The NFL Draft is upon us, which means your team will likely disappoint you unless they select one of the top NFL prospects from college football in 2023 that can turn the team around with their presence.
The Signal-Callers
A year separated from one of the worst QB classes in draft history comes one of the best, with three QBs dazzling NFL GMs throughout the league.
Bryce Young, CJ Stroud, and Anthony Richardson appear to be the consensus top three at QB. Stroud looks like a prototypical quarterback, and his performance against Georgia in the CFB Playoff proves he can play against the big dogs.
Young may be the safest pick of the three, although his size is concerning. Size isn’t a concern for Richardson, who would look like Cam Newton reincarnated in the Panther black and blue.
The most abundant rumblings have Stroud going number one, and we’d agree he’s the best pro-ready QB of the three. Nevertheless, Richardson’s potential might be too tempting to ignore.
Skill Positions
There may be 20 picks before a skill position player is off the board. At running back, there’s a clear-cut number one in Bijan Robinson. In his three years in Austin, Robinson proved he was the crown jewel at the position, averaging over six yards per carry during his tenure.
Wide receiver was a hot commodity last year, as Garret Wilson, Chris Olave, and Drake London were all chosen within the first 11 picks. That won’t be the case this year unless a team wants to roll the dice on Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Even with shining endorsements from Wilson and Olave that Smith-Njigba was the best of the three at Ohio State, teams may steer clear after an injury-riddled season for the Buckeyes.
The tight end position isn’t the strongest it’s ever been, but it does have a talented duo of Michael Meyer and Darnell Washington. Mayer was Notre Dame’s best offensive weapon during an up-and-down season for the Irish. Washington played second fiddle to Brock Bowers at Georgia, and the jump to the NFL could allow him to spread his wings.
Hogmollies Up Front
We won’t see an offensive lineman taken within the first five picks of the draft. However, they will come in droves in the middle portion of the draft. Paris Johnson Jr., Peter Skoronski, Broderick Jones, and Darnell Wright appear to be the best, with Johnson being the first to shake Roger Goodell’s hand.
Savages in the Trenches
Other than quarterback, an elite edge rusher is the most prized possession in the draft. It won’t be a surprise if three of them go within the first 10 picks, but Will Anderson Jr. will undoubtedly be the first. Lukas Van Ness from Iowa and Tyree Wilson from Texas Tech will also be early-round selections.
Shutdown Corners
Sauce Gardner’s NFL DROY award shows that taking a shutdown corner in the draft can quickly turn a team’s fortune around. There isn’t a cornerback of Sauce’s pedigree this year, although a handful of guys will slide in between the run on offensive linemen halfway through the draft. Devon Witherspoon, Deonte Banks, and Joey Porter Jr. should be the first three off the board.
Hopefully, the top NFL prospects from college football in 2023 will live up to their potential and not find their way on an all-time bust list. Our team at Pregame is offering you a pre-season price for the best CFB betting picks for the upcoming campaign. Connecting at Pregame before you bet is always the right move!