Ending up in the perfect environment and system could help young players ease their way into professional football while making their transition from college to the NFL much smoother. Here are my favorite landing spots for some of the best wide receiver prospects in the upcoming class:
Quentin Johnston
Jacksonville Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence has played exceptional football down the stretch this season while working perfectly with Christian Kirk, Evan Engram, and Zay Jones. The Jaguars have a solid wide receiver corps, but if TCU’s standout pass catcher Quentin Johnston should slide into their range, I think it would be a dream landing spot.
Jacksonville needs a potential true primary receiver and Trevor Lawrence would have in Johnston something similar to what he had at Clemson in Tee Higgins: a physical playmaker able to dominate at the catch point, while adding to the mix exceptional production after the catch. You can never put enough weapons around your young franchise quarterback and Johnston could push the Jaguars to have one of the best offenses in football and Lawrence into MVP territory.
Finding a 6'4", 215 lbs wide receiver who is as twitchy and explosive as Quentin Johnston it's pretty rare, that's why he's a top-tier wide receiver prospect.
He should be a top-15 pick.pic.twitter.com/JiLlDPDqwP
— Luca Sartirana (@SartiranaLuca) October 15, 2022
Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Minnesota Vikings
Justin Jefferson is in line to have the best single-season production for a wide receiver in NFL history, but despite KJ Osborn’s improvements, the Vikings still need something at the position with Adam Thielen taking a step back. Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who effectively missed the whole 2022 season because of hamstring injuries, would be a natural replacement for Thielen as he possesses a very similar style.
He’s mainly a slot receiver with well above average ability as a route runner, who’s tough with the ball in his hands while also being capable of handling high volume workloads. Adding a rock-solid secondary receiver alongside Justin Jefferson could benefit both of them as the Vikings could then have one of the best all-round duos at the position in the league.
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Jordan Addison
Chicago Bears
While it will be pretty hard to make it happen, since the Bears will not be in the range to land Addison as their will probably pick in the top-3, the former Biletnikoff Award winner would be exactly what Justin Fields needs at the position. Chicago has a physical target in Chase Claypool and a solid deep threat in Darnell Mooney, but they are missing the go-to-guy in the short and intermediate areas of the field who would be a security blanket for Fields.
Addison would be just that while also adding to the mix the ability to make plays downfield thanks to some top-tier ball skills. The Bears will need to work hard during the offseason in order to put Justin Fields in position to succeed and he would be just the perfect addition.
Josh Downs
Miami Dolphins
While the Dolphins have invested quite a lot in pass catchers in the last couple of years, as they selected Jaylen Waddle in the top-10 in 2021 and then traded a first-round pick in order to land Tyreek Hill last year, adding UNC’s star receiver Josh Downs to the corps might just be too tempting. Mike McDaniel clearly likes speed on offense and for a pocket quarterback and quick processor like Tua Tagovailoa, having pass catchers able to dominate with the ball in their hands is a must have.
Having to game plan against Waddle, Hill and Downs would put opposing defensive coordinator in a tough spot as all three receiver possess game-changing speed. Miami is basically building an Olympic track team playing football on offense and Downs would just be the cherry on top.
UNC junior wide receiver Josh Downs continues to not get the attention he deserves.
A pure speedster and game-breaker who can also consistently make plays at the catch point it's pretty rare material. Should be a 1st rounder in the next draft.pic.twitter.com/kmDIWYSW07
— Luca Sartirana (@SartiranaLuca) October 16, 2022
Jalin Hyatt
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers will need to add way more than one receiver during the offseason as they definitely need to do a better job at putting valuable weapons around Justin Herbert, as both Keenan Allen and Mike Williams consistently deal with multiple injuries every year. Jalin Hyatt is a pure speedster who brings to the table a skillset similar Jameson Williams’. Pairing up a speedster like Hyatt able to stretch the field vertically with ease with Herbert’s insane arm would be just a perfect move.
Jalin Hyatt brings to the table a similar skillset to Jameson Williams' coming out of Alabama.
An elite deep threat who's able to beat anyone downfield with his lethal speed and burst. He will be a game-changer paired with a good deep ball thrower.https://t.co/i8T1EtowKJ
— Luca Sartirana (@SartiranaLuca) November 29, 2022
Rakim Jarrett
New York Giants
Daniel Jones has been able to perform at a surprising level even though he had an improvised and different wide receiver group on a weekly basis. With Kenny Golladay being irrelevant, Kadarius Toney being traded and promising rookie Wan’Dale Robinson being injured, Isaiah Hodgins and Richie James stepped up and delivered.
Jarrett is a consistent pass catcher who could work as a security blanket for Jones while possessing underrated long speed. His skillset also complements Wan’Dale Robinson’s game and in them the Giants would have a promising young core. Jarrett is overall a pretty underrated prospect who should be snagged in round 2.
