NFL Draft: revisiting the last 15 WR’s who were taken in Round 1

In what has become a passing league, NFL teams aren’t shy about investing high draft picks on playmakers at wide receiver. 15 players have been drafted at the position in the first round of the last three NFL drafts. We’ll take a look at how each player’s NFL career is going so far. All statistics are sourced from Football Reference.

Seattle seemed like a bit of a strange landing spot for Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who already seemed set at wide receiver with D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Sports Illustrated believes that the top receiver selected in the 2023 NFL Draft could be setup for a huge second year breakout under new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb.

The Los Angeles Chargers needed Quentin Johnston to step up in his rookie campaign due to injuries at receiver, but he didn’t flash quite like fans hoped. The NFL’s website believes that Johnston and fellow wide receiver Joshua Palmer will have ample opportunities to shine in 2024, as the Chargers parted ways with Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Gerald Everett and pass catching back Austin Ekeler.

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Drafting receivers has been a hit or miss proposition for the Baltimore Ravens over the years, but it feels like they’ve finally found an electric weapon in Zay Flowers. The Capital Gazette talked about Flowers’ electrifying impact as a rookie, and the Ravens will likely look to get the ball in his hands even more in 2024.

Justin Jefferson might be the premier wide receiver in all of football, which means that anyone playing alongside of him at receiver should be freed up in single coverage. Enter Jordan Addison, whom the Minnesota Vikings took with a first round pick in 2023. He had a great rookie year, catching 10 touchdowns on 70 receptions for 911 yards.

SB Nation and other outlets were openly frustrated with the way the Atlanta Falcons used their offensive weapons a year ago, which included Drake London’s lack of involvement. SportsGrid believes he could have a huge 2024 campaign, as the Falcons brought in a new head coach, as well as veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins.

The New York Post wrote in September 2023 that Garrett Wilson’s talents are in danger of being wasted. This was after the New York Jets lost Aaron Rodgers to an Achilles injury, forcing the skilled Wilson to play with another crop of mediocre quarterbacks. The franchise hopes Rodgers and Wilson will be able to flourish together in 2024.

He’s the unquestioned number one wide out for the New Orleans Saints, but Chris Olave’s reputation feels undervalued. He’s posted consecutive 1,000 yard campaigns in his first two NFL seasons. With nine total receiving touchdowns in two seasons, the Saints hope to get Olave more involved in scoring opportunities.

The talent appears to be there for Jameson Williams, but his availability has been compromised during his first two NFL seasons. He played in six games as a rookie coming off of an ACL injury, and was suspended for five games in 2023 for betting on a non-football sport. Sports Illustrated wrote in July 2023 that he could be the next Justin Jefferson, which is certainly high praise.

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The Washington Commanders will likely select a quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft, and that passer will be fortunate to have Jahan Dotson to throw the football to. Dotson’s numbers won’t jump off the page in his two NFL seasons, but inconsistent quarterback play contributes to those figures. He told the Washington Times he personally wants to improve every facet of his game in 2024.

During the 2022 NFL Draft, the Tennessee Titans traded wide receiver A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles, and selected Treylon Burks in hopes he could help fill the void. That has not happened through two seasons. Medium explored the reasons why Burks isn’t as involved in Tennessee’s offense as some would have predicted.

Since he stepped on to an NFL field, Ja’Marr Chase has been one of the best players in the league. His familiarity with Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has helped him make a seamless transition into pro football, as the two were teammates at Louisiana State University. CBS Sports reported that Chase called himself the best receiver in the league, and he has a strong case.

The Miami Dolphins also reunited their starting quarterback with a weapon from college. They took Jaylen Waddle in the 2021 NFL Draft to pair with former Alabama teammate Tua Tagovailoa. Predictably, Waddle’s volume has diminished since the team acquired Tyreek Hill ahead of the 2022 campaign, but Waddle’s presence opposite Hill makes Miami’s duo arguably the top tandem in the NFL.

DeVonta Smith has also been a supremely productive wideout from Alabama, as he has two 1,000 yard seasons to his name in three years. He’s served as the 1B to A.J. Brown’s 1A with the Philadelphia Eagles, but remains an integral part of the offense. The Ringer made a case back in 2021 that Smith is college football’s greatest wide receiver of all time.

Kadarius Toney’s NFL career has had some impeccable highs, and some debilitating lows. From standout performances with the New York Giants to Super Bowl contributions with the Kansas City Chiefs, Toney’s talent has been on full display. However, his lengthy injury history and public spat with the Chiefs in January 2024 has his stock on the decline.

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Despite the emergence of Zay Flowers, Ravens head coach Jim Harbaugh told NBC Sports in February 2024 that Rashod Bateman should be a larger part of their offense in the coming season. Sports Illustrated made the case in February 2024 that Bateman needed a change of scenery. Regardless, it looks like the upcoming campaign will be critical for his career.