NFL draft season is here, filled with an interesting wide receiver class– here’s how we see some of them
Looking at the quarterbacks, the class is stacked. CJ Stroud, Bryce Young, Will Levis, Anthony Richardson– well, you get the jist. However, the wide receivers have been touted as possibly the weak point of the 2023 draft. Some could say there’s a polarization of talent… feast or famine. There’s a couple of standout studs, while the rest filter in.
We don’t see it that way, instead we think we’ve found some hidden gems. Nowadays you don’t need a Randy Moss or Calvin Johnson. Instead look at players like Tyler Lockett. Undersized, sure. But he has all the tools in order to make an impact beyond simple go routes. These players are masters of their crafts, traits we’re sure will translate to the next level.
In one word? Speed.
This receiver class can get on their horse and go. For many teams, it’d be like finding the perfect complement to put together your receiver bouquet. Pair that with these receivers route-running ability and shiftiness… all of sudden, your receiver room just went nuclear.
Josh Downs | University of North Carolina
Downs’ ability to get open at his frame is absurd. Think of a perfect slot receiver pairing to a proven outside pass catcher. His ability to be a 2 punch could prove to be a lethal duo
If you looked at a dictionary to personify Downs, the word that jumps out immediately is shifty. With terrific releases off the line, the junior from Sewanee, GA matches up well with any linebacker or safety in the slot.
Strengths
Releases: Downs’ fast twitch ability shows up every time he lines up in the slot. Whether it be off the line or a secondary release with a backpedaling defensive back, Downs finds a way to make them miss. His one cut jab is powerful, contrary to some larger receivers’ choppy steps and “beating-the-drum” style.
Routes: Perhaps the biggest plus to Downs’ play is his ability to run the full route tree and be creative with it. No one route looks the same, and that’s a powerful trait. While he never got the full outside receiver treatment, he looks comfortable running posts and slot fades from the inside. The specialty routes are his strong suit: whips, jerks, and angles all are a crucial part of Downs’ repertoire.
Speed: With a reported 40-time of 4.34 seconds, it’s hard to imagine Downs not being enticing for teams that are looking for an explosive player off the bat. Shades of John Ross III, sure. However, Downs’ speed plays a huge role after the initial catch. Downs posted 754 yards after catch– ranking third in the nation. The figure plays testament to his role in the slot, but also to his unique shake and bake traits well beyond the point of reception.
Weaknesses
Frame & Size: There’s no sugarcoating it. Downs is relatively smaller than most receivers. At 5’10”, his build will probably confine him to a slot receiver in the NFL. That’s where he got most of his reps in college as well in the Tar Heels’ offense. Don’t expect Downs to be 1-on-1 on the outside. Downs’ comfort zone is at the inside-receiver position, where we expect most league teams to use him.
Blocking Ability: Downs has never shown a true ability to block like a true outside receiver or like a larger receiver. He’s currently listed at 175 lbs, a smaller stature for an NFL pass catcher. UNC’s offense never forced him to go one-on-one with large linebackers to block. We don’t expect him to win any matchups against middle linebackers.
Pro-Like Trait
Hands: Downs’ hands are the most pro-ready trait. His catch radius, while small, is highly effective for his size. In the slot, he can make a lot of touch grabs and be confident when it counts. His capacity to make his quarterback look good could be the cherry on top NFL teams were looking for.
Parker Washington | Penn State
Washington might be a true surefire slot receiver of the 2023 NFL Draft. Coming off the success of former teammate Jahan Dotson, Washington’s speed allowed him to post 611 yards in 2022
Washington can get open. Watching film on Parker Washington was like living through COVID all over again, he had no one around him for a good majority of the tape. Sharp cuts, pristine routes, and blazing speed allowed Parker Washington to have a productive year as Penn State’s number one slot receiver.
RELATED: What Went Wrong For Texas A&M Despite Having an Excellent Recruiting Class?
Strengths
Hands: Washington seems to be able to catch anything in Penn State’s game versus Ohio State in 2022, Washington pulled off a diving grab on an out route that showed off two things– his hands and his ability to adjust to balls outside his primary frame, which could prove useful for a young quarterback or a developing team.
Blocking: Washington’s heftier size as a slot receiver grants him better matchups against chunkier defensive players. He blocks better against off safeties, but can still get after large linebackers. This opens up his versatility in the run game, and is fully capable of setting up crack blocks against middle linebackers on screens and outside zones.
Route Running: While Washington doesn’t have the blazing speed as some of the other receivers in his class, he makes up for it by being a technical route runner. His portfolio includes crossers, hitches, slants, posts, and seams from the slot against Cover 3. Washington’s separation is off the charts as well, the best amongst his NFL Draft peers, regularly being able to make something out of nothing with sharp stems and leans.
Weaknesses
System: While a productive receiver, a lot of his touches have been set up for him with short routes, screens, and bubbles. While not a a big issue, it’s important to know at first glance, his stats aren’t what they seem. A lot of his steamrolling have come from “gimmes” and receptions behind the line of scrimmage.
Less that 30% of his snaps came from outside the slot as well, meaning there’s not much of a sample size to watch Washington’s ability from the number one receiver position. This will relegate him to a slot receiver like Downs in the NFL.
Pro-Like Trait
Hands: Like Downs, Washington poses a huge threat in the passing game with his ability to catch balls that seem terribly thrown. Washington amplifies his quarterback’s play by being a target, and with only 8 drops in his entire college career in State College, his hands are pro-ready.
Quentin Johnston | TCU
To say Quentin Johnston played a role in TCU’s run to the national championship game is an understatement… he was half their offense
Every flame needs its initial spark. Johnston was the lighter fluid for a high-octane TCU offense that squirmed their way into the National Championship Game. His 6’4″ frame allowed him to cruise over defenders and be quarterback Max Duggan’s favorite target. Johnston fits the bill of the traditional big bodied wide receiver that teams would love to use. Teams like the Falcons and the Bengals have benefited in years past with the likes of Julio Jones and A.J. Green who both had similar builds to Johnston.
Strengths
Frame: Johnston’s frame is the prototypical build for nearly every NFL team’s number one receiver. At 6’4″ and 210 lbs, he’s hard for any defensive back to cover and he can be a jumpball guy on the goal line. He’s shown consistent ability to box out on goal line fades and to muscle his way past defenders at high levels.
Off-Man Releases: While being shoddy with man releases, Johnston has proven to be able to consistently beat off-man coverage with good footwork and speed. He has lateral agility that allows him to cross a defenders face on a whim and break tough patient off-man corners down.
READ EVEN DEEPER: Ranking the Top Free Agent Wide Receivers Set to Hit the Market
Weaknesses
Jump Balls: Despite his stature, Johnston has been so-so on jumpballs. Inconsistency kills NFL dreams faster than anything else. His contested catch rate is lower than 50%, which in the pros simply won’t do. His hands are solid, but his lack of focus in tough-catch scenarios must be improved.
Man Releases: On one hand, Johnston’s strength is off-man releases. Yet, it’s been low marks for his press man releases. He allows defenders to get into his chest, knocking him off his route and slowing him down. In the NFL, where every second is precious and the defensive backs get much better and stronger, he needs to learn to use his lateral quickness and size to get past corners.
Pro-Like Trait
After-Catch Ability: Johnston’s abilities to break a simple slant for six is a special trait that will translate to the league. He’s been able to kick it into another gear and hit the proverbial jets every time he gets into space. Pair that with his immense size, and he’ll be hard to bring down once he gets going.
Nathaniel Dell | University of Houston
Dell’s quick twitch fibers and jumpiness should invoke fear in every NFL slot corner. His abilities to somehow switch directions like a sports car will prove to be a hidden gem for a team
If fast twitch fibers were a person, they’d be Nathaniel Dell. The Houston product posted 1,355 yards in 2022 with his quarterback counterpart Clayton Tune. The duo tore up the AAC, with Dell earning himself a Senior Bowl invite. The 5’10” receiver has seen a lot of schools, originally coming from Alabama A&M then transferring to Independence CC before finally ending up at Houston.
Strengths
Production: Sure, one could look at the tangibles and say he’s undersized. Yet, you can’t overlook one’s biggest mark on their resume– their production. Dell led the nation over the past two years, posting over 2,700 yards. His production is unrivaled, especially in the touchdown department with 29. Averaging 14.5 touchdowns per season isn’t easy, and could transfer to the league in terms of output.
Intelligence: Dell has consistently been able to find soft spots in zones paired with a chemistry-ingrained WR/QB combination. The ability to recognize defenses on a dime isn’t easy, and with Dell having a natural knack for doing so, he’ll make a great slot receiver.
Weaknesses
System: Dell’s production numbers may have been ballooned by the fact that Houston runs a wide receiver favored pass heavy offense with plenty of opportunities going to him. Pair that with a favorable quarterback in Tune, and it’d be impressive for Dell not to put up the numbers he did.
Dell also posted those stats against a relatively weaker American Athletic Conference, not the SEC or the Big 10. While this may be trivial, it certainly is an important aspect not to overlook.
Frame: Like most of the receivers on this list, he’s undersized. Weighing in at 163 lbs, he’s in the bottom 1% of NFL Draft prospects and NFL Combine invitees. His height doesn’t do him much favors either at 5’10”. He’ll most likely be trapped in the slot or placed as a punt returner, in similar roles to Kadarius Toney.
Pro-Like Trait
Route Running: Dell’s quickness and speed allows him to run some of the crispest routes amongst his peers in the draft class. Each route is like an arrow in his quiver, and each one is unique in its own right. He specializes in crossing patterns and zone beaters but has proven his ability to press deeper down the field.
