DRAFT TRACKER 2023

Three-year starter for vaunted Alabama program with eye-popping production that encapsulates his potential impact. Anderson is well-built with long arms. He has the rush get-off and skill level to consistently shave edges or pry open rush paths with inside moves. Even when he’s blocked around the arc or on the diagonal, Anderson’s footwork, cornering and closing speed help him dive into the pocket. There is room for more growth with hand usage and he will need to prove he can keep racking up the sack totals outside of Nick Saban’s scheme. Anderson is suited to a 3-4 front, where he can play wider to better allow his length to overcome size deficiencies at the point of attack. His traits, athleticism and production against high-level competition are indicators of a Pro Bowl future.

Long-limbed defender who figures to turn into a full-blown nightmare for opponents if he continues to grow into both his frame and his game. Wilson’s combination of traits and athleticism should yield flashes of dominant play in both phases as he continues to get bigger and stronger. His length and lateral quickness are ingredients for chaos as a back-side run game disruptor. He’s capable of ranging and tackling from distance if the run flows wide. On the flip side, he’s not very instinctive as a run defender and his play demeanor could stand to be a little thornier when attacking blocks. Wilson has the physical tools to create pocket push as a power rusher early on, but the hand usage and rush plan will need tutoring for him to become a well-rounded, two-way rusher. He might not set the world on fire in Year 1, but the talent and vaulted ceiling will be easy to see soon enough.

Athletic big man offering scheme versatility and projectable upside. White has good short-area quickness as well as speed in space. He lacks consistent early phase technique to control the rep, but his recovery talent, hustle and athletic traits put him in position to get in on the action. His pass rush is predictable and lacks focus, but he’s bendy and could take a big leap forward in this department provided the coaching catches up with the physical gifts. He’s still in the developmental phase, but his physical/athletic profile gives him a chance to become a plus starter as a 4-3 or 3-4 defensive end.

Murphy has excellent size/traits and has been consistently productive in impact categories for three straight years. He plays with a plus motor and good first-step quickness, but his game isn’t really twitchy or explosive. He has finishing talent when he’s inside the pocket, but he needs to vary his rush angles and find an effective inside counter, as NFL tackles will be expecting his long-arm bull-rush technique. Murphy’s length and post-up strength could provide the scheme and positional versatility that puts him on every draft board. The traits and upside are there, but his skill level needs a boost to push the ceiling higher.

McDonald is an explosive, pliable edge talent whose active hands and eager feet make it hard for tackles to get a firm grip on him. His burst and lower-body flexion give him an advantage at the top of the rush, while his spin moves and feel for pocket depth round out his attack. He has good strength for his size and plays with admirable contact balance against bigger players, but setting firm edges and holding his ground against a downhill running attack could be an issue. Overall, McDonald’s hard-nosed demeanor and pass-rush talent are winning play traits that will help him become a successful 3-4 outside linebacker and sack artist.

Nicknamed “Hercules” by teammates, Van Ness is a well-developed defensive end with excellent lean mass and additional growth still to come. He’s a power-centric prospect with force as his modus operandi as both a run defender and pass rusher. Van Ness needs to work on hand attacks for quicker block shedding and to diversify his rush beyond bull-rush challenges. He’s taken snaps inside at Iowa but might need to keep filling out his frame before he’s ready to succeed as a run stuffer and pass rusher as a 4i in a 3-4 front. Van Ness is more of a splash player than consistent force on tape, but he possesses projectable traits that should allow for continued ascension as a pro.

Defender possessing the rare blend of size, strength and athleticism to line up as an interior or edge defender in both 4-3 and 3-4 fronts. Tuipulotu plays with a go-go motor from the first snap to the last. His heavy-handed attack and ability to shed help compensate for a lack of length at the point of attack, while quick feet help him disrupt in gaps. He can play with a hand down or standing but needs to play with better discipline to eliminate voided fits. Tuipulotu is a power-based rusher with decent bend and flatten talent but he’s unlikely to win with his get-off alone. He should become a good starter.

Explosive and long, Hall plays with a rugged demeanor and puts his traits to work as an assertive power rusher capable of putting offensive tackles in reverse. He tends to lack consistency when forced to read and react in the run game and his rush approach is predictable with charges down the fairway. However, his jolting initial contact can help him gain positioning and he’s excellent at transitioning from bulldozer to pocket vulture as a sack artist. He is average against the run, exploitable in coverage and in need of a more diversified rush approach, but a true power rush usually translates in the NFL.

Stand-up rush linebacker with upside as a pass rusher but inconsistent effort stopping the run. Ojulari is bendy as an edge rusher and will wreak substantially more pocket havoc once he builds a more complete rush plan. He plays contain as a run defender and has the pursuit speed to spill the run wide or make tackles in space, but needs to play with consistent effort on all run snaps. B.J. Ojulari possesses all the tools necessary to start for an NFL team once he adds a bit more polish to his game.

Forward-charging edge defender whose best football could be ahead of him. He relies heavily on a long-arm rush attack and with a ghost move counter, but he’ll need to more effectively use his rush hands to help trip the edge as he lacks hip flexion to consistently dip and flatten to quarterbacks. His pressing play style and range in space should create opportunities to cause disruptions, but he lacks anchor as an edge-setter and needs to go to school with take-on technique. There are slight limitations in his game, but he’s going to keep getting better and has future starting potential as a 4-3 defensive end.

A hard-charging edge prospect, Anudike-Uzomah has good strength and a long frame that should continue to fill out. His run defense is unrefined and in need of better fundamentals, but he’s clearly gone to school on his pass-rush approach, adding several new wrinkles to his attack in 2022. His urgency leads to playmaking opportunities, but he will need to harness that energy and play with better control to become a more efficient defender. There is more polish needed, but Anudike-Uzomah’s NFL rush potential should eventually make him an NFL starter.

Lower weight class edge defender with the toughness to mix it up with bigger players. Based purely upon his sleek but smallish frame, one might expect him to be more effective as a rusher than run defender but the opposite is true. Smith is hard to move off of his spot due to his technique and leverage, and he can be disruptive when firing into gaps. He can get off the mark as a rusher, but lacks the counters and contact balance to consistently assault the pocket at a high rate. Smith falls below the size standards some team might have for a 3-4 outside linebacker, but he plays team-first defense with quality technique that should help him translate to the pros.

An explosive edge defender with disruptive play qualities, Young is still in the process of learning how to play his position. His rush hands lack skill and he’s missing go-to counters, but that could be coachable for him. He creates chaos when using his twitchy first step to slant and twist but still needs to tune up the stack-and-shed technique and build out a cohesive rush approach. He will be a 25-year-old rookie with a lack of polish for his age, which could be a deterrent for some teams, but a fully fueled motor and strong desire to make plays on the other side of the line of scrimmage give him a shot to become a capable pro.

Ascending, even-front defensive end prospect with outstanding traits and projectable upside. Robinson plays with good aggression and heavy hands as both a run defender and pass rusher. He has the agility and foot quickness to beat blockers whether chasing the run or rushing the passer. Robinson attacks the pocket with a game plan and a variety of moves at his disposal. He needs to grow into his frame to improve against the run, but Robinson should become a rotational defender and has future-starter potential.

Highly athletic edge defender with good size. Henry has upfield burst, but he tends to be a face-up rusher and will need to improve his hand usage for more effective corner turns. He can be dynamic when twisting and blitzing as a moveable piece around the defensive front and he does a nice job of setting up a buttery smooth inside rush that is often too quick for tackles. He can dart and disrupt as a one-gapper with his hand in the ground but has more trouble than expected in setting firm edges as a run defender. Henry’s strengths and weaknesses are well-defined, with the upside to become a starter.

Power merchant with jarring initial hand strikes that can create early advantages. Johnson is big, explosive and rugged but lacking the experience and technique to consistently capitalize on his physicality. He has broad, tight hips that make it challenging to keep the pad level where it needs to be as a rusher, tackler and while taking on run blocks. He has very few moves or counters, but his bull rush can put opponents on skates. There is significant technique work that needs to take place, but his NFL Scouting Combine testing should only help his draft stock.

Built for work as a 3-4 outside linebacker with very average size but above average athletic traits and field toughness. Phelps plays with an attacking demeanor and reckless abandon to make it hard for tackles to keep up with his energy for four quarters. He’s explosive and bendy, with the ability to flatten and close to the quarterback. However, he needs to improve his hand usage and technique both as a pass rusher and run defender. Phelps is a demon on special teams and possesses the qualities to become a very good rotational edge defender with a ceiling that has room for growth.

Leota is the definition of a 3-4 strong side outside linebacker. He offers the toughness/strength to do battle and hold the fort along the edge. He plays with the same effort and aggression on every snap. Leota has above average skill level when taking on tackles and tight ends. His rush attack lacks a robust skill set and production might be based upon scheme, and secondary effort, in many instances. Leota has a chance to develop into a plus run defender and potential starter as a 3-4 edge defender.

Long and rangy, Carter is currently best suited as a 3-4 rush linebacker on passing downs, but is likely to develop into an every-down player with additional growth both physically and technically. Carter needs to play with more skilled hands and inject a little more glass into his on-field diet in order to meet force with force when the run game comes downhill at him. His explosive get-off and natural bend/agility at the top of the rush are enough to create early opportunities for himself as a quarterback hunter. Carter might need a longer runway to meet his potential, but if does his pass-rush homework, he could take a substantial leap forward as an odd or even front edge rusher by Year 3.

Ramirez’s below-average run defense could make it difficult for him to see the field early in his career, but he blends a hot motor and natural rush talent that could entice teams willing to continue his development in both phases. He’s agile with the ability to gather and chase with quickness once he finds an advantage inside the pocket. He can add strength and technique to improve his block take-on, but he'll also need to show more grit. Ramirez has the potential to be drafted later on Day 3; natural pass rushers always have a shot to grow and become productive pros.

Undersized 3-4 outside linebacker who might require a game plan from his drafting team due to the strengths and weaknesses of his frame and his game. Hampton isn’t anything special as a run defender, but his pass-rush tape really stands out. He’s an explosive, linear pass rusher featuring subtle techniques near the top of the rush that help him access the pocket. Hampton will be a strong tester but finding a clean positional fit could be a challenge. At worst, he could find snaps as a full-time special-teamer and backup linebacker with pass-rush talent.

Traits-based edge prospect who will need to improve his core strength and overall body control in order to allow those traits to make a difference as a pro. Gaye’s length and effort provide advantages at times, but tackles with power tend to give him an inordinate amount of trouble. He’s much more effective aligned wide of the tackle as a rusher and playing upfield or in gaps as a run defender. His tape shows flashes of rush potential, but finding the control and balance needed is a must.

Horton is a base end in a 4-3 front with adequate upper-body power but a concerning lack of anchor as a run defender. He has room for improvement with hand usage, which could give his overall play a bump, but he might lack the requisite lower-body bend and short-area quickness to hold his own as a run defender. As a rusher, Horton’s explosive take-off and power to play through a blocker’s edge are both translatable rush traits, but improvement across the board is still needed for the pro level.

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.

Beal has been missed out on snaps to more talented players and doesn’t have a history of production that will excite teams, but his size, length and athletic ability are all moldable elements that could attract a team on Day 3. He lacks awareness as a run defender and possesses just average range as a tackler, but he can hold his ground against power. As a rusher, the tape can be a little uneven, but he flashes moves and counters that appear to be instinctive and potential fuel for development. Beal is a developmental edge defender who needs to prove himself on special teams while he continues learning the position.

Bell ran well, jumped high and showed his strength at his pro day. His leverage and power as an interior defender help to dislodge blockers, but he would need substantially more weight to play inside as a pro. Bell’s lack of length will also be problematic if he’s utilized as a 3-4 outside linebacker. His traits and toughness should get him a look, but the best fit might end up being as a fullback with core special-teams ability.

Parish is an active, full-steam-ahead edge defender, but his short arms will be detrimental in helping him get away from blockers, both as a run defender and pass rusher. His body type, toughness and knockback mentality make him a strong candidate to transition to the fullback position. Parish might not hear his name called during the draft, but his special teams potential gives him a solid chance to make a team.

Incoom is a tight-hipped, short-stepping edge defender whose lack of ideal length could push him into a full-time role as a 3-4 outside linebacker. His upper-body strength and sturdy base allow him to neutralize bigger men across from him, but he’s unlikely to ever be a volume playmaker or tackler. His face-up rushing style is neither elusive nor particularly creative, and many of his sacks over the last two seasons have come thanks to his strong, secondary effort. Incoom was average against tackles from Oklahoma State and Penn State in 2022, but there are enough flashes on tape to warrant a look on Day 3 of the draft.

Alexandre is an edge defender who relies on his broad frame and natural power. He’s long and naturally heavy handed, but he will need to play with much better bend to improve his ability to hold the point against the run. While he’s a segmented mover at times, he does have quick feet and shows decent pursuit quickness and motor. He’s a face-up rusher who is unlikely to beat NFL opponents with crafty moves and counters, so fortifying his power rush will be critical as a Day 3 possibility for 4-3 defenses.

Even-front defensive end with decent play strength, good lateral movement and an average motor in attacking the line of scrimmage. Baldonado has adequate power to brace and set edges but lacks urgency to get to the ball and make plays. Similarly, he flashes skill as a pass rusher but seems too content to go where the rush takes him rather than countering and recalibrating his attack of the pocket. He has the size and traits for the position but needs a motor than runs hotter to become a rotational player in the pros.

Ivy League standout and team captain who brings measurables and athletic attributes to the table. Jones has the size and power to set a firm edge. He plays with savvy to take on blocks and get in on plays. He appears to rush the quarterback with inconsistent play speed and tempo, though. He isn’t as skilled with his hands as he needs to be, but he plays with the bend and agility to become much better in that area with more work. The step up in competition will be a challenge for him, but he appears to have the traits to compete for an edge rusher spot in camp.

Long-limbed edge defender with an angular frame and a willingness to take on all comers. Jones’ production might not jump off the page, but he’s athletic and uses his length to put himself in position to make tackles. Jones could use more strength in his lower half both as a run defender and pass rusher. While they aren’t sustained, there are flashes of rush potential that might create a roster opportunity after a year on a practice squad.

An edge defender with adequate size and skill, Murphy will need to prove his gaudy production can translate into an opportunity to make plays on the professional level. He dominated Division II competition with stat lines that are inconceivable. However, his rush appeared to lack power and unpredictability when matched against better opponents during his week at the East-West Shrine Bowl. He plays with average explosiveness but a quality motor and could create buzz in the future if he can become a more diverse and skilled rusher.

Traits-based edge defender with the size, length and athletic ability to warrant consideration as a developmental prospect. Nchami played in just 32 college games and his inexperience shows up on tape. He relies on his physical gifts over technique and instincts, but he could see his play take a noticeable step forward if he can become a more skilled performer. Nchami could use a year on a practice squad, but he might have future value as a 3-4 outside linebacker with rush potential.

Historically, a player with Land’s lack of mass and length would face an uphill battle trying to make it as a 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL, but his ability to threaten the pocket should generate interest from teams. Land is a very natural, instinctive rusher with the get-off, counters and fluidity to stress some tackles. He doesn’t have enough sand in his pants to hold up against the run and teams might try him as a 4-3 outside linebacker with sub-package rush ability off the edge. Land might need a year or two on a practice squad to continue to develop.

A 3-4 stand-up linebacker with adequate upper-body strength, Rush showed athleticism at his pro day, but it doesn’t always translate to the tape. He will dive inside and lose contain at times, but he’s generally an instinctive defender who can get the jump on where the play is headed. He’s not a dynamic pass rusher and might not have the bend or juice to become one. He plays with good focus and intensity but has a modest ceiling as a run defender. There’s a chance Rush will hear his name called on Day 3 of the draft.

Edge defender prospect with long arms, an explosive first punch and room for improvement as a pass rusher. Leo goes hard into first contact and can separate from blocks fairly quickly, but he’s tight-hipped, lacking the bend and the base strength to hold up against power at the point of attack. He challenges the pocket with a variety of rush angles, but his get-off and hand work might not yet be good enough to impress NFL evaluators. Leo might need seasoning on a practice squad.

Wheat, a three-year starter for Mississippi State, offers decent versatility and good play strength. He has the physicality to go toe-to-toe at the point of attack, but he is lacking football instincts to anticipate and make more plays. Wheat tends to play from Point A to Point B instead of consistently reading and engaging as the play develops. He might benefit from a clearly defined role in a defense with more structure than the one he played in for the Bulldogs. His ability to drop in space or play with power could help him earn a spot as a backup 3-4 strong-side linebacker with special teams value.

Thompson will garner attention with his outstanding athletic testing, but there is still a lot of physical and skill development that needs to take place. He doesn’t have enough strength to set firm edges and is unable to generate speed to power as a rusher. His long strides can be an effective weapon as a rusher and when in pursuit, but he needs to crank up his intensity and get bigger to play in the league.

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.

Diabate is a physical tackler with a pretty good feel for sifting through the trash to find the ball between the tackles. However, when plays flow wide or he needs to play with agility and pursuit speed, the level of play consistency can take a tumble. The instincts and recognition are just average and he's a better rusher than cover man against the pass. Diabate has an outside shot of competing for a roster spot.

Long-limbed 3-4 edge defender lacking the necessary play strength and anchor to take on NFL tackles right now. Taylor will struggle to set the edges consistently and hasn’t proven he can beat a quality Y tight end at the point of attack. He’s quick off the ball and has some juice/bend getting to the edge, but he will need to upgrade his hand skills and inside counters to threaten the pocket.

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.

Developmental project with intriguing athletic traits and flashes of upside. There is clearly room for additional muscle on Johnson's long, leggy frame, and he figures to become a more skilled player with further coaching. However, he seems to be too willing to stand and watch rather than force his way into the action. Johnson’s range and potential versatility are alluring features that could serve him well if the play strength and aggression eventually check out.

Bennett lacks the desired athletic ability and physical traits of an NFL edge defender. He is a gradual, linear mover with adequate base strength and hand quickness. However, he lacks the traits and suddenness needed to expand his sphere of influence versus the run and pass.

Four-year starting edge defender with solid traits/production but a lack of twitch/fluidity to match up against NFL competition. He possesses the power to take on blockers, provided he gets his feet and balance squared away, but he might not have a projectable pass rush teams can count on.