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NFL Draft: 10 best wide receivers available in 2023

By KC Proctor

Nov 26, 2022; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; Boston College Eagles wide receiver Zay Flowers (4) signals first down after a catch against the Syracuse Orange during the second half at Alumni Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2022; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; Boston College Eagles wide receiver Zay Flowers (4) signals first down after a catch against the Syracuse Orange during the second half at Alumni Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 3, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) is tackled on a kick return by Notre Dame Fighting Irish cornerback TaRiq Bracy (28) during the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) is tackled on a kick return by Notre Dame Fighting Irish cornerback TaRiq Bracy (28) during the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State

Another kid who’s been labeled anywhere between WR1 and WR4, Jaxon Smith-Njigba only has one red flag — the injury that kept him out of this past season. A lingering hamstring kept JSN off the Buckeyes’ roster for most of the 2022 campaign. It was truly disappointing, as this year was his chance to prove what he could do against the best cornerbacks in the country. He went nuclear as a sophomore with 95 receptions for 1,595 yards and 9 touchdowns, but that was as a member of a wide receiver room that had two first-round selections in it. Garrett Wilson — the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year — and Chris Olave, who had a 1,000-yard rookie season in New Orleans, were surrounding him and taking a ton of attention away from him.

If JSN had come out and put together another 1,000-yard season as a junior he would be the uncontested WR1 in the 2023 draft. Since he was playing with one of the top-two quarterbacks in the country and has never had to face off with a CB1, there are some doubts surrounding him in this cycle.

Contrarily, with a 6-foot, 200-pound frame, he passes the eye test; and the tape we have seen of him is electric. He creates separation as well as anyone in the class and can beat defenders in every way imaginable. He only had six drops on 112 targets in 2021 and for all intents and purposes will bring reliability to an NFL roster.

How he tests at the combine will likely play a huge role in where he goes off the board in April, but it is safe to assume he will be making himself money in Indy.

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