Over the past few years, the NFL Drafts have seen several talented wide receivers pipelined into the NFL. From Justin Jefferson back in 2020 to Ja’Marr Chase, to Chris Olave most recently who is currently looking to lead all rookies in receiving in this class. The 2022 NFL Draft class of receivers has exceeded expectations, and rookies are producing earlier in their careers than they ever have in the past.
As we prepare for the 2023 NFL Draft, can we be as excited about the wide receivers? Continue reading and I’ll get into the top wide receivers in this 2023 NFL Draft class.
2023 NFL Draft Top 5 Wide Receivers
Kayshon Boutte, LSU
Based on recent drafts, the Tigers and Buckeyes are two teams you can look at and know they will have a star receiver enter the draft. Boutte is the next one for LSU. He follows in the likes of Jefferson and Chase – some big shoes to fill, and he hasn’t disappointed from an evaluation standpoint.
Boutte is an aggressive player with the dawg mentality that will drive defenders crazy in the NFL. He lines up at all receiving positions for the Tigers, and every time he gets the ball in his hands, he has an “I’m scoring” mentality. With the mindset and attitude he plays with and his athletic prowess, Boutte will be a highly coveted player by NFL teams who need a playmaker. He’ll be one of the top wide receivers in this 2023 rookie class.
Cedric Tillman, Tennessee
Tennesse has produced some talented receivers for the NFL, and Cedric Tillman is the next man up. He is the best one they’ve had in quite some time. He has the potential to be a mid-first-round pick with his incredible size that he pairs with tremendous speed. Whenever the Vols needed a play, Tillman has been the guy they go to and doesn’t disappoint.
Tillman was the first receiver in a decade to eclipse the one-thousand-yard mark for Tennessee. Expect to see Tillman be a 1st Round pick, and don’t be surprised if he’s the first receiver selected in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Josh Downs, North Carolina
The Tar Heels have a special athlete at wide receiver. Josh Downs has phenomenal movement skills and is extremely flexible. It shows up in his route running. Like watching Jefferson break routes off and lose defenders, Downs can manipulate defenders and snap routes off at the top of his stem. He’s lined up in multiple areas of the field.
Whether it’s out of the slot or even the backfield, Downs can make plays and be a game-changer. He’s a threat whenever the ball is in his hands. He has great speed and can make cuts on a dime in the open field. While he doesn’t have the size to be a true outside receiver, you can make him a dangerous weapon anywhere on the offense.
Quentin Johnston, TCU
One of the bigger receivers in the 2023 NFL Draft class, Quentin Johnston isn’t just a physical, contested catch guy; he has the speed and explosiveness to create separation. Pair that with his reliable hands and diverse route tree, and you could argue that he’s the best receiver prospect in this rookie draft class. Once Johnston gets the ball in his hands, he’s a physical runner that’s tough to bring down. Add his speed to the mix, and he’s a threat to break a big play at any point in the game.
Johnston can quickly get on the defender’s toes and stack, use his speed, and track the ball, using his long arms to outstretch the defender. There’s a lot that Johnston can do that will translate to the next level and be worthy of being selected on day one of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
A wide receiver that many have talked about all season has been Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The exciting prospect was stuck behind Olave and Garrett Wilson last season, but he’s showing why there was tremendous hype surrounding him. He has phenomenal agility and a diverse route tree that will translate to any position in the NFL. The knock on him that you’ll hear a lot of is the debate of whether he’s just a slot player. While he runs many of his routes from that position, NFL teams are using receivers more than ever, and if that debate is true, Smith-Njigba will thrive out of the slot at the next level.
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Honorable Mentions
Dontayvion Wicks, Virginia
A focal point in Virginia’s offense, and other teams are aware of this. Yet Dontayvion Wicks finds ways to make plays every game. He’s got a big frame and can create separation vertically. Wicks has dealt with injuries during his college career, but he’s got the hands and ball skills to make an impact in the NFL.
Jordan Addison, USC
Before transferring to USC, Jordan Addison was named the Biletnikoff Award winner at Pitt. He’ll succeed in the NFL with his diverse route tree, strong hands, and impressive movement skills. While all that’s true, he doesn’t have the best play strength and isn’t the fastest receiver in this rookie draft class. Addison is a big name that will be a solid player but still has plenty to work on in his game before being ready to produce at the NFL level.
A.T. Perry, Wake Forest
A lean receiver with plenty of height but could stand to gain more muscle weight, A.T. Perry primarily lines up as an X receiver. He’s explosiveness and various releases make him hard for cornerbacks to jam at the line, and he can quickly create separation. There’s plenty of value for an NFL team to take a shot on him earlier in the 2023 NFL Draft than many expect.
Dontay Demus Jr., Maryland
Dealing with injuries has set Dontay Demus Jr. back slightly, but this big-bodied receiver can separate and go up and get the ball with the best of them. With his body control and strong hands at his size, NFL teams will value Demus highly and will be ecstatic to take a chance on him before the end of Day 2.
Jermaine Burton, Alabama
It comes as no surprise that the Crimson Tide have produced another prospect that will be drafted highly. While Jermaine Burton doesn’t have the intimidating size of Julio Jones, he does have the prototypical size of the current NFL receiver. He’s physical and reliable in catching the ball while being a top-tier athlete. Expect to hear his name called early on Day 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft.
While the talent in this class is superb, the elite-level talent isn’t as high as in previous classes. What this class does have is the depth to generate several NFL starters early on in their careers. To answer whether we should be excited about this class of wide receivers – yes. But don’t expect players to emerge quite as quickly as players like Jefferson and Chase did.
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