Wide receivers are becoming a more and more integral part of NFL teams. In contrast to the 1980s, the wide receiver position takes up more cap space than ever before. As teams are looking to cut back on cost, the wide receiver rookie contract can be a great way to save money. With that in mind, who tops the 2023 rookie wide receiver rankings and what teams would they fit best with?
Note: These 2023 wide receiver rookie rankings are based off of their impact to NFL teams, not fantasy football production.
2023 Rookie Wide Receiver Rankings
1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba
JSN’s draft process has been a unique one. Entering the 2022 college football season, Smith-Njigba was atop almost every wide receiver board. His 2021 campaign was exceptional, even on an offense that featured likely three or four other first round wide receiver prospects. While he does not boast top-end burning speed, he is the most complete route runner in this draft. The cerebral side of the position is clearly there as he finds the soft spot in zones and knows how to manipulate defenders at every level of the route. There is no such thing as a “can’t miss prospect” but JSN is pretty darn close. For that reason, he sits in a tier of his own for the 2023 rookie wide receiver rankings.
Ceiling: Donald Driver’s Peak
Floor: Old Adam Thielen
Ideal Team Fits: Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Draft Profile
2. Quentin Johnston
For all of the polish and refinement JSN displays, Quentin Johnston is just a Tyrannosaurus Rex on the field. He measured in at slightly under expectations, but at 6’2″ to run and jump the way that he does is a mismatch nightmare. Johnston was held in check during the national championship game, but when scouts examine the tape they will see a very good sign. The Georgia defense shifted their entire scheme to prevent Johnston from getting the ball. Once he was taken out of the game, the TCU offense could not move the ball. The focal point of a team in the national title game, Johnston’s ceiling is sky high.
Ceiling: Faster Anquan Boldin
Floor: Kevin White
Ideal Team Fits: Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Chargers, Detroit Lions
Quentin Johnston Draft Profile
3. Jordan Addison
Holy separation. Some of Addison’s highlights make him look like a ghost, phasing in and out of existence and confusing defenders. His body control along the sidelines is absurd, and his run after the catch is criminally underrated. Unfortunately, Addison is small to say the least. His height weight combination does not have a history of success in the NFL, and he does not have the top end speed to make up for it. The NFL is changing, and all shapes and sizes are included in 2023 rookie wide receiver rankings. Is Addison the next in the wave of “Slim Reaper” clones? Or a lesson in why size still matters?
Ceiling: Devonta Smith
Floor: Tutu Atwell
Ideal Team Fits: Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans Saints, Kansas City Chiefs
4. Jalin Hyatt
This one isn’t for everyone. On an SEC offense, with a top five quarterback prospect throwing him the ball, he set the world on fire. But if Hyatt were in an average offense, how would he fare? Personally, I think he still would have dominated. His speed is a true weapon, and anyone who tries to pigeon hole Hyatt as a one trick pony is sorely mistaken. The tops of his routes are a thing of beauty, and he left defenders grasping at air while high stepping to the end zone.
Certified fast guy pic.twitter.com/uYyHQWgvYU
— FF Mike Kash (@FFMikeKash) April 4, 2023
Ceiling: DeSean Jackson on the Eagles
Floor: Nelson Agholor recently
Ideal Team Fits: Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants, Buffalo Bills
5. Zay Flowers
How many 5’9″ wide receivers dominate the NFL? Flowers profiles as an absolute jitterbug who runs with just a little more oomph than the rest of the league. No one will ever mistake Flowers for Calvin Johnson, but the impact he can make after the catch and with separation against man to man will keep him high on 2023 rookie wide receiver rankings.
Ceiling: Tyler Lockett but grumpy
Floor: Elijah Moore on the Jets
Ideal Team Fits: Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Green Bay Packers
Honorable Mentions
Slots six through ten can be filled with all sorts of shapes and sizes depending on the team’s need. For that reason, they are all tied for six in the 2023 rookie wide receiver rankings and can be seen as day two selections. Josh Downs is an exceptional separator who is just painfully undersized. Jonathan Mingo is climbing draft boards around the league, and may be the closest thing to a prototypical X receiver outside of Quentin Johnston.
Also fast, but big. Panthers need a WR 👀👀👀 pic.twitter.com/a3XpgAYLaa
— FF Mike Kash (@FFMikeKash) April 4, 2023
Cedric Tillman was previewed as the wide receiver one in Tennessee until some injuries and a Jalin Hyatt breakout took the shine off of him. Marvin Mims might be more talented than his brother, Denzel, who went 59th overall in the draft. This wide receiver class might not have the top end talent of years past, but the depth is unreal.
Main Photo: Adam Cairns – USA Today Sports
