Final 12 months’s draft noticed three wideouts go within the prime 10: Marvin Harrison, Jr. (No. 4), Malik Nabers (No. 6) and Rome Odunze (No. 9). The fourth first-rounder, No. 23 Brian Thomas Jr., completed greater than any of them within the Rookie of the Yr voting. Don’t anticipate as a lot star energy this 12 months, even when Hunter goes as a receiver or splits positions.
“There’s some good midlevel expertise however not high-end expertise,” stated WR coach No. 2. That sentiment was echoed by the three wideout coaches and offensive coordinators I spoke to. “Should you base it over the past 5 years, it’s common,” stated WR coach No. 3.
After Hunter, who is predicted to be picked first amongst wideout choices, the highest out there receiver was break up amongst coaches between Texas’ Matthew Golden, a 5-11, 191-pounder who ran a 4.29 40 on the mix, and Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan, a 6-4, 219-pounder who didn’t run on the mix however reportedly ran a 4.48 40 at his non-public exercise in entrance of 24 groups in March.
“I like Golden higher,” stated WR coach No. 3. “He’s only a higher receiver with a unique kind of velocity and acceleration. While you see him towards Georgia and Arizona State, he’s bought a gear that most individuals don’t have. He’s tremendous robust and makes catches ultimately zone which can be straight fingers catches.”
McMillan had a greater season in 2023 than 2024; the Wildcats went from 10-3 to 4-8. He was nonetheless extraordinarily productive, catching 84 passes for 1,319 yards and eight TDs. Golden, who transferred from Houston to Texas, blossomed in Austin in 2024, catching 58 passes for 987 yards and 9 TDs. His receiving yards had been greater than double what he did in 2023, whereas his yards per catch went from 10.7 to 17.0. Sources at Texas stated he grew to become one in every of their greatest apply gamers by the tip of the season, a noticeable distinction from when he first arrived there.
“He is likely to be the perfect route runner on this class,” stated WR coach No. 1. “He’s fairly nasty. His professional day was the place you noticed that explosion, the place he did appear like a 4.29 man. He didn’t appear like a 4.3 man on quite a lot of his tape.”
