Winners
Jordan Addison, MIN
Addison is a big winner in the NFL draft for rookie receivers. While Addison was supposed to be a first-round pick, he landed with the Minnesota Vikings, which is a perfect landing spot for his development. Addison could have a solid 2023 season with Kirk Cousins as his quarterback. He won’t have to worry about being the WR1 because he’ll have Justin Jefferson handling that role. Addison will be paired with Jefferson for his career and likely see the second or third option among defenses. This will allow Addison to thrive against lesser talent and provide long-term dynasty value for the wide receiver. He is a top-seven pick in superflex leagues and could make an argument as the second player off the board in QB1 leagues.
Rashee Rice, KCC
Rice was a big winner in this NFL draft and ended up with a second-round pick to the Kansas City Chiefs. I liked Rice as a prospect as he was a big physical wide receiver. Rice has a solid chance to slide in as the number two pass catcher behind Travis Kelce in the offense. He will have an opportunity to eventually take over as the WR1 on the offense as he fits more of the true WR1 role. Rice, in my opinion, is now a projected early-round two-player to grab in rookie drafts. His size frame and yards-after-catch ability make him an exciting option for dynasty. He’ll be in a good situation as a player that could grow with Patrick Mahomes.
Quentin Johnston, LAC
Johnson was another winner from this NFL draft. He wasn’t invited to the NFL draft, as they weren’t expecting him to go in the first round. Thankfully, he went 21st overall to Los Angeles Chargers. This is a fantastic landing spot for Johnston because now he’ll be paired up with young stud quarterback Justin Herbert for the next five years. Johnston reminds me of a current Chargers’ receiver Mike Williams as they have similar build and talent. Williams is up in age, and his contract is coming to an end soon. Johnston could have a potential year-one impact in a Kellen Moore-type offense that expects heavy passing. He has future WR1 potential in a year or two once he becomes the number-one wide receiver for Herbert. Johnston is now projected to be a top seven to eight pick during rookie drafts.
Jonathan Mingo, CAR
I didn’t have Mingo as high on my board as some other Nerds did. I thought the production wasn’t impressive, and he was a body catcher. The Panthers selected Mingo with a top-40 pick in the NFL Draft. Mingo has a prime opportunity to be the Panthers’ WR1. The benefit to Mingo is that he’ll be Byrce Young, who is a very accurate quarterback that will get the ball to where Mingo needs to be. He doesn’t have much competition with DJ Chark and Adam Thielen, who are mostly there. Mingo does offer YAC ability and playmaker-style talent. He was seen as a fourth-round player or undrafted in some leagues to be the conversation of a late first-round pick. Mingo’s value in rookie drafts has the biggest winner of the group here.
Losers
Parker Washington, JAX
Washington had a lot of hype during the NFL off-season process. Many mock drafts slated Washington to land somewhere in the third or fourth round of the NFL draft. He fell in the fifth round to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Washington lost that potential capital he would gain in rookie drafts by falling to the fifth round. He has a long road to get up to being a full-time starter for the Jacksonville Jaguars, as they have three or four wide receivers already ahead of him on the depth chart. Washington must come out strong during training camp to find playing time this year. Washington is probably a fourth-round pick in most rookie drafts.
Jalin Hyatt, NYG
Hyatt was for sure a loser during the NFL draft. While he has an easier path to be the WR1 for the New York Giants, there are some concerns. Hyatt was mocked as a top-40 pick in the NFL draft. Unfortunately, he fell and landed in the third round in New York. Hyatt has the speed and footwork to be solid, but he lands in a crowded receiver room. The Giants have six to seven receivers that could make up the starting three in an offense. To add, Hyattt will be playing with Daniel Jones, who analysts still need to be indifferent about as a franchise quarterback. The third does not guarantee safety for us in dynasty since they didn’t use a round-one pick on him. While Hyatt could succeed, there are concerns that he was good because of the system rather than pure talent. Hyatt was an early round-two rookie pick and now has fallen to the middle of round three.
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