2023 Top 10 Undrafted Free Agent Wide Receivers
The wide receiver position in the NFL seems to always have a few undrafted players get a chance early in their careers. Last season, Rashid Shaheed was able to find an offensive role built around his speed. Now, it appears he will get a chance to repeat that role in the 2023 Saints offense. Conversely, you see undrafted players like Marquez Callaway and Kendrick Bourne show spurts of talent and even production.
Needless to say, undrafted players get replaced often. However, sometimes you find an Adam Thielen or Allen Lazard in these draft classes and on waiver wires. Those players didn’t come right in and produce. Instead, they built their skill sets over seasons and developed into successful NFL wide receivers.
Now, let’s look at the top 10 wide receivers from the 2023 draft class who went undrafted. There’s a chance they may find themselves with a role within the next few years in the NFL.
Jalen Moreno-Cropper, Dallas Cowboys
Fresno State is the alma mater of two wide receivers on this list. Let’s start by talking about the productive Jalen Moreno-Cropper. In his final two seasons for the Bulldogs, Moreno-Cropper produced 168 catches, and 1,975 receiving yards, and grabbed 16 touchdowns. Additionally, he is a smooth player and could be a natural slot backup for CeeDee Lamb.
Moreso than that, he also is a capable special teams player who could challenge players like Kavantae Turpin and Dennis Houston for a roster spot. Surely, the Cowboys will be searching for some depth this season. Beyond Brandin Cooks, Michael Gallup, and of course Lamb, the rest of the roles in this high-volume offense are winnable. Overall, that could lead to Moreno-Cropper making this team’s 53-man roster and possibly producing sooner than later.
C.J. Johnson, Seattle Seahawks
Our Fresno State alumni intermission comes in the form of a one-time Pirate named C.J. Johnson. The former East Carolina player signed with the Seattle Seahawks following the NFL Draft. Of course, the receivers to own in this offense are Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf, and of course the top rookie wide receiver in the 2023 class, Jaxon Smith-Njigba. However, similar to the previously mentioned Cowboys, the Seahawks lack a certain level of depth in this position.
Furthermore, after those top three players, there are injury concerns with certain players and a drop-off in talent. Players like Dareke Young and Cade Johnson may show great improvement this year, but similar hopes were had for players such as Dee Eskridge and Penny Hart in the recent past. The Seahawks also would make multiple talented UDFA adds at the position, displaying interest in improving the team’s depth. C.J. Johnson provides size and good ball skills that could develop behind a player like Metcalf. Between him and players such as Young and Cade Johnson, this team’s depth may feature a new look in 2023.
Nikko Remigio, Kansas City Chiefs
We’re back to talking Bulldog football with Fresno State’s spark plug, Nikko Remigio. Remigio has good agility moves that he’s able to use in the short game and on returns. This Chiefs offense is full of talented players at wide receiver, but we’ve also seen Patrick Mahomes get multiple receivers involved. Remigio is a fine taxi addition this season if he sticks around until the end of the preseason. He may not see the field much in the first year, but he’d be a perfect practice squad addition for the Chiefs in 2023 and could see some work in the return game.
Malik Knowles, Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings have plenty of talent at the top of their depth chart. However, finding cheap options at wide receiver will become necessary if they’re paying Justin Jefferson and K.J. Osborn larger contracts. Players like UDFA Malik Knowles could become important to the team’s future. Of the players undrafted this season, this player profiles similar to Rashid Shaheed of last year. He’s a very fast player with a solid size that can catch but also carry the ball to the endzone.
Knowles has speed that could thrive in this offense with players like Jefferson and Jordan Addison excelling in the short and medium passing game. He’s a threat to go deep and beat his man, but it’s yet to be seen if he can do that same level of work at the NFL level. If the offseason goes well, he’s got solid hands and good versatility that could find him in a gadget role in 2023. The Vikings have swung and missed on some depth wide receivers recently, but they have also found talents like Adam Thielen and K.J. Osborn before.
Matt Landers, Seattle Seahawks
Let’s refer to another Seahawks UDFA receiver that had some draft hype early in the process, Matt Landers. Landers transferred to the SEC last season and took the place of Treylon Burks at Arkansas. He would score eight touchdowns while providing 901 yards on only 47 catches, good for an average of 19.2 yards per catch. Landers is a sizable receiver at 6’5 while being over 200 pounds, and he could find himself fitting a role for the Seahawks.
This team has big receivers in Dareke Young, C.J. Johnson, and of course, DK Metcalf. This shows an affinity for these sorts of players and being able to maximize their abilities. Lastly, Landers is a big playmaker and a big swing for dynasty fantasy football managers to consider.
Jalen Wayne, Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills remain an attractive fantasy option when wide receivers join the team. They’ve even branched out to rookie tight-end hype, but let’s focus on the 2023 UDFA signing Jalen Wayne. In 2022, Wayne was able to go for 816 yards and nine touchdowns for the South Alabama Jaguars. The Buffalo offense has featured some very interesting depth pieces in recent years. Players such as Cole Beasley, a former UDFA himself, and young players like Jake Kumerow and Isaiah Hodgins had either found roles in this offense or gotten signed to other teams. This team is going to play whoever can move the ball, and Wayne’s size and one on one abilities may offer a different look to the ways Khalil Shakir and Gabe Davis win downfield.
Sam James, Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams need some speed in their offense, and Sam James could provide that in 2023. The team has playable depth in Ben Skowronek and Van Jefferson, but James can offer some speed winning over the top of defenders. In the end, he should find himself with a fair chance of making the roster through training camp and should fight for the WR5 spot alongside Puka Nacua.
James had a 69-catch season for the Mountaineers and last season had his best season statistically, getting 46 catches but going for 745 yards and adding six touchdowns. Overall, he has very good speed and some tricky moves to get open. I believe he could be finding himself in the mix for a depth role ahead of players like Tutu Atwell and Nacua.
Jake Bobo, Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks invested quite well and quite heavily in the UDFA market in 2023. They signed the aforementioned Johnson and Landers and decided to add another productive player in UCLA’s Jake Bobo. Last season Bobo proved to be a dependable target for Dorian Thompson-Robinson, receiving 57 catches and 817 yards while adding seven touchdowns. Bobo has sure hands and is able to line up inside and outside. He thrives on curls and makes catches against defenders across the middle.
This team loves the physical wide receivers and Bobo is another one they should be able to mold. Whether it’s this year or next, it is seemingly realistic at least one of Johnson, Landers, or Bobo could make this team and see some snaps in the event of injuries to the top three.
Dylan Drummond, Detroit Lions
Dylan Drummond is an Eastern Michigan product the Lions grabbed this off-season. He played five seasons for the Eagles, his best season coming in 2021 when he would grab 64 balls and also get six touchdowns. Last season, he would get 33 catches and 525 yards, a 15.9 yards per catch average. His size isn’t huge, but he also isn’t too small to play outside at this level. He’s a quick receiver who can win against defenders when he isn’t the main focus on the field. The Lions may be searching and finding Khalif Raymond’s replacement in a player like Drummond.
Additionally, with Jameson William’s suspension and a few releases, this wide receiver core is in need of speed early in the season. Drummond could be a solid depth piece with cost control for the future if he makes the roster. He could even see some early work in a currently rough receiving group outside of Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Kearis Jackson, Tennessee Titans
The player with the greatest pedigree on this list is current Tennessee Titan Kearis Jackson. Jackson is a former Georgia Bulldog whose best season came as a Sophomore in 2020. During that time, he would play 10 games and gain 514 yards on 36 catches, leading to an average of 14.3 YPC. He has some return experience, but should already be one of the faster wide receivers in the Titans’ receiving group.
Additionally, he had a couple of big plays in the last year’s semifinals and NCAA championship but struggled to see the field for most of his collegiate career. With his speed and the Titans needing help at receiver, Jackson may find himself as a depth option for this team in 2023. Personally, I believe could be a terrific foil to Westbrook-Ikhines and Treylon Burk’s strength. He certainly offers more speed than other options such as Kyle Phillips and Racey McMath.
Furthermore, the wide receiver is always a difficult projection from season to season. Certain players come out of nowhere and provide value like Greg Dortch, while the majority become preseason stories that never turn into fantasy production. The reason and necessity of this exercise is to always be looking where you can find value in your leagues. Search out those thin receiver rooms and look into the talent that can emerge from that team.
Some of these names may even have to switch teams before they receive a proper look. Greg Dortch was first signed by the Jets in 2019 and would play his first snaps for the Panthers later that year. He’s now reached a certain level of football viability both for the NFL game and fantasy years on. Allen Lazard started as a Jaguar and wouldn’t play a snap during his first NFL season. In late 2019, he would become a Packer and a fantasy option in the future and is still valuable to this day.
Overall, undrafted free agents are pretty random, but anyone can be a WR4-WR5 any given week. This offers us dynasty managers some hope. Recognizing who has the talent to become those back-end WR3s and WR4s for your team can give your roster depth while offering more flexibility with your top assets.
2023 Complete List of Undrafted Free Agents
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