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Writer's pictureJohn B. Everett

AFC SOUTH


 

Houston

Houston selected 9 quality prospects in Kansas City. Houston aggressively moved up to take the draft’s top prospect, Will Anderson, at #3, after picking CJ Stroud at #2. The Texans addressed team needs while still getting talent throughout the draft.

Best pick – Anderson

??? pick – Scruggs

Grade – A-



Round/Pick

Prospect

Pos

College

​Comments

1/2

CJ Stroud

QB

Ohio State

Texans were rumored to not being interested in any QB not named Young. But Stroud was the best QB available and Houston goes with the Buckeye signal caller.

1/3

Will Anderson

Edge

Alabama

Houston trades up from #12 for the right to select Will Anderson, the best pass rusher in college football over the last five years. Houston makes a big splash with this trade. The games have begun!

2/62

Juice Scruggs

IOL

Penn State

Big center with a history of back issues. Physical, strong, and tough. Competes and is smart and aware. Potential starter in the near future.

3/69

Tank Dell

WR

Houston

The talented but undersized and extremely productive Cougar. He gets to stay at home for his NFL career. He should contribute, and possibly start, with the Texans as a rookie.

4/109

Dylan Horton

Edge

TCU

After drafting Anderson, the Texans select another Edge defender in Horton. Horton is a solid run defender who has enough size to slide inside as a third down pass rusher from the inside.

5/167

Henry To'o To'o

LB

Alabama

To’oTo’o was a highly productive MLB for Tennessee and then Alabama. He has all the tools to become a long-term starter for the Texans if he can overcome the injury bug that has plagued him throughout his college career.

6/201

Jarrett Patterson

IOL

Notre Dame

Patterson, the large and durable Irish lineman, fell to pick #201 and the Texans are the beneficiaries. Patterson will compete for a backup job as a rookie and could become a starter early in his career.

6/205

Xavier Hutchinson

WR

Iowa State

Houston is having a great draft. Hutchinson is extremely reliable, physical, and has surprisingly good deep speed. Expect him to contribute early in his career in Houston.

7/248

Brandon Hill

S

Pittsburgh

Hill is an explosive hitter with good range who exhibits fantastic special teams traits. He is smart, instinctive, and loves the game of football.



 

Indianapolis

The Colts had 12 picks that they used over the course of the draft weekend. They selected prospects from every skill position group, a pair of OTs, and three CBs. Top to bottom, a very solid draft. But in the end, this class will be judged on the performance of Richardson, who has the skills to revolutionize the QB position or end up a bust that sets back the organization significantly over the next few years.

Best pick – Rush

??? pick – Richardson

Grade – B




Round/Pick

Prospect

Pos

College

​Comments

1/4

Anthony Richardson

QB

Florida

Another surprise with Richardson being picked over Levis. Richardson has great size, athleticism, and arm strength. Feast or famine as a prospect.

2/44

Julius Brents

CB

Kansas State

The Colts invest in the long and tall CB who excels in press coverage.

3/79

Josh Downs

WR

North Carolina

Downs is SNS’ #3 ranked WR. He’s quick, tough, and has soft hands. Great pick.

4/106

Blake Freeland

OT

BYU

Freeland is a good athlete with light feet who struggles with power. He has the potential to become a starting OLT.

4/110

Adetomiwa Adebawore

Edge - DT

Northwestern

Adebawore got the NFL’s notice with his measurements, times, and athletic performances since the regular season ended. But while watching his film, he doesn’t stand out. But he has elite traits that are worth developing with a 4th round pick.

5/138

Darius Rush

CB

South Carolina

Much like KJ Henry, the fact that Rush is available in the fifth round is surprising. The Colts get an experienced SEC CB with length and reaction skills to contribute right away in Indy.

5/158


Daniel Scott

S

California

Scott is an old school free safety who reads coverages well, quickly accelerates, and drives on the ball in the air. He has limited man coverage skills and his ability to contribute on special teams will be key to his immediate NFL future.

​5/162

Will Mallory

TE

Miami, Fl

Mallory joins a loaded TE room in Indianapolis but don’t bet against him contributing as a rookie. Mallory has been slept on by most draft pundits but he has the potential to be developed into the best TE in this class – no small feat considering the quality and depth of this class.

5/176


Evan Hull

RB

Northwestern

The Colts go with a Big Ten RB in Hull with pick #176. He joins former Badger Jonathan Taylor to give the Colts a dangerous 1-2 punch in the backfield.

6/211


Titus Leo

LB

Wagner

​ 7/221

Jaylon Jones

CB

Texas A&M

Jones has a large wingspan that allows him to smother WRs in man coverage. His ball skills need further development but he has an upside worth developing.

7/236

Jake Witt

OT

Northern Michigan

Witt is a Division 2 prospect with the size and length worth developing. In a loaded position group, Witt is a candidate for the practice squad in September.


 

Jacksonville

The Jags utilized their 13 draft picks with a balanced approach to improving team depth. OLT Cam Robinson is facing suspension for PED use and ORT Jawaan Taylor left in free agency (Kansas City). The drafting of Harrison and Hodges are the key draft picks to address these issues and the eventual assessment of the 2023 draft will hinge on the performance of the OTs acquired.

Best pick – Johnson

??? pick – Harrison


Grade – B-


Round/Pick

​Prospect

Pos

College

Comments

1/27

Anton Harrison

OT

Oklahoma

Harrison is a very good athlete with good agility and mirroring skills. Harrison has some balance issues but has an upside worth developing.

2/61

Brenton Strange

TE

Penn State

Strange is raw but has a good combination of size and athleticism to develop.

3/88

Tank Bigsby

RB

Auburn

Excellent combo in Jacksonville – Etienne & Bigsby. Bigsby is a solid, all-around RB and will assume #2 RB duties with the Jags.

4/121

Ventrell Miller

LB

Florida

Miller has speed, range, and a high football IQ. He has battled injuries throughout his time in Gainesville.

4/130

Tyler Lacy

DL

Oklahoma State

Lacy is a ‘tweener Edge / DT prospect who has intriguing traits, if not a definitive position to play. Pick #130 seems high to draft him, though.

4/136

Yasir Abdullah

LB-Edge

Clemson

Abdullah may be primarily an Edge Rusher in Jacksonville and he has the length and athleticism to be developed into a starter with additional experience.

5/160

Antonio Johnson

S

Texas A&M

How Johnson fell to the last 100 picks of the draft is somewhat unexplainable. His average combine performance certainly impacted his draft status but he was a highly productive college safety with significant experience covering the slot. Great pick by the Jags.

6/185

Parker Washington

WR

Penn State

Washington was a surprise entrant in the 2023 draft because he had just started to tap his potential his last year in Happy Valley. He could be a better pro than college player.

6/202

Christian Braswell

CB

Rutgers

The Jags select the Scarlet Knights CB at #202. Braswell displays good reaction skills, has plenty of experience, and is a physical, competitive CB.

6/208

Erick Hallett

S

Pittsburgh

Hallett is the first of two Panthers safeties to be selected on Saturday (Brandon Hill). Hallett has good size, range, and intelligence. Ability to contribute on special teams will have a huge influence on Hallett’s immediate future.

7/226

Cooper Hodges

OT

Appalachian State

Hodges has acceptable size and length to remain at OT and seems like a potential long-term starter in Jacksonville after gaining more experience and reps.

7/227

Raymond Vohasek

DT

North Carolina

7/240

Derek Parish

FB-Edge

Houston

The only FB selected in the 2023 NFL Draft spent the majority of his career as a DE for the Cougars. But his size, and especially his arm length, dictates a position change. Don’t count out Parish. He’s tough, physical, and profiles as a special teams stalwart. However, his immediate future may be on Jacksonville’s practice squad.



 

Tennessee

The Titans are a quickly aging team and there’s a need for reinforcements at several positions. However, with little draft capital there is only so much that can be done. Acquiring Levis required use of some of that capital. But the drafting of Spears at #81 is a head scratcher and the RBs passed over may be what is remembered about the Titans draft.

Best pick – Skoronski

??? pick – Spears

Grade – C-


Round/Pick

​Prospect

Pos

College

Comments

1/11

Peter Skoronski

OT

Northwestern

The Titans need to reconfigure the OL that took a step backwards last year. Skoronski is the best lineman in this draft. He’s a solid technician who is smart and assignment sound. Great pick.

2/33

Will Levis

QB

Kentucky

Tennessee has apparently given up on Malik Willis. Levis has great arm strength and a quick release. He’s a definite upgrade and gives the Titans a replacement for Tannehill.

3/81

Tyjae Spears

RB

Tulane

Spears makes a good combination with Henry in Nashville. Spears has burst and great lateral agility. Following the drafting of Spears, it was revealed that he has an injured knee and has also developed arthritis. This certainly places into question drafting Spears at #81 with so many other quality RBs available.

5/147

Josh Whyle

TE

Cincinnati

The Bearcats had two draft-worthy TEs in this year’s draft – Whyle and Leonard Taylor (who surprisingly went undrafted). Whyle gets drafted into a great opportunity to get significant playing time as a rookie.

6/186

Jaelyn Duncan

OT

Maryland

Duncan has elite tools – size, length, light feet, and very good athleticism. However, his effort often wanes and he lacks the desired mean streak. But at #186, he offers starting potential to Tennessee, if they can motivate him properly.

7/228

Colton Dowell

WR

UT-Martin



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