The Dallas Cowboys have made no secret of their interest in some of their best wide receivers in 2023 NFL Draft. They hosted a number of them where 30 visitors were assigned pre-drafts and worked privately or met with many of the other visitors. For that reason, it wouldn’t be surprising if they drafted one sometime this year.
With the help of Dane Brugler’s 2023 Draft Guide, the monsterwe’ll identify one wide receiver prospect the Dallas Cowboys can target each round this year in the 2023 NFL Draft. Of course, opinions vary based on a number of factors, but that’s part of the fun in these exercises.
Round 1 (26) – Jackson Smith Njegba, Ohio State
Bear Dane Bruegler:
Smith-Njegba isn’t an outstanding size/speed athlete and wouldn’t be a perfect fit for every role, but he’s a shrewd road runner with smooth pace in the short area and a knack for tracking to be a sure target. He fancies as an NFL precocious player and he’s at his best. in the slot.”
Cowboy fit:
Smith-Njigba is the most prepared wide receiver and QB-friendly in the 2023 draft class. He expects to play better than the slot, which makes him hard to shoot with the Cowboys. With CeeDee Lamb using the slot for the past few years, Mike McCarthy will have to find a happy marriage between the two. As a junior, JSN can thrive in the series drive role on third swings due to his accurate running track.
Second round (58) – Tyler Scott, Cincinnati
Bear Dane Bruegler:
“Scott is a work in progress in a few adaptable areas, but his blazing speed and short-range snap allows him to continually create his own class. He adds immediate value as a gunner on special teams and has the side of Tyler Lockett as a rookie NFL receiver.”
Cowboy fit:
Perhaps the “Tyler Lockett upside” is all you need to know about the potential compatibility between Tyler Scott and the Cowboys. He’s a three-level threat in the passing game and can add a lot of variety to the Dallas Air Attack. Not only is he a legitimate heading threat for opposing defenses to account for, but he’s also someone who excels in the short to middle portion of the field. And if that wasn’t enough, his value on special teams is also an added bonus.
Third round (90) – Jonathan Mingo, Be a miss
Bear Dane Bruegler:
“Mingo has trickery and speed that is only average, but with his size, speed, and competitive skills on the ball, he has the body control and run-up that gets NFL teams interested. He has the potential to start in the right position.”
Cowboy fit:
Jonathan Mingo looks a lot like fellow and current Ole Miss Alum Philadelphia Eagles WR AJ Brown. From a size/height/speed perspective to their skill sets, both players are nearly identical to each other. Mingo will excel as an actual big slot receiver, but he also has the versatility on the outside as well as with the Cowboys. Early on, he could take on Noah Brown’s role as a WR/Special Team player before moving into a bigger offensive role.
Fourth round (129) – Kishun Buti, LSU
Bear Dane Bruegler:
“Boutte is a confusing assessment because he shows athletic talent as an NFL weapon, but his effort level doesn’t always match his ability, and most scouts view him as an exclusive prospect. Although he has NFL starting skills, the nature is off-putting. His game expectations complicate his professional expectations.”
Cowboy fit:
Kayshon Boutte is one of those players where you have to decide if you can trust his tape or his test numbers. His bar shows a dynamic, versatile weapon in the passing game, but his test numbers suggest he is a player who may struggle to earn a place on the list. If you trust the bar it is a player similar to Randall Cobb and can be used in the same way. Just put the ball in his hands and let him eat the squares after you catch it.
Fifth round (169) – Andrei Yosefas, Princeton
Bear Dane Bruegler:
Iosivas has the long pace and body control worth developing, but he’s currently limited and requires a patient coaching staff as he adds branches to his path tree and learns how to be a fuller receiver. Although he’s a draft for an NFL team, he can add a vertical element to offense because of his development in The bottom of the wide receiver depth chart.”
Cowboy fit:
Andrei Iosivas looks a lot like Christian Watson who was drafted 34th overall in the second round last year by Green Bay Packers. He’s a better athlete than an outfielder at the moment, but it’s a size/height/pace WR who can provide a vertical threat to the Cowboys’ early attack while he continues to develop the other areas of his game that he needs to improve. With the best NFL coaching, he could fight for a starting role in a year or two.
Sixth round (212) – Michael Jefferson, Louisiana
Bear Dane Bruegler:
“Jefferson is a role-specific pass player, but he has the acceleration, body control, and vertical tracking skills to compete for fourth or fifth place at receiver on the NFL depth chart. His skills as a gunner will enhance his chances of staying off the final roster.”
Cowboy fit:
Michael Jefferson’s game is reminiscent of CeeDee Lamb. With the same kind of tall/skinny frame (6’3″, 199), speed and height with similar ball skills as Lamb, Jefferson is an interesting WR development prospect. The fact that he’s a gunner on special teams only adds to his value. He has all the qualities that Deep receiver teams are looking for him wide and he could end up stealing the Cowboys in the sixth round.
Seventh round (244) – Bryce Ford Wheaton, West Virginia
Bear Dane Bruegler:
“Ford-Wheaton should develop better confidence in his hands and NFL fighting ways, but he’s a rare tall/height/speed athlete with the potential to be a ball-winner. He has a high-level NFL development prospect.”
Cowboy fit:
Bryce Ford-Wheaton looks like the wide receiver the Cowboys already have on their roster, Simi Fehoko. Both players are almost identical in terms of size/height/speed. If Dallas is looking for another evolutionary type of WR late in the draft, Ford-Wheaton could be someone they’re targeting. He has the potential to be a Chase Claypool type receiver with some of the NFL’s best coaching.