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Our NFL Draft top 100 player rankings include an in-depth scouting report of each prospect detailing play style, scheme fit, positional strengths & weaknesses, and player comparisons.
Is Will Anderson The Top Prospect In The 2023 NFL Draft?
Will Anderson has come full circle since we started the process. We had an internal debate during the 2022 NFL Draft Process where we discussed WIll Anderson going number one overall if eligible. We have had him in the top 3 regardless of changes throughout the process, and if you could bet on which players are a sure thing, Anderson would be at the top of that list. Anderson is projected to go anywhere in the from #2 overall to #7, depending on what teams decide to take a QB. We believe he will be an Arizona Cardinal.
If Not Will Anderson, Jalen Carter Is The Next Best Bet
We had Jalen Carter at the top of our board for several months, and then the noise started about his work ethic, and his disastrous pro day forced us to re-evaluate Carter. During the re-evaluation of his film, we found the same guy who was an absolute force while playing for the Georgia Bulldogs. Carter was once considered the top pick in the draft heading to the Bears at number one overall before they traded back with Carolina. Still, Carter could be drafted anywhere from pick 2 to 10 based on how many teams decide to prioritize the QB position.
The QB's Have Moved A Lot Throughout the Process
One QB has been at the top the entire time, and that QB is Bryce Young. We flirted with the idea of C.J. Stroud after his performance vs. Georgia in the College Football Playoff and his excellent combine.
C.J. Stroud has all the tools and could become a Joe Burrow-esque type of player with a Jared Goff floor. Outside of Stroud and Young, we have the tremendous ceilings of Anthony Richardson and Will Levis. All four QB's have acquired top 5 projections from many scouts, and it's hard to mock them anywhere outside the top 10.
The Top 50
1. EDGE Will Anderson Jr, Alabama
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. 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.
2. IDL Jalen Carter, Georgia
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 needs to 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.
3. QB Bryce Young, Alabama
Bryce Young is a talented quarterback with excellent accuracy, athleticism, and arm talent. He has shown good poise and decision-making skills as a starter at Alabama. While his size may be a concern, his mobility and arm talent make him an intriguing prospect. If he can continue to develop his game, he can develop into a high-end starter at the NFL level. He is a projected top 5 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
4. RB Bijan Robinson, Texas
Bijan Robinson is a versatile running back with great vision, elusiveness, and pass-catching ability. He has the potential to be a three-down back in the NFL and could be a valuable weapon in the passing game. He will need to continue to work on his pass pro to maximize his potential. Still, his work ethic and dedication to improving his game suggest that he will continue to develop at the next level. He is likely a mid-to-late first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and has the potential to be a star at the next level.
5. CB Christian Gonzalez, Oregon
Christian Gonzalez has what it takes to be the top corner in his draft class. He provides the scheme versatility you want from a DB, with the length needed to defend against the NFL's bigger-bodied receivers on the outside. His athleticism is high-end. Anytime you can get a DB with excellent closing speed, a trait required to play at a high level in a zone-based scheme combined with the quick hips and the fluidity needed to stay in phase with receivers in man-to-man defense, you do not pass on them.
6. EDGE Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech
At 6-6 275lbs, Wilson possesses excellent size and length for the position. He is a powerful and explosive pass rusher, utilizing his strength and quickness to get around offensive linemen and pressure the quarterback. Wilson is also a solid run defender, using his size and strength to set the edge and make tackles. While he may need to continue to refine his technique and develop more pass-rush moves, Wilson has the potential to be an elite defensive lineman at the NFL level.
7. CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
Witherspoon has ideal size and length for a cornerback, making him effective in press coverage and contested catch situations. He has good ball skills and can make plays on the ball in coverage. He is a physical cornerback who can disrupt routes. He has good strength and can be effective in run support. Witherspoon might need to dial back his aggressiveness at the next level. He can be handsy in coverage, and his aggressiveness to make a highlight reel hit in the run game could lead to explosive plays vs. better backs and receivers in the NFL if he is not careful.
8. QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
Stroud is accurate with a strong arm. He can fit the football into tight windows, especially on layered throws between LB's and safeties down the middle. His ability to throw outside the numbers beating coverage, and placing the football only where his receiver has the best chance stands out on tape. C.J. Stroud possesses arm talent in critical areas of the measure. He can throw with touch at all levels, get the ball out quickly when needed, and fire a laser down the seam. Stroud does a good job feeling and handling pressure, but there are moments where you would like to see him use his legs a bit more to keep a play alive.
9. OT Peter Skoronski, Northwestern
Skoronski is a technically sound offensive lineman who excels in pass protection. He has quick and active hands, and he uses them well to punch and redirect defenders. He has good pad level and knee bend, which allows him to play with leverage and maintain his balance. He also has good awareness and recognition skills and can quickly pick up stunts and blitzes. Skoronski is a solid blocker in the run game who can use his strength and leverage to create movement at the point of attack. He is a projected early to mid 1st round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
10. WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is a talented wide receiver with good route-running ability, excellent hands, and the ability to make plays after the catch. While he may struggle against physical defenders at the NFL level, Smith Njigba possesses many of the same qualities you see from top young NFL receivers currently in the NFL. Smith-Njigba is a projected mid to late 1st round 2023 NFL draft pick.
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