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The NFL may not be as high on this year’s wide receiver class as the media and fans seem to be.
According to Executive Director Reese’s Senior Bowl Jim Nagy, who has been in talks with multiple NFL teams over the past couple of weeks, the league is not as bullish on the wide receiver talent available in the 2023 draft.
One thing has become clear on calls around league past couple weeks: NFL isn’t nearly as high on this year’s WR class as media.
Frequently seeing 4-5 wideouts in mocks. Have spoken to numerous teams that have only one first round grade at the position. That guy is JSN.
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) April 10, 2023
Nagy notes that while many mock drafts have predicted four to five wide receivers to go in the first round, he has spoken to numerous teams that have only one first-round grade at the position. That player, according to Nagy, is Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
This news is a blow for highly-touted receivers such as TCU’s Quentin Johnson, Boston College’s Zay Flowers, USC’s Jordan Addison, and North Carolina’s Josh Downs, who may not be drafted in the first round as previously predicted.
The wide receiver position has been a hot topic in the lead-up to this year’s NFL draft, with many experts and fans expecting a strong class of receivers to enter the league. However, Nagy’s comments suggest that teams may not be as impressed with the talent available as originally thought.
This news is sure to impact the strategies of teams heading into the draft, as they may now be more inclined to focus on other positions or wait until later rounds to address their wide receiver needs. It also raises questions about the accuracy of mock drafts and the role they play in shaping public perception of draft prospects.
Regardless of this development, there are still several highly-talented receivers available in this year’s draft, and it will be interesting to see how teams navigate this new information and make their selections come draft day.