*Walt taking 2014 and 2018 |
Charlie Campbell, Senior Draft Analyst |
2023 NFL Combine Results - Weigh-Ins and 40 Times
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB
2023 NFL Combine Stock Report:
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB
Teams Grade Broderick Jones on Day 2
Updated March 1, 2023
By Charlie Campbell. Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell.
Almost every year in the NFL draft, there are some players with consensus second-round grades who end up as first-round picks. Pro teams generally do not have 32 players with first-round grades – typically that number is around 20. Thus, some players graded on Day 2 end up going on the opening night of the draft, generally in the 20s and 30-32. One prospect who is a candidate to be that kind of player for the 2023 NFL Draft is Georgia offensive tackle Broderick Jones. There have been mock drafts with Jones going in the top half of Round 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft, but teams do not have Jones graded that high. In speaking to sources from seven teams, none of them had a first-round grade on Jones.
“He is a Day 2 guy, but he may go higher,” said an NFC director of player personnel. “I won’t be surprised if he drops close to the second round because the character and his technique aren’t clean. He could easily underachieve.”
Helping Jones’ odds of ending up as a first-rounder is playing the premium position of offensive tackle. There also are a few offensive-line-needy teams picking late in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-4, 310-pounder also could be moved inside to guard. However, Jones does not have ideal size for a left tackle, has technique issues, and brings character concerns.
The 2023 NFL Draft is not especially strong at the offensive tackle position, and that helps Jones as well. Behind Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski – top 12 – and Ohio State’s Paris Johnson – top 20 -, there is not a clear-cut third tackle. Some teams like Alabama’s Tyler Steen and Maryland’s Jaelyn Duncan, but Jones could also factor into the discussion. While many in the media have Jones projected high, he was graded on Day 2 across the league, and teams view him as being a reach for Round 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft.
