Each day this week, “Breakfast With Benz” will get you ready for this month’s NFL Draft by posting daily “Draft 101” podcasts. Former NFL and college scout and current Steelers Nation Radio host, Matt Williamson, joins Tim Benz for daily podcasts breaking down draft-eligible players in different position groups.

Thursday’s post shines a spotlight on the wide receivers and tight ends.

The way things have gone in recent years with the NFL Draft, you could find talented, roster-shaping wide receivers throughout the first two days.

At least.

But, in Thursday’s “Draft 101” podcast, our pro and college scout Matt Williamson says that’s not the case in 2023.

“Receivers are the weakest they’ve been in recent memory in this class,” Williamson said.

However, Williamson will make an exception for one particular receiver from Ohio State.

“Jaxon Smith-Njigba is my man crush. I adore this player,” Williamson gushed. “I know this is not a popular take, but if Jaxon Smith-Njigba is there at 17, I’m sprinting to the podium because I think your offense gets extremely hard to play against. … I think this guy is 100 catches a year, time and time again, mostly from the slot.”

That said, Williamson thinks Smith-Njigba can play outside as well but just wasn’t asked to do so with the Buckeyes because they had so many other talented wide receivers (Marvin Harrison Jr., Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave).

“It’s sort of the Justin Jefferson situation (at LSU). If Ja’Marr Chase wasn’t there, Justin Jefferson would’ve lined up outside the numbers more. Then he comes to the league, and he does it great,” Williamson explained. “I think Smith-Njigba would be more than fine outside the numbers because his route running is pristine, his change of direction is pristine. But in this situation, I’m more interested in slot guys and leave George Pickens and Diontae Johnson outside anyway.”

C.J. Stroud Jaxon Smith-Njigba at Ohio State Pro Day pic.twitter.com/NAt2xf05Mi

— PreSnap (@presnapinc) March 22, 2023

Regarding the desire so many have to see Kenny Pickett reunited with former Pitt (turned USC) receiver Jordan Addison, Williamson can see it. He says that if he put together a list of what would make sense for the Steelers’ top-17 picks by the time they select, he’d have Addison on it, but toward the bottom of it.

“His tape wasn’t as good at USC as it was at Pitt,” Williamson said. “He’s playing with two first-round quarterbacks (Pickett and USC Heisman Trophy Winner Caleb Williams). But I don’t think you can discount the Pickett-Addison combination. … I’d be fine with it. I’d hope you could do better at No. 17. I don’t think there is any chance he is there at 32 (which the Steelers also have).”

Two other receivers that Williamson and I both embraced as prospects for the Steelers are North Carolina’s Joshua Downs and Zay Flowers of Boston College. Flowers played at Chestnut Hill with Mike Tomlin’s son, Dino.

“I think you can get Flowers at 32. I don’t think that you can get Addison at 32,” Williamson said. “At Boston College, everyone in the stadium knew that they were throwing to Zay Flowers, and it didn’t matter. Clearly, the best player on their offense and people couldn’t slow him down. He would be a slot here. He’s small (5-foot-10, 172). But he’s dynamic. He’s tough. He can also line up outside the numbers.”

In four seasons at BC, Flowers racked up 200 catches, 3,056 yards and 31 total touchdowns.

This ROUTE by Zay Flowers

The Boston College WR is one of the best route runners in this year’s NFL Draft. pic.twitter.com/hBsVYMzb8d

— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) February 19, 2023

But for as thin as the wide receiver pool may be, Williamson has an entirely different take on the tight ends.

“I think there might be 10 to 12 true NFL starting tight ends in this class,” Williamson said. “I think you have to exit this draft with a tight end. Even if it is a fourth-round pick that — nine out of 10 drafts — goes in the second round that you get in the fourth because there are so many of them.”

Williamson said Iowa’s Sam LaPorta, South Dakota State’s Tucker Kraft and Zack Kuntz of Old Dominion (via Penn State) fit that description.

Another elite @HawkeyeFootball TE on the way to the league?

Sam LaPorta making his case with a 4.59u.

: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork: Stream on NFL+ pic.twitter.com/Sxdw1KDDQ5

— NFL (@NFL) March 4, 2023

Also, in the podcast, Williamson tells us why Luke Musgrave of Oregon State is his favorite of that tight end bunch. We analyze what may make TCU’s Quentin Johnson unique to this receiver class. And we project how Anthony Miller and Calvin Austin may get to help the Steelers in ways they couldn’t last year due to injury.

Listen: Tim Benz and Matt Williamson talk Steelers draft — WR and TE

---

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)

---