We’re closing in on the big event, and the class is taking shape on the Pro Football Network 2023 NFL Draft Big Board. The top prospects for the 2023 NFL Draft — including Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud — showed up every Saturday through the national championship as we’ve entered the pre-draft process for the 2023 NFL Draft in Kansas City.
2023 NFL Draft Big Board
Before we get into the Pro Football Network Top 300 players for the 2023 NFL Draft, here’s a little more on why these players are at the top.
Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
As of now, PFN’s first overall prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft is Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter. Between Carter and Will Anderson Jr., it’s very close. But Carter takes the crown for the time being, and he’ll have a compelling case to keep it all throughout draft season.
At 6’3″, 300 pounds, Carter legitimately has all the tools to be a game-changing 3-tech, in a modern NFL where interior pressure is just as important, if not more important than edge pressure.
MORE: Top 10 DTs in the 2023 NFL Draft
Carter is dense and well-leveraged, with high-end mass and proportional length. He explodes off the line like a cannon and exacts similar damage to blocks at initial contact. All the while, he can string together quick and violent hand moves, to deliver on his terrifying traits.
Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama
PFN’s second overall prospect was listed at 6’4″, 243 pounds while at Alabama. In the context of edge rushers, he’s closer to average than elite from a size perspective. Don’t let that part of Will Anderson Jr.‘s profile fool you, however. He might not have the sheer mass of a Myles Garrett or a Travon Walker, but he carries the same gravity as a defensive playmaker.
For starters, Anderson is a quantifiably elite athlete with searing burst off the line and devastating lateral agility when attacking gaps. He also has the flexibility and length to pry his way into the pocket, doing so with a relentless mentality. At his size, Anderson generates power at a level of absurdity, mixing lightning-fast explosion and violent extensions into an overwhelming display of force.
Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
Anderson is largely viewed as the consensus EDGE1 in the 2023 NFL Draft. Odds are, he’ll be the first player at his position to come off the board. If your team happens to lose out on him, however, Myles Murphy more than holds his own as a consolation prize.
MORE: 2023 NFL Draft EDGE Class
At 6’5″, 275 pounds, Murphy is a legitimate tank on the football field, who can levy his mass, length, and explosiveness into bulldozing power exertions at the point of attack. His hands are heavy and forceful, and he has the strength to wrench through opposing arms. All the while, Murphy’s a rare athlete at his size, with unnatural foot speed and accelerative capacity in pursuit.
Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
Positional value will hold weight on draft night, and it’s something that frequently works against running backs. But if we’re ranking prospects purely off of talent on this big board, and leaving positional value out of it, then Texas’ Bijan Robinson belongs in the top five. Maybe even the top three.
It’s important not to throw around the term “generational.” Looking at his tape, however, Robinson may be the closest thing we’ve had to a generational RB talent, at least since Saquon Barkley.
Robinson truly processes at a different speed in tight spaces, with absurd instincts and vision, and he’s incredibly light-footed, flexible, and agile as a 6’0″, 220-pound back. He’s a master of space with the mental and physical qualities to dominate sprawling defenders.
Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
It may be different tomorrow, or next week, or next month. But right now, PFN’s QB1 on the consensus board is Alabama’s Bryce Young. It truly is too close to call between Young and other contenders like Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud and Florida’s Anthony Richardson. But if you’re looking for the unshakable poise and resolve of a true franchise QB, Young has it to the highest degree.
From a raw traits perspective, Young is peculiarly average compared to the top group. He’s a good athlete, but not elite for his size, and his arm might be the weakest out of Richardson, Stroud, and Will Levis.
Still, Young has more than enough arm talent and elasticity to work with. And in high-pressure situations, his creation capacity, field vision, calm demeanor, and uncanny instincts help him consistently carry his team out of chaotic waters.