2026 Draft Preview: Wide Receiver

A look at the top wide receiver prospects ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft

Apr. 10, 2026 at 7:02pm

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting a wide receiver making a catch, with sharp, overlapping planes of color representing the explosive athleticism and versatility of the top prospects in this year's draft.A cubist interpretation of the dynamic wide receiver talent available in the 2026 NFL Draft class.Charlotte Today

Ahead of the 2026 NFL draft, we take a look at the wide receiver class, breaking down their college careers, and how they might impact an NFL club like the Carolina Panthers.

Why it matters

The Panthers' wide receiver corps took a huge jump last season, and with multiple picks in the upcoming draft, the team could look to add more talent at the position to complement their existing group.

The details

The Panthers have several picks in the 2026 draft, including a first-rounder at No. 19 overall, where they could target a top wide receiver prospect. The class is loaded with talent, including Makai Lemon from USC, Jordyn Tyson from Arizona State, KC Concepcion from Texas A&M, Denzel Boston from Washington, Chris Brazzell II from Tennessee, and Skyler Bell from UCONN.

  • The 2026 NFL draft is set to take place on April 23 in Pittsburgh.

The players

Makai Lemon

The 2025 Biletnikoff Award winner, Lemon is a cerebral slot receiver with strong hands and a wide catch radius. He finished 2025 with 79 receptions for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Jordyn Tyson

A two-time first-team All-Big 12 receiver, Tyson spent his time at Arizona State learning to play all three receiver spots, leading the team with 61 receptions for 711 yards and eight touchdowns in 2025.

KC Concepcion

The Charlotte native used his one year at Texas A&M to skyrocket his draft stock, earning first-team All-American (all-purpose) honors and winning the Paul Hornung Award as the nation's most versatile player.

Denzel Boston

Boston is a big-framed receiver at 6-4, 209 pounds, using his size to make contested catches, out-muscle defenders, and give the quarterback a huge target in the red zone.

Chris Brazzell II

At 6-5, Brazzell is long and lanky with the speed to match, finishing 2025 with 1,017 receiving yards on 62 receptions and nine touchdowns.

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What’s next

The Panthers will continue to evaluate the wide receiver prospects ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, with the first round set to take place on April 23 in Pittsburgh.

The takeaway

The Panthers have multiple picks in the 2026 draft, including a first-rounder, and could look to add to their talented wide receiver corps with one of the top prospects in this year's deep class.