There’s a lot that goes into a Big Board, and where you are in the evaluation process matters a lot. NFL teams have area scouts and scouting directors reporting to general managers; they’ve done the work on prospects all year long. If you’re writing about the NFL in-season, and sneaking away to watch as much college tape as possible, you’re scrambling a bit after the Super Bowl and before the scouting combine just to catch up.
So, full disclosure: This first Big Board of mine for the 2023 draft process reflects the 100-plus players I’ve watched to a point where I can reasonably assess what I think their NFL potential might be. Before the combine, I’ll watch a bunch more tape, and hopefully become more refined in the overall.
Once that happens, we’ll be building all kinds of position lists, single-subject evaluations, and mock drafts reflecting the widening of that study.
For the ramp-up to the scouting combine, which really gets going in early March, here are my Top 50 draft prospects, regardless of positional value.
A few notes on this first Top 50:
Jalen Carter won’t move from the top spot; of that, I’m fairly sure.
There will be pre-draft fatigue at some point with the whole "Jalen Carter is the best prospect in this class" thing.
So, let's be specific about it. Jalen Carter is the best prospect in this class. pic.twitter.com/yEAly3SBIf
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) February 17, 2023
C.J. Stroud’s Georgia game really flipped my evaluation of his game; I saw (we all saw) a functional mobility we hadn’t seen at a consistent level before. I don’t know why it took so long, but it’s there against a truly great defense, and I’m good with that when I attach functional mobility as a key attribute.
In ranking Florida’s Anthony Richardson over Kentucky’s Will Levis, I’m going with Richardson’s obvious improvement as a thrower in the second half of his first season as a starter, while I haven’t seen the same level of development from Levis. I’m actually bumping Levis up a bit because of the surrounding cast concerns, but I’m not on the “He’s the next Josh Allen” bandwagon at all.
A few near-misses who may make the next Big Board based on combine and Pro Day performances, as well as further tape analysis:
Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker
Oregon LB Noah Sewell
Tulane RB Tyjae Spears
Michigan DT Mazi Smith
Clemson TE Davis Allen
TCU OG Steve Avila
Alabama DB Eli Ricks
Houston WR Nathaniel “Tank” Dell
UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu
With all that in mind, here’s Touchdown Wire’s introductory Top 50 draft prospects for 2023.
