We will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports and player profiles. We will be providing scouting reports for over 100 prospects of the 2023 NFL Draft. We’ll update the profiles over the course of the draft prep process, from early profiles through the NFL Combine and pro days. Below we take a look at the top wide receivers of the 2023 NFL Draft class.
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Top Dynasty Rookie Wide Receivers (2023 Fantasy Football)
2023 NFL Draft Summary
One of the most agile, flexible receiver prospects you’ll see, he has the quickness and technique to release at the line and create separation at the stem when working against man coverage and the burst and competitiveness to rack up yards after catch with the ball in his hands. Thin frame and lack of ideal separation on go routes down the sideline may relegate him to the slot, but could easily be a high-volume target to build an offense around.
Projection: Round 1
2023 NFL Draft Summary
A well-built receiver who can be dangerous with the ball in his hands and some room to work with but who lacks the polish and technique typical for a top prospect at the position. Could be a weapon if he commits himself to running routes with more snap/hip sink, but at the moment looks like he might struggle to get separation from pro cornerbacks, with a steeper learning curve than average because of the limited offense he played in at LSU.
Projection: Round 2-3
2023 NFL Draft Summary
A pretty savvy route-runner who shows the quickness and attention to detail to create separation and who isn’t purely an underneath target, showing the ability to stack or freeze defenders on deeper patterns from the slot. Has the look of a player who should be able to contribute from the slot sooner rather than later, although he may struggle to deal with the physicality of the pro game, at least initially.
Projection: Round 2
Zay Flowers (WR – Boston College)
2023 NFL Draft Summary
A savvy, productive slot receiver who combines the speed, quickness, acceleration, and attention to detail to produce at the next level, as long as teams feel comfortable with how a player with such a thin frame will hold up against the physicality of the pro game, whether in terms of releasing at the line of scrimmage, staying on track when running routes, or holding up after contact. Of the receivers in this year’s class, is one of the prospects furthest along in his development, which should allow him to make a relatively early impact.
Projection: Round 2-3
2023 NFL Draft Summary
A quick, elusive, and technically-savvy route-runner who knows how to release and create separation at the stem on intermediate throws, he is more polished than many receivers from major programs but still needs to continue adding functional strength and improve his overall focus in order to make the most of his opportunities when targeted, and may require an accurate quarterback to minimize the adjustments he needs to make. Looks like a mid-round pick with a relatively high floor.
Projection: Round 4-5
Xavier Hutchinson (WR – Iowa State)
2023 NFL Draft Summary
The best receiver from the program since the likes of Allen Lazard (undrafted, 2018) and Hakeem Butler (fourth round, 2019), his game more closely resembles the former, who has also had by far the better pro career. Executes fades and back-shoulder throws well, routes which could make him a good situational receiver and red-zone target at the next level, although it remains to be seen whether he has the speed, explosiveness, and attention to detail as a route runner to create separation against pro cornerbacks in man coverage, and it would be nice to see him leverage his size a little bit more in contested-catch situations.
Projection: Round 3-4
Jalin Hyatt (WR – Tennessee)
2023 NFL Draft Summary
Sometimes, it can be difficult to disentangle Tennessee receivers’ success from Josh Heupel’s playcalling, which often uses creative route combinations to generate confusion in opposing secondaries and create easy, open throws for his quarterback. Nonetheless, Hyatt is an explosive athlete who can run by defenders on deep routes and who shows attention to detail on the limited number of underneath throws he was targeted on. At the least, looks like a potential deep threat who can add another dimension to an offense and create opportunities underneath by virtue of his speed.
Projection: Round 1-2
2023 NFL Draft Summary
A very tough, competitive receiver who was able to do a little bit of everything in school, running a variety of different routes to different levels of the field, lining up in the slot and outside and often bailing out his quarterback with incredible adjustments to throws well away from his frame. Didn’t really have the season he was hoping for this year and may not be the fastest or most flexible receiver in the class, but his overall versatility could allow him to contribute relatively soon at the pro level and could provide a nice safety blanket for a quarterback whose ball placement leaves something to be desired.
Projection: Round 3
2023 NFL Draft Summary
A real weapon who can take the top off of defenses downfield or create after the catch on underneath routes, his incredible combination of physical and athletic tools could make him one of the first receivers off the board on draft day. Doesn’t post up opponents and shields them from the ball quite as well as anticipated, but flashes the ability to climb the ladder and could bully opponents with a little bit more attention to detail.
Projection: Round 1
Charlie Jones (WR – Purdue)
2023 NFL Draft Summary
It sure took a while, but eventually established himself as a legitimate prospect with a highly productive senior season in which he did a little bit of everything from the right side of Purdue’s offense. One of the most pro-ready receivers in the class and someone who has very few holes to his game; if teams don’t mind his advanced age, looks like a good plug-and-play receiver who should provide his quarterback with a reliable target sooner rather than later as a pro.
Projection: Round 3
Jonathan Mingo (WR – Ole Miss)
2023 NFL Draft Summary
A classic “boom-or-bust” receiver prospect who flashed the ability to run past defenders on deep posts and was always a threat to take a screen to the house, but whose college tape was inconsistent from game to game and who is going to have to become much more of a technician at the line of scrimmage and at the route stem, and significantly diversify his route tree in order to reach his potential, which is considerable.
Projection: Round 3
Marvin Mims Jr. (WR – Oklahoma)
2023 NFL Draft Summary
Very flexible receiver who has been able to get open at the college level because of his excellent combination of speed, quickness, and explosiveness, but will need to continue to add functional strength and polish his route-running at the next level. That said, shows enough intriguing traits to draw interest on the second day as a slot option who can threaten downfield or rack up yards after the catch on underneath throws.
Projection: Round 2-3
2023 NFL Draft Summary
A somewhat difficult evaluation in that he’s almost a pure upside pick who presents a very impressive combination of size, strength, explosiveness, and ball skills but who has never really been a major element of his team’s offense in school, save for a few big games sprinkled throughout his four years in the program. Has starting-caliber traits but needs to diversify his route tree and add more subtlety and nuance to his game in order to avoid being too predictable at the pro level. If teams are comfortable with his medicals and have a high tolerance for risk, could find his way into the second day, particularly if he tests as well as anticipated; otherwise, might be more of an upside-based third-day selection.
Projection: Round 4
Trey Palmer (WR – Nebraska)
2023 NFL Draft Summary
A toolsy upside-based pick, Palmer emerged as a viable deep threat from the slot this past season, using some nuance as a route-runner to provide opportunities for big plays down the field, often on post routes. While he’ll have to expand his route tree and increase his focus as a receiver at the next level to eliminate drops, he has the look of a potential starter who could draw some second-day interest, especially if he tests well pre-draft.
Projection: Round 3-4
2023 NFL Draft Summary
A productive two-year starter who plays with the attention to detail and craftiness teams look for and who has the size to win over the top and the ability to challenge defenses downfield by winning at the line with his release and stacking opposing defenders, but who will need to continue adding functional strength and show more nastiness in his game as a blocker upon reaching the next level.
Projection: Round 3-4
Jayden Reed (WR – Michigan State)
2023 NFL Draft Summary
An explosive athlete who can threaten defenses downfield, his speed creates opportunities for him to work underneath as cornerbacks play off, and he is a solid route-runner with impressive body control and aggressiveness as a blocker. Those traits could put him in the mix for a second-day selection, even following a relatively modest senior season in which he didn’t make as many plays as he had during his junior year.
Projection: Round 3-4
2023 NFL Draft Summary
One of the most polished receiver prospects in this year’s class, he combines impressive size and physicality with attention to detail as a route runner, and all the traits teams look for in a possession target: hands, tracking, adjustments, leaping ability, concentration and physicality. May not be one of the most explosive players in the class, but has the traits to develop into a reliable split end on a team where his quarterback is willing to give him chances to make plays vertically and down the field.
Projection: Round 2
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR – Ohio State)
2023 NFL Draft Summary
Hasn’t had a chance to show what he can do this past season, but what he showed as a sophomore strongly suggests he’s one of the most pro-ready receivers in the class, as a technically sound, nuanced wideout with a good understanding of releases, route-running, and coverages. Should be an early contributor out of the slot, with the potential to slide outside and work as a flanker with time. Looks likely to come off the board sometime in the first round, potentially as the first receiver chosen.
Projection: Round 1
Cedric Tillman (WR – Tennessee)
2023 NFL Draft Summary
Pretty much has the type of game his size would suggest. Has the strength to deal with contact through the route and at the catch point and presents his quarterback with a forgiving target that can track and adjust to throws, pluck the ball away from his frame, or climb the ladder and come down with 50-50 balls. Shows attention to detail on the routes he runs but will probably have to diversify his tree and show more consistent physicality and effort in the run game. Might require a quarterback who trusts him in tight coverage.
Projection: Round 2-3
Parker Washington (WR – Penn State)
2023 NFL Draft Summary
May never be a true outside receiver, but is a thickly-built, reliable slot option who pays attention to detail as a route-runner, offers a safe pair of hands and the ability to adjust to throws away from his frame, solid contact balance and some elusiveness after the catch, and high-effort blocking, traits which could make him a reliable underneath target at the next level as well. Looks like a relatively pro-ready, safer pick.
Projection: Round 3-4
Dontayvion Wicks (WR – Virginia)
2023 NFL Draft Summary
One of the more enigmatic receiver prospects in the class, his stock will ultimately depend on whether teams think they’ll be getting the dangerous 2021 version or the highly inefficient 2022 version of his game. With an impressive Combine, should be able to work himself into the mid-round conversation, appealing to teams which value tools and which are willing to overlook his metrics.
Projection: Round 4-5
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