2025 NFL Combine preview: 12 WRs the Detroit Lions should watch

Identifying which wide receivers the Detroit Lions should be keeping an eye on during the 2024 NFL Combine.

The 2025 NFL Combine kicks off in the final week of February and we are exploring each position group ahead of the big event.

So far, we have already previewed which quarterbacks and running backs the Detroit Lions should be scouting, and in this article, we take a look at the wide receiver prospects who should have the Lions' attention. All three position groups will go through on-field drills on NFL Network on Saturday, March 1.

Team need

The Lions have their WR1, WR2, and WR4 (Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Kalif Raymond), but they could be on the hunt for a long-term solution for a WR3 capable of playing the WR-X position. Tim Patrick held that role last season and was terrific, but he is an unrestricted free agent and will turn 32 during the season. Furthermore, Raymond and Williams are in the final year of their contracts, though the Lions could opt to pick up Williams’ fifth-year option and keep him under contract through 2026.

At the end of the day, regardless of whether they pick up the option on Williams and/or if Patrick re-signs, the Lions could still be looking for a young receiver who could give them future stability at the position.

What to watch for

Wide receivers come in all shapes and sizes but there are basic skills across all roles that NFL pass catchers need to have. So when watching this group at the Combine, here are a few key things to focus on:

• How natural are their hands? Do they catch the ball away from their body or do they fight the ball and/or let it into their body?
• How is their body control? Do they lose balance trying to run beyond their capabilities or weave off the line creating looser routes?
• Do they maintain speed in and out of breaks or do they need to throttle down?
• How are their ball-tracking skills? Do they instinctively know where to run or are they late to pick up the ball? Can they locate the ball while maintaining speed?
• Can they maximize their speed by not reaching early?
• Do they have a clear understanding of where the boundaries are and can stay in bounds?

Top of the crop

Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona (6-foot-5, 210 pounds), is a monster with the ball in the air and elusive when he comes down with it. He has deceptive speed, and defenders struggle to stay with him during routes and after the catch. The NFL comparison to WR-X Drake London is a popular one and makes a lot of sense.

Luther Burden III, Missouri (5-foot-11, 208) was an All-American in 2023 but saw his numbers fall in 2024 as the Missouri offense declined. While capable of playing all three wide receiver positions, he is best suited at WR-Z and...