NFL Draft WR Odds: McMillan, Burden, Or Ebuka Go First?

It seems like each year the crop of inbound wide receivers gets more and more talented. In the 2025 NFL Draft, teams have a bevy of options to reload their pass catching rooms. However, which WR goes first is up for grabs and NFL Draft odds reflect that. The top options this year include Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan, Missouri's Luther Burden III, Ohio State's Emeka Egbuka, and Texas' Matthew Golden. Let's take a look at this year's options.

This year, exercise caution betting Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter. He entered the NFL Combine as a cornerback, meaning betting markets may not count him as a receiver. More information on that to come.

NFL Draft odds: First WR drafted

Odds for first WR drafted will be released soon.

When betting the NFL Draft, consider team need. Teams in the first round in need of a wide receiver:

• Patriots (No. 4)
• Raiders (No. 6)
• Saints (No. 9)
• Cowboys (No. 12)
• Broncos (No. 20)
• Chargers (No. 22)
• Packers (No. 23)
• Texans (No. 25)
• Ravens (No. 27)
• Bills (No. 30)

NFL Draft Odds: how to bet on first WR drafted

One of the most common NFL Draft prop wagers are those that involve betting on which player will be the first drafted at each position. To find these wagers in an online sportsbook, click the NFL tab to navigate toward the 2025 Draft section. Once there, click on “First Pick by Position” to view the players in the market and their corresponding odds.

NFL Draft: WR profiles

Matthew Golden, Texas

Few receivers–more widely players–saw their draft capital jump like Golden. The Houston and Texas product dazzled this season, making highlight-reel grabs regularly throughout the College Football Playoff. Once a darkhorse Round 2 pick, Golden now knocks on the top 10 overall. He's the favorite to be the first receiver off the board as of the start of April.

Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona

At 6-foot-5 and with freakish athletic ability, it's easy to see why McMillan steals the top spot in NFL Draft WR rankings. Videos of McMillan went viral due to the physics-defying nature of the one-handed catches depicted. Arizona turned in a bummer of a year in 2024 and McMillan seemed to fall out of headlines. Though he reappeared in draft rankings in February, TMac was again overtaken by other options. He could go as early as the top 10 or fall out of the top 20. The only confidence is that McMillan goes in Round 1.

Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State

Overshadowed at times by Marvin Harrison Jr. and Jeremiah Smith, Egbuka turned in one of the most consistent careers in college football. He excels at multiple spots, be it over the top, underneath, or near the sideline. Save for McMillan, Egbuka has the best hands and concentration of any receiver in this class. What could vault him into Round 1 is his ability to catch in traffic and through contact. Watch for Egbuka to go as high as 15th and likely not out of the first round, given the number of receiver-needy teams.

Luther Burden III, Missouri

Burden is a slot receiver standing just 5-foot-10, but with elite route running abilities. Missouri utilized him best as an underneath receiver, running crossing patters and using his top-notch speed to burn opposing defenses. There's plenty of value in an elite possession receiver with the ability to run deep on occasion. Look for a team like Atlanta or Buffalo to target Burden on Day 2 – both teams with an established big-body deep threat in need of a slot. He saw his draft capital plummet to outside the first round throughout March.

Tre Harris, Ole Miss

Harris faced a setback in 2024, battling multiple injuries. Regardless, he pulled in over 1,000 yards for Ole Miss. The 6-foot-2 jump ball artist turned in dominant seasons, hauling in over 900 yards every year from 2022-24. Overshadowed by the three receivers already mentioned–plus dynamite freshman in Jeremiah Smith and Ryan Williams–Harris presents an intriguing prospect. Given his undeniable talent, a team could pull the trigger as early as late Round 1, though it appears he's geared toward a Day 2 selection.

Jalen Royals, Utah State

For those in the know, Royals is an unsurprising top-60 prospect this draft class. For the uninitiated, we don't blame you. Hidden under the guise of a sub-.500 Utah State program, Royals exploded for over 1,000 yards as a sophomore and over 800 yards in just seven games last year. His 2024 season was, unfortunately, cut short to injury – an injury that may impact his draft stock. Watch for the Aggie to go Day 2, likely earlier than later.

NFL Draft WR history

Here is a list of the first wide receivers taken in each NFL Draft going back to 2010.

NFL Draft odds betting strategy and trends

To assess a draft predictively, you have to assess which teams are in the greatest need of pass catchers. This season the Patriots, Falcons, and Bills fit the mold. In recent drafts, receivers fell down the board due to an abundance of players at their position and a lack of players at other positions like cornerback and offensive tackle. Receivers are still "premium" players, but with a saturation in the market, teams are more willing to pass on them early.

Also keep in mind team connections in the front office or on the coaching staff. For another position example, a team might be rumored to be enamored with Emeka Egbuka, making them more likely to pull on Egbuka inside the top 16. That's regardless of big boards and personal talent evaluations that likely slot Luther Burden ahead of him.

In four of the past five drafts, at least five receivers have been selected in the first round. Last year, seven went, thanks to a ran of three in the final five picks. Before then, you'd have to look back to 2014 to find a first round that featured more than four receivers selected.

More NFL Draft betting guides

• QB Draft Class
• RB Draft Class
• TE Draft Class
• OL Draft Class
• DL Draft Class
• LB Draft Class
• CB Draft Class
• SAF Draft Class