Predicting Landing Spots for 2023 NFL Draft's Top Wide Receivers
The 2023 NFL draft class will feature several high-end wide receivers with intriguing attributes who could go in the first round.
None are blue-chip prospects, and the order of selection could come down to teams' preferences and needs for certain types of receivers rather than the individual talent of these players.
Interestingly, most of the marquee names at wide receiver measured in at 6'0" or shorter and under 200 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine. Perhaps that works in favor of bigger wideouts who may draw the attention of clubs that highly value big-bodied pass-catchers.
After a look at landing spots for the top running backs, we've shifted our focus to wide receivers, pairing the top eight wideouts from our latest big board rankings with teams based on need and schematic fit.
Quentin Johnston, TCU
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At 6'3", 208 pounds, Quentin Johnston looks far different from most of the top wide receivers in this year's class, which bodes well for his chance to be the first wideout off the board.
Johnston is going to produce some highlight catches downfield on the pro level because of his ability to adjust to throws—even off-target balls—while fending off a defender in stride.
Despite his size, Johnston isn't particularly physical. In fact, he's more likely to run away from defensive backs rather than outmuscle them at the point of attack.
On the one hand, Johnston's athletically smooth play and explosiveness will put cornerbacks on their heels, which will allow him to rack up yards after the catch. On the flip side, teams may want to see him use his body frame with more consistency in contested situations.
Even in his 2022 breakout campaign, Johnston had just six touchdowns to go along with 1,069 receiving yards, though he did flash big-play ability through three terms at TCU, averaging 19 yards per catch.
Once Johnston learns to win with his size in traffic, he'll make significant strides as a lead receiver.
Johnston said he was "feeling the love" during a meeting with the New England Patriots at the combine. The Patriots have a trio of possession wide receivers in JuJu Smith-Schuster, DeVante Parker and Kendrick Bourne. Johnston would easily be the most dynamic wideout on New England's roster.
Landing Spot: New England Patriots at No. 14
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
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Jaxon Smith-Njigba only appeared in three games in the 2022 collegiate season because of a lingering hamstring injury, but a strong showing at the combine should have quelled concerns about his recovery.
For anyone who questions Smith-Njigba's projection among the top wide receivers, just look at his 2021 season. He outproduced Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, who went No. 10 and No. 11 in last year's draft, respectively, with 95 receptions for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns.
At Ohio State, Smith-Njigba lined up primarily in the slot, though teams should be careful about restricting him to the inside after watching Justin Jefferson shed the slot-only label in the pros.
Smith-Njigba's route-running ability will give him a chance to make plays on the outside as well. He's more smooth than athletic but knows how to sell and break his routes to separate from defenders.
Because of Smith-Njigba's reliable hands and ability to separate, he's going to become a young quarterback's top target.
Over the past few weeks, Smith-Njigba has emerged as the top wide receiver in several mock drafts. If the Houston Texans take a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick (Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud), he's the easy option with their next pick at No. 12. Of course, a Stroud-Smith-Njigba reunion would be a great first-round haul for the Texans.
Landing Spot: Houston Texans at No. 12
Jordan Addison, USC
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In 2021, Jordan Addison won the Fred Biletnikoff Award after hauling in 100 passes for 1,593 yards and 17 touchdowns at Pittsburgh. He then transferred to USC and led the Trojans in catches (59), receiving yards (875) and touchdowns (eight) last season.
Addison can line up in the slot or on the boundary and does a good job of setting himself to see open space with his detailed routes. Because of his sudden quickness, he won't have issues separating from cornerbacks with sticky coverage.
As demonstrated in his final year at Pittsburgh, Addison can handle a ton of targets as the go-to option in a passing attack. With that said, he must prepare himself for the physicality of the pro game. At 5'11", 173 pounds, Addison will face press-man cornerbacks who will try to disrupt his routes right off the line of scrimmage.
Addison's size will raise concerns with some teams, though he's a great fit with the New York Giants, who relied on the short passing game with quarterback Daniel Jones last year. As an agile receiver with top-gear speed, Addison should be able to rack up a lot of yards after the catch on quick strikes in Big Blue's offense.
Landing Spot: New York Giants at No. 25
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Zay Flowers, Boston College
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The NFL team that drafts Zay Flowers will immediately get a jolt of electricity in its aerial attack. At 5'9", 182 pounds with 4.42-second speed, he's a potential matchup nightmare who's going to make defenders look silly in space.
Offensive coordinators should use Flowers as a versatile chess piece to maximize his high-level athleticism. The Boston College product will be responsible for a ton of big gains with a creative play-caller.
Flowers had a standout 2022 term, catching 78 passes for 1,077 yards and 12 touchdowns, which significantly elevated his draft stock.
Flowers has already balked against the slot receiver label. Despite his size, he has experience lining up on the perimeter and talked about it at the combine.
"I'm not just a slot: 75 percent of my snaps were played outside," Flowers told reporters. "I think I could move around and play any position they put me."
Flowers also commented on the idea of playing with Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.
"Playing with Lamar, that would be a South Florida connection—two dynamic players going out there to make plays every game," Flowers said.
Regardless of what happens with Jackson's contract situation, the Ravens need help at wideout. Keep in mind that Rashod Bateman is recovering from Lisfranc surgery. New offensive coordinator Todd Monken could get a much-needed instant playmaker in Flowers at No. 22.
Landing Spot: Baltimore Ravens at No. 22
Cedric Tillman, Tennessee
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Cedric Tillman has flown under the radar because of an injury-riddled 2022 term. Playing in just six games of his senior season, Tillman caught 37 passes for 417 yards and three touchdowns.
Still, Tillman will probably land on the Day 2 radar for most teams because of his impressive 2021 campaign. In that year, he hauled in 64 passes for 1,081 yards and 12 touchdowns as the program's leading receiver over Velus Jones Jr., who went No. 71 overall to the Chicago Bears in the 2022 draft.
Tillman wins with physicality before the catch, and he's tough to bring down with the ball in his hands. At 6'3", 213 pounds, with his ability to attack balls at a high point, Tillman should be able to move the chains on the third downs and become a red-zone threat as a rookie.
The New Orleans Saints should consider Tillman with the 71st overall pick. Derek Carr plays well with big-bodied pass-catchers, which is probably why the team worked out a restructured contract with oft-injured wideout Michael Thomas (6'3", 212 lbs), re-signed tight end Juwan Johnson (6'4", 231 lbs) and added 6'3", 215-pound wide receiver Bryan Edwards (Carr's former Las Vegas Raiders teammate) in free agency.
Tillman could be a viable replacement for Thomas if the veteran wideout continues to miss significant time because of injuries.
Furthermore, Saints wide receivers coach Kodi Burns held the same position at Tennessee during Tillman's 2021 breakout year.
Landing Spot: New Orleans Saints at No. 71
Rashee Rice, SMU
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Rashee Rice knows how to win with the ball up for grabs. At 6'1", 204 pounds, he's not a big-bodied pass-catcher but shows great play strength. If a quarterback needs someone to come up with a 50-50 ball in traffic, Rice is the guy to target downfield.
Rice has the ability to line up on the perimeter or in the slot, as he can beat smaller defensive backs on shorter routes and bigger cornerbacks who lack vertical speed.
Similar to TCU's Quentin Johnston, Rice could show a little more physicality when challenged on intermediate routes, though that may be connected to a lack of refinement in his route running. He has to do a better job of sitting at the top of his routes to find holes in zone coverage.
While Rice sharpens the technical aspects of his game, he can use his physical tools to win matchups. Keep in mind that he caught 19 touchdown passes over the past two years, showing off his nose for the end zone.
After trading A.J. Brown during the first round of last year's draft, the Tennessee Titans need a perimeter playmaker who could complement Treylon Burks. Tennessee should make a concerted attempt to fill a void at wide receiver.
Landing Spot: Tennessee Titans at No. 72
A.T. Perry, Wake Forest
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As a potential third-rounder, A.T. Perry may exceed rookie expectations. He doesn't come from a powerhouse program, though we must acknowledge his gaudy receiving numbers over the last two years.
Since 2021, Perry has hauled in 152 passes for 2,389 yards and 26 touchdowns in a full-time starting role. He's a possible go-to target who can beat defenders in multiple ways.
At 6'3", 198 pounds, Perry knows how to use his frame to back down defenders for contested catches. He's not just a jump-ball pass-catcher though. The Wake Forest product ran a 4.47-second 40-yard dash at the combine and has enough foot speed to beat cornerbacks on deep routes.
Perry is a handful, and quarterbacks will feel comfortable throwing to him in just about any down-and-distance scenario. Even as a middling Day 2 prospect, he could quickly move up the depth chart of a receiver-needy team.
Assuming the Arizona Cardinals eventually part ways with wideout DeAndre Hopkins amid swirling rumors he may be cut, including one report from The MMQB's Albert Breer, Perry could replace the three-time All-Pro wideout.
Landing Spot: Arizona Cardinals at No. 66
Josh Downs, North Carolina
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Josh Downs may go earlier than some draftniks expect in a few weeks. Though we graded him on the low end of our top wide receiver prospects, he may have a higher value for teams that want a pure slot receiver.
Downs is a shifty wideout who's going to put defenders in a blender. He's a nuanced route-runner who can win one-on-one matchups against man coverage and find the shallow areas of coverage in zone schemes.
On the collegiate level, Downs showed consistency with two years of high-end production. Since 2021, he's caught 195 passes for 2,364 yards and 19 touchdowns. The North Carolina product could become a reliable No. 2 pass-catching option out of the slot in the upcoming season.
In consecutive drafts, the Green Bay Packers can go with a wideout in the second round.
Last year, Green Bay selected Christian Watson with the 34th overall pick. Though he played well in the second half of the 2022 campaign, the Packers need more budding talent at the position. Allen Lazard signed with the New York Jets in free agency, and 2022 fourth-rounder Romeo Doubs struggled with drops (nine) throughout his rookie campaign.
Landing Spot: Green Bay Packers at No. 45
College football statistics are provided by cfbstats.com.
Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.
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