DRAFT TRACKER 2023

While the comparison to T.Y. Hilton might raise some eyebrows, Scott is a similar player in body type, speed and versatility. With just two seasons of starting experience at receiver, his route running and ball skills are almost certain to continue to improve and become less of an issue for him in the future. He has the speed and shiftiness to uncover on all three levels. Also, he offers jet sweep and receiver screen value. A smallish frame and lack of hand strength are likely to continue to plague him on contested catches, though. Scott is an ascending talent whose versatility and playmaking talent create an easily projectable upside as a good starting slot receiver early in his career.

Smooth, athletic pass-catcher with the competitiveness to battle for playing time in the league. Whyle is an average route runner who is forced to tap the brakes when facing physical coverage, but he has the tools to uncover as a pro. He possesses the jump-ball prowess to mismatch defensive backs near the goal line and can be a nice safety blanket on pitch-and-catch throws underneath. He needs to keep adding play strength to match the rigors of the position and is better suited as a move blocker than tenacious in-line blocker near the line of scrimmage. Whyle appears to be a middle-round prospect for teams seeking an F tight end or H-back with starting upside.

Tucker’s slight frame and short arms work against him, but his speed and quickness give him the ability to uncover on all three levels. He’s going to struggle to make contested catches, whether it’s a defender or the ground doing the contesting. While he can stretch the field, he might be most effective as a possession target underneath and gadget option capable of making plays with the ball in his hands. His specific attributes create a higher ceiling but lower floor as a pro.

Outside cornerback with good size and above average footwork and recognition for pattern matching. Bush lacks top-end speed and plays off-man coverage to protect himself, but it allows for far too many catches underneath. He has twitchy, agile feet with the potential to squeeze the top of the route more effectively if given safety help. Bush’s instincts and ball skills give him a chance to be a middle-round pick as a zone or off-man corner.

A rare blend of leverage, toughness and tackle obsession makes Pace’s tape a fun day of film study. He might be one of the strongest players in the 2023 NFL Draft from a pound-for-pound standpoint. He’s able to slip and club blockers out of the way with lower-body anchor and elite contact balance. He was cleared to take shots downhill by the defense, which bolstered his production, but his instincts and feel for finding routes to the ball seem to drive him. It is hard not to love Pace's game tape, but his lack of length and speed could create inconsistencies at the next level.

Cooper has extremely long arms for his height and he does a nice job of getting the most out of his physical ability. While his short-area athletic testing was average, he appears to be much quicker on tape and has the ability to make blocks on the move, although sustaining them is a problem for him. He’s solid in pass protection and plays with decisiveness that bolsters his consistency against gaming fronts. Cooper’s guard-only designation could hurt his chances, but he has the talent to compete for a spot on a roster.

Taylor’s measurables are worthy of NFL consideration, and he’s more slippery as a pass-catcher than his stats might indicate. While he lined up as a connected tight end at Cincinnati, he will need to improve his core strength to handle NFL defenders across from him. His athleticism could lead to a more expanded role as a pro, but Taylor might need to prove he can take on special teams duties in order to fight for a TE3/TE4 spot on a roster.