Top WR Prospects Cowboys Must Prioritize in 2023 NFL Draft

The Dallas Cowboys don't have to draft a wide receiver with their first pick at No. 26, but they need to come away from the draft with one they believe can be an early contributor.

The Cowboys receiving corps has become a need from the day they traded Amari Cooper to the Cleveland Browns.

CeeDee Lamb has taken over as a legitimate No. 1 receiver. But Cooper and Lamb were a credible 1A and 1B in the passing attack. Without Cooper, the Cowboys struggled to find a legitimate No. 2 receiver.

Michael Gallup is paid like he should fulfill that role, but his return from an ACL tear didn't go so well in 2022. He had 39 receptions for 424 yards and four touchdowns in 14 games last season.

Jalen Tolbert was a non-factor in his rookie season. James Washington never really got healthy and only played in two games.

Brandin Cooks should alleviate some of the problems, but he is approaching 30 and coming off one of his least productive seasons to date. These three prospects should be firmly on the radar.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State

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PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) runs up field during the Rose Bowl game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Utah Utes on January 1, 2022 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba falling all the way to No. 26 is a dream scenario for the Cowboys. The 6'1", 196-pound receiver is the No. 12 ranked prospect on B/R's big board and the second-ranked receiver.

However, Smith-Njigba's college career was limited to the slot only, and that lack of versatility might be enough to drop him into the back half of the first round.

That would be great news for the Cowboys because there's still reason to believe he can win on the outside, too. Despite the limitations of his role, Smith-Njigba still stood out in receiver rooms that included Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave and Marvin Harrison Jr.

In fact, Smith-Njigba led the 2021 Buckeyes in receiving with 95 receptions for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns.

B/R scout Derrik Klassen compared Smith-Njigba to CeeDee Lamb in his scouting report. So while it would seem their skills might be redundant in the same team, it could also be said it would give the Cowboys two players who can give opposing secondaries similar problems.

Smith-Njigba falling to the Cowboys would be a classic example of NFL front offices overthinking things. Regardless of where he lines up, his college career and the skills he put on film are legit.

He'd immediately be the No. 2 receiver in the Cowboys offense.

Rashee Rice, SMU

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MOBILE, AL - FEBRUARY 02: American wide receiver Rashee Rice of SMU (11) during the Reese's Senior Bowl team practice session on February 2, 2023 at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Cowboys scouting department doesn't have to look too far to find a quality wide receiver prospect. Rashee Rice played his collegiate career 30 minutes from AT&T Stadium at SMU.

Unlike Smith-Njigba, there's no question that Rice can line up anywhere in a formation. He's 6'1", 204 pounds but plays even bigger. His ability to go up and high-point the football would be a welcome addition for Dak Prescott.

That part of his game is enhanced by his 41" vertical that allows him to come down with more than his fair share of jump balls. He was also voted as having the "best hands" in the class by the B/R scouting department.

That could be a notable strength for Dallas. They were eighth in drop rate last season, per Pro Football Reference.

Rice was a red-zone menace for the Mustangs. He scored 19 touchdowns over the last two campaigns. Dalton Schultz led the Cowboys with 16 red-zone targets last season. With his departure, that's a role Dallas will need to replace.

The 26th pick might be early for Rice, but he does fill a need. Ideally, he could be a high-priority candidate if Jerry Jones and Co. decided to trade back in the first round.

WR Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee

AP Photo/Wade Payne

Tennessee wide receiver Jalin Hyatt (11) runs for yardage as Tennessee Martin safety Carson Evans (12) defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

When you look at the Cowboys' attempts to replace Cooper last offseason, it's clear they were looking for a deep threat. Jalen Tolbert projected as one coming out of South Alabama. James Washington has shown glimpses of being a field stretcher in his days with the Steelers.

It makes sense. Lamb is excellent in the intermediate areas of the field, while Gallup has potentially lost a step after his injuries.

There was no more dangerous deep threat in college football this season than Jalin Hyatt. his 4.40 40-yard dash was actually surprisingly slow based on what he put on film this season. According to PFF, he led the nation in deep yards with 677.

His highlight reel is chock full of plays where he is just running wide-open downfield against SEC secondaries.

Hyatt needs to round out his game to become a more consistent weekly threat to opposing defenses. He doesn't have an advanced route tree, and he's reliant on his long speed to impact the game.

But the Cowboys need a game-breaking option, and Hyatt can deliver that right now.