15 Wide Receivers Who Were Never as Good as Advertised

Wide receiver is one of the flashiest positions in football. The hype machine starts early—combine numbers, college highlights, and draft buzz all fuel expectations that are sometimes impossible to live up to.

And while some receivers become stars, others just never quite deliver on the promise. These 15 guys had the tools, the talent, and all the hype… but the production never quite caught up.

15. Marquise Goodwin

Goodwin had Olympic speed and a highlight reel waiting to happen. But outside of a few big plays, he never consistently produced like a top option.

14. Brian Quick

Quick had size, speed, and second-round expectations. Unfortunately, his NFL impact was more of a whisper than a roar.

13. Mike Williams (USC)

Williams dominated in college but hit the NFL after a year off and never looked like the same guy. The physical tools were there, but the production just wasn’t.

12. Corey Coleman

Coleman came into the league as a big-play threat with serious juice. But between injuries and inconsistency, he never found his footing.

11. Josh Doctson

Doctson was supposed to be a jump-ball machine. Instead, he was mostly just a name on the depth chart.

10. Kevin White

White looked like a star-in-the-making coming out of college. Injuries completely derailed his career before it even really began.

9. Dorial Green-Beckham

Green-Beckham had a freakish frame and massive upside. But his rawness and off-field concerns kept him from ever reaching his potential.

8. Laquon Treadwell

Treadwell had the build and the resume but just couldn’t separate at the NFL level. He bounced around a few teams but never became the WR1 he was hyped to be.

7. Justin Hunter

Hunter had the vertical ability and the athletic profile teams drool over. But he was never able to translate that into consistent production.

6. Charles Rogers

Rogers had top-five pick talent but a very short NFL shelf life. Injuries and off-field issues kept him from ever getting close to what was expected.

5. Breshad Perriman

Perriman was all about speed, but the hands and route running never caught up. Every team hoped he’d break out—none of them got what they were looking for.

4. Troy Williamson

Drafted to replace Randy Moss in Minnesota, Williamson had the speed but not the skills. He struggled with drops and never lived up to his draft spot.

3. Nelson Agholor

Agholor had moments of brilliance, but inconsistency defined his early years. For all the promise, he’s mostly been a rollercoaster ride for fans.

2. Ted Ginn Jr.

Ginn stuck around forever thanks to his speed, but he never became the true WR1 some projected him to be. His hands and route tree kept him from reaching that next level.

1. N’Keal Harry

Harry had all the size and physical tools you’d want in a top receiver. But in New England—and later elsewhere—he just couldn’t separate, literally or figuratively.