The 2024 NFL Draft Wide Receiver Class Looks Historically Great

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If you haven’t heard, the 2024 wide receiver class is something special. It could rival the draft status and production of the 2014 class that had five first-rounders — including Mike Evans, Odell Beckham Jr., and Brandin Cooks — when it’s all said and done. That’s lofty praise. When you flip on the tape, however, it’s not unwarranted. 

What sets this group apart is the shear size. The amount of prospects that fit the prototypical No. 1 wide receiver mold of 6-foot-2-plus and 200-plus pounds is off the charts. With that in mind, it’s worth bucketing the class into where their best role would be at the next level. While the pure X/Y/Z designations are a bit antiquated with the diversity of modern offenses, there’s still differences that manifest on NFL fields. 

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X-Receivers

This is what you think of when you envision a No. 1 wide receiver: the guy who can sit on the line of scrimmage on the outside all game long and (hopefully) demand safety help over the top. Often that requires size, a certain amount of possession receiver traits, and — most importantly — the ability to threaten deep (if no one fears you on the vertical tree, you won’t be an effective X-receiver). NFL prototypes over the years are guys like Julio Jones, Calvin Johnson, and DeAndre Hopkins.

1. Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State (3rd Year | 6-4, 205)

No prospect is more feared on the vertical tree in the class. His catch-radius, ball-tracking, suddenness, and top-speed are all terrifying for opposing corners. He’s as prototypical an X-Receiver prospect as you’ll ever see.

2. Rome Odunze, Washington (4th Year | 6-3, 215)
Odunze not only has the size and speed to consistently separate deep, but he has mastered the subtle art of late separation better than anyone else in this draft class. His ability to win at the line, as a route-runner, and at the catch point leaves very few holes in his game to criticize — and it’s why he racked up an FBS-leading 1,640 yards and 13 scores this past fall. There’s a good chance he ends up a top-10 pick.

3. Adonai Mitchell, Texas (3rd Year | 6-4, 196)
The biggest thing that separates Mitchell from the two players above him on this list is polish. He showed the ability to leave even the best corners he faced in the dust, but did so on an inconsistent basis. His best routes incorporated some element of free-styling or double moves this past season. At minimum he’ll be a red zone weapon; 18 of his 93 career receptions resulted in scores.

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Y-Receivers

Since the Y-receiver lines up off the line of scrimmage and can go in motion, their role can be a bit more varied. These receivers are characterized by a diverse route-tree and necessary YAC-ability as they’re often the screen targets in an offense. 

1. Malik Nabers, LSU (3rd Year | 6-0, 200)
Nabers is the prototype for this position, the flanker that opposing defenses have to identify and account for on every play, someone who is as deadly before the catch as they are after. I’ve racked my brain thinking of comps for him, but there really isn’t one. Nabers is a one-of-one skill set that should end up a top-5 pick.

2. Xavier Worthy, Texas (3rd Year | 6-1, 172)
Worthy is pure, uncut dynamism. He can go any direction at any time with suddenness that’s impossible for corners to match without contacting him. Size will be the biggest question — he’s rail-thin — although he’s added considerable muscle since his breakout freshman campaign. Scheme him up free releases at the next level and Worthy will create space.

3. Ladd McConkey, Georgia (4th Year | 6-0, 185)
McConkey is a quintessential No. 2 receiver. He’s a crafty and reliable route-runner who can win at every level of the football field. If you left him on the outside all day, though, he’d get pushed around too much to be consistently effective. He’s a high-floor type of prospect.

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