Mel Kiper ranks Top 10 wide receivers ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft

The 2022 NFL Draft saw six wide receivers taken within its first 18 selections. Now, based on the wide out talent potentially available in the 2023 draft, Mel Kiper could see something like that again in Kansas City come April.

Kiper recently released an updated version of his top prospects in the upcoming NFL Draft. His rankings have Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba being the first WR off the board. Other big-time college names like Quentin Johnson, Jordan Addison, and Jalin Hyatt are not far behind.

1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba – Ohio State Buckeyes
2. Quentin Johnson – TCU Horned Frogs
3. Jordan Addison – USC Trojans
4. Zay Flowers – Boston College Eagles
5. Josh Downs – North Carolina Tar Heels
6. Jalin Hyatt – Tennessee Volunteers
7. Charlie Jones – Purdue Boilermakers
8. Cedric Tillman – Tennessee Volunteers
9. Rashee Rice – SMU Mustangs
10. Dontayvion Wicks – Virginia Cavaliers

Some names that just missed the cut were Oklahoma’s Marvin Mims, Ole Miss’ Jonathan Mingo, and Arizona’s Jacob Cowing.

Smith-Njigba came into the year as one of the top wide receiver names, if not the top one. However, some wondered if we’d see his draft stock slip over time after playing just three games this season due to injury. Based on his reputation from his sophomore season and the pro level’s faith in wide receiver talent out of Columbus, though, it seems Kiper still believes in JSN as the best in the class.

Kiper’s list includes a pair of Biletnikoff Award winners in Addison and Hyatt. Addison won the award at Pittsburgh a year ago before transferring to Los Angeles this season where he finished with 59 catches for 875 yards and eight touchdowns. Meanwhile, Hyatt was a touchdown machine in Knoxville in 2022 with 15 scores to go along with 67 catches and 1,267 yards en route to this season’s Biletnikoff.

Hyatt also isn’t even the only Tennessee wide receiver listed in Kiper’s rankings. Tillman, a senior out of Las Vegas, was supposed to be the Vol’s WR1 this season. Injuries forced him to miss all but six games, though, which played a part in Hyatt’s breakout this year.

Young receivers have been making a name for themselves this season in the NFL. If any of these players have anything to say about it, they’ll look to have the same impact next season in the pros.