- Tetairoa McMillan would slot in properly with the Giants’ scheme: New York is not as a lot available in the market for a prime wideout after drafting Malik Nabers final 12 months, however McMillan’s hitch-route prowess aligns with New York’s passing sport.
- Could the Bengals construct an excellent scarier receiving corps? Cincinnati profiles as a match for a number of of the highest wideouts, regardless of having Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins already in tow.
Estimated Reading Time: 10 minutes
The wealth of receiver expertise in any given NFL draft — dive in with PFF’s 2025 NFL Draft Guide — makes it all of the extra essential to grasp every participant’s talent set, together with their route timber.
We’re wanting on the prime 5 extensive receivers on PFF’s large board and the way their route timber align with NFL schemes, offering a possible glimpse of some good player-team matches within the draft.
Click right here for extra draft instruments:
NFL Draft Big Board | Mock Draft Simulator | NCAA Premium Stats
2025 PFF Draft Guide | Mock Draft Hub | Prospect Data Profiles
Draft Position Rankings
Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona Wildcats
- PFF Big Board Rank: 3
- 2024 PFF Receiving Grade: 85.8
- Targeted Route Volume in 2024: Hitch (25), Slant (17), Go (16)
McMillan was focused 39 instances on hitch routes over the previous two seasons at a 17.0% price. He caught all however 5 of his targets for 19 first downs. McMillan compelled seven missed tackles, had eight catches of 15-plus yards and averaged 3.63 yards per route run on hitches. He ranked seventh within the Power Five draft class in PFF receiving grade on hitch routes in that span (83.7).
Best NFL Fits by Targeted Route Rate
No crew focused hitch routes extra in 2024 than the New York Giants (118), led by Wan’Dale Robinson (41) and Malik Nabers (39). The Giants have loads of choices with the No. 3 decide and may very well be tempted so as to add a real No. 2 receiver alongside Nabers.
They re-signed Darius Slayton and added Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Zach Pascal and Ihmir-Smith Marsette, however none has the ceiling that McMillan teases. The Giants additionally focused go and out routes at a excessive price, and McMillan racked up 48 mixed targets on these performs throughout the previous two seasons with PFF receiving grades above 76.0 for every. If Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter are off the board and the Giants are snug with their quarterback state of affairs, McMillan may very well be a reputation to control.
Luther Burden III, Missouri Tigers
- PFF Big Board Rank: 14
- 2024 PFF Receiving Grade: 80.2
- Targeted Route Volume in 2024: Out (16), Hitch (9), Screen (8)
Burden secured 14 of 16 out-route targets in 2024 for 137 yards and two touchdowns. He moved the chains six instances, compelled 4 missed tackles and recorded 5 catches of 15-plus yards. Burden generated a 141.9 passer goal score on these performs and ranked seventh in yards after the catch per reception (3.8).
Missouri focused out routes at a 14.7% clip over the previous two seasons, the third-highest price of their route tree. Burden was the most-targeted participant on these performs (28) and earned a 78.2 PFF receiving grade. He ranked within the prime 5 in receiving yards (273) and yards after the catch (128) from that route, whereas 11 of his 22 catches went for first downs.
Best NFL Fits by Targeted Route Rate
Four NFL groups recorded 85 or extra out-route targets in 2024, with the Rams main the way in which (88). Los Angeles parted with Cooper Kupp however signed Davante Adams to pair with Puka Nacua. They additionally re-signed Tutu Atwell, who caught 43 passes for 580 yards in 2024.
The Rams focused crossing and hitch routes at excessive charges final season, and whereas Burden tallied solely 10 crossing targets over the previous two seasons, he logged 19 hitch targets in that span, securing 16 passes for 180 yards. In all, Burden compelled 30 missed tackles in his profession and generated 56 catches of 15pplus yards, giving the Rams an electrical playmaker to fill Kupp’s void within the slot (1,034 profession snaps) at Pick No. 26. Burden is just not projected to final that lengthy, and the Rams produce other wants to deal with (thirtieth in go blocking and twenty first in protection), however he can be too good to go up if obtainable.
Of the remaining groups, Houston appears probably the most possible touchdown spot within the aftermath of Tank Dell’s restoration and Stefon Diggs‘ departure. Even after signing Christian Kirk, the Texans want a brand new secondary playmaker alongside Nico Collins. Burden affords versatility for an offense that has undergone a serious reset this offseason, they usually decide simply forward of the Rams at No. 25.
Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State Buckeyes
- PFF Big Board Rank: 19
- 2024 PFF Receiving Grade: 82.4
- Targeted Route Volume in 2024: Crossing (17), Out (16), Hitch (16)
Egbuka was focused 48 instances on crossing routes all through his school profession at a 19.5% price, ending within the prime 5 within the Power Five draft class in yards (451), first downs (22) and PFF receiving grade (90.0). Egbuka caught 13 passes for 202 yards on crossers final season. He moved the chains eight instances, gained 71 yards after the catch and had six catches of 15-plus yards. He recorded 12 catches on crossing routes all through his profession and averaged 3.98 yards per route run.
Best NFL Fits by Targeted Route Rate
Buffalo (61), Los Angeles (58) and Denver (57) recorded probably the most crossing-route targets in 2024. The Bills prolonged Khalil Shakir this offseason, their main slot receiver, and signed Joshua Palmer. Those two together with Keon Coleman presently undertaking as their beginning receivers.
Egbuka’s route tree is just like what Buffalo likes to focus on. Although he noticed solely eight go-route targets in his school profession, he introduced in 5 for 211 yards. He additionally recorded his most targets on hitch routes (48), incomes a 77.2 PFF receiving grade on such performs. While Egbuka is an attractive receiving risk, would Buffalo be keen to pick out one other slot receiver at No. 30 regardless of the crew’s defensive holes? His potential may very well be laborious to disregard ought to he nonetheless be on the board.
The Rams once more may very well be late within the first spherical, even when a No. 3 receiver looks like a luxurious decide. Like Burden, Egbuka affords elite capability in a job they nonetheless have to fill.
Denver is returning all three of its beginning receivers from final season. Seventh-round rookie Devaughn Vele shocked in 2024, incomes an elite 90.8 PFF receiving grade from the slot. The Broncos additionally drafted Troy Franklin final season and could also be snug with that rotation, however Egbuka affords the next ceiling and can be a real No. 2 playmaker alongside Courtland Sutton.
Matthew Golden, Texas Longhorns
- PFF Big Board Rank: 22
- 2024 PFF Receiving Grade: 75.6
- Targeted Route Volume in 2024: Hitch (13), Out (12), Wide Screen/Slant/In (8 every)
Golden earned an 82.5 PFF receiving grade on hitch routes final season, securing 11 of 13 targets for 168 yards and eight first downs. He caught a landing go, compelled three missed tackles and recorded 5 beneficial properties of 15-plus yards. The Texas receiver ranked eighth in yards after the catch per reception (5.5) and averaged 4.00 yards per route run on hitches
Golden logged 38 profession hitch-route targets between Texas and Houston at a 16.6% clip. Twenty of his 29 catches went for first downs, and he averaged 4.8 yards after the catch per reception. He completed with eight profession beneficial properties of 15-plus yards on hitch routes and a profession 79.0 PFF receiving grade.
Best NFL Fits by Targeted Route Rate
Golden can be an excellent match for both Cincinnati (Pick No. 17) or Seattle (Pick No. 18) within the first spherical, with the Seahawks being a extra doubtless touchdown spot. The Bengals simply prolonged their star receiver duo to long-term offers, and whereas they might use a 3rd playmaker, protection is probably going the precedence for a crew that ranked twenty second final season in crew PFF defensive grade and has questions surrounding their finest participant on that facet of the ball (Trey Hendrickson).
Seattle reset its receiving core this offseason by buying and selling away D.Okay. Metcalf and signing Cooper Kupp. Kupp and Jaxon Smith-Njigba give the crew two prime receiving choices, however each play primarily out of the slot and sturdiness questions linger with Kupp. The crew additionally introduced in Marquez Valdes-Scantling, however they nonetheless lack an elite exterior risk. Golden ran greater than 1,300 routes from exterior alignments in school and will carry an added degree of versatility to the Seahawks’ offense.
5. Elic Ayomanor, Stanford Cardinal
- PFF Big Board Rank: 35
- 2024 PFF Receiving Grade: 74.3
- Targeted Route Volume in 2024: Hitch (34), Go (13), Slant (10)
Ayomanor racked up the third-most hitch-route targets within the Power Five draft class final season, recording 34 at a 30.3% price. He introduced in 26 such passes for 224 yards, with 13 of his catches gaining first downs. He secured six of 9 contested seems and recorded three catches of 15-plus yards on hitched. Ayomanor earned a profession 75.6 PFF receiving grade on hitch routes whereas rating within the prime three in targets (56) and first-down beneficial properties (23).
Best NFL Fits by Targeted Route Rate
The Giants, Seahawks and Bengals might all be in play for Ayomanor in Round 2, assuming they do not land one of many prime 4 receivers. If the Giants prioritize receiver assist early on, they might goal Travis Hunter at Pick No. 3 and nonetheless take Ayomanor at Pick No. 34 to pair with Malik Nabers, forming probably the greatest younger receiving corps within the league.
Ayomanor is one other nice exterior choice for Seattle, as his receiving profile matches the crew’s two most-targeted routes from final season.
Cincinnati might have extra alignment questions with Ayomanor, as neither he, Ja’Marr Chase nor Tee Higgins play extensively within the slot. However, his route tree can be just like what the Bengals focused most final season.