Ranking best Ohio State WRs in the NFL, from Jaxon Smith-Njigba to Marvin Harrison Jr.

Is Ohio State the new "Wide Receiver U?"

Alabama, with DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle among their pass-catchers currently in the NFL, might not agree. LSU, with Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. all starring in the league, certainly wouldn't agree.

The Buckeyes, however, continue to see their wide receivers find instant success in the NFL, whether that is Garrett Wilson's Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign in 2022 or Emeka Egbuka's two-touchdown debut in 2025.

The Sporting News ranks the top Ohio State wide receivers currently in the NFL, from Jaxon Smith-Njigba to Curtis Samuel.

Lions WR Jameson Williams, who started his college career at Ohio State but entered the draft out of Alabama, was not included.

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It might take some time for Tate to rise through the ranks of Ohio State receivers in the NFL, but the Titans are hoping can be the next great Buckeye receiver at the professional level.

The No. 4 pick broke through in his fourth NFL game with 145 yards, but the Titans' offense remains stuck in neutral as Cam Ward struggles to find his footing in his second NFL season.

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Harrison's production was fine as a rookie, with a solid 885 yards and eight touchdowns but a catch rate of only 53.4 percent on a whopping 116 targets. Those expecting a sophomore breakthrough for Harrison, however, did not get one. Drops remained an issue for a player many believed could be one of the best offensive talents to ever come out of Columbus, and Harrison's struggles carried over into 2026 as he faced a reduced role.

The Cardinals traded Harrison to the Texans four games into his third NFL season.

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Scouting reports leading up to the 2025 draft mostly agreed that Egbuka was one of the safest wide receiver prospects, with his ceiling the question. If his propensity for finding the end zone and making plays downfield in the opening games of his career are any indication, Egbuka's ceiling might be higher than many believed.

The national champion quickly looked comfortable in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offense, though a late-season wall and inconsistent start to his sophomore season raise questions about whether he can become a legitimate No. 1 receiver.

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McLaurin is the most accomplished active Ohio State wide receiver by a healthy margin, with six 1,000-yard seasons and two Pro Bowl selections under his belt. He is another player who fought through plenty of horrid quarterback play and still found a way to shine, becoming one of the NFL's most durable players at the position with the Washington Commanders.

Now on the wrong side of 30, McLaurin remains a valuable weapon, but he is struggling to stay on the field and looks like his best days might be in the past.

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Drafted one pick apart in 2022, Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson looked like they would be in the same conversations for years to come. Olave started his career with a pair of 1,000-yard seasons, including 1,123 yards in 2022, but he was severely hampered by injuries in 2023, primarily a recurring concussion issue.

After less steady production in 2024, Olave morphed back into a No. 1 receiver in 2025 and signed a long-term deal that cements him as the Saints' top pass-catcher moving forward.

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Wilson has performed since the day he debuted with the New York Jets, despite plenty of dismal quarterback play and often few legitimate weapons around him. The 2022 first-round pick started his career with three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, doubling his career touchdown total in 2024 and adding some ridiculous catches to his highlight reel.

Wilson has entrenched himself as a legitimate No. 1 receiver for the Jets, but New York is still waiting for an elite season from the former Buckeyes star. Wilson's ceiling should be higher than 1,100 yards when he has better quarterback play or a serious No. 2 receiver opposite him for more than half of a season, but that explosive production still needs to show itself at some point.

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It took some time, but Jaxon Smith-Njigba has settled into his role as a focal point of the Seattle Seahawks' offense. The 2023 first-round pick saw his production improve across the board next to DK Metcalf in 2024, increasing his catch rate and gaining more yards per reception, and he morphed into a superstar in 2025 by winning Offensive Player of the Year honors and the Super Bowl.

In just one year, Smith-Njigba built a resume that beats every other Ohio State receiver currently in the NFL, and he appears to be here to stay as a star.

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