2023 Draft Big Boards, Position Rankings & Mocks

[Cowboysrock55]

I've seen him projected in the late first here and there, but I need him to be at least 280 or so while blowing the doors off the 40 for his size to give him strong consideration there.

He is definitely intriguing and if he was 6'6" 300 pounds I'd be all over him. I'd be interested in the second, but he is going to have to do freak like workout numbers for 26.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Obviously it's super early and a lot will change with the combine and pro days, but how do you all think the WR draft shakes out? I see some things on the various sites that I don't understand.

Why do I often see Addison going so low, down in the mid-low 20s? He looks like a very good prospect to me, and it's a weak class.

Why is Johnston not the #1 in some mocks? I see him as the #3 guy in some places.

Where overall do you think these guys and the OSU receiver going? It's kind of a tricky balance with it being a weak class but the position being so coveted.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Obviously it's super early and a lot will change with the combine and pro days, but how do you all think the WR draft shakes out? I see some things on the various sites that I don't understand.

Why do I often see Addison going so low, down in the mid-low 20s? He looks like a very good prospect to me, and it's a weak class.

Why is Johnston not the #1 in some mocks? I see him as the #3 guy in some places.

Where overall do you think these guys and the OSU receiver going? It's kind of a tricky balance with it being a weak class but the position being so coveted.

This is kind of Bruglars take with the first round receiver options. I can't really disagree. Those to me are the four first round options. After that I just don't see another WR worth considering at 26. Much like last year, you just have to wait and see who falls. Last year none of the receivers fell to us. Also like last year it depends what you want. If you want the big receiver with down field speed Johnston is your guy. If you want the freaky burner than Hyatt is your guy. If you want a route runner who gets separation but isn't maybe an elite deep speed guy than you have Addison and Smith-Njigba. Different teams will be looking for different stuff in a receiver. I'm pretty high on Hyatt but part of the reason is because I think his skills just compliment the skills of Lamb perfectly.

At wide receiver, it will be interesting how many are off the board in the first 25 picks. Last year, six wide receivers went in the top 25, but this year isn’t close to the top-heavy group we saw in 2022. For me, my top four receivers are USC’s Jordan Addison, TCU’s Quentin Johnston, Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Tennessee’s Jalin Hyatt. It is realistic that one or two of them are available at No. 26. Addison is undersized at 6-0 and 180 pounds, but he uncovers really well due to his play speed. Johnston is a height/weight/speed stud with tracking skills and elusiveness, but the drops add up and it will take some time for his route-running to reach NFL quality. Although he doesn’t have ideal speed, Ohio State’s Smith-Njigba is one of the best route-runners in the draft and has terrific ball skills. Hyatt will need to expand his route tree in the NFL, but his speed and ball skills downfield are outstanding.

If Dallas wants to keep CeeDee Lamb working out of the slot, Smith-Njigba probably won’t be an option. For a team built to win now, Johnston might not be NFL-ready enough for the Cowboys’ liking. Hyatt is the interesting option of this group because he has the speed to win over the top or at the very least will draw coverage.

 

[boozeman]

If Dallas wants to keep CeeDee Lamb working out of the slot, Smith-Njigba probably won’t be an option. For a team built to win now, Johnston might not be NFL-ready enough for the Cowboys’ liking. Hyatt is the interesting option of this group because he has the speed to win over the top or at the very least will draw coverage.

I will say this. Drafting Hyatt in the first round would be a huge mistake.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

I will say this. Drafting Hyatt in the first round would be a huge mistake.

Why you gotta hate on Wyatt? The hard thing with him is that if he runs a legit 4.3 forty I'm not sure he lasts until 26. He just was that good in college. And if he runs a 4.45 or something suddenly you have to wonder if our eyes deceived us when he was blowing past dudes to the tune of 1200+ yards.

The WR I would worry about if we draft him in the first is Johnston. Big receivers just sort of scare me. Seems like more busts with those guys than success stories. I love his size and long speed but separation is kind of meh.

I think the big mistake would be drafting some 700 yard TE.

 

[fortsbest]

Yea I'd be fine with Torrence in the first, he's definitely a mauler and between him and Smith, plus Steele on the opposite side, we could have another "Great Wall" situation in a year or two.

It's just hard to see us going OL in the 1st if we bring back Tyron and Peters, and almost impossible if we bring back McGovern on top of that.

Even if they bring back both of them. You can't count on either of them being healthy the full season. I think you have to take a guard 1 or 2. Then leave Steele and the other Smith as tackles.

 

[fortsbest]

But then you get into the fun game of would you take Hyatt and Zach Charbonnet or Robinson and Rice. I feel way better about the RBs I can get later than I do about the WRs.

Of course when you start talking like that you're really drafting for need. But the Cowboys do this every year. We take Sam Williams in the second because we think we can still get a good WR in the third.

This year I feel a hell of a lot better about a Kendre Miller type in the third or fourth (I've actually got a lot of pet cat RBs I could throw out) being able to be part of a two headed monster than I do about any WR at that point having any impact as a rookie. Of course Tolbert jaded me a bit.

I like Miller, but I've seen him a lot since TCU is my back yard. But I also like the kid from Auburn and Illinois. Different types of guys, but If Pollard is here, they'll want the different type of runner I think.

 

[fortsbest]

Yea although Donald is a once in a generation player, there's barely ever been a player like him.

If this guy runs a sub-4.7 at 280+ like Donald did I'd be more than happy to take him at 26.

I'm brain farting the name. What was the DT we had a few years back that was good like that, and then essentially killed his career? That's who this guy reminds me of.

 

[fortsbest]

I will say this. Drafting Hyatt in the first round would be a huge mistake.

I know it's no Bradie Bottle lock, but every mock I've done, Hyatt has been available in the second. If he runs 4.3 he won't be.

 

[fortsbest]

MY 5 round mock for the night.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Why does PFF have Hyatt available at 58? That won't happen unless he runs really slow.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Why does PFF have Hyatt available at 58? That won't happen unless he runs really slow.

Yeah I don't see him slipping out of the first round. But hell who knows. Their simulator rankings always have quirks.

 

[mcnuttz]

I'm brain farting the name. What was the DT we had a few years back that was good like that, and then essentially killed his career? That's who this guy reminds me of.

David Irving?

 

[Simpleton]

I'm brain farting the name. What was the DT we had a few years back that was good like that, and then essentially killed his career? That's who this guy reminds me of.

Ratliff?

 

[mcnuttz]

Ratliff?

Damn, that's going way back.

The icing on top of the 2005 draft class.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Ratliff?

La'Roi Glover is actually an interesting comp even though I know that's not who he is talking about.

 

[Simpleton]

La'Roi Glover is actually an interesting comp even though I know that's not who he is talking about.

Glover or Randle came to mind when I first watched him but I think he's even a bit smaller and both of those guys were late round picks. Would be more than happy with him in the 2nd but he needs to run like a 4.65 at 280+ for 26 to be in the conversation.

 

[boozeman]

 

[Simpleton]

Just strip away the intrusive medical and/or psychological testing if you want and only do the on-field stuff, seems pretty simple.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

The combine's top goal is to decrease a player's chance at getting drafted? Seriously?