Receivers, to me, are the most polarizing position to scout. They’re so system-dependent, often drafted so close to each other and in hindsight, comparative analysis can be jarring.
Recently, we all can recall the D.K. Metcalf draft – where in one camp, you had people claiming he’s the second coming of Calvin Johnson, and in the other, you had some saying he’s a juiced-up straight-line runner completely incapable of moving laterally.
Of course, we also remember the 2020 draft, when the Philadelphia Eagles, nationally touted this year for their scouting acumen, selected Jalen Reagor one pick ahead of Justin Jefferson.
With running backs and tight ends, most teams only roster three or four of them. They’ll only use one or two regularly. Receivers, however, are a completely different story. The NFL is a wide receiver arms race, and the best offenses are looking to put playmakers all over the field. The varying skill sets of receivers make up the best groups.
Look at Cincinnati. Ja’Marr Chase is a speed demon who can take the top off a defense on any given snap. Tee Higgins is a 6’4 contested catch monster. Tyler Boyd is a veteran slot option with the reliability and versatility to play all over the field. Trenton Irwin stepped up as a key piece in regular season wins when they went down.
Below are some of my favorite WR prospects who won’t cost a team much on draft weekend but could contribute in spades when given a chance.
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Expert Consensus 2023 Dynasty Superflex Rookie Draft Rankings: Top-50
2023 NFL Draft Prospects: Under-the-Radar Wide Receivers
Justin Shorter (WR – Florida)
The first thing you’ll notice about Justin Shorter is his size, contrary to his last name. Florida listed him at 6’5 and 228 pounds. He clocked in just under 6’4 at the Shrine Bowl. He’s mastered using his frame to his advantage.
He can elevate to make contested catches, of course, but he’s also extremely smart with how he uses his body in open space before the catch. He’s flashed a basketball-like knack for boxing out defenders and reading zones. One of the most underrated parts of his game is his explosiveness after the catch. He’s not easy to bring down and flashes a powerful, decisive first move with the ball.
Watching him high-point a football is a thing of beauty.
His speed is fine, but don’t let a perceived lack thereof turn you away. Despite the similar size, his skill set isn’t of Metcalf. He also only caught 110 passes in five collegiate seasons, two of which were at Penn State. The sample size and a brief injury history may explain why his draft stock is lower than I think it should be.
Shorter feels like an easy player for a quarterback to develop a rapport with. His catch radius is massive, and he already has a feel for dissecting zones. Regardless of his NFL Scouting Combine performance, he’ll be a great value pick for a team looking to add some receiving depth late in the draft.
Michael Wilson (WR – Stanford)
Michael Wilson is everything you could ask for in a receiver. He’s 6’2, has plenty of muscle at 215 pounds, big hands, good hands, runs crisp routes and was a multi-year captain at Stanford. Hines Ward and T.J. Houshmandzadeh are working with him personally.
He’s not cracking the top of draft boards for the reasons you’d expect. He’s not going to run a 4.3. He’s not going to jump out of the gym at the combine. The term “physical freak” is thrown around a lot today, and Wilson isn’t one, compared to some of the players projected to go in the first two rounds. However, I would be shocked if whoever drafted Wilson didn’t end up very happy. His skill set, highly-touted work ethic and leadership remind me of Adam Thielen.
Check out this play right here from the Senior Bowl. Wilson didn’t need spectacular measurables to make this happen, but he nailed the release and went up to a high point to secure the quick pass.
I have a sneaky feeling Wilson will get selected higher than most people expect on draft weekend. If your team “reaches” for him, don’t be the person to google his 40-time and be disappointed. Wilson will be a great addition to any receiving corps.
Demario Douglas (WR – Liberty)
Demario Douglas, while underrated, is the polar opposite of Wilson. Douglas is a paragon of athleticism. His straight-line speed, shiftiness and after-the-catch abilities are all tantalizing. Of course, teams will want to see him add more elements to round out his game. However, he’s a dynamite physical talent right now, which is hard to resist at any point in the draft.
He measured in a tick under 5’8 and 175 pounds at the Shrine Bowl. Again, take him for what he is right now. He’s a projected day-three pick. Who’s to say he can’t be the next Jakeem Grant? Right now, Douglas is an absolute blast to watch, and I hope a front office thinks it can translate to the next level.
Trey Palmer (WR – Nebraska)
Cornhusker fans need no introduction to this man. Trey Palmer transferred from LSU after the 2021 season and broke Nebraska’s single-season receiving yards record, reeling in 71 balls for 1,043 yards and nine touchdowns.
Palmer came over to Nebraska with Mickey Joseph. Joseph was Nebraska’s interim head coach in 2022. At LSU, Joseph was the receivers coach for Chase, Jefferson, D.J. Chark and Russell Gage, among other NFL Tigers. Not a bad pedigree.
Palmer has this week circled on his calendar. He has incredible speed, and if there’s one thing the NFL combine can do for receivers, it’s create a buzz with 40 times.
Palmer was actually clocked as the fastest player at the Senior Bowl this year.
Palmer is fast, he has great hands and his pedigree is top-notch. What gives? Namely, it’s questions about his route tree. He was taking the top off of defenses at Nebraska and wasn’t asked to do much outside of the slot.
However, to me, his skill set screams malleable. He’s 6′ tall and not skinny, weighing in at 193 pounds. Here’s an example of a practice rep that flashed a nice release on a short, in-breaking route.
His potential to become a weapon out of the backfield is also more than just speculation. He’s giving me major Curtis Samuel vibes.
Palmer is a bargain right now. Pro Football Focus has him ranked outside of their top-15 receivers.
His stock should increase after the combine. Any team looking to add an immediate playmaker without surrendering a high draft pick could be in luck.
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