The Daily Briefing Tuesday, May 31, 2022

AROUND THE NFL

ARIZONA

CB JEFF GLADNEY, once a first round pick who was trying to re-start his career after legal issues, is dead at age 25.  Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:

Cardinals cornerback Jeff Gladney has died at the age of 25.

News of Gladney’s death was first made public by Eagles wide receiver Jalen Reagor, who played with Gladney at TCU.

“Lost my Brother, my best friend, my right hand man ain’t too much more I can take man damn,” Reagor wrote on Twitter. “R.I.P Jeff Gladney, brother watch over me please.”

Gladney’s agent Brian Overstreet told the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram that Gladney was killed in a car accident early Monday morning.

“We are asking prayers for the family and privacy at this most difficult time,” Overstreet said.

Gladney was a 2020 first-round draft pick of the Vikings who started every game but one in his rookie year. He was released before the 2021 season following an assault charge and didn’t play at all last year, but he was found not guilty this offseason and then signed with the Cardinals.

The accident was in the wee hours in Dallas, involved a passenger fatality and a high rate of speed.

Two people are dead after an early morning crash on the service road of the Woodall Rogers Freeway in Dallas.

Police say it was just before 2:30 a.m. when deputies were sent to the westbound lanes of Woodall Rogers, near Allen Street. Dispatchers had received reports of a major accident involving an overturned vehicle in the grassy area.

Once at the scene deputies found two vehicles wrecked and two people dead. Officials later confirmed that it was a male and a female in one of the cars that died in the accident.

Investigators say their preliminary information indicates one vehicle was speeding and clipped the second vehicle from behind. The speeding vehicle lost control and hit the pier beam of the Woodall Rogers Freeway. The second vehicle was also occupied by two people but neither was seriously injured.

SAN FRANCISCO

Peter King on QB TREY LANCE, perhaps after a conversation with someone with the 49ers:

The one thing that would alarm me a bit about San Francisco handing the starting quarterback job to Trey Lance is his lack of experience. It also would keep me from making any grandiose judgments about Lance 13 months after he was drafted by the 49ers.

In the four football seasons since enrolling at North Dakota State in 2018—three in college, one in San Francisco—Lance has thrown 389 passes in games. That’s an average of 97 passes a year.

You can look it up: 1, 287 and 30 attempts in his three college seasons, 71 in his his rookie NFL season.

Lance is 22 years old. Not to get all philosophical here, but sometimes, covering football, we cannibalize young players. We want quarterbacks drafted high to morph into Justin Herbert by mid-year-one. Well, Herbert threw 1,273 passes at the highest level of college football. Lance threw 318 in FBS competition, a step down from Herbert’s level. Lance has thrown 101 passes, total, in his age 20 and 21 years as a quarterback. And now a team that was in the NFL Final Four last year is likely to hand him the ball to start opening day. Likely, but not certain. A little perspective would be nice over the next three months, as Lance is put under the OTA/training-camp microscope.

I would be a little more patient with Lance than the din I hear and read out there.

LOS ANGELES RAMS

We’re not sure whether DT AARON DONALD will play again, but whatever he is doing going forward – it will be alongside Kanye West.  Cody Benjamin of CBSSports.com:

Rams star Aaron Donald is skipping his team’s organized team activities (OTAs) while seeking a raise. Now the future Hall of Fame defensive tacke has an entirely new agency behind him. Amid his holdout from voluntary workouts, Donald told the “I Am Athlete” podcast this week that he’s signed with Donda Sports, the new endeavor from celebrity rapper and businessman Kanye West.

Donald framed his new partnership as mostly an off-field opportunity, crediting his wife, Erica, for managing his marketing and being part of the deal. He emphasized that Donda Sports, which was founded to provide “holistic support to athletes during and beyond their sports career,” will provide a wide range of services.

“[Hearing] the whole spectrum of everything that was going on, what they were going to be bringing, the family atmosphere that they got,” Donald explained, “for me, it was a no-brainer. I think it’s a hell of an opportunity to open up a lot of different doors and a lot of different things outside of football that I wanna be involved in. … To be a part of that, and be one of the first athletes to be a part of that, it’s pretty dope.”

Donda Sports’ first athlete partnership was announced in February, when former Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown took on a leadership role for the brand. Brown, it should be noted, just recently hinted that his playing career is over. It may or may not be a coincidence that Donald hinted at his own retirement prior to the Rams’ Super Bowl win in February, and that the perennial Pro Bowler is reportedly still open to hanging up the cleats if Los Angeles doesn’t meet his contract demands ahead of 2022.

KANSAS CITY

QB PATRICK MAHOMES will take all of the passes he threw to WR TYREEK HILL and spread them around.  Adam Teicher of ESPN.com:

After a couple of days of offseason practice, sessions that saw him feed the ball to many different receivers, Patrick Mahomes was confident in predicting a different type of offense for the Kansas City Chiefs.

“That’s what you’re going to see with this offense this year,” Mahomes said Thursday. “It’s going to be everybody. It’s not all going to be one guy. Obviously [Travis Kelce] is still going to get a lot of completions, a lot of yards but the whole receiving room is going to have big days and that can be something we use to our advantage.”

“It’s a very deep receiving room. It’s hard to tell which guys are going to make it because we’ve got so many good receivers. That’s what you want. You want that competition. You want guys competing every single day to make the roster because they’re going to help us in the end.”

Mahomes went to either Kelce or wide receiver Tyreek Hill for 45% of his completions and 50% of his yards and touchdowns in his four years as a starter. But the Chiefs overhauled their receiving group this year, trading Hill to the Miami Dolphins, signing free agents JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, drafting Skyy Moore in the second round and signing Justyn Ross as an undrafted free agent.

Mahomes assembled many of his receiving teammates in Texas for workouts and throwing sessions. Most Chiefs receivers attended the four weeks of work.

“I think we got some chemistry in … working out with them, throwing with them, we’d go to lunch, we’d go to dinner, stuff like that,” Mahomes said. “You kind of build chemistry.

LAS VEGAS

Peter King on the workout given to QB Colin Kaepernick by the Raiders:

The Raiders study Colin Kaepernick. It’s been five years and five months since Kaepernick played a football game—and that long since he’s even been in regular practice sessions. So the Raiders working him out shouldn’t be a sign that they plan to sign him and have him compete with current Raiders backup quarterbacks Nick Mullens and Jarrett Stidham to backstop Derek Carr. ESPN reported a signing wasn’t imminent.

Did you hear what Raiders coach Josh McDaniels said Thursday when asked about the Kaepernick workout? He said GM Dave Ziegler and his staff “have worked out tons of guys this spring.”

Let me tell you a story from my years covering the Giants in the eighties. Coach Bill Parcells, at games, used to carry in his back pocket what he called his “Ready List,” a list with two or three prime unsigned players at each position. That way, if the Giants had an injury during a game, Parcells could check the Ready List and direct pro scout Tim Rooney to get Player X to the Giants’ facility so he could be signed by the next day. Parcells was famous for working out players to see if they’d be a fit in a time of need, and continually update the list as the year went on.

When I heard McDaniels say the Raiders had worked out a ton of guys, I thought of the Ready List, and thought of the ton of guys McDaniels and Ziegler saw Bill Belichick direct the Patriots to work out when they worked under Belichick. That’s the way smart NFL people do business. In fact, I heard last week the Raiders have worked out two kickers this month, even though Las Vegas employs one of the best kickers in football, Daniel Carlson. Be ready for emergencies, always.

My guess is McDaniels and Ziegler have that Ready List, for sure, and the workout of Kaepernick was to see where he might fall on that list in case the Raiders get an injury at quarterback. Or in case another team gets a quarterback hurt and trades for Mullens, leaving the Raiders with a roster spot to be filled by a quarterback.

Regarding Kaepernick, it’s encouraging that he’s in great shape and still can throw bullets, per several reports from the workout. At the time of his end in football, he was a 59-percent passer over his last two seasons, so accuracy is likely still an issue—that plus the fact that he hasn’t played in five-and-a-half years. But I’d hope the fact that this once-electric player had a tryout in Las Vegas and the world did not melt in response to it might mean other teams would be willing to bring him in for a look.

As Kaepernick said this spring on the “I Am Athlete” podcast, much of his message that was so controversial six years ago is now written in end zones and on uniforms in the NFL: End Racism, among other slogans. The Black national anthem is played before some games. As for the kneeling during the anthem, some teams would likely take issue with that. But it’s interesting that there were no protests about in Las Vegas, no angry letters to the editor (as of Sunday, at least) of the Las Vegas Review Journal. Perhaps that will make teams more willing to bring in Kaepernick for workouts this season.

His age? Well, he’s 13 months older than Russell Wilson, who has said he plans/hopes to play at least 10 more years. The age, in this day, should not be much of a factor, especially when the average age of the last two Super Bowl-winning QBs and the last two MVP winners is 38.

Kaepernick has to be looking at the sands of hourglass on his career and thinking, If not now, when? This is an important year for his football future, if he is to have one. I have doubts his landing spot will be Vegas, but time will tell.

CLEVELAND

The Browns have tied up TE DAVID NJOKU with a big deal.  Jake Trotter of ESPN.com:

The Cleveland Browns have agreed to terms on a new four-year, $56.75 million deal with tight end David Njoku that includes $28 million guaranteed, his agent confirmed Friday.

Agent Malki Kawa confirmed the deal on social media, while Njoku thanked the Browns organization in a post to Instagram.

The Browns placed the franchise tag on Njoku earlier this offseason, and he had until July 15 to agree to a long-term contract. Had they not reached a deal, Njoku would’ve played the 2022 season on the franchise tender, which is worth $10.931 million, per a memo previously obtained by ESPN.

Njoku, 25, has totaled 148 receptions in five seasons with the Browns, including 36 catches for 475 yards and four touchdowns last season. His new deal will place him among the league’s top five highest-paid tight ends.

His best season came during quarterback Baker Mayfield’s rookie year in 2018, when he hauled in a career-best 56 catches for 639 yards. After being targeted 88 times that year, Njoku’s targets decreased over the past three seasons.

The Browns, however, are banking that Njoku will thrive moving forward with new quarterback Deshaun Watson.

The Browns are now the only team in the NFL that have a quarterback (Watson), running back (Nick Chubb), wide receiver (Amari Cooper), and tight end (Njoku) that all rank in the top seven at their position in guaranteed money.

According to ESPN Stats & Information research, Njoku set career highs last season in yards per target and yards after catch per reception, showcasing the physical skills that made him the 29th overall pick in the 2017 draft.

Njoku ranked fourth in the league among tight ends in yards per target (9.0 yards) and tied for first in yards after the catch per target (6.7 yards).

– – –

Peter King’s take on where the case of QB DESHAUN WATSON stands after the HBO interview by two of his many accusers:

As for what’s next: This is the 15th month of the league’s investigation into the Watson story. Roger Goodell said last week the investigation is “nearing the end,” and it’s hard to imagine what else that’s possible to uncover is still out there to be uncovered. When the investigation is complete, the NFL will hand the findings and possibly a suggested sanction to a former U.S. District Court judge, Sue Robinson. The ex-judge will rule if Watson should face discipline and what the punishment should be for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. Robinson is one of the impartial referees the league and union agreed would impose discipline in cases of possible suspensions.

If there is discipline imposed, Watson would have the right to appeal. That’s when Goodell would come in—he has the final call on whether to reduce whatever sanction Robinson imposed.

As Mike Florio has postulated, it will be interesting to see if the two-year ban MLB imposed on Trevor Bauer for violating the league’s domestic-violence and sexual-assault policy comes into play with Watson. And it will be interesting to see if the league allows Watson to play until the results of the civil cases are final. That seems more and more unlikely, but the league holds a lot of power in determining when or if Watson would be banned, and if so, for how long.

In a football sense, the timing of the suspension is important, unless it’s for most or all of the season. If it’s for, say, six games, the Browns would probably want to get it served early. The Browns’ early schedule is hugely soft for the first month (at Carolina, Jets and Steelers at home, at Atlanta … followed by Chargers and Patriots at home). Beginning with game seven, Cleveland has Baltimore, Cincinnati, Miami, Buffalo and Tampa Bay.

If I’m the Browns, I’d breathe a big sigh of relief if the suspension is six weeks. We’ll see.

The above could be a big, big reason why QB BAKER MAYFIELD is still a Brown.

JACKSONVILLE

Nate Tice of The Athletic offers thoughts on how QB TREVOR LAWRENCE can improve in season two:

Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

The deserving No. 1 pick finished at or near the bottom in essentially every all-encompassing metric for quarterbacks, traditional or advanced. His touchdown rate (2 percent) ranked last, too. Even Lawrence’s completion rate of 59.6 percent sat below the Mendoza line of 60 percent.

But the Jaguars selecting No. 1 again in 2022 illustrates just how bad the circumstances around Lawrence were. In addition to the disastrous Urban Meyer tenure, Lawrence had to contend with incompetent offensive line play and bottom-tier receiving talent. In doing so, he showed glimpses of being able to maximize what he has around him.

Not only did the Jaguars’ receiving talent leave plenty to be desired, but the position group’s execution was frustrating, too. All too often, Jaguars receivers created little to no separation or lacked an attention to detail. Either they were short on their route, which affects the timing of plays, or two or more players ended up near each other on their routes. That limits the space created on concepts and makes playing defense a whole lot easier.

Being able to execute and find completions despite inconsistent play from teammates is part of what separates the best quarterbacks from the average ones. Not every play ends up being run exactly as it’s practiced or drawn up on a whiteboard. A quarterback who can make plays right, despite poor design by coaches or poor execution by teammates, raises the bar for the whole offense.

And when plays are run as designed, Lawrence shows an advanced understanding of the concepts. He handled pre-snap protection responsibilities, which is a great sign for a young quarterback’s understanding of the playbook.

Lawrence’s timing on plays is excellent, not just for a rookie but for an NFL QB in general. He constantly plays on time and delivers throws in rhythm. There is zero fat in his footwork and mechanics. He seldom takes extra hitches to make his throws, and he maximizes the room for error by his teammates because he gets throws out so quickly.

Lawrence is an extremely twitchy athlete despite his size. That twitchiness shows up in a quick release that allows him to be viable on RPOs and underneath throws. And his athleticism shows up as a runner and scrambler. He is a viable weapon on designed QB runs, which opens up valuable parts of the playbook in short yardage and red-zone situations.

Lawrence’s unique combination of mental aptitude, mechanical polish and athleticism also shows up in his ability to maneuver in the pocket. The 2021 Jaguars offensive line battled injuries throughout the season, resulting in Lawrence having to create space for himself to get throws off in the pocket or extend plays outside of it. That Lawrence finished with the NFL’s ninth-lowest sack rate (5 percent) speaks to his high-level feel at such a young age.

Lawrence finished his rookie season with 17 interceptions, tying Matthew Stafford for most in the NFL. But 16 of Lawrence’s interceptions came when the Jaguars were trailing, which was often. My glass half-full take is that Lawrence was trying out more difficult throws, attempting to gain big chunks of yards and squeeze the ball in when his team was desperate.

Lawrence might not have had the rip-roaring rookie season we wanted to see from a player tabbed as generational, but the glimpses were there. Lawrence has already shown the ability to do the difficult things expected of top-tier quarterbacks: He can drive throws over the middle of the field, handle protections and extend plays. With an uptick in competency around him and natural growth from him as a player, there should be optimism that those glimpses become more consistent and Lawrence takes a big leap forward in 2022.

THIS AND THAT

BETTER THAN YOU THINK

Jordan Dajani has an article where he touts five teams that will be “better than you think.”  The headline gave away the Dolphins and Saints as two of them.

So before we look at it, let’s guess the other three.  Would the Chargers and Eagles qualify?  Most people think they are going to be pretty good, but they might be real good.  But we don’t think they count with low enough expectations.

So we’ll go with the Lions, Vikings and Jets.  Let’s find out.

The Cincinnati Bengals proved to be the ultimate dark horse in 2021. Despite starting the year 7-6, Joe Burrow and Co. rallied to win three out of their final four regular-season games to clinch the AFC North, and then won three straight playoff games to get to Super Bowl LVI, where they fell to the Los Angeles Rams. While the Bengals didn’t hoist the Lombardi Trophy, their 2021 success is likely a sign of things to come.

The Bengals weren’t the only team fans were surprised to see find success last year. The Tennessee Titans went 12-5 and clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC despite not having Derrick Henry for most of the season and having to play with what was a record-setting amount of different players. The New England Patriots made the playoffs with first-year quarterback Mac Jones and looked like a Super Bowl dark horse toward the end of the year and the Philadelphia Eagles overcame a 3-6 start to make the playoffs under first-year head coach Nick Sirianni.

Which teams are going to be better than most expect in 2022? Maybe there’s a team like the Bengals that could make a Super Bowl run this upcoming season. Below, we will break down five potential dark-horse teams that may be better than you expect in 2022. We will also list their Over/Under win totals and odds to make the postseason if you’re interested in making some money.

All odds are via Caesars Sportsbook

Miami Dolphins

Over/Under win total: 8.5 (Over -135, Under +115)

Odds to make playoffs: Yes +140, No -160

If you asked anyone who the biggest addition the Dolphins made this offseason was, they would likely answer with Tyreek Hill. It makes sense; Hill has been one of the most effective wide receivers in the NFL over the past few years, and could help fast-track Tua Tagovailoa’s development, but the splashiest addition may be head coach Mike McDaniel.

The offensive wunderkind played a major role in the San Francisco 49ers deciding to move Deebo Samuel around in the offense in 2021, and it was a successful strategy the 49ers capitalized on until they were ousted from the postseason in the NFC Championship Game. Despite serving as an offensive coordinator for just one season, McDaniel quickly found attention on the coaching carousel. He’s someone who knows how to scheme to find success on the ground, which is why Miami has been stockpiling running backs in free agency, adding Chase Edmonds, Sony Michel and Raheem Mostert.

Adding Hill and several running backs weren’t all this front office did, as Miami signed wide receiver Ced Wilson from the Dallas Cowboys, signed a new left guard in Connor Williams and added one of the top players in this free agent class in former New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead.

I understand Tagovailoa is a big question mark and it’s no sure thing McDaniel hits the ground running, but this Dolphins team may be the second-best club in the AFC East. General manager Chris Grier has said that his defense has already noticed a difference in the offense during their short time together.

New Orleans Saints

Over/Under win total: 8 (Over -130, Under +110)

Odds to make playoffs: Yes +160, No -190

If you continue to speak of Jameis Winston like he has an interception problem, you are telling on yourself. The former No. 1 overall pick went 5-2 in his seven starts last season, and threw 14 touchdowns compared to three interceptions. He played within Sean Payton’s system, and wasn’t so gung-ho going downfield. He was more selective with those deep shots compared to how he played with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019. Winston may not be a top-five quarterback, but he showed some good things before his ACL tear last season.

Even if you’re not sold on Winston as a franchise quarterback, his wide receiver unit has been completely revamped. Instead of Marquez Callaway and a rotating No. 2, Winston will have Michael Thomas, Jarvis Landry and Chris Olave at his disposal. Throw Alvin Kamara in there and this sounds like a pretty fun offense.

The Saints also beefed up the secondary, replacing Marcus Williams with Marcus Maye, signing hometown hero Tyrann Mathieu and then selecting Alontae Taylor in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Even with the loss of Payton, this Saints team is going to be better than you anticipate if it can stay healthy.

Minnesota Vikings

Over/Under win total: 9 (Over -115, Under -105)

Odds to make playoffs: Yes +105, No -125

Is Kevin O’Connell the next Sean McVay or Kyle Shanahan? He’s a former Washington assistant whom Jay Gruden had to promote to offensive coordinator back in the day so other teams wouldn’t steal him. He was even given head coach consideration after Gruden was fired, but the franchise chose Ron Rivera instead.

The Vikings weren’t a “bad” team in 2021. They went 8-9, and it’s very possible they just needed new leadership to really shake things up. O’Connell already has a rapport with quarterback Kirk Cousins, he also possesses one of the best running backs in the league in Dalvin Cook and Justin Jefferson is a rising star. Throw in the possibility that the Green Bay Packers could regress a bit, and this Vikings team could be better than you expect in 2022.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Over/Under win total: 7.5 (Over +105, Under -125)

Odds to make playoffs: Yes +310, No -400

Mike Tomlin has never registered a losing record in 15 seasons as head coach of the Steelers, but apparently Vegas is expecting that in 2022. Not only is Pittsburgh’s Over/Under win total listed at 7.5, but the Over is plus money! That’s very noteworthy.

The Steelers made the playoffs after going 3-1 to close out the regular season in 2021, which was a shock. It felt like at times this team was winning without much help from Ben Roethlisberger, which leads some to believe Mitchell Trubisky and/or Kenny Pickett could actually be an upgrade in 2022. It’s an interesting preseason debate we can have, but either way, these quarterbacks will be helped by Najee Harris, Pat Freiermuth and this wide receiving corps that lost JuJu Smith-Schuster, but gained Calvin Austin III and George Pickens.

Defensively, you would hope this unit improves in 2022. Myles Jack and Levi Wallace are two of the more underrated additions this offseason. There’s reason to be cautiously optimistic about this Steelers team in 2022 even though it resides in a tough division. I don’t see Pittsburgh as a dark-horse Super Bowl contender this year, but I do see the Steelers potentially being better than people expect.

Las Vegas Raiders

Over/Under win total: 8.5 (Over +100, Under -120)

Odds to make playoffs: Yes +190, No -230

The Raiders finished in second place in the AFC West last year with a 10-7 record and made the playoffs, but sportsbooks expect them to finish in last place in the division in 2022. It’s true that the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers both made splash additions that could turn them into legitimate contenders, but the Raiders had a great offseason as well. They reunited Derek Carr with Davante Adams and made several additions on defense that should make immediate impacts such as pass-rusher Chandler Jones and cornerback Rock Ya-Sin.

I attempted to predict every game on the Raiders’ 2022 schedule and ended with a final record of 8-9. It was a tough project, and I easily could have ended on a 9-8 record. Like their rivals, the Raiders are going to be hurt by having to play the AFC West, but they should be improved compared to last season. Carr impressed me by throwing for a career-high 4,804 yards (fifth in the NFL), and adding Josh McDaniels as head coach could potentially help him.

We missed the Steelers and Raiders – but weren’t the Raiders a playoff team last year?

PRO BOWL ON THE ROPES

Peter King:

When I started to hear out of the league meetings last week vague threats that the Pro Bowl could be an endangered species, my first thought (after “GREAT!”) was this: Roger Goodell has had it with the game. Things like this don’t leak out of the league meetings without pushback if the commissioner is on the other end of the spectrum. And from what I hear, he’s not. One person who knows Goodell’s thought process told me: “My bet is Roger is going to kill the game sometime soon. The stars don’t want to play, no one plays hard, and he sees that it isn’t real football—no tackling, half-effort.”

It would be one of the best decisions Goodell could make.

2023 DRAFT

Mel Kiper, Jr. give us his first Big Board of 2023 – the top 25 prospects in his early ratings.

After a couple of weeks of rest following the 2022 NFL draft, it’s time to look way ahead to next year’s loaded class with my early 2023 rankings. Consider this is a first attempt at stacking my Big Board — the top 25 prospects overall in the class — and ranking the top guys at every position, starting with the quarterbacks and working our way down to the kickers and punters.

You’ve probably already read Todd McShay’s debut 2023 mock draft, so you should know it’s extremely early to try to project what’s going to happen this season that could shake up next year’s draft. But this is what we do, of course, and this class already looks far superior at the quarterback position. Alabama’s Bryce Young, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, will have a few signal-callers breathing down his neck at the top of the board. This is also a really strong class along the defensive line — again — and at wide receiver.

Two caveats before I unveil my 2023 Big Board and position rankings, same as usual at this time of the year:

It’s early, and I’m going to be wrong about a few prospects. Just look at Spencer Rattler last May. I’m not writing detailed scouting reports yet because I still have a lot of work to do on these prospects, many of whom have started only one season. On some of these guys, I’m projecting what they could do this season, which means they have a high ceiling but still need to reach it on the field.

Heights and weights are based on what we have from schools; we don’t get official numbers until the combine next March.

Let’s get right into it:

1. Will Anderson Jr., DE, Alabama

HT: 6-4 | WT: 243 | Class: Junior

Anderson is a dominant and unique edge rusher who might have been the No. 1 overall pick in April if he had been eligible for the draft. He doesn’t take plays off, is versatile and made several impressive plays against the run. His 79 pressures and 17.5 sacks led the FBS. Anderson’s coaches at Alabama rave about him. Of course, who actually goes No. 1 in 2023 will depend on whether the team needs a quarterback, but Anderson is a fantastic prospect.

2021 stats: 17.5 sacks, 101 tackles (57 solo)

2. Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

HT: 6-0 | WT: 194 | Class: Junior

You should know the Heisman Trophy winner by now. Young has an incredibly quick release and can really sling it. He’s an anticipatory thrower who knows how to hit receivers where they need the ball to run after the catch. He doesn’t make many mistakes. The knock on Young is size; he doesn’t have a huge frame, which NFL scouts will likely play up as we get closer to the draft. Still, his arm is more than good enough for him to be a great signal-caller at the next level.

2021 stats: 306-of-547 passing (66.9%), 4,872 yards, 47 TDs, 7 INTs

3. C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State

HT: 6-3 | WT: 215 | Class: Third-year soph.

It was Stroud, not Young, who led the FBS in Total QBR last season (91.6 to 87.6). Stroud had an inconsistent start to the season, but he finished on a tear, throwing 36 touchdown passes and just three picks in his final nine games. Can he improve even more in Year 2? He’s only scratching the surface of his talent, and he has a big-time wideout to throw to in Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

2021 stats: 317-of-441 passing (71.9%), 4,435 yards, 44 TDs, 6 INTs

4. Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia

HT: 6-3 | WT: 310 | Class: Junior

Georgia had five defenders picked in Round 1 in April, and Carter was arguably more disruptive than all of them last season. He’s explosive at the snap and finishes well around the ball, even though he didn’t put up huge numbers (8.5 tackles for loss). He has a big frame and can play as a 3-technique tackle. He will be in the mix to be the No. 1 overall pick.

2021 stats: 3 sacks, 37 tackles (17 solo)

5. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

HT: 6-0 | WT: 197 | Class: Junior

Smith-Njigba led Ohio State in catches and yards, even on a team with two wide receivers drafted in Round 1 in April. He averaged 16.9 yards per reception, showing stellar burst and explosiveness. He’s a hands catcher who can run the entire route tree, and he can make defenders miss after the catch. Most of Smith-Njigba’s work came from the slot — all but eight of his catches came from when he was aligned there — but he’ll play more outside in 2022. He led the FBS in receiving yards per route run (4.0).

2021 stats: 95 receptions, 1,606 yards, 9 TDs

6. Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson

HT: 6-5 | WT: 300 | Class: Junior

Bresee, a five-star recruit in the Class of 2020, tore his left ACL in September and played in just four games, but I was impressed with his tape. He locates the ball really well and explodes into the backfield at the snap to disrupt throwing lanes and find ball carriers. He’s aggressive and hustles on every snap. He can be a major force inside at the next level. This is an extremely talented group of defenders at the top, but don’t count out Bresee as a potential top-three pick.

2021 stats: 13 tackles (6 solo), 1.5 sacks, 1 INT

7. Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame

HT: 6-4 | WT: 251 | Class: Junior

NFL teams want tight ends who can stretch the deep middle of the field — and block well enough to line up next to offensive tackles. That’s Mayer, who can be a force in the red zone. Linebackers simply can’t cover him (and safeties struggle with his size). Mayer has a wide catch radius and could produce as a pass-catcher in the NFL. He’s a complete tight end.

2021 stats: 71 receptions, 840 yards, 7 TDs

8. Eli Ricks, CB, Alabama

HT: 6-2 | WT: 195 | Class: Junior

Ricks had four interceptions as a freshman at LSU in 2020 (two were pick-sixes) before a shoulder injury ended his 2021 season after just six games. He decided to transfer to Alabama, and he could be the best corner in the country this season. He’s battle-tested — he got daily practice reps against superstar Ja’Marr Chase in 2020 — and has excellent size and speed. Nick Saban is going to make sure Ricks reaches his ceiling, and the Crimson Tide were uncharacteristically up-and-down at the position in 2021.

2021 stats: 11 tackles (9 solo), 1 INT

9. Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU

HT: 6-0 | WT: 190 | Class: Junior

Boutte was tied for the FBS lead with nine touchdown catches in six games before a right leg injury ended his season. He can stretch the field — he excels at go routes — and outrun defensive backs. He has great hand-eye coordination. Boutte could have a huge season in 2022, and I expect him to compete to be the top wideout in this class.

2021 stats: 38 receptions, 509 yards, 9 TDs

10. Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas

HT: 6-0 | WT: 214 | Class: Junior

Robinson’s season ended when he dislocated his left elbow in November, but he showed elite ability in 10 games. In fact, he led the FBS in broken tackles forced per game (4.1) and averaged 112.7 rushing yards per game. He is a cut-and-go runner with outstanding vision and explosiveness. I don’t love drafting running backs in Round 1, but Robinson deserves this ranking; I grade based on ability, not my first-round philosophy. He’s going to be a first-round-caliber prospect.

2021 stats: 195 carries, 1,127 yards, 11 TDs; 26 receptions, 295 yards, 4 TDs

11. Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern

HT: 6-4 | WT: 294 | Class: Junior

Skoronski is a technician at left tackle; he’s already advanced. He has great feet and can bend. He shrugs off quick pass-rushers and can contain rushers who try to win with power. Skoronski was rarely caught off guard in his games that I watched — he always maintained his base. With another season like 2021, he could be Northwestern’s second top-15 offensive tackle pick in three years (Rashawn Slater in 2021).

2021 stats: 2 sacks, 11 pressures allowed in 410 pass-block snaps

12. Tyler Van Dyke, QB, Miami (Fla.)

HT: 6-4 | WT: 224 | Class: Third-year soph.

Van Dyke really impressed me once he took over as the Hurricanes’ starter. He is a big (and mobile) quarterback with a tremendous arm. He’s fun to watch. Check out the ball location on this touchdown throw against Duke. Van Dyke can stick the ball into tight windows with accuracy. I expect a big season from him in 2022, and he could rise even higher.

2021 stats: 202-of-324 passing (62.3%), 2,931 yards, 25 TDs, 6 INTs

13. Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida

HT: 6-4 | WT: 236 | Class: Third-year soph.

This ranking is all about potential because Richardson is an enormous talent, and I’ve heard he has had a great spring. He didn’t get many chances as a passer last season — he’s not a finished product there — but he has fantastic dual-threat ability. Just watch this 80-yard scamper to see his speed and power as a runner. If Richardson takes a step as a passer, we’re going to talk about him as a potential top-three pick in this class. That’s a big “if,” of course.

2021 stats: 38-of-64 passing (59.4%), 529 yards, 6 TDs, 5 INTs; 51 carries, 401 yards, 3 TDs

14. Andre Carter II, OLB, Army

HT: 6-7 | WT: 250 | Class: Senior

The last time Army had a first-round pick? All the way back in 1946. The Black Knights haven’t had a non-seventh-round pick since 1969. Carter is the real deal, though, a pass-rusher with incredible length who can play in any defensive scheme. He made big plays last season, with four forced fumbles and a pick. He impacts the game in a variety of ways, and I love his 2021 tape because he’s so consistent on every snap.

2021 stats: 15.5 sacks, 44 tackles (34 solo), 4 forced fumbles, 1 INT

15. Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State

HT: 6-6 | WT: 315 | Class: Junior

Johnson was a stellar guard for the Buckeyes last season, but he’s going to move outside to left tackle in 2022. I think he could move all the way into the top 10. He has projectable traits and an ideal skill set for the position. He’ll also be helped by several really good edge rushers having left the Big Ten for April’s draft. I’m projecting Johnson to be one of the country’s top tackles this season.

2021 stats: 1 sack, 4 pressures allowed in 440 pass-block snaps

16. Siaki Ika, DT, Baylor

HT: 6-4 | WT: 350 | Class: Junior

Ika might not be Jordan Davis from a traits perspective, but he’s not that far off. He has rare quickness and explosiveness for a 350-pound player. He’s like a piece of granite on the interior of the defensive line; he can’t be moved. With four sacks last season, Ika showed some pass-rush ability, mostly bulldozing interior offensive linemen. He won’t be a perfect fit for every defense, but he’ll make every unit better.

2021 stats: 4 sacks, 24 tackles (17 solo)

17. Myles Murphy, DE, Clemson

HT: 6-5 | WT: 275 | Class: Junior

Murphy has 11 sacks and four forced fumbles in two seasons for the Tigers, showing off his ability to get after quarterbacks off the edge. He has a quick burst out of his stance and can close quickly off the corner. Murphy also plays the run pretty well; he’s a solid all-around player. Clemson also moved him inside at times, so that versatility will help his stock. He could rise if he finishes at the quarterback more in 2022.

2021 stats: 7 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 37 tackles (21 solo)

18. Jordan Addison, WR, USC

HT: 6-0 | WT: 175 | Class: Junior

Addison had a breakout 2021, winning the Biletnikoff Award at Pitt as Kenny Pickett’s go-to target. Now, he’s headed to play for Lincoln Riley at USC with talented quarterback Caleb Williams. Addison led the FBS in receiving touchdowns, excelling after the catch and lining up all over the field. He never had fewer than five catches in a game last season. He’s a polished route runner. I was most impressed with Addison’s ability to make up ground with late burst to catch the ball.

2021 stats: 100 receptions, 1,593 yards, 17 TDs

19. Isaiah Foskey, OLB, Notre Dame

HT: 6-5 | WT: 260 | Class: Senior

Foskey leveled up down the stretch in 2021, and he’s an intriguing outside linebacker/defensive end combo in this class. He’s still developing his technique, but he has a solid spin move and can beat offensive tackles with power. Will Foskey show more polish this season? I think he could take another leap.

2021 stats: 11 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, 52 tackles (38 solo)

20. Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina

HT: 6-1 | WT: 187 | Class: Fourth-year junior

Smith’s ball skills really stand out on tape. He flips his hips in coverage, tracks the ball in the air and has the instincts to find it and make a play. He has five picks over the past two seasons. Smith also has excellent arm length, which helps his ability to create deflections. He has a good feel in coverage and makes things look easy.

2021 stats: 3 INTs, 11 pass breakups, 41 tackles (31 solo)

21. Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia

HT: 6-2 | WT: 205 | Class: Third-year sophomore

You might know Ringo from his national title-clinching pick-six against Alabama in January, and he is just scratching the surface of how good he can be. If you were designing the perfect NFL cornerback, he’d have Ringo’s speed, size and arm length. He has every tool to be a top-10 pick, but he needs to be more consistent this season and not just show a few flashes of brilliance.

2021 stats: 2 INTs, 8 pass breakups, 34 tackles (26 solo)

22. Will Levis, QB, Kentucky

HT: 6-3 | WT: 232 | Class: Senior

Levis, who transferred to Kentucky from Penn State, made some “wow” throws last season. He has a powerful arm, though he needs to be more precise. He threw too many picks, trying to force a few too many into tight windows. Levis also can beat defenses with his legs; he had four rushing scores in the win over Louisville. Consistency is an issue, but Levis’ traits are intriguing.

2021 stats: 233-of-353 passing (66%), 2,826 yards, 24 TDs, 13 INTs; 107 carries, 376 yards, 9 TDs

23. Noah Sewell, ILB, Oregon

HT: 6-3 | WT: 251 | Class: Third-year sophomore

Sewell flies around the field and has sideline-to-sideline range. He tracks quarterbacks well when that’s his assignment, and he can make tackles in space. The Ducks also move him around the defense, so Sewell’s versatility sticks out on tape. He has some coverage skills too. Sewell, of course, is the brother of 2021 Lions top-10 pick Penei Sewell.

2021 stats: 4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 INT, 114 tackles (53 solo)

24. Antonio Johnson, DB, Texas A&M

HT: 6-3 | WT: 200 | Class: Junior

Johnson is the Daxton Hill of this draft. He has been a Swiss Army knife for the Aggies, playing as a center fielder, in the slot and as a box safety, which is where he might end up in the NFL. He has the length and frame to make plays at the line of scrimmage. That ability to play anywhere and fill different roles will make him appealing at the next level.

2021 stats: 1 INT, 5 pass breakups, 1 sack, 79 tackles (53 solo)

25. Trenton Simpson, OLB, Clemson

HT: 6-3 | WT: 230 | Class: Junior

Simpson is the third Clemson front-seven prospect in this top 25. He had some impressive 2021 tape, showing explosion at the snap and range when he needs to track a ball carrier. He had 12.5 total tackles for loss. He could be an off-ball linebacker or play as a traditional 3-4 outside linebacker. Simpson has some power as a pass-rusher too.

2021 stats: 6 sacks, 65 tackles (41 solo)

Top 10 Quarterbacks    

1. Bryce Young, Alabama

2. C.J. Stroud, Ohio State

3. Tyler Van Dyke, Miami (Fla.)

4. Anthony Richardson, Florida

5. Will Levis, Kentucky

6. Jaren Hall, BYU

7. Tanner McKee, Stanford

8. Devin Leary, NC State

9. Phil Jurkovec, Boston College

10. Hendon Hooker, Tennessee