Risen Star
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- Messages
- 92,796
- Reaction score
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Quarterback (3)
Bryce Young, Alabama (No. 2)
Comp: Tua Tagovailoa
Young entered the 2022 season with high expectations as the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, and he answered the call with 3,328 passing yards, 32 TD throws and just five interceptions. He showed growth as a player, displaying poise, pocket awareness and field vision. There will be many questions about Young's size (6-foot, 194 pounds), but his on-field work is that of a franchise quarterback.
C.J. Stroud, Ohio State (No. 4)
Comp: Dak Prescott
Stroud put up big numbers in the wide-open Ohio State passing game (3,688 passing yards, 41 TD throws and six interceptions). At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, Stroud has really good touch accuracy to all levels of the field. He's also an above-average runner and mover in the pocket when given room to operate. The hardest thing about evaluating Stroud is extrapolating his talent from the Buckeyes' scheme and figuring out what he can do without that system around him.
Will Levis, Kentucky (No. 11)
Comp: Matthew Stafford
Levis' numbers at Kentucky -- 2,406 passing yards, 19 touchdown passes, 10 interceptions -- are not good enough for the first round, but scouts love his 6-foot-3/232-pound build, toughness, arm strength and mentality as a passer. Levis is very boom or bust, and he has to improve his decision-making.
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Running back (1)
Bijan Robinson, Texas (No. 5)
Comp: Saquon Barkley
Robinson is the total package as a running back prospect. He plays with amazing patience but can also lower his shoulder with a 220-pound frame and create space for himself. Robinson's contact balance and vision in traffic are some of the best I've ever seen. He rushed for 1,580 rushing yards and 18 TDs this season, and he's also a very good receiving threat out of the backfield (314 receiving yards). There are few players more talented than Robinson in this year's class.
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Wide receiver (2)
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State (No. 12)
Comp: CeeDee Lamb
Smith-Njigba finished the 2021 season with a record-setting Rose Bowl appearance (347 receiving yards, three TDs) but was hampered by a hamstring injury in 2022, limiting him to just five catches and 43 yards. It makes for a fascinating evaluation, but the 6-foot-1, 200-pound Smith-Njigba can still find himself in the top 15 picks. He shows excellent concentration and body control, and he can still get open even when the defense is keyed to stop him.
Jordan Addison, USC (No. 13)
Comp: Keenan Allen
Addison transferred from Pitt to USC after winning the 2021 Biletnikoff Award for best wide receiver in college football. And he quietly put together an outstanding year playing on Pacific Standard Time, with 59 catches, 875 yards and eight touchdowns. Addison isn't a big receiver (6-foot, 175 pounds), but he plays with great power after the catch and has the footwork to create separation in his route tree.
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Tight end (1)
Michael Mayer, Notre Dame (No. 15)
Comp: T.J. Hockenson
Mayer is a throwback three-down tight end who can line up next to the offensive tackle and clear out in the run game or bring down passes up the seam. At 6-foot-4 and 265 pounds, he has elite size and uses it to produce all over the field to the tune of 67 catches, 809 yards and nine touchdowns in 2022. Mayer is a post-up, box-out red zone threat, and while he's not expected to run a sub-4.5-second 40-yard dash, his power, agility and instincts should keep him in the top 15 picks even at a non-premium position.
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Offensive tackle (3)
Peter Skoronski, Northwestern (No. 8)
Comp: Ryan Ramczyk
The 6-foot-4, 315-pound left tackle plays with NFL-caliber power and heavy hands but also has good mobility at the second level in the run game. Skoronski's lack of length will be questioned by some teams, but he's a powerhouse blocker in the run and pass game and is positioned to be a Year 1 starter in the NFL. He allowed just three sacks over 33 career starts.
Broderick Jones, Georgia (No. 14)
Comp: Dion Dawkins
A former five-star recruit, Jones emerged in his first year as a starter and became one of the nation's best left tackles. He has a level of toughness and strength to his game that's hard to find, but he also shows the recovery agility and balance to compete with speedy outside pass-rushers. His game is raw given limited reps (19 starts), but his upside is through the roof. At 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds, there might be arm length questions, but his tape is Round 1-caliber. Jones allowed zero sacks this season for Georgia.
Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State (No. 16)
Comp: Terron Armstead
Johnson was arguably Ohio State's best lineman during the 2021 season while playing out of position at right guard. He moved to his natural position of left tackle for 2022 and allowed just two sacks. The 6-foot-6, 310-pound junior has solid quickness and balance while also playing with poise and power. He's still ironing out his technique, but Johnson's ceiling is potentially the best of any 2023 offensive lineman.
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Interior offensive line (0)
Positional value has hit the interior of the offensive line, as NFL teams find high-level starters on Days 2 and 3 of the draft. The 2023 class features talented guards and centers -- players such as O'Cyrus Torrence (Florida) and John Michael Schmitz (Minnesota) -- who could sneak into Round 1 but don't carry an across-the-board first-round grade.
Bryce Young, Alabama (No. 2)
Comp: Tua Tagovailoa
Young entered the 2022 season with high expectations as the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, and he answered the call with 3,328 passing yards, 32 TD throws and just five interceptions. He showed growth as a player, displaying poise, pocket awareness and field vision. There will be many questions about Young's size (6-foot, 194 pounds), but his on-field work is that of a franchise quarterback.
C.J. Stroud, Ohio State (No. 4)
Comp: Dak Prescott
Stroud put up big numbers in the wide-open Ohio State passing game (3,688 passing yards, 41 TD throws and six interceptions). At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, Stroud has really good touch accuracy to all levels of the field. He's also an above-average runner and mover in the pocket when given room to operate. The hardest thing about evaluating Stroud is extrapolating his talent from the Buckeyes' scheme and figuring out what he can do without that system around him.
Will Levis, Kentucky (No. 11)
Comp: Matthew Stafford
Levis' numbers at Kentucky -- 2,406 passing yards, 19 touchdown passes, 10 interceptions -- are not good enough for the first round, but scouts love his 6-foot-3/232-pound build, toughness, arm strength and mentality as a passer. Levis is very boom or bust, and he has to improve his decision-making.
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Running back (1)
Bijan Robinson, Texas (No. 5)
Comp: Saquon Barkley
Robinson is the total package as a running back prospect. He plays with amazing patience but can also lower his shoulder with a 220-pound frame and create space for himself. Robinson's contact balance and vision in traffic are some of the best I've ever seen. He rushed for 1,580 rushing yards and 18 TDs this season, and he's also a very good receiving threat out of the backfield (314 receiving yards). There are few players more talented than Robinson in this year's class.
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Wide receiver (2)
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State (No. 12)
Comp: CeeDee Lamb
Smith-Njigba finished the 2021 season with a record-setting Rose Bowl appearance (347 receiving yards, three TDs) but was hampered by a hamstring injury in 2022, limiting him to just five catches and 43 yards. It makes for a fascinating evaluation, but the 6-foot-1, 200-pound Smith-Njigba can still find himself in the top 15 picks. He shows excellent concentration and body control, and he can still get open even when the defense is keyed to stop him.
Jordan Addison, USC (No. 13)
Comp: Keenan Allen
Addison transferred from Pitt to USC after winning the 2021 Biletnikoff Award for best wide receiver in college football. And he quietly put together an outstanding year playing on Pacific Standard Time, with 59 catches, 875 yards and eight touchdowns. Addison isn't a big receiver (6-foot, 175 pounds), but he plays with great power after the catch and has the footwork to create separation in his route tree.
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Tight end (1)
Michael Mayer, Notre Dame (No. 15)
Comp: T.J. Hockenson
Mayer is a throwback three-down tight end who can line up next to the offensive tackle and clear out in the run game or bring down passes up the seam. At 6-foot-4 and 265 pounds, he has elite size and uses it to produce all over the field to the tune of 67 catches, 809 yards and nine touchdowns in 2022. Mayer is a post-up, box-out red zone threat, and while he's not expected to run a sub-4.5-second 40-yard dash, his power, agility and instincts should keep him in the top 15 picks even at a non-premium position.
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Offensive tackle (3)
Peter Skoronski, Northwestern (No. 8)
Comp: Ryan Ramczyk
The 6-foot-4, 315-pound left tackle plays with NFL-caliber power and heavy hands but also has good mobility at the second level in the run game. Skoronski's lack of length will be questioned by some teams, but he's a powerhouse blocker in the run and pass game and is positioned to be a Year 1 starter in the NFL. He allowed just three sacks over 33 career starts.
Broderick Jones, Georgia (No. 14)
Comp: Dion Dawkins
A former five-star recruit, Jones emerged in his first year as a starter and became one of the nation's best left tackles. He has a level of toughness and strength to his game that's hard to find, but he also shows the recovery agility and balance to compete with speedy outside pass-rushers. His game is raw given limited reps (19 starts), but his upside is through the roof. At 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds, there might be arm length questions, but his tape is Round 1-caliber. Jones allowed zero sacks this season for Georgia.
Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State (No. 16)
Comp: Terron Armstead
Johnson was arguably Ohio State's best lineman during the 2021 season while playing out of position at right guard. He moved to his natural position of left tackle for 2022 and allowed just two sacks. The 6-foot-6, 310-pound junior has solid quickness and balance while also playing with poise and power. He's still ironing out his technique, but Johnson's ceiling is potentially the best of any 2023 offensive lineman.
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Interior offensive line (0)
Positional value has hit the interior of the offensive line, as NFL teams find high-level starters on Days 2 and 3 of the draft. The 2023 class features talented guards and centers -- players such as O'Cyrus Torrence (Florida) and John Michael Schmitz (Minnesota) -- who could sneak into Round 1 but don't carry an across-the-board first-round grade.
