The 'On The Clock' crew of Matt Williamson, Mike Prisuta and Max Starks take a look at the top prospects in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, which will be held in Pittsburgh in April. Today, they delve into the wide receiver position.
Note: The opinions expressed here are their own and not those of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Matt's Take
This group of wide outs lacks a truly elite prospect equal to someone like Ja'Marr Chase, but there could be quite a few players at this position drafted in the first round. Also, as usual, the wide receiver depth this year is very strong with an excellent combination of players of all sizes and styles. There could be 15 receivers taken in the top two rounds and plenty of gems after that.
Matt's Rankings
1. Carnell Tate, Ohio State, 6-2, 192 lbs. - Many overreacted to Tate's 4.53/40 at the Combine. But many of the NFL's top wide outs ran a very similar time and hey, not to helmet scout, but the Buckeyes have a pretty incredible track record recently of pumping out players at this position. Tate wins at all levels with excellent nuance and body control.
2. Denzel Boston, Washington, 6-4, 212 lbs.- Boston has obvious height at size, but he also has outstanding ball skills, can actually return punts at a high level, and finds the end zone time and time again. We don't yet have a confirmed time on Boston yet, but like Tate, should be plenty fast enough to consistently win at the next level.
3. Makai Lemon, USC, 5-11, 192 lbs.- Lemon isn't the biggest. Lemon isn't the fastest. However, he is incredibly competitive in the mold of another USC alum, Amon Ra St. Brown. Lemon does his best work out of the slot and is quick separator in the middle of the field. He should demand a lot of volume immediately at the next level.
4. Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State, 6-2, 203 lbs.- This fourth-place ranking might be a little harsh on Tyson and on tape, the gap between the top four wide recievers is very slight. But Tyson does have durability concerns. When right, Tyson shines in contested catch situations and shows excellent short area quickness as well as versatility and the ability to high point the football. And his position coach at Arizona State is Hines Ward.
5. KC Concepcion, Texas A&M, 6-0, 196 lbs. - Concepcion is dynamite with the ball in his hands and overall, is electric as any wide receiver in this draft. Coming in at 6' 0" at the Combine was also a pleasant surprise. He is an immediate separator with great return skills. Drops have been a problem for Concepcion, but he is a game changer.
Sleeper: Ted Hurst, Georgia State, 6-4, 206 lbs. - Yes, Hurst played against a very low level of competition, but he was often dominant at Georgia State. And he was very impressive at the Senior Bowl. Hurst is a big-bodied downfield threat with great ball tracking skills. His short to intermediate route running still needs refinement, but Hurst has the body control to develop into an every down player in the NFL despite his humble background.
Mike's Take
It's often said there's talent to be found at wide receiver in any round of any NFL Draft.
And there's plenty of recent evidence to support such an assessment.
As good an example as any is the 2023 exercise, when wide receivers Jaxson Smith-Njigba, Quentin Johnston, Zay Flowers and Jordan Addison were selected in succession with picks 20 through 23 overall, and Puka Nacua lasted until the fifth round (and the 177th-overall selection).
They're out there.
And this year is no exception.
Maybe not quite a Ja'Marr Chase or Malik Nabers this time around, but they're out there.
It's a matter of preference, fit and perception.
Mike's Rankings
1. Carnell Tate, Ohio State, 6-2, 192 lbs. - Tate's 4.53 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis lacked splash but he didn't need to make one at this juncture. He is, after all, the next in line off the Buckeyes' assembly line, following Garrett Wilson (2022), Chris Olave (2022), Jaxon Smith-Njigba (2023), Marvin Harrison, Jr. (2024) and Emeka Egbuka (2025), and in advance of Jeremiah Smith, who projects as one of the top overall players available in 2027.
2. Makai Lemon, USC, 5-11, 192 lbs.- There are stats that impress and stats that project. Lemon's four games with at least 150 yards receiving and at least one receiving touchdown does both. The previous three players from a Power Conference who pulled that off are Chase in 2019, DeVonta Smith in 2020 and Jameson Williams in 2021. Any questions?
3. Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State, 6-2, 203 lbs.- Tyson might be one of the best pure talents available in the draft let alone the best wide receiver. But he has a significant injury history that includes missing time in 2022-23 (ACL/MCL/PCL), 2024 (collarbone) and 2025 (hamstring). When Tyson's healthy he scores touchdowns (18 combined in the past two seasons).
4. Denzel Boston, Washington, 6-4, 212 lbs.- Boston had to wait his turn behind a slew of talented wide receivers in Seattle but in the last two seasons he has emerged as a large and inviting target. Boston's market should be busy leading up to the draft after he found the end zone a combined 20 times in 2024 and 2025.
5. Malachi Fields, Notre Dame, 6-41/2, 218 lbs.- The 4.61 40 Fields ran in Indy might be concerning had he not lit up the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. "Overall, Fields will fill that power forward role at the next level and should be a real weapon in the red zone," NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah assessed. Fields will do that and be that in spectacular fashion at times (see the Notre Dame-Pitt tape for contested-catch confirmation).
Sleeper: Kaden Wetjen, Iowa, 5-9, 193 lbs. - Wetjen had more touchdowns on returns (six) than he did receptions (one) in three seasons at Iowa. But the return ability is real and it's a weapon. He found the end zone four times in 2025, once on a kickoff return and three times while running back punts. Find him a roster spot and then hold your breath if and when the other team kicks Wetjen the ball.
Max's Take
A top wide receiver is a tricky proposition at times, but when utilized in the right system, something spectacular happens to an offense. This year's class of wide receivers has the "it" factor - there are several prospects in the top-tier class of probably one of the most loaded wide receiver classes that we've seen in some time. No doubt the outcome of 7-on-7 leagues and flag football has given the wide receiver position group an arsenal of experience in a lot of different ways. This top five list can be mixed, twisted and jumbled around however you want to look at it. There are a lot of deserving receivers that should be on this list, but this is how I see my top five as it stands right now.
Max's Rankings
1. Carnell Tate, Ohio State, 6-2, 192 lbs. - Tate gives you everything you want at the receiver position: speed, explosiveness, game IQ, catch radius and a tall frame at 6'2". He is an ideal complement to an already established receiver that will garner his own attention, as well and put a team in quandary when asked to cover and isolate one receiver in a double team.
2. Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State, 6-2, 203 lbs.- Outside of the health concerns for Tyson, he is arguably one of the best receivers in this year's draft. He can create explosive plays at the drop of a dime. He can beat press coverage and he can ID the ball at full speed in the air - rare polish for a player of his caliber, but no surprise when you know who is wide receiver coach was, Super Bowl MVP, Hines Ward.
3. Makai Lemon, USC, 5-11, 192 lbs.- One of the most competitive wideouts in this year's draft comes out of USC. Lemon is a hard nose, physical at the point-of-catch type of ball player. Ideally suited for the slot, he gives you a throwback feel to a Steve Smith Sr. type of player, and that type of guy is needed on a lot of teams.
4. Denzel Boston, Washington, 6-4, 212 lbs.- Boston is probably one of my favorite big body receivers in this year's draft. He is tough at the point, can go up and get a jump ball, and I believe is a guy who, when given the tough, across the middle of the field throw, can win consistently. His release at the line of scrimmage can use some work, but all of the physical traits that can't be coached supercede that limitation.
5. Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State, 6-2, 203 lbs.– You can't coach speed and speed is exactly what Concepcion brings to the table. He is a super fast, quick hitting wide receiver that has breakaway speed. The only issue is the inconsistency with his hands and concentration catches. These things can be coached out of him with the right offensive scheme and coach.
Sleeper: Chris Bell, Louisville, 6-2, 222 lbs. - Bell seems to be losing steam since the Combine but he's still a guy that I believe can be an effective target to any quarterback that's lucky to have him. His frame and size make him an ideal target for boundary sideline catches and a big target in the end zone. He will ideally need to be moved in space pre-snap, but considering the amount of movement that goes on during an average NFL down, it should not be a problem for him to be schemed into an offense.
