The demand – and price tag – for top wide receivers continues to skyrocket.
An exploding market at the position only got wilder this offseason, as the Cincinnati Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase became the league's highest-paid non-quarterback with his four-year, $161 million contract extension. Meanwhile, Tee Higgins (four years, $115 million) and Chris Godwin (three years, $66 million) scored major payouts while staying with their respective teams, and Stefon Diggs netted a three-year, $69 million pact to link up with the New England Patriots.
And while this year's receiver class in the NFL draft might lack a player who measures up to the likes of Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze – all of whom heard their names called within the top 10 picks – there are more than a handful of players in the mix for the first round or early portion of Day 2.
For the purpose of this exercise, two-way star Travis Hunter will be designated as a cornerback rather than a receiver, even though his primary position remains very much up in the air. If the Heisman Trophy winner does end up focusing on the offensive side of the ball, the expected top-five pick could easily end up in the same class as last year's top trio.
Here is USA TODAY Sports' ranking of the top 10 wide receivers in this year's draft:
1. Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
Who would have thought that a 6-4, 219-pound receiver who was one of college football's most productive pass catchers would prove to be so divisive throughout the pre-draft process? After McMillan posted 174 catches for 2,721 yards and 18 touchdowns in the last two seasons, he looked poised to be a top-10 pick and the surefire front-runner to be the first wideout selected. But ...
