Best NFL Draft 2026 WRs: 1 stud, 1 sleeper and 1 'who's that guy?' pick

There are a handful of first round talents in this year's draft. Carnell Tate will likely be the first man off the board, earning his place as the next link in a chain of elite Ohio State receivers. But Lemon is the more interesting case to me.

The Trojan has modest size at 5-foot-11 and 192 pounds. He lacks burner straight line speed, running around 4.5-seconds in his 40-yard dash at USC's pro day. That may limit him to slot duties for a good chunk of his NFL career, but he's proven he can be a devastating presence in the middle of the field.

Lemon didn't participate in anything but drills at the combine because that's not where his game shines. He's a good-not-great athlete with good-not-great size when it comes to testing. But he thrives on the field because he does so many little things well. He creates separation with a burst off the line that leaves cornerbacks baffled, hiding his true route intentions. His inherent knowledge of leverage gets defenders to cross up their hips, hesitate and create space on short, intermediate and deep routes. The minute you think you've got him locked down, he's planted his foot and careened off in a direction you didn't see coming.

That lack of elite straight line speed allows defensive backs to catch up. That's where Lemon's other elite skills bubble to the surface. His concentration at the point of contact may be the best in the class. He drives toward the ball and high points it in a way that plays significantly better than his frame. Elite hands mean minimal drops. His body control shields the ball from defenders and allows him to make toe-tapping catches on throws to the sideline that stretch the boundary to its utmost.

The question now is how that all looks against NFL defenses. Can he escape press coverage at the line of scrimmage? Will he get out-jumped by bigger cornerbacks? Could he wind up pigeon-holed as a short-range slot target despite his history of making catches all over the field at USC? His raw testing data suggest a struggle at the next level. His game film says he'll be just fine.

The sleeper: WR Chris Bell, Louisville

This is cheating. Bell could have been in the running as a first-round pick had he not suffered a torn ACL in November. As such, that injury and its subsequent recovery threaten to make the Louisville star a Day 2 steal.

Bell emerged as a deep threat playmaker in the 2023 and 2024 seasons, but proved he could be more last fall. His 72 catches in 11 games matched his total from the previous two years (and 27 games) combined. Over a three-week stretch he rattled off 31 catches for 442 yards and five touchdowns. That didn't come against scrubs; he roasted Pittsburgh, Virginia and Miami (FL) -- all teams who won at least eight games -- to make an All-American case.

That pace didn't continue, but the point was made. Bell's biggest asset is his ability to work the middle of the field. He's happy to power through contact, whether that's to get to the ball or make moves once he's got it. In a league where A.J. Brown's willingness to absorb hits and create big gains near/between the hashmarks helped make Jalen Hurts a Super Bowl winner, that's immensely valuable.

His 4.4-second 40 speed meant cornerbacks had to respect him and his big frame makes him difficult to press. That means plenty of cushion, creating another thing Bell does extremely well; snapping off coverage with wide-open comeback routes.

The downside? Well, there's a little Treylon Burks in his game -- another burly, box-out winner with 4.4-second 40 speed who I loved coming out of college (Burks was better at making catches away from his body as well). Burks washed out as A.J. Brown's replacement in Tennessee and, while he's still good for some highlight reel catches, he's fallen significantly short of what we'd expect from a first-round pick.

The expectations won't be as high on Bell. He's faster than he is quick, which could create separation issues on Sundays. His routes aren't especially crisp. But he finds ways to win, demands over-the-top help with his proficiency in the middle and creates tough yardage in a way that makes everyone around him better.

The deep sleeper: Ted Hurst, Georgia State

Hurst pushed himself up from potential priority undrafted free agent to a possible early Day 3 pick with elite measurables at this year's combine.

Hurst has a big 6-foot-3 frame with low 4.4-second 40 speed that means he'll be able to keep his place as a sideline threat on Sundays. He landed at Georgia State after two solid seasons at Division II Valdosta State and immediately emerged as a threat for the Panthers. He had nearly 2,000 total receiving yards and 15 touchdowns across 24 games of FBS play.

In the process, he showed a consistent ability to adjust to big throws downfield and the vision to exploit the space opposing corners provided. He's big and fast, but he doesn't always play like it. He can get jammed up with contested catches and his hands can be a frustrating mess. There's still a ways to go here.

Even so, he has the traits of a player who can make a difference for an NFL offense, particularly as a field-stretching flier whose tracking could be an asset for a scrambling quarterback trying to make things happen downfield. Hurst handled one jump in competition when he moved up to Division I. That doesn't mean he'll be able to handle his business against pro cornerbacks nearly as easily, but it's an encouraging start.

Bonus! Ultra sleepers!: Tyren Montgomery, John Carroll

Montgomery's journey to the gridiron is wild. He walked into the LSU basketball team, left school to take care of a sick family member and eventually turned to football in his 20s. He didn't bring much to Nicholls in his first season of action, but thrived for a Blue Streaks team that's become a constant in the Division III top 25. While a handful of his JCU colleagues are set to play their pro ball in Germany next fall, Montgomery has a chance to work his way into an NFL locker room.

Montgomery was a multi-faceted monster for John Carroll. His 2024 saw the team exploit his athleticism to roast overmatched opponents. His 2025 saw him develop more as a true receiver, fleshing out his route tree and showcasing enough potential to earn an invitation to the Senior Bowl.

He's got a tremendous amount of work left to be done, especially for a 25-year-old rookie. But his playmaking ability shined so brightly he can't be ignored. While he may not be drafted, expect Montgomery to be someone's priority free agent pickup after the seventh round ends.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Best NFL Draft 2026 WRs with 5 wide receivers to watch