32. I wrote in September that I wanted to see his sack production rise before moving him up, and while he didn't have elite numbers, he did improve. 18. That's extremely high for a player I don't think has starter-level tools. 40. Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke made two trades down in Round 1, acquiring extra fourth-, fifth- and seventh-round picks in the process. 15. 12. He has all the tools to be a longtime starter in the NFL, and I was stunned he lasted into Round 2. Nick Saban & Co. used him as a stand-up outside linebacker, as a down defensive end and even at tackle, where he can blow up guards and centers at the snap. Tracking fifth-year options for 2020 first-rounders: Which were picked up, and which were declined? 5. And I have to say, I'm impressed by several of the prospects general manager Andrew Berry landed. I'm moving Gibbs into my top 25 in these final rankings -- he has been my No. And while there were lots of rumblings they could try to trade up into the top four for a passer, that didn't happen. 129. Meet Mel Kiper Son Mel Kiper Jr. As was previously established, Kiper Jr. is an analyst who gained notoriety for his participation in the fabled Bill Tobin outburst. 170, as well. Sevyn Banks, LSU Zay Flowers, Boston College 85. NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF That's a coup for dropping down just three spots and still getting an offensive tackle who could start as a rookie. Jayden Reed, WR, Michigan State This is the same wideout who led Ohio State in catches (95) and yards (1,606) in 2021, even on a team with two wide receivers drafted in Round 1 of the 2022 draft. 1. 39. 12. O'Rien Vance, Iowa State 5. 62. I completely support everyone determining whats best for their individual circumstance and recognize the value of vaccines, he wrote. 8. 81. Kiper's professional career started with Ernie Accorsi, general manager of the Baltimore Colts, suggested that Kiper be draft . 6. There were a few significant reaches in this New Orleans class, which drops it to the lowest tier of these grades. Top needs entering the draft: OT, G, DE, CB, TE, What a strange class to try to grade. 30. 39. That's the biggest question I try to answer. 3. 31. Jaren Hall, BYU Kiper Jr. announced last week that he wouldn't be physically at the draft in Sin City, but rather broadcasting from his home studio in Maryland. 8. He was impressive at the combine, though he didn't run the 40-yard dash. Wideout Puka Nacua (177), tight end Davis Allen (175) and edge rusher Ochaun Mathis (189) were all reaches on my board, and L.A. ended up taking my sixth-ranked punter Ethan Evans (223). The Vikings got just two defensive snaps from rookie safety Lewis Cine, last year's first-round pick, and they entered this draft without a second-rounder because it was dealt for tight end T.J. Hockenson last fall. Kei'Trel Clark, Louisville Noah Sewell, Oregon Utah often used him out of the slot, and he torched safeties trying to cover him. Harris LaChance, BYU Baltimore's best move on Thursday? Not necessarily about the value -- Johnston is No. 8. Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina. Mazi Smith (26) is the best run-stuffing defensive tackle in this class, a 323-pounder who will instantly improve their run defense. 4. 1 with the Panthers, adding pick Nos. Isaiah Foskey, Notre Dame 26. 10. Wright got better every season. Mel Kiper Jr., the longtime ESPN draft analyst, said earlier this month that he will not travel to Las Vegas because he is unvaccinated against the coronavirus. Adam Korsak, Rutgers Here we go, with the position-by-position rankings at the bottom (updated April 25, 10 p.m. Overall, if Murphy develops into an every-down player, we could be looking at an A class in a few years. On Day 3, I liked edge rusher Jose Ramirez (196) as a late flier and tight end Payne Durham (171) as an upside play to find a pass-catcher. But the Falcons could get 90% of his production from Allgeier and a couple of Day 3 options. Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee Trey Dean III, Florida 4. 131. But not this year. Johnson can be a building block as Kyler Murray's blindside protector. I'll also mention a few of my favorite prospects in the class. Ronnie Brown, Shepherd He is a dominant and complete edge rusher who might have been the No. 28. Devon Witherspoon, Illinois Well, if I were doing a regrade, it'd have to be an A+, right? He had nine sacks last season and was extremely impressive during the athletic testing at the combine. Juice Scruggs, Penn State Will Levis, a Madison native who declared for the NFL Draft out of Kentucky on Nov. 30 is receiving plenty of buzz from ESPN's NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. Levis has landed . 5. Jordan Addison will fit well as the No. ET on ESPN, ABC, ESPN App). 26. 12. D'Shawn Jamison, Texas 28. Levis has a rocket launcher for an arm and makes some "wow" throws. Washington dropped because of some medical concerns, but he'll step into the NFL as one of the league's best blocking tight ends; and if he can up his game as a pass-catcher, he could be a steal. Dalton Kincaid, Utah Chris Smith, Louisiana, Wayne Taulapapa, RB, Washington Felix Anudike-Uzomah, DE, Kansas State This team made a surprise playoff run in 2022, and after it snagged two rookie starters in Round 1, it is primed to compete again in the NFC. 23. Kilian Zierer, Auburn Wright was called for eight penalties in 2021 but just two last season, so he cleaned up his game. In a stark departure from tradition, Kiper is part of the ESPN broadcast, while . 49. 2. Tyrique Stevenson, Miami He also plays the run well and is physical at the point of attack. Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee 119. Bryce Young, my top-ranked passer in this class, can be a superstar. Brenton Strange, Penn State 8. Tyler Scott (133) is a slot wideout who runs after the catch like a tailback. NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. will participate in ESPN's television broadcast covering the tentpole event from his home studio in Maryland and not onsite in Las Vegas because he is unvaccinated against COVID-19, he said Monday. 81 in this draft). It was just a little high for me. The Browns sent their first-rounder to the Texans in the Deshaun Watson deal and their second-rounder to the Jets in the Elijah Moore trade (Cleveland got a third-round selection in return), which meant the Browns waited all the way into the middle of Round 3 to be on the clock. While I like Gibbs' game, this is too high. 35. NFL fans are the most passionate in all of sports and I can't wait for another great NFL Draft. Tommy DeVito, Illinois I've also made a few tweaks based on medical info I've heard from people I trust in the league. I mentioned inside linebacker Drew Sanders (67) and defensive back Riley Moss (83) in my Friday recap; they're both good players. That's where the Cardinals could have found value. 16. Jake Witt (236) is an intriguing dart throw in Round 7; he is my 17th-ranked offensive tackle. Another thing I like about Robinson's game: He catches passes with his hands, not his body. 107. Nick Saldiveri (103) played mostly right tackle in college, but he likely will move inside to guard for New Orleans. He doesn't get handsy with receivers, so his game will translate well to the NFL. Cam Jones, Indiana Kiper, a fixture on ESPN's NFL draft coverage since 1984, won't be the only familiar face missing from the event. Darrious Gaines, Western Colorado Rashad Torrence II, Florida Jordan Mims, Fresno State 18. Tucker Kraft, TE, South Dakota State 7. He explodes off the line of scrimmage. Michael Mayer, Notre Dame Tight end Zack Kuntz (220) lit up the combine workouts, and he is a worthy risk in Round 7. Check out some of the best plays that have made Clemson's Trenton Simpson a top prospect in this year's NFL draft. 6. 30. Anthony Richardson, Florida 54. 67. Jayson Ademilola, Notre Dame Levis' stats won't blow anyone away, but he didn't have a great supporting cast of playmakers around him. Davis Allen, Clemson 9. That's right: There are 31 first-round picks, but there never are 31 prospects who have first-round grades on teams' boards. 1 on their boards at the position. Daniel Trejo, Texas, 1. The 2023 NFL draft started with a bang on Thursday with a surprise trade up to No. Calvin Avery, Illinois 18, the Lions did what great teams don't do, and that's reach for a need. Anderson's sack numbers were down (10) from his historic 2021 season (17.5), and he ranked sixth in the country with 19.5 tackles for loss after being No. Jalen Redmond, Oklahoma Matt Landers, Arkansas I never bought in on Ringo as a top-40 guy -- he is too inconsistent -- but he has some upside if he can take the next step. Peter Afful Jr., Washburn 48. Nico Bolden, Kent State. ESPN NFL draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. changes his mind in more ways than one regarding the Buffalo Bills in his final mock ahead of the 2023 NFL draft. Josh Downs, North Carolina Alex Ward, UCF Tyreque Jones, Boise State Darnell Wright, Tennessee Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State Siaki Ika, DT, Baylor I'm just curious to see how much Blackmon can play as a rookie, because Minnesota has available snaps for him. Check out this show of force in the SEC title game against LSU. Cam Smith, South Carolina I had a fourth-round grade on safety JL Skinner (183), so the Broncos got good value on Day 3. XFL semifinals: Defenders roll Sea Dragons, set up title showdown with Renegades. He led the FBS in broken tackles forced per game (4.1) and averaged 112.7 rushing yards per game. Ali Gaye, LSU 9. And that quarterback issue? The downside of landing Levis, as I mentioned Friday, is that it involved a significant trade up. Mitchell Tinsley, Penn State Tank Dell, Houston For edge rushers, it's all about physical traits and tools, and the 6-foot-6 Wilson has everything teams want in that regard. Henry, Clemson 77. Top needs entering the draft: OT, C, WR, S, DT. Tyler Lacy, Oklahoma State Joseph Ngata, Clemson 31. 14. He struggled a little bit with an unspecified injury over the last two months in 2022, but he finished the season with 59 catches for 875 yards and eight scores. Still, New England was in a spot to get a starter, either at cornerback, offensive tackle or wide receiver. Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech Chandler Zavala (114) could be an impact guard. Wilson, Quincy Bryan Bresee, Clemson All he does is make plays, though. Flowers will make plays out of the slot, but he can line up outside too. Absolutely. The issues I have with edge rusher Tyree Wilson (7) is that cornerback Christian Gonzalez was still available, and Wilson's physical traits didn't always match his production. Quinton Barrow, Grand Valley State Mekhi Blackmon, USC Hendon Hooker, Tennessee 6. McClendon Curtis, Chattanooga Banks' tape is one of the most impressive I've seen in this class in terms of man coverage. Evan Hull, Northwestern 44. And it's the receiving part that makes Gibbs such an intriguing prospect -- and could land him in Round 1. 9. I appreciate my colleagues, particularly the production staff and my fellow commentators, for their support and flexibility. Chris Rodriguez Jr., RB, Kentucky 12. The problem? He had a lot of fans inside the NFL. Antoine Green, North Carolina Brent Laing, Minnesota-Duluth The Titans moved up eight spots in a trade with the Cardinals, giving up Nos. Braeden Daniels (118) is light on his feet but undersized; he is my seventh-ranked guard. It's a solid if unspectacular move to replenish the D-line after Frank Clark was released. The Saints ended up picking 19 spots after their original selection. Pittsburgh had just three picks in the last four rounds, with Nick Herbig (132) the most notable. Christian Gonzalez, Oregon 39. Dontayvion Wicks, Virginia im just wanting to know. That's a miss. The light Day 3 keeps this class under an A -- teams that have more picks obviously have greater chances to find those diamonds in the rough -- but there are some instant-impact players here. He's a hands catcher who can run the entire route tree, and he can make defenders miss after the catch. 6 to No. Derius Davis, TCU The 2021 Heisman Trophy winner has an incredibly quick release. 27. The Eagles might have gotten a premier edge rusher at the end of Round 1. Steve Avila, G, TCU Minnesota went back to USC for cornerback Mekhi Blackmon (102) in Round 3. Todd Centeio, James Madison Khalan Laborn, Marshall Peyton Henry, Washington 34. Safety Gervarrius Owens is an intriguing flier in Round 7. He ranked the 2019 draft class- the last one under head coach Jason Garrett- in the bottom third of the league. The former five-star prospect has a great chance to be the top tackle in this class. Tyler King, Edward Waters 10. Branch can cover like a cornerback, and he isn't afraid to tackle. 12. He is quite simply a fantastic thrower of the football. Addison had 100 catches for 1,592 yards and 17 touchdowns at Pitt in 2021. Carter has some off-field questions -- his draft status was clouded after he pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and racing in connection with a fatal crash in January -- but there's no denying his talent level. Daniel Scott, California 17. Daniel Arias, Colorado Rashee Rice, WR, SMU 3. Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State Kiper said that Accorsi told him that there was a market for draft information and suggested that Kiper convert his analysis into a business. De'Jahn Warren, Jackson State Jarrett Patterson, Notre Dame Tank Bigsby, RB, Auburn Mel Kiper Jr., the longtime ESPN draft analyst, said earlier this month that he will not travel to Las Vegas because he is unvaccinated against the coronavirus. Ethan Evans, Wingate One question I have coming out of this draft for the Falcons: Who's rushing the passer? 24. 25. His 4.46-second 40-yard dash (with a 1.50-second 10-yard split) at the combine was great for his size. If he was bigger, he'd be the shoo-in for the No. Check out the highlights that make Anthony Richardson one of the most exciting prospects of the 2023 NFL draft. This was a clear need area for the Jets. DiRenzo, Rutgers On Day 3, the Colts hit on some nice prospects. That left the first draft picks of the Payton era falling at the top of Round 3, though they ended up packaging together selections to take wideout Marvin Mims Jr. (63) at the end of Round 2. AJ Finley, Ole Miss Cory Trice, Purdue 24. As for the rest of this class? Jalen Graham, Purdue 26. This class is lifted up by those first three picks, which all fit positions of need. He has really long arms. K.J. 2. Garrett Williams, Syracuse 42. Jones started 19 games for the back-to-back champs over the past two seasons, filling in for Jamaree Salyer in 2021 before taking over the left tackle job full-time last season. Anderson doesn't take plays off, is versatile and plays the run well. Jake Bobo, UCLA 115. General manager Jason Licht landed three really good players with his top selections. Jonathan White, McPherson College (KS) 13, 42 and 207 and a conditional second-rounder in 2024, while giving up a disgruntled quarterback and pick Nos. 104. Aron Cruickshank, Rutgers 14. Princeton Fant, Tennessee 69. 6. Theo Benedet, British Columbia (Canada) He was downright reckless at times last season, trusting his strong arm to fit throws into tight spaces but instead getting picked off. Tre Tucker, Cincinnati 12. 114. Luke Schoonmaker, TE, Michigan Top needs entering the draft: DE, DT, CB, WR, QB. Mel Kiper and Todd McShay, ESPN's dueling duo of the NFL Draft aren't working together this weekend. 74. 13. 23. He is undersized, but he tested well during combine workouts and had six interceptions last season. His 71.2 QBR ranked 30th in the country. Eku Leota, Auburn I still think he's a Round 1 prospect -- he obviously will put on weight as he gets older -- but he's not a top-15 lock. He had an up-and-down season, throwing 17 touchdown passes and nine interceptions while running for nine scores. 6. Odds and lines subject to change. They traded a fourth-round pick to move up three spots in Round 1 to grab Broderick Jones (14), who will start at one of the tackle spots. Jones has great feet in pass protection and can plow over defenders in the run game. Mohamoud Diabate, Utah 20. 22. Dee Winters, TCU Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (140) is a solid dual-threat, developmental quarterback. That's small. 33. He has to get better when he's off schedule and when plays break down. John Michael Schmitz, Minnesota 15 and 170. He isn't likely to be a third-down back as a rookie, but he's a natural runner once he gets the ball. He is going to be the starter in 2023, though the deal he signed gives the team an out after a year if he doesn't star again. I've said before that if he were four inches taller, he'd have a similar grade as some of the best I've ever scouted. 19. Third-round pick Zach Harrison (75) had just 3.5 sacks at Ohio State last season. Thomas Rush, Minnesota Kendall Smith, Illinois I'm more down on the value of the Seahawks' two second-round picks, though, as I wrote Friday night. Joe Tippmann, Wisconsin Tanner McCalister, Ohio State He is the real deal, though, and there are lots of Levis fans in the NFL. Broderick Jones, Georgia I appreciate my colleagues, particularly the production staff and my fellow commentators, for their support and flexibility. Baalke took a few fliers late, which I always recommend. And I'm a fan of what they did on the first two days of the draft. 2. Kiper is not the only ESPN commentator to have made headlines for being unvaccinated. Nick Saldiveri, Old Dominion Off-ball linebacker Jack Campbell is No. Jake Witt, Northern Michigan Mel Kiper Jr. is known as an American football analyst on ESPN. He picked off four passes in 2022; he has the hands of a receiver. Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, TCU He's a polarizing prospect within the league, but he lit up the combine with his speed and physical ability. He could be Northwestern's second top-15 offensive tackle pick in three years (joining Rashawn Slater in 2021). They ranked 26th in takeaways last season (18), so they went all-in on needs. You can't coach his talent and physical ability, and NFL coaches will see the tools and try to develop him. They're both over 6-foot-3 and love vertical routes. Kiper's grades are in, and for the Washington Commanders, it's a positive grade. Did Pats make Mac Jones happy? Read Mel Kiper Jr.s full statement below, which he tweeted out on April 18th. Jakorian Bennett, Maryland 41. 35. 9. And that's what Bill Belichick was able to do, trading down for cornerback Christian Gonzalez (17), a player I had ranked in the top 10. 5. 11. The Chiefs added a fun wideout on Day 2, taking Rashee Rice (55), a 6-foot-1 deep threat. Mel Kiper Jr. evaluates every 2023 draft haul. Nick Saldiveri, G, Old Dominion 4 and still got Anthony Richardson. Cooper Hodges, Appalachian State 5. And they had bigger needs to fill when they took running back Zach Charbonnet (57). Jordan Howden, Minnesota That prediction had Buffalo using their top pick at No. 16. And though I didn't love giving up the future draft capital, I do think Anderson has All-Pro potential. 133. Christopher Dunn, NC State 16. Kiper, 61, who has been the face of the NFL Draft, one of ESPN's marquee events, for decades, said his decision to forgo vaccination is "specific to my own personal history." "The NFL Draft is. 34. 24. Tavion Thomas, Utah Cameron Mitchell, CB, Northwestern Lukas Van Ness, DE, Iowa Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State 8. The Packers sent back No. We'll start with the best grades and go to the worst, with teams that have identical grades listed in alphabetical order: Jump to a team: Alex Austin, Oregon State NFL draft: Biggest potential steals in this year's class. He could end up at No. 17. They passed on Will Levis and Hendon Hooker. General manager Chris Ballard stuck at No. Robert Mitchell, NC Central Jacksonville ended up with six selections in the final two rounds, and my favorite was wideout Parker Washington (185), who has a chance to contribute early out of the slot. We know Roseman builds through the trenches, and I love this addition. Kahlef Hailassie, Western Kentucky 2. His 2022 tape is very solid. 15. BJ Ojulari, OLB, LSU 120. He had an elite 2022 season. I wasn't as high on offensive lineman Wanya Morris (92), but he has a chance to challenge Lucas Niang for the right tackle spot. Bryce Young, Alabama Larry Harrington, Langston 8 to Atlanta. 66. He is a technician who can bend. 7. 11. Ben VanSumeren, Michigan State Tuli Tuipulotu, DL, USC 10. Jeremy Banks, Tennessee And then we saw him at his best as he threw for 348 yards and four touchdowns in the narrow loss to Georgia in the College Football Playoff semifinals. 51 overall. Self-care tips for irritable . Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State Trea Shropshire, UAB Ty Okada, Montana State Ultimately, Ran Carthon's first draft as Tennessee general manager will be remembered for what happens with this pick. 47. Byron Young, OLB, Tennessee Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee 17. Andy Vujnovich, Wisconsin 32 Ronnie Bell, Michigan 9. Cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly (157) was a value on my board, and I like the stash pick of guard Andrew Vorhees (229), who likely will sit out all of 2023 after a recent knee injury. 1 overall prospect, Jalen Carter, landing him at No. I can survey the good, the bad, the reaches, the steals. Check out the best highlights that contributed to Boston College WR Zay Flowers' stellar college career. I like his chances to be a starter in 2024 and beyond. Luke Wypler, Ohio State 25. The Broncos did decently with what they had this weekend. ET on ESPN, ABC, ESPN App). 9. Zach Charbonnet, UCLA Xavier Hutchinson, WR, Iowa State 15. 54. Kendre Miller, TCU Nick Herbig, Wisconsin 7. 18. 20. 2 wideout behind Justin Jefferson. Tyler Scott, Cincinnati Ideally, you'd see the familiar face of Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN's NFL Draft expert, on television on the night of the 2022 NFL draft event. Christian Sims, Bowling Green, 1. Quarterback Jake Haener (127) landed in a fun spot; his closest comp in size and mechanics is Drew Brees. "Simply put, my Covid vaccination decision is very specific to my own personal medical history. 22. 32. I don't know that Carter Warren (120) is a candidate to play as a rookie. 14. 10. Normally, I'd say that's amazing for the Texans, but they gave up a ton to make it happen, as I wrote Thursday night. Jacky Chen, Pace Levis played in a pro-style offense at Kentucky, and he's not going to need much time to adjust to the NFL. He had a stunning 130 pressures over the past two seasons, which is 45 more than the second-best defender (San Jose State's Viliami Fehoko). 8. 8. 10. 11. That's almost identical to Kyler Murray's measurements at the 2019 combine (5-foot-10, 207), but Young doesn't have the same lower-body build as Murray. Top needs entering the draft: C, OLB, RB, DT, CB. He isn't going to get many sacks, but he'll eat up blockers. He had five sacks last season, but he put up 11.5 in 2021 and 10.5 in 2020, so he has a history of production. Dylan Horton, DE, TCU
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