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2023 NFL Draft Betting Predictions: Wide Receivers Odds

by Matt Zitt - 4/13/2023

NFL Draft predictions wide receivers odds Jordan Addison

In a league that values the passing game, there will be a few wide receivers taken in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Even though this year’s class is not on par with recent classes, there still should be four to six WRs taken on Day 1. For this upcoming NFL season, the Bears, Texans, Ravens, Patriots and Chiefs are in definite need of pass catchers. You can also throw in the Vikings with the departure of Adam Thielen and the Green Bay Packers since they lost Allen Lazard. In the past three drafts, at least five wideouts have been selected in the first round. Before then, the first round did not feature more than four pass catchers selected since 2014. There is plenty of talent, speed and versatility to make NFL teams excited for this year’s draft.

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2023 NFL Draft – First Wide Receiver Drafted Odds

Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Ohio State) -250

Zay Flowers (Boston College) +350

Jordan Addison (USC) +600

Quentin Johnston (TCU) +1000

Jalin Hyatt (Tennessee) +4000

Josh Downs (North Carolina) +10000

Kayshon Boutte (LSU) +10000

WR Favorites Analysis for the 2023 NFL Draft

Jaxon Smith-Njigba (-250)

Bit by the injury bug in the 2022 season, teams must go back to 2021 to realize how great of a pass catcher the former Buckeye is. Arguably the best wide receiver in 2021, he finished with 95 catches for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns. He is not shy of the spotlight as he went for 15 catches, 347 yards receiving and three touchdowns in the 2022 Rose Bowl against Utah. Lauded for his route running, he projects to be a slot receiver in the NFL.

Zay Flowers (+350)

Flowers has been one of the biggest risers from the end of the season up until draft night. He was praised by teammates for bulking up over last off-season, and his production showed. He finished last year with 78 catches, 1,077 yards and 12 touchdowns. Flowers is a first-round pick and could overtake JSN as the number one wide receiver drafted this year.

Jordan Addison (+600)

Addison won the Fred Biletnikoff Award in 2021 for the nation’s best receiver at Pitt. He transferred to USC for the 2022 season, and injuries derailed his projected production. He still finished the year with 59 catches, 875 yards and eight touchdowns for the Trojans. NFL teams should fall in love with his ability to play inside and outside. He is a possession receiver that stands at 6-foot flat but is very dangerous with the ball in his hands.

Quentin Johnston (+1000)

Johnston went from off the radar to a sure thing first-rounder. He gave TCU a deep threat that helped their offense reach the National Championship Game against Georgia. Standing at 6-foot-4, Johnston has been described as one of the most athletically-gifted wide receivers in a decade. His downside is he struggled with drops during his college tenure but still put-up good numbers. He finished with 60 catches for 1,069 yards in his junior campaign.

Jalin Hyatt (+4000)

A nice underdog story, Hyatt barely played his freshman and sophomore seasons for the Volunteers. He broke onto the scene in 2022 with 67 catches, 1,267 yards and found the endzone 15 times. That catapulted him to winning the Biletnikoff Award for the nation’s best receiver. He has a very versatile skill set and should find a nice home in the NFL, but he will not be drafted over the guys above.

WR Predictions for the 2023 NFL Draft

First Overall WR Drafted – Smith-Njigba (-250)

Good Value bet – Johnston (+1000)

Team that will draft JSN – Houston (+500) and watch out for the Eagles with the 10th pick (+3500)

Team that will draft Johnston – Vikings (+750)

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