2023 NFL Draft Wide Receiver Prospects: Quentin Johnson, Jaxon Smith-Nijgba Lead The Way!
Now that the Super Bowl is behind us, and the season is over we divert our attention to the offseason. We will start by focusing on the 2023 NFL Draft. The next position we will take a look at is the wide receivers. A lot can change between now and the draft, but these are the top five prospects at the position currently.
Top 2023 Wide Receiver Prospects Entering The NFL Draft
1 Quentin Johnston, TCU
Johnston is the clear top guy in an underwhelming draft class for wide receivers. He has good size, an impressive skill set, and all the physical tools. You will likely hear him compared to guys like Julio Jones and AJ Green this draft season and he’s not on that level. However, he is comparable to guy like Tee Higgins which is absolutely still a major compliment. This is a long wideout who is a matchup nightmare and can win on all three levels. People around him at TCU rave about his competitiveness, toughness, and say he is the hardest worker on the team. With elite measurables and a 6’4 215-pound frame with 4.4 speed, it would be a shock if Johnston wasn’t the first wideout off the board this season both in fantasy and real life.
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2 Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
Despite having his 2022 season completely derailed by a hamstring injury, JSN still comes in at No. 2 in the rankings. In a draft full of undersized, but speedy slot receivers he stands above them both literally and figuratively. Standing at 6’0 200 pounds he almost looks like a giant compared to the other slot guys coming out. His quickness and athleticism jump off the screen when you watch him and there is no doubt he’ll be a big-time playmaker on the next level. While he has enough speed to make a play down the seam, his most impressive trait is an ability to quickly create separation and give his quarterback a place to put the ball. It feels like he’s always open. When it comes to intangibles he steps up in the biggest moments which led to him earning a Rose Bowl MVP award in 2021 in which he broke multiple records for that bowl.
3 Rashee Rice, SMU
We have Rice higher than most here, but I’ll take him over some of these tiny slot guys. I personally am not a fan of reaching for those types of players early in most cases. At 6’1 and just over 200 pounds, Rice has impressive film. That’s with him battling through a broken toe this season and still going for 96 catches, 1,355 yards, and 10 touchdowns. He has displayed impressive quickness with an ability to separate and make plays once he gets the ball in his hands. While his measurables aren’t lacking, he displays good athleticism, what you should be looking at with him is the fact that he’s a good football player with more room to grow. When you watch him in a one-on-one matchup, he understands how to beat the DB and make a play. If he can grow his route tree and prove he can excel against zone coverages he could be a star on the next level.
4 Jordan Addison, USC
Addison is a dynamic player. He’s an impressive athlete and an outstanding route runner. On the next level, he will play in the slot and can do it all. Not only does he have the quickness and hands to be a possession guy, but he also has the speed to burn defenders downfield. Aside from a few concentration drops there isn’t much he doesn’t do well. However, the concern is with his size. At 6’2 he weighs in at just 175 pounds. That’s a very slight build and he will have to put on weight if he plans on surviving in the NFL. If he comes into the combine and weighs up around 190 pounds, he could jump all the way up to second in our rankings.
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5 Zay Flowers, Boston College
Of all the wideouts in this draft, Flowers is probably the most fun to watch. He has an elite combination of speed, acceleration, quickness, and athleticism. You won’t find a more dangerous wideout in this draft with the ball in the open field. His quickness combined with his balance, vision, and creativity will strike fear in opposing defenses. There is no doubt he’s a playmaker. However, he’s far from a complete player. At just 5’9 180 pounds, he’s undersized and doesn’t have great hands. He also isn’t great at finding holes in coverage. Still, he will likely contribute immediately as a returner and on plays designed specifically for him. If he can develop the rest of his game he could be a star.
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