Pewter Report analyzes the top players in the 2024 NFL Draft with its position previews – energized by CELSIUS, the official energy drink of Pewter Report. Bailey Adams continues the previews with the wide receiver position, with a comprehensive look at what the Bucs have and what they need at the position.

Adams also provides a detailed list of this year’s top wide receivers. In addition, Scott Reynolds offers up the Bucs’ draft needs and the annual Pewter Report Bucs Best Bets – the most likely wide receiver for the Bucs to select in Rounds 1-3 and in Rounds 4-7.

What The Bucs Have At Wide Receiver

Bucs WRs Chris Godwin and Mike Evans – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The top of the Bucs’ depth chart at receiver is certainly well-established, as Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are the two best receivers in franchise history and have been one of the league’s best duos since 2018. Evans just signed a new two-year deal this offseason that will get him a step closer to being a Buc for life, while Godwin is entering a contract year.

After Evans and Godwin, the Bucs don’t have a lot committed to the wide receiver position. Trey Palmer, a sixth-round pick last year, is the presumptive WR3 right now and behind him are some undrafted free agents in Deven Thompkins, Rakim Jarrett, Ryan Miller and Cephus Johnson.

Tampa Bay released Russell Gage this offseason after a two-year tenure with the team that was disappointingly riddled with injuries. So, a position group that was a major strength as recently as 2021 is suddenly in need of some upgrading, especially with Evans soon turning 31 and Godwin’s future with the team being uncertain.

What The Bucs Need At Wide Receiver

Tampa Bay needs depth at receiver and another playmaker. While Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are the aces atop the depth chart, there’s no clear WR3 behind them. Trey Palmer flashed promise as a rookie in 2023, but he may project as more of a WR4-type for the Bucs long-term. Even if he does take another step and assumes that WR3 role for good this season, the depth beyond him is weak.

Deven Thompkins hasn’t been much more than a return man and end-around specialist over the last two years and though the team is high on him, 2023 undrafted free agent Rakim Jarrett still has some developing to do. And that’s essentially it as far as the team’s wide receiver group currently stands.

Youth is another need at wide receiver, as both Evans and Godwin are getting up there in age. Evans turns 31 in August and while he hasn’t slowed down yet, it would be foolish to expect him to be a 1,000-yard machine deep into his 30s. Finding an early-round receiver who can alleviate some of the pressure on him to carry the load would help as he gets further up there in age.

Not only that, but the 28-year-old Godwin is entering a contract year and isn’t a lock to return in 2025 when he turns 29. So finding a potential replacement for Godwin and perhaps a couple of high-upside receivers – ideally one of which would bring more size to the room – to shore up the group long-term should be a priority for Tampa Bay.

Top Wide Receivers In 2024 NFL Draft

*Important Note: These players are NOT listed in the order of Pewter Report’s ranking for them. Rather, the numbers are provided to show you the rough order in which we expect them to come off the board during the draft.

1. Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr. – Junior – 6-3, 209 – N/A

The son of Hall of Fame wide receiver Marvin Harrison (obviously), Harrison Jr. blends size, speed, strength and smarts. He put those traits, his exceptional hands and his elite footwork on display over the last two years at Ohio State, catching 144 of his 232 targets (62.0%) for 2,474 yards (17.2 avg.) and 28 touchdowns.

2. LSU WR Malik Nabers – Junior – 6-0, 199 – 4.35

LSU WR Malik Nabers – Photo by: USA Today

Nabers has a case for being WR1 in the 2024 draft class after dominating over his final two seasons at LSU. He is a great separator and can win vertically from both the outside and the slot. In 2022, he caught 72 of his 100 targets for 1,017 yards and three touchdowns (14.1 avg.). Nabers then went to another level during Jayden Daniels’ Heisman Trophy season in 2023, catching 89 of his 128 targets (70%) for 1,568 yards and 13 touchdowns (17.6 avg.)

3. Washington WR Rome Odunze – Junior – 6-3, 212 – 4.45

Odunze rounds out the top tier of 2024 wide receivers. The Washington product is a surefire Top 10 pick, thanks to his vertical ability, route running prowess and outstanding hands. Over his final two years with the Huskies, he totaled 167 catches on 250 targets (66.8%) for 2,784 yards (16.7 avg.) and 20 touchdowns.

4. LSU WR Brian Thomas Jr. – Junior – 6-3, 209 – 4.33

Another playmaking LSU receiver, Thomas offers both size and elite speed. That combination made him a fantastic deep threat for Jayden Daniels, really breaking out in 2023 with 68 catches on 87 targets for 1,177 yards and 17 (!!!) touchdowns. To go with those 17 touchdowns, Thomas averaged 17.3 yards per catch. He doesn’t have the most versatile route tree, but he has a whole lot of upside to bring to the table while he continues to develops as a route runner.

5. Georgia WR Ladd McConkey – Junior – 6-0, 186 – 4.39

A crucial part of Georgia’s back-to-back national titles, McConkey is quick and accelerates with impressive fluidity. He might have a limited catch radius, but has the speed and athleticism necessary to thrive from the slot. McConkey is a smooth route runner and contributed at a pretty high level for the Bulldogs, catching 119 passes for 1,692 yards and 14 touchdowns over the last three years. He could sneak into the bottom of the first round.

6. Texas WR Adonai Mitchell – Junior – 6-2, 205 – 4.34

Quick and fluid, Mitchell began his college career with Georgia and was a part of the Bulldogs’ back-to-back national championship runs. His production in Athens was limited, though, and he ultimately ended up at Texas in 2023 and put up a big year for the Longhorns as they crashed the College Football Playoff. He plays with more finesse than a lot of receivers with his size and that finesse served him well last year as he broke out with 55 catches for 845 yards (15.4 avg.) and 11 touchdowns.

7. Florida State WR Keon Coleman – Junior – 6-3, 213 – 4.61

Florida State WR Keon Coleman – Photo by: USA Today

After starting his college career at Michigan State, Coleman transferred to Florida State in 2023. He followed up his 58-catch, 798-yard and seven-touchdown 2022 season with the Spartans by posting 50 catches for 658 yards and 11 touchdowns in his lone year with the Seminoles. An exceptional athlete with great size, Coleman is a phenomenal contested-catch receiver, though he wasn’t the best yards-after-catch guy at the collegiate level.

8. Texas WR Xavier Worthy – Junior – 5-11, 165 – 4.21

Worthy is one of the fastest receivers in the 2024 Draft after breaking the NFL Scouting Combine record in the 40-yard dash, and he’ll make for a strong vertical threat for whoever drafts him. He’s explosive with lightning-fast feet, and he tracks the ball well. He was immediately productive for Texas in 2021, setting freshman records on his way to 62 catches for 981 yards and 12 touchdowns. His production slightly dipped in 2022 before he totaled 75 catches for 1,014 yards and five scores in 2023.

9. Michigan WR Roman Wilson – Senior – 5-10, 185– 4.39

The leading receiver for Michigan’s national championship team in 2023, Wilson caught 48 passes for 789 yards (16.4 avg.) and 12 touchdowns. He has explosive speed and excels in the intermediate-to-deep game, but he could stand to further develop his route tree. Wilson has great hands and sometimes gets lost in the shuffle a bit within this class because of the Wolverines’ run-heavy offensive approach. He dominated in Senior Bowl practices early in the week, which also boosted his draft stock.

10. Florida WR Ricky Pearsall – Senior – 6-1, 191 – 4.41

Pearsall’s route tree is diverse, allowing him to win in a variety of ways. His quick and elusive feet made him successful as a big-play receiver for the Gators, as he averaged 12.1 yards per catch in 2021 before upping that number to 19.7 in 2022. His average fell in 2023, but was still a respectable 14.8. Pearsall may not be overly physical and can struggle against press coverage, but he can still excel out of the slot, where he played the majority of his snaps the last two seasons.

11. Oregon WR Troy Franklin – Junior – 6-2, 176– 4.41

Another impressive vertical threat, Franklin is smooth and elusive after the catch. He lacks high-end strength and may struggle against more physical defensive backs, but on his day, he’s a big play waiting to happen. Franklin gradually built up his yards per catch average each year at Oregon, going from 11.6 in 2021 to 14.6 in 2022 before topping out at 17.1 in 2023. In his final year with the Ducks, he finished with 81 receptions for 1,383 yards and 14 touchdowns.

12. Western Kentucky WR Malachi Corley – Junior – 5-11, 207 – 4.56

Western Kentucky WR Malachi Corley – Photo by: USA Today

Nicknamed the “YAC King,” Corley has averaged 9.2 yards after catch per reception over the last two seasons. He also forced 55 missed tackles during that span and finished his Western Kentucky career with a program-record 259 catches. You can see his background as a former running back when he has the ball in his hands. While he may not be a finished product as a receiver, Corley is plenty dynamic out of the slot and has a lot to offer on end-arounds and in the screen game.

13. Washington WR Ja’Lynn Polk – Sophomore – 6-1, 203 – 4.52

Polk was one of three high-caliber targets for Michael Penix Jr. at Washington this past season. Even playing alongside Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan, Polk racked up 69 catches for 1,159 yards and nine touchdowns in 2023. He posted 16.8 yards per catch, keeping with his average from 2022 when he averaged 16.9 yards per catch. Polk has the versatility to play both outside and in the slot, much like Bucs wide receiver Chris Godwin does. With good instincts and league-ready toughness, he’s one of the best contested-catch receivers in this year’s class.

14. South Carolina WR Xavier Legette – Sophomore – 6-1, 221 – 4.39

Legette is another size-speed combination receiver who really exploded onto the scene this past season. After an 18-catch, 167-yard season in 2022, he posted 71 catches for 1,255 yards and seven touchdowns while averaging 17.7 yards per catch. He’s not overly polished in terms of his route running and releases, but he’s great with contested catches and showed impressive yards-after-catch ability during his breakout 2023 season.

The Best Of The Rest

15. North Carolina WR Tez Walker – Junior – 6-1, 193 – 4.36

Walker has good burst out of his releases and stretched the field vertically during his college career. He went from North Carolina Central in 2020 to Kent State for the 2021 and 2022 seasons before wrapping up his collegiate years with a season at North Carolina. Averaging 15.9 yards per catch in 2022 for the Golden Flashes and 17.0 yards per catch in 2023 for the Tar Heels, Walker is a big-play receiver with a strong catch radius, though he didn’t offer much after the catch in college.

16. Alabama WR Jermaine Burton – Senior – 6-0, 196 – 4.45

Burton is an aggressive receiver who plays physically and possesses strong hands. He doesn’t offer much after the catch, but still had success for the Crimson Tide as both a slot and flanker receiver. His numbers aren’t eye-popping, as his career-high in receptions was 40 (2022) and topped out at 798 yards last year. But he racked up 23 touchdowns in four seasons, catching eight in his two years at Georgia before totaling 15 in the two seasons after he transferred to Alabama.

17. Washington WR Jalen McMillan – Junior – 6-1, 197 – 4.47

The third Washington wideout on this list, McMillan had less production than Rome Odunze and Ja’Lynn Polk in 2023 but still played a significant role for the Huskies’ offense. Finding a lot of success as a zone-beater with impressive length and speed out of the slot, he caught 45 passes for 553 yards and five touchdowns a year after tallying 79 catches for 1,098 yards and nine scores. McMillan has a lot of range as a receiver, though he’ll need to prove that he’s capable of holding up against the physicality he’ll face in the slot at the NFL level.

18. UCF WR Javon Baker – Senior – 6-1, 202 – 4.54

UCF WR Javon Baker Photo by: USA Today

Baker transferred to UCF from Alabama in 2022 and quickly looked the part of a future NFL receiver. He’s well built and separates well enough to win downfield. While he is a solid contested-catch receiver, he did have inconsistent hands at times with some ill-timed drops. Baker broke out in 2023, finishing with a Big 12-best 1,139 yards and seven touchdowns on 52 targets. He averaged 21.9 yards per catch, which was also tops in the Big 12 (min. 15 catches).

19. Virginia WR Malik Washington – Grad. – 5-8, 191 – 4.47

A smaller receiver, Washington can change directions with fluidity and quickness. That makes him a tough matchup, which was on full display during his final season at Virginia. He caught 111 of his 138 targets for 1,384 yards and nine touchdowns. His compact build and limited long speed may have him lower on this list, but he’ll find success in the slot at the next level.

20. USC WR Brenden Rice – Senior – 6-2, 208 – 4.50

The son of Hall of Famer Jerry Rice didn’t have a lot of volume in terms of receptions over the course of his career at Colorado and USC, but he racked up quite a few touchdowns. He reached the end zone on every 5.2 catches, totaling 21 scores on 111 catches. With good long speed, strong blocking skills and long arms, Rice feels like a receiver who may fly under the radar in this class before ultimately being very productive at the next level.

21. Florida State WR Johnny Wilson – Redshirt Junior – 6-6, 231 – 4.52

A massive 6-foot-6 receiver, Wilson has an insane catch radius and possesses better balance and explosiveness than a lot of pass-catchers his size. His 2022 season was his best, as he caught 43 passes for 897 yards and five touchdowns while averaging 20.9 yards per catch.

22. Louisville WR Jamari Thrash – Redshirt Junior – 5-11, 188 – 4.46

Louisville WR Amari Thrash – Photo by: USA Today

One of the sleeper receivers in this class, Thrash had a good Senior Bowl and showed his athleticism and strong route-running ability. He had some trouble with drops, tallying eight last season while posting 62 catches for 848 yards and six touchdowns. That was a bit of a decline from 2022, when he brought in 62 passes for 1,123 yards and seven touchdowns while averaging 18.1 yards per catch.

23. Rice WR Luke McCaffrey – Redshirt Junior – 6-1, 198 – 4.46

The brother of 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, Luke is a quarterback-turned receiver who is still coming into his own as far as the nuances of the position. Still, he possesses great speed and acceleration, plus he has good hands. He fell just short of a 1,000-yard receiver last season at Rice, catching 71 passes for 992 yards and 13 touchdowns while spending 356 of his 498 snaps in the slot.

24. Arizona WR Jacob Cowing – Senior – 5-8, 168 – 4.38

A smaller receiver, Cowing has impressive speed and has played a lot of football given he was a four-year starter between UTEP and Arizona. Playing mostly from the slot, he posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2021 and 2022 and totaled 243 catches for 3,263 yards and 27 touchdowns over the last three seasons.

25. Texas A&M WR Ainias Smith – Grad.– 5-9, 190 – 4.55

Smith is another small receiver who did most of his work from the slot in college. He’ll do the same in the NFL, where he’ll look to continue winning underneath. He has a background as a former running back, and that shows up in his game. His production in college won’t raise many eyebrows, but he’s coming off his best season at Texas A&M with 53 catches for 795 yards (15.0 avg.), though he only caught two touchdowns.

Bucs Best Bets: Wide Receiver

Bucs Best Bet – Rounds 1-3: Florida State WR Keon Coleman

Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen values catch radius in wide receivers and the 6-foot-3, 213-pound Coleman has size and vertical (38 inches) to make plenty of contested catches downfield and win in the red zone. He scored 11 touchdowns in his first and only season at Florida State and had seven TDs the season prior at Michigan State. The Bucs rely on Mike Evans to come down with end zone catches on red zone targets, and Coleman can learn from one of the most prolific touchdown producers at wide receiver and be groomed to be his eventual replacement.

While Coleman lacks ideal speed with a 4.61 time, he is athletic and physical. In fact, Florida State used him as a punt returner due to his ability to elude defenders and break tackles. Coleman is a team-oriented player can also help in the running game with his high-effort blocking prowess on the perimeter.

Bucs Best Bet – Rounds 4-7: Virginia WR Malik Washington

Compactly built at 5-foot-8, 191 pounds, Washington will probably be a slot-only receiver in the NFL, but in a system like Liam Coen’s in Tampa Bay, which will feature a lot of bunch formations in three-receiver sets, that’s okay. Coen’s scheme is designed to get slot receivers free releases and then Washington’s speed, agility and quickness can do the rest.

Washington has tremendous hands and just plucks the ball out of the air. He logged 11 contested catches despite his small stature thanks to his insane 42.5-inch vertical. Washington is a YAC specialist, as he broke 35 tackles last year with his strength and elusiveness, which was tops among all receivers in college. He’s a perfect replacement for Chris Godwin after spending a year learning under his wing.