DRAFT TRACKER 2023

Tight end with average size and talent as a run blocker but the tools to get a little better in that area. Baylor frequently used Sims as a wingback who was asked to base block, lead block and get into space on outside zone. As a pass-catcher, he lacks separation talent and is going to get what is given to him by the defense. Sims’ average traits mean he will likely need to be in a favorable situation to make a roster.

Valentine has the physical traits necessary for the NFL but the instincts and body control to extend his coverage against quality route runners leaves something to be desired. He’s solid at crowding vertical throws and can play press-and-bail, but he has had coverage busts in zone. Also, he bites too easily on double moves. Valentine’s lack of aggression as a run defender could make it tougher for zone teams to give him a chance.

Ivey has the measurables and athletic profile that fits the NFL game. However, he needs to play with more consistent technique and confidence. He will fit best in a press-man scheme and could benefit from a year on a practice squad to continue improving at his position.

Prince has the size and power to capture the attention of evaluators, but he needs to run like a power back on a more frequent basis. He runs with average vision and below-average burst, so becoming a decisive downhill back will be critical if he’s going to have a chance to make it on the next level.

Demercado is a well-built runner who plays with good balance through contact. He has the ability to finish with forward lean. His vision and operation time are just average, which limits his ability to rip off chunk runs, but he does a nice job of getting what is there. His kick-return experience and third-down potential could give him a slight advantage if he goes head-to-head for the RB4 spot on a roster.

Hallett’s lack of length and his coverage instincts might push him toward a role as a big nickel back with the ability to line up over the slot. Hallett is well-built and possesses good play strength, but he can be inconsistent as a tackle-finisher. Finding the proper fit for him will be critical, but his aggression and ball skills give him a solid shot of competing for a place on the roster.

Enechukwu clearly has the frame and length to garner attention as a developmental prospect, but his lack of fluidity and athleticism could require a move inside. With additional size, he’s tough enough to play as a 3-4 end. He flashes bull-rush potential and good upper-body strength to build on, but the skill set needs further development for him to have a solid chance in the NFL.

Moody has just two seasons as a full-time kicker but he was a consistent performer who could pull the team to wins when the offense sputtered. He’s very reliable on kicks shorter than 40 yards but has been less consistent from longer distances. He’s capable on kickoffs and strikes the ball with consistency, so he should get a shot a chance to compete for a roster spot in camp.

Brooks was not granted eligibility by the NCAA until the fifth game of the 2020 season and he stepped away from the South Carolina program for the second half of the 2021 season. Those missed games help explain his limited college production, but his 2022 game film -- when he started 12 games -- failed to stand out. However, his play strength and ball skills are clearly noticeable on tape. He’s a high-cut, leggy route runner who struggles to outmaneuver coverage getting in and out of breaks. He’s highly competitive on 50/50 balls and has run-after-catch talent to have his moments in the open field, but his poor speed testing at the NFL Scouting Combine could be tough for him to overcome.

A productive safety with above-average football smarts, Reed might need to make a permanent move to a nickel role with backup safety roster flexibility. He covers with good footwork and is patient not to commit his hips prematurely against fakes. He works to squeeze tight to his targets through the route but could have issues against leapers who can go over the top of him. He’s a willing run supporter but the stopping power falls a little below the mark. He will have some work to do to find a full-time home in the league.

Mims runs with solid vision and good toughness to find yardage that is on the field for him. He can make a defender miss in space, but he doesn’t possess the sudden acceleration to blaze through the line of scrimmage or stack multiple cuts and keep runs going without tacklers finding him. He has some talent as an interior runner but needs to pick up the pace and become a little more decisive early on. He has some pass protection ability but might not catch the ball well enough for third-down consideration, which could hurt his chances of making a team.

Big, strong cornerback lacking top-end speed and an athletic lower half to stay connected with routes. Smith plays with physicality as his default. He has the demeanor and skills necessary to clean up the flanks as a run defender. He's not anticipatory enough for deep zone coverages at cornerback, but he might have a fighting chance to make a roster if he is utilized as a bump-and-sink Cover 2 corner or if he makes a transition to safety.

On paper, Patterson has the size, strength and upside to become an in-line tight end on the next level. However, he’s missed a number of games over the last two years due to injury, so proving his durability will be the priority. He played in Air Force’s option attack, so he’s well-versed at angles; he just needs to work on his hand placement and drive-blocking moving forward. He can grab catches here and there, but his best chance to make a team will be with his run-blocking -- and by maintaining his health.

Barnett doesn’t have the receiving production or pedigree to grab the attention of evaluators, but his pro day performance will push teams to the tape to double check on him. Barnett has a good blend of size/speed in the slot but lacks polish and salesmanship as a route-runner. His hands are agile and fairly sticky. He can threaten on three levels of the field, with his catch-and-run talent adding quick-game value. It’s worth noting that he was a decent college punter and can handle emergency field goal duties as well. Barnett might be a practice squad candidate early on, but he has intriguing upside.

Downing is not big or strong enough to root out block-eaters and is an average athlete as it pertains to move-blocking duties, but he knows where he needs to be and is generally in the right place at the right time. There won’t be anything that stands out about his game, but the tape is fairly solid and he should get a look in an NFL camp.

If the long-armed, high-cut offensive tackle is to have a chance in the league, it will be because of his pass-protection potential. Reid does a nice job of utilizing his length to punch and stay connected to rushers, but his lack of upper-body and hand strength are major liabilities at the point of attack and against power rushers. Reid is a decent athlete but needs to become much stronger in his core to improve his balance and body control. He appears to lack the polish to make an NFL roster early on but has some developmental traits that might warrant a stint on a practice squad.

Box safety featuring good size and closing speed but a lack of fluidity to hold up to man-coverage duties as a pro. Jones plays with good toughness and a willingness to mix it up near the line of scrimmage. He’s capable in short zone coverage or against certain in-line tight ends, but he loses effectiveness when playing in reverse. Jones’ extreme length will catch the attention of traits-hungry teams, but those same teams will face limitations in how they are able use him.

Highly decorated and highly confident Division II quarterback with adequate NFL size but mechanical issues that need to be cleaned up. Bagent’s footwork can become erratic under pressure and his delivery is reminiscent of a shortstop’s throw to first base at times. He plays with a good feel for his offensive design and a willingness to attack all intermediate pockets of the field regardless of cover scheme. However, the decision-making and arm strength might not be good enough to beat the window-shopping defensive backs of the NFL.

Former five-star recruit whose dismissals from both Georgia and Florida could hurt his draft stock. On the field, Cox is a linear attacker with heavy hands and the ability to effectively stack and shed blocks. While he has some bend-and-dip athleticism as a rusher, he’s primarily a brute-force attacker currently lacking the game plan or counters to beat offensive tackles possessing a quality anchor. He needs more technique work across the board but has the traits to create advantages for himself on the field. He has the potential to slot in as a rotational 3-4 outside 'backer, but he needs to convince teams the issues that led to his dismissals from Georgia and Florida won't resurface in the NFL.

Maag’s explosive pro-day testing will be much more of an eye-opener than his college film. His tape isn’t bad, but he looks more like a pass-catching tight end than a big tester when you see him moving around the field as a route-runner. His athletic traits and run blocking help his cause, but he might need to learn to earn a living as a big slot receiver who will make tough, contested catches.

Bolden projects as a press-man cornerback with plus size, length and top-end speed. He lacks the instincts and technique to maintain his feel for routes in off-man and zone coverages, but he might have a chance to utilize his traits effectively in a physical snap-to-whistle cover scheme. He’s light on ball production, but the measurables are impressive. Bolden could get an early ticket to a practice squad to continue his journey.

Tenacious prospect willing to offer up whatever he can in order to find the field and help his team win. Colletto lacks ideal size and power to be a lead blocker and doesn’t have the length or burst teams look for at inside linebacker, but he can line up at either spot and perform at an adequate rate if needed. His demeanor and toughness make sense for special teams and he’s multifaceted for direct snaps and short-yardage packages as a quarterback. Colletto might not be drafted, but he will have a chance to compete for a spot in camp.

Carvin doesn’t display much displacement power when he’s getting into drive blocks, but he does flash enough movement to work in a variety of blocking schemes. His slide quickness is just average, but he does mind his protection gaps with solid body control. His hands are accurate and quick when he punches. His ability to play all three interior positions could give him a leg up if he’s in a camp battle, but his upside is limited.

Ford has the instincts and ball skills to find opportunities to make plays on the football. He’s a little erratic from press and might not have the speed to recover from trail positioning, but he does a nice job of attacking throws with his eyes forward. He has a chance to compete for a back-end roster spot on a team with a zone-heavy defense.

Long-legged, linear cornerback with the size and length to disrupt the catch point, but he lacks the athletic fluidity and short-area twitch to get there on time. Boykin will struggle to stay connected with NFL route runners as a man defender and lacks the desired long speed to prevent burners from flying by him. He’ll need to play in a zone-based cover scheme and has the physical traits that could have teams trying him as a safety.

Early down back with good size and power. Nichols runs with solid vision and the ability to create yardage after contact, but he needs room to gain momentum and doesn’t have the wiggle to create for himself if the blocking falters. He’s smooth in his cuts, but he lacks the suddenness and play speed to stay a step ahead of NFL defenders. Nichols has an outside chance of making an NFL roster.

Haggard will need to add mass and substantially more core strength if he is to have a real shot as a pro tackle. His technique and talent are fairly solid in both phases of his position. He’s more of a positional blocker than drive blocker, but he does have the body control to put up a fight as a run blocker. He’s short-armed for a tackle, but he has decent foot quickness and hip bend for recoveries. However, he’s frequently rolled into the pocket. NFL power rushers will defeat him unless he becomes stronger and has a much better anchor.

Powerful lineman whose lack of instincts and technique could make him a candidate for the practice squad as the jump-off point for his career. Aumavae-Laulu has the physical traits teams look for but lacks consistency with his hands and body composure getting into blocks. His odds of roster success will be much higher at the guard position, where he has enough athletic ability and power to potentially fit a wide variety of run schemes while creating better matchups for him in protection.

Vohasek possesses average size but above-average upper-body power for his size. He’s heavy handed and lands strikes with good accuracy. He is efficient working around blocks. He needs to improve at making a quick diagnosis of movement to avoid being sealed and is still adding to his rush repertoire. He might need to add more mass, but, more importantly, he will need to stay healthy and available in the pros.

Versatile interior offensive line prospect with starting experience at guard, center and tackle. Anderson has the size but is missing the length to play tackle, where he looks most at ease in pass protection. He will likely enter camp as a center/guard prospect with below-average athletic traits as a move blocker and a lack of drive power when firing out. The versatility is a plus, but he will need to shine as either a run blocker or pass protector to make a team.

Former tight end who has added about 70 pounds to his frame during his career. He’s an average mover who lacks jolt getting into blocks but is consistent in latching in with his hands and finding his positioning. He knows how to play and has guard/center versatility, but he might lack the desired physicality and athletic ability for the next level.

VanSumeren’s production and game tape won’t draw draftable grades, but he possesses extremely rare athletic attributes for his position and that might create an opportunity with a team coveting elite traits. He’s not a thumper as a run defender and his football instincts leave much to be desired, but if he can prove himself as a special teams contributor in camp, he could force a team to give him a year on the practice squad for additional development.

Mitchell provides good toughness and play strength but a lack of functional fluidity to stay connected with NFL route runners. His lack of length could be a problem against size and teams might consider bumping him inside to play the role of a run-defending nickel back. Mitchell is certainly fearless and might be better suited to play as a down safety with nickel potential against certain teams. He’s been an active tackler on punt and kick cover teams, which bolsters his chances of making a roster.

His temperament and grit play to his advantage and he’s rarely outworked, but Hodges’ athletic limitations will be challenging to overcome. He’s not a heavy mover, but he’s not much of a bender and has trouble sustaining against plus talent across from him. His footwork gets sloppy in pass protection, but that could be improved once he settles in as a guard. He might not be a long-term answer for a team, but he possesses attributes that could give him a chance.

Barker is a move tight end with good speed, decent ball skills and below-average consistency as a blocker. While his route running lacks focus and tempo, he does have the ability to get vertical with some success. He makes good adjustments to zone traffic, but he needs to become more combative against man coverage to clear out catch space for himself. Barker is undisciplined as a run blocker and might not offer enough in that department to truly excite teams.

An aggressive inside linebacker with adequate size and athleticism, Mutin’s on-field demeanor and leadership stand out. He possesses the football character and fearless mindset that should garner consideration from teams looking for special teams help. His instincts are below average, which leads to him being blocked out of the play too often. He will need to prove he can play at a functional level as a backup linebacker to win a roster spot as a core special-teamer.

Good football player with a nose for the action and strong desire to make a play once he’s in the vicinity. Thomas’ football acumen and execution are not issues, but his size, speed and length could be major hurdles to overcome. He’s physical in block take-on and instinctive to recognize play design, but playing around big blockers and chasing the action in space are likely to become larger issues for him as a pro.

Hall runs with good physicality and has an explosive burst. He doesn’t create with his vision, but he can gather additional yardage with athleticism and contact toughness. His poor pass protection on tape will work against him, though. Hall will be a long shot to make a team, but his pro day testing and flashes on tape could earn him a camp opportunity.

Former five-star prospect with quality size, speed and length but an inability to separate from press-man coverage. Ngata is a smooth pass-catcher and has decent ball skills, but it takes him too long to elude press. When he gets into the route, it will be tough for him to uncover against NFL quickness and coverage talent.

Isaac could be an interesting evaluation for zone-heavy teams playing quarters and Cover 3 a high percentage of the time. He has good length and short-area footwork for those coverages, but he lacks the toughness to handle run defense as a Cover 2 cornerback and isn’t fast enough for full-time man coverage. The traits will give him a shot in a camp, but he’s a long shot to make a team.

Dual-threat quarterback who was much more effective as a runner than he was as a passer in 2022. Cunningham's build is slighter than teams typically like at quarterback, and his accuracy is spotty. He possesses premium running talent for zone-read and quarterback draws, and he can turn a lack of contain into a huge play with his legs. Teams will need to decide how Cunningham would fit into an offense, but his ability to make explosive plays with his legs should not be discounted.

Inside/outside linebacker prospect who falls short from a measurables standpoint but understands the game. Baskerville needs more strength, is a limited athlete and can be overtaken by blockers at times, but he plays with excellent pre- and post-snap recognition that leads him to the action. His football IQ and special teams background are important boxes for him to check, but he needs to test well to give himself a good chance of earning a roster spot.

Free safety with adequate athleticism but a lack of top-end speed and explosiveness on tape. Torrence understands the game and has a safety’s feel for leverage and caution when needed. He’s generally around the action and in position, but he needs to become a much more consistent wrap-up tackler. He can be opportunistic but is unlikely to create ball production at a high level as a pro due to his lack of instincts and burst. Torrence’s athletic testing at the NFL Scouting Combine could force him to compete for a roster spot as an undrafted player.

Swen has offered steady rush production for Wyoming over the last two seasons despite possessing average size and play speed. He runs with patience and has the foot quickness to find his cuts quickly, but he needs to change his tempo more frequently to keep linebackers guessing. He’s a tough runner but doesn’t have the frame or power to batter NFL tacklers. Swen has attributes to work with, but a lack of third-down talent could make it tough for him to stick on a roster.

Ward returned for a sixth collegiate season to work on his frame and his game in 2022. He added muscle mass and looked a little more athletic in his final collegiate campaign. He’s fairly consistent as a short snapper, but his long snaps come out with average speed and spiral to the target. He has a chance to be a late-round pick but will find a camp invite if he doesn’t hear his name called in the draft.

Speed’s tape and production don’t stand out. However, his rare size and speed, along with his potential to star on special teams, could give him a chance to find an NFL home.

Durden was often stuck at a zero-technique nose tackle spot but is more likely to be considered as an even-front three-technique at the next level. His body control and contact balance are often spotty due to his upright playing style, but he finds ways to recover and get himself back in the play. He’s good at locating the football and hustles hard to chase the play down, but Durden lacks the ability to control the point of attack or consistently disrupt NFL blocking schemes.

Scott’s size and explosiveness will immediately jump out to NFL teams. The traits are nice, but the agility and fluidity are major concerns as it pertains to staying connected to routes as a man defender. Scott seeks out playmaking opportunities and has the attributes needed to win 50/50 challenges, but he needs to play in zone-heavy looks and become a more well-rounded run defender.

Jenkins has NFL size but lacks NFL suddenness, as well as the vertical speed to create separation that teams will want to see. He is constantly on glide mode when working around the field, and some of his route transitions can be effective from his smooth gait. However, NFL coverage will be quicker, more physical and often more anticipatory than at the college level, so expecting Jenkins to create necessary separation might be a stretch. He has the ball skills to grab contested catches, but there might be too many missing elements for him to stick around on a roster.

Williams lacks the length and explosiveness of an outside corner but displayed his play strength and toughness at that position in the Big Ten. Williams has decent mirror-and-match footwork from press but can be a little late to accelerate quickly when forced to flip and chase. He plays with good recognition from zone and is quick to dart in on throws. His physical/athletic profile does not stand out and the lack of takeaways over the last two seasons could hurt him.