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The 2023 NFL Draft Combine Schedule
Where: Lucas Oil Stadium | Indianapolis, In
Thursday: March 2 (3 p.m.): DL/LB
Friday: March 3 (3 p.m.): DB/ST
Saturday: March 4 (1 p.m.): QB/WR/TE
Sunday: March 5 (1 p.m.): RB, OL
How To Watch: NFL Network
The 2023 NFL Scouting Combine will begin on Monday, February 27th and there are a lot of storylines leading up to the event, including what quarterback will emerge as the QB1, who is the true WR1, and is this 2023 running back class as talented and as deep as the 2017 class?
The Top Two Players In the 2023 NFL Draft According To Our Rankings
We have interior defensive lineman Jalen Carter ranked at the top, followed by Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. The combine could change this order if one or the other posts outrageous combine data that correlates to their elite on-field abilities.
Jalen Carter Scouting Report:
Jalen Carter is a disruptive defensive lineman with an impressive blend of size, strength, and athleticism. He possesses a quick first step and excellent burst off the snap, allowing him to penetrate gaps and disrupt the backfield. Carter has a rare combination of power and agility, which makes him difficult to handle for blockers. He is versatile enough to play multiple positions along the defensive line and can be a force against both the run and the pass. Carter has active hands and good instincts, allowing him to quickly shed blocks and make tackles. However, he must work on pad level and technique to maximize his potential. Overall, Carter is an exciting prospect with a high ceiling and the potential to become a dominant player at the next level.
Will Anderson Jr. Scouting Report:
Standing at 6-4 235 lbs, Anderson possesses an impressive combination of size, strength, and athleticism. He is a dominant pass rusher, utilizing his speed, quickness, and impressive technique to disrupt plays in the backfield consistently. Anderson is also an excellent run defender, showing the ability to quickly diagnose plays and make tackles behind the line of scrimmage. He has excellent instincts and football IQ, always seeming to be in the right place at the right time to make plays.
Who Will Emerge As The Top QB Prospect In The 2023 NFL Draft?
Each of the top projected QB prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft have question marks. For Bryce Young, it is his size; for C.J. Stroud, it is his mobility, Will Levis and Anthony Richardson both have question marks surrounding their decision-making.
Will Levis and Anthony Richardson can elevate their draft stock significantly this week at the 2023 NFL Combine? Both players possess excellent arm strength, and they have elite mobility. If one or both have an excellent combine, you might see a change in many mock drafts that have consistently pegged Bryce Young as the first QB to be selected.
The RB Position: Is It As Deep And Talented as The 2017 Class?
The NFL Scouting Combine will not answer this question, but it can certainly build the hype surrounding the depth of this year's running back draft class.
To Begin, You have Texas RB Bijan Robinson at the top, and he could be selected in the middle of round one, if not earlier. After Robinson, you have Alabama's versatile Jahmyr Gibbs, followed by the bruising yet nimble Zach Charbonnett out of UCLA.
Zach Charbonnett and Jahmyr Gibbs have the most to gain at the NFL Combine. For Gibbs, the question heading into the 2023 NFL Draft will surround his size and ability to handle a full-time NFL workload. For Charbonnett, people will want to see his ability as a receiver for a bigger back.
The 2023 Wide Receiver Class: Is It Lacking Talent?
The short answer is no. The 2023 NFL Draft wide receiver class is less talented in terms of instant impact players at the top, but it has potential throughout, and the players at the top of the WR rankings are legit 1st round projections.
The WR's are led by TCU's 6-4 agile and lengthy Quentin Johnston, followed by the smaller but agile USC slot receiver Jordan Addison. We have gone back and forth on which of these two go number one overall for months, but we must keep an eye on Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith Njigba. Njigba sat out (Almost) the entire 2022 college football season due to a hamstring issue. If Njigba performs well at the NFL Combine, he can easily be reinserted into the WR1 conversation.