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Mock drafts are a tough thing to do and getting the picks right is nearly impossible. Really, beyond the No. 1 pick, people are just taking stabs in the dark. The top NFL draft prospects each year are interesting to analyze, and we are not going to do anything different. So instead of trying to predict who goes where we will simply take a closer look at the talent we have on our hands in the 2023 NFL draft.
Which are the top NFL draft prospects in 2023?
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Let’s see which players our experts decided to break down for you.
Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
This is the top player in this year’s draft. and we are not even going to assume he drops to 2nd. Young’s arm strength is good. It’s not the best but it’s definitely above average. In addition, hitting receivers in stride is not a problem for him as his accuracy is top-notch.
What’s more, on top of his excellent arm, Yooung is mobile and can gain yards in bunches. Tackling him in the open field is a nearly impossible task. When it comes to decision-making and leadership skills, Bryce Young might be the best quarterback in the draft.
The only drawback is the height. Standing at 5’ 10’’ some folks think he might struggle in the pocket in the NFL but he might be just too good for that to bother him.
Will Anderson, DE/DT, Alabama
Here’s another big name out of Alabama. Anderson’s scouting report is simple. He’s good. The guy rushes the quarterback like nobody else in the draft. 34.5 tackles is the tally for 2021 accompanied by the incredible 17.5 sacks in the same season. He nearly beat some records in the history of Alabama. When it comes to 2023 NFL draft prospects it just doesn’t get any better than that.
Anderson was a sure-fire No.1 pick if no team needed a quarterback as badly as the Panthers do. If Anderson doesn’t go second to Houston, Arizona will definitely pick him at three.
Tyree Wilson, DE, Texas A&M
Again, we got a prototypical defensive end. The best part about Wilson is that he is also an excellent run-stopper at the line of scrimmage. You typically expect good defensive ends to be pass rushers only but run-stoppers are sometimes hard to come by.
Speaking of pass rushing, Wilson can bullrush you, but he also possesses a number of finesse moves as well. He will be an excellent replacement for JJ Watt if he lands in Arizona. Interestingly enough, if The Texans select a QB with the No. 2 pick, Wilson might drop all the way down to 5 in Seattle’s lap.
C.J Stroud, QB, Ohio State
A very athletic quarterback standing at 6’ 3’’ Stroud is a very good pocket passer. His arm is very strong and will sometimes make a difference. His accuracy is definitely good although there are some questions when it comes to his deep ball. While he can throw it deep, the accuracy can be inconsistent.
The Ohio State product is good in the pocket, and he moves well in it. However, he is not a mobile quarterback and will not be a threat on the ground.
People criticize Stroud for his decision-making and ability to play under pressure. He will sometimes be slow to read the defense and just might end up overthinking his passes. If he cn work on that aspect of his game, Stroud can become an excellent quarterback for the Indiana Colts at No. 4.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
It seems like the talented players coming from Ohio State are never-ending. Smith-Njigba is perhaps the best wide receiver in this year’s draft and he is definitely among the top NFL prospects 2023. When it comes to his route running and poise, he is second to none. The catch radius of Smith-Njigba is impressive and the balls seem to stick to his hands.
Generating separation was never an issue for the Ohio State prospect as his route-running ability is among his top traits. He does lack physicality but has learned to shield the ball well and turn his back at defenders at the right time in order to secure a catch.
Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
The Georgia Bulldogs is one of the best, if not the best, college football teams in the USA and they have incredible talent at defensive tackle. Standing at 6ft 3 Jalen Carter is an excellent player who will cause problems at the line of scrimmage in the NFL.
The Florida native possesses incredible athleticism and his 305 lb are very hard to stop. He accumulated 22 tackles in the 2021 season and is the third-best defensive lineman in this year’s draft. However, he is the best pure DT in the draft.
Impressive numbers in his stats are the 4.5 sacks as generating sacks from the DT position is hard and often unlikely.
Paris Johnson, OT, Ohio State
We have to show the offensive line some love and this is why we are going to look at OT Paris Johnson. Another player from Ohio State with a bright future in the NFL. Regarding NFL 2023 draft prospects, he is the best offensive lineman in the class.
Johnson is an excellent pass protector with quick feet and long arms. He is 6’ 7’’ tall and weighs around 305lb. At that size, he is a prototypical tackle and many experts think he will end up in Chicago. However, rumors are that the Raiders are not going with a QB at the No.7 pick and will likely look to bolster their offensive line.
A small weakness of Johnon’s is his sometimes inability to time a run block properly. He would lunge at defenders and miss. It doesn’t happen often but when it does, it costs his team some yards.
Conclusion about the top NFL prospects of the 2023 draft
Even though the draft has a number of quarterbacks ready to be taken in Round 1, this year’s class is not considered to be quarterback-heavy. When you go past Bryce Young, the talent at QB dips but you can still get excellent linemen on both sides of the ball in the first ten picks.
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