EMEKA EGBUKA (+2000 to be First Wide Receiver)
Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka is currently 14-1 to be drafted as the top wide receiver in the 2025 NFL Draft. Egbuka played a prominent role within the Buckeyes' offense, primarily operating in the slot, finishing last season with 81 receptions, 1,0111 yards, and 10 touchdowns. Egbuka led Ohio State in receptions in 2024 and also set a school record with 205 career receptions.
Egbuka's 6-1, 202 pounds with 9.5 inch hands. He's got elite vision and tempo with his routes, while getting a ton of experience by playing three seasons in the Big Ten at Ohio State. Egbuka's biggest weaknesses are lacking physicality and not creating consistent separation.
Egbuka has enough talent and experience to throw a 0.25 unit wager on being the first wide receiver drafted at 14-1 odds. He's reportedly impressed during team interviews, which may go a long way toward improving his draft stock.
Expect Egbuka to be a late selection at the end of Round 1 or to be taken early in Round 2.
4. LUTHER BURDEN (+15000 to be First Wide Receiver)
Luther Burden was First-team All-SEC in consecutive seasons with Missouri in 2023 and 2024. Burden is 6-0 and 206 pounds with relatively small hands at just over eight inches.
Despite not being the biggest wideout or having huge hands, Burden is being graded as one of the top wide receiving prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft. He plays with exceptional speed and ball skills, while blending it with strong separation at any position on the field.
Burden is another prospect who carries a lot of experience into the NFL Draft by playing in one of the best Power 4 conferences since 2022. His ability to accelerate, run routes, track throws, and control his body in traffic makes Burden a great selection for most teams looking to insert this rookie as a WR3 in 2025, with WR1 upside moving forward.
75-1 odds for Burden to be the first wide receiver taken is extremely tempting to place. I doubt it happens but sprinkling a 0.10 unit wager to get 7.5 units of profit in return justifies this minor investment.
5. JAYDEN HIGGINS (+25000 to be First Wide Receiver)
Iowa State had a strong campaign in the Big 12 and WR Jayden Higgins was an integral part of the Cyclones' offense. Higgins finished 2024 with 87 receptions, 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns.
Higgins has a big frame at 6-4, 214 pounds. He's got nine-inch hands and a 6-7 wingspan that helps make him a favorable target downfield and in the red zone. Higgins runs routes well with his balance and can create separation against most coverage.
Some of the knocks on Higgins include possessing a limited route tree and lacking the ability to rack up yards after the catch. Higgins is also not capable of top-tier speed like a few of the other top wideouts in this draft class.
I'm not going to bother sprinkling on Higgins in the First WR Drafted futures market, even at 110-1. Golden, McMillan, Egbuka and Burden all possess stronger upside for the draft order in Round 1.
Higgins will wind up being a solid selection by whichever franchise drafts him. I doubt he gets drafted before any of these other four wide receivers on Thursday night though, which is why he's +11000 in this futures market.
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