2023 NFL Draft: Ranking the top 10 players at every position

As the college football season has arrived, the 2023 NFL Draft continues to inch closer. As such, we take the last preseason look at the top 10 players at every position for the 2023 NFL Draft. After months of film study and advanced research, here are Pro Football Network’s consensus top players at each respective position.

2023 NFL Draft prospects by position

Once again, it’s important to note that this is a very early list. These are the players that have caught our eye at some point in their careers. Some prospects are leaps and bounds ahead of others in their evaluations, while others we’ve just begun to study. This board is subject to change once the 2022 season unfolds.

Quarterbacks

1) C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
2) Bryce Young, Alabama
3) Will Levis, Kentucky
4) Tyler Van Dyke, Miami (FL)
5) Anthony Richardson, Florida
6) Spencer Rattler, South Carolina
7) Devin Leary, NC State
8) Cameron Ward, Washington State
9) Jaren Hall, BYU
10) Hendon Hooker, Tennessee

A big shakeup from the last time we took a stab at quarterbacks way back in May. Included in this list are newcomers Devin Leary and Hendon Hooker, both mainstays on the college football landscape that are getting NFL draft buzz. Will Levis also closed the gap on the rest and surpassed all but 1A and 1B in C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young.

Levis showed immense growth and extreme arm talent a season ago and looks poised to bring Kentucky to new heights this fall. There are other players to know not on this list as well, most notably the No. 3 signal-caller in our college QB rankings: Clayton Tune. Phil Jurkovec, Grayson McCall, Jake Haener, and Kedon Slovis all have a chance to crash these rankings with great seasons.

Running backs

1) Bijan Robinson, Texas
2) Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama
3) Tank Bigsby, Auburn
4) Sean Tucker, Syracuse
5) Zach Charbonnet, UCLA
6) Israel Abanikanda, Pittsburgh
7) Zach Evans, Ole Miss
8) Blake Corum, Michigan
9) Camerun Peoples, Appalachian State
10) Deuce Vaughn, Kansas State

The big two remain intact as Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs could crack into the first round next April. Robinson exceeds the expected value for a running back, and Gibbs comes equipped with game-changing elusiveness. Tank Bigsby and Sean Tucker are valuable additions to any roster with their combination of receiving prowess and open-field breakaway speed.

Israel Abanikanda makes the top 10 on this list as the Pittsburgh zone-rushing scheme should see him break free on more than a few occasions in 2022. Abanikanda has “natural talent, great size, and a visible second gear,” according to PFN Draft Analyst Ian Cummings.

Wide receivers

1) Kayshon Boutte, LSU
2) Quentin Johnston, TCU
3) Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
4) Jordan Addison, USC
5) Josh Downs, North Carolina
6) Parker Washington, Penn State
7) A.T. Perry, Wake Forest
8) Cedric Tillman, Tennessee
9) Zay Flowers, Boston College
10) Jermaine Burton, Alabama

A new No. 1 WR emerged this summer as the PFN consensus is extremely high on LSU’s Kayshon Boutte. Despite missing time last season, Boutte still impressed with lackluster quarterback play. Quentin Johnston is a name that fans will all learn to love, as is Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who set new Rose Bowl records in his last outing of 2021.

Cedric Tillman and Jermaine Burton look to have the most to gain in 2022. Both SEC receivers have incredible athletic profiles and the offenses to do a lot of damage. In doing so, both can raise their draft stock a ton come the end of the year.

Tight ends

1) Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
2) Cameron Latu, Alabama
3) Jaheim Bell, South Carolina
4) Dalton Kincaid, Utah
5) Sam LaPorta, Iowa
6) Zack Kuntz, Old Dominion
7) Darnell Washington, Georgia
8) Benjamin Yurosek, Stanford
9) Will Mallory, Miami (FL)
10) Brant Kuithe, Utah

The top of the tight end class remains the same as Michael Mayer is a do-it-all monster. Cameron Latu and Jaheim Bell round out the top three as both SEC players should be household names in 2022. Utah sports two in the top 10 as Brant Kuithe and Dalton Kincaid are truly weapons in the Utes offense.

Offensive tackles

1) Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State
2) Darnell Wright, Tennessee
3) Matthew Bergeron, Syracuse
4) Peter Skoronski, Northwestern
5) Carter Warren, Pittsburgh
6) Jaelyn Duncan, Maryland
7) Anton Harrison, Oklahoma
8) Blake Freeland, BYU
9) Connor Galvin, Baylor
10) Broderick Jones, Georgia

A new name at the top here as well as Ohio State guard Paris Johnson Jr. is kicking out to left tackle in 2022. The Buckeyes’ star lineman replaces Nicholas Petit-Frere and has a great ceiling. Darnell Wright, Matthew Bergeron, and Jaelyn Duncan all move up significantly since our last update, as each has terrific tape from their respective careers.

Interior offensive linemen

1) Layden Robinson, G, Texas A&M
2) O’Cyrus Torrence, G, Florida
3) Sedrick Van Pran, C, Georgia
4) Joe Tippman, C, Wisconsin
5) Steve Avila, C, TCU
6) Ricky Stromberg, C, Arkansas
7) Emil Ekiyor Jr., G, Alabama
8) Sataoa Laumea, G, Utah
9) Jarrett Patterson, C, Notre Dame
10) Christian Mahogany, G, Boston College

There’s a new No. 1 on the interior of the offensive line as Texas A&M G Layden Robinson takes top honors. Actually, the SEC takes the top three spots as Christian Mahogany would rank above all but Robinson and O’Cyrus Torrence if he were healthy enough to play this fall. The center class has rounded into shape quite nicely as five of the top nine prospects on the inside project as a center in the NFL.

EDGE defenders

1) Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
2) Isaiah Foskey, Notre Dame
3) Myles Murphy, Clemson
4) Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State
5) Nolan Smith, Georgia
6) BJ Ojulari, LSU
7) Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech
8) Andre Carter II, Army
9) Derick Hall, Auburn
10) Zion Tupuola-Fetui, Washington

The best player in the draft could very well be a defensive lineman, and Will Anderson Jr. has the right stuff to challenge that for that title. Anderson led the nation in tackles for loss and sacks last season as he was a clear 10.5 tackles for loss ahead of the next closest. His impact goes far beyond just normal pass-rushing talent, as he’s an incredibly gifted and well-rounded athlete off the edge with elite versatility.

Interior defensive linemen

1) Jalen Carter, Georgia
2) Bryan Bresee, Clemson
3) Calijah Kancey, Pittsburgh
4) Gervon Dexter, Florida
5) Siaki Ika, Baylor
6) Tyler Davis, Clemson
7) Jaxon Player, Baylor
8) Jaquelin Roy, LSU
9) Akheem Mesidor, Miami (FL)
10) P.J. Mustipher, Penn State

That rightful claim to be the 2023 NFL Draft’s top player also has an argument from Jalen Carter. The big man from Georgia draws comparisons to Warren Sapp for great reasons, but he’s a much more well-rounded athlete. Behind Carter, Clemson’s Bryan Bresee and Tyler Davis could form the country’s top duo at any position if they’re both healthy in 2022. Although, Siaki Ika and Jaxon Player have a chance to encroach on their dominance in their first season together in Waco.

Linebackers

1) Noah Sewell, Oregon
2) Trenton Simpson, Clemson
3) Henry To’oTo’o, Alabama
4) Jalen Graham, Purdue
5) Ivan Pace Jr., Miami (OH)
6) Kam Arnold, Boston College
7) Demarvion Overshown, Texas
8) Justin Flowe, Oregon
9) Owen Pappoe, Auburn
10) Jack Campbell, Iowa

The race to be the top linebacker will be a fun one to watch as Noah Sewell and Trenton Simpson each have elite traits and incredible athleticism. Sewell is a missile to the football, and Simpson is a valuable all-around defender with great versatility. Watch out for Purdue’s Jalen Graham, who makes plays in coverage and against the run all the same.

Cornerbacks

1) Kelee Ringo, Georgia
2) Cam Smith, South Carolina
3) Clark Phillips III, Utah
4) Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State
5) Garrett Williams, Syracuse
6) Eli Ricks, Alabama
7) Tyrique Stevenson, Miami (FL)
8) Jaylon Jones, Texas A&M
9) Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri
10) Kyu Blu Kelly, Stanford

Kelee Ringo remains the top cornerback, but South Carolina’s Cam Smith has the ball skills to challenge the throne. Clark Phillips III was dominant in the Rose Bowl in his last outing last year and has top-tier speed at the position. Eli Ricks drops a bit because rumor has it he hasn’t grasped the starting nod at Alabama and may get jumped by underclassmen for reps in his first season in Tuscaloosa.

Safeties

1) JL Skinner, Boise State
2) Brandon Joseph, Notre Dame
3) Jordan Battle, Alabama
4) Jaylon Carlies, Missouri
5) Jalen Catalon, Arkansas
6) Rashad Torrence II, Florida
7) Demani Richardson, Texas A&M
8) Trey Dean III, Florida
9) Kenny Logan Jr., Kansas
10) Jalen Green, Mississippi State

JL Skinner rises to the top of the safety class ahead of the season after the 6’4″, 220-pound monster has dominated out west for Boise State. Skinner has a quiet reserve about him but brings the lumber with calculated shots. He paces the class that features a ton of elite talent on the backend, including Notre Dame’s Brandon Joseph, who has a chance to make an even bigger name for himself with the Fighting Irish in 2022.

Specialists

1) Harrison Mevis, K, Missouri
2) Jake Moody, K, Michigan
3) Noah Ruggles, K, Ohio State
4) Jonah Dalmas, K, Boise State
5) Daniel Gutierrez, K, UNLV

1) Michael Turk, P, Oklahoma
2) Tory Taylor, P, Iowa
3) Adam Korsak, P, Rutgers
4) Lucas Dean, P, UTSA
5) Bryce Baringer, P, Michigan State