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All encompassing 2023 Draft thoughts thread.

Nolan Smith is becoming extremely interesting at 12. Particularly if the team can get him with a trade down. Another hybrid edge defender with similar outstanding measurables went at 12 recently… Micah Parsons.

I think Parsons was the superior prospect due to better production, but I think part of it with Smith was scheme and of course injury to cut this season short. He has all the tools to be that type of player. And I would take that ceiling at 12. Instantly improves run defense and if you can develop him as a pass rusher then you’ve got potential to the moon.

I would start him at SAM in base defense and drop him down to DE when the team goes nickel/dime. May experiment with having him at MIKE because he is so good at taking on blocks and think his violent nature would play well there.

 
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TheRealJoker said:
Nolan Smith is becoming extremely interesting at 12. Particularly if the team can get him with a trade down. Another hybrid edge defender with similar outstanding measurables went at 12 recently… Micah Parsons.

I think Parsons was the superior prospect due to better production, but I think part of it with Smith was scheme and of course injury to cut this season short. He has all the tools to be that type of player. And I would take that ceiling at 12. Instantly improves run defense and if you can develop him as a pass rusher then you’ve got potential to the moon.

I would start him at SAM in base defense and drop him down to DE when the team goes nickel/dime. May experiment with having him at MIKE because he is so good at taking on blocks and think his violent nature would play well there.

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Smith’s stock is on the rise. I just listened to a mock earlier today that had the Falcons taking him at 8.
 
badboy said:
I hope so as that would drive a better player down. Most mocks I see have Nolan Smith late round one to mid round two.
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Smith is a late 1st/early 2nd based upon his play. But we have to remember the workout boost Travon Walker received out of the combine just last year. I don't think Nolan Smith gets that type of boost, as he is under 240 lbs. But I can see a team in an odd front defense pushing Smith to the near the top of their board based upon his traits. Falcon DC Dean Pees (formerly with the Ravens) could be very enamored with Smith.
 
Lucky said:
Smith is a late 1st/early 2nd based upon his play. But we have to remember the workout boost Travon Walker received out of the combine just last year. I don't think Nolan Smith gets that type of boost, as he is under 240 lbs. But I can see a team in an odd front defense pushing Smith to the near the top of their board based upon his traits. Falcon DC Dean Pees (formerly with the Ravens) could be very enamored with Smith.
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Smith was also injured during the season, so that’s factored in as well.
 
Lucky said:
Smith is a late 1st/early 2nd based upon his play. But we have to remember the workout boost Travon Walker received out of the combine just last year. I don't think Nolan Smith gets that type of boost, as he is under 240 lbs. But I can see a team in an odd front defense pushing Smith to the near the top of their board based upon his traits. Falcon DC Dean Pees (formerly with the Ravens) could be very enamored with Smith.
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I would dance if ravens drafted him at number three.
 
Clearly Texans are not interested in Stroud or any buckeye, unless it’s the ultimate disinformation tactic known to man. All eyes on Alabama Pro Day, could it be anymore obvious?
 
beerlover said:
Clearly Texans are not interested in Stroud or any buckeye, unless it’s the ultimate disinformation tactic known to man. All eyes on Alabama Pro Day, could it be anymore obvious?
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I know in the past they have drafted guys they never interviewed or went to their pro days. Maybe they think they’ve seen enough at the combine? Makes sense they’re going to Alabama’s pro day because Young didn’t participate in the combine.
 
santo said:
I know in the past they have drafted guys they never interviewed or went to their pro days. Maybe they think they’ve seen enough at the combine? Makes sense they’re going to Alabama’s pro day because Young didn’t participate in the combine.
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Yep. NC has stated multiple times that pro days have little to no influence since they rely on tape, interviews and yes combine if they have it. Probably had someone there though
 
Zay Flowers is likely going to go higher than expected.
His main dings are his size and did have some drop issues last season but the drops can be fixed with good coaching. Also not expected to be used extensively as a blocker.
From Nfldraftbuzz.com:-
  • He’s extremely dangerous in the open field, showing the vision and creativity to run through entire defenses.
  • Has elite balance tight-roping the sideline and in-and-out of his breaks, showing excellent start-stop ability and burst.
  • Flowers was frequently put in catch-and-run situations, and Flowers shows good vision with the ability to make tacklers miss in space. He’ll also break a tackle or two; he’s extremely competitive and will give effort as a downfield blocker.
  • He’s also a violent runner with the ball in his hands. He’s very good at working outside the numbers, showing excellent ball-tracking skills, and he does the little things well downfield, including leaving enough room on the sideline for his quarterback to drop in a throw.
  • Has rare suddenness with lightning footwork to create in tight areas with elusive shiftiness and change-of-direction skills.
  • Very good hands for the most part - accepts the ball fluidly on most throws, and is ready to make a play afterward. Makes catches in traffic, even going up over taller defenders with vertical and toughness.
  • Despite his size (182 lbs) Flowers played the majority of his snaps outside - an accomplishment usually reserved for bigger players
Ran a 4:42 at the combine but his cone and shuttle drills were excellent as you would expect.
May be used more as a slot guy but can be used on the outside as well.
Poor man's Tyreek Hill?
Could develop into a #1 receiver with a season under his belt and his drops are resolved.
 
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The not going to pro days thing is getting a little weird. That's not something Caserio got from Belichick. And if Young is off the board at 1.2, Will Anderson could be in play.

Sorry, I don't get this.
 
Lucky said:
The not going to pro days thing is getting a little weird. That's not something Caserio got from Belichick. And if Young is off the board at 1.2, Will Anderson could be in play.

Sorry, I don't get this.
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I'm not counting Stroud out, but Anderson has to be in the convo if Young is gone. Our pass rush is in desperate need of a beast.
Anderson is a high character dude and is the second best at what he does in Alabama history.
On another note, Murray measured the same height as Young.
 
Texansphan said:
I'm not counting Stroud out, but Anderson has to be in the convo if Young is gone. Our pass rush is in desperate need of a beast.
Anderson is a high character dude and is the second best at what he does in Alabama history.
On another note, Murray measured the same height as Young.
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DJ Fluker looks in fabulous shape - he is huge. 330 with abs.
 
The Colts are not heavily attending the workouts either and are spreading the rumor that the QBs are all close

As for the Colts, Midwest area scout Mike Lacy was the team’s lone representative Wednesday, and it’ll be the same Friday at Kentucky’s pro day, where quarterback Will Levis will throw. General manager Chris Ballard rarely attends pro days in person but has made a few notable exceptions in recent years. The team will all but assuredly host Stroud and Levis on top-30 visits in the weeks ahead.

The Colts can’t afford to make a mistake this year, either. But this call isn’t an easy one, and the franchise isn’t in an enviable spot, picking fourth with two QB-needy teams (Carolina and Houston) owning the first two spots. From my understanding, the Colts don’t see a great deal of separation between the top four quarterback prospects, which is part of the reason they didn’t actively pursue a trade up with the Bears for the top pick. Each prospect — Stroud, Alabama’s Bryce Young, Florida’s Anthony Richardson and Kentucky’s Levis — is flawed to a certain extent, and Indianapolis wasn’t willing to give up a haul of draft picks to move up.
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Texansphan said:
Ah, you fell into their trap!
Schultz is only a one year deal, remember?
Nothing to stop Texans taking a rookie to learn the ropes, be a backup and maybe even get some game time snaps.
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Nope. Our great coaches will use 2023 to develop Quitoriano and if Schultz is great, we Can pay him as much as anyone. We need Too much to spend a draft pick before round six.
 
badboy said:
Nope. Our great coaches will use 2023 to develop Quitoriano and if Schultz is great, we Can pay him as much as anyone. We need Too much to spend a draft pick before round six.
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The Texans visited with Payne Durham who i’d expect to be a 5/6 round prospect. Very similar prospect to Quitoriano coming out. Though Durham is more accomplished as a receiver (56 rec 560 yds 8 tds this season). Would round out the unit nicely.
 
TheRealJoker said:
The Texans visited with Payne Durham who i’d expect to be a 5/6 round prospect. Very similar prospect to Quitoriano coming out. Though Durham is more accomplished as a receiver (56 rec 560 yds 8 tds this season). Would round out the unit nicely.
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Durham is far more polished and demonstrated as much @ the Senior Bowl. He should go off the boards two rounds earlier. If Texans pass on tier one & two he leads the pack tier three and will get drafted in 4th rd just like Schultz did.
 
badboy said:
Nope. Our great coaches will use 2023 to develop Quitoriano and if Schultz is great, we Can pay him as much as anyone. We need Too much to spend a draft pick before round six.
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We have 6 picks inside the top 105.
That right there should net us a nice group.
Sure some may miss, but if half hit, that will be a big boost to the team.
Rome wasn't rebuilt in a day.
 
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