The start of the 2023 NFL Draft featured a surprising lack of wide receivers taken early on in the draft.
Skill position players are always a growing necessity in the NFL as teams pass more and more each year. However, at least early on the position as a whole was not valued as many had expected.
Halfway through the draft, no wide receivers were selected. The NFL world took notice of this and wondered just how long it would be until one was finally selected.
Me telling wide receivers why none of them were drafted until pick 20 pic.twitter.com/23MYfaDIIy
— DraftKings (@DraftKings) April 28, 2023
We haz Wide Receivers in this draft?!
— Scott Hanson (@ScottHanson) April 28, 2023
No wide receivers taken among the first 14 picks. Only 1 CB. Board playing out very favorably for Giants.
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) April 28, 2023
Can we have some Wide Receivers off the board please …
— AJ BROWN (@1kalwaysopen_) April 28, 2023
These receivers gottta be comin off the board soon huh?
— Odell Beckham Jr (@obj) April 28, 2023
Four receivers still on the board, and we are to No.18. This is WILD.
I might want Beane to go get his favorite guy soon. #BillsMafia https://t.co/ytK0aGpvXp
— Ajay Cybulski (@AjayCybulski) April 28, 2023
It was the Seattle Seahawks who finally stopped the fall for the position. They did so by selecting Ohio State star wide receiver Jaxon-Smith Njigba with their second first-round pick at pick No. 20.
The Seattle Seahawks land WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba with the No. 20 pick after taking CB Devon Witherspoon at No. 5.
"To me, they're the favorite in the (NFC) West."- Louis Riddick
"They're still gonna get gashed against the run."- Mel Kiper Jr. #NFLDraft 🏈📺 pic.twitter.com/jpYjvLx72C
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 28, 2023
Once the first receiver went off the board, it started a historic run on the position. The Chargers held the 21st pick and selected TCU star Quentin Johnston.
WEAPON.
welcome to LA, @MrJohnston____ !! pic.twitter.com/WVGqs1anrT
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) April 28, 2023
The Ravens followed suit with the next pick and took Boston College standout Zay Flowers, which Lamar Jackson was certainly excited about…
With the 22nd pick, we have selected WR Zay Flowers‼️
Welcome to Baltimore, @ZayFlowers‼️ pic.twitter.com/OyzDqrtwex
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) April 28, 2023
Well it happened 🤣
— Lamar Jackson (@Lj_era8) April 28, 2023
The Minnesota Vikings continued this unbelievable run on wide receivers by taking USC star Jordan Addison with the 24th overall pick.
Jordan Pick 2️⃣3️⃣@Espn_Jordan pic.twitter.com/70CAGCZZ5k
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) April 28, 2023
This marked the first time in the modern history of the NFL Draft that four receivers have ever been selected consecutively.
Four in a row is first time ever in round one.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) April 28, 2023
The run was finally ended by the New York Giants with the No. 24 pick, who selected Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks.
GOT HIM!
📰: https://t.co/lA1eB2Fons pic.twitter.com/SquPgxtoNK
— New York Giants (@Giants) April 28, 2023
Every player obviously wants to go as high as possible in the draft. However, falling in the draft may actually be a good thing for all of these receivers. Each of the teams that took a receiver was in the postseason last year with solid quarterback play.
[Awful Announcing on Twitter] Photo Credit: NFL Network
