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
Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College In a typical draft over the last decade, Flowers would be a second-day pick, but the 2023 NFL Draft is not strong at the wide receiver position, which aides a prospect like Flowers. While he lacks height, Flowers possesses game-breaking speed and is a deep-threat receiver who can tilt the field for an offense. There are a number of receiver-needy teams picking in the 20s of the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, so Flowers stands a good shot of being selected on the opening night of the draft.
Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia Even though he played behind Brock Bowers, there is a lot of love for Washington as a pro prospect. NFL.com draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah has mocked Washington in the first round, which is very understandable given Washington’s skill set. The 6-foot-6, 270-pounder is a phenomenal blocker and has underrated receiving ability with surprising speed and athleticism. I have Washington in the second round of my 2023 NFL Mock Draft, but he definitely is a contender to go in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Calijah Yancey, DT, Pittsburgh The 6-foot-1, 280-pound Kancey is an extremely fast interior defender who can fire upfield and penetrate into the pocket. Off the snap, Kancey is extremely explosive, displaying phenomenal first-step quickness. With his rare ability to rush the quarterback from the inside, Kancey is a special prospect. If he were 20 pounds heavier, he would end up as a top-10 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, but Kancey is very undersized and does not project as a three-down starter capable of holding up in the ground game. Hence, he is a bit of a luxury pick for a team late in the first or early in the second round that is selling out for a pure inside pass rusher. Kancey was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year for 2022 after racking up seven sacks and 31 tackles. In his 2021 sophomore campaign, he recorded 33 tackles, seven sacks and a forced fumble.
Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee Wright (6-4, 315) was Tennessee’s starting right tackle in 2022, and he had an excellent season, not allowing a sack of quarterback Hendon Hooker. Wright has good size to him and has some strength as a run blocker. At the Senior Bowl, he did well in the pass-rushing one-on-ones and looked pro-ready. If his workouts go well, he could continue be a riser for the 2023 NFL Draft. Wright could be a very good starting right tackle in the NFL and an excellent value in the second round from the 2023 NFL Draft. If the combine and pro day go well for Wright, he could receive late first-round consideration.
Andre Carter II, LB, Army While Carter did not dominate the Senior Bowl, he played well and showed he was capable getting wins over better offensive tackles than he typically faced in college. In 2021, Carter recorded 15.5 sacks, but his production dipped to three sacks in 2022 due to teams game planning for him. In Mobile, Carter showed pro pass-rush ability with size, quickness and toughness. He should be a solid second-day pick for the 2023 NFL Draft.
Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas Sanders is in the running to be the top non-pass-rushing linebacker prospect for the 2023 NFL Draft, although he is dangerous quarterback hunter as well. The 6-foot-5, 232-pounder has big size to go along with quality speed and athleticism. Sanders also showed serious pass-rush ability as a junior with Arkansas. In 2022, he recorded 103 tackles, 9.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and five passes defended. Sanders was a 1-year wonder after being a backup at Alabama in 2020-2021, totaling 25 tackles and a sack over those two seasons.
When serving as a traditional linebacker, Sanders does not play downhill, but he is a lightning bolt and explosive coming downhill when rushing the passer. Sanders has the speed and ability to become a three-down starter who could be a hybrid linebacker and pass rusher. I think Sanders will work out well at the combine and pro day, hence I have him in as a top-20 pick of my 2023 NFL Mock Draft.
Keion White, DE, Georgia Tech White has upside, but he is raw after an unusual collegiate career. He started out at Old Dominion, but the school did not have a 2020 season because of COVID-19. White was at Georgia Tech starting in 2021, but he was injured for a lot of the season. In 2022, White recorded 7.5 sacks and 54 tackles. The 6-foot-4, 260-pounder has quality size to go with speed and athleticism. He could be a developmental prospect with upside for the next level.
2023 NFL Draft Stock Down
Xavier Hutchinson, WR, Iowa State Hutchinson was a gritty and effective receiver for Iowa State over the past few seasons. He has good size and made a lot of clutch catches, but NFL teams worry about a lack of speed and if he willl struggle to separate from pro cornerbacks. Some area scouts say they really like Hutchinson, but the speed concerns have them projecting Hutchinson to Day 3 of the 2023 NFL Draft.
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