2023 NFL Draft Top 5 WRs

The NFL33 20223 NFL Draft Rankings will be updated through the evaluation cycle and up until Day 1 of the NFL Draft.  Prospects evaluation reports will be linked below as they are updated.

The wide receiver group this year doesn’t have the same feel to it that 2022 had. There were teams trading up for studs who balled out this year like Chris Olave and a couple of top ten players in Garret Wilson and Drake London. There were six receivers selected in the top 18 in 2022. I don’t see that being a reality this cycle, but this class is full of talented players. As this process unfolds, it’ll prove to be a deep, talented class. I don’t think there will be a consensus number one receiver, someone that separated from the rest. This comes down to preference, I’m sure to have a surprise or two for you in these top five guys as well.

Disclaimer: I’ve watched at least three total games of each prospect.

Wide Receiver #1: Quentin Johnston

Breaking out in a big way during his junior season, Quentin Johnston is sure to be many analysts’ number-one receiver due to his unique blend of speed and size. In his three-year career at TCU, he compiled 2,190 yards on 115 receptions and 14 total touchdowns. He’s listed at 6’4” 193 pounds and has a great amount of length on his frame. Room to add a bit more weight if he wanted to as well. With TCU competing for a national championship this season, Johnston came into the national spotlight with a big game against Michigan in the semifinals, and then Georgia made him the focal point of their defensive effort in the natty. Tons of upside with this player.

Strengths:

-Short area athlete for his size -Yac Ability

-Leverage attacking -Catch Radius

Areas to Improve:

-Body Catching -Route tree display

-Stem manipulation

(The format you see above with Johnston will be included with TONS of prospects for SUBSCRIBERS. You won’t want to miss the individual player breakdowns we are working on here.)

Wide Receiver #2:

Jaxon Smith-Njigba(JSN) was in conversation to be the best receiver in this 2023 draft after DOMINATING with Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave in 2022. After not being involved much his freshman season, JSN exploded for 1,606 yards on 95 receptions and 9 touchdowns. Listed at 6’0” 197 pounds, the junior receiver suffered an injury early in 2023 and it basically cost him his 2023 season to continue to ball out. There’s lots to like about this receiver and the fact that Ohio State receivers really bloom in the NFL is an added bonus.

Wide Receiver #3:

This player has all the tools to come out of this class as the best wide receiver, but after a disappointing junior season, Kayshon Boutte isn’t a lock by any means. There’s rumor that he was going to get dismissed from LSU so he declared for the NFL draft instead. There’s more clarity needed on the off-field situation with Boutte, but on the field his talents are emmence. Doesn’t have gaudy numbers, only managing 1,782 yards in three seasons on 131 catches with 16 total touchdowns. He measures 6’0” 190 pounds and will be an enigma in this process. Very interested to see where he ends up.

Wide Receiver #4:

This is where I’m throwing my first curveball at you. Josh Downs is my WR3. He went from Sam Howell to Drake Maye at North Carolina the last two years and put up 1,000 yard seasons in each of the past years and nearly 100+ catches as well (he missed time due to injury this past year). He scored 11 times in 2023, three more than with Howell. Downs is on the smaller side, 5’10” 180 pounds, but doesn’t always play like it.

Wide Receiver #5:

Yes, we finally get to the player most are wondering about. Jordan Addison rounds out my top five receivers. Also measuring in at 6’0” (I’m wondering how many of these are lies) 175 pounds, Addison has a great track record. Amassing 3,134 yards on 219 catches and finding the endzone 29 times in his time at Pittsburg and USC, he’s a big play threat waiting to happen. He had better numbers with Kenny Pickett than Caleb Williams but he also played three more games and had 40 more catches his sophomore season at Pitt.