DRAFT TRACKER 2023

Mathis’ 2020 season put him on the map as an edge defender to look out for in the future, but he’s failed to hit those production markers since then. He has good size and outstanding length but needs more time in the weight room. He struggles against downhill running attacks but is a slippery tackler who can cast a wide net near his gaps. Mathis’ pressure and sack counts aren’t as high as they should be with his athletic ability and traits. If a team can get him to become a more skilled and attack-oriented rusher, it might find a prospect who outplays his draft slotting as a 3-4 rush linebacker.

Former five-star recruit who made a name for himself at Nebraska after leaving LSU. Palmer’s route running is raw, but coachable. He’s an athletic mover with good leaping ability and a quiet engine that can unleash a big second gear to chase the deep throw. Getting Palmer to play to his top speed and with a consistent competitiveness will be the challenge, as his ball skills are below average. The athleticism and speed will be tempting on Day 3, but his upside could be limited.

Nelson is a burly, try-hard edge defender with good power in his hands and an aggressive demeanor on the field. A lack of twitch and short-area quickness limit his effectiveness. Nelson is certainly tough enough to play on the edge, he lacks the ideal athletic profile for the position in the NFL. He might be best suited to play inside linebacker, where he can accentuate his strengths.

Riley is a rotational nose tackle with a proportional frame carrying good thickness. He’s capable of battling against double teams and absorbing contact, but he needs to improve his technique and work on taking control of the action. He’s primarily a block-eater and is unlikely to make many plays, but his size will be appealing.

Vokolek always seems to be in a big hurry, which causes him to play without the technique and body control he needs to maintain consistency at the point of attack. He has great size but lacks the wingspan and hand strength to impose that size as a block-sustainer. Vokolek is a below-average receiving threat, so he will need to improve his technique and his performance as a run blocker to win a spot as an in-line option off the bench or on a practice squad.

Martinez is a dual-threat quarterback who has played plenty of football. He can read defenses and has a fairly quick release, but his mechanics will need work. He’s a much more productive runner than passer right now, so selling himself to teams as a viable backup quarterback could be a tough task unless he makes big strides as a passer.