This new section highlights which players have improved or worsened their 2023 NFL Draft stock as the draft approaches.
By Charlie Campbell.
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2023 NFL Draft Stock Up
Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama Against Arkansas, Gibbs showed why he is a future NFL starter. He ran well in the early going, showing his shifty cutting skills and slashing ability. Gibbs continued to run well and contributed in the passing game before breaking the game wide open. Early in the fourth quarter, Gibbs took a carry around the right side and found a gaping cutback lane to explode down the field for a 72-yard touchdown. He did nearly the same thing again a few minutes later, taking a run off the left tackle and exploding down the field for a 76-yard touchdown, going virtually untouched. Against the Razorbacks, Gibbs turned 18 carries into 206 yards and two touchdowns. He also had two receptions for 20 yards.
For the next level, Gibbs looks like a future three-down starter. He is put together well and possesses a serious burst to accelerate to the second level. On top of his speed, Gibbs is a tough runner who shows excellent cutting ability to weave through the defense. Gibbs is a good receiver as well and will be an asset in the passing game. For the 2023 NFL Draft, he looks like quality choice to turn into a future three-down NFL starter.
Devon Achane, RB, Texas A&M As the replacement for Isaiah Spiller, Achane has shown deep speed and big-play ability for the Aggies this season. While Texas A&M’s offense has had some struggles, Achane has been explosive, including leading the Aggies to a win over Arkansas with 159 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. Last Saturday, he ripped off 111 yards on 16 carries taking on Mississippi State. The 5-foot-9, 185-pound Achane lacks the size to be a three-down starter in the NFL, but he could be a backup runner and receiving back. Achane could be a nice mid-round value pick from the 2023 NFL Draft.
Brian Branch, CB/S, Alabama Branch has played cornerback for Alabama, but a number of pro team sources think Branch could fit as a safety in the NFL. In 2021, he played the same hybrid cornerback/safety position that Minkah Fitzpatrick played at Alabama and turned in a strong season with 55 tackles and nine passes defended. Branch has 20 tackles, one pass broken up and a sack so far in 2022. Team sources say they think Branch could be a very good safety in the NFL.
Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina Smith broke out for the Gamecocks in 2021, recording 41 tackles, three interceptions and 11 passes defended. Thus far in 2022, he has played well, notching 10 tackles, one interception and a pass broken up. Smith can play outside corner or move inside to cover the slot. He has quality size with height, length, athleticism and speed. Smith shows the agility and quickness to run the route to prevent separation and has good ball skills. The big question about Smith is his strength because he 6-foot, 188 pounds. With his cover skills, team sources think Smith could be a first- or second-round pick next April in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Myles Murphy, DE, Clemson Murphy turned in an impressive game against N.C. State, regularly besting the Wolfpack offensive tackles. In the first half, Murphy was consistently getting upfield and putting pressure on quarterback Devin Leary. Murphy funneled him out of the pocket on a few plays and helped disrupt the timing of the passing attack.
Over the final two quarters, Murphy helped take over the game and slam the door on N.C. State. In the third quarter, Murphy burned the left tackle with a speed rush to get a sack that led to a punt. Early in the fourth quarter, Murphy did it again, going around the right tackle with a speed rush. Murphy came close to sacks on other plays and created pressure on the quarterback.
Murphy has the skill set to be a top-10 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. He is big, fast, strong, and extremely athletic. Murphy can do whatever he wants in terms of dominating a tight end, setting the edge against tackles in the ground game, burning tackles with speed rushes around the corner, and making highlight-reel sacks. What he seems to lack is a killer instinct or the mentality to dominate. Murphy seems to toy with tackles rather than just dominate them. It seems as if he needs to get motivated by his coaches to really get going and lacks a bit of the junk-yard dog attitude. Still, Murphy is extremely talented and has all the tools to be a high first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
2022 NFL Draft Stock Down
Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson Bresee has been dealing with a horrible family tragedy, and that could be having an impact on his play this year. Bresee is also coming off a torn ACL from 2021, so he could be still working his way back to his 2020 form. This year, Bresee has been solid at the point of attack to hold his ground, but he also is struggling to get off blocks. Bresee needs to show more pass-rush ability to shed blocks and get off linemen in the ground game. Bresee might be better off returning for his senior year and improving before going to the next level rather than entering the 2023 NFL Draft.
Brant Kuithe, TE, Utah Kuithe had an excellent start to the season with a superb outing against Florida in Week 1, but Kuithe’s strong start to the year is over following a season-ending knee injury. Kuithe finished his four-game 2022 with 19 catches for 206 yards and three touchdowns. Kuithe (6-2, 219) is undersized for the NFL, but he has some natural receiving ability. This injury probably pushes Kuithe to the third day of the 2023 NFL Draft rather than ending up as a possible second-day pick.
Will Levis, QB, Kentucky Levis is probably a future starter in the NFL. He has a powerful arm, good size, can throw accurately, and has some running ability. However, Levis definitely has things he needs to work on, and that was illustrated again in a loss to Ole Miss. While Levis was decent as a passer, he had three crushing mistakes that cost Kentucky a road win.
Early in the second quarter, Levis made an ugly mistake by not feeling the pocket collapsing and holding the ball way too long while throwing out of his end zone. Levis threw the ball to the flat to avoid a sack, but it was an obvious intentional grounding that resulted in a safety. It was third-and-long and nothing was open. Levis should have thrown the pass away rather than gifting Ole Miss a safety and good field position on the free kick, which Ole Miss turned into a field goal.
Late in the fourth quarter, Levis was running with the ball and fumbled it away after taking a hard hit. The Kentucky defense bailed him out by coming through with a stop, giving Levis the ball back with under two minutes remainging. He then hit a 50-yard pass play on a wide receiver screen to get to the 10-yard line. On the next play, Levis did not wait long enough for his teammates to get set, and that penalty canceled out a game-winning touchdown pass. The ensuing play featured the opposite kind of error, as Levis once again held the ball too long with the rush closing in, and he was strip-sacked. Ole Miss recovered the loose ball to clinch the win. If Levis had thrown the ball away, he would have had one more chance at the end zone and then could have settled for a short field goal to force overtime. Levis finished completing 18-of-24 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns.
Levis is prone toward holding the ball too long, and that makes things hard on his offensive line while also exposing him to unnecessary hits. Levis has had problems with interceptions too, and he showed progress in that regard versus the Rebels, but the safety and two fumbles were painful mistakes that critically impacted the outcome of the game. Levis gifted points to Ole Miss and took points away from Kentucky.
Levis is known to have great intangibles, so that will help coaches want to work with him. There is no doubt that for the pro level, Levis has to improve his ball security and mental clock in the pocket to get the ball out. His impressive skill set and fatal flaws bring to mind Jameis Winston or Jay Cutler. Levis looks like a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, but he is a project for the next level.
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