big board

1. cj stroud • ohio state

qb1 // Grade: 9.5 // RAS: INC

What’s not to like? Stroud has shown up and shown out on his biggest stages, making the Georgia defense look not just vulnerable, but bad. He layers the ball as well as any prospect I’ve seen since Joe Burrow, and his ball placement is outstanding. He processes quickly, and in his final game showed uncanny ability to get out of the pocket while maintaining vision and threading some of the most unbelievable passes I’ve seen. And in a class fawning over big arms, Stroud isn’t getting enough credit for his. There’s not a route he can’t reach, and his accuracy sets him apart. There are times when an internal rush can knock him off his spot and force some iffy passes that are a combination of bad decisions and poor base footwork, but again he showed how well he can overcome that against the Dawgs. That’s what you want to see more of, though, getting out of tight spots and making smart decisions with better mechanics when things break down, and he certainly showed that on New Year’s Eve.

2. nolan smith• georgia

edge1 // Grade: 9.5 // RAS: 9.22

Smith lacks one thing - size. And he’s not exactly a mite. But when you see how well he wades through traffic, how well he uses his explosiveness, bend and underrated strength to his advantage, even when he’s lined up further inside with his hand in the dirt, the size comparisons become moot to me. He has excellent range, can run and cover, and his speed shows up on tape. Beyond that, he’s an intelligent player who diagnoses quickly and accurately, and will be a game wrecker for a team who deploys him correctly. He didn’t always finish as well as you’d hope when coming downhill or off the edge as a pass rusher, but that isn’t as much of a concern for me because he clearly has the ability to close when you watch how well he eliminates ball-carriers on the edges. There’s just so much versatility to his game, I can’t get past thinking the right defensive coordinator can deploy him exactly like the Cowboys used Micah Parsons. He can be a nightmare from so many different spots.

3. will anderson • alabama

edge2 // Grade: 9.5 // RAS: INC

I love Will Anderson. After such an incredibly productive season in 2021, I think people are viewing his lack of stats in ‘22 as a sign of arrested development, but considering the attention paid to him by literally every team he faced, a dip in personal numbers was expected. But Anderson is relentless, strong, has better burst than a 4.6 time seems to indicate to some (his 10 yard split at 1.61 is faster than Von Miller (1.62) and Khalil Mack (1.64)) that he’s limited athletically, but he has a mature array of moves, never stops battling, and is more than anything a true finisher who will either dominate the stat sheet on his own or demand enough attention to free up his teammates.

4. darnell washington • georgia

te1 // Grade: 9.5 // RAS: 10

It’s uncomfortable having a tight end ranked this high overall, for sure, but this is no normal tight end. Yes, Jelani Woods matched and even exceeded Washington just last year with some of his testing and his size, but the blocking element here speaks to a true unicorn type of player who has one of the most unlimited ceilings I’ve ever seen at any position. Washington is a sixth offensive lineman who runs like a deer and knows how to position his size to his advantage in tight spots. Give him a year, but he’ll be unstoppable.

5. jalen carter • georgia

idl1 // Grade: 9.5 // RAS: INC

It’s the damn Georgia show in here. Starting to see why they won back-to-back titles… And if you ask most people, based purely on watching the games, who their most dominant player was, you’ll get the same answer 9 times out of 10: Carter. He moves like he’s 260 pounds, but he’s playing at 315, and while the Dawgs’ scheme didn’t facilitate the same stats, he’s more like Ndamukong Suh as a prospect than anyone we’ve seen since. Quick, penetrator, excellent strength, and a relentless motor when he’s on the field. He can play every single D-line spot and make an impact collapsing the pocket or disrupting the run. There’s no on-field weakness to his game.

6. devon witherspoon • illinois

cb1 // Grade: 9 // RAS: INC

Sticky, mean, confident corner here. This guy is a lockdown master with quick hips, fluid movement, and a keen knack for annoyance. He’s like a gnat in your eye. Plus, he combines that physicality with a quick processor and an innate understanding of the game. Rarely if ever out of position, and closes faster than a bear trap. If there’s any knock, it’s his size compared to other top corners in this class, but I think he’s better than similarly sized Denzel Ward was coming out. Has elite level awareness in zone coverage, and combined with ball skills, he can break on a play with ill intent and disruptive results.

7. tyree wilson • texas tech

edge3 // Grade: 9 // RAS: INC

Length, length, length. He reminds me of Chandler Jones. He was used in a variety of ways this season, and that dipped his production, but you can’t deny his ability to extend, keep clean of blockers, and then drag his target to the ground. He affects the offense, and he’s only going to get better with NFL coaching. His speed doesn’t dissipate upon contact, which allows him to pair two great strengths when he puts it all together. Developmental, but boy the tools are there. He lacks explosion and urgent get-off at times, and you want to see him be more violent with more consistency, but you can tell there’s a passion for the game in the way he chases and fights through the whistle every single play. He’s there yet, but someone will fall in love with the combination of length, strength, and desire.

8. bryce young • alabama

qb2 // Grade: 9 // RAS: INC

Cross-sport comparisons can be dumb, but this guy really is a point guard. I can’t imagine the frustration felt by defenders when this 5-10 dude evades you despite not possessing Kyler Murray’s speed, then drops a perfectly layered pass over your head despite not possessing Justin Herbert’s arm or height. That’s where Young gets you, he outthinks you. He’s always a step ahead of defenders, and his savvy allows him to make his size totally moot for the most part. He processes as quickly as anyone in this class, and he’ll need to because his frame does cause serious concern.. IF he gets hit, which is a tall ask before he gets rid of the ball. Quick trigger, knows where to go with the ball often before the snap, and extends plays for the purpose of finding a downfield target. He’s a tough comp because he’s not the bowling ball that Russell Wilson is, or the silky smooth runner Lamar Jackson is, but he spreads the ball around efficiently, understands and anticipates slight edges in coverage, and makes you pay.

9. jaxon smith-njigba • ohio state

wr1 // Grade: 9 // RAS: 8.31

His short area quickness is, objectively, insane. JSN can find his way open in a variety of situations, and while he’s spent the majority of his time in the slot in college, I remain unconvinced that he’s absolutely limited to an interior role throughout his career. He’s got more size (6-1 196 isn’t tiny) than you’d think based on his detractors, and while he’ll have to get stronger and more nuanced at beating press if he’s on the line as an X, his agility and savvy make it a smart bet that he’s fully capable. In the meantime, or even into perpetuity, what’s wrong with adding an uncoverable slot who shined even while playing alongside two first-rounders who lit the NFL on fire as rookies? He beats zone with ease, high points the ball, has strong hands to win contested catches, and is a separation glutton.

10. bijan robinson • texas

rb1 // Grade: 9 // RAS: 9.83

Man if only he played almost any other position. Running back has been so devalued that the idea of getting a talent like Robinson at the back end of Round 1 isn’t as farfetched as it should be. Still, this is a unique, game-changing back who has little to no weakness to his game. He can bounce outside, use incredible burst and change of direction to plant and cut upfield, reaches top speed very quickly, and is a genuine nightmare in the open field. Behind an OL that was more form than function, Robinson showed uncanny vision, picking his spots with a balance of authority and premonition. He’s got great size, the ability to lower his shoulder and run you over, and he can stop on a dime and matador your ass back to the stone age. Wherever he ends up, someone will get a powerful, relatively inexpensive player who adds dynamism to an NFL offense, even if for only 5-6 years.

11. christian gonzalez • oregon

cb2 // Grade: 9 // RAS: 9.94

Corners like this don’t come around often. He’s long, natural, fluid, and has the athletic ability of a once-in-a-decade guy. He’s a physical corner who knows how to use the sideline as a boundary player, influencing receivers from the snap. He’ll get caught gaining depth too long at times, but once the ball is in the air, he displays an innate ability to track and make a play. He’s going to continue to get better with NFL coaching, and the short-area deficiencies are clearly not a physical limitation for him. He simply affects the ball when in man coverage, whether after it’s thrown or before.

12. darnell wright • tennessee

ot1 // Grade: 9 // RAS: 9.78

Turn on the tape and watch him match Will Anderson. This guy is a natural mover on the right side who is so comfortable there it’s like he’s in a tempurpedic commercial. For a guy who checks all the boxes as a traditional mauler at RT, he moves his feet like a blindsider. There are times he reaches the edge that make you seriously question physics, even pogo-ing off his inside foot multiple times without sacrificing balance or speed. If he gets his hands on you, you’re done. Just ask one of the best pass rushers in the game. He improved massively from 2021 to 2022.

13. peter skoronski • northwestern

ot2 // Grade: 9 // RAS: 9.30

This guy is solid. I mean, he’s just impenetrable. There is no weakness to his game in the way he plays. Need him to get to the second level and clear a lane? Done. Need him to be a mirror against a speedy edge rusher? Done. Need a stalwart against a power rusher? Done. He’s not the world’s best athlete, but his technique is sound from his hand placement to his vision to his footwork, there is no wasted effort or movement anywhere. He’s thick and sturdy, and although his arm length can allow defenders to get in closer than you’d love, he doesn’t give up an inch. It’s like watching Mac crash that car into the wall in Always Sunny. Good luck. If he had longer limbs, he’d be a top five pick, and although scouting helmets can be dangerous, it’s hard not to see some of the same upside as Rashawn Slater, who did have an extra 3/4 of an inch on him.

14. lukas van ness • iowa

edge4 // Grade: 9 // RAS: 9.38

First of all, Iowa starts their most-tenured guys, even if just for one play, so the fact that he “never started” is a moot point. Beyond that, he’s a 6-5 272 pounder who runs like a deer and has magnolia branches for arms. He’s a typical Iowa hard-nosed tough guy, who mixes it up every play and brings the force to the offensive line, while possessing enough base to hang in against the run. He’s got a hell of a bull rush, and can get leverage against blockers quickly. He has the pop you’d expect from a guy so strong, too. Just a natural beast. He does, however, get too caught up in his bull rush and fails to counter effectively at times. You can see on film that he’ll drive an OT backwards for 3 straight seconds while never shedding him and in turn missing out on a sack. He needs refinement, but he’ll anchor and set the edge with ease, and he brings it every play.

15. joey porter jr • penn state

cb3 // Grade: 8.5 // RAS: 9.69

There may not be a better combination of size, length, physicality and man coverage instincts in this class. Porter plays like the son of a linebacker. He’s not the fastest CB in this class, and he’s not the best pure athlete, but the sum of his parts is a lockdown press-man corner who has the size to match up with bigger receivers and the pedigree to contribute early in his career.

16. anthony richardson • florida

qb3 // Grade: 8.5 // RAS: 10

He’s exactly who you think he is: a freakishly big, fast, powerful-armed gunslinger with a ceiling that could make the Sistine Chapel jealous. At his absolute best, if everything goes right with his development, there is may not be a better quarterback prospect in history. That’s a big if, though, considering he’s made only 13 starts, and more than a few of those left a lot to be desired as far as accuracy, field vision, and raw productivity go. Still, if you take his last 9 games of 2022 (which represents 69% of his total starts), his numbers aren’t bad: 17 TD, 5 INT, plus six more scores he added on the ground. He hit the 400-yard passing mark twice in that span, too. You can make a case either way for Richardson, but his talent is undeniable, and with absolutely zero off-field concerns, no injury history, and a final season that looks eerily similar to Josh Allen’s, you can see why some coaches and GMs believe the juice is worth the squeeze here.

17. calijah kancey • pitt

idl2 // Grade: 8.5 // RAS: INC

He’s probably not Aaron Donald, that’s a high-water mark for players even twice this size, but it’s hard to look past the initial quickness and get-off, the flexibility inside to penetrate and collapse a pocket straight on like a dart hitting balloon. And yeah, they went to the same school and are both undersized guys. But even if Kancey falls short of that insane standard, he’s a disruptive interior player who adds so much as a pass rusher and a run interrupter, that some team is going to nab him before night one ends. His testing was absolutely otherworldly, and while he was about half as productive at Pitt as Donald was, he’s still a unique player that can be unleashed in the right system.

18. broderick jones • georgia

ot3 // Grade: 8.5 // RAS: 9.57

Nothing wrong with giving up zero sacks for back-to-back title teams. Jones is a lean, athletic, modern tackle prospect with nice natural athleticism and toughness. He’s young, and it shows at times in his raw technique and a tendency to try to out-athlete everyone. His feet can get a little sloppy and he overextends at times, but this is the highest ceiling OT in the class, and he’s so natural and fluid on the left side, you kind of forget he can get better with more experience and better coaching.

19. cody mauch • north dakota st

iol1 // Grade: 8 // RAS: 9.32

Reminds me, at least a little, of Quinn Meinerz from Wisconsin-Whitewater a few years back. Just a throwback personality, all toughness and grit and goofball offensive lineman who will tear your head off then laugh through the gap where his front teeth used to be. Mauch has experience up and down the line, so while he may not stick outside at tackle in the NFL (though I’d try him there first for sure), he is going to find a starting spot on a professional OL while providing flexibility and depth across the front. Arms are short, and you want him to get a little stronger, but he has excellent technique and brings a nastiness you want in your blockers. I’d take him in the first.

20. jahmyr gibbs • alabama

rb2 // Grade: 8 // RAS: 8.03

Too many people are getting too wrapped up in Gibbs’ size when deflecting a comparison to Alvin Kamara, but let’s not overthink this… he runs exactly like Kamara. Great patience, a smooth, gliding shiftiness in the open field (reminiscent of Arian Foster, too), excellent hands and the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield or line up out wide to start. He can plant and burst into second gear without wasting a second, and he held up very well despite becoming a focal point of Alabama’s offense. So I’m not worried about his size as a runner or receiver. He’s an ultra-fast, electric player who will add another element to a lucky team’s offense, even if blitz pickup at the next level limits him to fewer snaps early on.

21. paris johnson • ohio state

ot4 // Grade: 8 // RAS: INC

Turn on the tape against Georgia’s excellent front, and walk away telling me you’re not impressed by what Johnson can do. He’s a natural left tackle with excellent length for the position and athleticism to develop into a shutdown guy on the blindside. He’s not there yet - there are plenty of lapses as a run blocker, and he’s a bit of a waist-bender right now, but there’s nothing about his profile that can’t be improved by good coaching and a better weight room program. Once he gets stronger, learns to play with a better base, and wins initially rather than relying on his uncanny ability to recover, he’ll be a long-time starter on the left side.

22. sam laporta • iowa

te2 // Grade: 8 // RAS: 9.49

This guy is so underrated it’s like watching the football version of Out Cold (one of the most underrated films of all time). It’s forgivable in a crowded TE class, but LaPorta might be the best after-the-catch of all of them, and his ability to turn upfield, make defenders miss, and claw every inch out of every reception is exactly the kind of gritty talent we’ve come to expect from TEU. He catches the ball cleanly away from his body, turns toward the end zone immediately, and shows an awareness of zone soft spots plus a keen sense of setting up his cuts and catching nickels and LBs flat footed. He may not be Washington as a blocker, but he’s definitely a guy you can stick at the end of the line and feel comfortable that he’ll mix it up, and while he did suffer from some drops at Iowa, he also shows soft hands and a better contested catch knack than he gets credit for.

23. adetomiwa adebawore • northwestern

idl3 // Grade: 8 // RAS: 9.70

I can admit this grade is largely placed on potential. I am not sure I’ve ever seen a guy this size move like he did in testing, and you cannot ignore how well he performed against the best at the Senior Bowl. That was, to me, was more impressive than his wildly elite showing in Indy. He clearly has the raw ability, the want-to, and the openness to good coaching, which sorry Chicago I’m not sure got at Northwestern. There are plenty of times on film that he seems lost, or like he’s overthinking vs playing. And his technique was rough, especially watching how high he played which allowed blockers underneath his pads. You could tell he was trying to out-athlete a lot of his competition. But man, if you can get the player we saw in Mobile, with the upside we say at the Combine… this is a unique guy who can rush from outside, set the edge, or give you a disruptor up the middle. Not a bad 3-for-1.

24. emmanuel forbes • miss state

cb4 // Grade: 7 // RAS: 9.27

Talk about ball skills. Forbes has uncanny instincts when it comes to breaking on passes and a nose for the end zone after he’s stolen it. He’s twitchy, aggravating, and a real menace for anyone he faces, but damn is he skinny. I don’t know if that’s a major concern though, considering he’s still bigger than the football, and he spent more time with it tucked under arm than he ever did watching it sail over his head. His long arms and closing speed helped him affect a lot of throws, and while you wonder how he’ll handle more physical NFL receivers, he doesn’t mind getting nasty at the line, and you love his gambler mentality because if you’re always winning it’s not really gambling, is it?

25. deonte banks • maryland

cb5 // Grade: 8 // RAS: 10

What a corner class. For Banks to be all the way down as a clear fourth option is as much a compliment to the top three guys as anything. There are teams that will have him above Porter and Witherspoon, too, as he combines some of Gonzalez’s game without sacrificing a willingness to mix it up. He’s got the same nastiness as a press guy that the first two show, while combining that with insane athleticism and a versatility to play press, man, or zone. He’s a quick twitch guy who can click and close in a hurry, and his reaction time and instincts will be assets, though there are times when he can get grabby after being forced to follow horizontally.

26. dalton kincaid • utah

te3 // Grade: 8 // RAS: INC

If you want a pure F tight end, look no further. Kincaid is basically a receiver, and I mean that as a compliment because he’s a large man still, and he has some of the best concentration and strongest hands on contested catches in the entire class regardless of position. He’s not going to give you a damn thing as a blocker, and that’s fine, there’s no reason to ask him to. He can eat space in a hurry, knows how to high-point the ball, and has some sort of tractor beam when the pass is in the air. Great route runner who has been exposed to a varied tree, and as long as he’s healthy, he’ll be a weapon in the passing game.

27. jack campbell • iowa

lb1 // Grade: 7.5 // RAS: 9.98

The one thing that worried me about Campbell’s projection to the next level was his ability to run with NFL pass catchers, and boy did he answer that question. I am shocked he’s not getting more buzz after combining an incredibly productive career at Iowa with absolutely excellent results in the drills and testing in Indy. He’s a true quarterback of the defense, diagnosing quickly and prescribing pre-snap. He’ll take on blockers with great success, shedding in a hurry and flowing to the football instinctively. And he’s a modern ‘backer, looking comfortable in zone and showing his athleticism in coverage and breaking on the ball. He won’t offer much as a pass rusher, but you don’t need him to. Let him conduct your defense and get everyone in the right spot, then watch him flow to the ball through traffic. Typical tough Iowa kid.

28. zay flowers • boston college

wr2 // Grade: 7.5 // RAS: 8.28

Ooooh boy. This guy is an animal. If the nickname hadn’t already been taken, I’d call him the honey badger, so we’re going to go with tasmanian devil. He plays fast, intense, and sharp. No wasted motion. Excellent at creating separation. Top-level burst and explosiveness, and is the epitome of dynamic with the ball in his hands. He’s short, that’s about it. You’re gonna have a less-than-ideal catching radius, but he moves so damn well it’s hard to really believe that’ll hurt him. There’s always a concern that he can’t operate as well on the line against bigger physical corners, but if I had to bet, I’d put my money on Flowers, who despite his small stature, has a sturdy build and never loses acceleration.

29. joe tippmann • wisconsin

iol2 // Grade: 7.5 // RAS: INC

One of the savviest blockers in this class, and maybe in the past few classes. From a mental standpoint, has everything you want in a center. He knows the defenses better than most quarterbacks, and he’s able to anticipate where defenders will be, as well as where his running back is headed. That allows him to play with great positional leverage and keep himself from ending up in no man’s land. He’s strong, and for a super tall center (6-6), he doesn’t play high, maintaining the right bend to allow him to unload into blocks without sacrificing his base and center of gravity. He’s fluid, deft at moving in small areas, and gets off the ball in a hurry. He’s exponentially additive to an offensive line and will hear his name called night one.

30. myles murphy • clemson

edge5 // Grade: 7.5 // RAS: INC

Man, you love the get-off. The initial fire and burst off the snap is there. And for a guy with good length and size, he looks like a smaller, quicker edge rusher at first, in a good way. He’s just not been as consistent as a closer. It’s like he overthinks once he disengages, and for some reason he’s faster when he’s dealing with contact than when he’s free. All of the tools are there, and his profile will get him drafted high, as it should, but someone is going to have to piss him off and teach him how to strike, because right now he’s more disruptor than sack artist. Strong guy, great bull rush, productive against the run, and won’t give up any ground, but if you’re counting on him for 10 sacks, I haven’t seen it yet.

31. josh downs • unc

wr3 // Grade: 7.5 // RAS: 8.24

There’s not much separating Downs and Flowers. They both play much bigger than they’re listed, but Downs has the edge on contested catches, which is a nice differentiator if you’re not a 6-3 bully. Of course, that doesn’t mean he gives up any dynamism. He’s a savvy route runner who knows how to work against zone coverage and settles into soft spots without running himself out of contention. Tough guy, just like Flowers, but there are times where his routes are more rounded off and less precise. And, again like Flowers, he can get beat up by press coverage, so he’s limited to the slot potentially, which doesn’t mean he can’t be productive, it’s just that he’s going to be limited. Big play guy though who is as fearless as it gets going over the middle or extending for a ball in traffic.

32. michael mayer • notre dame

te4 // Grade: 7.5 // RAS: 7.58

I have to watch myself when scouting a tight end like Mayer because the trap is to consider him boring compared to the other guys, which is totally unfair since Mayer’s lack in excitement is due largely to being so damn consistent and strong across the board without exactly excelling in any one area. That’s not a complaint, it means you’ll get a “safe” player who won’t ever be out of position or miss an assignment, but in my opinion he lacks the dynamism of some of the other prospects at his position. Strong blocker? Yes, but he’s not Darnell Washington there. Reliable receiver? Absolutely, but he’s not gonna wow you like Dalton Kincaid. Good with the ball in his hands? Sure thing, but he’s not an open field nightmare like LaPorta. He’s Notre Dame in a nutshell… well-coached, strong, efficient but just not exciting. For a team that wants a traditional tight end who can line up inline or flex out and will give you B+ reps every play, he’s your guy. That kind of versatility and availability is a strength. I just think he’s more jack of all than master of one.

33. sydney brown • illinois

s1 // Grade: 7.5 // RAS: 9.66

This safety class is not gonna go down in the history books, but that’s ok. There are specific strengths in a lot of prospects that can net you an impact guy as long as you’re not asking them to be a five-tool player. Brown is a freak athlete with a bullet-train mentality who can absolutely lay you out when he’s coming downhill. I see some Talanoa Hufanga to his game. He’s explosive, has the speed and agility to stick with TEs if asked, and seems to be in on every tackle in every game. But he’s not at his best in man coverage if he doesn’t get a chance to reroute at the line, and while he has range, he’s not as impactful reacting as he is dictating. You can line him up in two high, but I’d keep him free without too much over the top zone responsibility and let him affect the LOS.

34. bryan bresee • clemson

idl4 // Grade: 7.5 // RAS: 9.58

Tough injury history for a mega-recruit who moves like no 300-pounder should. He’s too quick, too smooth, too fluid for a guy his size. That’s a compliment. He can clog gaps and split blocks with ease when he’s on, and although he’s a little high at times, he’s an ultra-athletic talent who can be molded into a disruptor who can also stand his ground in the right system. He just needs more experience on the field to continue refining his technique, which he’ll get if he can stay healthy.

35. jordan addison • usc

wr4 // Grade: 7 // RAS: 5.79

Incredible route runner. That’s often code for “slow” but Addison has plenty of juice to keep his biggest strength viable at the next level. There’s a reason he had so many 20-yard receptions in college. Innate understanding of all routes, how to set them up and sell them without losing any sharpness or urgency in his cuts, and does not decelerate before changing direction. He’s small and slim, but again where he wins won’t be hampered by weaknesses he’s been overcoming his whole career. There’s no area of the field he can’t attack, as indicated by his insane college production, and his lack of contested catch success is mitigated by the fact that he’s so damn good at running routes most of his catches are made with no one nearby to contest.

36. brian branch • alabama

s2 // Grade: 7 // RAS: 5.09

I’ve come around on Branch through the process. I don’t see an amazing athlete when I watch him, which is true. He’s not a freak. But he’s so damn smart and reliable that he doesn’t have to be. The NFL sees more base nickel every year, and even if Branch ends up becoming best suited to stick there, he’ll be impactful. Takes smart angles, keeps himself and his backfield mates in position pre-snap, diagnoses quickly, and tackles very well. He’s a good player, who has no real weak spots in his coached game, but he can be run by, and he can be out-quicked, so he’ll need to be protected over the top more than some people want to admit. But he has great ball skills and again has such amazing anticipation that his physical limitations were often moot in college. I go back and forth, as you can tell, but I think he’s a solid starter who won’t cause issues even if he doesn’t often come away with game-changing plays either.

37. hendon hooker • tennessee🏥

qb4 // Grade: 7 // RAS: INC

Oh if he hadn’t been injured. His age is a non-factor to me. QBs are playing through second divorces these days, so he might have a 20 year career even if he’s already just a year younger than Lamar Jackson. Hooker has a great arm, underreported in this class because of Richardson and Will Levis, but he can hum it. And yeah, he played in a wide open attack under Josh Heupel, but again that’s not a weakness in today’s NFL, which looks more like college schematically every year. He can move, not just to extend plays which he does well by keeping his eyes downfield, but also as an effective addition to the offense proactively. His ability to work through progressions wasn’t often tested at Tennessee, but when it was, he processed quickly and placed the ball even when he was in a hurry or facing pressure. Of course, since it didn’t happen often and he didn’t complete his season, his evaluation is unfinished, but his accuracy and potential as a dual-threat guy who still looks to pass first should get his name called by the end of Round 2 at worst, late Round 1 at best.

38. will mcdonald • iowa state

edge6 // Grade: 7 // RAS: INC

The Gumby of this class. He can bend. It’s like trying to block a damn snake, and not just because McDonald is skinny. Yes, he’s lean, and that shows up at times when he gets overpowered by linemen who get their mitts on him, but have you ever tried to grab a snake? It’s not easy. This guy is just a natural bender who can twist off the edge and stress tackles in a hurry. He played in a weird college system that asked him to be part of a 3 man line, and there’s no way he’s doing that in the NFL at 239lbs, so there’s definitely a lot of imagination involved in his projection, but whether he stands up at the next level or plays wide in a 40 front on passing downs, he produced, notching 34 career sacks. I wouldn’t ask him to set the edge or take on pulling guards, but when you want someone to slither into the backfield off the corner, he’s shown he can get it done.

39. tuli tuipolotu • usc

edge7 // Grade: 7 // RAS: INC

Pretty strong, productive guy to be getting so little heat in the pre-draft process, at least from the outside. I think Tuipolotu is the most likely “surprise” first round pick this year, even in a loaded edge class. He brings a strength and ability to set the edge that a lot of the other prospects don’t have in their bags, while still managing production (led the nation in sacks last year). His motor genuinely never stops running, which is good since he was asked to play all across the line at USC, and found paydirt from each spot. He’s considerably slimmer than his listed weight, which likely means a home on the outside of a 40 front, which I believe is his best spot. He may not be the freak athlete some of his counterparts are, but he’s relentless, versatile, and a damn good closer who will get you seven sacks a year without needing to come off the field in obvious running situations either. Good player.

40. jalin hyatt • tennessee

wr5 // Grade: 7 // RAS: 9.47

So let’s just assume for a second that Hyatt is limited in his route tree? If he’s a one-trick pony, it’s a pretty damn good trick. The draft isn’t just about what a guy has done, it’s about projecting what he can do, too. As for what we know, Hyatt can get vertical in a hurry, showed the ability to beat press (though not always), and can fly. He’s going to need to learn the nuance of additional routes if he wants to round out his game, and he isn’t an overly strong guy so work there can help him beat press more consistently and add an outside element to his game consistently. But if you’re looking for a guy who can take the top off a defense, this is your guy. Natural ball-tracker with insane production. Who cares if he catches just three balls a game if two of them are scores.

41. tyjae spears • tulane

rb3 // Grade: 7 // RAS: 7.45

Spears is closer to the top backs in this class than many will admit. When you want a true three-down guy who has excellent contact balance, ludicrous slipperiness in the second level, and has no problem lowering his shoulder or breaking your ankles, you can wait until Round 2 to grab someone who might very well lead the rookie class in rushing in year one. He’s sudden in his cuts, works through contact, even if it’s early before he reaches top speed, and has more juice as a breakaway threat than most of the backs in this class. He has natural hands as a receiver out of the backfield, and dances his way through traffic even at full sprint. He’s not a world-beater as a pass-blocker, which could limit him early on, and he’s not quite as interchangeable a chess piece as Gibbs or as physically imposing as Bijan, but he can start in the league.

42. mazi smith • michigan

idl5 // Grade: 7 // RAS: INC

In a class that lacks a lot of meat in the middle, the kind that frees up linebackers and eats space while pressing the pocket and giving up less ground than a well-oated sand dune, Smith can find a home earlier than some of his more glamorous counterparts. His athleticism didn’t quite show up during testing the way some thought it might, but there are plenty of teams in the league who will covet his strength, powerful pop, and ability to eliminate a gap. He’s not going to give you much in the way of pocket pressure inside, but you can count on him not to be moved.

43. kelee ringo • georgia

cb6 // Grade: 7 // RAS: 8.20

Reminds me so much of AJ Terrell. Tons of tape against top competition is going to lead to more than a few burns, but Ringo also has excellent ball skills, great length, and loads of experience. He’s fearless, and routinely took on the No. 1 target aggressively, getting physical at the line and playing bump and run as consistently as anyone. He’s not as smooth hipped or fluid as some guys in this class, especially when changing direction, and that means he needs to win the release against the receiver, so you wish he had longer arms, but that didn’t stop him from shutting down Quentin Johnston. He has the size to match up against the most brutish receivers you can draw up, but there’s a clear ceiling due to his lateral stiffness.

44. quentin johnston • tcu

wr6 // Grade: 7 // RAS: INC

There is a lot of projection involved when it comes to QJ. More than a lot of people are willing to admit. He’s so fiercely defended on Twitter (not real life), I don’t get it. But, I will concede that the size, raw athleticism, speed, and run after catch ability is there in spades. He has some decent variety and nuance in his release, and if he gets off the line cleanly, he’s gone. If he catches the ball, he’s gone. Those are two MAJOR ifs, though. He didn’t perform either of those base tasks consistently. Georgia dominated him with a straight-line corner who got in his face and got his hands on him, and there are more instances of him dropping easy passes than you’d like to see in a clear first round guy. But, in this class, there aren’t many with his height/weight/speed profile, experience outside, or ceiling. You just have to teach him how to high-point and use his size on jump balls, keep passes from hitting his body instead of his hands, and work through physical press. At his size, it shouldn’t be impossible, and you can scheme the ball into his hands on slants and screens early, but he’s an enigma.

45. julius brents • kansas state

cb7 // Grade: 7 // RAS: 9.99

Ok, I love Brents’ potential. He didn’t have the same straight line speed as some other guys in this class, but everywhere else he’s an elite athlete with insane length. That’s going to be a plus. You can see it on film, even when he’s beat, that ability to affect the ball with his long arms makes up for it. And, surprisingly for a bigger guy, he’s physical with shifty slot receivers, and less surprisingly has a knack for making plays against the run. He lined up as edge rusher at times for K State. BUT… and it’s a big one… he shied away from pressing bigger stronger faster guys like Quentin Johnston. That tape is awful. Both games. When he gives a free release, his footwork gets lazy, he’s caught on his heels, and he gets very grabby. I believe that’s coachable, and I’d bet on him, but it’s definitely a real issue right now, and it may cause him to move positions until he can get it fixed.

46. zack kuntz • old dominion

te5 // Grade: 7 // RAS: 10

What a tight end class. A guy with a perfect RAS is the fifth best option, and I’m way higher on him than most. I think he profiles a lot like Jimmy Graham — raw, huge, athletic, brimming with potential to be a game changing receiver without offering much blocking. He knows how to get open against the zone, has the size and leaping ability to make catches even if he hasn’t truly beaten his man, and can get upfield in a hurry. He’s not going to give you much wiggle after he snags it, but as a red zone threat or a seam beater, he’s got some serious juice. Tons to learn after playing small ball, but get him in and teach him and then just destroy the red zone with a real live giraffe.

47. will levis • kentucky

qb4 // Grade: 7 // RAS: INC

Heard of this guy? Every year there’s a prospect who just rubs people the wrong way and they let emotion get the better of them and start inventing reasons to dislike the prospect when really they just dislike the guy. I’m not saying I agree with either, but I do have Levis lower than some. I think his inaccuracy stems more from decision making than ability to place the football, I mean the guy has a cannon and I’ve seen him hit tight spots. It’s the way he seemed to panic behind an admittedly poor line and then totally switch from reading a defense to absolute hubris in his arm no matter the actual separation from his receiver or the coverage in the area. He’s going to have be brought along carefully, but if you hit with this guy, there is absolutely nothing out of bounds in your playbook. He can make every single throw, he’s sturdy and can make plays with defenders hanging off of him, and he’s way more mobile than he’s getting credit for. This is a true ideal prospect from a tools trait, but a big reclamation project from the mental side of the game. It bears mentioning, too, that the only other quarterback I remember being as openly interested in bodybuilding was Brady Quinn, and I’d prefer my QBs to have as little in common with him as possible.

48. o’cyrus torrence • florida

iol3 // Grade: 7 // RAS: 5.98

Mountain of a man who was damn near immovable in pass protection. Probably the highest ceiling of any interior lineman in this class, but I saw him rely too much on raw upper body strength and not enough on proper technique which worked well against smaller interior rushers but is going to allow more refined, strong NFL DL to get under his pads and extend himself over his backside. He needs to get better about relying on footwork and trunk strength while creating a stronger base to maintain his balance and keep his streak of zero sacks going, but he’s powerful up top, has great length, and looks like a long-term starter inside.

49. drew sanders • arkansas

lb2 // Grade: 7 // RAS: INC

Like if Jack Campbell was worse at diagnostics, but better at rushing the passer. Another long, somewhat rangy LB prospect who fights through traffic, takes on blocks, and sheds well, but Sanders brings an added versatility to his game, giving you options off the edge as well as in the middle, and has chops as a pass rusher from both spots. In a weak class for LBs, he’s going to go higher than he otherwise might, because while he’s a strong pass rusher for a middle linebacker, he’s not a guy you’d take to bring the heat over the true edge rushers in this class, and he’s not quite as quick to diagnose or anywhere near as cerebral pre-snap as Campbell. He’s versatile, can beat you in a lot of ways, and adds an element on the inside that not a lot of LBs in this class bring. Good player, but you need him coming downhill.

50. keion white • georgia tech

edge8 // Grade: 7 // RAS: 9.92

Man all the pieces are there. Really long player who uses a strong base to set the edge, and keeps offensive tackles from getting into this body, instead controlling them and shedding quickly to ensure the corner is closed and there’s no daylight for bouncing outside or cutting through his gap. He pops off the snap, jars blockers, and gains control early in the play, which allows him to diagnose and dictate running lanes, but when he doesn’t gain an advantage immediately, he can get lost rushing the passer and leaves some plays on the field. He’s just like a big kid right now, knows he can toss people around some, but doesn’t know what to do if raw explosiveness doesn’t win. He has some flexibility to move inside on passing downs, and you can be pretty sure he won’t let anyone run through or by him in the ground game, but until he develops a deeper bag of pass rush moves, he won’t be a premier edge player in the sack column.

51. john michael schmitz // minnesota // iol4 // grade: 7

52. tank dell // houston // wr7 // grade: 7

53. at perry // wake forest // wr8 // grade: 7

54. zach charbonnet // ucla // rb4 // grade: 7

55. kobie turner // wake forest // idl6 // grade: 7

56. anton harrison // oklahoma // ot5 // grade: 6.5

57. yaya diaby // louisville // edge9 // grade: 6.5

58. trenton simpson // clemson // lb3 // grade: 6.5

59. cam smith // south carolina // cb8 // grade: 6.5

60. dj turner // michigan // cb9 // grade: 6.5

61. devon achane // texas a&m // rb5 // grade: 6.5

62. derick hall // auburn // edge10 // grade: 6.5

63. felix anudike- uzomah // kansas state // edge11 // grade: 6.5

64. dawand jones // ohio state // ot6 // grade: 6.5

65. keeanu benton // wisconsin // idl7 // grade: 6.5

66. mohamoud diabate // utah // lb4 // grade: 6.5

67. clark phillips // utah // cb10 // grade: 6.5

68. luke musgrave // oregon state // te6 // grade: 6.5

69. tucker kraft // south dakota st // te7 // grade: 6.5

70. marvin mims // oklahoma // wr9 // grade: 6.5

71. blake freeland // byu // ot7 // grade: 6.5

72. tyler steen // alabama // ot8 // grade: 6.5

73. chandler zavala // nc state // iol5 // grade: 6

74. bj ojulari // lsu // edge12 // grade: 6

75. riley moss // iowa // cb11 // grade: 6

76. israel abanikanda // pitt // rb6 // grade: 6

77. davis allen // clemson // te8 // grade: 6

78. cedric tillman // tennessee // wr10 // grade: 6

79. tyler scott // cincinnati // wr11 // grade: 6

80. jayden reed // michigan state // wr11 // grade: 6

81. henry to’oto’o // alabama // lb5 // grade: 6

82. christopher smith // georgia // s3 // grade: 6

83. jartavius martin // illinois // s4 // grade: 6

84. tyrique stevenson // miami // cb12 // grade: 6

85. olusegun oluwatimi // michigan // iol6 // grade: 6

86. dewayne mcbride // uab // rb7 // grade: 6

87. siaki ika // baylor // idl8 // grade: 6

88. jalen redmond // oklahoma // idl9 // grade: 6

89. matt bergeron // syracuse // ot9 // grade: 6

90. ronnie bell // michigan // wr12 // grade: 6

91. daiyan henley // wash state // lb6 // grade: 6

92. jonathan mingo // ole miss // wr14 // grade: 6

93. andrei iosivas // princeton // wr13 // grade: 6

94. ji’ayir brown // penn state // s5 // grade: 6

95. isaiah foskey // notre dame // edge13 // grade: 6

96. steve avila // tcu // iol7 // grade: 6

97. brenton strange // penn state // te9 // grade: 6

98. jammie robinson // fsu // s6 // grade: 6

99. demarvion overshown // texas // lb7 // grade: 6

100. antonio johnson // texas a&m // s7 // grade: 6