Feb 2, 2023; Mobile, AL, USA; American wide receiver Rashee Rice of SMU (11) practices during the third day of Senior Bowl week at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports
Who are the top ten wide receivers in the 2023 NFL draft class? How many will go in the first round in April? What sets them apart?
In last year’s NFL draft there were 12 wide receivers chosen in the first 55 picks. The second off the board, Garrett Wilson, ended up being the Offensive Rookie of the Year, and most teams were ecstatic with the production of their early selection. The Saints’ Chris Olave had 1,000 receiving yards, the Chiefs’ Skyy Moore caught a touchdown in the Super Bowl, and the Steelers’ George Pickens compiled a highlight reel of catches that few superstars could replicate.
The 2023 class is far less top-heavy from a prospect perspective, but will likely feature a dozen picks in the top 100. With just over two months until draft day, let’s take a look at the top 10 wideouts available in this year’s class.
Who are the 10 best wide receivers available in the NFL Draft?
10. Rashee Rice, Southern Methodist University
There have been calls for Rashee Rice to be the next great SMU wide receiver throughout this draft cycle. Courtland Sutton, Emmanuel Sanders, and NFL Hall of Fame member Raymond Berry top the list of standout Mustangs to excel in the league. Rice fits the bill both physically and in terms of production. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder hauled in 96 catches for 1,355 yards and 10 touchdowns in his senior campaign.
Proven commodities are very much the name of the game at the NFL draft, and teams are far less likely to use top-notch capital on hit-or-miss wideouts. Rashee Rice has taken care of that element of business, and now the position in which he’s drafted will come down to how he tests out at the combine. He received an invite to the Senior Bowl, and put some excellent reps on tape, but everyone who comes from a Group of Five school needs to show out in Indianapolis in order to climb the ranks.
Regardless of how Rice shows up at the combine, his production and varietal experience make him a top-10 prospect in this wide receiver class. According to PFF, he fielded over 300 reps out of the slot as a junior and then moved to the X for 387 reps out wide as a senior. Over his last two seasons at SMU, he had 160 receptions for over 2,000 yards and 19 TDs.
