The 2023 NFL Draft is officially over, but there is a reason that most of these players aren’t expected to make an instant impact. Adjusting to professional football isn’t easy, and some players need a season or two before they’re ready to make their mark on the league. These six wide receivers have put in their dues and are the top breakout candidates heading into the 2023 NFL season.
Top 6 Wide Receiver Breakout Candidates For the 2023 NFL Season
1. Rashod Bateman
After battling injuries for most of his first two seasons, wide receiver Rashod Bateman is finally back on the field and ready to make a consistent impact. The former first-round pick might not have been ready to be the top option in the passing attack last year, but he won’t have to deal with that pressure now that Odell Beckham is in town. There is a chance that Zay Flowers eats into some of his targets, as the two players are very similar, but Bateman should begin the year as a starter in two-receiver sets and put together his best season to date.
Don't forget about Rashod Bateman.
This WR corps 😳 #RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/uKdOjA48mb
— Nic Mason (@British_Raven19) April 29, 2023
2. George Pickens
Georgia’s George Pickens inexplicably fell to the back of the second round in the 2022 NFL Draft, and the wide receiver spent the entirety of his rookie campaign showing the league that he’s the real deal. While he had a few growing pains, he still managed to record 801 yards and four touchdowns on 52 receptions while catching passes from Mitchell Trubisky and a rookie Kenny Pickett. Both Pickett and Pickens should be better in Year 2, so don’t be surprised if the wide receiver finishes the season with over 1,000 receiving yards.
3. Treylon Burks
The 2023 NFL Draft class featured tons of great talent at wide receiver. Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, and Drake London all lit up the box scores, but Treylon Burks also had his moments. Unfortunately, injuries limited him to just 11 games, but he was one of the more efficient receivers in the league on a per-route basis. If he can stay healthy, he should establish himself as the clear top option in the Tennesee Titans passing attack.
4. Terrace Marshall
Former second-round pick Terrace Marshall had a rookie season to forget, but the LSU product actually came alive during the second half of the year. Following the Robbie Anderson trade, the wideout recorded 24 receptions for 460 yards and a touchdown over the back half of the year despite dealing with some truly atrocious quarterbacking. Carolina added veterans Adam Thielen and DJ Chark along with rookie wideout Jonathan Mingo, so Marshall will need to prove he’s worthy of seeing the field. However, if he can do that, he could turn into a solid red zone threat in Year 3.
5. Skyy Moore
The Kansas City Chiefs need one of their young wide receivers to breakout in 2023. The reigning Super Bowl champions added Rashee Rice in the NFL Draft, but he won’t be enough to offset the loss of Juju Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman all on his own. Skyy Moore had flashes of brilliance last year, both as a receiver and a returner, and if he can put it all together in 2023, he could be a big part of the best passing attack in football.
Skyy Moore's redemption pic.twitter.com/csyiIiUJIQ
— The Aftermath Podcast (@Aftermath_KC) February 2, 2023
6. Jalen Guyton
The Los Angeles Chargers wide receivers are not exactly the fastest bunch in the world. Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Quentin Johnston all have their strengths, but none of them have the speed to threaten a defense deep. Jalen Guyton runs a 4.39 40-yard dash and is the only guy on the team capable taking the top of the defense. Now recovered from his torn ACL, the wide receiver is long overdue for a breakout season and should make a huge impact as Justin Herbert’s primary deep threat.
Main Photo: Brian Fluharty – USA Today Sports
