Sleeper Alert: WRs to Watch in the 2025 NFL Draft – Hidden Gems Revealed!

The 2025 NFL Draft is shaping up to be an exciting one, particularly for teams looking to bolster their receiving corps. While names like Travis Hunter from Colorado and Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan are headlining the wide receiver class, history shows that some of the most impactful players are often found outside the spotlight. Remember Cooper Kupp, a third-round pick who went on to win the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year award? This year, several under-the-radar prospects could follow a similar trajectory.

The Headliners: Known Commodities

Before diving into the sleepers, it’s important to acknowledge the top prospects. Travis Hunter, known for his exceptional ball skills and hand-eye coordination, is considered by many to be the most explosive playmaker in the draft. Hunter had 96 receptions for 1,258 yards with 15 touchdowns receiving and one rushing. He also contributed on defense with 35 tackles, four interceptions, 11 passes broken up, and a forced fumble. Tetairoa McMillan, with his rare combination of size, hands, and route-running acumen, is another name frequently mentioned in the first-round conversation. In 2024, McMillan had 84 receptions for 1,319 yards and eight touchdowns.

Sleeper Central: Day 2 and Day 3 Gems

The real intrigue begins beyond the first round. Several wide receivers possess the potential to become valuable contributors, offering teams a chance to find starting-caliber talent at a fraction of the cost.

Jayden Higgins (Iowa State): Higgins is a versatile receiver who runs the full route tree and lines up both inside and out. At 6’4"/214 with a 39-inch vertical, he’s a powerful presence at the catch point, making him a reliable jump-ball target and potential red zone threat. Despite his frame, he flashes nice burst on double moves and clocked an impressive 4.47 forty. In 2024, Higgins earned 3rd-Team AP All-American and 2nd-Team All-Big 12 honors after finishing top 10 in the FBS in both receptions (87) and receiving yards (1,183).

Kyle Williams (Washington State): The 22-year-old senior is a 5’11", 190-pound speedster out of Washington State with a smaller catch radius. As a senior, he averaged 92 yards per game with 17.1 yards per reception (80th percentile among drafted WRs). Williams’ 4.40 speed allows him to stack cornerbacks on vertical routes from the perimeter and out of the slot, but he’s most dominant as a yards after catch weapon because of his initial burst. He averaged an elite 13.3 yards after the catch on his 18 screen receptions, consistently splitting defenders.

Tory Horton (Colorado State): The 22-year-old Colorado State redshirt senior is a lean, outside receiver with real speed. Despite coming off a knee injury, Horton (6’2.5"/196) ran a 4.41 forty at the NFL Combine. In 2023, he averaged 95 receiving yards per game on just 11.8 yards per catch (bottom 12th percentile). He caught most of his passes on quick-hitting zone hitches and intermediate crossing routes, which are his best route as it showcases his straight-line speed while minimizing his inability to drop his hips and change directions.

Tai Felton (Maryland): The 22-year-old senior was a two-year starter at Maryland who posted 94 yards per game and 81st percentile fantasy points per game among drafted WRs as a senior despite a tough schedule. Felton’s production came with a lower 11.7 yards per reception (12th percentile) due to a massive jump in screen usage (33% of his catches). At 6’1"/183, he’s quite thin, but he tested as a high-end athlete with 87th percentile jumps and 85th percentile speed. He’s slippery after the catch, shows toughness over the middle, and can occasionally beat press coverage outside.

Elic Ayomanor (Stanford): Ayomanor enters the 2025 NFL Draft as one of the more well-rounded Day 3 receiver prospects, offering a blend of size, athleticism and production that could translate to the next level. A two-year starter at Stanford, Ayomanor finished his career with 125 receptions, 1,844 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns — though it was his breakout game against Colorado in 2023 that put him on the national radar. He set a single-game school record with 294 receiving yards and three touchdowns, much of it coming while matched up against projected top-five pick Travis Hunter.

Tre Harris (Mississippi): Harris was a Second-Team All-American in 2024 after leading the team in receptions (60), receiving yards (1,030) and ranking second in receiving touchdowns (7). The receiver finished his Ole Miss career with 2,015 yards and 15 touchdowns on 114 receptions in 20 games, becoming one of two in SEC history to average 100 yards per game across a career (103.3 per game). Harris averaged a whopping 17.2 yards per catch in 2024.

Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State): Egbuka ranked ninth in the country with 1,151 receiving yards as a true sophomore in 2022 and was Second-team All-Big Ten. He was named Third-team All-Big Team in 2023 and 2024 and led the Buckeyes with 81 receptions in 2024. He set the school record for 205 career receptions.

Luther Burden III (Missouri): Burden is a dynamic playmaker with explosive skills as a catch-and-run specialist. While his final college season didn’t match his sophomore output, Burden projects as a dynamic weapon who can thrive in space and elevate an NFL offense.

What to Look For

When evaluating these potential sleepers, several key traits stand out:

Versatility: Can the receiver line up in multiple positions and run a variety of routes?
Speed and Agility: Does the player possess the explosiveness to separate from defenders and make plays after the catch?
Ball Skills: How reliable are the receiver’s hands, especially in contested situations?
Football IQ: Does the player understand route concepts and how to find open space?
Special Teams Value: Can the receiver contribute as a returner or on coverage units?

Final Thoughts

The 2025 NFL Draft offers a diverse group of wide receiver prospects. While the top names will garner most of the attention, the true value may lie in identifying the hidden gems who can exceed expectations and become valuable contributors for their respective teams. Keep an eye on these sleeper wide receivers; they could be the next stars.