SEC power lives up to reputation in 2025 NFL WR rankings

Per ESPN's rankings, Cincinnati Bengals wideout Ja'Marr Chase enters the season as the league's best receiver, followed at No. 2 by Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson. The two were teammates on LSU's 2019 offensive juggernaut national championship squad, with Jefferson going pro in 2020, followed by Chase in 2021.

Last year, Chase's fourth NFL season, the 2021 Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year led the league in receptions (127), receiving yards (1,708) and receiving touchdowns (17). Two-time first-team All-Pro Jefferson, in Year 5, had 103 receptions, 1,533 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Former Tigers wide receiver Malik Nabers, the sixth overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, debuted in the wideout rankings at No. 7 after a brilliant rookie campaign with the New York Giants. Last season, Nabers set the NFL rookie wide receiver record for receptions (109), finishing the year with 1,204 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.

His former college teammate, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., was an honorable mention, finishing 13th, directly behind Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (No. 11) and Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua (No. 12).

In 2024, Thomas had 87 receptions, 1,282 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, becoming just the third rookie in NFL history with at least 80 receptions, 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns, joining Chase and another former LSU Tiger, Odell Beckham Jr.

LSU has long been considered among the best colleges for future NFL wide receivers, but there has been healthy debate about which university most deserves the "WRU" moniker.

In ESPN's 2023 "Position U" rankings, USC ranked as the top manufacturer of NFL receivers, with David Hale pointing to Jordan Addison, Drake London, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Michael Pittman and JuJu Smith-Schuster to support his stance, followed by Ohio State at No. 2.

LSU finished third. 

Chances are, if the list were redone in 2025, the Tigers would rise.

The Buckeyes, who boast McLaurin, Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, Marvin Harrison Jr., Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Jameson Williams and 2025 first-round pick Emeka Egbuka as former team members, have a legitimate case to be No. 1, but LSU's top-end talent might give the Bayou Bengals a slight edge.

The Tigers might need to lean on their history of producing elite receivers to keep highly-touted five-star 2026 wide receiver prospect Tristen Keys, who committed to LSU in March but has received overtures from other power conference programs, including Miami, Tennessee and Texas A&M, from re-opening his recruitment.

LSU has cultivated a reputation as one of, if not the best, producers of NFL wide receiver talent, as evidenced by former players holding the top two spots and four of the top 13 in ESPN's 2025 receiver rankings.

With the program's potential for attracting incoming talent, the pipeline is unlikely to dry up anytime soon.