With the 2023 NFL Draft in the books and the scramble for UDFAs underway, who are the best available prospects? This article examines the top 50 best available prospects still remaining after all 259 draft picks based on the PFN Consensus Big Board.
Best Available 2023 NFL Draft Prospects
89) Eli Ricks, CB, Alabama
Eli Ricks displayed himself to be a dominant shutdown corner when he was on the field and healthy. Unfortunately, that was not very often over the past three years.
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He possesses the underlying skills to be a No. 1 cornerback on Sundays but must polish his game. More than anything else, Ricks needs to remain healthy and stay on the field.
134) Keaton Mitchell, RB, East Carolina
Keaton Mitchell is an explosive RB, with the ability to score whenever the ball is in his hands. He comes with size limitations and must improve his pass-catching ability to make a roster. Mitchell’s speed, quickness, and ability to create yardage do set him up perfectly as a potential third-down back.
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135) Myles Brooks, CB, Lousiana Tech
Myles Brooks comes off a tremendous campaign for Louisiana Tech and is a defensive back prospect who makes plenty of athletic plays. He possesses an upside, but he must polish his ball skills and defensive back fundamentals. If he lives up to expectations, Brooks has the ability to line up as a No. 2 cornerback.
136) Rejzohn Wright, CB, Oregon State
Rejzohn Wright possesses next-level size and has shown the ability to dominate opponents on occasion. His deep speed is a major concern, but in the proper scheme, Wright has the ability to develop into a starting cornerback on Sundays.
137) Bryce Ford-Wheaton, WR, West Virginia
Bryce Ford-Wheaton is a large receiver with long arms and big hands. He possesses the physical skills to be a productive wideout on Sundays, though he must improve his route running and learn to play to the 40 time he ran at the Combine.
138) McClendon Curtis, G, Tennessee-Chattanooga
McClendon Curtis is a nasty blocker with an NFL body and decent upside. While he played at 350 pounds on the college level, Curtis would benefit from losing about 20 pounds, and he has the tools necessary to line up in a power-gap system.
139) Emil Ekiyor Jr., OL, Alabama
Emil Ekiyor was a durable, productive guard for Alabama who displayed plenty of skill at the center position during Senior Bowl practices. He does not come with much scheme versatility, yet Ekiyor could eventually be a starting center in a power gap system.
140) Ivan Pace Jr., LB, Cincinnati
Ivan Pace Jr. comes off a tremendously productive season that included 137 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks. He’s a fiery and intense LB who flies around the field working to make plays, but he has limitations.
Pace lacks great height and is better moving forward and laterally than in reverse. He’s more of a two-down defender, with enough ability to have an impact on the inside of a 3-4 alignment.
144) Christian Izien, S, Rutgers
Christian Izien doesn’t pass the eyeball test, but the film tells a different story. He’s a hard-charging DB who fires upfield to defend the run and goes sideline to sideline covering the pass. Izien may be physically tapped out, but he plays with a special-teams mentality that could secure a roster spot for him.
147) Arquon Bush, CB, Cincinnati
Arquon Bush was a productive cornerback at Cincinnati, who broke up a lot of passes as both a nickel back and the No. 1 at the position. He has a lanky frame that he must fill out, but Bush possesses solid ball skills and showed a lot of improvement in his game last season.
154) Yasir Abdullah, EDGE, Louisville
Despite a very productive junior campaign in 2021, Yasir Abdullah was graded as a street free agent by scouts coming into the year. He improved his game and is an athletic prospect with a large upside.
Abdullah will be a situational LB at the next level who can be used up the field as a pass rusher or play in space. He needs to polish his game and improve his instincts, but Abdullah’s potential warrants being selected in the closing rounds of the draft.
156) Mohamoud Diabate, LB, Utah
Mohamoud Diabate is an athletic one-gap linebacker best in pursuit. He’ll offer possibilities on the inside of a 3-4 defense or system which allows him to run to the ball freely, and Mahmoud comes with special teams potential.
162) Jalen Moreno-Cropper, WR, Fresno State
Jalen Moreno-Cropper really stepped up his game the last two seasons and combines quick route running with next-level hands. He needs space to work and would be best in the slot or backed off the line of scrimmage, and comes with return possibilities.
170) Mekhi Garner, S, LSU
Mekhi Garner has flashed tremendous ability the past two seasons at two different schools — first Louisiana then LSU. He lacks speed and is probably too big to play cornerback, though a creative defensive coordinator could use him as a zone safety if Garner is willing to make football a priority.
174) Thomas Incoom, EDGE, Central Michigan
Thomas Incoom is a solid athlete with a relentless style who was constantly disrupting the action on Saturdays. He’s a pass-rush specialist with possibilities out of a three-point stance or standing over tackle, and plays with a special-teams mentality.
177) John Ojukwu, OT, Boise State
John Ojukwu was a durable lineman for Boise State, starting 51 games over the past five years. He possesses size and growth potential but really needs to improve his fundamentals to have any chance of making an NFL roster.
180) Rakim Jarrett, WR, Maryland
Rakim Jarrett passes the eyeball test and occasionally plays to it, but he’s mostly an unpolished receiver with an inconsistent game. He must improve his overall fundamentals to have any longevity at the next level.
183) Matt Landers, WR, Arkansas
Matt Landers comes off a productive season at Arkansas, where he finally met the expectations of NFL scouts. He possesses a next-level build and comes with enough pass-catching skill to make an NFL roster as a fifth receiver.
188) Jason Brownlee, WR, Southern Mississippi
Jason Brownlee was a terrific receiver at the college level who went on to perform well at the Combine. He possesses long arms and big hands and has enough ability to be a late-round pick before developing into a fifth receiver.
190) Malik Knowles, WR, Kansas State
Malik Knowles was a reliable pass catcher for Kansas State as a possession receiver running underneath routes. He’s been more flash player than No. 1 wideout, yet his ability as a return specialist could help him secure a spot on a roster this fall.
193) Anthony Bradford, G, LSU
Anthony Bradford is a massive lineman who offers possibilities in a power-gap scheme, yet he comes with limitations. He Knocks blockers back with explosive hand punch. Keeps his head on a swivel and plays with a nasty attitude. Lacks footwork in space. Late with his hands. Must sink his butt at the line of scrimmage.
194) Earl Bostick Jr., OT, Kansas
Earl Bostick is an underrated OT prospect who was a productive starter on the left side for Kansas over the past three seasons. He’s athletic, has an upside, and needs just a year or two in an NFL weight training program before he’ll be ready to play on Sundays.
195) Andre Carter II, EDGE, Army
Andre Carter is a hard-working prospect who possesses a tremendous amount of upside potential, yet he needs a lot of work on his game. He’s a developmental prospect who will need a year or two in an NFL weight training program before he’s ready to take the field on Sundays.
196) Habakkuk Baldonado, EDGE, Pittsburgh
Much was expected from Habakkuk Baldonado after a tremendous junior season, yet he was slowed by injury that hurt his production last year. He’s a well-built defender who plays faster than his 40 time and can be used out of a three-point stance or standing over tackle. Baldonado needs to add more bulk to his frame, but he comes with upside.
197) Isaiah Land, EDGE, Florida A&M
Coming into the year, Isaiah Land was the talk of the town regarding small-school prospects after a junior campaign that included 19 sacks and 25.5 tackles for loss. He turned in half that production in four fewer games last season, yet was still omnipresent on the field.
198) Sean Tucker, RB, Syracuse
Sean Tucker was a terrific collegiate RB with a complete game. He’s not only productive handling the ball, as he does the little things well to help his quarterback.
Tucker can easily touch the ball 15-20 times per game on Sundays as both a ball carrier and a receiver, and has enough ability to be used in a rotational system. Health is the overriding factor for Tucker and could ultimately keep him from being drafted or signing with a team.
199) Trey Dean III, S, Florida
From a size perspective, Trey Dean offers starting potential on paper. But on film, he looks more like a one-dimensional run defender who struggles making plays against the pass. Dean comes with an upside and offers possibilities as a zone safety, but his 40 time from the Combine (>4.70 seconds) knocks him out of the draft.
204) Jeremy Banks, LB, Tennessee
Jeremy Banks possesses the athleticism, speed, and instincts to line up as a backup in a one-gap system. He also plays with a special-teams mentality, which is added value.
208) Camerun Peoples, RB, Appalachian State
Camerun Peoples is a downhill ball carrier with a punishing style. He possesses solid playing speed and fits a power gap system in addition to offering potential as a short-yardage or goal-line runner.
209) Brandon Joseph, S, Notre Dame
Brandon Joseph transferred to Notre Dame after a tremendous sophomore season at Northwestern in 2021, but he never capitalized. He’s an instinctive defensive back with average athleticism who is a liability over the slot receiver. I like Joseph as a zone safety and special-teams player for Sundays.
210) Martez Manuel, S, Missouri
Martez Manuel is an intense safety who was consistently flying around the ball on Saturdays. He was used as a hybrid safety/LB and never truly developed ball skills. He lacks next-level speed, yet Manuel comes with a special-teams mentality and could be used as a zone safety.
211) Brenton Cox Jr., EDGE, Florida
Brenton Cox has flashed dominance on the football field the past three years, but he never truly took his game to the next level. He projects as a 3-4 pass-rushing LB, but Cox must start to produce on a weekly basis to have any sort of career in the NFL.
212) Michael Jefferson, WR, Louisiana
Michael Jefferson was flying under the radar coming into the season, but he showed a lot of next-level skill in 2022 and had a terrific campaign. He possesses NFL measurables and comes with upside, and if he continues to develop, Jefferson is a legitimate pro receiver.
213) Ronnie Hickman, S, Ohio State
Ronnie Hickman was an active run-defending safety for Ohio State who was also effective against the pass when facing the action. He possesses the size and style to be used as a zone safety and make a roster as an eighth DB.
214) Isaiah Moore, LB, North Carolina State
Isaiah Moore impressed me as a redshirt freshman and did a good job for the Wolfpack in a variety of defensive schemes. He possesses the athleticism to stay on the field on passing downs, though he needs to improve his ball skills. Moore comes with upside and could easily make a roster as a sixth or seventh linebacker.
216) Anfernee Orji, LB, Vanderbilt
Anfernee Orji is a physical LB who plays bigger and faster than his measurables, but he still comes with limited upside for the next level. He could be a good backup as a Mike linebacker, but Orji must stand out on special teams.
217) Jaxson Kirkland, G, Washington
Jaxson Kirkland is a tough, hard-working lineman who was a four-year starter at guard and left tackle for Washington. He lacks much upside, yet has a great understanding of blocking that could make him an invaluable backup on Sundays.
222) Mitchell Tinsley, WR, Penn State
Mitchell Tinsley is a reliable WR, who showed a lot of development in his game the past three seasons and gets the most from his ability. He’s an underrated prospect who could slip into the late rounds with good predraft workouts or surprise in camp, then latch on as a fifth receiver.
223) Drake Thomas, LB, North Carolina State
Drake Thomas was a super-productive LB who registered 100+ tackles the past two seasons and found ways to make plays behind the line of scrimmage, as well as when the ball was in the air. He comes with poor size and minimal growth potential, yet his instincts and tenacity could help him find a roster spot as an eighth linebacker/special-teams player.
226) Blake Whiteheart, TE, Wake Forest
Despite being a well-rounded tight end who can catch the ball, Blake Whiteheart was never a big part of the Wake Forest passing offense. He has untapped potential and enough ability to make an NFL roster as a third TE.
227) Ikenna Enechukwu, EDGE, Rice
Ikenna Enechukwu is a smart, tough, and somewhat athletic prospect who comes with an upside. He’s a solid pass rusher who must get bigger as well as stronger and complete his game to have a spot at the next level.
228) Lonnie Phelps Jr., EDGE, Kansas
Lonnie Phelps is a nice-sized linebacker who turned in a terrific Combine workout and comes with a large upside. He needs to refine his techniques and learn to make plays against the pass, yet at the very least, Phelps should offer immediate help for a team that needs a pass-rush specialist.
229) Jadon Haselwood, WR, Arkansas
Jadon Haselwood bolted for the draft after a terrific season at Arkansas and is a long wideout with upside. He must do a better job separating from defenders and become more of a red-zone threat, but he has the underlying ability to be a fourth receiver on a depth chart.
234) Anthony Johnson, CB, Virginia
Anthony Johnson is a physically impressive DB with long arms and next-level size and ball skills. He possesses a lot of upside, but often looks like he’s more athlete than football player. Johnson has enough ability to start in dime packages, then, hopefully, develop into a third cornerback on a roster.
235) Deneric Prince, RB, Tulsa
Deneric Prince is a big-bodied back with solid athleticism and underrated pass-catching ability. He’ll be perfect for short-yardage or goal-line situations on Sundays, and his blocking, as well as pass catching, give him the upper hand on making a roster.
238) Ben VanSumeren, EDGE, Michigan State
Ben VanSumeren was a solid linebacker at Michigan State who really didn’t jump onto the scouting radar until late in the year. He knocked it out of the park on pro day, timing as fast as 4.38 seconds in the 40, completing 29 reps on the bench press, and touching 42.5 inches in the vertical jump.
Athleticism alone will be worth signing him after the draft, but VanSumeren comes with a large upside.
240) Devonnsha Maxwell, DT, Tennessee-Chattanooga
Devonnsha Maxwell is a hard-working interior lineman who shows pass-rush potential, but he’s a bit scheme-limited as a 3-technique. Quick, explosive 3-technique defensive lineman who fires off the snap with an outstanding first step and plays with proper pad level.
243) Connor Galvin, OT, Baylor
Connor Galvin is an outstanding position blocker with great length and growth potential. His 32.5-inch arms and limited athleticism are concerns, but Galvin’s intensity and intelligence will help him catch on as a utility lineman.
245) Xavier Gipson, WR, Stephen F. Austin
Xavier Gipson is a polished wideout with home-run-hitting speed who can double as a return specialist. He needs space to work and will have to be used in the slot or backed off the line of scrimmage to keep him away from press coverage.
Nevertheless, Gipson possesses the athleticism and pass-catching skills necessary to make an NFL roster.