There were six wide receivers drafted within the first 18 picks of last year’s draft, but the first tight end (Trey McBride) wasn’t off the board until Day 2 (the 55th pick).
When it comes to 2023 pass-catching options, the roles are reversed—at least in terms of my initial big board rankings.
The first wide receiver to appear in my initial big board is the 18th-ranked prospect. Meanwhile, there are five tight ends ranked inside the top 55 prospects.
There have been a total of five wide receivers selected within the first 10 picks of the last two drafts, but the streak of top-10 wide receivers is likely to end this April.
If a receiver isn’t off the board until the back half of the first round, it would be the first time since 2019, when Marquise Brown and N’Keal Harry were selected with the 25th and 32nd picks, respectively. That same class, however, had plenty of studs selected beyond the first round, including Deebo Samuel, A.J. Brown, DK Metcalf, Diontae Johnson and Terry McLaurin, among others.
With that said, here are my initial top 100 prospects for the 2023 NFL draft:
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1. Will Anderson Jr., edge, Alabama (6'4", 243 pounds)
What can’t he do on the football field? Anderson is a three-down player who can defend the run, drop in coverage and terrorize opposing offensive linemen and quarterbacks as a pass rusher. The Alabama junior has an outstanding combination of power, length and burst, and he plays with a nonstop motor. Despite a dip in year-over-year production, Anderson leaves Tuscaloosa with 34.5 sacks and 62 tackles for loss (TFL) over 41 career games. Per Pro Football Focus, he finished his career with 207 pressures with a minimum of 60 each season including 65 pressures in 2022. Anderson may not be the first pick on April 27, but he has the traits, production, intangibles and leadership to become the cornerstone of an NFL defense.
2. Jalen Carter, IDL, Georgia (6'3", 300 pounds)
A five-star recruit from the same high school (Apopka) as Warren Sapp, Carter was the most talented prospect in a defense that yielded five first-round picks in 2022. He has the experience and versatility to play up and down the line of scrimmage. Carter’s special blend of power, quickness and lateral agility allow him to consistently blow up plays in the backfield.
3. Bryce Young, QB, Alabama (6'0", 194 pounds)
It’s not often that quarterbacks weighing less than 200 pounds get drafted, and Young’s relatively small frame could be a concern for some NFL teams due to the associated durability risk. When looking past that, however, Young has everything else needed to be a franchise quarterback. He has enough arm strength to make all the throws, processes information quickly and is accurate to all three levels. When things aren’t perfect is when Young really sets himself apart from the rest of the quarterbacks in this class, as that’s when his elite playmaking ability takes over.
4. Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern (6'4", 315 pounds)
Skoronski was a three-year starter at left tackle, taking over as a true freshman after teammate Rashawn Slater opted out of the 2020 season. Similar to when Slater entered the league, there are some concerns with Skoronski’s (lack of) arm length, which could lead to a shift inside at the next level. Even though teams may view his ideal placement differently, Skoronski has five-position versatility; he’s technically sound with smooth and balanced footwork. Skoronski’s grandfather, Bob Skoronski, was an NFL offensive tackle and a member of the Packers’ Hall of Fame.
5. Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas (6'0", 222 pounds)
Robinson is the best running back prospect to pop up over the past several drafts. While he may not be selected until the back half of Round 1 due to positional value, he’s a top-five prospect in this class based on talent alone. He has outstanding size, speed, vision and contact balance, and he set a PFF record for the most missed tackles forced in a season (104, 2022). Robinson is also dynamic as a receiver.
6. C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State (6'3", 218 pounds)
When he has time, Stroud throws with touch and accuracy to all three levels. While he can be deadly from the pocket, he didn’t showcase his playmaking ability outside of structure often over the past two years. That changed against Georgia in the College Football Playoff, as Stroud provided a glimpse of his athleticism and improvisational skills when plays break down. While one game doesn’t replace an entire body of work, he ended his collegiate career on a high note (from a draft perspective).
7. Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon (6'2", 201 pounds)
Gonzalez was a transfer from Colorado, and he showed improvement throughout the year in his only season with the Ducks. He’s a fluid athlete that should test really well at the combine. Per The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman, Gonzalez has reached 23.3 mph on GPS and has a 42" vertical jump. He finished this past season with four interceptions.
8. Tyree Wilson, edge, Texas Tech (6'6", 275 pounds)
Wilson has an excellent combination of size, length and power and offers inside-outside versatility. He finished his final season (10 games) with 50 pressures, per PFF, and 61 tackles, 14 TFL and seven sacks.
9. Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State (6'6", 310 pounds)
The five-star recruit was a two-year starter for the Buckeyes, spending a season at right guard (2021) and another at left tackle (’22). Johnson is ideally suited to play the latter, however, given his combination of size, length and athleticism. He plays with an aggressive demeanor and mindset to finish blocks, and he has as much upside as any offensive lineman in this draft class.
10. Myles Murphy, edge, Clemson (6'5", 275 pounds)
Murphy has an ideal combination of size, length, power and athleticism, which earned him a spot near the top of Bruce Feldman’s annual Freaks List. Having just turned 21 in January, Murphy may be more impactful as a run defender to start his career, but he has plenty of upside and scheme versatility as he continues to develop his repertoire of pass-rush moves.
11. Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois (6'0", 180 pounds)
Witherspoon was described by his DB coach as being “brilliantly intelligent,” even though he didn’t start playing football until his junior year of high school. He was a three-year starter for the Illini and finished with his best season in 2022 (three interceptions and 14 pass breakups in 12 games). He’s a confident and physical corner who plays bigger than his size.
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12. Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State (6'2", 194 pounds)
The son of a four-time Pro Bowler, Porter is a physical corner with excellent size, length and speed. Although he had only one career interception at Penn State, he is disruptive at the catch point and finished the year with a career-high 11 passes defended.
13. Will Levis, QB, Kentucky (6'3", 232 pounds)
Levis didn’t build upon his 2021 season the way he and others had hoped, partly thanks to roster turnover and injuries he battled throughout the season. It’s likely that Levis will be drafted higher than this ranking, as many teams will fall in love with his physical traits—prototypical size, arm talent and mobility—as well as his intangibles and toughness. The ceiling is high if he can improve his accuracy and cut down on turnovers.
14. Brian Branch, S, Alabama (6'0", 193 pounds)
Branch can fill virtually any role in the secondary, and his versatility, intelligence and instincts make him one of the safest prospects in this draft class. Branch is an incredibly reliable tackler, and he posted the second-lowest missed tackle rate (3.3%) among defenders with 50-plus tackles last season, per PFF. He’ll instantly improve whichever secondary adds his all-around skill set as a blitzer, in coverage or defending the run.
15. Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia (6'4", 310 pounds)
Jones became a full-time starter last season after starting only four games in 2021. While he’s relatively inexperienced, he continued to improve throughout the season. As he fills out his frame, improves his technique and gains experience, Jones has the potential to develop into one of the league’s better left tackles due to his size, length and athleticism.
16. Bryan Bresee, IDL, Clemson (6'5", 305 pounds)
Bresee is a former top high school recruit who excelled as a true freshman, but an ACL injury forced him to miss much of the 2021 season. Bresee has the versatility to line up at multiple spots along the defensive line, and he offers plus length, burst and power.
17. Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida (6'4", 232 pounds)
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Richardson has an elite combination of arm strength, size and athleticism. While the one-year starter would have benefited from a return to Gainesville (he needs to improve his accuracy), he offers his future NFL team unlimited dual-threat upside.
18. Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU (6'4", 215 pounds)
Compared to the past several draft classes, it’s a relatively weak crop of wide receivers, as noted above. Built differently than the other receivers in my top 50, Johnston uses his size and wide catch radius along with his speed and leaping ability to make plays down the field. However, drops have been an issue for him: He had eight (11.8%) in 2022, per PFF.
19. Jordan Addison, WR, USC (6'0", 175 pounds)
Addison was highly productive over the past two seasons, although he missed some time with an ankle injury in 2022. His speed, route running, and ball skills are assets. Addison lacks size and play strength, but he can win from the slot and outside.
20. Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame (6'5", 265 pounds)
Mayer won’t be an elite tester in Indianapolis, but he has a well-rounded skill set and is comfortable playing in line or detached. He led Notre Dame in receiving in each of his three seasons. Mayer has soft hands and the ability to make catches in traffic, plus he wins at the catch point more often than his opponent.
21. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State (6'1", 200 pounds)
Smith-Njigba isn’t a burner, and he won’t run the sub-4.4 40-yard dash that his former teammates (Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave) ran at last year’s combine. Despite being a one-year starter who primarily aligned in the slot, Smith-Njigba is a polished route runner with outstanding ball skills and body control. While a nagging hamstring injury forced him to miss almost all of 2022, he set the Big Ten receiving record with 1,606 yards in ’21.
22. Lukas Van Ness, edge, Iowa (6'5", 275 pounds)
Van Ness has a blend of power, length and a quick first step. “Hercules” has inside/outside versatility; after primarily aligning inside in 2021, he was primarily an edge rusher this past season. Van Ness has a total of 19.5 TFL and 13.5 sacks over the past two seasons.
23. Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama (5'11", 200 pounds)
A transfer from Georgia Tech, Gibbs led Alabama in both rushing yards (926) and receptions (44) last season. While he’s a bit undersized, Gibbs has outstanding lateral quickness and is elusive and explosive as a runner. He especially excels as a receiver and projects to become a catching weapon early in his NFL career.
24. Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia (6'2", 210 pounds)
Shiftier receivers may create more challenges for Ringo, who has an elite combination of height, weight and speed. He’s a physical cornerback, who isn’t afraid to mix it up in run support, although he missed six tackles in 2022, per PFF. Ringo is the third-youngest prospect in my top 100 and won’t turn 21 until this summer.
25. Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee (6'0", 185 pounds)
Hyatt ran a limited route tree within Tennessee’s offense—so there is some projection involved as he heads to the NFL—but he has what can’t be taught (elite speed). Hyatt also is a natural pass catcher with a strong work ethic. The 2022 Biletnikoff winner finished second in the country with 15 touchdowns, eight of which were 45-yards or longer.
26. Nolan Smith, edge, Georgia (6'3", 235 pounds)
Smith was the top-ranked national recruit in 2019 and was really coming into his own as a leader for the Bulldogs before a pectoral injury ended his ’22 season prematurely. Even though he’s undersized, Smith is incredibly powerful and an outstanding run defender. He’s a high-character leader with the explosive athleticism, flexibility, length and motor to become a more impactful pass rusher at the next level.
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27. Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina (6'0", 188 pounds)
Smith is a confident, patient and fluid corner with good length. He is a two-year starter (playing both outside and in the slot) and finished his collegiate career with six interceptions.
28. O'Cyrus Torrence, IOL, Florida (6'5", 337 pounds)
Torrence transferred from Louisiana to Florida, following his former coach Billy Napier, and handled the jump in competition well. He compiled 46 total starts between those two schools, and although he is a guard-only prospect, he’s my top-ranked interior offensive lineman. Torrence is an outstanding run blocker with tremendous power.
29. Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia (6'7", 270 pounds)
It’s almost as if Washington is a third offensive tackle on the field due to his massive frame and outstanding play strength. While he’s at his best as a run blocker, there is some upside as a pass catcher, with his size and (build-up) speed down the seam to outmuscle/box out defenders. Although his receiving production was relatively modest, he averaged 17.2 yards per reception over his career.
30. Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah (6'4", 240 pounds)
Unlike Washington, Kincaid is a bit undersized and isn’t primarily used in-line. He’s at his best as a receiver due to his athleticism, route running and run-after-catch ability. He has outstanding ball skills and adjusts well to off-target throws. Kincaid finished 2022 with 70 catches for 890 yards and eight touchdowns.
31. Keion White, edge, Georgia Tech (6'5", 280 pounds)
Indirectly and unintentionally, the run of tight ends on this list continues. While White is a 280-pound edge defender, he started out as a tight end at Old Dominion before moving to defense in his second season. He’s relatively new to the position, but he’s extremely athletic for his size. White had 14 TFL and 7.5 sacks in 2022.
32. Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State (6'0", 180 pounds)
Forbes is thin, and that could be an issue as a tackler, but he has good length, speed, instincts and ball skills. He finished his collegiate career with six pick-sixes, more than most cornerback prospects had regular (non-pick-six) interceptions. In fact, he had 14 career interceptions and 34 passes defended for the Bulldogs.
33. Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson (6'3", 240 pounds)
Despite being a true junior, Simpson graduated in just three years. The son of an Army Ranger, Simpson is a fluid athlete with elite speed. Whether it’s matching up with tight ends or running blacks, blitzing off the edge or using his sideline-to-sideline range, Simpson has the ability to impact the game in a variety of ways.
34. Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas (6'5", 233 pounds)
Sanders transferred from Alabama, moved from edge to linebacker and broke out in his lone season with the Razorbacks. He stuffed the stat sheet with 103 tackles, 13.5 TFL, 9.5 sacks and three forced fumbles in 2022. The ultra-athletic hybrid LB/edge prospect offers plenty of upside, especially if his future team taps into his ability to rush the passer often.
35. Calijah Kancey, IDL, Pittsburgh (6'0", 280 pounds)
Kancey will have to deal with the obvious, albeit unfair, comparisons to Aaron Donald given that he’s an undersized, disruptive interior lineman from Pitt. That said, he has quick hands and feet and will make his biggest impact rushing the passer. Kancey has 13-plus TFL and seven-plus sacks in back-to-back seasons.
36. Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland (6'2", 205 pounds)
Banks has good size, length and speed, and he’s a willing and reliable tackler. He missed most of the 2021 season following shoulder surgery, but he had his most productive season in ’22, finishing with nine passes defended.
37. Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State (6'6", 255 pounds)
Musgrave was on his way to his most productive season, but he appeared in only two games (6/89/1 and 5/80) in 2022. Per Jim Nagy, Musgrave reached a max speed of 20.05 MPH at the Senior Bowl despite weighing 255 pounds; he has the potential to create mismatches against slower linebackers or smaller safeties.
38. Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma (6'5", 315 pounds)
Harrison is a two-year starter for the Sooners, almost exclusively at left tackle. (He has one start at right tackle.) Harrison is a young prospect, having turned 21 earlier this month, and has the size, length and movement skills to remain at left tackle in the NFL. That said, he’ll need to continue to get stronger to handle power rushers.
39. Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State (6'8", 375 pounds)
Jones is a massive and extremely powerful right tackle prospect, and he broke the Senior Bowl record with his 89 ½” wingspan. He’s a mauler as a run blocker, and he uses his size and length well in pass protection, but his lack of reactive athleticism may lead to some challenges against speed off the edge.
40. Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College (5'9", 182 pounds)
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Flowers is a smaller receiver with a limited catch radius, and some teams may view him as a slot-only option. That said, Flowers is a quick and smooth athlete who is elusive after the catch with an extra gear. He was highly productive, finishing with 78 catches for 1,077 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2022.
41. B.J. Ojulari, edge, LSU (6'3", 250 pounds)
Ojulari is a speed rusher who uses his ultra-quick first step, flexibility and bend to get to the quarterback. He isn’t a consistent run defender and lacks play strength, so he’ll likely be used as a pass-rush specialist to begin his career. Ojulari was awarded the jersey No. 18 at LSU, which highlights his leadership qualities.
42. Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M (6'3", 195 pounds)
Johnson is a versatile defensive back who is most valuable close to the line of scrimmage, where he uses his agility and short-area burst to consistently make plays and limit yards after the catch. Johnson has a wide tackle radius, and the length and ability to match up with tight ends in coverage.
43. Will McDonald IV, edge, Iowa State (6'4", 241 pounds)
McDonald is an undersized edge rusher who was often utilized at Iowa State in a way that failed to maximize his potential. Although he has good strength for his size, he’s explosive, bendy, and he wins as a speed rusher. He has outstanding length (35” arms).
44. Derick Hall, edge, Auburn (6'3", 252 pounds)
Hall is the 10th edge defender inside my top 50, and one of a position-high 16 edge rushers inside my top 100. Although he’s not a bendy edge rusher, Hall is explosive, powerful and plays with a high motor. Over the past two seasons (25 games), he has 24.5 TFL and 16 sacks.
45. Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina (5'10", 175 pounds)
Downs is undersized, but he has outstanding quickness and agility and is a good route runner. He’s at a natural disadvantage in contested-catch situations due to his size, but he’s more competitive than expected in that regard. Downs has posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with a 195/2,364/19 receiving line during that stretch.
46. John Michael Schmitz, IOL, Minnesota (6'3", 306 pounds)
Schmitz is an intelligent and highly-experienced center prospect, logging a total of 35 starts. (He’ll turn 24 in March.) He has a chance to be the first center off the board, and he could sneak into the back end of the first round. He has good lateral quickness, and he’s at his best as a run blocker.
47. Joe Tippmann, IOL, Wisconsin (6'6", 317 pounds)
Tippman has started at center each of the past two seasons for the Badgers. He’s tall, but he’s an athletic center who excels on the move.
48. Tuli Tuipulotu, edge/DL, USC (6'4", 290 pounds)
Tuipulotu has an NFL pedigree, as his brother Marlon Tuipulotu and cousins Talanoa Hufanga and Fili Moala play or have played in the league. He’s a power-based rusher with heavy hands and a motor that always runs hot, but he could be viewed as a bit of a tweener. He had a major jump in production last season and finished the year with 13.5 sacks and 22 TFL.
49. Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah (5'10", 183 pounds)
Phillips is a tough, physical corner with experience playing both outside and in the slot—but he lacks ideal size. The Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year has the versatility to play man or zone coverage and possesses outstanding coverage instincts, quickness and agility. He has a nose for the football, and he intercepted six passes in 2022 while returning two of them for scores.
50. Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee (6'5", 342 pounds)
Wright was a former five-star recruit who is coming off his best season yet. He’s a massive and powerful right tackle prospect who offers some positional versatility. Over the past four seasons, Wright has made a total of 42 starts: 27 at right tackle, 13 at left tackle and two at right guard.
51. Isaiah Foskey, edge, Notre Dame (6'5", 262 pounds)
52. Mazi Smith, IDL, Michigan (6'3", 337 pounds)
53. Steve Avila, IOL, TCU (6'3", 332 pounds)
54. Tyrique Stevenson, CB, Miami (FL) (6'0", 204 pounds)
55. Tucker Kraft, TE, South Dakota State (6'5", 255 pounds)
56. Cody Mauch, OT, North Dakota State (6'5", 305 pounds)
57. Keeanu Benton, IDL, Wisconsin (6'4", 312 pounds)
58. Felix Anudike-Uzomah, edge, Kansas State (6'4", 255 pounds)
59. D.J. Turner, CB, Michigan (6'0", 180 pounds)
60. Gervon Dexter, IDL, Florida (6'6", 312 pounds)
61. Matthew Bergeron, OT, Syracuse (6'5", 323 pounds)
62. Kyu Blu Kelly, CB, Stanford (6'0", 193 pounds)
63. Siaki Ika, IDL, Baylor (6'4", 358 pounds)
64. Christopher Smith, S, Georgia (5'10", 188 pounds)
65. Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa (6'5", 246 pounds)
66. Zach Harrison, edge, Ohio State (6'6", 272 pounds)
67. Cedric Tillman, WR, Tennessee (6'3", 215 pounds)
68. Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa (6'4", 249 pounds)
69. Zach Charbonnet, RB, UCLA (6'1", 220 pounds)
70. Devon Achane, RB, Texas A&M (5'9", 185 pounds)
71. Henry To'o To'o, LB, Alabama (6'2", 228 pounds)
72. Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU (6'0", 205 pounds)
73. Jaelyn Duncan, OT, Maryland (6'6", 298 pounds)
74. Andre Carter II, edge, Army (6'6", 252 pounds)
75. Tyler Scott, WR, Cincinnati (5'11", 185 pounds)
76. Jayden Reed, WR, Michigan State (5'11", 191 pounds)
77. Karl Brooks, IDL, Bowling Green (6'3", 303 pounds)
78. Mike Morris, edge, Michigan (6'6", 292 pounds)
79. Daiyan Henley, LB, Washington State (6'1", 230 pounds)
80. Nick Herbig, LB, Wisconsin (6'2", 227 pounds)
81. Nathaniel Dell, WR, Houston (5'8", 163 pounds)
82. Jordan Battle, S, Alabama (6'1", 206 pounds)
83. Braeden Daniels, IOL, Utah (6'4", 297 pounds)
84. A.T. Perry, WR, Wake Forest (6'5", 205 pounds)
85. Sydney Brown, S, Illinois (5'10", 213 pounds)
86. Roschon Johnson, RB, Texas (6'1", 225 pounds)
87. Tank Bigsby, RB, Auburn (6'0", 213 pounds)
88. Jammie Robinson, S, Florida State (5'11", 194 pounds)
89. Colby Wooden, IDL, Auburn (6'5", 284 pounds)
90. Byron Young, edge, Tennessee (6'2", 248 pounds)
91. Noah Sewell, LB, Oregon (6'2", 253 pounds)
92. Xavier Hutchinson, WR, Iowa State (6'2", 207 pounds)
93. Davis Allen, TE, Clemson (6'6", 246 pounds)
94. Luke Wypler, IOL, Ohio State (6'3", 300 pounds)
95. Byron Young, IDL, Alabama (6'3", 297 pounds)
96. Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, CB, TCU (5'8", 175 pounds)
97. McClendon Curtis, IOL, Chattanooga (6'6", 331 pounds)
98. Rashee Rice, WR, SMU (6'1", 200 pounds)
99. Adetomiwa Adebawore, IDL, Northwestern (6'2", 284 pounds)
100. Michael Wilson, WR, Stanford (6'2", 216 pounds)
