NFL training camps are fast approaching, which means it is again time for the league's true insiders to have their say. As part of ESPN's 2023 NFL season preview, we surveyed league executives, coaches, scouts and players to help us rank the top 10 players at 11 positions, from quarterback to cornerback and all positions in between. This is the fourth edition of these rankings, and as usual, several players have moved up from or fallen off last year's lists.
By way of refresher, here's how our process works: Voters give us their best 10 players at a position, then we compile the results and rank candidates based on number of top-10 votes, composite average, along with dozens of interviews, research and film study from ESPN NFL analyst Matt Bowen. In total, more than 80 voters submitted a ballot on at least one position, and in many cases all positions. We had several ties, so we broke them with the help of additional voting and follow-up calls with those surveyed.
Each section includes quotes and nuggets from the voters on every ranked player -- even the honorable mentions. The objective is to identify the best players right now for 2023. This is not a five-year projection or a career achievement award. Who are the best players today? Check out who makes the list at every position on ESPN+.
We rolled out a position per day over 11 days. The schedule: off-ball linebackers (July 8), defensive tackles (July 9), edge rushers (July 10), cornerbacks (July 11), safeties (July 12), tight ends (July 13), running backs (July 14), offensive tackles (July 15), guards and centers (July 16), quarterbacks (July 17) and wide receivers (July 18).
Saying the NFL's wide receiver group is in good hands doesn't quite account for the number of elite hands available to hold it up.
The league showcases an embarrassment of receiver riches each Sunday, making the task of condensing the landscape into a top 10 an arduous one.
Each draft produces several star pass-catchers, while many veterans approaching age 30 continue to produce at All-Pro levels.
Consider this: Catching 100 passes in 2022 doesn't even guarantee a receiver a spot in the top 16. That was the case with at least one ultra-talented receiver. The pool is too good. It's a passing league more than ever before, and the 17-game schedule only amplifies the numbers.
This year felt like a proverbial torch was passed -- five players appearing in the top 10 are 25 years old or younger. And Tier 1 was an incredibly close three-man race. Let's look at some of the game's top receivers as ranked by execs, coaches, scouts and players around the NFL.
1. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 7
Age: 24 | Last year's ranking: 4
Not many NFL players at any position are as relentless as Jefferson, whose 4,825 receiving yards since 2020 is a league record for a player's first three seasons.
The Vikings gave Jefferson a massive 32.2% target share, and he rarely disappointed, becoming the third receiver in NFL history to record back-to-back 1,600-yard seasons, joining Calvin Johnson and Antonio Brown.
"You can put him in all 32 offenses, and he will produce and fit in seamlessly," an NFC executive said. "Most consistent, most complete, the ability to separate, has a knack to make the play when it needs to be made, shows up in big moments. The game is just really natural to him. Can beat doubles and can work inside or out."
Talk about exceeding expectations: Jefferson's 413 receiving yards above expectation leads NFL wide receivers by 123 yards. His 643 yards after the catch led all at his position.
If Jefferson has a weakness, evaluators say, it's attacking press-man coverage from bigger cornerbacks who will wrestle him, knowing officials can't catch every holding call.
"But he's relentless enough and a smart enough player where by the second half he usually figures things out," the exec said.
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Mike Clay calls Justin Jefferson the 'safest' No. 1 pick
Field Yates and Mike Clay discuss why Justin Jefferson is the best option for the top pick in fantasy football.
2. Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 9
Age: 30 | Last year's ranking: 1
Adams, last year's No. 1, did absolutely nothing to relinquish his crown. Despite leaving quarterback Aaron Rodgers for Derek Carr and Jarrett Stidham in Las Vegas, he posted a near-career-high tally in yards (1,516) and led the NFL in touchdowns for the second time in three seasons (14). He became the NFL's first wide receiver to earn first-team All-Pro honors for multiple franchises over back-to-back years.
When picking one player to break down a cornerback to get open, Adams is still the top choice for many.
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"His feet are still probably the best, body control, ball skills," an NFC executive said. "If you ran 40s or 20-yard shuttles, he wouldn't be near the top or wow you, but he just knows how to play the position and get open."
One more season of at least 100 catches, 1,300 yards and 10 touchdowns and Adams will join Marvin Harrison as the only receivers to hit those marks over four consecutive seasons.
"To me, he's a little bit reliant on volume of targets," the executive said. "I guess [receivers] all are. But they just fed him the ball both in Green Bay and Las Vegas, and he benefits greatly from that. Helps him put up numbers. But the flip side is the defense knows what's coming and can't stop it."
3. Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 6
Age: 23 | Last year's ranking: 3
Chase was close to cracking the top two but fell just short of Jefferson and Adams, in part because he missed five games with a hip injury. But he still managed 87 catches, nine touchdowns and a Pro Bowl bid.
Many evaluators consider Chase the very best.
"He's the rare X receiver you can put on the outside, and he can win against anyone," an NFC exec said. "Other receivers are more scheme-dependent than him."
Fifty-eight of Chase's catches went for a first down, a clip of nearly 70%. He also had seven drops, though, tied for the league lead.
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The ultimate deep threat leads the NFL over the past two seasons with six receiving touchdowns of 50 or more yards. Chase is one of four receivers in NFL history with at least 2,500 yards and 20 touchdowns through the first two seasons, joining Odell Beckham Jr., Randy Moss and Bill Groman.
"He's not as polished as a route runner or technician as Jefferson, but the combination of size, speed and playmaking ability is elite," a senior NFL personnel evaluator said. "He's trending up. His raw playmaking ability is rare. Run after catch, he's probably the best of these guys."
4. Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 9
Age: 29 | Last year's ranking: 5
No way around it. Hill dominated in his first season in Miami, showing he's far from dependent on quarterback Patrick Mahomes to remain elite.
His metrics are eye-opening: He led the NFL in yards gained per route (3.3) despite a 33% target share, also leading the league. He got open on 45.3% of his routes on an impressive 12.2 air yards per target. His 1,710 receiving yards was the most for a receiver in a first year with a franchise.
"Cornerbacks are still so scared that he'll run by them that they give him a huge cushion, and he can win underneath," a veteran NFL scout said. "Having a different quarterback didn't take the luster off for him."
Some still see Hill as a bit scheme-dependent despite his having come a long way as a route runner.
"He won't give you comeback routes, dig routes consistently -- still a bit of a vertical gadget guy," an NFC exec said. "What he does takes less precision than Jefferson or [Stefon] Diggs or Adams because he has so much room to work with."
5. Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 30 | Last year's ranking: 2
After pushing for last summer's top spot coming off a historic season and Super Bowl run, Kupp missed nine games with an ankle injury and fell three spots.
But the Rams' losing season didn't zap his ability to produce at a high level. His 75 receptions in nine games set a pace of 142 over a full 17-game season. Since becoming a full-time starter in 2018, Kupp is tied for first with Keenan Allen with 1.83 receptions per game and first in yards after catch per game (14.45) on third downs.
The biggest difference was yards per catch, though. His average decreased from 13.4 in 2011 to 10.8 last season.
"You can teach tape on him attacking leverage, stemming guys, great quickness, precise route runner," an NFC scout said. "Also does the blocking and dirty work. He's a bit like Hines Ward, in his value is in doing all the little things really well."
An AFC executive added: "If I'm picking one receiver for one game, I might pick him. He's going to win the game for you."
6. Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills
Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 29 | Last year's ranking: 6
Diggs' consistency keeps him in the conversation among the elites. He's coming off his third consecutive season of at least 100 receptions for 1,000 yards. His 338 catches during that span ties Adams for the most in the league.
And good things happen when Josh Allen throws his way. Quarterbacks produced a 120.3 passer rating when targeting Diggs, with 11 touchdowns to one interception and a 70% catch clip.
"Diggs is a receiver's receiver," an NFC executive said. "I have a soft spot for receivers who can win on craftiness and instincts and quickness and timing. He's very much like Justin Jefferson in that way. Consistency catching the ball and making plays."
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People inside the league have noticed potential friction with Diggs and Allen, traced in part to his four receptions for 35 yards in the divisional playoff loss to Cincinnati. Diggs, who finished the game with 10 targets, appeared to desire a more primary role in the offense. He has since sent a few cryptic tweets and missed OTAs and the first practice of minicamp.
One NFL scout called this the "Diggs experience," which Minnesota had to manage in his final years there.
"He likes the drama and being an enigmatic guy," the scout said. "I'm not saying he's wrong -- they should have gone to him more in that playoff game. But he'll be on his best behavior until he decides not to be."
7. A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles
Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 25 | Last year's ranking: Honorable mention
Brown was a fixture on top-10 ballots after a banner first year in Philadelphia.
The Eagles sent their first-round pick to Tennessee on draft night in 2022 for the right to acquire Brown, then turned around and paid him $100 million over four years. Brown validated that faith with career highs in receptions (88) and yards (1,496), the latter breaking Philadelphia's single-season receiving record. That's on top of 11 touchdowns.
"Exceptionally strong," a veteran NFL scout said. "Great ball skills and feel for the game. Doesn't have great speed to create deep separation but makes big plays through tight coverage."
Brown can take over a game. He surpassed 150 yards in three games, tied for second-most in Eagles history for a season.
8. DK Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks
Highest ranking: 4 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 25 | Last year's ranking: 10
Evaluators are a bit torn on Metcalf, who, despite his obvious and massive talent, has surpassed 1,050 receiving yards only once in four seasons.
"I haven't seen enough," a high-ranking NFL exec said. "I'm waiting for him to take this step where he consistently plays as good as he looks. To me, not quite there."
But Metcalf vaulted two spots year over year because of everything he brings to the table. He can break just about any play for 80 yards with his ability to outrun or outmuscle defenders.
And he has produced in the playoffs. Metcalf joins Larry Fitzgerald and Randy Moss as the only players in postseason history with 450 receiving yards and five touchdowns over their first four playoff games.
"He has improved as a route runner -- he doesn't run the entire route tree, but the routes he does run he's really good and can rip off a big play at any time," a veteran NFL defensive coach said. "Really hard to tackle."
9. Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders
Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 27 | Last year's ranking: Honorable mention
It's not just that McLaurin has recorded three consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons, the fourth player in franchise history to do so. It's that he has done that despite playing with 10 different starting quarterbacks in four years.
Basically, he deserves a lifetime achievement award for what he has endured.
"His toughness is off the charts," a national NFL scout said. "He's grown into a better receiver every year, he wants the ball at the end of the game, and he makes contested catches with the best of them. Quality route runner."
McLaurin's 6.8% catch rate above expectation ranks tied for second among receivers on this list.
One complaint about McLaurin is that he doesn't scare coaches on the scouting report like some others. "But then you look up and he's got eight [catches] for 93 [yards] with a bad quarterback," a veteran NFL defensive coach said.
10. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
Highest ranking: 5 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 24 | Last year's ranking: Honorable mention
Lamb's name now rings in Cowboys receiver folklore after a banner third season. At 23, he became the youngest receiver in Cowboys history to produce a 1,000-yard season. He's also the youngest player in franchise history to catch 100 passes.
"He's going to be a top-of-market guy," one high-ranking NFL executive predicted of Lamb's potential contract extension. "He's really good."
Dak Prescott had an outrageous 93 QBR when targeting Lamb, who finished the year with 1,359 yards and nine touchdowns. Overall, Prescott's QBR was 57.9.
One league exec said Lamb isn't necessarily special in one area but is well-rounded: Route running, hands, ball carrier, separator, enough speed to beat corners deep.
A high-ranking AFC official called him a "true combo WR," as dangerous in the slot as on the outside. "Has outstanding setup and movement that really bothers DBs. Has enough size to expose the smaller/lighter guy, really good run-after-the-catch, strong hands, has improved every year."
Honorable mentions
Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers: Samuel remains one of the tougher evaluations on the list because many teams classify him as a weapon more than as a pure receiver. But he's an excellent football player, regardless of position. "He's the guy you game-plan against when you play San Fran. It's not George Kittle, it's Deebo," an AFC executive said. "He can take over the game with his big-play ability, his RAC and physicality."
Samuel publicly conceded that he had a down year, with 632 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns in 13 games. But since TruMedia started tracing yards after catch and yards after first contact per reception, he ranks first among all qualified wide receivers. And he has six career games with 50 receiving yards and a rushing touchdown, twice as many as any other wide receiver during that span (Hill is second with three).
Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: One of the game's most underrated receivers appeared in the top 10 for three straight years 2020-22. He's riding an incredible streak of nine consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, having recorded 1,124 yards last year. "Pure size and a rare skill set, a rare downfield threat," an AFC executive said. "A rare skill set. Can he keep that up? He's probably on the back nine at this point, but for a season, you'd still take him before most."
Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals: Rapidly ascending player pushed for the top 10. Many consider him a true No. 1 despite his status behind Chase in Cincinnati. Delivered with 371 receiving yards in a four-game stretch while Chase was injured last year to catalyze a second consecutive 1,000-yard campaign. "True outside wideout with a big catch radius for vertical plays and back-shoulder slants," an NFL personnel director said. "You can put the ball around him and he can adjust, take advantage of one-on-ones."
Garrett Wilson, New York Jets: Has a compelling case to crack the top 10 next year based on his trajectory. Major potential flashed as the Jets' No. 1, with 83 catches for 1,103 yards despite uneven quarterback play. "Slender but has some of that Justin Jefferson ability to separate with quickness and ability to win at all levels, good hands," an NFL coordinator said. "Has the skill set to be a complete receiver."
Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins: The presence of Hill doesn't dim Waddle's bright star. He's considered a primary target for any offense. "He's not a small gimmick guy. He's the real deal," a senior NFL executive said. "I'd take him over most of the guys in the league. Pure speed but knows how to win at any level of the field." Dolphins quarterbacks posted a 119.5 passer rating when targeting Waddle, who finished the year with 1,356 yards and eight touchdowns.
DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles have a true No. 1 in A.J. Brown, but Smith is 1A with No. 1 abilities. Pre-2021-draft concerns about his slender frame haven't deterred Smith, who has 159 catches and 2,112 yards through two seasons. His 6.9% catch rate above expectation ranks first among this group. "Excellent at the nuances of the position," a national NFL scout said. "Really good pure receiver. Needs to win at the line with technique due to his size, but he does that well."
Also receiving votes: Amon-Ra St. Brown (Detroit Lions), Chris Olave (New Orleans Saints), Calvin Ridley (Jacksonville Jaguars), Amari Cooper (Cleveland Browns), Tyler Lockett (Seattle Seahawks), Keenan Allen (Los Angeles Chargers), DJ Moore (Chicago Bears), DeAndre Hopkins (Tennessee Titans), Mike Williams (Los Angeles Chargers), Chris Godwin (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)