Welcome to the weekend and another edition of Football Thoughts: Summer Scouting!
This week, I thought about writing regarding the Carolina Panthers trading for Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield. However, you’ve probably seen my Twitter timeline through the week (@JRodNFLDraft) to understand where I am on the matter. Instead, I will give you beautiful and handsome people my “rough draft” of my current preseason Top 10 for the 2023 NFL Draft.
I haven’t done too many prospects at this point during the summer as life has taken time out of that. However, I’ll be getting into plenty of prospects over the next several weeks as we approach Week 1 of the college football season.
Summer scouting is more of an optimistic outlook in evaluating the rising draft-eligible prospects throughout college football. As we have seen throughout the yearly draft cycle, not every prospect we draft pundits watch will declare for the NFL Draft. However, it gives us an understanding of how this player is right now, what he’s good at, and where there should be growth in their game to improve their draft stock going into the offseason.
Before we dive in, let me remind you that this is not my final preseason Top 10. Could it be the same this time next month? Of course! Though, it is unlikely. I have at least 80-100 more prospects to evaluate to feel comfortable with my final preseason board. Without further ado, let’s dive into my “rough draft” preliminary Top 10.
No. 1: EDGE Will Anderson, Alabama
Best. Football. Player. In. The. Country!
Will Anderson is the definition of an absolute game-wrecker who will dominate the line of scrimmage and attack the backfield with unrelenting aggression. His production last season was incredible with 31 tackles for loss and 17.5 sacks. There was good reason for Anderson to have 1st-place votes from last year’s Heisman Trophy race. Could he replicate that type of production again? Probably not, though, it would not surprise anyone if he did. Anderson’s rare athleticism, explosiveness, prototypical size, run defending skills, length, power, and versatility make him the player he is: the best player in college football.
No. 2: QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
I cannot tell you how relieved I am that I will never have to have a conversation about the dreadful 2022 quarterback class and I can watch good football players again! Jokes aside, it was a joy to watch C.J. Stroud’s film. The amount of growth he showed from Week 1 against Minnesota to the Rose Bowl against Utah is incredible. Does Stroud still need to improve? Absolutely. However, his football IQ when it comes to full-field reads and progressions is incredibly advanced. Stroud’s eyes are some of the best I’ve seen in the last few years. With continued growth, the redshirt sophomore can be one of the most coveted QB prospects in the last 10 years.
No. 3: RB Bijan Robinson, Texas
Wait a dang minute, Jared. You’re telling me a running back is a top 3 prospect on your preseason draft board? Yes, I am. Bijan Robinson is the best running back I’ve evaluated since the great RB class from 2018 that featured the likes of Saquon Barkley, Nick Chubb, and Rashaad Penny. Having a running back that can be an ample contributor on passing downs in today’s football landscape is a major plus.
Not only is Robinson well-refined in this area, but he’s also one of the best pure runners in college football. The rising junior offers a great combination of quickness, burst, vision, patience, and contact balance that makes him such an incredibly dangerous runner. It would not surprise me to see Robinson drafted in the first ten picks of next year’s draft.
No. 4: iDL Bryan Bresee, Clemson
While a torn ACL knocked him out for the rest of the 2021 season, Bryan Bresee is still one of the best defenders in college football. The once highly-touted five-star recruit has been as impactful as they come. When Bresee touched the field for the first time in a COVID-shortened 2020 campaign, he made an immediate impact. Bresee is consistently in the backfield thanks in part to his advanced football IQ when it comes to defending the run and rushing the passer. For his size, Bresee offers great flexibility and first-step explosiveness that allows him to gain an upper hand on offensive linemen. If Bresee can stay healthy this season, he could be the first defensive tackle drafted next April.
No. 5: LB Trenton Simpson, Clemson
This year’s linebacker class looks strong at the top going into the regular season. Things can change between now and January. However, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t praise my LB1 going into the season. Trenton Simpson moves VERY well for his size – 6’3”, 230e lbs – and that allows him to play in multiple alignments and positions for the Tigers. Simpson offers elite athleticism that helps him move well going from sideline to sideline and the explosiveness to attack downhill through alleys with aggression. I wouldn’t say Simpson is Isaiah Simmons 2.0, more so because he’s a linebacker playing linebacker, but the similarities in terms of his versatility make sense for the comparison.
No. 6: QB Bryce Young, Alabama
I can just imagine Alabama fans in my mentions right now livid that their quarterback is not No. 2 on this list. Jokes aside, I love Bryce Young and what he brings to the table. You have the three-level accuracy range, incredible football intelligence, rare poise for his age, and beautiful pocket awareness. Add in his mobility and adequate arm strength, and Young should be either the first or second QB off the board next April. However, he doesn’t come without concerns.
Young’s size will be a talking point among evaluators as smaller QBs have dealt with injuries in the past. There were times when Young was too confident or cocky throwing the ball while taking things in front of him, and his lower-half mechanics would get sloppy when things got testy. Like Stroud, Young has plenty of growing to do, but he’s easily a better talent than any of the QBs drafted in this year’s draft.
No. 7: iDL Jalen Carter, Georgia
Trying to study ELIGIBLE prospects… Get away from me #88!
Jalen Carter… Wtf. Did he change gaps on his own here, anticipating the run to the left?! And then was still able to fall back into the B-gap. Damn. pic.twitter.com/QLjrF5B56X
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) October 20, 2021
I’ve talked about Jalen Carter before in a previous Football Thoughts article, but I’ll repeat myself: he might be the best defensive lineman from last year’s defense. Yes, better than Devonte Wyatt, Jordan Davis, and Travon Walker. Carter offers a very high ceiling thanks in part to his rare athleticism for the position, explosiveness, power, length, and physicality. Plenty of Georgia’s run stops have come from Carter, who is quite refined as a run defender despite playing in a smaller role last season. I would love to see the former five-star improve his pass rush plan of attack, his consistency with diagnosing the run, handling double teams, and offer better hand placement.
No. 8: LB Noah Sewell, Oregon
When watching #Oregon defense, it’s impossible to not notice Noah Sewell. I was annoyed when I learned he wasn’t draft eligible in 2022, but he’s the early favorite for LB1 in 2023.
Freak athlete, super physical, three down impact. Great INT today. pic.twitter.com/22MmChbrda
— Jordan Pun (@Texans_Thoughts) December 4, 2021
Yes, there is another Sewell brother from Oregon who just so happens to be one of the best players at his position in college football. Noah Sewell is as advertised; he offers great range, size, and athleticism that will be valued at the NFL level. I appreciate his ability to fit the run and maintain gap integrity when sorting through trash to get to the ball carrier while coming downhill. Sewell is a fantastic run defender who is continuing to grow as a pass defender. He showed flashes in that area in short hook drops, as shown above. The battle for LB1 will be one to watch this upcoming season.
No. 9: EDGE Myles Murphy, Clemson
Three Clemson defenders in my current top 10 go to show how incredibly talented this Tigers defense will be in 2022. Myles Murphy is a player I think that with a little bit more growth can be the best pass rusher in this draft class outside of Will Anderson. I was a little bit surprised by how good of a pass rush plan he already possesses as a rising junior. Murphy is also a refined run defender who plays with good power, physicality, pad level, plus length, and good gap integrity. While he isn’t an elite athlete by any means, Murphy still offers plenty of flexibility and bend. I’m excited to see what steps Murphy takes this coming season.
No. 10: WR Kayshon Boutte, LSU
Kayshon Boutte really employs a “less is more” approach to his route running. He just knows how to get open in the most efficient way possible.
He’s extremely effective manipulating defenders with his head and body! pic.twitter.com/LodHVrySpw
— Ben Glassmire (@BenGlassmireNFL) June 19, 2022
To round out my current top 10 prospects this summer, we have what could be the next great LSU wide receiver, Kayshon Boutte. I enjoyed Boutte’s film. He’s a great route runner who can manipulate defenders with head nods and sudden body movements to create separation. I love his run-after-catch ability, as he has plenty of speed to take the ball the distance and the change of direction skills to make defenders miss in space. Boutte suffered a season-ending leg injury last season, which is something to keep an eye on. I would like to see the former four-star recruit improve his issues with drops and prove he can be a true X-receiver when it comes to beating press-man coverage. Overall, Boutte has the goods to be an elite playmaker this year and boost his draft stock.