Writing The Ship: 2026 NFL Draft – Wide Receiver Rankings

The NFL draft is just over two weeks away. We are at the time of year where evaluators have watched all the players and now it is just a matter of stacking up their boards. Looking at each position and deciding who you like best relative to the others.

While I look at all of these players through the lens of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, there are some that I like more than others who might not fit the Bucs needs as much. So this is not a list of best fits, but just my rankings of players. However, based on what they are as players, it’s easy enough to draw conclusions as to who the best fits would be in Tampa.

With that said, here are my 2026 NFL draft wide receiver rankings. 

Honorable Mentions

Bryce Lance – North Dakota State

Lance plays at a small school, but he is a big time talent. He is 6 ‘3 and 204 lbs and he ran a 4.34 40-yard dash (that’s really fast!). The brother of the 2021 3rd overall pick Trey Lance; Bryce is expected to be drafted in the middle rounds and would be a good fit for a team like the Bucs who are looking for a bigger body type.

Malachi Fields – Notre Dame

This is the best catch radius receiver in this year’s draft. At 6 ‘4 and 218 lbs, anything thrown in Fields’ direction is in his reach. He isn’t especially fast, so he struggles to consistently create separation, but he uses his size to full advantage.  

Ted Hurst – Georgia State

Hurst is a great blend of size and speed. Overall, he is probably closest to the Mike Evans prototype in terms of play style. He can stretch the field vertically and win on those quick stop routes that Evans was so good at.

10) Antonio Williams – Clemson

Williams is on the smaller side at 5’11 and 187 lbs, but he plays bigger than that. He’s not afraid to get his nose dirty on blocks or work over the middle. He also has the speed and quickness that you’d expect from a smaller receiver. He can play either inside or outside and just makes things happen.

9) Omar Cooper Jr – Indiana

Cooper is one of the better chain movers in the draft. He catches everything and has enough speed to create separation. His physical tools won’t wow anyone, but in terms of working his way open and catching the ball, he’s really good at those things.

8) Germie Bernard – Alabama

The big slot receiver has become more and more popular across the league and that’s where Bernard will thrive. He catches everything and is a tough, gritty player in the middle of the field. Not sure he’ll ever be a number one, but he’ll be a pain for opposing defenses. 

7) Chris Brazzell – Tennessee

Tall and fast. If you’re looking for a 6 ‘4 burner in the passing game (and who isn’t?) then Brazzell is the one for you. He’s a bit of a one trick pony, but it’s a good trick. If he can clean up some of the technical aspects of his game then it’s a high ceiling here. 

6) Chris Bell – Louisville

Bell suffered a torn ACL in the middle of last season, otherwise he might be a first round pick. He’s a thickly built wide receiver and if he gets a head of steam then his top speed is very fast. AJ Brown is a similar prototype, so we’ve seen this type of player pan out at the highest levels.

5) KC Concepcion – Texas A&M

Concepcion is electric. If you get him the ball in open space then he can make defenders look silly. And when you have this combination of speed and quickness, getting open is no problem. He’s not the biggest guy and he’s had a few drop issues, but in terms of playmakers Concepcion is one of the best you’ll find.

4) Denzel Boston – Washington

Boston is big and surprisingly fluid. He can stop on a dime and get up to top speed quickly. Even at 6 ‘4 and 212 lbs, you can see why he was used as a kick returner in college. Boston isn’t a burner, but he can make plays down field with his size. Think of a Drake London type.

3) Makai Lemon – USC

Lemon reminds me of Emeka Egbuka last year. The physical tools might not be outstanding, but he’s great in the slot and can pick zone coverage apart. I think Lemon’s tools might be a little better, but if you are looking for that slot player who keeps the chains moving then Lemon is that guy.

2) Carnell Tate – Ohio State

Tate is a professional in how he plays the game. His routes are clean, he catches whatever you throw at him and he can win on the outside. This is just a true football player and it’s hard for me to see him not working out in the NFL.

1) Jordyn Tyson – Arizona State

Tyson is the star of this wide receiver class. Difficult to get hands on him off the line of scrimmage and has the physical tools to run past defenders. Really good route runner, which only makes his physical gifts that much more effective. Tyson is probably the closest thing to Devonte Adams that I’ve seen in a prospect. 

The one knock here is injuries. He’s had a few that have caused him to miss time, including the pre-draft process. However, if his health and toughness check out, I have no doubt that this is the best pass catcher in this year’s draft.