2023 NFL Draft Top 150 Final Big Board
With the NFL Draft just a few days away, my big board has been finalized for the 2023 NFL Draft hosted in Kansas City, Missouri. The Combine has come and gone, the Pro Day Circuit has wrapped up, and all numbers that we are going to get have been gotten. Teams are trying to zero in on their targets and make the final split decisions. So, below are my top 150 prospects for the 2023 NFL draft with write-ups on the skill position players in the top 50 who could have their name called on Day 1 of the NFL Draft.
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1. Will Anderson, EDGE, Alabama
2. C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
Stroud has been on the rise since the end of his season, culminating in the most impressive throwing sessions at the NFL Combine I have ever seen. Couple that with his highlight-filled four-touchdown performance against the vaunted Georgia defense and accuracy to all areas of the field and Stroud is a hot name as the potential #1 overall pick. Stroud has been compared to players like Joe Burrow and Dak Prescott and his ball placement was superb at the college level showing pinpoint accuracy to all areas of the field. With an above-average arm and accuracy and a ton of athleticism that still could be unlocked, Stroud is one of the most coveted players in this year’s class.
3. Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech
4. Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
Young does not possess prototypical size at 5-foot-10 and just a hair over or under 200 pounds based on the number of meals he has eaten that day. He will be one of the smallest quarterbacks ever drafted, let alone a first-round pick or potential number one overall. Young does have the kind of movement in the pocket that made shorter guys like Doug Flutie and Drew Brees successful at the NFL level. Young has an innate ability to keep his eyes downfield while moving in the pocket and getting the ball out to his playmakers with space to run. Many are calling Young a point guard behind center with his quick delivery and ability to diagnose defenses. He also posted an insane S2 score of 98 if you are into that sort of thing. Young has an arm that profiles as average but the lightning-quick release and plus decision-making make it look better than it may be.
5. Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
6. Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
7. Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
8. Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
9. Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern
10. Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
Bijan is arguably a top-five player in this class, but teams have learned the value of avoiding first-round running backs. Robinson is the best running back prospect since Saquon and can excel in any scheme and at whatever he is asked to do. Bijan set records in terms of missed tackles forced while at Texas and can win with either speed or power. Robinson is shifty in the open field, powerful when he needs a yard, strong as a pass protector, and skilled as a pass catcher. Robinson will be an impact player from day one, but how high he can go in the draft will only be revealed on draft day.
11. Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
12. Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
13. Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa
14. Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia
15. Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
16. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is a pristine route runner who is quicker than fast but just always seems to be open. Smith-Njigba has played a ton of his snaps in the slot, is the top receiver in this class, and may be the best receiver out of Ohio State in the last four years—that’s straight from the mouth of Garrett Wilson. Njigba could be a target hog for an offense and his ability to play all over the formation will make him an instant impact addition. JSN can create separation early and often with his elite quickness and ability to cut on a dime. Smith-Njigba has posted elite production at an early age and is both a film and analytics darling and his 4.53 Pro Day forty time helped alleviate any concern for his long speed.
17. Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
Will Levis has all the tools to be a plus NFL passer but hasn’t shown an ability to put it all together for long stretches. Levis has plus size, athleticism, and arm strength but struggled after losing nearly all his offensive firepower this last season. The Kentucky signal-caller can push the ball down the field when given time but has at times struggled with pressure. Levis has the kind of upside and downside of quarterbacks like Jay Cutler, Ryan Tannehill, and Jake Locker who were all high NFL draft picks. Iit feels likely an NFL team will take him in the first half of Round 1. Levis has played from both under center and in the shotgun and is the type of player who would excel in an offense designed a decade ago. Levis can work off platform and out of structure but does have a bit of a gunslinger mentality. There will be an NFL coach who thinks he can fix him, there always is.
18. Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
19. Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
20. Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
21. Jordan Addison, WR, USC
Jordan Addison is a prospect who has excelled with a ton of volume and defensive attention thrown his way. Addison can play inside and outside, runs a diverse route tree, and has shown a knack for getting open at all levels. The former Pittsburgh Panther is great at picking up yards after the catch while also being able to create space with his suddenness. Addison’s ability to get open against man and zone and in the short to intermediate areas would be a welcome addition to most offenses. His ability to stretch the field vertically when in the slot is underrated. Addison does have weight concerns at just 173 pounds but has been uber-efficient by nearly any metric over his last two seasons.
22. Calijah Kancey, DT, Pitt
23. Brian Branch, SAF, Alabama
24. Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
Dalton Kincaid has only played football for about five seasons and just topped off his senior year with 70 receptions for 890 yards and 8 touchdowns. Kincaid is a smooth mover who can stretch defenses vertically up the seam with his speed and catch radius while also being refined enough as a route-runner to separate from defenders underneath. Dalton Kincaid is a long-striding tight end who can wiggle in and out of his breaks and quickly get back up to speed. Kincaid is a slightly older prospect but has been productive at every age and is the top move tight end in this class.
25. Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
26. Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
The opinions on this wide receiver class vary widely among draftniks and apparently, that is shared at the league level. While some in the fantasy football community love Johnston for his blend of size and speed, he is not without his warts. Johnston would give teams a presence that can win vertically down the field while also being able to turn screens into touchdowns. Johnston didn’t run a blazing fast 40-yard dash like some had expected, but his 4.5 at his Pro Day did just enough to alleviate any concerns about his long speed. Johnston is still a work in progress as a route runner and has shown a tendency to struggle in contested catch situations which gives me some pause. QJ did smash his jumps and did show off his ability to track the ball when in the sky during Combine drills.
27. Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Michael Mayer is a clean tight prospect without many holes in his game but without much flash. While there are four strong candidates for the top tight end in this year’s class, Mayer is the most well-rounded as a blocker and pass catcher. Mayer has produced every season at the collegiate level from the second he stepped on campus and left as the school’s all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns by a tight end. Mayer is a former basketball player and believes the ball is his whenever it’s in the air. Mayer didn’t post outrageous testing numbers but his ability to do the dirty work has earned him a ton of comparisons to Jason Witten.
28. Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
Zay Flowers is a ball of electricity whenever he has the ball in his hands. Flowers made an instant impact as a freshman with the ball in his hands and as a true receiver. Flowers can create early separation with his quick twitch explosiveness and get vertical on the outside with his 4.42 speed. Like many of the top receivers in this class, Flowers’ main concern is his size at just 5-foot-9, 182 pounds. Flowers can also be a gadget slot receiver getting the ball on jet sweeps and quick screens. He can struggle with drops at times and may have a tough time in contested catch situations as he progresses to the pro game.
29. Will McDonald, EDGE, Iowa State
30. Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
31. Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State
32. Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
33. O'Cyrus Torrence, OG, Florida
34. Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas
35. Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
Darnell Washington has recently been described as doorframe big, and at 6-foot-7, 264 pounds that is extremely accurate. Washington had a great combine running 4.64 in the 40 and strong explosion numbers in the jumps. Washington wasn’t called upon to do a ton as a receiver at Georgia as his position mate might end up as a top-10 pick next season. Washington does have a reputation as a nasty in-line blocker with tackle-like feet in pass protection. Washington has an upper-echelon catch radius and can put it on display in critical third-down and red zone situations.
36. Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson
37. Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
38. Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama
Jahmyr Gibbs is a bottle rocket with elite acceleration as showcased by his 1.52 10-yard split and 4.36 40 time. Gibbs started his career at Georgia Tech and made an instant impact on both special teams as well as a runner and receiver. Gibbs is likely best suited for a 1A role in a backfield but shouldn’t be viewed as a workhorse due to his 5-foot-9, 199-pound frame. Gibbs excels on the edges and can get up to speed before defenses have had time to react. Gibbs has an elite stop-start and is a nuanced route-runner who can split out wide and run receiver routes. Gibbs can struggle with getting rid of the first tackler, especially on plays with early defensive line penetration. Gibbs also isn’t the biggest back so getting that extra yard or finishing at the goal line may be skills a team tries to compliment him with.
39. Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
40. Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan
41. Keion White, EDGE, Georgia Tech
42. B.J. Ojulari, EDGE, LSU
43. Adetomiwa Adebawore, EDGE, Northwestern
44. Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee
Jalin Hyatt is a touchdown waiting to happen, with an ability to get behind defensive backs like few others. Hyatt was so good at getting open vertically it would look like teams were avoiding him in coverage. Hyatt is a long-striding receiver with a 1.50 first 10 that can eat up a defensive backs cushion in a hurry. Hyatt’s slender frame and effectiveness in contested catch situations are the main knocks against Hyatt as well as his ability to run a full route tree. Hyatt ran wide open so often that we also must take into account some gimmicks in the offense.
45. Gervon Dexter, DT, Florida
46. Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State
Luke Musgrave is another solid option at tight end who may have been the TE1 in many other classes. Musgrave answered a ton of questions about his athleticism at the combine running a 4.61 40 at 253 pounds. He also smashed the explosive jumps and showed off his length which makes him a coveted prospect that some draftniks even have as their number one tight end. Musgrave has NFL genes and plays a multitude of sports which show up in his body control and elusiveness as a route runner.
47. Isaiah Foskey, EDGE, Notre Dame
48. Derick Hall, EDGE, Auburn
49. John Michael Schmitz, OC, Minnesota
50. Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa
Sam LaPorta is a high-volume receiving option who lined up in a variety of spots at the collegiate level and could provide the same versatility at the NFL level. LaPorta is underrated as a blocker and can move people at the point of attack when attached to the formation. LaPorta is more of a refined route-runner than some of the other tight ends that win with more wiggle as route runners. Sam does seem to rely on his body for catches far too often and because of it he loses far more contested catches than one would like. A team could use LaPorta in a variety of roles but one committed to using him as a big slot may reap the biggest rewards.
