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The Tennessee Titans need wide receivers in NFL Draft 2023. Here are my 10 best | Estes

So the Tennessee Titans must draft a wide receiver, right?

At least one. Probably two or three total, and perhaps by the end of the second night.

For all of this team's needs entering the 2023 NFL Draft, none are more pressing. We can hem and haw about quarterbacks or the offensive line or the secondary, but the Titans would be advised to not take their eye off the ball. They desperately need receiving help today, not tomorrow.

I’ll give you the good news about that first: It’s a deep draft class. Plenty of promising receivers will be available well into the second and third rounds and maybe even the third day.

Here’s the bad: There’s little separation between those receivers, with no sure-fire star in the bunch. Evaluating this class from the Titans’ perspective had a Goldilocks feel. Everyone is either too undersized or too injury-prone or too unproductive. Everyone has a flaw, and while a lot of these receivers appear similar, none is just right, leaving a lot of uncertainty between teams on who'll go where.

With that in mind, let’s go shopping and break down my best 10 options for the Titans:

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1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State (6-foot-1, 193 pounds)

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba  catches a pass during Ohio State football’s pro day at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center in Columbus on March 22, 2023.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba catches a pass during Ohio State football’s pro day at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center in Columbus on March 22, 2023.

Why? He’s widely viewed as the best WR of this class for good reason. He has that "it" factor when you watch him: Smooth and catches everything. You’d like a little more size, speed and strength, but he’s a slick, polished, versatile receiver. He'd be a safe bet to produce immediately in the NFL if not for …

Why not? Hamstring issues this past season are a major red flag, especially given the Titans’ injury issues of late. His answers to media about it at the combine in February don’t make you feel much better. He told the Columbus Dispatch that "I didn't have enough information" about how to rest and handle the injury (Really? At Ohio State?) and that he wasn’t healthy until well after the season.

My take: He’s a top-notch receiver. But I don’t believe the gap between JSN and other WRs is enough to justify taking him at No. 11. I’d rather trade down and select multiple receivers from the remainder of this list.

2. Josh Downs, North Carolina (5-10, 175)

Why? If he were a few inches taller, Downs would be the top receiver in this draft. He plays much bigger than his size. He runs through contact, and if you give him a chance to make a play, he can make it. Give me a WR the defense can’t stop even when perfectly positioned. Downs is that guy.

Why not? Downs’s size means he’s considered by many as a slot-only WR. A popular NFL comp is Kadarius Toney. I think he’s better. The height is what it is, but he’s more adept at contested catches than you’d expect, with strong hands and a knack for making plays.

My take: I'm on board in a big way. You trade down to take this guy. I wouldn’t let Downs get past the late first round.

3. Quentin Johnston, TCU (6-4, 215)

Dec 31, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; TCU Horned Frogs wide receiver Quentin Johnston (1) is defended by Michigan Wolverines defensive back Rod Moore (19) in the second half of the 2022 Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; TCU Horned Frogs wide receiver Quentin Johnston (1) is defended by Michigan Wolverines defensive back Rod Moore (19) in the second half of the 2022 Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Why? Unlike the first two, Johnston is an ideal body type for an NFL receiver. On paper, he’s got everything required to be a true WR1. He was listed by 247Sports as having offers from Duke and Notre Dame coming out of high school, which speaks to his diligence off the field.

Why not? With Johnston's physical advantages, he could have been spectacular in college. But he wasn’t. That makes him appear more like a project than the plug-and-play starter that the Titans need.

My take: Johnston is a classic low-floor, high-ceiling type of player. He’s a first-round talent, no doubt, but the question is if he’ll be able to provide first-round production.

4. Zay Flowers, Boston College (5-9, 170)

Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers (4) makes a catch during the Notre Dame vs. Boston College NCAA football game Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend.
Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers (4) makes a catch during the Notre Dame vs. Boston College NCAA football game Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend.

Why? His highlights jump off the screen. He plays fast and confidently and is a problem for tacklers in the open field. Flowers is the best runner after the catch of any receiver in this class and has home-run-threat potential.

Why not? It’s the lack of size limiting the ways in which a team can deploy him. An offense might have to scheme ways to get him open.

My take: I think he’s a second-round pick, but he’d be a solid selection for someone. Any offense would become instantly more explosive with Flowers as a part of it.

5. Cedric Tillman, Tennessee (6-3, 214)

Why? There was plenty to like about Tillman at Tennessee that wasn’t scheme-dependent on the offense. If anything, he’s built more for an NFL-style offense than he was for coach Josh Heupel's system. He improved in Knoxville, and I don’t think we’ve seen his best football yet.

Why not? He’s not slow, but his speed and quickness aren’t rated as elite. Injuries are a concern, too, but Tillman did show toughness trying to play through an ankle problem last season.

My take: He’s being undervalued. He’s a first-round talent who is getting dinged for the past season and what wasn't a soft-tissue injury (when Smith-Njigba's hamstring was soft-tissue, for instance). I’d confidently draft Tillman in the second or third round and expect him to be my WR2, at least.

6. Jordan Addison, Southern Cal (6-0, 180)

Southern California wide receiver Jordan Addison runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Southern California wide receiver Jordan Addison runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Why?: His strength may be that he lacks a clear weakness. He’s a smooth, productive receiver who does a lot well.

Why not?: Nothing really pops about Addison that would seem to separate him from a lot of middle-tier receivers in the league right now.

My take: Addison’s ceiling isn’t as high as some other prospects, but his floor isn’t as low, either. This would be a move for immediate depth and production that the Titans do need.

7. Tyler Scott, Cincinnati (5-11, 185)

Cincinnati wide receiver Tyler Scott is tackled by Alabama  defensive back Brian Branch.
Cincinnati wide receiver Tyler Scott is tackled by Alabama defensive back Brian Branch.

Why? He’s an explosive deep threat who can make contested catches while also being elusive in the open field. He often makes the first tackler miss.

Why not? Broken record here, but it’s the lack of size and limited length that has Scott projected as a slot receiver in the NFL, and that may not be the case. Personally, I think he could be more versatile. I’d compare him more to Addison than Flowers. But still, you can't argue with measurements.

My take: I love Scott's potential. There are some concerns, but there's also a lot of ability for a guy who played in college for Titans coach Mike Vrabel’s buddy Luke Fickell. Scott could prove a steal for the Titans in the third round.

8. Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee (6-0, 185)

Why? He isn’t limited to the slot, offering versatility outside along with big-time speed and proven playmaking ability in the SEC. He can really stretch a defense and did it often with great success for the Vols. He’s not tall, but he’s long and has a build that can get stronger.

Why not? It was just so easy for him so often at Tennessee. It's tough to evaluate a receiver when he doesn’t have a defensive back anywhere near him on many of his big plays.

My take: This isn’t Hyatt’s fault, but when you look back at his magnificent 2022 season, you have to conclude that it was mostly due to the Vols' offensive approach. He’s an NFL receiver, sure, but I’m not sure yet that we know how much we can reasonably expect from him in the league.

9. Rashee Rice, SMU (6-1, 203)

SMU wide receiver Rashee Rice looks to run after catching a pass during the first half of an NCAA college game against TCU on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, in Dallas, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
SMU wide receiver Rashee Rice looks to run after catching a pass during the first half of an NCAA college game against TCU on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, in Dallas, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

Why? He has a unique body type with rare length that makes him really good in the air. He tied for the best vertical jump among WRs at the combine, and you see that in his highlights and ball skills. Some ridiculous catches in there.

Why not? The knock among experts is consistency and urgency. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein put it this way: "In one game you might see terrific ball-tracking and jump-ball victories followed by frustrating drops and a lack of physicality in fighting back on contested catches."

My take: I like Rice a lot. His skill set stands out in this class. He caught 96 passes in 2022 and played through a broken toe to do it, according to the Dallas Morning News. That should answer questions about his durability and toughness. Many of these 2023 WRs wouldn't be going as high in other drafts, but Rice may be rated too low.

10. Jayden Reed, Michigan State (5-11, 187)

Michigan State's Jayden Reed returns a kick as Indiana's Josh Henderson closes in during the second quarter on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.
Michigan State's Jayden Reed returns a kick as Indiana's Josh Henderson closes in during the second quarter on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.

Why? Sometimes you just get a feeling about a player. Reed is that guy for me this year. He was highly productive at MSU, an overachiever after transferring from Western Michigan. He’s on tape high-pointing catches and making plays in traffic against Big Ten defensive backs. The NFL is about competition. He’s got that dog in him.

Why not? It’s that he’s undersized, like so many of the others, suggesting a slot-only role.

My take: I’d be just as comfortable taking Reed as I would the majority of WRs ranked above him on this list, which underscores the depth of this class.

Reach Tennessean sports columnist Gentry Estes at gestes@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Gentry_Estes.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NFL Draft 2023: Tennessee Titans need receivers. Here are the 10 best