The 2023 NFL Scouting Combine will mark its arrival next week. It’s the final pre-draft event with the all-star circuit (Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine Bowl) now in the past. I’ve spent various months scouting the prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft. Stacking a big board is a fluid exercise. The combine will reveal additional information that is useful to the scouting process.
I’m expanding to present my Top 100. More movement will arrive post-combine and I’ll release a new iteration then. Several prospects will confirm my hopes or fears in Indianapolis. I’ll answer questions at @JustinM_NFL. I’ve included brief explanations on surprise inclusions. I’m thoroughly enjoying the scouting process.
1. Will Anderson Jr. | EDGE | Alabama
2. Jalen Carter | DT | Georgia
3. Bijan Robinson | RB | Texas
4. Bryce Young | QB | Alabama
Bryce Young is my QB1 despite the size concerns. I’m not convinced he’ll be the first quarterback drafted, but I believe he’s the most overall impressive quarterback in this class. Young isn’t a transcendent talent like Trevor Lawrence was, but he possesses franchise quarterback capabilities.
5. Myles Murphy | EDGE | Clemson
6. C.J. Stroud | QB | Ohio State
7. Michael Mayer | TE | Notre Dame
8. Christian Gonzalez | CB | Oregon
9. Peter Skoronski | OL | Northwestern
10. Tyree Wilson | EDGE | Texas Tech
11. Paris Johnson Jr. | OT | Ohio State
The Titans should possess plenty of interest in drafting Ohio State’s Paris Johnson Jr. after officially releasing Taylor Lewan. Johnson is coincidentally my 11th-ranked prospect. Johnson would be a plug-and-play left tackle in Tennessee.
12. Joey Porter Jr. | CB | Penn State
13. Broderick Jones | OT | Georgia
14. Will Levis | QB | Kentucky
15. Brian Branch | S | Alabama
16. Bryan Bresee | DT | Clemson
17. Devon Witherspoon | CB | Illinois
I wish Witherspoon competed in Mobile. I’ve seen him as high as No. 6 overall in recent mock drafts. I have questions about whether or not Witherspoon could play the boundary on a full-time basis in the NFL. When I discussed playing the nickel position with Witherspoon a few months ago, he admitted that may be a legitimate possibility. Witherspoon’s 2022 tape is extremely clean. He’s a sticky, competitive man-coverage cornerback.
18. Jaxon Smith-Njigba | WR | Ohio State
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is my WR1 despite recording four receptions in three appearances throughout the 2022 campaign. People are going to overcomplicate Smith-Njigba’s evaluation. He was the clear-cut go-to receiver on a team with Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson, both of which already look like excellent NFL receivers.
19. Quentin Johnston | WR | TCU
20. Dawand Jones | OT | Ohio State
Dawand Jones confirmed my evaluation at the Senior Bowl. He’s a massive human being that’s an easy mover at right tackle. Jones was a surprise inclusion (No. 20 overall) on my initial Big Board, and I feel good about that decision. Jones’ types are extremely rare.
21. Jordan Addison | WR | USC
22. Cam Smith | CB | South Carolina
23. Jahmyr Gibbs | RB | Alabama
24. Lukas Van Ness | DL | Iowa
Lukas Van Ness is an excellent football player. He’s tough, nasty and physical. Van Ness carries some inside-outside versatility. I don’t think he’s a double-digit sack artist on an annual basis, but he’ll be a consistent performer that plays with terrific effort.
25. Anthony Richardson | QB | Florida
26. Deonte Banks | CB | Maryland
Banks is a physical, 6-foot-1, 200 pound cornerback with terrific reactionary athleticism for a corner of his size and stature. Banks is a sticky press-man cornerback that recorded 8 pass breakups in 2022. Banks is a borderline first-round prospect.
27. Clark Phillips III | CB | Utah
28. Josh Downs | WR | North Carolina
Josh Downs plays bigger than his size indicates (5-foot-11, 171 pounds). There will be minor size limitations, but Downs is a dynamic playmaker with high-level route-running abilities. Downs will create advantageous matchups for an NFL offense. Downs possesses eye-popping capabilities.
29. Luke Musgrave | TE | Oregon State
Luke Musgrave was excellent throughout his participation at the Senior Bowl. Musgrave is a highly athletic movable chess-piece. Musgrave may have confirmed his first-round status in Mobile.
30. Kelee Ringo | CB | Georgia
31. Jalin Hyatt | WR | Tennessee
32. Dalton Kincaid | TE | Utah
33. Anton Harrison | OT | Oklahoma
34. Cody Mauch | OG | North Dakota State
Cody Mauch was a massive winner at the Senior Bowl. His arm measurements confirmed he’ll be kicking inside from offensive tackle at the next level. But Mauch showcased excellent position versatility, playing both center and guard in Mobile. Mauch may be a late first-round pick.
35. Darnell Washington | TE | Georgia
36. John Michael Schmitz | C | Minnesota
37. Keion White | DL | Georgia Tech
I witnessed everything I needed from Keion White at the Senior Bowl. White confirmed my initial evaluation. Prospects of White’s size and stature aren’t supposed to be such outstanding movers.
38. Rashee Rice | WR | SMU
39. Nolan Smith | EDGE | Georgia
40. Christopher Smith | S | Georgia
Chris Smith is one of my favorite defensive back prospects. He’s a multi-year captain for the back-to-back National Championship Georgia Bulldogs. Smith is a matchup safety that can wear multiple hats for a pro defense. Smith has one of the highest football I.Q.’s of any prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft.
41. Jordan Battle | S | Alabama
42. Derick Hall | EDGE | Auburn
43. Kayshon Boutte | WR | LSU
44. Felix Anudike-Uzomah | EDGE | Kansas State
45. Drew Sanders | LB | Arkansas
46. Emmanuel Forbes | CB | Mississippi State
47. Tucker Kraft | TE | South Dakota State
48. Kyu Blu Kelly | CB | Stanford
49. Will McDonald IV | EDGE | Iowa State
Will McDonald possesses some freaky measurables. His sack production dipped in 2022 after Iowa State asked him to reduce inside with more frequency. McDonald was still productive, and his 2021 tape reveals a prospect that could make a full-time living at EDGE.
50. Julius Brents | CB | Kansas State
Julius Brents was a pre-Senior Bowl favorite of mine who barely missed out on my initial Top 50 reveal. Brents was excellent in Mobile, showcasing the same outstanding length, athleticism and ball skills that captured my attention on tape. Brents continues to rise.
51. Matthew Bergeron | OT | Syracuse
52. Keeanu Benton | DT | Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s Keeanu Benton was another Pre-Senior-Bowl favorite of mine that left me smiling. Benton is a high-level run stopper that showcased some necessary pass-rushing juice in Mobile. Benton may be a top-64 pick.
53. O’Cyrus Torrence | OG | Florida
I’m buying stocks back into O’Cyrus Torrence for now. I was worried Torrence possessed some athletic concerns and lacked scheme versatility as a fit for power/gap offenses only. Torrence spent his week in Mobile shutting down opposing pass rushers of all shapes and sizes. I still want to witness Torrence test in Indianapolis, but he had a great Senior Bowl that addressed my concerns.
54. Zay Flowers | WR | Boston College
55. Joe Tippmann | C | Wisconsin
The gap between Tippman and John Michael Schmitz isn’t particularly large for me. I view Tippmann as a plug-and-play starting center. I’m anxious to see him go through positional drills at the NFL Scouting Combine.
56. Darnell Wright | OT | Tennessee
57. Dylan Horton | EDGE | TCU
58. Mazi Smith | DT | Michigan
59. B.J. Ojulari | EDGE | LSU
60. Cedric Tillman | WR | Tennessee
61. Trenton Simpson | LB | Clemson
62. Xavier Hutchinson | WR | Iowa State
63. Jaelyn Duncan | OT | Maryland
64. Steve Avila | OG | TCU
Steve Avila had an excellent Senior Bowl. Some felt he lacked scheme versatility as a power/gap-only linemen, but Avila showcased the foot speed and strength necessary to prove himself as a universal prospect. The Titans have shown interest in Avila throughout the process.
65. Isaiah Foskey | EDGE | Notre Dame
66. Tyler Scott | WR | Cincinnati
67. Siaka Ika | NT | Baylor
68. Sydney Brown | S | Illinois
69. Marvin Mims | WR | Oklahoma
70. Jammie Robinson | S | FSU
71. Calijah Kancey | DT | Pittsburgh
I’ve seen Calijah Kancey as a first-round prospect for some. His size deficiencies (approximately 6-0, 280 pounds) give me some pause. There’s no denying Kancey’s initial quickness and explosiveness as a gap penetrator, but a lack of desired size and arm length may cap his potential.
72. Jack Campbell | LB | Iowa
73. Tuli Tuipulotu | DL | USC
74. Antonio Johnson | S | Texas A&M
75. Mike Morris | DL | Michigan
76. Zach Charbonnet | RB | UCLA
77. Payne Durham | TE | Purdue
78. Nick Saldiveri | OT | Old Dominion
79. Sam LaPorta | TE | Iowa
Sam LaPorta is a versatile tight end that can line up at multiple positions. He’s an excellent blocker and reliable pass-catcher. LaPorta played in Iowa’s low-volume passing attack, which leaves room for growth as a receiver at the next level.
80. Gervon Dexter Sr. | DT | Florida
81. Tyrique Stevenson | CB | Miami
82. Henry To’o To’o | LB | Alabama
83. D.J. Turner | CB | Michigan
84. Byron Young | EDGE | Tennessee
85. Jayden Reed | WR | Michigan State
86. Isaiah McGuire | EDGE | Missouri
87. Mekhi Blackmon | CB | USC
88. Grant DuBose | WR | Charlotte
I’m higher than most on Charlotte’s Grant DuBose. DuBose could have been more consistent at the Senior Bowl, but the Charlotte standout is electrifying on tape. He recorded 1,700-plus yards and 15 touchdowns across the previous two campaigns, including a 1-112-1 line against Middle Tennessee State in 2022 and 4-118-2 against Duke in 2021.
89. Kenny McIntosh | RB | Georgia
90. Luke Wypler | C | Ohio State
91. Alex Austin | CB | Oregon State
92. Nick Broeker | OG | Ole Miss
Nick Broeker is a versatile offensive line prospect. He’s played some tackle and guard. Broeker is an excellent fit for Tennessee’s zone-based offense.
93. Garrett Williams | CB | Syracuse
94. Andrew Vorhees | OG | USC
95. Zach Harrison | EDGE | Ohio State
96. Emil Ekiyor Jr. | IOL | Alabama
97. Tyjae Spears | RB | Tulane
98. Adetomiwa Adebawore | DL | Northwestern
99. Roschon Johnson | RB | Texas
100. Tank Bigsby | RB | Auburn
