The NFL Draft saw a trrove of wide receivers splash new depth charts plus hint at the future of the position for franchises. Here are the most significant stories at the position coming out of the 2023 NFL Draft:
10. Jordan Addison a no-surprise pick by the Vikings
Minnesota was one of the essential locks in the first round to draft a wide receiver, and Jordan Addison or Zay Flowers were commonly mocked to them. K.J. Osborn boosted his production in 2022 but returns to the WR3 role and the fourth or fifth option in the Minnesota passing food chain with strong running backs and T.J. Hockenson also in the mix. The fantasy upside is a question mark with Addison due to Justin Jefferson blocking out of the sun in terms of market share and Hockenson's flourish in 2022 after the Vikings acquired him.
Our Sigmund Bloom has Jordan Addison at seventh overall in his post-NFL Draft 'Bloom 100', also mentioning a possible downturn for T.J. Hockenson as a result.
9. Marvin Mims added to deep Denver depth chart
Marvin Mims was one of the elite profiles to go beyond Round 1 at the position. With Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton both not traded, Denver marks one of the deepest wide receiver groups in the NFL. With Russell Wilson and Sean Payton, Denver will be one most pressurized offenses this season to bounce back. Mims can be what Tyler Lockett was for Wilson in Seattle and be what Denver had hoped from the oft-injured K.J. Hamler.
8. Jonathan Mingo adds ambiguity to Carolina
Jonathan Mingo was rising in mock drafts and went from Day 3 with upside to going No. 39 overall to Carolina. The Panthers added veterans D.J. Chark and Adam Thielen, plus they still have younger options of intrigue in Terrace Marshall and Laviska Shenault. Rookie quarterbacks are typically slow starters, making this a crowded passing game slicing a middling total production pie in a variety of directions in 2023.
7. Jalin Hyatt falls but finds open Giants depth chart
After Jalin Hyatt was projected as a first-round selection months ago, his workout was not as elite as expected and ultimately faded all the way to Round 3. Fortunately, he found a Giants depth chart with nothing but questions where Isaiah Hodgins was the most dependable option late last season. Hyatt lost some of his expected draft pedigree but gained an unsteady depth chart. The key will be seeing more upside progression from Daniel Jones.
Our Jay Stein discusses Daniel Jones as a potential sell with his career arc analysis.
6. Jaxon Smith-Njigba boosts Seattle and Geno Smith
Twelve months ago, Geno Smith was on the NFL fringe. Now he has a new contract and three high-level wide receivers for the Seahawks offense. Smith-Nigba potentially accelerates the clock on Tyler Lockett, whose salary balloons to $24 million in 2024 but with a dead cap figure of $13 million. The targets and individual upside for each receiver may thin, with the biggest adjustment in fantasy being the confidence in Geno Smith having one of the strongest trios of wide receivers in the NFL.
Dan Hindery has Tyler Lockett down to WR57 on his most recent Dynasty Value Chart.
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