NFC North Round-Up: Ranking the WR Rooms for Each Team in 2023
Josh Frey
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The offseason is heading into its slowest time of the year as mandatory minicamps have officially wrapped up, so with that, it feels like a good time to bring on the position rankings heading into the 2023 season. Throughout the next few weeks, we’ll be breaking down how each position group shakes out in the NFC North division. After ranking the QBs and RBs already, it’s time to rank the WR rooms across the division.
1. Minnesota Vikings
Having Justin Jefferson in the wide receiver room is a big reason why the Vikings land this No. 1 spot. The reigning Offensive Player of the Year has surpassed all expectations over his first three NFL seasons and led the league in both receptions and receiving yards during the 2022 season.
While the loss of Adam Thielen may be a blow to the room, the combination of Jordan Addison and K.J. Osborn should lessen the impact of his absence on the offense. Additionally, Jalen Nailor has come on strong as a potential deep-threat at the position. Kirk Cousins has plenty of weapons to throw to this year.
2. Detroit Lions
The Lions have a budding star in Amon-Ra St. Brown at the wide receiver position, with 90+ receptions in each of his first two NFL seasons. If Jameson Williams can come back from his six-game suspension and look like the player that was a superstar at Alabama, Detroit has a strong one-two punch at the positon.
Kalif Raymond has turned into a solid WR3 type player during his first two years with the Lions as well, surpassing 45 catches and 500 yards in each of the 2021 and 2022 seasons. However, until one of these young players opposite St. Brown truly turns into a 1000-yard player, they are second fiddle to the Vikings group.
3. Green Bay Packers
The Packers lost both Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb from their WR room this offseason as each of them followed Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets. This is a big blow to their veteran presence in the room, thus causing them to drop this year.
However, there are intriguing young pieces in place in Green Bay as well. Christian Watson came on strong during the second half of the 2022 season, putting together eight touchdowns during a four-game stretch between Weeks 10-13. Romeo Doubs also had an impressive rookie campaign, catching 42 passes for 425 yards and 3 TDs.
4. Chicago Bears
The Bears made moves to get better at the wide receiver position this year, including a trade to acquire D.J. Moore and the draft selection of Tyler Scott. However, it still feels like this is a team with a lot of fringe WR2/3 type players without any sort of bonafide leader in the group.
Chicago was clearly hoping to get that type of player in Chase Claypool when they traded their 2023 second-round pick to acquire him from the Pittsburgh Steelers, but that simply hasn’t worked out to this point. The Bears have a path to get out of the basement of the division, but it will take massive steps from just about everyone in that room.
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.