I asked AI to scout every WR taken before Tory Horton — Here’s the Camp Buzz
If Tory Horton deserves to start, the Seahawks can't hold him back
The star of training camp is usually a wide receiver and this year that player is Tory Horton, but that doesn’t mean that the praise for Horton is overblown and unfair. Those hopes got even higher with reports like this one from ESPN’s Brady Henderson on Sunday that Horton is with the starters over Marquez Valdes-Scantling:
If Horton is one of the three best receivers on Seattle’s roster then it would be a huge mistake to hold him back from playing more than MVS just because he’s a rookie. Recent seasons have proven that receivers don’t need much of an acclimation period, if any, and that has included several day three picks:
Puka Nacua (5th round) had 1,486 yards on 160 targets in 2023
Amon-Ra St. Brown (4th round) had 912 yards on 119 targets in 2021
Darnell Mooney (5th round) had 631 yards on 98 targets in 2020
Gabe Davis, Dontayvion Wicks, Demario Douglas, and Romeo Doubs would be other examples of notable rookie day 3 receivers
Good finds on day three are still rare (only one day three rookie had over 300 yards last season), but if Horton keeps playing with the starters when the season begins it’s not as though it’s at the cost of snaps for someone who cost a lot of money or was drafted early. Why not Horton?
Any Seahawks fan who put their foot in the ground for Horton should feel justified by now in saying that Mike Macdonald and Klint Kubiak should continue to tread this path with him as a starter. How many snaps/targets a third receiver will see in Kubiak’s offense is unclear, but Horton could also be the next man up if/when anything happens to Cooper Kupp, which is almost the same thing as saying that Tory Horton will be a WR2 sooner than later.
Horton being Seattle’s third or second-best receiver is the best possible outcome for the Seahawks. He’s cheap, signed through 2028, and has all the qualities of a high-end number two receiver, which has been an emphasis made about Horton by experts since before the 2025 draft.
However, as I said in the beginning, “a wide receiver is always the star of training camp” and that’s as true everywhere else as it is in Seattle.
(These are all day 3 rookies by the way, and I could do more if I had the page space for it.)
That’s why I wanted to compare Horton’s camp and preseason to the 22 receivers drafted ahead of him, so I asked A.I. to tell me about each of them—all 23 receivers drafted between rounds 1-5. But I didn’t solely rely on machines; I also cross-checked every summation with direct media sources covering that team to make sure the information was reliable and recent.
Let’s find out how those 22 receivers drafted ahead of Horton are doing in training camp and preseason and see if Seattle’s standout continues to stand out as “the one” standout from the 2025 draft or if 90% of them are being called standouts and steals by their teams, fans, and media.
Travis Hunter, Jaguars, 2nd overall
Hunter has been a standout, showcasing elite athleticism and playmaking ability. He’s nearly uncoverable in one-on-one drills, displaying quickness, shifty route-running, and exceptional ball skills. Highlights include a touchdown catch in red-zone drills, outmaneuvering veteran Jourdan Lewis with a double-move, and a contorted end-zone grab. By Day 9, he continued to dominate team drills despite one dropped pass leading to an interception.
There is no indication yet that Hunter is anything less than Jacksonville’s number two receiver and an obvious choice for Rookie of the Year with at least 1,000 receiving yards during his rookie season. Hunter should be an immediate presence on offense and should get Pro Bowl consideration if all goes as expected, in addition to playing on defense.
Tetairoa McMillan, Panthers, 8th overall
McMillan has dazzled with spectacular catches, particularly one-handed grabs that have become a hallmark. Notable moments include a deep-ball catch against CB Corey Thornton, palming the ball with his left hand while locking it against his legs, and a falling-backward grab against Mike Jackson in one-on-one drills. He admitted to struggling in his first few practices but has since had "excellent days," with head coach Dave Canales praising his confidence and quick recovery from mistakes. Analysts project him as a red-zone threat and a key piece for the Panthers’ 2025 offensive resurgence.
Carolina’s recent history with receiver busts kind of works in his favor because nobody stands in McMillan’s way. Canales aims to recreate “Russ to DK” with Bryce Young and McMillan.
Emeka Egbuka, Bucs, 19th overall
OC Josh Grizzard and Todd Bowles have lauded Egbuka’s football IQ, competitiveness, and quick mastery of the playbook, noting he "looks like he’s been in the league for years." With Godwin recovering from a dislocated ankle, Egbuka has seized extra reps, building chemistry with Mayfield. He’s projected as a potential starter alongside Evans, especially given the Bucs’ loaded receiver room with Jalen McMillan. His performances suggest he could become a game-changer.
JSN’s college teammate flew under the radar for most of draft season but was once praised as Ohio State’s best receiver. He again finds himself in a loaded receiver room but Baker Mayfield aims to throw the ball a lot anyway.
Matthew Golden, Packers, 23rd overall
Golden has consistently turned heads with explosive plays, including a 54-yard touchdown catch from Jordan Love and a corner route touchdown during early practices. His elite speed, smooth route-running, and ability to make contested catches have been widely noted. Despite not being listed as a starter on the initial depth chart, Golden’s performances suggest he’s poised for a significant role, potentially as the Packers’ No. 1 receiver.
Every receiver so far has been “a standout performer in training camp” according to AI, but to be fair these are all first round picks. Will the praise slow down on day two or is every rookie receiver standing out because it’s practice and sometimes all it takes is one catch to make a name for yourself? And what will AI have to say about Tory Horton? We still have 19 more receivers to go so this might be a good “skim” article for some of you or scroll all the way down to Horton and the summation if you’d prefer.
Jayden Higgins, Texans, 34th overall
Higgins has dazzled with big plays, including a contested one-handed catch down the sideline on a deep ball from C.J. Stroud during minicamp, drawing comparisons to Collins for his 6’4”, 215-pound frame and 91st-percentile wingspan. With Stefon Diggs gone and Tank Dell likely out for 2025 due to injury, Higgins is poised for a significant role. His chemistry with Stroud and ability to complement Collins and Christian Kirk could form a “dangerous trio.”
WR depth is both a strength and a weakness: Collins, Kirk, Higgins, Jaylin Noel, Tank Dell (out), and John Metchie were all second or third round picks but injuries have negatively impacted many of them.
Luther Burden, Bears, 39th overall pick
Burden is the first player who wasn’t described as a “standout” in camp, but the overall review is still pretty good: