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USA Today
04-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 NFL draft wide receiver rankings: Top 10 players at position
2025 NFL draft wide receiver rankings: Top 10 players at position Show Caption Hide Caption Warren Sapp explains what makes Travis Hunter such a special player Warren Sapp sits down with Lorenzo Reyes at Radio Row to share why Travis Hunter is such a special player. The demand – and price tag – for top wide receivers continues to skyrocket. An exploding market at the position only got wilder this offseason, as the Cincinnati Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase became the league's highest-paid non-quarterback with his four-year, $161 million contract extension. Meanwhile, Tee Higgins (four years, $115 million) and Chris Godwin (three years, $66 million) scored major payouts while staying with their respective teams, and Stefon Diggs netted a three-year, $69 million pact to link up with the New England Patriots. And while this year's receiver class in the NFL draft might lack a player who measures up to the likes of Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze – all of whom heard their names called within the top 10 picks – there are more than a handful of players in the mix for the first round or early portion of Day 2. For the purpose of this exercise, two-way star Travis Hunter will be designated as a cornerback rather than a receiver, even though his primary position remains very much up in the air. If the Heisman Trophy winner does end up focusing on the offensive side of the ball, the expected top-five pick could easily end up in the same class as last year's top trio. Here is USA TODAY Sports' ranking of the top 10 wide receivers in this year's draft: 1. Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona Who would have thought that a 6-4, 219-pound receiver who was one of college football's most productive pass catchers would prove to be so divisive throughout the pre-draft process? After McMillan posted 174 catches for 2,721 yards and 18 touchdowns in the last two seasons, he looked poised to be a top-10 pick and the surefire front-runner to be the first wideout selected. But there's been a fierce debate regarding exactly how reliable of a prospect he is. As a downfield target, McMillan can make magic happen with his comfort plucking passes out of the air and leveraging his massive catch radius. It's getting to that point that's the potential problem. McMillan doesn't regularly create separation against man coverage, leaving the onus on him to box out defenders for contested catches. So far, that approach has produced massive gains, but it won't be as consistently viable against more formidable defensive backs. McMillan has been likened to Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London for a playing style reminiscent of a power forward. The comparison doesn't quite hold up, but McMillan's comfort operating underneath and as an intermediate target could help raise his floor. He's a particular weapon on slants thanks to his strength and sure hands, and he can build up speed to rack up yards after the catch. He also can make his mark against zone coverages, as he repeatedly finds openings. Where does that leave him? McMillan might not be a fit for every offense and quarterback, which could give his draft stock some volatility. But he can be a massively productive presence, even if he doesn't ever reach the level of becoming a go-to player. 2. Matthew Golden, Texas Following his transfer from Houston, Golden stepped in for Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell to average 17 yards per catch as the next dynamic weapon in the Longhorns' attack. He then caught many by surprise at the NFL Scouting Combine by blazing a 4.29-second 40-yard dash – best among all receivers – even though he seldom displayed elite long speed on the field. But there's no questioning his explosiveness, as he can fire off the line of scrimmage in an instant and then throw defensive backs off by varying his tempo or selling a different route. That package should make him a formidable threat down the sideline in the NFL, though he will have to prove he can hold his own at the catch point. 3. Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State The latest standout in the Buckeyes' unending parade of marquee pass catchers, Egbuka doesn't measure up to his four first-round former teammates (Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Marvin Harrison Jr.) in pure physical ability. But the 6-1, 202-pounder became the school's all-time leader in receptions (205) thanks to an advanced understanding of the position, and his savvy will surely serve him well at the next level. Egbuka compensates for pedestrian burst and suddenness with his crisp route running, which allows him to both create and find open space. As a safety valve out of the slot, he should endear himself to his next quarterback early on and see a high volume of targets. 4. Luther Burden III, Missouri The former five-star recruit fizzled out a bit in his final season, finishing with just 676 yards and 11.1 yards per catch. Once seen as a strong candidate for the first round, Burden might be being overlooked a bit as he approaches what seems likely to be a Day 2 landing spot. With a 6-0, 206-pound build more befitting of a running back, he draws parallels to Deebo Samuel Sr. by taking quick-hit passes for big gains, typically displaying a physical finishing touch in the process. That usage has left him underdeveloped as a route runner, with Burden needing to become much more polished and precise before he can be counted on in a more traditional role. But for a team willing to feed him manufactured touches while working to craft him into a more consistent overall receiver, he could have explosive upside. 5. Jayden Higgins, Iowa State There might not be a more physically imposing wideout than the 6-4, 214-pounder who ran a 4.49-second 40-yard dash and posted a 39-inch vertical leap. Despite his surprisingly smooth route running for a player of his size, Higgins might be limited to a possession receiver role. But he can tax defenses on in-breaking routes and mask some of his shortcomings if he operates as a big slot. 6. Tre Harris, Mississippi The Rebels' offense boxed Harris in, but it also allowed him to feast on hitches, screens and posts. That might be the playbook for how to utilize the 6-2, 205-pounder early on, with the vertical game being his calling card. Even if he remains a one-note deep threat, Harris' ability to stretch the field is worth investing in for the right team. 7. Elic Ayomanor, Stanford He might be best remembered as the receiver who torched Travis Hunter after the 6-2, 210-pound target posted an incredible 294 yards and three touchdowns on 13 catches – all of it coming after halftime – in a double-overtime win against Colorado in 2023. A product of Medicine Hat, Alberta, Ayomanor is less refined than many of his peers after limited work in high school and redshirting in 2022 due to a knee injury. But his blend of size, strength and speed at the position is hard to find, and his emerging feel for the subtleties of the position suggests he's on the right developmental track to become a solid starter. 8. Jalen Royals, Utah State Strong and smooth, Royals easily clears the bar of what NFL teams look for in their possession receivers. While the 6-0, 205-pounder doesn't always display quick-twitch movements to consistently create big windows of separation, he thrives in traffic and can be a bully after the catch. 9. Jaylin Noel, Iowa State At 5-10 and 194 pounds, he provided quite the contrast to the supersized Higgins in the Cyclones' receiving corps. Noel has plenty of short-area explosiveness, which allows him to shake defenders from the slot in a hurry. But despite recording a 4.39-second 40-yard dash, he might have trouble on downfield looks given his limited catch radius and inconsistent hands. At the least, he should help an offense moves the chains consistently. 10. Tory Horton, Colorado State A transfer from Nevada, Horton found his footing at Colorado State with two seasons of more than 1,100 receiving yards before a knee injury cut his 2024 campaign short. He's one of the most polished and well-rounded pass catchers in this class, as he can free himself up with crafty fakes before securing deep shots. Press coverage is sure to follow the wiry wideout early in his career, and his ability to hold up against physical corners at the line of scrimmage and the catch point could go a long way toward determining his effectiveness.
USA Today
09-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
'Not a serious franchise': Will the Steelers get aggressive in free agency?
'Not a serious franchise': Will the Steelers get aggressive in free agency? Show Caption Hide Caption Will Myles Garrett stay a Brown or wear a different jersey next year? NFL players on Radio Row are asked where they think Myles Garrett will play next a comment from Myles Garrett himself! Sports Seriously ESPN's Chris Canty, co-host of the show 'Unsportsmanlike,' recently said something about the Pittsburgh Steelers that caught my attention. Yes, it was inflammatory. But hear him out. Listen carefully. What he says about the Steelers is important because the organization, historically one of the best in all of sports, will be among the most watched teams when the tampering period for free agency begins at noon ET on Monday. Canty isn't a flamethrower. If you watch the show regularly you know his takes are opinionated but also smart and measured. He also brings the perspective of a former NFL player. He's someone you should listen to. The Steelers, by any measure of success, haven't struggled over the course of their existence. Obviously, it's been the opposite. There have been moments when the team's dominance was staggering. But that has changed. Coach Mike Tomlin has lost six straight playoff games with another one-and-done postseason. The Steelers have not won a playoff game since January 2017. Again, the Steelers make the playoffs a lot. It's that once they get there, they falter. The Browns would love this type of futility. But the Steelers? Nah, nope, no way. It's not who they are or, better put, it's not what the organization is supposed to be. This was the point Canty was making. "The Pittsburgh Steelers, it's been a decade and a half since they've been in a Super Bowl,' Canty said on the show. 'So the standard, the excellence that we've seen in that franchise, essentially excellence personified, that has now lost a little bit of its luster and it continues to do so with each passing year where they have early exit after early exit in the postseason. 'And so, I don't know what the move is, but clearly they need to be more aggressive than they have in years past because they're sitting on (their) hands, and doing business as usual hasn't gotten them to where the organization prides itself on being in terms of one of the teams that is constantly in the chase for championships." He added, in part, one last thing: "They got a championship-level coach, but their roster is not championship caliber, and their quarterback play certainly has been anything but, post-Ben Roethlisberger. So yeah, it's hard for me, and I can't believe I'm saying this because the Pittsburgh Steelers seem like they are as buttoned up, as functional, as any franchise in the NFL. But the Pittsburgh Steelers, they're not a serious franchise. They're just not. I don't take them seriously." Not a serious franchise. Is that true? Maybe that's harsh. But Canty isn't alone thinking that. If you want to say Canty said those things because he's a former Baltimore Raven and the two franchises hate each other, well, you'd be wrong. He also played for the Giants and Cowboys. Canty is simply stating things that some across the NFL are saying privately. The Steelers have lost some of that air of greatness that has surrounded the organization for decades. It's still an outstanding franchise. It still has a great head coach in Tomlin. But, for now at least, it's not those Steelers any longer. The organization could change the direction of the franchise with a significant move. Go get wide receiver DK Metcalf. Be aggressive in the draft. Something. At some point the Steelers will have to enter the 21st century when it comes to free agency and big moves. It's OK, Steelers. We got rocket ships. Flying cars are on the way. Modern football isn't going to bite. Promise.
USA Today
08-03-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Falcons QB Kirk Cousins meets with President Trump in Oval Office
Falcons QB Kirk Cousins meets with President Trump in Oval Office Show Caption Hide Caption NFL players try to guess Kirk Cousins' next landing spot NFL players, past and present, on Radio Row try to figure out where Kirk Cousins will play next. Sports Seriously Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins spent his first six seasons in the NFL with Washington. He made a Pro Bowl in 2016 and went 26-30-1 as a starter. He was back in the nation's capital on Friday and took the time to meet with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office. Margo Martin, a special assistant to the president and communications advisor, posted a photo to her account on X captioned "#18 🤝#47", referencing Cousins' jersey number and Trump being the 47th president of the United States. Cousins said Friday in a post on his Instagram page that he and his wife Julie were taking a trip to Washington, D.C. Cousins is the latest NFL player to visit the White House this offseason. Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker met with President Trump last week. Cousins is facing some uncertainty this offseason after the Falcons ended the 2024 season with rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. as the starter. Cousins will be 37 by the start of the 2025 season and nearly two years removed from surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon.
USA Today
06-03-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Ranking the 11 NFL teams best positioned to make major progress during 2025 offseason
Ranking the 11 NFL teams best positioned to make major progress during 2025 offseason Show Caption Hide Caption Will Myles Garrett stay a Brown or wear a different jersey next year? NFL players on Radio Row are asked where they think Myles Garrett will play next a comment from Myles Garrett himself! Sports Seriously INDIANAPOLIS – The New England Patriots are back atop the NFL … insomuch as they're set to have significantly more spending power than any other team in the league when free agency kicks off next week. 'We're going to do what we think is best. We have to do what's necessary. So last year, we didn't do enough of what was necessary. This year, we have to do what's necessary to improve the team,' Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf said at the scouting combine last week. Projected to have – by far – a league-high $127 million to dole out, the Pats are in prime position to take a deep dive into the veteran acquisition pool. No other team is even within $30 million of New England, which can begin recruiting unsigned veterans Monday. However, free agents can't begin signing with new teams until 4 p.m. ET on March 12, the start of the new league year. 'I mean, we took some swings,' Wolf said, referencing his approach last year, his first leading the front office following the departure of longtime coach (and personnel czar) Bill Belichick. '(T)aking swings ultimately, isn't good enough. We went 4-13. We have to have results. And so, you know, we took some swings at some of those guys and came up short. And that's not an excuse. That's just what happened. So we need to continue to improve the roster, whether they're weapons, whether it's the line, whether it's the defense, just in all phases.' Here's a ranking of 11 teams, from least to most, poised to make significant splashes this offseason (salary cap projections courtesy of Over The Cap): They've already agreed to trade WR Deebo Samuel. They've taken calls on WR Brandon Aiyuk. They're working on a long-awaited extension for QB Brock Purdy, who's newly eligible for it. And that might just be the start. Though GM John Lynch only has $33.8 million to spend at present, he is scheduled to have at least 12 picks in the draft – the kind of bounty that can help open other doors for a team that's come up just short of its sixth Super Bowl victory so many times in recent years. The trade for Samuel is all but official, and GM Adam Peters has $64 million to play with to bolster the roster around transcendent Jayden Daniels – perhaps the greatest freshman quarterback ever on the heels of his Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign, which extended all the way to the NFC championship game. However, Peters is light on the draft front, Washington lacking picks in Rounds 4 and 5. TOP 25* FREE AGENTS: Best NFL veterans who could be on the move They don't figure to be major players in free agency, currently needing to trim $23 million to come into cap compliance by Wednesday. And injured QB Deshaun Watson's specter seems likely to hover over this organization for at least one more year – mostly meaning his regrettable contract given double Achilles surgery means the highly unpopular player (with fans, anyway) may have taken his final snap for Cleveland. Still, possessing the No. 2 pick of the draft among their dozen selections means the Browns will either have the ability to shake it up or shake up their roster – especially if they tab Watson's replacement. But their real trump card could be DE Myles Garrett. The club's brain trust is currently denying the four-time All-Pro's request to leave Cleveland. But if EVP/GM Andrew Berry capitulates, which would likely occur closer to the draft if it ever does, then Garrett would almost certainly be the biggest name on the move this offseason – which would doubtless mean a hugely substantial haul for a franchise that could use it. Hardly content to rest on his Lombardi laurels, EVP/GM Howie Roseman has already been busy – sending the right message to his championship locker room by giving RB Saquon Barkley an early contractual raise before re-signing All-Pro Zack Baun. From a player acquisition standpoint, it doesn't appear Roseman has a lot of ammo given he'll mostly be drafting at the end of every round and doesn't have even $22 million in his cap coffers. But few NFL executives are as aggressive, proactive or creative as Roseman … and there's already a sense of dread in the league that he might be the one who can extract Garrett from Cleveland. What do they have cooking? A team that more than doubled its 2023 win total by going 11-6 in its first year under HC Jim Harbaugh now has more than $90 million in cap space following Wednesday evening's release of Pro Bowl OLB Joey Bosa. The Bolts have more than enough capacity to extend LT Rashawn Slater while re-signing OLB Khalil Mack and RB J.K. Dobbins should they choose – and a lot more beyond that. GM Joe Hortiz comes from a draft-and-develop operation in Baltimore, but expect his new team to explore veteran options at wideout, defensive line and elsewhere. They arrived at a major decision Wednesday, making DE Maxx Crosby, currently the face of this franchise – Tom Brady mostly staying in the shadows – the highest-paid non-quarterback in league history with a three-year extension averaging $35.5 million annually. That will put a dent in the free agent war chest, which had been projected at $95 million, second only to the Patriots. Still, expect the Silver and Black to be active. The Raiders' need for a quarterback has only grown following the release of Gardner Minshew II, yet they're in position to buy one (Sam Darnold? Aaron Rodgers?) or draft one – holding four of the top 73 slots, including sixth overall, allowing for significant flexibility to potentially target Cam Ward of Miami (Fla.) or Colorado's Shedeur Sanders. A year ago, owner Jerry Jones vowed to be 'all in' for his team after it had won 12 games in each of the three preceding regular seasons. But he decidedly wasn't – effectively punting on free agency before paying top dollar to extend WR CeeDee Lamb and QB Dak Prescott after dragging his feet on those negotiations for months on end. But on the heels of a 7-10 season that resulted in the departure of HC Mike McCarthy, 'America's Team' seems to be taking a new approach in 2025. Tuesday, Dallas avoided using its franchise tag by extending DT Osa Odighizuwa (4 years, $80 million). Lamb and Prescott also restructured their deals to free up more cash, the Cowboys' 2025 free agent budget ballooning to $54 million – which could be used to sign veterans, extend star LB Micah Parsons or a combination thereof. Dallas will also pick 12th in the first round and hasn't drafted earlier than that since 2016, when former RB Ezekiel Elliott came aboard. After they apparently pursued a trade for Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford, rampant rumors persist that a quarterback-starved franchise seeks to elevate from the third spot in the draft in order to ensure it gets a young replacement to build around after the Daniel Jones Experience was terminated early last season. The Giants are also scheduled to draft at the top of the second (34th overall) and third (65th) rounds, meaning they should get really good players … if they don't have to part with one or both of those picks for, say, Ward. A free agency budget of nearly $47 million will also help embattled GM Joe Schoen and HC Brian Daboll, though some of that may be needed to enlist a veteran passer so a rookie doesn't have to take the reins of a team that will likely be projected to finish last in the NFC East again, regardless of any roster improvements. They've already bolstered the protection in front of sophomore (and oft-sacked) QB Caleb Williams, acquiring veteran Gs Joe Thuney, a two-time All-Pro, and former Pro Bowler Jonah Jackson for the fairly meager price of two Day 3 draft picks. GM Ryan Poles still has $50 million at his disposal and owns one final chip, a second-round pick, from the 2023 deal with the Panthers that sent Carolina the No. 1 overall pick that year. That means Chicago has three of the first 41 selections, including No. 10 overall, to continue building out this roster around Williams and for rookie HC Ben Johnson, whose hire has already sparked further optimism in the Windy City. When you occupy the top spot in the draft, then – to some degree – you control the draft. The Titans have signaled their desire to pick a 'generational' talent – who doesn't want that? – but don't necessarily seem wed to making whomever that player is the No. 1 overall selection. If he can successfully incite a bidding war for a rookie quarterback, rookie GM Mike Borgonzi should be able to better jump-start his new employer's needed overhaul. Doesn't hurt to have $50 million in his cap pocket, either, and should be interesting to see how aggressive Borgonzi might be in the trade market after working with Kansas City Chiefs GM Brett Veach for so many years. 1. New England Patriots The ability to overpay for the free agents they're targeting provides quite an advantage – and owner Robert Kraft is likely to provide that signoff given his desperation to be a contending organization again post-Brady. Newly hired Mike Vrabel, a former player who's highly respected throughout the league and has already proven his coaching chops in Tennessee, could also be a nice lure – and he's looking for a bit more horsepower on this roster, too. 'I like to shop like everybody else,' Vrabel said at the combine. '(M)aybe you have to pay a little bit more for that one car, because there's only one of them. "(Y)ou may not have to overspend, but it's free agency. I think that everybody overspends sometimes in free agency.' The Patriots shouldn't have to overspend in the draft unless they choose to. They own nine selections, including four of the top 77. And given they're sitting at No. 4 overall but don't need to take a quarterback, they're in line to get a premium player or perhaps benefit from a QB-needy team eager to move into the top five. Regardless, Wolf and Vrabel appear very well situated to accelerate the rebuild around second-year QB Drake Maye, who needs upgraded weaponry and protection in the worst way. All NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mock Draft Monday: 7 fits we love + 2 sleepers we'd stand on the table for
It's the Football 301-Yahoo Fantasy Forecast crossover that's not really a crossover. The boys you know and love on both feeds are here to kill two pod birds with one mock draft stone. Matt Harmon, Nate Tice and Charles McDonald put a bow on our Scouting Combine coverage on Radio Row by sharing their 7 favorite prospect fits in their latest mock draft. To end the show, Tice and McDonald share 1 sleeper prospect they'd literally stand on the table for. McDonlad also tries the famous St. Elmo's shrimp cocktail and chaos ensues. (3:00) - Nate's first fit: Georgia LB Jalon Walker to Arizona Cardinals (6:30) - Charles' first fit: North Carolina RB Omarion Hampton to Washington Commanders (9:45) - Nate's second fit: Penn State TE Tyler Warren to Seattle Seahawks (14:45) - Charles' second fit: Alabama LB Jihaad Campbell to Tampa Bay Buccaneers (19:20) - Nate's third fit: Texas DB Jahdae Barron to Minnesota Vikings (21:50) - Charles' third fit: Georgia S Malaki Starks to Miami Dolphins (26:50) - Nate's fourth fit: Minnesota OT Aireontae Ersery to Kansas City Chiefs (30:00) - Stand on the table: Nate and Charles share their favorite sleeper prospect 🖥️
