Raiders Draft 2025: 5 wide receivers that can added much-needed speed

Las Vegas has a need for explosivness and these prospects bring that and more

One look at the Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver room and one thing is abundantly clear: There’s a glaring absence of fear-instilling speed.

Of the nine receivers on the roster currently, only there bring lid-lifting speed that can scare the opposing defense. That trio is: Tre Tucker (4.39 40-yard dash time at Cincinnati’s Pro Day); Tyreik McAllister (4.39 at the University of Charleston Pro Day); and Shedrick Jackson (4.25 at Auburn’s Pro Day).

Of that three, Tucker is the only one to play substantial snaps in the NFL as McAllister is a hybrid wide receiver/running back that’s been more practice squad than roster regular. Jackson, an undrafted free agent, has bounced on the Cincinnati Bengals’ taxi squad and active roster before landing on the Las Vegas’ practice squad and netting a reserve/future contract heading into this offseason.

With the 2025 NFL Draft coming later this month, let’s take a look at some speedster options at the wide receiver position.

1. Matthew Golden, Texas:

This 5-foot-11 and 191-pound Longhorn has a top gear that many don’t and can get to top speed very quickly. Running a 4.29 second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, Golden is the type of wide receiver you either need to jam at the line of scrimmage or have the speed to mirror this flash.

The Houston native combines that speed with some sinister route running that leaves defenders look foolish and gasping for breath. Catching 58 passes for 987 yards and nine touchdowns for Texas in 2024, Golden is also a dangerous return man and he housed two kick returns in 2023 for Houston. Golden does rely on his speed too much and he’ll need to adjust in the pros where he’ll face defensive backs who are just as fast.

Projected to be a first-round pick, if Golden is somehow on the board when the Raiders are on the lock with pick No. 37, the wideout should be in discussion.

2. Luther Burden III, Missouri

Well-built at 6 feet and 206 pounds, this Tiger has an immediate explosiveness to his game that the Raiders can’t have enough of. Burden’s suddenness at the snap can leave defenders grasping at a dust cloud and sprinting to catch up.

With a timed speed of 4.41 at the combine, Burden plays faster than that and has the vision, balance, and agility to gain vital yards after the catch (YAC) for chunk gains. Combine all that with his speed and it’s easy to see why Missouri got the ball in this talented wideouts hands as much as possible (61 receptions for 676 yards, and six touchdowns in 2024). His explosiveness also translates very well as a return man, too.

Burden’s draft projections see him as a fringe first-round talent with Day 2 as the likelihood he’ll be taken. Las Vegas should consider this Tiger if he’s there in the second and/or third rounds.

3. Jaylin Noel, Iowa State

A speed demon at slot receiver? That’s what Noel brings to the table with his blazing 4.39 40 time at the combine and 5-foot-10 and 194-pound frame.

This Cardinal displays consistent play speed and can accelerate and separate quickly leaving defenders in catch-up mode from the jump. Because of this, Noel can make a mockery of press coverage and he’s got the footwork and agility to plant and get open as a target. This skillset has potential to be true YAC master who can catch the ball early and get chunk plays.

Putting his most productive year at Iowa State in the books in 2024 (80 catches for 1,194 yard and eight touchdowns), Noel can be a dangerous burner inside with the speed to be an outside vertical threat, too. Projected to be a third-round prospect, Las Vegas does have a need for a slot receiver with jets.

4. Dont’e Thornton Jr., Tennessee

The tallest prospect on this list at 6-foot-5 but an angular 205 pounds, this Volunteer gives team the size-speed ratio that’s all the rage as a vertical option.

Dashing to a 4.3-flat 40 at the combine, Thornton displays electrifying acceleration that puts defensive backs on their heels from the get. As a deep threat, Thornton shows good deep ball tracking skills and has the size and catch radius to be a contest-catch specialist who can body smaller defenders.

Thornton requires refinement in his route tree and will need to build upon more than relying on his speed, but for a team that needs a big vertical threat, the Raiders should be eying this Tennessee product. Hauling in 26 passes for 661 yards and six touchdowns in 2024, Thornton is projected to be a fifth-round pick.

5. Jaylin Lane, Virginia Tech

Another human torch at slot receiver, this Hokies wideout wastes no time in accelerating and getting vertical. Compactly built at 5-foot-10 and 191 pounds, Lane blazed a 4.34 40 time at the combine, highlighting his ability to hit top-end speed quickly.

Displaying the spatial awareness to find the soft spots in the defense and hauling in the pass for YAC, Lane will be a pain to both nickel cornerbacks and safeties as he’s got the vertical juice to split even the best defensive backs. Lane had a down 2024 season with only 38 catches for 466 yards and two touchdowns, but his speed and elusiveness merit attention.

Showcasing toughness over the middle and tenacity as a return man, Lane is projected to be a sixth-round prospect with the Raiders owning three selections in that stanza: No. 180, 213, and 215.