Ranking the Top 10 WRs in the 2023 NFL Draft
Josh Frey
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With the 2023 NFL Draft approaching in just a couple weeks, it’s time to officially put rankings for each position group ahead of the event. Here are the top 10 WRs heading into this year’s draft.
1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
Jaxon Smith-Njigba was one of the most productive receivers in the country during the 2021 season in an offense that also featured first-round picks Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson.
Smith-Njigba is a silky smooth route-runner, and while he has largely operated out of the slot, the plan was for him to take snaps on the outside during the 2022 season before he struggled through injury. However, he fully participated in the combine and seems completely healthy now.
2. Jordan Addison, USC
Jordan Addison is the smoothest route-runner in the 2023 Draft class. He can play either on the boundary or in the slot, and he hasn’t met a route that he can’t run.
Some may be concerned about his size at 5’11 and 173 pounds, but the athletic ability more than makes up for it with high-4.4 speed. He showcases a terrific burst off the snap can become a matchup nightmare if he fills out his frame a little more at the NFL level.
3. Quentin Johnston, TCU
Quentin Johnston is one of the more physically-imposing wide receivers in this class, or at least, he should be. There is oodles of potential with Johnston, but he doesn’t win contested pass situations as much as he should, causing some problems in short-intermediate areas of the field.
However, he has some outstanding speed in his arsenal, and a 40-inch vertical along with 33-inch arms allow him to go up and get passes that other receivers can only dream of catching. If he learns to fight more and bully smaller CBs, we could see him jump up to WR1 in this class in short period of time.
4. Zay Flowers, Boston College
If there’s a mighty mouse in this class, it is Zay Flowers. He is only 5’9, but it is a very sturdy 5’9 as he weighs in at 182 pounds. He combines that with low-4.4 speed, and like Addison, he can jump into an offense and run just about any route that you could want.
Flowers may be limited to a slot role due to his small size, but he will be an explosive addition to any offense and should be taken sometime in the first round.
5. Cedric Tillman, Tennessee
Injuries sent Cedric Tillman’s 2022 season off the rails a little bit, but we shouldn’t forget that prior to this season, he was widely considered the WR1 in Tennessee’s high-flying offense. He works harder at his craft than just about anyone in this class, showcasing outstanding toughness in one-on-one situations.
The concern will be his burst off the line. He doesn’t have 4.4 speed, but there are no wasted movements in his routes. Additionally, there should be more confidence given the fact that he had strong games against both Alabama and Georgia.
6. Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee
Jalin Hyatt was the beneficiary of Tillman not getting as much attention in the offense with his injuries. Hyatt is arguably the fastest receiver that we’ve talked about so far, and it will be very difficult for NFL defenses to match his speed.
This deep-threat opens the door for other possibilities within the offense as well, but in terms of Hyatt’s specific role, don’t expect to see much more than gos and slants early on in his career.
7. Tank Dell, Houston
Similar to Flowers, Tank Dell will primarily work out of the slot for most of his NFL career due to his smaller stature, but he did that just as well as anyone in this group while at Houston.
He runs efficient routes due to his short-area burst and quickness, but he can also beat defenses over the top. Keep an eye on drops, though, as that could quickly become a headache in his career.
8. Jonathan Mingo, Ole Miss
Jonathan Mingo didn’t wow anyone with his box scores throughout his collegiate career at Ole Miss, but that was largely due to the run-heavy offense that they ran along with some underwhelming QB play.
Mingo is a physical route-runner that doesn’t take any snaps off, and a 4.46 40 time shows that he has NFL speed to produce at the next level. It’s a bit of a mystery right now as to how he might respond to a larger role, but as of now, there’s very little reason to believe he can’t be successful as a Day 2 pick.
9. Marvin Mims, Oklahoma
Marvin Mims is another primary slot receiver, but he could be moved around in the NFL to take advantage of slower corners. He is very dangerous as soon as he gets the ball in his hands, and he can pick up yards after the catch in a hurry.
Unfortunately, Mims may not be a great deep threat right now unless he blows past the safeties because he struggles to haul in contested catches.
10. Rashee Rice, SMU
Sure, playing at SMU meant Rashee Rice didn’t exactly see the toughest competition in the country, but every week, teams knew that he was going to be fed the ball 10-12 times a game, and he still managed to put up massive numbers. That has to count for something.
Rice utilizes size and speed to get himself open, but the problems arise with his attention to detail. He can run sloppy routes at times and isn’t the most consistent pass catcher, either.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.