Interesting Article in The Athletic:
2023 NFL Draft midseason rankings: The top 50 prospects in college football
Dane Brugler
Nov 2, 2022
1. Will Anderson Jr., edge, Alabama*
After a truly elite season in 2021,
Will Anderson Jr., hasn’t quite been on that same level this season but hasn’t been far off, either. Despite opposing teams game planning against him, he ranks top seven in the FBS in pressures (37) and leads the SEC in tackles for loss (12.0).
Although his missed tackles (especially in the backfield) are bothersome, Anderson has the lower-body twitch, flexible body type and crafty hands to be an impactful
NFL defender, both at stopping the run and rushing the passer.
2. Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia*
After playing sparingly over the first month due to a knee injury,
Jalen Carter returned Saturday against
Florida and played 20-plus snaps for the first time since
Georgia’s opener. In doing so, he looked like the same disruptive force we’ve come to expect. Carter has special block-destruction skills due to his explosiveness and body control. He will be one of the first players drafted, if his medicals are clean.
3. Bryce Young, QB, Alabama*
“If
Bryce Young were bigger, he would be the clear top quarterback” is something we’ll hear a lot over the next six months. While
he is an outlier due his size, Young (listed at a generous 6-foot-0, 194 pounds) is well above average in several critical factors at the position. He processes very quickly and has uncanny vision to understand everything going on around him and deliver accurate throws.
Not everyone will be able to overlook his diminutive size, but I’ll bet on his special instincts.
10. C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State*
Quarterbacks in today’s NFL can’t just be passers. They also have to be creators. When everything is on time and stays structured,
C.J. Stroud has impressive pacing and accuracy to carve up defenses (his fourth-quarter toss to
Emeka Egbuka last Saturday was gorgeous).
However, my concerns with Stroud entering the season have been highlighted the last two weeks against
Iowa and Penn State. The stats have looked nice, but he has been inconsistent negotiating pressure and doesn’t look nearly as comfortable outside of structure.
https://theathletic.com/3751194/2022/11/02/nfl-draft-2023-rankings-midseason/