One of the topics of conversation heading into, and coming out of, the 2022 NFL draft focused on the wide receiver position. With the growth of the passing game at all levels of football — I’m writing this after spending my Sunday afternoon coaching a spring passing league for middle school kids — are we going to see deeper and deeper wide receiver pools each draft cycle?
If the next crop of receiver prospects is any indication, that trend looks to continue.
Here are some of the receivers to watch this summer as we start thinking about the 2023 NFL draft.
Quarterbacks to watch for the 2023 NFL draft
Running backs to watch for the 2023 NFL draft
Jordan Addison, Pittsburgh (for now)
(Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports)
There are many reasons why Kenny Pickett was the first quarterback selected in the 2022 NFL draft. His accuracy, his willingness to attack over the middle, his mobility, and his fit with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Wide receiver Jordan Addison is another.
Addison put together a monster season for the Pittsburgh Panthers in 2022, catching 100 passes for 1,593 yards and 17 touchdowns. That built upon his freshman season, where he caught 60 passes for 666 yards and four touchdowns.
He is a true ball-winner, which showed up on plays like this one to help the Panthers overcome Virginia:
The biggest question on Addison? Where he is playing in the fall. Addison took many by surprise when he put his name in the transfer portal a few weeks ago, and has been linked with USC and Texas in recent days. Regardless of where he ends up, he is worth studying this summer and in the fall.
Kayshon Boutte, LSU
(Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports)
As a true freshman in 2020, Kayshon Boutte took on a huge role for the LSU Tigers. Coming off their national championship season, the team saw star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase opt out for the 2020 campaign due to COVID. Then when Terrace Marshall opted out late in the year, Boutte became the team’s go-to at WR in his first college football…