NFL · 5 hours ago

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Ranks the Top 10 Wide Receivers for the 2026 NFL Draft

John Canady

Host · Writer

10) Chris Bell, Louisville
Height: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 220

Chris Bell is a big-bodied receiver who can make an impact in the passing game right away. In 2025, he totaled 72 receptions for 917 yards and six touchdowns, showing the ability to win contested catches and gain yards after the catch.

Bell’s size, hands, and physicality make him a reliable option in the red zone and a matchup problem for defenders. He has the tools to contribute immediately as a downfield threat for whatever team lands him.
1) Carnell Tate, Ohio State
Height: 6-foot-3 | Weight: 195

Carnell Tate feels like the next in line from Ohio State’s wide receiver pipeline, which is built exactly for the NFL. At six-foot-three, he wins on the boundary with body control and strong hands, and he’s more polished as a route runner than people realize.

In 2025, Tate turned 51 receptions into 875 yards and nine touchdowns, consistently flashing his ability to stretch the field and finish in the red zone. The shifty playmaker isn't just a gadget guy or a volume-only target; he’s a true outside receiver who can tilt coverage and make quarterbacks look good when the ball is in the air.
2) Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
Height: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 200

Jordyn Tyson brings a smooth, controlled game to the position. At six-foot-two and 200 pounds, he has the size to win on the outside and the body control to finish through contact. In 2025, he posted 61 receptions for 711 yards and eight touchdowns, serving as a reliable target who could move the chains and cash in near the goal line.

Tyson wins with tempo and awareness more than flash. He understands leverage, finds space against zone, and makes quarterbacks comfortable throwing his way. The production and polish suggest a receiver who could contribute early at the next level.
3) Makai Lemon, USC
Height: 5-foot-11 | Weight: 195

Makai Lemon is a dynamic, playmaking receiver who can change a game in a single catch. Just under six feet and 195 pounds, the USC star uses quickness and route precision to create separation, and his 2025 totals of 79 receptions for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns show just how dangerous he is once the ball is in his hands.

Lemon thrives in space and tracks the ball with instincts, making him a threat on every snap. His combination of production and explosiveness suggests he can contribute immediately at the next level.
4) Denzel Boston, Washington
Height: 6-foot-4 | Weight: 209

Denzel Boston is a polished outside receiver with a knack for making big plays in key moments. In 2025, he turned 62 receptions into 881 yards and 11 touchdowns, consistently finding the end zone and stretching the field for Washington.

Boston wins with precise route-running and savvy in coverage, showing the kind of awareness and hands that translate quickly to the next level. He’s a dependable target who can make a quarterback look better with every throw.
5) Malachi Fields, Notre Dame
Height: 6-foot-4 | Weight: 223

Malachi Fields is a big-bodied receiver who creates matchup problems downfield. In 2025, he totaled 36 receptions for 630 yards and five touchdowns, showing the ability to make plays in the red zone and on deep throws.

Fields tracks the ball well, separates with crisp routes, and can be a reliable weapon for quarterbacks looking for a consistent target on the outside.
6) Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee
Height: 6-foot-5 | Weight: 200

Chris Brazzell II emerged as one of the SEC’s most productive receivers in 2025, finishing with 62 receptions for 1,017 yards and nine touchdowns, leading the conference in both yardage and scores.

A towering target with uncommon playmaking ability, Brazzell stretches defenses vertically and wins contested catches, making him a true home-run threat on every snap. His breakout season included multiple 100-yard games and All‑SEC recognition, and his combination of size, production, and consistent deep play makes him one of the more intriguing wideouts in this class.
7) Zachariah Branch, Georgia
Height: 5-foot-10 | Weight: 180

Zachariah Branch emerged as one of Georgia’s most reliable playmakers in 2025. He finished the season with 81 receptions for 811 yards and six touchdowns, showing an ability to make defenders miss and create big plays after the catch.

Branch combines sudden burst with sharp route-running, consistently finding separation and giving his quarterback a dependable target. His production and instincts suggest he can step into a contributing role right away at the next level.
8) KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
Height: 5-foot-11 | Weight: 190

KC Concepcion is a dynamic playmaker who knows how to get open and make defenders pay. In 2025, he totaled 61 receptions for 919 yards and nine touchdowns, showing a knack for turning short opportunities into big gains.

Concepcion’s quickness and route-running precision make him a reliable weapon in the passing game. He can create separation at all levels of the field and consistently puts himself in a position to make the game-changing catch.
9) Germie Bernard, Alabama
Height: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 204

Germie Bernard is a versatile receiver who can line up anywhere on the field and make plays after the catch. In 2025, he recorded 64 receptions for 862 yards and seven touchdowns, showing his ability to move the chains and make explosive plays in space consistently.

Bernard’s agility, hands, and vision allow him to create separation and turn short throws into big gains. He projects as a reliable, multi-dimensional target who can contribute immediately at the next level.
10) Chris Bell, Louisville
Height: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 220

Chris Bell is a big-bodied receiver who can make an impact in the passing game right away. In 2025, he totaled 72 receptions for 917 yards and six touchdowns, showing the ability to win contested catches and gain yards after the catch.

Bell’s size, hands, and physicality make him a reliable option in the red zone and a matchup problem for defenders. He has the tools to contribute immediately as a downfield threat for whatever team lands him.
1) Carnell Tate, Ohio State
Height: 6-foot-3 | Weight: 195

Carnell Tate feels like the next in line from Ohio State’s wide receiver pipeline, which is built exactly for the NFL. At six-foot-three, he wins on the boundary with body control and strong hands, and he’s more polished as a route runner than people realize.

In 2025, Tate turned 51 receptions into 875 yards and nine touchdowns, consistently flashing his ability to stretch the field and finish in the red zone. The shifty playmaker isn't just a gadget guy or a volume-only target; he’s a true outside receiver who can tilt coverage and make quarterbacks look good when the ball is in the air.