Which wide receivers were drafted in the 2023 NFL Draft? Who were the teams that drafted those WRs, and how does the 2023 class compare to previous years?
Which Wide Receivers Were Drafted in the 2023 NFL Draft?
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State | Seattle Seahawks
Round 1, Pick 20
Smith-Njigba is a first-round prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft and comes away with a top-25 grade on PFN Draft Analyst Ian Cummings’ personal big board. In fact, he was his WR2 behind only TCU’s Quentin Johnston, and Smith-Njigba has perhaps the clearest path to success at the NFL level.
That translatable method of success is what’s always made Smith-Njigba one of the more appealing WR prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft cycle. He’s not the most explosive or fastest receiver in the class, but JSN is a hyper-agile and methodical route runner who can masterfully separate with his brand of mobility and spatial awareness. And when he’s contested, he has the elite catching instincts and sure hands to convert.
Click here to view the full Jaxon Smith-Njigba Scouting Report.
Quentin Johnston, TCU | Los Angeles Chargers
Round 1, Pick 21
Johnston entered the 2022 season as my WR1 in the 2023 NFL Draft. Entering 2023, he remained Cummings’ WR1. He graded out as a top-10 prospect on his board, near the elite tier. He’s a worthy Round 1 selection, and as the arguable WR1, it’s not brash to say he could go early in the first.
In the preseason, Johnston was a fairly large projection. Even now, he still is, and some teams may have questions about his durability as well. But the brand of talent Johnston possesses is simply so rare, and it’s so exciting to think about in the modern NFL.
Click here to view the full Quentin Johnson Scouting Report.
Zay Flowers, Boston College | Baltimore Ravens
Round 1, Pick 22
After playing at 172 pounds for the majority of his Boston College career, Flowers shocked many with his body transformation at the NFL Combine. Adding 10 pounds in a short space of time showcased that the electric pass catcher can add bulk to his frame.
The addition didn’t appear to hamper his straight-line speed, either. A 4.42-second 40-yard dash time might have been slower than his desired 4.3 but was still inside the top-10 WR times in Indianapolis. An 8.29 Relative Athletic Score was impacted by height and weight measurements that are considered very poor by Kent Lee Platte’s athletic testing metric.
Click here to view the full Zay Flowers Scouting Report.
Jordan Addison, USC | Minnesota Vikings
Round 1, Pick 23
Addison’s average-at-best Combine will leave a sour taste in some analysts’ mouths, but the film takes precedence. Combine numbers are essential only when they don’t match what you saw on tape — for better or worse. With Addison, Cummings always believed he was more smooth than explosive. And that’s OK because he knows how to use the tools at his disposal.
You just don’t find his combination of short-area agility, ball skills, and separation prowess frequently. Being a 21-year-old rookie certainly helps; his most significant issues are coachable. Although Addison certainly has room to grow, Cummings believes we have yet to see the best he has to offer.
Click here to view the full Jordan Addison Scouting Report.
Jonathan Mingo, Ole Miss | Carolina Panthers
Round 2, Pick 39
With Mingo, it starts with the physical qualities he possesses. At the Senior Bowl, he measured in at 6’1 3/8″ and 226 pounds, with 32″ arms. Mingo has an incredibly dense, massive frame for a wide receiver and a stellar catch radius. And yet, he’s one of the most explosive, amped-up athletes in the 2023 NFL Draft.
At his size, Mingo is an instant accelerator with elite burst out of cuts and breaks, and his speed can truly stress defenses downfield. At the catch point, he’s incredibly instinctive and controlled with his movements. He’s a superb RAC threat with his RB-like contact balance, measured lateral freedom, and explosiveness in space.
Click here to view the full Jonathan Mingo Scouting Report.
Jayden Reed, Michigan State | Green Bay Packers
Round 2, Pick 50
Looking at Reed’s athletic framework, in particular, he isn’t missing much in his arsenal. At 5’10 3/4″ and 191 pounds, he’s a bit undersized. Yet, at that size, Reed is fast, explosive, fleet-footed, and extremely twitchy on the lateral plane. He also has stellar hip flexibility and suddenness, which he can use to compound separation as a route runner.
Past the physical qualities, Reed uses his traits very efficiently as well. He’s a diabolical route runner at his best, mixing quick releases, lateral twitch, sharp throttle control, hip sink, head fakes, and post-stem acceleration into a potent separation stew. At the catch point, Reed has elite ball-tracking ability and body control. His hands rarely fail him, and his best plays come in the clutch.
Click here to view the full Jayden Reed Scouting Report.
Rashee Rice, SMU | Kansas City Chiefs
Round 2, Pick 55
Right away, Rice’s build and athleticism presents appeal. At 6’1″, 204 pounds, with arms nearly 33″ long, he has excellent frame density and reach — traits that help him in multiple phases. He’s an explosive, physical RAC threat who can break both tackles and tackling angles. And at the catch point, he’s a massive headache for DBs with his length, alpha mentality, and abnormal instincts.
Rice’s catching instincts are elite, as he mixes together high-level body control, timing, ball-tracking ability, and hand strength. He’s an alpha with a “my ball” mentality and willing physicality. And after the catch, he’s a twitchy, energetic mover with explosiveness upfield who can shed arm tackles and use successive cuts to manipulate tackling angles.
Click here to view the full Rashee Rice Scouting Report.
Marvin Mims, Oklahoma | Denver Broncos
Round 2, Pick 63
Mims can’t do much about his naturally smaller build. After all, there’s only so much muscle mass he can put on before sacrificing his trademark athleticism and body control. Thus, Mims profiles as a slot-first receiver, although I believe he has the ability to move around the formation for optimal mismatches.
The Oklahoma WR has the tools to be a productive NFL receiver and will likely hear his name called in the Day 2 range. If he can improve on his wasted motion, showcase a broader route tree, and take his return game to another level, Mims could easily outproduce his draft slot.
Click here to view the full Marvin Mims Scouting Report.
Rounds 4-7
9) Nathaniel Dell, Houston
Round 3, Pick 69 | Texans
10) Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee
Round 3, Pick 73 | Giants
11) Cedric Tillman, Tennessee
Round 3, Pick 74 | Browns
12) Josh Downs, North Carolina
Round 3, Pick 80 | Colts
13) Michael Wilson, Stanford
Round 3, Pick 94 | Cardinals
14) Tre Tucker, Cincinnati
Round 3, Pick 100 | Raiders
15) Derius Davis, TCU
Round 4, Pick 125 | Chargers
16) Charlie Jones, Purdue
Round 4, Pick 131 | Bengals
17) Tyler Scott, Cincinnati
Round 4, Pick 133 | Bears
18) Justin Shorter, Flordia
Round 5, Pick 150 | Bills
19) Dontayvion Wicks, Virgina
Round 5, Pick 159 | Packers
20) Puka Nacua, BYU
Round 5, Pick 177 | Rams
21) Parker Washington, Penn State
Round 6, Pick 185 | Jaguars
22) Kayshon Boutte, LSU
Round 6, Pick 187 | Patriots
23) Trey Palmer, Nebraska
Round 6, Pick 191 | Buccaneers
24) A.T. Perry, Wake Forest
Round 6, Pick 195 | Saints
25) Elijah Higgins, Stanford
Round 6, Pick 197 | Dolphins
26) Xavier Hutchinson, Iowa State
Round 6, Pick 205 | Texans
27) Andrei Iosivas, Princeton
Round 6, Pick 206 | Bengals
28) Demario Douglas, Liberty
Round 6, Pick 210 | Patriots
29) Antoine Green, North Carolina
Round 7, Pick 219 | Lions
30) Colton Dowell, Tennessee-Martin
Round 7, Pick 228 | Titans
31) Jalen Brooks, South Carolina
Round 7, Pick 244 | Cowboys
32) Ronnie Bell, Michigan
Round 7, Pick 253 | 49ers
33) Grant DuBose, Charlotte
Round 7, Pick 256 | Packers
