2023 NFL Draft: Ranking the best deep threats in the draft class

• Jalin Hyatt stands out as a deep ball threat: The 2022 Biletnikoff winner finish with the second-most deep ball receptions while leading the class in deep ball yardage.
• Rashee Rice also produced proved to be an effective deep threat: Not only did the SMU WR lead the way with 18 deep receptions, but he was also targeted a draft class-leading 40 times. He also placed first with eight contested catches on deep passes.
• Marvin Mims attacked downfield frequently: A whopping 37.9% of Mims’ targets came at least 20 yards downfield — first in this class — so it should come as no surprise to see his name near the top of these leaderboards.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Last week, we took a look at the top receivers in this draft class after the catch, but we’re going to look at the best deep threats this time around. These receivers produce down the field to create explosive and exciting plays. To qualify as a deep ball, a pass must travel at least 20 yards downfield before reaching its target.

Below are members of the 2023 draft class who caught the most passes at least 20 yards downfield. Like last week’s rankings, a player must appear on PFF's big board to qualify.

* Jaxon Smith-Njigba missed most of 2022 with a hamstring injury, his numbers are from 2021

One might remember that on last week’s yards-after-the-catch (YAC) list, Rice also comfortably led this class in total YAC, putting further emphasis on his excellent 2022 season. Not only did Rice lead the way with 18 deep receptions, but he was also targeted a draft class-leading 40 times. He also placed first with eight contested catches on such throws.

Despite not playing much in 2022 due to injury, Smith-Njigba’s 2021 was too good to ignore for this list. His 13 deep receptions are more impressive due to the fact that this came on just 18 targets, resulting in a whopping 72.2 completion percentage on deep balls, which would have led the class in 2022 (next closest was Fresno State’s Nikko Remigio catching 6-of-9 deep balls for 66.7%).

A big factor in being a deep threat is possessing the speed to get behind a defense, and no wide receiver was faster at the 2023 NFL Combine than Palmer, who ran a blistering 4.33-second 40-yard dash. His seven touchdowns on deep balls ranked second in this class.

Next, we’ll take a look at which players gained the most yardage on deep passes.

A whopping 37.9% of Mims’ targets came at least 20 yards downfield — first in this class — so it should come as no surprise to see his name near the top of these leaderboards.

One of the more surprising things about these lists is that despite the fact that Mingo, who just missed out on making the most deep ball catches list (10) and placed ninth in deep yardage, only recorded one touchdown on such throws, as everybody else who made the deep yardage list scored at least four. 

Given the data presented, there’s a pretty clear top-three in terms of deep threats in this class, as Rice, Mims and Hyatt each placed top-three in both rankings; however, you’d be hard-pressed to find a deep ball receiver better than Hyatt. Not only did the 2022 Biletnikoff winner finish with the second-most deep ball receptions while leading the class in deep ball yardage, but he also finished first in deep TDs (eight), deep YAC (166), yards per route run on deep passes (28.21) and tied with Johnston for the deepest average depth of target (35.5 yards) on deep balls.