School: Arizona State / LSU

Position: QB

Year: Senior

The Good: Daniels is a dual-threat quarterback in the purest definition. His pure speed is real – I expect him to run the 40 in the 4.4s range – and he’s a creative and silky runner too; Daniels just effortlessly glides by defenders in his way and can turn any given scramble into a housecall. As a passer, Daniels throws with solid zip and is at his most (relatively) accurate when throwing deep. Daniels’ recognition of coverages is there and he’s good about not putting the ball in harm’s way. In his 2023 Heisman campaign, the prototypical QB stuff turned way up for Daniels.

The Bad: That last sentence might not make the most sense without context, so here it is: Daniels did not have a nearly firm enough grasp on the QB position required at the NFL level through his fourth year of college ball (and his first at LSU). Like I wrote, it got better as a super senior, but Daniels still has a bunch of red flags as a prospect. His short-armed release jumps out immediately on tape – which creates mediocre short accuracy – as does his wiry build that’s going to get him tossed around in the NFL. The concerns only heighten for Daniels as you watch more and more of his tape. Simply put, Daniels’ general ability to read the field is very suspect. He can hold onto the ball too long in the pocket and his pocket movement is too dramatic as well. When it comes to arm talent, Daniels’ raw arm strength is subpar by pro standards, and he cannot currently deliver on a full arsenal of throws either. Even with some grace for QB prospects in tape study, it’s hard not to take note of Daniels’ quantity of flat-out bad misses on throws.

The Bottom Line: I understand why Daniels will go in Round 1 of the Draft; he’s fresh off a season with 40 touchdown passes and is truly a killer runner for the position. Still, it needs to be said that Daniels isn’t a Mike Vick/Lamar Jackson “Houdini” type of QB runner. In the passing game, Daniels basically only took what was drawn up or right in front of him, and I definitely cannot say I love that we’ve seen Daniels at the age of an NFL rookie be merely “ok” in college – whether the full 2022 LSU season or against better SEC defenses that were able to achieve some containment against him in 2023. You cannot pump up Daniels’ 2023 stat line without acknowledging that he threw to two bona fide stud wideouts in Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr, and LSU was willing to run the same routes over and over again for them until defenses slowed them down – hint: they never did. At the end of the day, it boils down to that Daniels probably has the most alarming vision I’ve ever evaluated for a first-round QB prospect in my years of doing this, and I can’t place a Round 1 recommendation when he’s carrying that designation.

Grade: Second Round

Pro Comp: Kordell Stewart

Games Watched:

• Stanford 2021
• USC 2021
• Florida State 2022
• Mississippi State 2022
• Tennessee 2022
• Alabama 2022
• Georgia 2022 (SEC Championship)
• Florida State 2023
• Mississippi State 2023
• Arkansas 2023
• Ole Miss 2023
• Missouri 2023
• Auburn 2023
• Alabama 2023
• Florida 2023

Plays That Matter [LINK]

School: UNC

Position: QB

Year: Redshirt Sophomore

The Good: A 6’4, 230lbs, 21 year-old QB who declares for the NFL Draft is going to tempt NFL decision makers as long as humans inhabit the earth. Maye has two full seasons of big production under his belt; he was the 2022 ACC Player of the Year behind a 38:7 TD:INT ratio, and then he backed it up in 2023 with similar play. Maye can throw the crap out of a football; the ball glides out of his right hand, he delivers on deep balls with consistency, and he can really layer the ball to all parts of the field. Maye nails multiple big-time throws every game he plays, and it helps that he can do it from both within and outside of the pocket. It’s a real strength of Maye’s game that he can regularly create his ideal throwing lanes. Physically, there are minimal concerns with Maye; he has proven that he can survive a bevy of hits, and he throws through contact well, too. Mentally, Maye is reactionary, situationally aware, and mostly a good decision maker on where to go with the football. 

The Bad: Maye comes into the NFL with some mechanical issues, mainly that he has a slow release by pro standards and that his pronounced throwing motion can lead to spiked passes and straight-up misses. He’s pretty robotic working through his progressions, too. I’ve already covered that Maye can deliver haymakers to defenses with his arm, but the uglier side of that ability is Maye’s bad habit of passing up singles for home run swings. Even in the most aggressive of offenses, Maye will need to adjust his ratio of taking the high-percentage plays in front of him. I can’t say I’m a fan of Maye as a runner, either. He’s a more rugged runner than a QB should be and his evasiveness is average at best; frankly, Maye just isn’t a good enough runner to decide to run as much as he does. Hopefully that trend stays behind at Chapel Hill. Maybe more paramount than other concerns, though, is that Maye does not adjust for pressure well enough in general. He’s quick to drop his eyes, especially as he’s getting rattled, and his NFL coaches will need to get to work with him immediately on developing pre-snap plans. Maye currently plays too on the fly and can start off on the wrong read, and his anticipation isn’t all the way there yet, either. And while every quarterback is going to have an errant throw or down drive every so often, Maye is prone to bad quarters, halves, or even games.

The Bottom Line: I get the appeal in Drake Maye, I really do. And I’m not just hedging my evaluation as someone who is about to hit publish on a profile that’s lower on him as a prospect than the consensus. I’ll put it this way: my favorite team is the Giants, and I’d be delighted if they took him with the sixth overall pick. There’s a not-so-crazy future where Maye continues to ramp up his creativity as he matures and takes more control of his offense, leading him to becoming one of the best playmakers at the position in the league. The ultra optimistic comparison for Maye would be someone like Ben Roethlisberger. I’m coming into the clubhouse not feeling ultra optimistic about Maye’s NFL outcome, though. He still plays so young; the game moves fast for him and he just too often makes things too hard on himself. It’s fair to put in writing that Maye has middling accuracy, too. It all amounts to a combination that we’ve seen before in high-end QB prospects that flop. Not necessarily a prospect that quickly flames out of the league, but one whose team’s patience might run thin – especially as the league moves further in the directions towards more short stints for Head Coaches/GMs and more offenses that need accurate processors rather than superheroes at the position.

Grade: Mid First Round

Pro Comp: Sam Darnold

Games Watched:

• App State 2022
• Notre Dame 2022
• Pitt 2022
• Duke 2022
• Wake 2022
• Clemson 2022 (ACC Championship)
• Oregon 2022 (Holiday Bowl)
• South Carolina 2023
• Minnesota 2023
• Pitt 2023
• Miami 2023
• UVA 2023
• Duke 2023
• Clemson 2023

Plays That Matter [LINK]

School: Wisconsin

Position: OC

Year: Redshirt Junior

The Good: Joe Tippmann is another big prospect at center at 6’6″, 313lbs. Like many Wisconsin offensive linemen of years past, Tippmann has that Midwestern strength that he can channel throughout his sturdy base. Tippmann can absorb heavy contact lined up across from nose tackles. Tippmann consistently earns good pad level despite being 6’6”, and he possesses above-average general athleticism for an interior lineman.

The Bad: For a prospect who’s even getting some Round 1 buzz, Tippmann has a lot to work on. His hands need work; they too often miss and land outside the pads of defenders. I specified “general” athleticism above – like Tippmann appears fast and explosive enough – but I’m not sure how “functional” of an athlete he is. Tippmann doesn’t change direction nor slide his feet in pass protection well enough. He just looks too stiff and upright on tape too, and the results are iffy when Tippmann doesn’t immediately lock into engagement and he’s forced to instead reset then re-engage. I’d also like to see Tippmann deliver impact in his blocks as well as he absorbs it.

The Bottom Line: I…do not get the early round talk around Tippmann. It came out of freaking nowhere too; he wasn’t ranked on any consensus big boards at the start of this process. It’s not like Tippmann blew up the Combine either; he literally didn’t even test! And I’m sorry, I know that injuries can flare up and prospects want to perform drills at 100% only, but an early-declare IOL prospect skipping testing over this four-month process raises red flags for me. And on the field, I think there’s a chance I’d like Tippmann more at guard; he definitely has the size and tools to play there. But more than that, he didn’t appear in total command of his offensive line at center; I witnessed a few miscommunications transpire on tape that resulted in QB hits or sacks. So yeah, we have a probably-athletic and probably-versatile prospect with hit-and-miss tape at IOL here. That’s a draftable player, but closer to Day 3 than Day 1.

Grade: Fourth Round

Pro Comp: Graham Glasgow

Games Watched: 

• Ohio State 2022
• Michigan State 2022
• Nebraska 2022

Plays That Matter [LINK]

School: Minnesota

Position: OC

Year: Redshirt Senior

The Good: Center is one of the select few positions where you might want your NFL Draft pick to be on the older end with more game experience, especially if he’s an expected Week 1 starter. Well, John Michael Schmitz enrolled at Minnesota in 2017 and played 57 games for the Gophers. Schmitz is as in control, aware, and reactive as you’d like for your center; an offense can feel comfortable with every play starting with the ball in his hands. Athletically, Schmitz has good quickness. He can pin interior defensive lineman and land frontside blocks, and he’s a capable zone blocker in the run game. Schmitz has a nice sized frame, especially since he plays with good knee bend to offset his above-average height for the position. Moving forward, Schmitz converts at the second level at a good enough rate. There is absolutely zero concern over Schmitz’s football mentality either.

The Bad: The primary knock against Schmitz is that he’s a pretty limited athlete. Like I already covered, he’s definitely quick enough, but Schmitz is otherwise slow and isn’t too gifted with balance. Schmitz will be on the lower end of the spectrum for general strength among NFL linemen once he’s drafted too; he can’t really discard dudes across from him, nor does he chip block with authority. Though he has average arm length, Schmitz doesn’t really play to it. He’s mediocre on combo blocks, and the same can be said about his general hand usage in pass protection.

The Bottom Line: John Michael Schmitz is a NFL center in waiting, through and through. He’s a better run blocker than pass blocker, though neither phase is a major strength but also not a major issue either; he’s just all-around solid. There’s obviously value in that and it justifies him as a draft pick in the top half of the NFL Draft. Every player has a chance to get better once he cracks the NFL, but Schmitz might be just about as maxed out as it gets. 

Grade: Third Round

Pro Comp: Chase Roullier

Games Watched: 

• Ohio State 2021
• Michigan State 2022
• Illinois 2022
• Senior Bowl

Plays That Matter [LINK]

School: Wisconsin

Position: DT

Year: Senior

The Good: Keeanu Benton certainly looks the part of an NFL defensive tackle at 6’4”, 310lbs, and he tested quite well at the Combine in the most relevant drills for DTs (above 80th percentile in both the broad jump and 3-cone). That burst shows on tape; Benton has a very good get-off, particularly for a dude who regularly aligned at nose tackle. He has strong hands, and he’s able to get downhill to cut off lanes on stretch runs. As a pass rusher, Benton is a very slippery gap shooter. The highest end of Benton’s plays look like they belong on a Quinnen Williams highlight reel.

The Bad: Benton’s size almost works against his play style. As a pass rusher who wins by quickly getting under the inside shoulders of linemen, he loses the pad level battle quite a bit and seldom wins with power. Benton really needs to diversify his pass rush arsenal and have more intention with his hands, because the physical advantages that he had in the Big 10 won’t exist to nearly the same degree in the NFL. And I say all of that to then say that Benton is better as a pass rusher than a run stopper. His contact balance isn’t strong and he can’t really take on double teams; he’s not playing over the center in the NFL like he did at Wisconsin. Benton also should hold his ground better for a heavier DT, and he’s generally slow to get off blocks.

The Bottom Line: Based on his accolades, athletic profile, and highlights, I expected to come out of Benton’s evaluation way higher on him than I actually am. I get why a team will likely pick him in the Top 50; his best plays truly have the look of an elite player and he’s a playmaker at a position where many of his peers just put their helmets down and chug into double teams. I’d be excited to have him on my team at 3-tech as like the second or third dude on the defensive line, and he could be one of the few trench players with a respectable sack count. I just don’t think he’s all that versatile and I worry about him vs the run – his run defense tape against Ohio State was legitimately concerning. For Benton’s success, I hope that concern of mine is misplaced…because DTs weak against the run don’t see the field much in the NFL!

Grade: Third Round

Pro Comp: BJ Hill

Games Watched:

• Clemson 2021
• Wake 2021
• West Virginia 2022
• Tennessee 2022
• UNC 2022

Plays That Matter [LINK]

School: TCU

Position: OG

Year: Redshirt Senior

The Good: Steve Avila, at 332lbs with just 33” arms, is exactly what you want your left guard to look like. And he’s got a pair of tiny hands (7th percentile) that are basically two mini boxing gloves at the ends of his arms. Avila’s hand usage is truly excellent for a prospect. They are quick with proper inside positioning and a strong grip, and he pops defenders with them when he lands his punch. Avila has all-around strength; he can stop and turn DTs against their will. He consistently wins pad level moving forward and he’s got a very heavy anchor setting backward.

The Bad: Avila, though relatively athletic, isn’t the most graceful mover. He’s a lesser player in the open field than in the muck of the trenches; he doesn’t pick up defenders quickly on the move and he doesn’t work a tightrope along the line of scrimmage. Though stout, Avila has some iffy balance, which shows on tape when he tips over more than you’d imagine for his build. For things to clean up in the pros, Avila will hit his back foot too hard in pass protection and get his cleats stuck in the turf from there. He can lock up his elbows too, with which his shorter arms is a recipe for giving up inside pressure.

The Bottom Line: Avila is a good prospect at offensive guard. He started at center for TCU in 2021 then at the Senior Bowl – where he looked very good – he took some more center reps, but I’ll say it again: Avila is a good prospect at OFFENSIVE GUARD. Don’t move him, don’t mess with him; just take the safe and reliable guard with NFL size and hands in Round 2 and be content with it. 

Grade: Second Round

Pro Comp: Mike Iupati

Games Watched:

• Oklahoma 2022
• Kansas 2022
• Oklahoma State 2022
• Michigan 2022
• Senior Bowl

Plays That Matter [LINK]

School: Georgia

Position: CB

Year: Redshirt Sophomore

The Good: Cornerbacks rarely ever look like the Incredible Hulk, but Kelee Ringo fits that mold. He has an incredibly well-built frame and legit 4.36s 40 speed to go along with it. You hear a lot about GMs seeking out size/speed prospects in the NFL Draft, and Ringo is one of the top ones in this class. Ringo’s speed is more long than burst, so he’s an excellent defender on deep balls. Ringo isn’t versatile, but it’s ok in his case because he can only play on the outside. He’s clearly at his best playing as close to the sidelines as possible. He’s a solid tackler for a CB too.

The Bad: Man, if you’re reading this then I’ve assumed you’ve watched at least one Georgia football game over the last two years, so you know there’s some negative with Kelee Ringo. He can get absolutely cooked, especially off the line of scrimmage. His ability in press doesn’t match his muscular frame; Ringo actually has really short arms. Ringo has a ton of stiffness to him – perhaps one reason you don’t see more jacked CBs! He does not turn and flip easily, and it can look ugly when he needs to stop on a dime. In man coverage, Ringo makes it too hard on himself chasing down receivers sometimes. In zone coverage, well I don’t even need to go there. Ringo looks lost in it.

The Bottom Line: It’s easy to rip Kelee Ringo, and it’s not like I have a Round 1 grade on him or anything. And I’ll even admit that there’s a high bust factor for a prospect who’ll likely get drafted in the Top 50. But he’ll go that high for good reason: there just aren’t many players built like him at a premium position. He’s very young at 20 years old, yet he still might be the most battle-tested cornerback in this entire class. He won’t log much statistical production in the NFL and he’s probably not agile enough to ever become an elite player, but there’s a fairly high-percentage chance that Ringo is a serviceable CB2 on the outside in a man-heavy scheme early on in his career. 

Grade: Late Second Round / Early Third Round

Pro Comp: Fabian Moreau

Games Watched:

• Kentucky 2021
• Alabama 2021
• Oregon 2022
• Tennessee 2022
• Ohio State 2022

Plays That Matter [LINK]

Here are my Top 30 prospects – listed in order by grade – for the 2023 NFL Draft!

Full profiles – written on this site by yours truly – are linked for each prospect. If there is a prospect who didn’t make the cut, I encourage readers to scan this page of all profiles to learn more about them. (Note: I have a few more profiles to post in the next 24-48 hours of other prospects who didn’t crack the Top 30.)

1. CJ Stroud, QB, LSU (Profile)

Summary: “Is this praise an overreaction to the Peach Bowl against Georgia, where Stroud almost single-handedly took down a budding dynasty? No…I had this extremely high grade on him before concluding his evaluation with that game. If it did boost his stock, it went from a Top 5 pick to a Top 1 pick.”

Pro Comp: Justin Herbert

2. Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon (Profile)

Summary: “He checks all of the boxes: production, tools, age…he’s still 20 years old. Gonzalez isn’t exactly flying under the radar – he’s a consensus Top 10 pick in mock drafts now – but he is underrated because this is a true blue-chip prospect we’re talking about in a class where most people seem to think there are only 2 or 3 of them – not including Gonzalez.”

Pro Comp: Stephon Gilmore

3. Will Anderson, EDGE, Alabama (Profile)

Summary: “Will Anderson, still 21 years old, is an extremely productive, skilled, and high-effort prospect at a premium position. There isn’t too much to opine about him; he’s a surefire pick for the top half of Round 1 in any NFL Draft.”

Pro Comp: Terrell Suggs

4. Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern (Profile)

Summary: “At his ripe age with big-time experience and plenty of talent and technique to go along with it, Skoronski shouldn’t wait long to hear his name called on Draft Day. I absolutely believe he can – and should – stay at tackle in the NFL too despite chatter of kicking him inside.”

Pro Comp: Ryan Ramczyk

5. Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia (Profile)

Summary: “Even if it’s his Combine performance that’s rocketing him up Draft boards when his tape warranted that beforehand – so be it. His skillset is unique and dynamic enough to predict 100% snap counts in the NFL, likely best in the old-school mold of a 4-3 OLB but more than fine as a modern-day EDGE as well.”

Pro Comp: Joey Porter

6. Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia (Profile)

Summary: “I expect to slightly downgrade Carter on my Big Board after all of these developments – especially the out-of-shape and incomplete Pro Day performance…though whoever does land Carter will be adding a scheme-proof player with the ability to shut down an opposing offense almost by himself.”

Pro Comp: Ndamukong Suh

7. Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida (Profile)

Summary: “Depending where he and others land in the Draft, I could see myself having some action on Richardson as a dark horse Rookie of the Year winner. His ability is truly special and I think his platform for archetypal QB play is high enough to justify an early gamble in the draft.”

Pro Comp: Cam Newton

8. Bryce Young, QB, Alabama (Profile)

Summary: “I’d like to see him end up in an offense that routinely gets him on the move and allows him to throw on the run, which is the most exciting element of his game to me. He’s not system-proof but he does have star potential.”

Pro Comp: Mark Brunell

9. Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland (Profile)

Summary: “I’ve been burnt by overlooking inexperience and injury history before with favorite prospects of mine, so I’m mildly tempering the fanfare of Banks, but I’d otherwise have a Top 10 Pick grade on him. He’s that explosive, quick, smart, and tough.”

Pro Comp: Marshon Lattimore

10. Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson (Profile)

Summary: “Murphy isn’t as flashy as a TJ Watt or as versatile as a JJ Watt. But this is a dude with proven production, no-doubt NFL size and traits, and a birthdate in 2002!”

Pro Comp: Bradley Chubb

11. Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee (Profile)

Summary: “Wright is a former five-star recruit and excellent athlete in his own right too, and his proven combination of precision and power is rare for a college kid. He might not be cut out for every offense and he’s probably a RT only, but Wright’s arrow is pointing up at the right time and I’m right here contributing to his hype.”

Pro Comp: Jawaan Taylor

12. Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia (Profile)

Summary: “Washington’s skillset and versatility make him genuinely unique, so whoever lands him will have a player in their offense that requires specific gameplanning. He’s like Vonta Leach as a lead blocker meets Martellus Bennett as a ball carrier.”

Pro Comp: Marcedes Lewis

13. Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas (Profile)

Summary: “I could zero in on the potential shortcomings in Bijan’s game and worry what his career will look like if he’s drafted into a situation where his team prioritizes maximizing his touches over offensive efficiency…but I will allow myself to get more excited about Bijan’s skillset ending up in the right situation than I had before.”

Pro Comp: Edgerrin James

14. Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College (Profile)

Summary: “He is a nuanced wide receiver who plays the game with extreme toughness, and he has more than enough shift and speed to win with his tools too at the next level. It’s hard not to reminisce on peak Antonio Brown when you watch Zay Flowers play football.”

Pro Comp: Emmanuel Sanders

15. Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU (Profile)

Summary: “If he remains this type of WR in the NFL – 60 receptions for over 1,000 yards with one of the highest yards per catch figures – then he’d be a valuable field-tilting weapon. But if Johnston cleans up the finer elements of his game, improves with field awareness and channels more of his general competitiveness into an alpha mentality, then he could become a legit WR1 in the league.”

Pro Comp: Demaryius Thomas

16. Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson (Profile)

Summary: “We’ve already seen great football from Bresee at Clemson, and I’d bet that consistently great football is ahead in Bresee’s NFL future. Even if he’s a prototypical 3-4 DE, Bresee can thrive in any scheme and should be an every-down player.”

Pro Comp: Cam Heyward

17. Joey Porter Jr, CB, Penn State (Profile)

Summary: “Sure, there is a bust factor to weigh if he ends up on the wrong team…[but] Porter is just a really sharp player who’ll make QBs think twice just by lurking around in zone.”

Pro Comp: Josh Norman

18. Cody Mauch, OG, North Dakota State (Profile)

Summary: “I just think he could be that much of a difference maker as a run blocker. If you asked me to pick 5 players from this Draft who could become transcendent at something at the NFL level – like Jason Kelce – I’d pick Cody Mauch as one of them.”

Pro Comp: Evan Mathis

19. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State (Profile)

Summary: “If I had to wager I’d predict that JSN is ultimately the first WR drafted this year. That has plenty to do with the overall lackluster caliber of this WR class, but it’s also possible to see a Cooper Kupp-esque player in JSN. I personally wouldn’t go that far, but it only takes one team.”

Pro Comp: Jarvis Landry

20. DJ Turner, CB, Michigan (Profile)

Summary: “I hope the league gives him his fair shot on the outside. Honestly, not only do I genuinely believe he can hang there, I think he’s actually better there. In any outcome, I think Turner is going to have a long career and be a beloved member of whatever defense he’s on.”

Pro Comp: Adoree Jackson

21. Will Levis, QB, Kentucky (Profile)

Summary: “He has enough upside to be a good NFL starter in a West Coast offense with plenty of talent around him, but the floor is naturally quite low when you need to make qualifying statements like that about a kid who isn’t even in the league yet.”

Pro Comp: Blake Bortles

22. Paris Johnson Jr, OT, Ohio State (Profile)

Summary: “I like Johnson and he has the tools that you can’t teach at left tackle, but he’s currently being pegged in the top half of Round 1 in mock drafts and that would be too much of a gamble for my liking.”

Pro Comp: Cam Robinson

23. Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame (Profile)

Summary: “I definitely think Mayer will be a solid player in the NFL, but I expect him to be more of a ‘good receiver/good blocker’ type compared to the ‘great receiver/great blocker’ type he was at Notre Dame.”

Pro Comp: Todd Heap

24. Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois (Profile)

Summary: “He has true inside/outside versatility, is clearly as mentally tough as they come at CB, and put some true high-level play on tape as a senior. I don’t think a team that drafts Witherspoon with a lottery pick is necessarily going to get burnt by it, but he is different from CBs who typically go in that range.”

Pro Comp: Tracy Porter

25. Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma (Profile)

Summary: “For a kid who was born in 2002 (!!), Harrison has a lion’s share of experience under his belt, and the Big-12 has toughened up a ton compared to the conference it was even a half-decade ago. Still, Harrison will benefit from increased exposure to EDGEs who will hit him with more counters and rush moves, and Oklahoma’s offense did feature a lot of quick game without elongated pass reps.”

Pro Comp: Charles Cross

26. Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas (Profile)

Summary: “Even if Sanders develops into a decent run defender, he should be a positive presence in coverage and one of the better pass rushing LBs in the NFL. You can argue all you want about the positional value of off-ball linebacker, but if Sanders clicks then he could become one of the more impactful players in this class at any position.”

Pro Comp: Derrick Johnson

27. Adetomiwa Adebawore, EDGE, Northwestern (Profile)

Summary: “Adebawore does have untapped upside though if he sticks at then fully grasps one spot on the defensive line. And even if his NFL team keeps shifting him around like Northwestern did, he’ll be a full snap share player with high energy, good run defense, and occasional pass rush disruption.”

Pro Comp: Everson Griffen

28. Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa (Profile)

Summary: “His most shining reps also did come from the interior, even if he’s more consistent with a more promising future at EDGE. Van Ness is a great talent, even if he’s not as special as some are making him out to be. Whatever team drafts him better have a ton of patience and enough security to roll the dice.”

Pro Comp(s): Solomon Thomas – Carlos Dunlap

29. Felix Anudike-Uzomah, EDGE, Kansas State (Profile)

Summary: “One, he’s a great pass rusher who’s remarkably refined for a 21 year-old, and I think many within the Draft community are underselling his natural tools. Two, FAU isn’t much of a run defender yet but I think he can get there with time and more coaching; he has the right stuff to hold his own.”

Pro Comp: Jerry Hughes

30. Zach Charbonnet, RB, UCLA (Profile)

Summary: “When a RB hits the Draft who’s as physical, naturally gifted AND smart as Charbonnet, he usually pans out at the next level. He just gets the ins and outs of playing running back beyond the required athleticism to do it.”

Pro Comp: Arian Foster

‘WHAT I WOULD DO’ MOCK DRAFT

This is a quick, non-predictive exercise; simply what I would do as the GM of each team across these 31 slots. No trades, just picks.

1. Carolina Panthers: CJ Stroud (QB – Ohio State)

2. Houston Texans: Will Anderson (EDGE – Alabama)

3. Arizona Cardinals: Christian Gonzalez (CB – Oregon)

4. Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Richardson (QB – Florida)

5. Seattle Seahawks: Peter Skoronski (OT – Northwestern)

6. Detroit Lions: Bryce Young (QB – Alabama) 

7. Las Vegas Raiders: Deonte Banks (CB – Maryland)

8. Atlanta Falcons: Nolan Smith (EDGE – Georgia)

9. Chicago Bears: Jalen Carter (DT – Georgia)

10. Philadelphia Eagles: Myles Murphy (EDGE – Clemson)

11. Tennessee Titans: Darnell Wright (OT – Tennessee)

12. Houston Texans: Quentin Johnston (WR – TCU)

13. Green Bay Packers: Darnell Washington (TE – Georgia)

14. New England Patriots: Zay Flowers (WR – Boston College)

15. New York Jets: Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR – Ohio State)

16. Washington Commanders: Bijan Robinson (RB – Texas)

17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Paris Johnson Jr (OT – Ohio State)

18. Detroit Lions: Bryan Bresee (DT – Clemson)

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Anton Harrison (OT – Oklahoma) 

20. Seattle Seahawks: Joey Porter Jr (CB – Penn State)

21. Los Angeles Chargers: Michael Mayer (TE – Notre Dame)

22. Baltimore Ravens: DJ Turner (CB – Michigan)

23. Minnesota Vikings: Will Levis (QB – Kentucky)

24. Jacksonville Jaguars: Cody Mauch (OG – North Dakota State)

25. New York Giants: Drew Sanders (LB – Arkansas)

26. Dallas Cowboys: Devon Witherspoon (CB – Illinois)

27. Buffalo Bills: Felix Anudike-Uzomah (EDGE – Kansas State)

28. Cincinnati Bengals: Adetomiwa Adebawore (EDGE – Northwestern)

29. New Orleans Saints: Lukas Van Ness (EDGE – Iowa)

30. Philadelphia Eagles: Zach Charbonnet (RB – UCLA)

31. Kansas City Chiefs: Tyree Wilson (EDGE – Texas Tech)

School: North Dakota State

Position: OG

Year: Redshirt Senior

The Good: Cody Mauch has some of the best run blocking tape that I’ve ever seen from a college offensive lineman, and he has the tools to keep it up at the NFL level and become a truly game-changing run blocker. That reads like I’m getting carried away and trust me – I had to check myself multiple times during his film evaluation – but then you see that Mauch posted the best 3-cone time ever by an interior lineman at his Pro Day. He beat Jason Kelce by one-tenth of a second – that’s a lot of time in that drill! Mauch’s feet, change of direction ability, and quickness to the second level of the defense are all stunning. He’s a naturally balanced athlete with extremely quick hands, so he was plenty good at mirroring rushers in pass protection as a left tackle at North Dakota State. Once he’s officially kicked inside to guard, Mauch can open possibilities as a combo blocker with his eventual NFL team. Even though he’s hitting the league straight from an FCS program, it won’t be a sharp learning curve for Mauch in the run game; NDSU has one of the more complex offenses in college football in that phase of the game. Once Mauch reaches defenders, he locks into his blocks and wants to finish them.

The Bad: As such a fantastic mover, which is fair to describe as “contained chaos” – sometimes that chaos gets a bit less contained and is too drastic. It makes sense why that happens to Mauch; his arms are REALLY short so he attacks defenders just to get ahold of them with his lack of length. I think Mauch has enough power for the NFL – especially at guard – but I get why some people are concerned over that. He’d set some pretty wide bases in pass protection at OT to prepare for speed-to-power rushes.

The Bottom Line: This probably won’t come as much of a surprise following that love letter of a first section, but Cody Mauch might be my personal favorite player in this Draft. His play style and clear love for football are infectious. If you don’t think any tackle-to-guard convert from lower-level college football should ever qualify for a Round 1 pick, I’d at least advise that you watch Mauch more than hold his own at the Senior Bowl. He seriously looked fantastic in his reps at guard. (Please stop trying him at center.) I’ve faded FCS offensive linemen in years past – I was super low on both Trevor Penning and Dillon Radunz – so I’m not trying to spotlight Mauch here or anything. I just think he could be that much of a difference maker as a run blocker. If you asked me to pick 5 players from this Draft who could become transcendent at something at the NFL level – like Jason Kelce – I’d pick Cody Mauch as one of them.  

Grade: Mid First Round

Pro Comp: Evan Mathis

Games Watched:

• Eastern Washington 2021
• Arizona 2022
• Illinois State 2022
• Senior Bowl

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