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2023 DRAFT
QB ANTHONY RICHARDSON continues to do everything right in his campaign to climb the draft board. The AP:
Anthony Richardson completed the last of 45 passes, raised his right index finger and started jogging toward midfield.
He got near the Florida Gators’ logo and delivered a roundoff backflip that was as perfect as any throw he made during Florida’s pro day Thursday.
It might have been his last gymnastics move for a while.
Richardson put on another show for NFL coaches, general managers and scouts, this one a follow-up to his record-setting performance at the combine earlier this month.
The 6-foot-4, 244-pound quarterback from Gainesville skipped all the measurement drills on campus — there was little chance he would have improved on his gaudy numbers from Indianapolis — but he did throw at the team’s indoor practice facility. He showed off his arm strength on multiple occasions, overthrowing one receiver who was 70 yards away and launching a deep ball that hit the ceiling.
He felt as if he accomplished his main objective, which was to showcase his accuracy.
“I feel like I delivered the ball pretty well today,” Richardson said. “Some of them weren’t as great as I wanted to be, but I feel like I threw the ball pretty well today.”
Carolina’s Frank Reich, Seattle’s Pete Carroll and Jacksonville’s Doug Pederson were three NFL coaches in attendance. The Panthers and Seahawks sent large contingents, as they also did for pro days involving three other highly rated quarterbacks: C.J. Stroud (Ohio State), Bryce Young (Alabama) and Will Levis (Kentucky).
Richardson met individually with Las Vegas and Carolina on Wednesday, and he has several more teams lined up in the coming days and weeks. His pitch to all of them?
“I’m a workhorse,” said Richardson, who set quarterback records at the combine for the broad jump (10 feet, 9 inches) and the vertical jump (40½ inches). “I’m going to work to be the greatest. I’m going to continue to work. A lot of people would say I have a lot of things to clean up, so I’m definitely going to try to clean those things up.”
Richardson put up modest numbers in his only year as Florida’s starter. He completed 53.8% of his passes for 2,549 yards, with 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also ran for 654 yards and nine scores.
Consistency, most notably on routine throws, was the biggest concern.
“The narrative out there is there’s accuracy issues,” said Will Hewlett, Richardson’s QB coach at 6 Points in Jacksonville. “We were hoping to define what those are and showcase that he can make all the throws at 5 [yards] and under, 10 and under, 15 and under.
“The deep ball is obviously there. And part of it is showing … everybody knows what he can do, but he’s still really fun to watch. He put on a little bit of a show. It’s good for him. It went how we expected it to go.”
The backflip, however, was not part of the script.
After connecting with Florida receiver Justin Shorter on a deep pass, Richardson took off and got in position for a routine he has accomplished countless times during pregame warmups at The Swamp.
He tried it at the combine but over-rotated and failed to stick the landing. This one was perfect, drawing oohs, aahs and plenty of applause.
“I just said, ‘OK, I may have to just stick a backflip,'” he said. “So that was it for the last one, I think. … I feel like I’m getting older, so my body won’t be able to hold up, backflipping, so we’ll see.”
Added Tom Gormely, owner of Tork Sports Performance and in charge of Richardson’s daily workouts: “I think that’s probably the last backflip. He’s a freak athlete. To him, it’s honestly just as safe as one of us doing anything.
“He can do everything. He can flip. He can run. He can jump. He does that on his own sometimes, but he’s smart and he knows what he’s doing.”
– – –
Bruce Feldman of The Athletic puts together a Mock Draft after talking to his college sources:
After spending the last two months talking to college football coaches and NFL sources, I put together my third annual first-round NFL mock draft based on those evaluations and the needs of each team.
The draft evaluation process is an inexact science, but what I strive to do with this project is provide unique insight into each of the players, as the analysis comes directly from the coaches who have scouted, game-planned for and played them. Those sources, granted anonymity to speak freely about the prospects, know exactly what they’re dealing with and what they’ve tried to do to them in real game situations — and how it all turned out.
1. Carolina Panthers (via CHI): C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
It’s been well-documented that new head coach Frank Reich has an extensive history of playing with taller quarterbacks — Philip Rivers, Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck and Carson Wentz among them. This point has come up repeatedly given Bryce Young’s lack of prototypical size — and that there are two very big quarterbacks this year in Anthony Richardson and Will Levis. Stroud has good size as well at 6 feet 3, 215 pounds — and he had no trouble carrying 220-plus in his college career. Reich did push back a bit on that size narrative this month when he noted that he had a very high grade on Russell Wilson in 2012.
Stroud is worthy of the top overall pick. He checks every relevant box. Buckeye coaches have been raving to NFL personnel about his intelligence, according to sources. He is extremely accurate; can make all the throws; has played (and excelled) in many big-game situations; is very football smart; and sees the field well (even if it’s “muddy”).
He also has better athleticism than most are giving him credit for — although he put on an impressive display in the College Football Playoff Peach Bowl semifinal against Georgia, going 23-of-34 for 348 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. He also ran for 34 yards on a defense loaded with more NFL-caliber athletes than any other in the college game.
The Coaching Intel
“He’s so accurate and so calm. I wasn’t sure about the (Buckeyes’) previous guy’s ability to read coverage. But I know C.J. can. He has such a good ability to process, and his anticipation is so good. He runs better than you think. He’s the complete package.”
“He’s the most accurate quarterback I’ve ever played against. It’s like he couldn’t have handed the ball to his receivers any better, and they’re 30, 40 yards downfield. He’s got high-level NFL accuracy and NFL vision. I think he understands the game so well and gets it out in under three seconds. He has very high football IQ.”
“His accuracy downfield is really special. He’s bigger than you think and faster and harder to sack than people realize. I thought he’s better than Trevor Lawrence. He’s such a pure passer and can make all the throws. He does really unique stuff. Watch some of the stuff he did against Michigan. There are two plays in that game, one on a deep go-ball and another on a corner route, where the DB undercuts it. It’s to the wide side of the field, and he just drops it in over the outside shoulder. Then, I’m watching him against Georgia, against those guys, and he was dominant in that game. We did our best to disrupt the timing, and he still got us. We played more aggressively at the line of scrimmage and he made a bunch of big plays. On third-and-11s, in real rough spots, he was able to improvise when it wasn’t there. If we didn’t match a pattern or cover a guy just right, he took advantage every time.”
“I think he has a little different personality. He’s very level, which is good. Blank face. I think he’s got that elite mindset that is always neutral: not too high and not too low.”
“I think he’ll be really good in the pros. He’s very smart. They did a good job with him. He keeps his eyes downfield. I think he’s confident. He understands protections. He’s got poise. He’s been on the big stage. Georgia’s defense is as good a comparison to the NFL as you’ll get, and look what he did to them.”
2. Houston Texans: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
The DeMeco Ryans Era kicks off with another decorated former Alabama star. Young should be a good fit in a Shanahan-style offense that should have a potent running attack that can lean into the play-action game with him moving out of the pocket. Young at 5 feet 10, 195 pounds does not have ideal size. He’s a hard comparison. There’s some Russell Wilson in his game, but Wilson is much thicker, built more like a running back. Young is fleet-footed but not quite as dynamic as Kyler Murray, though he’s still a pretty special talent.
He had a 79-to-12 TD-to-INT ratio playing in the toughest league in college football, winning the Heisman Trophy as a first-year starter. Against ranked opponents, it was 25-to-5. That’s still a strong ratio that also works in the face of the fact that his completion percentage dropped more than 10 percent in games against SEC opponents compared to nonconference games. As one coach noted, some schools might’ve had a lot less success with shorter, less athletic players than top-of-the-line SEC schools did when they tried to heat him up and get in his face. The latter is probably a much more realistic barometer of what Young will have to manage at the next level.
The Coaching Intel
“I am a big believer in Bryce. Been watching him forever. I was really impressed, especially with his intelligence and his decision-making. He’s emotionally mature and really accurate. We heard when Bill O’Brien got there, Bryce ended up teaching him the early stages of their offense. My only concern is that he’s little. At some point one of these gigantic interior guys is gonna land on him and you’ll be scared that he’s not gonna get up. His size scares me because against us, he really didn’t escape. We ran him down three or four times. We’ve got some good athletes, but those are the athletes that you’re trying to run away from at that level.”
“I don’t think people give him enough credit for his feet. He doesn’t look like he’s running real fast, but he is. He’s also so damn accurate on the move. I was really impressed with how well he understands where to go with the ball, if you gave him any tip or tell of what you were doing, pressure-wise. If you do, he’d kill you. In our game, there’s no way he knew it was coming; our safety wasn’t even off the hash. There was nothing to tip him off. Nothing that said throw it out there. We hit pretty hard eight or nine times. I thought he did a really good job of handling that. He slid protection really good. I Zero-ed (blitzed) him a bunch, thinking, f— it. Let’s hit this quarterback as many times as I can. But he did such a great job of seeing it at the snap, especially for being such a young guy in terms of snaps played.”
“If he’s got time, he’s gonna kill you. His arm is good in person but Hendon Hooker has a stronger arm. He’s at his best extending plays in the pocket, and he throws dimes. He also has a very good feel on touch and when to rifle it in there. We changed significantly (scheme-wise) before we played him. We ran Fire Zone and Cover 0 and really heated him up, and I didn’t think he saw it that well when there’re athletic 6-5 dudes running down your throat. I’m not sold on him. I’d take C.J. before him.”
“He shredded us. It was like that old Denny Green line, he was who we thought he was. He completes passes on really good coverage. Incredibly accurate. He never left the pocket. Was impressed by his ability to go through his reads and find receivers down the field.”
3. Arizona Cardinals: Will Anderson, Edge, Alabama
New Arizona head coach Jonathan Gannon’s defense in Philly led the NFL in sacks by a big margin, and he takes over a team that ranked No. 23 in that category. The 6 feet 3 1/2, 253-pound Anderson, a relentless force who tore up college football the last two seasons with 27.5 sacks and 50.5 TFLs, will provide some much-needed juice to their front seven immediately.
The Coaching Intel
“Getting a lot of sacks usually comes down to desire, want-to and grit, and he’s really got that. Here’s what I also really love about him: He’s out there on PAT and field goal block, and he’s going like it’s the last play of his career. His motor is fantastic.”
“I love him. He plays with tremendous speed. Everybody tried to account for him in every way possible this year, so maybe that’s why he didn’t put up quite as big numbers as he did last year. I know their staff really well and they talked about how he’s so coachable, and whether it’s what you see on the film or in the game, you can tell that he took all of that in.”
“He’s elite off the edge, but it was his short-area power and punch that really caught us off guard. We’ve had first-round defensive ends, but the explosion and pop that he had was pretty remarkable. When he punches you, it’s like he’s a nose guard. He’s so rare.”
“He was better than either of the guys (Travon Walker and Aidan Hutchinson) who went 1-2 in last year’s draft. He’s like Derrick Thomas. He has great get-off and length. When we played against Myles Garrett, we said, ‘Let’s run right at him.’ The thing with Will is (that) he’s equally good against the run. He’s hard to chip. You try to put two guys on him, and he does just as good a job of twisting and moving.”
“Relentless. He can wiggle through blocks in the run game and get through double teams. He does a phenomenal job of getting skinny and playing low. I don’t even know who to compare him to. He’s like a better Montez Sweat or a Jeffery Simmons-level type.”
“He’s got that alpha dog in him. He’s that rare type of guy. To me, him playing in the bowl game says everything about him.”
4. Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
Signing Gardner Minshew, one of the NFL’s better backups, should give the Colts some flexibility not to feel like they absolutely have to lean on the 21-year-old. His stats in his first season as Florida’s starter in a new system were modest: 54 percent completion percentage, 17 TDs and nine INTs, plus 654 rushing yards for nine rushing touchdowns. Curiously, he had a 9-to-2 TD-to-INT ratio against ranked opponents and just 8-to-7 against unranked teams; seven of those rushing TDs were against Top 25 competition.
Richardson put on a jaw-dropping show at the NFL Scouting Combine, measuring in at 244 pounds and clocking a 4.43 40 to go with a 40.5-inch vertical jump and a 10-9 broad jump. His cannon of an arm might’ve been even more impressive. The NFL coaches I spoke to think he may be utilized similarly to how Brian Daboll brought along Josh Allen, who also came into the NFL raw and with accuracy concerns. Daboll also did a terrific job managing Daniel Jones with the Giants, moving the pocket a lot, incorporating more QB run game and cutting the field in half, using more play-action and more RPOs so there was less true drop-back game. New Colts coach Shane Steichen has an excellent track record of bringing along young, agile QBs in his work with Justin Herbert in his rookie season and Jalen Hurts.
The Coaching Intel
“Six years ago, this guy would’ve been crushed because of the completion percentage. But Josh Allen is the comp for me, and he had a low completion percentage at a Group of 5 program (56 percent). The completion percentage would scare me, but Richardson has a lot of physical tools and he can be coached to make better decisions. And pro football is changing and becoming more like college football with the running quarterback. And holy s—, this guy is big. Because of how strong his arm is and how big and fast he is, there’s a lot of upside there. I have a good friend on (Florida’s) staff, and he said he’s a terrific human being, just a great kid, and that every intangible is there.”
“He’s an incredible athlete. His decision-making was OK. I think he lacked touch. A lot of his throws were rockets. I think he’s the closest thing we’ve seen to Cam (Newton), and his combine numbers were obviously better. I think that comp is fair. I think his best football is in front of him. I don’t think they asked him to do too much with reads.”
“Talent-wise, there isn’t anybody better. When he’s got his knees bent (mechanics-wise), he’s really good. When he gets straight-legged at the top of his drop, he becomes inaccurate.”
“I like Richardson more than Levis. There have only been three players in my college coaching career that I was hoping did not play that day we faced them: DeSean Jackson, Tavon Austin and Anthony Richardson. He’s that different.”
“Richardson has a cannon and has more raw ability than Levis. Everything you love about Levis, you love about Richardson even more.”
5. Seattle Seahawks (via DEN): Jalen Carter, DL, Georgia
Seattle needs a lot of help on defense and Carter, who has drawn comparisons to Pro Football Hall of Famer Warren Sapp, is the most gifted defensive player in this draft. But in March, Carter pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of racing and reckless driving after a police investigation concluded that he had been racing the car driven by Georgia staffer Chandler LeCroy in a January crash that resulted in the death of LeCroy and passenger Devin Willock, a Bulldogs defensive lineman. No doubt, NFL teams will continue to dig into Carter’s background to determine how comfortable they are with him. On the field, the 6 feet 3, 315-pounder is a dominating presence that many around college football have considered the most talented defender in the past few years on a defense that produced three first-round D-linemen, including the No. 1 overall pick in 2022.
The Coaching Intel
“He’s unblockable when he wants to be. He is unbelievably explosive. I think he’s probably similar to Ndamukong Suh when he was in college. He wasn’t as productive, but Nebraska also didn’t have the D-line rotation Georgia had. I think he has first-pick-of-the-draft talent.”
“Holy s—! (He) jumps off the tape. He is so big but so quick-twitch. He has an uncanny ability to redirect and (he has) really good balance.”
“You could play him all over the line. Someone that gigantic should not be able to move like that.”
“He was the guy that you always noticed on crossover film. People that big should not be that athletic. Twitchy. Violent. Strong. He was the best player (on that 2021 defense). He’s on a different level. All those guys are really, really talented — and then there’s him.”
6. Detroit Lions (via LAR): Tyree Wilson, Edge, Texas Tech
This could be a decision between continuing to reinforce the D-line or grab a top corner. The hunch here is Detroit will love Wilson’s length, frame and effort, and hold off on snagging a corner until later, where there should be more value at the position. The 6 feet 6, 271-pounder with almost 36-inch arms still has plenty of room to fill out. Wilson blossomed over the last two seasons, terrorizing the Big 12 with 27.5 TFLs and 14 sacks.
The Coaching Intel
“He has the size and great length. I thought he played better a year ago. He affected games more then. I left that game, thinking, ‘Man, he’s a dude. He’s really good.’ But I didn’t think lottery pick. He’s just not as consistent, but talent-wise, it’s definitely there.”
“His best ball is ahead of him. He’s made tremendous progress. Has a great motor and length. He is really strong when he goes speed to power. He can walk tackles back. He can’t really play in space that well. He’s a little stiff, and did not look comfortable in space. But he can turn and chase. He makes tons of plays at the point of attack and chases plays down from behind.”
“He’s versatile. I am surprised that people are talking about him as a top-10 pick, but the NFL people know a helluva lot more than me. He is damn ginormous and twitchy. He is a big 4-technique who can rush the passer and plays hard. Off of potential and projection, I guess I can see his upside.”
7. Las Vegas Raiders: Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
Grabbing an offensive tackle here to help Jimmy Garoppolo, especially with the Bears looking for a tackle two spots later, drives this move ahead of going cornerback and taking Devon Witherspoon or Christian Gonzalez. It’s Johnson, at 6 feet 6, 313 pounds with over 36-inch arms, over Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski, who might be more ready now to play closer to his potential. But the Buckeye has much better length (his arms are about 4 inches longer) to play tackle in the NFL, although both have good versatility and footwork.
The Coaching Intel
“He’s a really solid player, very athletic and long. He does a really good job climbing to the second level on their gap plays and also sets the tone on their stretch plays that they run so well. When they decided to run the ball, they did it behind him.”
“I think he kept getting better and better over the year. You can see he got a lot more comfortable being in space and got better at using angles.”
“I know he’s good, but I think he got exposed at times by some elite pass rushers, which he’s gonna see every week in the NFL. I also wondered how physically tough he is.”
8. Atlanta Falcons: Lukas Van Ness, Edge, Iowa
The Falcons really need help rushing the passer. They ranked 31st in the NFL in getting heat on the QB. Anderson’s long gone, though, and the caliber of edge players don’t fit going up this high — although I could see Atlanta being tempted by Van Ness. A trade down where there’s a bunch of strong edge guys at the end of the first round is very possible, but I think Atlanta grabs the 6 feet 5, 272-pound Hawkeye over Witherspoon and Gonzalez. New Falcons defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen has developed a bunch of big-time D-linemen, and Van Ness — 6.5 sacks, 11 TFLs and two blocked kicks despite not starting — should fit in well. He has 34-inch arms, ran a 4.58 40 and had very impressive shuttle times in Indianapolis.
The Coaching Intel
“We were watching tape leading up to our game with them and were like, ‘Why isn’t 91 a starter? What’s going on with him? You’re watching him running down on kickoffs. He’s long, tough, physically. He’s so twitchy you can’t miss on a pass set with this guy. He’s a stud. He’s a technically sound dude, but maybe he was not always in his gap when he should be. He’s a special talent. It was everything we saw on tape. We couldn’t block 91.”
“We didn’t go into the game saying, ‘how do we chip him, or slide to him or maneuver this guy?’ But I did think he was high-end talent. (He) has a lot of power … maybe he’s a little stiff. But he had some speed-to-power and played with good technique.”
“I didn’t like him as much as everyone else seems to. We were able to run right at him. I knew he’d test well. I didn’t think he was that good, comparing him to some of the guys they’ve had there before. I thought (A.J.) Epenesa was a lot better. When you turned the film on, I thought there was a lack of consistency in winning the one-on-one battles.”
9. Chicago Bears (via CAR): Peter Skoronski, OL, Northwestern
The Bears need help up front and have a home-grown stud who should be good at tackle and could fill a need at center or guard. He’s that talented and versatile. He was more impressive athletically at the combine than many anticipated, vertical jumping 34.5 inches and broad jumping 9-7 (both second-best among O-linemen). The one thing he may be missing is ideal length for a tackle, with 32 1/2-inch arms, but he should be a standout interior lineman.
The Coaching Intel
“Really athletic. He’s physical and he’s smart. You knew when you first saw him (three years ago) that he was gonna be special.”
“The kid at NC State (Ickey Ekwonu, the first offensive tackle taken in 2022) wowed you more. But (Skoronski) is just really clean in his technique. He is a really good tackle.”
“Even back in his true freshman year (2020), you saw the athleticism and his ability to move and bend and come out of his hips on contact. Really impressive. Their O-line was really well-coached. They struggle at the skill positions but they were able to keep themselves in games by being consistent up front. He is hard to get a bead on. He’s really clean; his versatility and ability to move people if you want to run the ball is gonna help him. He’s got a lot of position flexibility.”
10. Philadelphia Eagles (via NO): Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
Van Ness might’ve made sense here, but he’s gone. Philly needs more help at safety than corner and it’s too soon to jump for Brian Branch or Sydney Brown. They need some help at running back, and this is one of the most gifted prospects to come along in a few years. The 5 feet 11, 215-pounder who ran 4.46 at the combine with a 1.52 10-yard split is the complete package and was the best thing Texas football had in a long time. He thrived despite playing with shaky QBs and an inexperienced O-line.
The Coaching Intel
“Oh my goodness. That kid is unbelievable. Has great vision. Size. Power. He will block. I can’t say enough great things about him. He should’ve left three years ago. He’s so big and strong. He’s going to be an incredible NFL player.”
“His stop-start is pretty special. It’s something you might see in a smaller back, but he’s got that mass and he can run through you. He is impressive. Really good receiver. He’s a bad matchup for a linebacker.”
“He’s so compact! Has patience and great change of direction and change of speed. When the ball is in hands he is elite. Their O-line looked the part, but they weren’t very good in front of him. They were young and so inexperienced. Movement would hurt ‘em. He is great though.”
“I think he was the best player in college football. Watch him. I get why NFL teams aren’t picking a running back in the top five, but man, he’s physical. He has good long speed and is selfless. They used him to block on the perimeter and pass protection and he’s an elite route-runner. He is elite elite.”
11. Tennessee Titans: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
Maybe Trey Burks can step into the No. 1 receiver role, but this is still a position that needs major work, and the former Buckeye go-to is up to the task. While the 6 feet 1, 196-pound Smith-Njigba’s straight-line speed won’t wow people, his quickness absolutely will. His 20-yard shuttle time of 3.93 seconds was the fastest by a receiver at the combine in 10 years. Last year, the Buckeyes produced two first-round wideouts in Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson, and both were 1,000-plus-yard receivers as rookies. Coaches I’ve spoken to who faced all three of them told me Smith-Njigba is much more physical.
“His change of direction is definitely the best that I’ve had,” Ohio State receivers coach Brian Hartline told The Athletic. “He’s kind of unguardable. He’ll be über-productive in the NFL. I think he will be a guy that leads the league in receptions and receiving yards.”
The Coaching Intel
“You can line him up anywhere. He’s light on his feet. Really strong hands; is strong after the catch. Has great change of direction. He really blocks. He high-points it really well. Just a better all-around player than Olave and Wilson. I thought he was better than Marvin Harrison Jr., too. They’re different. You can put him in the slot and do a lot with him. I don’t think Harrison will be able to run certain routes. You can line (Smith-Njigba) off of the ball in stacks and bunches and really give people problems with pick routes, rub routes and Jerk routes. You see people playing with a three-corner defense with that nickel who is more of a blitzer (and) he will eat them alive.”
“He’s different than the other ones. There’s more quickness to him, more suddenness. He can really make you miss with the stops, re-starts.”
“He is really frickin’ good. When he was a sophomore (in 2021) he looked like a pro.”
12. New York Giants (trade with HOU): Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
In a deal to move up 13 spots, the Giants know there’s a run on top corners coming very soon, and they swap first-rounders with Houston (plus some later picks) to grab Gonzalez before Bill Belichick or Mike Tomlin. The 6 feet 1, 197-pounder, who began his career at Colorado, has ideal size and length. Gonzalez is a Freak athlete who ran a 4.38 at the combine, broad jumped 11-1 and vertical jumped 41 1/2 inches. He might not be quite as instinctive as Witherspoon but he’s much bigger, and in a division with A.J. Brown on the top team, that matters.
The Coaching Intel
“Dude’s a freak. I thought he had good awareness of the ball. He was very natural at everything he did. Was impressed even at Colorado. He just got better and better and took a big jump at Oregon. In his man-technique, he’s very physical, good at squeezing guys to the sideline.”
“He’s talented with his size and movement skills. I thought he lacked some technique. He has a receiver-type body. When the ball is in the air, he transitioned well. He’s gotta lock in and be more technique-based. For him to be that big, you want him to be more physical, but he’s not soft.”
“I was surprised to see that he was so high (in pre-draft media evaluations). I thought he was a late first (type). He’s big enough to play in the slot at nickel and he does have enough coverage skills outside to be intriguing. I wondered about his natural change of direction (COD). How is his short-area quickness? We didn’t have anyone who could really test him. Having that length and that straight-line speed obviously is helpful, but if you don’t have really good short-area quickness when you’re facing Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase, who are so good laterally in and out of change cuts and have more long speed … it’s getting scarier.”
“I thought he was a good player, but we did not think ‘Let’s not go at this guy.’ He played tight, got in bump-and-run, but he wasn’t one of those dominant guys, where we felt like we needed to stay away from him or motion him. He’s not Sauce Gardner. At the line of scrimmage, we thought we could beat him release-wise, and it’s not like we had a great receiving corps. He has the right measurables and the tools, you just were never wowed by the film.”
13. New York Jets: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
If you’re bringing in Aaron Rodgers, you do whatever you can to get him comfortable, and a gifted, athletic giant like the 6 feet 5, 311-pound Jones should help. Jones started all 15 games at left tackle for the national champions and looks and moves like a super-sized power forward — which he was, as a standout high school basketball player. He ran a 4.97 40 at the combine. He has good length with 34 ¾-inch arms, and he is the rare player who measured an inch taller in Indianapolis than he was listed by his college.
The Coaching Intel
“(Tennessee OT Darnell Wright) was more physical, but Jones is a better athlete and more of a pure left tackle. He has that good bounce to handle the speed rushers. He looks like a big-ass basketball player.”
“Watch how effortlessly he moves for a 315-pound guy when he gets out and pulls. It should be illegal to run like that at that size. We thought he got a lot better over the course of the year.”
14. New England Patriots: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
Former Patriots assistant Bret Bielema had arguably the top defensive player in the Big Ten in Witherspoon, a corner who coaches and scouts can’t stop raving about. The 5 feet 11 1/2, 181-pound Florida native plays much bigger than his measurables. That’s why I think some team will pick Gonzalez ahead of Witherspoon, the Big Ten defensive back of the year. Coaches I spoke to at the combine loved him in their meetings, saying his demeanor and personality really shined. The Pats already have promising young corners Marcus Jones and Jack Jones, but Witherspoon is a notch above, and that matters in a division with Stefon Diggs, Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and Garrett Wilson.
The Coaching Intel
“His physicality is just different. Not many cornerbacks are as tough. He’s pretty special. I think he’s just got savvy about him. He really understands the game. He would just smoke people. He made you really leery of throwing the flats. I’m glad he’s gone!”
“He has great football IQ. He’s really physical at the line of scrimmage; really fits the run; loves to throw his body around. We put an ‘X’ (on our scouting report) to go away from him. We were scared to attack him.”
“The media talked a lot about Joey Porter Jr. and I get why, because he’s super long. They talked a lot about the kid at Iowa (Riley Moss), but this guy was by far the best corner in our league. His instincts are rare. His ability to trigger is special.”
15. Green Bay Packers: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
If the Pack want to give Jordan Love as much chance as possible to hit the ground running, upgrading at tight end will go a long way. The hunch here is they go for Mayer, at 6 feet 4 1/2, 249 pounds, over Utah’s Dalton Kincaid, because Mayer is the more complete player. He gets picked over Georgia’s freaky Darnell Washington because he’s more polished and consistent. Mayer caught 67 passes for 809 yards and nine TDs for an Irish team lacking in playmakers outside and with underwhelming QB play. Mayer isn’t as dynamic as Kincaid athletically, but he ran a solid 4.7 40.
The Coaching Intel
“We came up with a coverage to double him. Their QB would look for him specifically and (Mayer) would still beat us. I think he’s a real guy. He is an elite receiving tight end.”
“He’s not elite at any one thing but he’s really, really good at all of it. Actually, I take that back — his ball skills are elite. He is intelligent and a tough human being. He’s everything that you’re looking for. Even though he doesn’t run away from people, he understands how to use his body, understands spacing. He just knows how to get open.”
“On tape, he reminded me of (Georgia tight end) Brock Bowers. He has great ball skills, but also is physical in the run game. He plays faster than he times and is really fluid.”
“He’s a unique matchup. There’re quality tight ends and you kinda put them in the wide receiver category. The difference with him was he does everything, and does everything well. He’s a presence when he’s in-line (as a blocker). You can’t have a linebacker responsible for him, and the struggle is in zones, that linebacker just doesn’t have to try and cover him, he also has to tackle him. He’s a matchup issue.”
16. Washington Commanders: Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
Does Washington feel tempted to jump on a QB (Hooker over Levis) here? I think the Commanders opt to see how Sam Howell does, and if he doesn’t convince them in 2023, perhaps they make a huge move up to try and bring Caleb Williams home to D.C. They do need more help at corner and have two really good options here in Maryland’s Deonte Banks and Porter. I think they go for the longer option in the 6 feet 2 1/2, 193-pound Porter. The son of the former NFL star of the same name, Porter ran 4.46 in the 40 and broad jumped 10-9; his arms measured in at an eye-popping 34 inches. Rare. There has been talk about Porter being too handsy, and that was an issue with him drawing penalties in 2021, but he cleaned that up and only was flagged once in the Nittany Lions’ final 12 games.
The Coaching Intel
“The length is so intimidating. You don’t find guys that can run like he can with that kind of length. He eliminated that side of the ball for us.”
“He’s very physical and has impressive change of direction. Someone tried to run a pivot (route) on him on fourth-and-2. His ability to flip his hips for a guy that long was a sight to see.”
“He is extremely athletic, has great COD and good movement skills. But on tape, he sometimes gets himself out of position, getting caught inside when he should be outside, or he’ll misfit something on a run play.”
17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Nolan Smith, Edge, Georgia
This is a best available defender, and they go for Smith over Clemson’s Myles Murphy, a bigger edge with an excellent first step, but not quite as dynamic as Smith, who put on a spectacular show at the combine. The 6 feet 2, 238-pound Smith is often compared to Eagles star Haason Reddick. He ran a 4.39 40 with a 1.52 10-yard split to go with a 41 1/2-inch vertical and a 10-8 broad jump. Smith was a force for Georgia in 2021, notching 56 tackles, 9.5 TFLs and three forced fumbles on an absolutely stacked defense. He was on his way to another big season in 2022 but tore his pectoral in Week 8.
The Coaching Intel
“So versatile. You can drop him in coverage and he will get after the quarterback because he’s so explosive and slippery, but what I think is special for a smaller guy is he will absolutely blow you up in the run game. He can set the edge on counters and is so violent at the point of attack.”
“He’s really good with his hands and plays bigger than his size. He’s tough and he’s faster than most wideouts, but I wonder how well he’ll hold up in the NFL.”
“I think Nolan is really, really athletic. But I don’t know if the athleticism translates to the game tape. I do think he is a really good football player. He is talented. Explosive, twitchy. You felt like if you could get your hands on him, you could control him. I worry he’s gonna get swallowed up by those big tackles.”
18. Detroit Lions: Calijah Kancey, DT, Pitt
The Lions could upgrade at tight end with Kincaid or at corner with Banks, but I don’t think they can pass on Kancey. Lions general manager Brad Holmes spent almost two decades with the Rams and saw firsthand what a dominating presence Aaron Donald has been, and Kancey might be the closest thing to him to come along in a while. That’s not to say that Kancey is going to turn into a first-ballot Hall of Famer like Donald, but he does have some special traits.
He is so explosive, with elite get-off, and his ability to bend and turn a corner is special. The 6 feet 1, 281-pound Kancey does not have the same kind of power or length that Donald has. His arms, 30 5/8, measured 2 inches shorter. But he did run faster than the Pitt great, clocking a 4.67 at the combine, better than any DT has run, ahead of Donald’s 4.68 nine years ago. Kancey’s 1.64 10-yard split was just a shade behind Donald’s 1.63. His 27.5 TFLs and 14.5 sacks over the last two seasons despite missing a few games with a shoulder injury reflects some of the impact he made on what was a terrific Pitt D-line.
The Coaching Intel
“Kancey is so quick. His get-off is elite. I don’t really even know how to say it. It’s the way he contorts his body. He does such a good job of dipping under blocks. He’s slippery now. He’s a really intelligent football player. You can tell he does a good job of studying what you do.”
“They always have dudes there (at Pitt). But this one is different. He’s physically dominant and just so disruptive. I wondered how fast he really was, but I’m not surprised that he ran in the 4.6s. He’s like a big running back with that burst and those movement skills.”
“He’s so twitchy and relentless. He jumped off the tape every single time we watched them. He’s everywhere.”
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
Whether Baker Mayfield or Kyle Trask can prove to be the answer at QB in the post-Tom Brady era, the Bucs need to upgrade at receiver. While the idea of picking an OT here might be tempting, Flowers is too good to pass up. I could see there being some consideration here for USC’s Jordan Addison, but the hunch is that Flowers is the most complete prospect, although both are undersized. The 5 feet 9, 182-pound Flowers, who only has 29 1/4-inch arms but does have 4.42 speed and a 10-7 broad jump, proved to be a one-man wrecking crew for BC despite not having many offensive pieces around him in 2022. He caught 56 passes for 892 yards and nine TDs despite being the main focus of rival defenses.
The Coaching Intel
“He’s a dude. There were times where we had him doubled and he still caught a touchdown pass on us. What do you do? He’s electric and has really good ball skills. If you don’t double him, he’s gonna double-move the s— out of you. He’s a strong little wide receiver from a blocking standpoint as well as after the catch. We recruited him and we thought he was a great human being, always smiling. Loved that kid.”
“He was awesome. Last year, their quarterback (Phil Jurkovec) was hurt; their O-line wasn’t a typical BC offensive line, and he almost single-handedly beat teams. He plays really hard. He can play slot or outside. He’s a great route-runner, really good after the catch. I think he’s a tough kid, too. Zay became really hard to double. They motioned him, would put him in the backfield, put him in the No. 1 spot, the No. 2 spot. I thought the BC OC (John McNulty) did a great job with him last year.”
20. Tennessee Titans (trade with SEA): Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
Tennessee, seeing the Vikings in position to draft a QB, trade their second- and third-round picks to move into this spot to get Ryan Tannehill’s heir apparent. Tannehill, who turns 35 this summer, battled injuries last year and will be in the last year of his deal. That would give the Titans some time to let Levis get acclimated. The former Penn State QB transferred to Kentucky after spring ball in 2021. The 6 feet 4, 229-pound Levis was impressive despite not having much prep time with his new teammates or a new system, pairing with OC Liam Coen. Levis threw 24 TDs and ran for nine more. But last year, with Coen in the NFL, Levis and the new scheme under Rich Scangarello fizzled. Levis was banged up and the Wildcats’ O-line lost a lot of talent to the NFL. Levis has intriguing skills but is still very raw. A season in the wings behind Tannehill might be ideal.
The Coaching Intel
“He’s a big-ass QB who can run and he’s got one of the strongest arms I’ve ever seen. He can throw the piss out of it. Accuracy is a little bit off. I didn’t think he read coverages that well post-snap. He didn’t handle it that well. I thought we could mix some coverages on him. The OC last year (Scangarello) was so predictable in what he was doing. That hurt them.”
“He was impressive two years ago. Last year, their O-line stunk and the system wasn’t good. They were like this smorgasbord of stuff and didn’t have any identity. I thought he was seeing ghosts. Based off of two years ago, I think he can be a really good player, a Josh Allen type. I do think he can do it. He’s big and strong and was accurate as a junior. He played with more touch. I don’t think he’ll be able to create like Richardson in the pros. I think he’s got to be protected. Whenever he was under duress, he started seeing ghosts and making poor decisions.”
*Miami Dolphins: pick forfeited*
21. Los Angeles Chargers: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
New OC Kellen Moore comes to Southern California with a strong background in working in a lot of 12 (one RB, two tight ends) and 13 (one RB, three tight ends) personnel sets from his days running the Cowboys offense. Moore already has a lot of firepower for budding superstar Justin Herbert, but the 6 feet 4, 246-pound Kincaid, a former high school basketball star who began his college career at non-scholarship University of San Diego, provides an additional dimension to stress defenses. He blossomed at the FCS level before moving on to Utah, where he caught 70 passes for 890 yards and eight TDs.
The Coaching Intel
“I thought (Utah tight end Brant Kuithe) was so good because he could really run and they did so much with him, but it turned out this kid was even better. He moves like he’s 205, not 245, and he’s got excellent ball skills. You can see the basketball background coming through. He was a matchup nightmare.”
“He had a good feel for getting open in space. (Utah OC Andy) Ludwig uses the position as well as anybody in college football, whether he lines them up off the ball in the backfield or part of a bunch formation, he was a problem.”
“Notice his athleticism more than (Michael Mayer) and he’s more fluid as a route runner. Very difficult to get on the ground. What they did with him was different. You don’t notice him as much in the run game.”
“He has really good burst and suddenness. I think he was kind of the Pac-12’s Brock Bowers, but (Kincaid) isn’t much of a blocker.”
22. Baltimore Ravens: Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
This is a deep cornerback class and Baltimore picks up a former local star from the Terps in Banks, a 6 feet, 197-pounder who dazzled at the combine, running a 4.35 40 with a 1.49 10-yard split to go with a 42-inch vertical and an 11-4 broad jump. Coaches say that kind of elite explosiveness and athleticism showed up on his film this year, where he made 38 tackles and broke up eight passes. He was still pretty raw at Maryland and really hadn’t reached a point where he was playing off of instincts. The Terps liked to play him into the boundary and leave him on an island and he was matched up a lot last fall with Marvin Harrison Jr. and held up well.
The Coaching Intel
“He’s very heavy-handed and has a knack for positioning his body and using his frame. Has good length and great explosiveness. He puts hands on guys at the line of scrimmage and will set the tone.”
“He’s a little stiff-hipped, but he’s really physical and competes hard. He’s not instinctive like (Witherspoon), but he’s bigger and will battle. He’s got something to him.”
23. Minnesota Vikings: Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee
Minnesota needs help in the secondary, but this is such a deep draft at corner, and the Vikings could have a hard time passing up the player who eventually takes over for Kirk Cousins. The 6 feet 3, 217-pound Hooker is coming off of an ACL injury that shortened his fantastic senior season for the Vols. He threw for almost 3,000 yards and had a 27-to-2 TD-to-INT ratio; he also ran for 430 yards and five TDs. In his last two seasons with the Vols that TD-to-INT number was 58-to-5. The Vikings don’t need to play him now, so he can keep healing and have time to develop in Kevin O’Connell’s system. I’m told that Hooker shined in NFL QB interviews with coaches at the combine, displaying a lot of maturity and an excellent grasp of not only the Vols offense but also his former offense at Virginia Tech, where he started his career. I wouldn’t be shocked if Hooker gets picked higher than Levis, as some NFL coaches I talked to liked his game more than the Kentucky QB’s.
The Coaching Intel
“He was much better live and on tape than I thought he was gonna be. At first, it was like, ‘Uh, this guy’s alright,’ but then you keep watching and it’s, ‘Uh, my God. This guy has grown leaps and bounds in a year.’ He’s got a cannon. When you look at that Tennessee system, it’s clear that it is a half-field read, where a lot of times half of the receivers aren’t running routes. I think he will have a learning curve making the leap.”
“I think he’s super underrated. He played in two significantly different offenses. I was super impressed with him both in our game and on tape. I know in that offense he’s throwing into space and reading the leverage of the defender, where they spread you out so much more horizontally in one-on-one situations, so he probably only saw Quarters (coverage) and Man. He’s not reading, ‘Are they rolling strong, rolling weak, reading Cover 2,’ but he would sit in the pocket and hang tough. He can make all throws, can throw with touch. He might not run straight-line as fast as Levis, but I think he’s able to escape and create better and has much better pocket presence.”
“Big Hendon fan. He was the smartest of the three QBs we saw (Richardson, Levis and Hooker). I like his decision-making and he has a really quick release. That system really fit him. I thought he was a Donovan McNabb-type. Obviously, he got that ACL (injury). I think he’s really underrated. I think Hendon’s arm might be better than Levis’.”
24. Jacksonville Jaguars: Myles Murphy, Edge, Clemson
The Jags are finally on the right track and are working to upgrade their defense by adding a playmaker. The No. 3 talent on the 2022 Freaks List, the 6 feet 5, 268-pounder had 25 TFLs and 13.5 sacks the last two seasons combined. He tweaked his hamstring right before the combine and opted not to run there or at Clemson’s Pro Day a few weeks later. He measured in with 33 3/4-inch arms, good for an edge. Last offseason he vertical jumped 35 inches, broad jumped 10 feet and ran the 40 in the high 4.5s, according to Clemson sources.
The Coaching Intel
“He is a freak, as advertised. He has a really good first step and a good motor.”
“He’s really good, but he’s not like Bradley Chubb, where we felt like we had to change our game plan because of him. The kid at Florida State (Jared Verse, who is staying for 2023) is more twitchy and elusive. Murphy is more of a power, hold the C-gap guy.”
“I think he’s gonna be a solid pro. He’s not as twitchy as Anderson, but he has NFL length and he’s smart. He can anticipate and he understands blocking schemes. He’s been well-coached.”
25. Houston Texans (from NYG): Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
This is a big, more explosive target than Young had in Tuscaloosa in 2022. The 6 feet 3, 208-pound Johnston didn’t run the 40 in Indianapolis but displayed his freakish athleticism by vertical jumping 40 1/2 inches and broad jumping 11-2. He had a big 2022, helping the Horned Frogs make it all the way to the national title game, catching 60 passes for 1,069 yards and six touchdowns despite battling a naggy ankle injury in the second half of the season.
The Coaching Intel
“He’s big and he can really take the top off the defense. Long strider with straight-line speed. He doesn’t necessarily get out his breaks that well.”
“He’ll jump over guys to get it, but he has inconsistent hands.”
“A Calvin Johnson type of the Big 12, so big, so much length, and so fast. What are you supposed to do with him? Press him, you better have someone over the top if they don’t get him.”
“I thought he was OK. Our DBs are really soft and don’t like challenging wide receivers. He definitely has playmaking abilities, but he’s not polished.”
“He’s a red-zone threat. People were afraid to press him up. His unlocking at the next level is how well he separates at the top of routes. Can he run the 18-yard comebacks? I don’t really know.”
26. Dallas Cowboys: Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
This is a Texas-sized tight end at 6 feet 7, 264 with 34 3/8-inch arms and 11-inch hands. But it’s how well he moves that makes him so hard for the Cowboys to pass up. To run a 4.64 40 at that size and a 4.08 20-yard shuttle time is rare. A 10-2 broad jump also underscores that unique athleticism. The crazy part was his leaping, twisting, one-handed grab along the sidelines at the combine during routes on air might’ve been the most impressive thing he did there. At Georgia, Washington wasn’t the headliner of the tight ends — that’s Brock Bowers, who isn’t draft-eligible until 2024. Washington still caught 28 passes for 454 yards and two TDs last season and was a dominant blocker and tone-setter.
The Coaching Intel
“That guy is huge. He’s physical. Can really run and catch. I think that dude is great.”
“He is impressive. Just how he improved his body since he was there is really impressive. Such a good blocker.”
“Our safety tried to hit him and ended up getting knocked out on the play.”
27. Buffalo Bills: Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan
The Bills could help their O-line by adding Oklahoma’s Anton Harrison or give Josh Allen another playmaker by adding speedy Tennessee WR Jalin Hyatt, but instead they shore up the middle of their defense (all of Buffalo’s interior guys will be free agents after this season) with Smith, a 6 feet 3, 323-pound powerhouse who anchored the Michigan defense. Smith (48 tackles in 2022) didn’t run at the combine, but folks inside the Michigan program gush about his strength and agility. Last offseason, Smith did 22 reps on the bench press, repping 325 pounds (not 225). He also clocked a 6.95 second 3-cone time that would’ve been by far the fastest among defensive tackles in Indianapolis last year. One NFL coach I spoke with compared him to former Washington first-rounder Daron Payne, who made his first Pro Bowl in 2022. Smith’s vertical was a bit better than Payne’s, and the broad jump was the same, despite weighing almost 10 pounds more.
The Coaching Intel
“What stood out was that he has such a strong base and he uses his hands well. He was a problem for us. He’s fundamentally sound. Took his game to another level (in 2022). He’s just so hard to root out of there and so powerful.”
“I thought he did what they asked him to do pretty well.”
28. Cincinnati Bengals: Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
Getting an edge here might make some sense, as could another physical corner like Banks, but the Bengals need more physical football players and Wright is as rough as they come in this crop of O-linemen. The 6 feet 5, 333-pounder is a rugged right tackle with 33 ¾-inch arms who has underrated movement skills, clocking a 5.01 40, and was much improved in 2022.
The Coaching Intel
“He was the best offensive tackle we played. I think he’s a stud. He’s what you draw up for a right tackle. He mauled our guys and he did that to everyone. He is a mauler but he moves his feet better than you think and he is strong as hell.”
“He’s always been this massive dude, but he was a much different player (in 2022) and one of the most improved guys in the league. He’s not a great athlete, but he cleaned up his footwork, had better body control and was more patient. Watch him on film against Anderson this year. He did about as well as anyone did on him.”
29. New Orleans Saints (via SF): Jordan Addison, WR, USC
New Orleans could use help on the defensive line and at tight end, but new QB David Carr could also use more firepower, so the Saints grab the 2021 Biletnikoff Award winner, a superb route runner with terrific ball skills who plays much faster than he times. His measurables aren’t great, and like Young, there will be some concerns about his durability since he measured in at 5 feet 11, 173 pounds and only clocked a 4.49 40 with a modest 34-inch vertical. In three college seasons, he caught 219 passes for more than 3,100 yards and 29 TDs. At Pitt, he also proved to be a dangerous returner.
The Coaching Intel
“His route-running was crisp. I think he’s a heady guy who really knows how to read coverage.”
“I really liked him. He’s really, really smooth, but he is very thin. He has really good change of direction, but I do think he lacks play strength.”
“He is good. I think (former Pitt OC Mark) Whipple did a great job of highlighting him (in 2021) and Addison had Kenny Pickett throwing to him. More than anything, he scared us so much as a returner. He changed your whole punt protection.”
“He runs good routes and gets really good separation. I think the Air Raid (offense at USC) kind of hurt him. It’s a different route tree, where you’re really throwing the ball in space. He is frail, so light. I think if you get in his face and not let him get a free release, he will have some problems. He’s more about acceleration and stepping on your toes and good separation at the top of route. I don’t think he’ll be a No. 1 wide receiver in the NFL. Can he take the pounding? I think he needs to work on his body.”
30. Philadelphia Eagles: Keion White, Edge, Georgia Tech
Philly can infuse some younger legs into a loaded D-line room and give the 6 feet 5, 285-pounder some good seasoning from being around this group. White arrived at Old Dominion as an unheralded tight end recruit and broke out in 2019 after switching to defense, piling up 19 TFLs. The program was sidelined for 2020 by COVID-19 restrictions and he later transferred to Tech, where he battled injury before putting up a strong 2022, notching 14 TFLs and 7.5 sacks. He didn’t run in Indianapolis, but flashed his athleticism by vertical jumping 34 inches, broad jumping 9-9 and bench pressing 225 30 times. At his pro day, he ran a 4.70 40. His coaches at Tech loved how focused and serious he was about his game and think he’s only scratching the surface of what he can become.
The Coaching Intel
“He’s so stout, but he can really bend and run.”
“He was the toughest matchup for us of all the ACC D-linemen we played. He does a great job of block destruction and detaching. He’s a big one-on-one problem. We couldn’t handle him.”
“He’s still very raw fundamentally, but makes a lot of plays because he’s so explosive. He has some strong mitts, and he plays really hard. That could take him a long way.”
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Will McDonald, Edge, Iowa State
A fixture on the Freaks List for most of his college career, McDonald, who ranked No. 5 in 2022, had 27 sacks, 35 TFLs and eight forced fumbles the last three years, while also doing a lot of the dirty work for the Cyclones defense. He broad jumped 11 feet at the combine after measuring in at 6 feet 4, 239 pounds with almost 35-inch arms. At his pro day, McDonald ran the 40 in the low 4.6s and, according to NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah, ran a blazing 4.09 shuttle and 6.79 3-cone time, which would’ve been the fifth-fastest of any player in Indianapolis; the shuttle time would’ve been fourth-best.
The Coaching Intel
“He really affected the game. The way he turns the corner is incredible. He’s so loose and has good pass rush moves. I think he just played so hard. He doesn’t have the same traits, but he was a more productive player than (Tyree) Wilson. They asked him to do some things you don’t usually see from guys that size — playing in the B-gap or being a 4i. They asked him to do a lot for them. He played the run way better this year than a year ago. Every year we played him he got better.”
“He’s got a slot receiver’s flexibility, but when he looks in the mirror he thinks he sees a 3-technique. I really respected that kid. If he’s 15 pounds heavier, he’s probably a top-5 pick.”
“He’s explosive and was the toughest defender in our league, and that scheme’s so hard to deal with because they’d move all over. But for being not that big, he was still physical enough to take on a double team.”
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