This is part two of our 2023 NFL Draft Big Board. To see the Top 50 Prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft click here.
2023 NFL Draft Big Board – Prospects #51-100
51. Anton Harrison, OT6 – Oklahoma
Grade: Mid Round 2 – 6’5/309lbs
Left tackle build, likely to go higher than this – possibly at the end of round one thanks to the premium nature of position. Slight concerns about his balance and agility, but has a good feel for the position and is only 21 with ample room for growth.
52. Darius Rush, CB8 – South Carolina
Mid R2 – 6’2/198lbs
Higher ceiling than teammate Cam Smith, who many have higher. Not on this 2023 NFL Draft Big Board! Tall, long, with a 4.36 forty, Rush showed his considerable talent at the Senior Bowl and will compete for a starting gig early. He is a smooth athlete with ball skills and production (18 combined pass breakups and interceptions on 72 career targets), who is not afraid to do the dirty work on special teams.
53. Luke Wypler, iOL4 – Ohio State
Late R2 – 6’3/303lbs
Wrestling background, exceptional agility (best short shuttle of centers at the combine), and a great character who should be an instant starter at center. Currently in the shadow of Joe Tippmann and John Michael Schmitz, and ranked just behind them on this 2023 NFL Draft Big Board, but will have an equally successful NFL career as the two aforementioned prospects.
54. JL Skinner, S2 – Boise State
Late R2 – 6’4/209lbs
Tenacious attack dog and hits with the ferociousness of Kam Chancellor. Has not been able to test due to injury in the pre draft process, but he is more than just a hammer at strong safety. Skinner has range in coverage and will match up well against tight ends, but sometimes appears a little stiff against shiftier slot wideouts. The second ranked safety on this 2023 NFL Draft Big Board.
55. Cody Mauch, iOL5 – North Dakota State
Late R2 – 6’6/301lbs
A college tackle, Mauch is likely to be moved inside at the next level. Does not have the length or functional agility to stick on the outside but he is explosive. Mauch plays with good leverage and pad level and has a tough approach to his game. Practiced across the interior at the Senior Bowl and the ex-Bison actually looked most impressive as a potential center convert at the event. Mauch will be a heart-and-soul character for whichever team drafts him who will play with his hair on fire no matter where he lines up.
56. YaYa Diaby, DE11 – Louisville
Late R2 – 6’3/263lbs
Wildly underrated and flying under the radar, Diaby tested off the charts at the combine and has the length, quicks and power to make an impact as a rotational pass rusher. Needs a bit of refinement before becoming a starter, but has excellent potential and versatility as a 5-tech in a 4-3 or OLB in a 3-4.
57. B.J. Ojulari, DE12 – LSU
Late R2 – 6’2/248lbs
Long and disruptive. Whilst he may be slightly indisciplined against the run and his overall production left a little to be desired, Ojulari has real bend and can dip under the tackle with explosion. Great character by all accounts and should mature into an effective stand up OLB within a 3-4. With greater size and power, Ojulari would have been ranked 20 spots higher up this 2023 NFL Draft Big Board.
58. Hendon Hooker, QB5 – Tennessee
Late R2/Early R3 – 6’4/218lbs
Outstanding collegiate career and is adored by many. Hooker is a fantastic leader and has the athletic traits and frame of an ideal NFL quarterback. He has zip to his throws and enough power to reach all levels of the field, but the major questions about his ceiling pertain to the offense that he played in at Tennessee. He regularly only had to make half-field reads and benefitted from two exceptional receivers who were always schemed wide open.
Yes, he operated within this scheme effectively and generally made the right decision, but there will be a steep learning curve if he is expected to spearhead an NFL offense in year one. Someone will take a chance on the 25 year old rookie, but he may not be ready to start until he is 27.
59. Israel Abanikanda, RB4 – Pittsburgh
Late R2/Early R3 – 5’11/215lbs
Ideal size and an explosive back, Abanikanda runs win purpose, unexpected wiggle for a man of his size and can power over opponents. He is slippery in the open field with an ability to slither through cracks as they open thanks to his vision and contact balance. An ideal alternative if you miss out on Charbonnet half a round earlier.
60. Trenton Simpson, LB3 – Clemson
Late R2/Early R3 – 6’2/235lbs
More of a project at the moment than a plug and play starter, it is easy to see why a team could fall in love with Simpson in round two. The Clemson product plays with real speed for the position and can fly around the field when he plays loose. Seems to be ever-so-slightly hesitant in the run game which leads to question marks about his play recognition. Has perhaps the best ceiling of all the linebackers in the class though thanks to his age (21), and exciting athletic profile.
61. Luke Schoonmaker, TE4 – Michigan
Late R2/Early R3 – 6’5/251lbs
Size and looks of a traditional NFL tight end. Plays with terrific power and aggression and looks to dominate his opponent, finishing blocks with aplomb. He has a great blend of everything that makes a successful tight end, displaying his athleticism at the combine to go along with his ideal size. A 10’7” broad jump ranked second at the position and his 4.63 second 40 time placed a quicker-than-expected fifth.
Does not create after the catch unlike the top three at the position and does not create easy separation. Having said that, he will be an effective safety valve as he consistently finds soft holes in coverage on shorter routes underneath. High floor thanks to his well-rounded game, should find a home late on day two and is the fourth ranked tight end on our 2023 NFL Draft Big Board.
62. Daiyan Henley, LB4 – Washington State
Late R2/Early R3 – 6’1, 225lbs
A little lighter than ideal, but what Henley lacks in size, he makes up in physicality and explosiveness. A smooth and twitchy mover in coverage, Henley is a modern day linebacker who plays with a controlled abandon and embraces control. He actively seeks out ball carriers to hit in space and works sideline-to-sideline as effectively as he performs coming downhill. A little older prospect, but appears to carry a passion for the game and will enjoy a fruitful career as a weakside backer at least.
63. Tyler Steen, OT7 – Alabama
Early R3 – 6’6/321lbs
Will get a shot to stick at tackle, but may translate best to the guard position at the next level due to a lack of length and. Steen impressed inside at the Senior Bowl and has the linear explosion and raw power to work effectively within a phone booth. May not posses enough true agility to stick on the outside but has plenty of violence and a stout enough anchor to compete and stick in the NFL.
64. Jalin Hyatt, WR8 – Tennessee
Early R3 – 6’0/176lbs
Big play receiver and is a downfield threat, but currently not much more than that. What he does, he does well though and Hyatt possesses elite play speed. Plays almost exclusively on a vertical plane and so will need to add variation to his release and route tree to become a true number one in the NFL.
65. O’Cyrus Torrence, iOL6 – Florida
Early R3 – 6’5/332lbs
Power and a stout anchor, but not much more. Is a bit overrated compared to some of his peers who should go sooner and will get blown away by players at the next level due to a lack of real explosion and lateral agility. If he latches onto his man, then he can smother quite effectively, but it is doubtful whether he can survive like this consistently in the NFL and is the sixth ranked interior o-lineman on this 2023 NFL Draft Big Board.
66. Tyler Scott, WR9 – Cincinnati
Early R3 – 5’10/177lbs
Underrated by many, the former Bearcat has an uncanny ability to find space across the middle, is a legitimate deep threat and is excellent after the catch. His running back experience is evident when he has the ball in his hands and a track background is clear whenever he needs to find that extra gear to accelerate away from defenders. The Cincinnati product will start out as an excellent tertiary option and possible return man but flourish into a long term reliable WR2.
67. Jartavius Martin, S3 – Illinois
Early R3 – 5’11/194lbs
Projected here as a free safety, ‘Quan’ Martin has excellent coverage skills and range. His short area quickness and burst is exceptional, highlighted by his magnificent combine results in the agility tests. Martin was the top safety in the broad (11’1″) and vertical jumps (44″), as well as the third best in the forty (4.46), whilst recording the fastest ten yard split (1.47). Speed to diagnose plays is impressive and a reliable tackler, Martin can also be deployed as a nickel off the edge in certain situations and will make an impact all over the field.
68. Zacch Pickens, iDL6 – South Carolina
Early-Mid R3 – 6’4/291lbs
One of the forgotten men of defensive line class, Pickens has the versatility to play multiple positions within both even and odd man fronts, is effective against the run and offers enough of a pass rush to be a valuable asset in any scheme. Offers an intriguing blend of size, power and athleticism and his best football should be ahead of him.
69. Byron Young, iDL7 – Alabama
Early-Mid R3 – 6’3/294lbs
Physical interior defensive lineman who is worth his weight in gold despite not being a game wrecker. Is a disruptor up the middle though and will be an effective two-gapper, helping to create opportunities for QB hunters around him as well as being a plug against the run. High floor prospect and whilst he may not be a sexy pick, he will be a great addition to any d-line and deserves a top 75 slot on this 2023 NFL Draft Big Board.
70. Tyjae Spears, RB5 – Tulane
Early-Mid R3 – 5’10/201lbs
Spears is an electric runner, as well as a true pass-catching threat out of the backfield. The Tulane product is also solid in pass protection and offers more dynamism with the ball in his hands than the majority of the runners in this class. Spears turned heads at the Senior Bowl and has been working his way up draft boards ever since. Do not be surprised if he enjoys a career arc similar to Tony Pollard, who has just become RB1 in Dallas.
71. Sydney Brown, S4 – Illinois
Early-Mid R3 – 5’10/211lbs
Ultra competitor and a dedicated athlete who has a rocked up and chiselled frame. Moves well and is able to change direction with suddenness in coverage. Could play as a nickel back in the NFL as he has the loose hips to match shiftier receivers as well as the play strength and willingness to embrace contact and compete through the catch point that will be needed to defend tight ends. Combine testing good and was one of the stars of Senior Bowl week.
72. Byron Young, DE13 – Tennessee
Mid R3 – 6’2/250lbs
Great testing numbers at the combine, but lacks length as well as polish for an older prospect. Young does have twitch and a souped-up motor and will be a pest as a pass rusher straight away, but needs to figure out a consistent plan and convert speed to power more effectively before being considered as a full time starter.
73. Zach Harrison, DE14 – Ohio State
Mid R3 – 6’5/274lbs
Length is exceptional (36″ arms), Harrison is a consistent presence as a big end and will be able to absorb blockers in the run game. Has not yet fulfilled his potential as a pass rusher and has never become the disruptor that his natural gifts hint at, but there will be a team who believes it can harness Harrison’s potential.
74. Jordan Addison, WR10 – USC
Mid R3 – 5’11/173lbs
Polished route runner with decent speed who can operate at all levels of the field. Experienced receiver who won the Biletnikoff Award in 2021, but regressed somewhat after transferring to USC in 2022. May have already peaked as he is a jack of all trades, but does not truly have an elite calling card. Should have a solid career, but a secondary option in the passing game is likely his ceiling.
75. Marvin Mims, WR11 – Oklahoma
Mid R3 – 5’11/183lbs
Ran a faster than expected forty yard dash at the combine (4.38) and showed off his explosiveness with a 39.5″ vert. Ranked slightly below Addison on this 2023 NFL Draft Big Board, but could end up having the better career as a more explosive athlete who can win inside and outside as well as having the ability to take the top off a defense. A threat with the ball in his hands, Mims is not afraid to take a hit, tracks the ball well in the air and is able to contort his body effectively to make the tough catches.