2023 NFL draft rankings: Todd McShay's top 32 prospects

Top 2023 NFL draft prospects have put together their final season college tape, participated in all-star events and worked out at the combine and pro days. We're getting close to draft day, and that means we're getting more and more clarity on the class.

So I re-ranked my top 32 prospects for 2023, which includes a handful of quarterbacks who I think can be NFL starters. Grades for each player are also included. Let's dive in.

See full 2023 NFL draft rankings

1. Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

HT: 5-foot-10 | WT: 204 pounds
Grade: 95

Young has a short, linear frame by NFL quarterback standards and weighed in at 204 pounds at the combine. That means durability is his biggest concern entering the NFL. But as a passer, Young is a fast processor who has rare poise. The game slows down for him, and he never seems to panic.

He is sudden and tough in the pocket, with quick feet and a swift release. Young displays very good ball placement on the perimeter at all three levels, and he showcases excellent touch and knows how to lead receivers into yards after the catch. He does need to improve the consistency of his accuracy on anticipation throws over the middle of the field. But Young shows great overall operational poise, and no moment is too big for him. He's a pocket passer first, but he has the mobility to frequently extend plays and generate production with his feet.

2. Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas

HT: 5-11 | WT: 215
Grade: 95

Robinson is a patient and instinctive runner who makes the most of his blocking and has a good feel for cutback lanes. He presses the line of scrimmage then weaves in and out of seams. He has the burst to turn the corner on perimeter runs, and he runs behind his pads and gets good push when he doesn't get a seam. Robinson has outstanding contact balance, and it almost always takes more than one defender to get him on the ground when he gets into space. He makes defenders miss without losing much momentum. And he is a great hands catcher with the body control to adjust to passes thrown outside his frame.

3. C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State

HT: 6-3 | WT: 214
Grade: 94

Stroud shows excellent football instincts and decision-making. He reads progressions and sees the entire field at an NFL level, and he's decisive and trusts his fast eyes. Simply put, Stroud is the best pure pocket passer in the 2023 draft class. He has a large catalog of remarkably accurate throws under pressure, and his touch and timing are outstanding. He layers the ball beautifully and also knows when to add velocity to his fastball. And he shows a unique feel for trajectory.

Stroud has a smooth delivery with good arm strength, and there isn't a throw he needs to make that he can't deliver with authority. He shows outstanding toughness in the pocket, too. Stroud needs to continue to improve his strength and show more willingness to run the football and extend plays with his feet, but he grades out as a Year 1 starter in the NFL.

4. Will Anderson Jr., OLB, Alabama

HT: 6-4 | WT: 253
Grade: 94

Anderson has longer arms for his frame, excellent speed and great flexibility for the position. His combination of an explosive first step and quick, powerful hands is outstanding. Anderson also locates the ball in a flash, and he has fantastic redirect quickness and closing burst to capitalize on those recognition skills. As a pass-rusher, he frequently wins by overpowering blockers with his lower-body strength and powerful punch, but he's capable of winning one-on-ones in a multitude of ways.

The only knock is he occasionally leaves sack production on the field when he comes in too hot or isn't able to gear down in time to finish. Even so, his pass rush production has been outrageous. And against the run, Anderson excels in stacking, locating, disengaging and pursuing relentlessly. He shows great range and sets a hard edge with ease.

5. Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia

HT: 6-3 | WT: 314
Grade: 94

Carter is far more productive than his sack totals indicate. He fires off the ball with an explosive first step, he has long arms and powerful hands and he shows very good torso flexibility. In other words, he has every tool in the box necessary to emerge as a top-tier interior pass-rusher early in his career. Carter is highly adept at working the edges of offensive linemen and is efficient with his hands and angles. Against the run, he's strong, active and disciplined. He rarely gets stalemated in one-on-ones, and he's strong/flexible enough to hold the point against some double-teams. Carter also has good range once he disengages and pursues.

NFL teams will obviously be spending considerable time examining Carter's off-field situation, though. He was arrested on misdemeanor charges of racing and reckless driving for his alleged role in a Jan. 15 car wreck in Athens that killed Georgia offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting staffer Chandler LeCroy.

6. Tyree Wilson, DE, Texas Tech

HT: 6-6 | WT: 271
Grade: 93

Wilson is difficult to keep off the quarterback when he shoots his hands inside and extends his long arms. He overwhelms offensive tackles with speed to power and pushes offensive tackles upfield before re-directing inside. He closes quickly and delivers some big hits. Wilson sometimes gets pushed past the quarterback, but he can still dip, bend and use his arms to get a hand on the quarterback. He wins rushing both off the edge and between the tackles. And while he's at his best hunting the quarterback, he moves well for his size and can spot drop into coverage.

Wilson has the size and strength to set the edge and drive blockers into the backfield when teams run at him. He gets off blocks and makes plays but has some room for improvement in this area. His length is a great asset when it comes to his tackling.

7. Devon Witherspoon, DC, Illinois

HT: 6-1 | WT: 181
Grade: 93

Witherspoon has the instincts, balance and burst to smother short-to-intermediate routes. He flashes great timing when breaking up passes, and he's fluid and fast enough to turn and run with most receivers in press. He turns to locate the ball and plays through the receiver's hands at the catch point. Witherspoon also plays the ball, not the man, and limits production after the catch in zone looks. He matches up with outside receivers, slot receivers and tight ends. Witherspoon does get overly physical and grabby at times, and he's on the smaller side.

play

Devon Witherspoon's NFL draft profile

Check out the highlights from Illinois corner Devon Witherspoon.

8. Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern

HT: 6-4 | WT: 313
Grade: 92

Skoronski is sudden and shows mirror-slide quickness in pass pro. He is almost always on balance, shows great patience and has a lot of snap in his punch. He does a great job of keeping his hands inside and generates leverage with his placement. Skoronski displays excellent awareness and communication working against stunts, twists and all games. He will give up ground at first to powerful rushers, but he does a good job of resinking his hips and establishing an anchor.

As a run-blocker, he takes excellent angles, has great range and is fundamentally sound. He plays with great passion and energy and he does a really good job of latching on and then bringing his feet and hips around on seal blocks. He's not an overpowering run-blocker, but he almost always gets into great position and stuns with initial contact. Skoronski lacks ideal length but he is a reliable left tackle prospect with versatility.

9. Christian Gonzalez, DC, Oregon

HT: 6-1 | WT: 197
Grade: 92

Gonzalez is a talented press corner with the length to get his hands on receivers, the foot speed to mirror a receiver's release, the fluidity to flip his hips and the speed to run with receivers. He shows the burst to recover quickly when he gets caught out of phase, and he's smooth changing directions matching up underneath. Gonzalez also closes well breaking on passes thrown in front of him and plays the ball rather than the man. He's versatile enough to match up over the slot and on the outside, but he needs to get stronger to improve his ability to come down with 50-50 balls.

10. Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida

HT: 6-4 | WT: 244
Grade: 91

Richardson ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash at the combine. He also had a 40.5-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot-9 broad jump. His arm strength is elite, as he can flick his wrist and drive the ball with ease. He's at his best throwing the deep pass, showing good trajectory and timing and flashing the ability to drop the ball into the bucket. However, his footwork is erratic, which leads to far too many off-target throws, especially in the intermediate area of the field. He also lacks touch on some shorter throws and misses too many layups.

Given his limited experience, he's still understandably figuring things out in terms of reading coverages and overall decision-making. He's still learning how to identify defensive structure, how to set his protection properly and how to identify pre- and post-snap coverage looks. When he's unsure of where the pressure is coming from or where to go with the football, that's when he starts to press, and his footwork suffers.

Richardson has elite speed to make defenses pay when they don't maintain gap control. He's also very strong in the pocket and as a runner, as he extends a lot of plays with his strength. Richardson is the definition of a project. His potential is tantalizing because of his elite skill set. But his game tape is extremely erratic, and he has a lot of work that needs to be done in terms of his footwork and processing skills.

11. Lukas Van Ness, DE, Iowa

HT: 6-5 | WT: 272
Grade: 91

As a pass-rusher, Van Ness has a special combination of size, length, power and speed. The biggest thing that stands out on tape is his power, as he's able to use his long arms to get into offensive linemen's pads and drive them back to the quarterback with relative ease. He has good swipe and chop moves but will need to continue to improve his array of pass-rush moves at the next level.

12. Nolan Smith, OLB, Georgia

HT: 6-2 | WT: 238
Grade: 91

Smith's take-off speed and change-of-direction skills really jump off the tape. He is able to occasionally get offensive tackles off-balance with effective stop-start moves, and he has excellent closing burst to the quarterback. Smith has quick hands and flashes some snap but is still unpolished with his pass-rush moves. He frequently lacks a plan -- and simply tries to win with speed -- and does a poor job of countering once reached. Smith is a menacing run defender who explodes off the snap and creates a lot of havoc with how quickly he penetrates the backfield. He lacks size but more than makes up for it with excellent leverage and hand placement. He sets a hard edge despite his undersized frame, he has snappy hands to disengage quickly, and he shows excellent change-of-direction quickness and closing burst in pursuit.

13. Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia

HT: 6-5 | WT: 311
Grade: 91

Jones' combination of size, length and speed makes him a highly intriguing prospect who grades out as a plug-and-play starter. His 4.97 40-yard dash at the NFL combine was the fastest for the position. In pass protection, he mirrors and slides with ease and has no trouble with pure speed off the edge. As a run-blocker, he fires out quickly and has a lot of snap in his initial contact, frequently knocking defensive linemen back with his upper-body power. He also has very good range as a second-level blocker and on screens. But he needs to be more efficient with his hand placement and strengthen his lower body.

14. Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah

HT: 6-4 | WT: 246
Grade: 91

Kincaid accelerates quickly, flashes the ability to make the first defender miss and picks up yards after the catch. He has the speed to threaten vertically and the frame to win 50-50 balls downfield. Kincaid is also a zone buster who settles into pockets and presents the quarterback with a big target. He's an efficient route runner who is quick and smooth transitioning out of breaks. His ability to move around the formation makes him a matchup problem.

15. Will Levis, QB, Kentucky

HT: 6-4 | WT: 229
Grade: 90

Levis is one of the toughest evaluations in the 2023 class because he has so many positives that translate to the NFL but has a handful of concerning traits that might make teams hesitant to go all-in on him. Outside of Anthony Richardson, he has the strongest arm of any quarterback in the class. He can flick his wrist or throw off-balance and still drive the ball vertically. He shows very good touch and trajectory on deep balls. He's also a mobile quarterback with plus vision, power and speed.

Levis has played in two different pro-style systems and consistently shows the ability to go through progressions. But when pressured and contained in the pocket, he becomes very ordinary. His eyes tend to drop at times, and he fails to see late-opening receivers when the pocket is collapsing. Levis misses on too many layups and turns the ball over too frequently. He has the physical tools, intangibles and toughness to develop into a top-tier NFL starting quarterback, but he needs to develop his full-field reads and his touch on underneath throws, and he must learn to protect his body and the football.

16. Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State

HT: 6-6 | WT: 313
Grade: 90

Johnson had 13 starts at guard in 2021 and 13 starts at left tackle in 2022. He has excellent size and arm length, along with average speed for his massive frame. He can play multiple positions along the offensive line and picks up new installs and concepts quickly. His footwork and hand placement really improved during his final two seasons. He also has developed very good awareness both in pass protection and as a run-blocker. Johnson sets quickly and with balance. When he lands his punch, it jars defensive linemen, and he's an easy mover when mirroring and sliding. But he's not a natural knee-bender and lets his pads rise too high at times, which can get him in trouble against quick inside counter moves and can leave him vulnerable against top-tier power rushers.

From a technique standpoint, he's a two-hand puncher who needs to develop into an independent hand puncher to allow himself to counter/reset leverage more efficiently. As a run-blocker, he fires out of his stance quickly and shows good mobility as a zone blocker. He really strikes defensive linemen with his initial contact, and as long as he latches on properly with inside leverage, he keeps his legs driving and has the strength to move defenders off the line.

17. Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee

HT: 6-5 | WT: 333
Grade: 90

Wright has a truly elite combination of height, weight and straight-line speed. He also showed exceptional lower-body explosion. But he has smaller-than-average arm length and hand span. In pass pro, his footwork and balance showed significant improvement in 2022, and he shows the ability to mirror-and-slide and keep pass-rushers in front of him when he's playing with urgency. He also rarely gives ground to power rushers.

As a run-blocker, Wright is a much better gap blocker than zone blocker. He has a massive frame and excellent overall strength as a drive blocker when he latches on with balance. He fires out with good quickness and shows the ability to reach the second level and dominate linebackers once he gets into their pads. Wright projects best as a right tackle but also would have no trouble kicking inside to guard.

play

Darnell Wright's NFL draft profile

Check out the best highlights that contributed to Tennessee OT Darnell Wright's career in college.

18. Joey Porter Jr., DC, Penn State

HT: 6-3 | WT: 193
Grade: 90

Porter is a tall, extremely long and physical press corner with very good straight-line speed for his size. He's instinctive and excels in press-man, but also shows recognition skills necessary in zone coverage. He's fast at diagnosing screens and runs, and he knows when to peel off to provide help. Porter uses excellent technique and physicality to reroute receivers off the line of scrimmage but has some tightness and tends to get handsy. He shows good playmaking instincts, but his ball skills appear to be just average. Porter is also aggressive and physical in run support but inconsistent in outside contain and tackling technique.

19. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

HT: 6-1 | WT: 196
Grade: 90

Smith-Njigba has a solid combination of height and bulk but lacks explosive speed and leaping ability. He has a rare feel for the game for such a young and inexperienced player, as the game is very slow for him. He can set up defensive backs in man coverage and settle into soft spots against zone looks. He's a quarterback's best friend because of his unique instincts. JSN is extremely agile with precise route-running skills. He sells his routes effectively, tempos his route stems like a pro and is very quick getting in and out of cuts.

He shows soft hands and the ability to transition upfield in a flash, with the body control to contort his body and snatch balls thrown outside of his frame. He does a good job tracking the deep ball and is a natural at making difficult over-the-shoulder catches downfield. JSN is more dangerous after the catch than as a vertical route runner, showing good lateral agility to make multiple defenders miss in space.

20. Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame

HT: 6-5 | WT: 249
Grade: 90

Mayer's best traits are his toughness and strength after the catch. He's a bulldozer with the ball in his hands, generating yards by breaking tackles and carrying defenders. Mayer doesn't threaten with great speed down the seam, but he's an excellent route runner. He's quicker and smoother than he is fast, and his ability to create separation with physicality out of his breaks is outstanding. He shows a lot of savvy when setting up defenders at the top of stem and locating soft spots in zone. His ability to win on contested catches is second to none in this year's class, and he does a very good job adjusting to the ball outside his frame.

Mayer also has an edge as a blocker, and his technique really improved during his three seasons at Notre Dame. His tenacity, range and initial striking power at the point of attack are very positive traits. Mayer has a high floor and is a base Y-TE who is also capable of flexing out and running extremely precise routes.

21. Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College

HT: 5-9 | WT: 182
Grade: 90

Flowers is undersized with a slim frame and short arms, but he does a great job of releasing off the line and generating separation with his initial burst and speed (he ran a 4.42 40-yard dash). He's a highly instinctive route runner who tracks the deep ball well and has a second gear to get behind the coverage, but can continue to improve the precision of his cuts at the top of his stems. Defenses have to respect the threat of a jet sweep when he motions into the backfield, and he flashes the ability to win 50-50 balls downfield. He traps a lot of passes and drops a few too many easy catches, especially over the middle of the field. He gives solid effort as a blocker but needs to improve his strength.

22. Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh

HT: 6-1 | WT: 281
Grade: 89

Kancey is a disruptive run defender and explosive pass-rusher with a skill set to succeed in the NFL, even though he is light for his position and his arms are more than two inches shorter than the five-year combine average for defensive tackles. His low center of gravity and ability to shoot his hands help negate any disadvantages in length or size. He locates the ball, gets off blocks and tackles well. He chases with great effort and makes plays outside the tackle box. He can give ground initially but he rarely stays blocked, and he flashes the ability to split double teams. He has strong hands, explosive power and footspeed to get to the quarterback.

23. Myles Murphy, DE, Clemson

HT: 6-5 | WT: 268
Grade: 89

Murphy is a talented edge with excellent height, very good bulk and above-average straight-line speed. He shows very good take-off quickness and does a good job using his long arms to neutralize offensive linemen. Where he needs to improve is exploiting linemen when he has them off-balance -- he doesn't show enough lateral agility or bend to work through engagement. But he has very good closing burst to the quarterback, and he gets a lot of production based on his motor.

Murphy shows the strength and length to stack and shed offensive tackles defending the run. He's effective wrong-arming and spilling runs outside. He locates the ball quickly and shows very good instincts versus the run, but he leaves too many tackles on the field due to his tightness in space. Murphy's tape is a little inconsistent, but he has an impressive tool box.

24. Will McDonald IV, DE, Iowa State

HT: 6-4 | WT: 239
Grade: 89

McDonald is a long and explosive edge rusher with good bend and closing burst. He has the foot speed to win with weave and inside moves, and he flashes an effective spin move to the inside. He doesn't gear down when he gets doubled or doesn't win with his first move, and he gets his hands up in passing windows. McDonald needs to get stronger to unlock his full potential as a pass-rusher. He's light for an edge defender and gives ground at times, but he shoots his hands, stacks blockers and rarely stays blocked. He's rangy and closes well in pursuit. McDonald's quickest path to an NFL starting lineup is at 3-4 outside linebacker, but he has the skill set to develop into a starting defensive end while making immediate contributions as a pass-rusher.

25. Deonte Banks, DC, Maryland

HT: 6-0 | WT: 197
Grade: 89

Banks is a physical corner who is at his best in press-zone coverage, has the length and strength to reroute receivers off the line (although his technique will need to improve) and shows the fluidity to flip his hips and run with anyone vertically. He has very quick feet and lateral agility for a bigger corner. Banks' ball production wasn't great at Maryland, but he has flashed good ball skills. He does get into trouble when his back is to the ball and he tries to turn and locate. Banks is the most reliable tackler at cornerback on tape this year, and he plays with an aggressive mindset and excellent motor.

26. Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU

HT: 6-3 | WT: 208
Grade: 88

Johnston is a long-strider but has good timed-speed for such a big wideout. He is a deep threat with the buildup speed to stretch the field. He's also a big target with the body control and catching radius to win 50-50 balls downfield, though he does not do a good-enough job of high-pointing the ball. Johnston flashes the ability to pluck on the run and contort his body to make acrobatic catches that many receivers his size would struggle to make. And he does a very good job of tracking the deep ball over his shoulder.

He ran a limited route tree at TCU but he shows some savvy locating soft spots in zone and has the frame to shield defenders to gain late separation. Johnston has tightness in his hips and takes too long getting in and out of his breaks. He frequently makes at least the first defender miss, and since he doesn't have great initial acceleration, he's not much of a home run threat with the ball in his hands unless he gets enough of a runway to reach his top-end speed. He does show enough strength and contact balance to break tackles after the catch, though.

27. Jordan Addison, WR, USC

HT: 5-11 | WT: 173
Grade: 88

Addison is a savvy and elusive route runner who separates from man and finds pockets in zone looks. He catches passes in stride, hits his top speed quickly and is instinctive after the catch. He runs hard and flashes good contact balance, and while he doesn't have elite timed speed, he plays faster on tape. Addison also tracks the deep ball well and catches over-the-shoulder passes. He's small and has some problems recovering when defensive backs get their hands on him, and he traps some passes. But Addison doesn't drop many passes, can pluck the ball out of the air and makes contested catches. He will be a dangerous slot receiver and return man with the ability to make an immediate impact in the NFL.

play

The plays that have scouts excited about Jordan Addison

Check out some of Jordan Addison's best plays at Pittsburgh and USC.

28. Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama

HT: 5-9 | WT: 182
Grade: 88

Gibbs does a good job of sticking his foot in the ground and accelerating upfield without losing much in transition. He's not overpowering, but he shows good balance to absorb contact and advance the carry. Gibbs shows good vision when stringing together multiple cuts through the line of scrimmage. However, he gets impatient at times and bounces too many carries to the outside. He's a reliable pass-catcher, and he can adjust to throws outside his frame and transitions upfield quickly after the catch. His technique in pass protection needs work as he tends to lunge with his shoulder and try to win with initial contact rather than facing up and anchoring. He also needs to add bulk and strength to his frame.

29. Emmanuel Forbes, DC, Mississippi State

HT: 6-1 | WT: 166
Grade: 88

Forbes is a tall but toothpick-thin cornerback with long arms. He has excellent speed and is at his best in off-coverage, where he uses his fast eyes and great understanding of route concepts to get early jumps on the ball. And he has excellent ball skills. Forbes is instinctive, has length to contest passes and shows the ability to pluck the ball outside his frame with ease. His lack of bulk and strength show up in run support, and he is an unreliable tackler in space. And he needs to play under more control and learn to come to balance.

30. Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia

HT: 6-7 | WT: 264
Grade: 88

Washington has an exceptional combination of height, weight, arm length and top-end speed. He's smooth and strong, and he does a good job of fighting through press coverage. He also shows a good feel for locating soft spots in zone. He flashes the ability to make special catches in traffic, shows good focus and has huge hands to rip the ball away from defenders. Washington has above-average speed for his size and has the length to win down the seams on 50-50 balls. He's also strong after the catch and will generate yards after the catch with his ability to break tackles and drag defenders for extra yards. As a blocker, he has a massive frame, long arms and huge hands to latch onto defenders and steer them.

31. Felix Anudike-Uzomah, DE, Kansas State

HT: 6-3 | WT: 255
Grade: 87

Anudike-Uzomah pursues with relentless effort, swipes blockers hands down, clears his hips and closes well as a speed rusher. He can redirect inside when he sees the quarterback step up in the pocket and can beat double-teams. Sacks have come in bunches, though, and he gets pushed past the pocket. He shows the ability to dip his inside shoulder and bend back inside, and he flashes the ability to shoot his hands and drive offensive tackles. Anudike-Uzomah gets stuck when blockers are able to lock on. His speed-to-power stalls out at times, though he has the burst and footspeed to slip blocks as a run defender. He flashes the ability to stack and shed blocks, but he's on the lighter side and gives up ground at times. He appears to be a 3-4 outside linebacker candidate in the NFL based on his movement skills on tape.

32. Keion White, OLB, Georgia Tech

HT: 6-5 | WT: 285
Grade: 87

White has the power to stack offensive tackles and overpower tight ends. He locates the ball, gets off blocks in time to make plays, chases with good effort and is an effective tackler. He's scratching the surface in terms of his ability to get to the quarterback. White relies on power too much, and there's room for disengaging late so he can finish more often, but he has a high ceiling. He is quick, can win with inside moves and is a matchup problem when he kicks inside to rush the passer. He projects best at defensive end but can start at 3-4 outside linebacker and kick inside to rush the passer.

Who just missed this list? See full NFL draft rankings from Todd McShay.