2023 NFL Draft is three weeks away, and wide receivers are generating enthusiasm.
Recently, many collegiate receivers have become excellent NFL wideouts early in their careers. 2023 should be similar to 2022, despite being a low year.
Teams are prioritizing drafting a top wide receiver. With elite receiver contract money growing, obtaining a top player on a cheap rookie deal is great value. As usual, we expect a lot of first-rounders.
Top five draft receivers:
5. Josh Downs, North Carolina
Josh Downs can be a reliable slot receiver in the right system. He recorded 195 catches for 2,364 yards and 19 touchdowns over the past two years in college and can build on this in the NFL.
His stature (5-foot-10, 175 pounds) and career total of 81 outside routes limit him to a slot. Expect Downs to be a 2023 first-round receiver.
4. Jordan Addison, USC
Jordan Addison, who won the Biletnikoff Award at Pittsburgh in 2021 before moving to USC, is a speedy, bendy athlete with good body control who might be an intermediate or deep threat.
Addison is a good route-runner, but his small physique makes him susceptible to drops and catch point pushes. His lack of physicality and length will worry many.
If he stays fit, Addison is coachable and can become a top league player on the right team.
3. Zay Flowers, Boston College
Zay Flowers might be drafted first this year. His explosiveness and athleticism will make him a valuable NFL player.
His size and collegiate handling difficulties prohibit him from being the 2023 WR1. Flowers is the draft class’s best separator and will make defensive backs’ lives miserable for years to come.
2. Quentin Johnston, TCU
Quentin Johnston’s 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame is ideal for becoming a pro. Johnston averaged 18.8 yards per reception in college, demonstrating his ball-handling skills.
Johnston may be the best wide receiver athlete. Despite his incredible talent, he wasn’t as prolific as he should have been, but we think he’ll be a quarterback’s dream.
1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
Jaxon Smith-Njigba has shown in his brief NFL experience that he can be an exciting player. He caught 95 catches for 1,595 yards and nine touchdowns in 2021, demonstrating his route-running and ball abilities.
Ohio State WR’s coach Brian Hartline ranked Smith-Njigba second when listing his best Buckeyes receivers from the past few years, ahead of the likes of Garrett Wilson, Terry McLaurin and Chris Olave. That says a lot about the man available to draft in 2023, and good reason why he is the most sought after prospect in the position.