Day one of the 2023 NFL Draft is in the books and what a first round it was! Trades, unpredictable picks and surprises at every turn as teams confound the myriad of online prognosticators and draftniks. It is almost time to do it all again as rounds two and three are set to take place tonight, so here is a handy guide of the top five players at every position who still remain available. Stay ahead of the curve with this day two NFL Draft Big Board.
See below for additional useful links/tools as you watch the rest of the NFL Draft.
To view our Big Board: The Top 50 Overall Prospects, click here.
For prospects ranked 51-100, click here.
All offensive prospects ranked here, and all defensive prospects here.
Day Two NFL Draft Big Board: Offense Top 5 By Position
Quarterbacks
1. Will Levis — 3rd overall prospect/1st round grade
2. Hendon Hooker — 58th overall prospect/Late 2nd round
3. Dorian Thompson-Robinson — Late 4th round
4. Tanner McKee — Late 5th round
5. Jake Haener — Late 5th round
Levis is the headline act of this group and deserved to be taken in round one. The Colts’ reported interest appears now to have been all smoke and mirrors, but that will make the Kentucky product all the more determined to prove his doubters wrong. Watch Detroit, L.A. Rams, Seattle, Minnesota and Las Vegas as potential suitors on day two.
Beyond Levis, Hendon Hooker has his admirers, but his value is more appropriate for day two. Concerns about the basic nature of his collegiate offense, impressive as it was, raise questions about how quickly he will be able to adapt to a full NFL playbook. His advanced age and injury also left room for doubt about his worth in round one.
Thompson-Robinson, McKee and Haener round out the top five quarterbacks still available on our day two NFL Draft Big Board, but are all likely career backups at the next level.
Running Backs
1. Zach Charbonnet — 42nd overall prospect/2nd round
2. Israel Abanikanda — 59th overall prospect/2nd round
3. Tyjae Spears — 70th overall prospect/3rd round
4. Zach Evans — 91st overall prospect/Late 3rd round
5. Kendre Miller — 93rd overall prospect/Late 3rd round
Charbonnet is a certainty to be selected tonight and come off this day two NFL Draft Big Board. He is a runner who has a perfect blend of size, power, vision and quicks and is an effective receiver out of the backfield.
After that comes the explosive Abanikanda, who runs with terrific contact balance, potency and purpose and Senior Bowl standout Spears. The former Tulane man is a do it all bundle of electricity who can slash through traffic, is dynamic with the ball in his hands and changes direction on a dime.
Wide Receivers
1. Jonathan Mingo — 23rd overall prospect/Late 1st round
2. Cedric Tillman — 29th overall prospect/Early 2nd round
3. Josh Downs — 32nd overall prospect/Early 2nd round
4. Michael Wilson — 50th overall prospect/Mid-2nd round
5. Jalin Hyatt — 64th overall prospect/3rd round
Four receivers went in round one and there are four more graded with a second-round tag or better on this day two NFL Draft Big Board. Jonathan Mingo stands out as a riser who should have gone at the back end of round one. Mingo has great size, speed, soft and sturdy hands and can work inside and out with equal effectiveness.
Tillman is the higher graded of the two Tennessee wideouts and should be taken a round earlier than Hyatt thanks to his more well-rounded game and preferable measurables. Hyatt took advantage of his time to step up in 2022, but teams are likely to value Tillman higher. Hyatt is currently a bit of a one-trick pony, but has one thing that keeps him intriguing: speed.
The ex-Tar Heel Downs offers a safe bet, possessing a game that is easily translatable from a skillset point of view, he just lacks size. Wilson suffered injuries throughout his time at Stanford but has a great frame, is an advanced route runner and played with impressive short-area quickness and twitch for his size.
Tight Ends
1. Michael Mayer — 10th overall prospect/1st round
2. Sam LaPorta — 49th overall prospect/Mid-2nd round
3. Luke Schoonmaker — 61st overall prospect/Late-2nd round
4. Darnell Washington — 77th overall prospect/Mid-3rd round
5. Josh Whyle — 80th overall prospect/Mid-3rd round
Whoever drafts Mayer will get a major steal. He is a premium player and should become a top-ten tight end within the NFL for the next decade.
LaPorta is a chain mover. He is less flashy than Dalton Kincaid in the passing game and not quite as sure-handed as Mayer, but LaPorta nonetheless is an exciting prospect with a legitimate NFL skillset. He already has a varied route tree and line up anywhere, can block, and will not be overawed when he reaches the NFL.
Schoonmaker is a player with excellent size and looks like a traditional NFL tight end. He possesses terrific power and aggression and looks to dominate his opponent. He has a great blend of everything that makes a successful tight end. High floor if he avoids injury.
Washington will immediately become a threat on seam routes, in the red zone, and within soft spots against zone schemes. He is the best blocker of the group. Finally, Whyle looks like a massive wideout and plays like it. He is an excellent route runner and has real YAC ability.
Offensive Linemen
1. Dawand Jones — 24th overall prospect/Late 1st round
2. Steve Avila — 34th overall prospect/2nd round
3. John Michael Schmitz — 36th overall prospect/2nd round
4. Joe Tippmann — 48th overall prospect/2nd round
5. Luke Wypler — 53rd overall prospect/Late-2nd round
Interior prospects dominate this top five and will litter the second round. Dawand Jones will be disappointed to have been the odd man out in the tackle class during round one, but he should be selected early on day two.
Avila has multi-position versatility across the interior and will be admired for this, Schmitz is a clean projection as a high floor center, as is Tippmann. Wypler is the one who has been a bit forgotten about up to this point, but he does not show a discernible drop-off in talent and so if a team gets him a round later, then he could be a real bargain in round three.
Day Two NFL Draft Big Board: Defense Top 5 By Position
Edge Defenders
1. Adetomiwa Adebawore — 30th overall prospect/2nd round
2. Derick Hall — 37th overall prospect/Mid-2nd round
3. Keion White — 45th overall prospect/Mid-2nd round
4. YaYa Diaby — 56th overall prospect/Late-2nd round
5. B.J. Ojulari — 57th overall prospect/Late-2nd round
Adebawore blew the doors off at the combine with a performance that highlighted what a force of nature he could become at the next level. Possessing the length and explosion that would appeal to any team, it will be a surprise if he does not leave this day two NFL Draft Big Board quickly this evening.
Heavy hands, legitimate power and a true alpha QB-hunter, Hall plays with a motor that always runs hot. Was productive in college and will have a successful career in the pros. Keion White carries major upside and an enticing physical profile; albeit a touch older.
YaYa Diaby finished 2022 with nine sacks and 14 tackles for loss, and projects as either an outside linebacker in a 3-4, or with a little more weight, could become a 4-3 base end. He does need to add additional moves to his pass-rushing repertoire and play with a plan, but he should make an immediate impact as a rookie.
Finally, the brother of Azeez, B.J. Ojulari is a slightly undersized edge defender who will profile initially as a pass-rushing specialist, aligning at outside linebacker. If he can prove that he can play the run consistently then he should mature into a full-time starter in the long run.
Interior Defensive Linemen
1. Keeanu Benton — 44th overall prospect/Mid-2nd round
2. Zacch Pickens — 68th overall prospect/3rd round
3. Byron Young (Ala) — 69th overall prospect/3rd round
4. Siaki Ika — 76th overall prospect/Mid-3rd round
5. Cameron Young — 82nd overall prospect/Mid-3rd round
Benton is the top interior defensive lineman available on this day two NFL Draft Big Board. Already plays the run with a smothering intensity, he is a prospect who will emerge as an interior penetrative threat as he continues to learn and refine his game.
With an impressive length and athletic ability, Pickens is a bit raw but is a lump of clay who – with NFL coaching – should develop into the sum of his parts and have a solid career. Alabama’s Bryon Young is a high-floor, high-character defender who can two-gap and offer moderate interior pressure.
Siaki Ika has never quite lived up to expectations after being considered a potential first-rounder this time last year. When he is locked in, he is among the best run defenders in the class and has amazing lateral quickness and twitch for a man of his size, but he is extremely inconsistent and had an underwhelming 2022.
The fifth-ranked interior defender on this day two NFL Draft Big Board is Cameron Young from Mississippi State. Young has gone under the radar during the draft process, but do not count him out. An impressive Senior Bowl week turned heads and on tape, he is a player who flashes immense potential as both a pass rusher and run stuffer.
Linebackers
1. Drew Sanders — 27th overall prospect/2nd round
2. Trenton Simpson — 60th overall prospect/Mid-2nd round
3. Daiyan Henley — 62nd overall prospect/Late-2nd round
4. Dorian Williams — 84th overall prospect/Mid-3rd round
5. Henry To’oTo’o — 98th overall prospect/Late-3rd round
Bringing an aggressive mindset, Sanders is a three-down, hard-hitting, dynamic defender who is just at home in coverage as he is sifting through traffic against the run. Extremely productive and is dangerous in the backfield, Sanders plays with his hair on fire and should be taken early as a Micah Parsons-lite prospect.
Simpson has immense upside in all phases of play at the second level and is able to fly around the field. Can appear to be hesitant from time to time, but teams will be licking their chops at the chance to unleash his All-World athletic potential.
Henley is 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.
Dorian Williams and Henry To’oTo’o round out the top five and are both slightly undersized, but play with quick twitch and natural instincts. Pick your poison with these two; if you want a coverage backer then it is Williams. A safer bet and run stopper, pick To’oTo’o.
Cornerbacks
1. DJ Turner — 19th overall prospect/1st round
2. Joey Porter Jr. — 38th overall prospect/Mid-2nd round
3. Julius Brents — 41st overall prospect/Mid-2nd round
4. Kelee Ringo — 43rd overall prospect/Mid-2nd round
5. Darius Rush — 52nd overall prospect/Mid-2nd round
DJ Turner has legitimate man-to-man skills and an ultra-competitive demeanor. His 4.26 forty turned heads at the combine where he displayed real explosiveness and was undoubtedly the most impressive corner at the event. Turner has excellent hips, precise movement in coverage, and the desire to hit. Should have found a home in the first round.
A first-round talent in the eyes of many, Porter has it all from a physical standpoint – size, length, ball skills, strong hands that can reroute receivers and toughness. Porter, however, is not the quickest to react sometimes and does have slower feet than many of his peers. He is also extremely grabby during routes. Oozes potential, but needs refinement.
Brents and Ringo are both long and tall corners, with prototypical size to play on the perimeter. Brents edges Ringo thanks to his superior testing scores and upside.
Rush has a higher ceiling than teammate Cam Smith, whose teams will rank as such. 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.
Safeties
1. Brian Branch — 35th overall prospect/2nd round
2. JL Skinner — 54th overall prospect/Late-2nd round
3. Jartavius Martin — 67th overall prospect/3rd round
4. Sydney Brown — 71st overall prospect/3rd round
5. Ji’Ayir Brown — 78th overall prospect/Mid-3rd round
Branch is a Rolls Royce of a defender in the secondary and could be a slot-corner convert at the next level. The ex-Alabama safety is versatile and has a high-level understanding of the game. A minor surprise that he was not taken in round one because of his smarts and pedigree, his athletic limitations appear to have scared teams off a little.
Today is the range for the next crop of safeties to leave this day two NFL Draft Big Board. Skinner is a tenacious attack dog and hits with real violence and ferociousness.
Jartavius ‘Quan’ Martin projects as the best potential free safety in the class thanks to his excellent coverage skills and range. His short-area quickness and burst are exceptional, highlighted by his magnificent combine results in the agility tests.
Martin’s collegiate teammate Sydney Brown ranks immediately after him on this day two NFL Draft Big Board and is another fierce competitor (a theme throughout the Illinois secondary). He is a dedicated athlete who has a rocked-up and chiseled frame who moves well and is able to change direction with suddenness in coverage.
Sydney Brown 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. His combine testing was good and was one of the stars of Senior Bowl week.
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Former Penn State safety Ji’Ayir Brown is the fifth-ranked safety on this day two NFL Draft Big Board and should find a home in round three. Another alpha competitor, Brown always has his nose around the ball and is a playmaker.