Next up in the draft series, we take a look at the wide receiver prospects that could be available for the Bucs in the first or second round

Brianna Dix

The 2025 NFL Draft is quickly approaching and draft boards around the league are being finalized. Each club has gained clarity through top-30 visit assessments and like clockwork, pundits crank out final mock drafts ad nauseum. The Buccaneers own the 19th overall pick in the first and the 53rd overall in the second. Despite an overarching need on the defensive side of the ball at various positions, both General Manager Jason Licht and Head Coach Todd Bowles have made it abundantly clear that taking a receiver in the first round will not be discarded.

"Yeah, we could always use receivers," noted Licht. "I think Todd [Bowles] even said, 'You have to score points to win.' You know, we're fortunate to have those two [Mike Evans and Chris Godwin], and who knows how long they'll play. It could be longer than what people are saying, and then kudos to our offense, our coaches, last year, for getting production out of Sterling Shepard and Jalen [McMillan] like you said, and Ryan Miller and those guys. We always want to try to keep that group fresh and look for the next 'J-Mac' (Jalen McMillan). We're not going to overlook that position at all if everything falls that way for us."

There are several intriguing candidates that could sway the Buccaneers' decision-makers if available at 19. Here is an overview of some of the best receivers in the 2025 class:

Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona

This is a bit of a reach with several receiver-needy teams prior to the Buccaneers at 19 and Tetairoa McMillan going in the top-15 in several mocks, but his skillset is worth mentioning in this compilation. McMillan, a first-team All-American and first-team All-Big 12 player, was utilized in a variety of alignments in the Wildcats' spread scheme. Over the previous two seasons, McMillan led the FBS in receiving yards (2,721), first downs (112) and catches of 20-or-more yards (42). He has long-strided speed and excels at the catch point. With a large catch radius, body control and awareness along the boundary, he took the college world by storm. McMillan ranked number-one all-time at Arizona in receiving yards and did not miss a game for three seasons at Arizona. With redirection skills post-catch, McMillan forced 28 missed tackles in 2024.

Matthew Golden, Texas

Matthew Golden led the Longhorns in receiving in 2024 and served as the Z receiver in their RPO spread offense. After joining the Longhorns after two seasons in Houston's aerial attack, Golden averaged 102.8 receiving yards over his final four games, including the SEC Championship and three playoff games for Texas. He is quick in-and-out of breaks, along with stellar ball-tracking ability. Golden displays outstanding control on routes and varies his technique to keep defenders guessing. He is adept at generating separation with burst mid-route and thrives under pressure. Golden turns into a running back after the catch, averaging at least 20.0 yards per catch in 10 of 16 games in 2024.

Luther Burden III, Missouri

Luther Burden III primarily served as a slot receiver in Missouri's motion-based scheme. He consistently wiggled away from defenders with run-after-catch prowess and thrived off crossers. He is explosive with the ball in his hands and the balance element of his craft mirrors that of a running back. Burden became a nightmare on jet-sweeps and averaged 7.3 career yards-after-catch per reception. He can stop-and-start on a dime and is focused at the catch point. Burden posted a catch in 34 straight games, marking the second-longest streak in Missouri history.

Jaylin Noel, Iowa State

Jaylin Noel is projected to go in the second round of the draft and played 69.6 percent of his snaps from the slot in 2024. He concluded his collegiate tenure with 245 catches (second in school history) and 2,851 receiving yards (fourth in school history). Noel had the third-most catches in the FBS that were 50-yards-or-more (eight) over the previous two seasons. He also served as Iowa State's punt returner all four seasons (53 attempts for 466 yards) and showcased his speed in the open field. Noel is fluid in-and-out of breaks and became a friendly target for the quarterback on option routes.