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NFL Draft Positional Spotlight: Wide Receiver

Here’s a look at some of the wide receivers in this year’s draft class

Mar 21, 2023 at 09:43 AM

Matt McMullen

Chiefs Reporter

The 2023 NFL Draft is just over one month away, and with the annual Scouting Combine in the books, the hype and excitement surrounding this year's event is about to heat up as draft weekend inches closer by the day.

Over the next several weeks, we're going to take a look at some position groups in this year's class while examining a handful of names to know. Let's start with the wide receivers.

Chiefs Receivers Under Contract for the 2023 Season: Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Skyy Moore, Kadarius Toney, Justyn Ross, John Ross, Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Cornell Powell and Ty Fryfogle

Five Names to Know

Depending on where you look, the various experts from around the web have identified a handful of receivers who could potentially go in the first round. Here's a look at several of those players, including where they currently rank among their peers according to the pundits.

Additionally, some players feature analysis from the folks at Pro Football Focus and NFL.com.

Quentin Johnston – TCU

Measurables: 6-foot-3, 208 pounds

Snapshot: Johnston racked up 1,067 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 2022 while showing off his unique blend of size, speed and explosiveness. Lance Zierlein from NFL.com compared his skillset to that of former NFL wide receiver Alshon Jeffery.

Big Board Rankings:

Pro Football Focus (Post-Combine): No. 9 overall (No. 1 WR)

Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) Top 50 (March 9): No. 29 overall (No. 4 WR)

Expert Analysis:

Pro Football Focus: "Johnston has the most prototypical X-skillset in the draft class. Plant him on the outside and make safeties have to account for him every snap."

For more on Johnston, check out his draft profile at NFL.com.

TCU wide receiver Quentin Johnston runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Jaxon Smith-Njigba – Ohio State

Measurables: 6-foot-1, 196 pounds

Snapshot: A monster out of the slot during his time with the Buckeyes, Smith-Njigba tallied 95 catches for 1,595 yards and nine touchdowns in 2021. A hamstring injury held him to only three games in 2022, but now healthy, he'll look to pick up where he left off. Pro Football Focus compared him to former New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman.

Big Board Rankings:

Pro Football Focus (Post-Combine): No. 11 overall (No. 2 WR)

Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) Top 50 (March 9): No. 23 overall (No. 2 WR)

Expert Analysis:

Pro Football Focus: "JSN processes the game like it's in slow motion. His ability to break off routes without warning and catch the ball as he's changing directions is unmatched in the class…He ran 83.0% of his routes from the slot in his career, where he proved to be a sure-handed receiver who possessed the short-area speed to separate from defenders and consistently move the chains."

For more on Smith-Njigba, check out his draft profile at NFL.com.

Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Zay Flowers – Boston College

Measurables: 5-foot-9, 182 pounds

Snapshot: An electric player with the ball in his hands, Flowers caught 78 passes for 1,077 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2022. Pro Football Focus compared him to T.Y. Hilton.

Big Board Rankings:

Pro Football Focus (Post-Combine): No. 24 overall (No. 3 WR)

Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) Top 50 (March 9): No. 24 overall (No. 3 WR)

Expert Analysis:

Pro Football Focus: "You want defenses to not know where Flowers is going to be on any given play because of how much of a mismatch problem his athletic profile presents. Get him matched on a linebacker or safety and it's over."

For more on Flowers, check out his draft profile at NFL.com.

Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Jordan Addison – USC

Measurables: 5-foot-11, 173 pounds

Snapshot: Addison won the Biletnikoff Award in 2021 as the top wide receiver in all of college football after he caught 100 passes for 1,593 yards and 17 touchdowns at the University of Pittsburgh. He transferred to USC ahead of last season, where he tallied 59 grabs for 875 yards and eight scores. Pro Football Focus compared him to former NFL wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders.

Big Board Rankings:

Pro Football Focus (Post-Combine): No. 26 overall (No. 4 WR)

Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) Top 50 (March 9): No. 9 overall (No. 1 WR)

Expert Analysis:

Pro Football Focus: "Addison heads to the NFL draft as one of the class' best route runners…Addison excels at creating separation to the point where his lack of size is an afterthought. He'll be able to run a full route tree from Day 1 in the NFL."

For more on Addison, check out his draft profile at NFL.com.

Southern California wide receiver Jordan Addison runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Jalin Hyatt – Tennessee

Measurables: 6-foot-0, 176 pounds

Snapshot: Hyatt won the Biletnikoff Award this past season as the top wide receiver in the nation after hauling in 67 receptions for 1,267 yards and 15 touchdowns. Hyatt was a big-play machine last season, racking up the second-most "deep yards," or receptions more than 20 yards downfield, of any player in the nation (677), per PFF.

Big Board Rankings:

Pro Football Focus (Post-Combine): No. 77 overall (No. 10 WR)

Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) Top 50 (March 9): No. 36 overall (No. 5 WR)

Expert Analysis:

Pro Football Focus: "If you aren't using Hyatt to run overs, crossers and vertical routes on the majority of his snaps, you're doing it wrong. His ability to get to the defense's third level in a hurry is a valuable skill."

For more on Hyatt, check out his draft profile at NFL.com.

Tennessee wide receiver Jalin Hyatt runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Two Names to Know Beyond Round 1

A.T. Perry – Wake Forest

Measurables: 6-foot-3, 198 pounds

Snapshot: Perry enters the NFL following back-to-back strong seasons at Wake Forest in which he topped 1,000 receiving yards and double-digit touchdowns in each.

Big Board Rankings:

Pro Football Focus (Post-Combine): No. 75 overall (No. 8 WR)

Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) Top 50 (March 9): Not Ranked

Expert Analysis:

NFL.com: "Perry has been highly targeted and highly productive over the last two seasons. He's crafty but physical in the early stages of the route and flashes the ability to become a more dangerous route runner with additional work. He has the tools to work all three levels of the field."

For more on Perry, check out his draft profile at NFL.com.

Wake Forest wide receiver A.T. Perry runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Rashee Rice – SMU

Measurables: 6-foot-1, 204 pounds

Snapshot: Rice put together a tremendous season in 2022, catching 96 passes for 1,344 yards and 10 touchdowns. His "18 deep catches," or receptions that took place 20 yards downfield, ranked third in the nation, per Pro Football Focus. PFF compared him to Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen.

Big Board Rankings:

Pro Football Focus (Post-Combine): No. 76 overall (No. 9 WR)

Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) Top 50 (March 9): Not Ranked

Expert Analysis:

Pro Football Focus: "Rice's ability to adjust to the ball in the air is as good as it gets in this draft class…It's no surprise that Rice saw insane volume this past fall (156 targets) — that's just the kind of receiver he is. He thrives as an intermediate route runner and in contested situations."

For more on Rice, check out his draft profile at NFL.com.