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HEIGHT: 6'2"

WEIGHT: 235

HAND: 10 1/4"

ARM: 32 3/8"

WINGSPAN: TBD

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40-YARD DASH: 4.43

3-CONE: 7.06

SHUTTLE: 4.24

VERTICAL: 40.5"

BROAD: 9'10"

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POSITIVES

– Impressive athlete with good change of direction and fluid hips. Can mirror and match against running backs and tight ends in man coverage.

– Uses his hands well to help stay in phase when playing man coverage or get reroutes when playing underneath in zone coverage.

– Has the acceleration to click and close quickly.

– Good ball skills for a linebacker. Plays the hands from a trail position and has decent hand-eye coordination to get pass breakups when facing the quarterback.

– Can use his quickness to make offensive linemen miss at the second level.

– Physical at the point of attack when taking on run blocks and strong enough to get off blocks from tight ends and wide receivers.

– Speed helps him make plays in pursuit. Has the athletic ability to break down and make tackles in space.

– Has the agility and acceleration to be an effective looper in line games as a pass-rusher.

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NEGATIVES

– Needs to work for more depth when spot-dropping in zone coverage to tighten the windows between the second and third levels of the defense, especially in Cover 3.

– Struggles to read the quarterback's eyes and anticipate throws in zone coverage.

– Not strong enough against the run to consistently get extension against offensive linemen. Will get pushed around a bit if he can't win at the point of attack.

– Not a violent block-shedder when working to get off blocks. Linemen with good grip strength can latch onto him.

– Has a habit of taking too shallow of an angle versus outside runs.

– High pad level. Likes to lunge and leave his feet when tackling, which will lead to misses.

– No pass-rush moves as a blitzer.

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2022 STATISTICS

— 12 GM, 72 TOT, 4 TFL, 2.5 SK, 2 FF, 3 PBU

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NOTES

– DOB: June 14, 2001

– Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

– No. 29 on Bruce Feldman's list of top athletes entering this season: 6 percent body fat, benches 375 lbs, power-cleans 355 lbs, 35" vertical jump, 10'2" broad jump, high 4.3s in 40-yard dash (per Clemson's coaches)

– A 5-star recruit in the 2020 class, No. 26 overall, No. 1 OLB, per 247Sports composite rankings

– 27 career starts

– Injuries: 2022 (Ankle, missed one game, aggravated it in ACC Championship Game, will miss bowl game)

– 2022 Honors: Third-team All-ACC, Butkus Award semifinalist, Lott IMPACT Trophy semifinalist

– 2021 Honors: Second-team All-ACC (PFF), All-ACC Academic team

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OVERALL

Trenton Simpson put on about 10 pounds this offseason, per his school bio, but the extra weight didn't appear to affect his athleticism much (if at all). That's part of the reason why he ended up on Bruce Feldman's "Freaks" list and is one of the top linebackers in this year's draft class.

Simpson has always played with his hair on fire and has been physical at the point of attack against the run. Wide receivers and tight ends working to the second level had trouble blocking him, and the added strength helped him hold his ground and get some extension versus offensive linemen.

However, Simpson still has room for growth in those areas, as bigger and more physical linemen will still be able to push him around a bit in the NFL. He also struggles to get off blocks against the big guys.

Simpson's athleticism shines through when he plays man coverage. He's fluid and sinks his hips well to cover running backs and tight ends on shorter routes, and he has the speed to carry if they go deep.

That speed also comes in handy when he converges on the ball in zone coverage. However, he does struggle to find his landmark while spot-dropping, and he isn't great at reading the quarterback's eyes to anticipate throws, which will leave throwing windows open.

Schematically, Simpson would be best as a "Will" linebacker for a team that uses a lot of even fronts and man coverage. Down the line, he can probably mix in at "Sam," too, but he'll need to become more consistent with his angles on the front side of outside runs before he can make a full-time switch to that position. He also isn't a terrible fit in a zone scheme, but that will take some time and development, and he looks more comfortable in man.

Simpson is what a lot of teams are looking for in a modern-day linebacker. He could easily be a late Day 1 pick and the first linebacker off the board.

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GRADE: 7.5 (Potential Impact Player)

OVERALL RANK: 43

POSITION RANK: LB3

PRO COMPARISON: Rashaan Evans

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Written by B/R NFL Draft Scout Matt Holder

HEIGHT: 6'1"

WEIGHT: 204

HAND: 9 1/2"

ARM: 32 3/4"

WINGSPAN: TBD

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40-YARD DASH: 4.51

3-CONE: TBD

SHUTTLE: TBD

VERTICAL: 41"

BROAD: 10'8"

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POSITIVES

— Alignment flexibility. Can line up anywhere, and SMU often moved him around the formation.

— Very good play strength. Does not get bullied versus press and knows how to muscle his way to advantageous positions at the catch point.

— Excellent hands and catch radius. Rare knack for finding the ball outside his frame and bringing it in safely. True ball-winner.

— Good bully-ball style YAC-earner. Plays with good strength and balance, with just enough speed.

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NEGATIVES

— Average or slightly below-average burst and acceleration. Not going to threaten CBs at the line of scrimmage.

— Not a clean, agile route-runner. Wins more with size and strength.

— Average elusiveness in space. More of a ball-carrier who runs past or through defenders than around them.

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2022 STATISTICS

— 12 GM, 96 REC, 1,355 YDS (14.1 AVG), 10 TD

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NOTES

— DOB: April 22, 2000

— 33 career starts

— 2022 Honors: second-team All-American, first-team All-AAC

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OVERALL

Rashee Rice is a ball-winner. Though he isn't quite a giant at 6'2" and 203 pounds, he plays with great strength and fascinating coordination both in his upper and lower body.

Rice is nimble enough to stop on a dime and turn to leap for the ball, but he also has the length, hand-eye coordination and soft hands to bring in any pass, no matter how far he has to reach or contort his body. He's always at an advantage when the ball is in the air.

Rice is effective with the ball in his hands, too. He may not have true home run speed or explosiveness, but he has enough of it for a player his size.

Rice mostly wins with strength and balance as a runner, showing the ability to fight off tacklers and trudge forward for extra yards to move the sticks and occasionally spring himself free for a chunk gain. SMU even found use for Rice on jet motion plays and screens because of his ability with the ball.

The concerns with Rice are all about play speed. He will never get bullied off his route stem at the line of scrimmage, but he doesn't typically burst off the line and torch the cornerback straight away. Rice isn't the cleanest route-runner, either. He isn't clunky or uncoordinated, but he doesn't have the bend and burst to be one of the better separators in the NFL.

Rice is a high-end No. 2 or a low-end No. 1 akin to San Francisco's Brandon Aiyuk. His ability as a ball-winner on the outside would be welcome on any team. For more creative teams, Rice's bully-ball YAC skills and alignment flexibility will make him a nifty weapon to move around the formation.

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GRADE: 7.4 (High-level Backup/Potential Starter)

OVERALL RANK: 62

POSITION RANK: WR6

PRO COMPARISON: Brandon Aiyuk

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Derrik Klassen

HEIGHT: 6'1"

WEIGHT: 180

HAND: 9 1/8"

ARM: 31 5/8"

WINGSPAN: TBD

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40-YARD DASH: 4.43

3-CONE: TBD

SHUTTLE: TBD

VERTICAL: 38"

BROAD: 11'2"

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POSITIVES

— Has very good length. Bends well while staying low in stance.

— Shows a smooth and controlled pedal with fluid hips to flip and run.

— Has very good reaction out of breaks with great closing speed when the ball is in the air.

— Gets his head around quickly to locate the ball when in phase and has very good ball skills and timing to disrupt the catch.

— Physical player who does a good job of setting the edge and is a willing tackler who gets the ball-carrier down.

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NEGATIVES

— Doesn't always trust his eyes when breaking. Footwork can get wide at times, causing him to jump into break.

— Inconsistent with sinking of hips out of breaks. Can come off to be lazy with technique at times, allowing separation at the top of routes.

— Can be too handsy downfield at times. Often uses a slingshot to get back in phase, which is called multiple times.

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2022 STATISTICS

— 11 GM, 27 TOT, 1 TFL, 6 PBU, 1 INT

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NOTES

— DOB: Dec. 21, 2000

— 2021 All-SEC second team

— 19 games started

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OVERALL

Cam Smith is a long-armed athlete with a lean frame, with the ability to add more weight. He's a lockdown defender who can play in a zone scheme but excels in man coverage. Within the schemes, Smith has shown himself to play from both press and off alignment. Although he has played a majority of his snaps from the open shuffle technique, he has demonstrated a smooth pedal, quick transitions and fluid hips to open and run.

A long strider, Smith has the speed to run with most receivers, although he can fall a step or two behind some of the more electric players he has matched up against. He has good short-area quickness but can give up some ground out of his breaks due to slower transitions. When out of his breaks, Smith has displayed a very good burst and closing speed with the ball in the air. He has instincts to locate and attack the ball while also showing great timing to break up passes. Though he has aligned in the slot at times, he is best when out wide.

When playing the run, Smith has good aggressiveness and physicality, especially when taking on blocks. He uses his hands to set the edge while also disengaging from blocks. Though he is a willing tackler who comes up to support the run, he tends to ankle-bite and dive at the legs of ball-carriers without wrapping up. Due to this style, he has missed a few tackles this season.

Ultimately, Smith is an exceptional athlete who is regarded as one of the best man cover guys in this draft. His inconsistency in tackling will be one of the biggest knocks against him. With that said, he will be one of the earlier cornerbacks selected, with a chance to compete early for a starting job.

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GRADE: 7.5 (Potential Impact Player)

OVERALL RANK: 46

POSITION RANK: CB6

PRO COMPARISON: Sean Murphy-Bunting

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Cory Giddings

HEIGHT: 5'9"

WEIGHT: 184

HAND: 9 1/8"

ARM: 29 1/8"

WINGSPAN: TBD

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40-YARD DASH: 4.51

3-CONE: TBD

SHUTTLE: 4.32

VERTICAL: 33"

BROAD: TBD

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POSITIVES

— Fluid player with loose hips. Shows very good twitch to get out of breaks and drive on receivers. Has the speed and movement skills to run with receivers downfield.

— Shows good instinct in both the run and pass game. Very good vision in zone. Sees the threats in his area and reacts with anticipation.

— Outstanding hands when playing the ball. Shows good tracking of the ball and attacks it with his hands away from his body.

— Can be an elusive and feisty player when taking on blocks.

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NEGATIVES

— Lack of size can show up at times. Bigger blockers can latch on and cause a struggle for him to disengage.

— Speed in his backpedal can make him rock back on his heels, causing him to reach and grab.

— Ankle-biter at times when attacking bigger backs.

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2022 STATISTICS

— 12 GM, 24 TOT, 2 TFL, 1 SK, 6 INT, 12 PBU

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NOTES

— Started 31 games in his career

— Three-year starter

— 2022 Unanimous All-American

— 2021 Second-team All-Pac 12

— Fourth in Utah history in career interception return yards

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OVERALL

Clark Phillips III is an active, slightly undersized cornerback position with excellent movement skills. He has shown the ability to play in both man and zone coverage.

When playing man, he can play from press and off coverage. When playing press, he does a good job of mirroring the receiver, allowing him to declare their routes and quickly getting into his hip pocket. From off coverage, Phillips shows good tempo and leverage, showing off his foot quickness and twitch to get out of breaks and drive on the ball.

One of his most impressive attributes is his anticipation and ability to run the routes for receivers. Once out of his backpedal, he does a great job of becoming the receiver and attacking the ball, finishing the play with great hands and ball skills.

In zone, he displays similar traits while using his vision to sink under routes coming in and out of his area. Phillips does a good job carrying routes downfield, although occasionally, he can panic and grab or bump the receiver before the ball arrives.

When playing the run, Clark is an active player who isn't afraid to get into the mix. He does a good job of quickly reacting and setting the edge, often using his quickness to beat receivers, although there are times when he can get stuck on bigger receivers and have difficulty disengaging. He is also fearless when tackling but at times chooses to throw his body at the ball-carrier's feet in an attempt to tackle.

Overall, Clark is an outstanding cover corner who shows versatility at both the outside corner and slot positions. His ball-hawking tendencies make him an elite player and one that will be coveted at the next level. His size may be a question to play out wide, but his movement skills are more than capable of playing from the slot. He can be a Day 1 or early Day 2 selection.

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GRADE: 7.9 (Potential Impact Player)

OVERALL RANK: 25

POSITION RANK: CB4

PRO COMPARISON: Denzel Ward

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Cory Giddings

HEIGHT: 6'5"

WEIGHT: 264

HAND: 9 7/8"

ARM: 34"

WINGSPAN: 81 5/8"

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40-YARD DASH: 4.58

3-CONE: 7.28

SHUTTLE: 4.41

VERTICAL: 34"

BROAD: 10'5"

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POSITIVES

— Physical at the point of attack and takes on blocks with good leverage out of a two-point stance to help set the edge.

— Solid strength to win as a power rusher with a one-arm stab move or a bull rush, and he's shown a nice rip move as a counter off of the bull rush that he can win with if he starts working to get on an edge.

— Does a good job of working offensive lineman's hands as a pass-rusher.

— Has plenty of athletic ability to develop finesse moves down the line and has shown flashes of winning with a cross chop, hand swipe and ghost rush.

— Impressive agility to avoid losing ground as the looper in line games.

— Swipes at the ball and has a knack for getting strip sacks.

— Very instinctual against the run and can be hard to reach with his combination of agility and block recognition out of a two-point stance.

— Strong enough to get extension and hold ground against tackles.

— Hustle player who will factor into gang tackles down the field and get coverage sacks.

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NEGATIVES

— Slow run-pass transitions against play-action.

— Doesn't have a go-to pass rush move that can win with at the moment and doesn't have the speed off the ball to challenge offensive tackles vertically.

— Could make better use of the stem phase of a pass rush by getting upfield initially to give himself a two-way go and keep the tackle guessing.

— Adequate bend to turn tight corners and take an efficient path to the quarterback but lacks ankle flexibility.

— Needs to start working to get on an edge when bull-rushing.

— More passive against the run when working out of a three-point stance. Likes to stand up and see what the offensive line is doing instead of attacking and reacting.

— Lacks violence when trying to disengage and get off blocks and lets offensive linemen hang onto him.

— Not a forceful tackler and will lose ground after contact from physical running backs.

---

2022 STATISTICS

— 12 GM, 45 TOT, 14 TFL, 11 SK, 1 FF

---

NOTES

— DOB: Oct. 30, 2000

— A 4-star recruit in the 2019 class, No. 211 overall, No. 13 WDE, per 247Sports composite rating.

— 25 career starts

— Notre Dame's career sack leader (26.5)

— 2022 Honors: Consensus All-American

— 2021 Honors: Third-team All-American (Phil Steele), first-team All-Independent (Phil Steele)

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OVERALL

Isaiah Foskey is an interesting projection because he has plenty of traits with his size, strength and athleticism, and he's been productive, surpassing several notable Notre Dame defensive linemen like Justin Tuck and Bryant Young in the school's record books. Typically, that'd make for a slam-dunk top-10 pick.

However, a lot of Foskey's sacks have come when he's either unblocked, is cleaning up from another pass-rusher winning or as coverage sacks, especially this past year. His impressive rushes have come in flashes versus being something he can consistently win with at the next level, and his stiff ankles are concerning for an edge-rusher.

That being said, if the Golden Domer tests well at the combine to confirm his athletic potential, he's a good enough power rusher and can develop a wider pass-rush arsenal down the road to still be a first-round pick. He might just have to wait a little longer to hear his name called on Day 1.

Against the run, there's a lot to like about Foskey's game. He's physical and strong to set the edge and hold ground against offensive tackles, and his instincts are impressive out of a two-point stance. The biggest issue is that he can look like almost a completely different player with his hand in the ground, which could limit his scheme fit.

Foskey is much better from a standup linebacker position. When he is in a three-point stance, it's almost like his natural inclination is to play from a two-point because he stands up and tries to see what's going on, essentially getting to a two-point stance post-snap. So, he'd be best as an outside backer for a team that uses odd fronts.

Notre Dame would occasionally drop him in coverage, so he has experience covering running backs, tight ends and the underneath zones to go along with the athleticism to carry that part of his game over to the NFL. He might not be "off the board" for even front teams, but he'll need the freedom to play from that standup position.

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GRADE: 7.4 (High-level Backup/Potential Starter)

OVERALL RANK: 53

POSITION RANK: EDGE10

PRO COMPARISON: Harold Landry III

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Written by B/R NFL Draft Scout Matt Holder

HEIGHT: 6'2"

WEIGHT: 248

HAND: 10 1/2"

ARM: 34 1/4"

WINGSPAN: TBD

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40-YARD DASH: TBD

3-CONE: 7.57

SHUTTLE: TBD

VERTICAL: 33.5"

BROAD: 10'6"

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POSITIVES

— Accelerates off the ball well and has quick run-pass transitions versus play action.

— Sets up his pass-rushing moves well during the stem phase by using a skip/hesitation step or stemming to the inside to set up an outside move and vice versa.

— Has a wide array of finesse moves to win around the edge like a cross chop, arm over and inside or outside stick moves.

— Solid at turning speed to power with a one-arm stab move; he can collapse the pocket against offensive tackles with a weaker base.

— Impressive change of direction, agility and quickness to be an effective looper on line games.

— Good bend to take an efficient path to the quarterback.

— Physical at the point of attack against the run and has solid strength and hand placement to help set the edge versus outside zone; also is hard to reach with his agility.

— Against down blocks, he gets his hands on the offensive linemen to disrupt their path to the second level.

— Recognizes and gets under pullers as the spill player in run fits.

— Has shown flashes of using his quickness to defeat blocks and is solid at engaging with offensive linemen and working around the block to escape without conceding too much ground.

— Snap-to-whistle type of player who takes good angles in pursuit and can factor into gang tackles down the field.

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NEGATIVES

— Struggles with consistency and accuracy with his use of hands as a pass-rusher; he'll often miss with his initial chop or needs to finish with a violent rip to get the offensive lineman off him and get a clean win.

— He'll lose contain against scrambling or running quarterbacks because he struggles to break down in the backfield and doesn't bring his feet with him when tackling.

— Lacks the strength to lock out offensive tackles as a run defender; he moves his feet backward and concedes ground to get extension instead of displacing the blocker.

— Will struggle to hold his ground against base blocks in the pros.

— Has a habit of stopping his feet on contact.

— Could afford to add some size and strength to help with his power moves as a pass-rusher and with holding up against the run.

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2022 STATISTICS

— 11 GM, 58 TOT, 8.5 TFL, 5.5 SK, 1 FF

---

NOTES

— DOB: April 5, 2002

— A 4-star recruit in the 2020 class, No. 84 overall, No. 6 WDE, per 247Sports' composite rating.

— Injuries: 2022 (knee, missed two games)

— 24 career starts

— Brother, Azeez, played at Georgia and was a second-round pick of the New York Giants

— 2022 honors: awarded LSU's coveted No. 18 jersey; first-team All-SEC; two-time SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week

— 2021 honors: one-time SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week

— 2020 honors: one-time SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week

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OVERALL

BJ Ojulari went to LSU to forge his own path and break away from Azeez's shadow, but he'll end up on a similar journey as one of the best pass-rushers in this year's draft class.

An underrated aspect of the LSU product's game is that he varies his pass-rushing plan based on the opponent and has enough tools in his toolset to do so. For example, against Tennessee and Darnell Wright, Ojulari worked the edges more since Wright has a good anchor, but against Ole Miss, he relied more on turning speed to power against the Rebels' weaker tackles.

If he can improve his use of hands on his finesse moves and add some strength to be more effective when bull-rushing, Ojulari will be a dangerous pass-rusher in the pros. However, his effectiveness against the run is holding his draft stock back.

While the Tiger is effective against reach blocks/outside zone, on base blocks he concedes too much ground and will struggle to hold up at the point of attack against NFL tackles. Adding some mass will help there too, but he is very reliant on working around blocks right now, which is a risky play style.

Schematically, Ojulari might be limited to a stand-up outside linebacker role in odd fronts. He's just not big and strong enough to put his hand in the ground as a defensive end in even fronts right now. But if a team is looking for immediate pass-rushing help and is willing to be patient with him against the run, he's worth a mid-to-late first-round pick.

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GRADE: 7.9 (Potential Impact Player)

OVERALL RANK: 24

POSITION RANK: EDGE5

PRO COMPARISON: Jaelan Phillips

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Written by B/R NFL Draft Scout Matt Holder

HEIGHT: 6'6"

WEIGHT: 313

HAND: 9 1/2"

ARM: 36 1/8"

WINGSPAN: TBD

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40-YARD DASH: TBD

3-CONE: TBD

SHUTTLE: TBD

VERTICAL: TBD

BROAD: 9'2"

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POSITIVES

— Very good athletic ability with light feet, fluid movement skills and the ability to retain his balance and recover out of compromising positions.

— Proficient run-blocker with the footwork and leverage to consistently fit, control, steer and sustain blocks while being a weapon on the move off of combo blocks, cut-offs and screens.

— Plays with excellent effort and brings an edge physically to find work when uncovered, drive his feet and generate knockdowns as a finisher.

— Has the foot quickness and range on an island in pass-protection to mirror, redirect and cut off rushers that work his edges.

— Can effectively close space, latch and end reps quickly using jump sets.

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NEGATIVES

— Inconsistent anchoring ability and stopping power that causes him to gradually get opened up and walked back into the pocket.

— Middling lower body strength and power.

— Needs to improve his weight distribution and hand placement to locate the hip of rushers and maintain control of rushers at the top of the QB's drop to prevent leaning and late penetration inside.

— Has a bad habit of relying too much on the two-hand strike that can expose him to inside counters (Ex: Play 79 of 2022 game against Michigan).

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2022 STATISTICS

— 12 starts at left tackle

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NOTES

— Consensus 5-star prospect and the top tackle recruit in the nation coming out of Princeton High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, per 247Sports composite rating.

— 25 career starts; 13 at right guard in 2021 as a true sophomore and 12 at left tackle in 2022 as a true junior.

— Johnson is an academic standout with consecutive selections to the Academic All-Big Ten teams (2021 & 2022) and earned honors each year of his high school career.

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OVERALL

Paris Johnson Jr. is a two-year starter inside Ohio State's balanced, spread offense and multiple run scheme, with 13 starts at right guard in 2021 and 11 starts at left tackle in 2022. Johnson has a lean body type with good length and very good athletic ability.

Johnson is a smooth mover in pass protection with the quickness and body control to mirror edge-rushers on an island, close space on jump sets and recover out of compromising positions against counter moves. He carries his hands near his midsection, ready to fire, and flashes independent strikes to keep rushers off balance with a snatch technique to mix in against the long-arm technique.

Johnson is active and alert with fluid movement skills to handle dual-reads, pick up basic stunts and provide quick help when uncovered. Johnson shows average-level play strength in his anchor, which causes him to gradually get pried open and walked back in the pocket.

He also shows a habit of turning, running and leaning on rushers up the arc that will need to get cleaned up to prevent losing inside near the top of the QB's drop. However, he is in just his first year at tackle with the physical traits to add polish over time.

Johnson is an efficient, skilled run-blocker. He does a nice job squaring up defenders on kick-out blocks and syncing his feet, hips and hands once engaged to create lift, control and steer defenders away from the ball.

Johnson smoothly works combination blocks and ricochets up to the second level under control to pick off targets while being an asset on the move as a lead blocker on tosses and screens. He plays with a physical, aggressive demeanor and consistently runs his feet to finish blocks throughout games.

He can get overaggressive at the point of attack and lean into contact on drive blocks, causing him to be vulnerable to the push-pull technique but gives himself a chance to refit and recover due to outstanding balance.

Overall, Johnson is an extremely athletic, coordinated mover with the movement skills and body control to play on an island in pass-protection while being an asset in the zone run game, working combo blocks and tracking targets on the move. Johnson needs to refine his use of hands and improve his anchoring ability to better handle power but has enough clear strengths in his game to be an immediate starter with room to become an impact player over his first contract.

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GRADE: 8.2 (Year 1 Starter)

OVERALL RANK: 17

POSITION RANK: OT1

PRO COMPARISON: Brian O'Neill

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Brandon Thorn

HEIGHT: 6'2"

WEIGHT: 238

HAND: 9"

ARM: 32 5/8"

WINGSPAN: TBD

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40-YARD DASH: 4.39

3-CONE: TBD

SHUTTLE: TBD

VERTICAL: 41.5"

BROAD: 10'8"

---

POSITIVES

— On passing downs, he times up the snap well and has good acceleration off the ball to win with speed.

— Works to get to square during the stem phase of a rush to give himself a two-way go and has a nice hesitation/skip move to win around the edge.

— Impressive change of direction and quickness to win with inside and outside stick moves, especially if he can be more consistent with his use of hands. He did get more accurate with his hands from year-to-year, showing growth in that area.

— Good bend to turn a tight corner and take an efficient path to the quarterback after winning around the edge.

— When slanting against the run, he covers so much ground laterally that he doesn't have to tip it with pre-snap alignment. He throws off the offensive lineman's angle while simultaneously dipping his shoulder to reduce the surface area to block, getting the lineman off-balance so he can get penetration.

— Physical at the point of attack and has pop in his hands to get extension and shed blocks from offensive tackles fairly easily. He's violent when shedding and has shown flashes of using his quickness to defeat blocks, too.

— Can set the edge versus outside zone or as the force player against pullers on power and counter.

— Takes on blocks with a wide base and is stronger than his 235-pound frame would suggest to hold his ground versus offensive tackles.

— Form tackler, good pad level, wraps up and runs his feet through contact. He's not going to miss many tackles.

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NEGATIVES

— His get-off is much slower and more deliberate on running downs, which makes it more difficult for him to win around the edge if the offense does pass and leads to a slower run-pass transition versus play action.

— Doesn't have a ton of power behind his bull rush and doesn't work to get on an edge to collapse the pocket against offensive tackles.

— Needs to be more consistent with the accuracy of his hand swipes when starting pass-rush moves.

— Not very effective in line games as the looper or penetrator. He could afford to push vertical more on the tackle to help sell the game.

— Could afford to add some weight to help him hold ground against base blocks from the bigger and elite NFL offensive tackles.

— Didn't look comfortable dropping into coverage. He'd often cover grass in zone coverage and would struggle to stay in phase versus tight ends in man.

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2022 STATISTICS

— 8 GM, 18 TOT, 7 TFL, 3 SK, 16 QBH

---

NOTES

— DOB: Jan. 18, 2001

— A 5-star recruit in the 2019 class, No. 1 overall, No. 1 WDE, per 247Sports composite rating.

— Injuries: 2021 (elbow, missed one game), 2022 (torn pec, season-ending surgery and missed every game after Week 9)

— Arrested for driving with a suspended license and speeding through a construction zone (misdemeanor) in January 2022, completed pre-trail diversion program in lieu of formal conviction

— 23 career starts

— 2022 Honors: Second-team preseason All-American (Athlon Sports)

— 2021 Honors: Two-time SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week (Weeks 3 and 9)

— 2019 Honors: Georgia's Co-Defensive Newcomer of the Year

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OVERALL

For someone who is only listed at 235 pounds, Nolan Smith is a lot stronger than you'd think and is surprisingly a better run defender than pass-rusher. He gets extension against offensive linemen pretty easily and will occasionally have them falling on their faces with how violent he is when shedding.

Smith might have a tougher time holding up against the bigger and more physical offensive tackles at the next level with his lean frame, but he has plenty of room for growth to add 10 to 15 pounds.

He can also be lethal when slanting with how quick and agile he is to throw off blockers' angels and get penetration. Long story short, he has very few flaws against the run and has the upside to be even better with some added mass.

However, he's certainly a run-first player, which has a distinct impact on his get-off in rushing situations. He's likely going to have trouble with pressure on first and second downs as he won't be able to win with speed getting off the ball so late and struggles to collapse the pocket as a bull-rusher.

The Georgia product does have a few traits and moves in his pass-rush arsenal that he can win with on passing downs, though. He sets up his stick moves well by getting to square and giving himself a two-way go, and he has the bend to turn tight corners when winning around the edge. Working on the consistency of his use of hands to defeat the offensive lineman's hands will allow him to grow in that department.

Schematically, Smith's weight might be an issue for an even-front team that's looking for a more traditional, hand-in-the-ground defensive end. But if a team thinks they'll be able to add size to his frame in their weight program, he's strong and physical enough as it is to get the job done. However, recovering from a torn pec might scare some of these teams off.

He could play as a standup outside linebacker on odd fronts, too. That's closer to how he was used in college, but he wasn't the best in coverage which could be an issue in that scheme at the next level. That being said, he does have good athleticism to flush that part of his game out.

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GRADE: 8.3 (Year 1 Starter)

OVERALL RANK: 13

POSITION RANK: EDGE3

PRO COMPARISON: Melvin Ingram

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Written by B/R NFL Draft Scout Matt Holder

HEIGHT: 5'10"

WEIGHT: 204

HAND: 9 3/4"

ARM: 30 1/2"

WINGSPAN: TBD

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40-YARD DASH: TBD

3-CONE: TBD

SHUTTLE: TBD

VERTICAL: TBD

BROAD: TBD

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POSITIVES

— Above-average athleticism and explosiveness. Twitchy yet smooth in the pocket. Dangerous scrambler.

— Flexible mechanics. Finds ways to get the ball out comfortably no matter the angle.

— Good accuracy, especially in rhythm. Leads receivers well. Flashes ability to throw away from coverage and defenders.

— Fearless under pressure despite his size. Doesn't panic and is willing to take a hit.

— Above-average decision-maker. Doesn't force the ball and generally does well to play on time.

— Electric playmaker and creative mind. Excels outside the pocket and in finding unique angles to finish plays.

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NEGATIVES

— Weight concerns. Only measured 204 at the Combine and almost certainly played lighter than that at Alabama.

— Height is a problem. Sometimes struggles throwing in crowded pockets.

— Processing became inconsistent in 2022. Took a slight step back and forced some passes this season.

— Can be a straight-line thrower. Lacks touch in certain instances.

— Arm strength is not bad, but more would help ease size concerns.

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2022 STATISTICS

— 12 GM, 245-380 (64.5%), 3,328 YDS, 8.8 Y/A, 32 TD, 5 INT, 49 ATT, 185 YDS (3.8 AVG), 4 TD

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NOTES

— DOB: July 25, 2001

— 27 career starts

— Suffered an AC joint injury in his throwing (right) shoulder against Arkansas on Oct. 1

— 2021 consensus first-team All-American

— 2021 Heisman Trophy winner

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OVERALL

Bryce Young's profile shows a struggle between skill set and physical capabilities.

The optimist's view is that Young is the best quarterback in the class. He is a sharp processor, though slightly less so in 2022 than in 2021, and understands how to play within the rhythm of a concept. He has a great understanding of which throws aren't open and how to avoid forcing the ball.

That skill bleeds into his ability as a playmaker. Once Young decides a play is broken, either because of pressure or sticky coverage, he is quick to find an answer. Sometimes that is a timely checkdown, but more frequently it means a play outside the pocket, where his blend of athleticism, creativity and flexible mechanics creates magic.

Young is also accurate to all three levels. Some throws that require more arc, like deep corner routes, can be troublesome, but Young can generally get the ball where he wants it.

On the other hand, quarterbacks of Young's frame don't exist in the NFL. Not only is Young on the shorter side, which inhibits his ability to throw over defenders when they crowd him, but he is also a major outlier in terms of weight. Young would be the first quarterback who weighs less than 200 pounds to be picked in the top 100 since Pat White in 2007.

Moreover, no quarterback under 200 pounds in the combine era (since 1999) has done anything of note besides Seneca Wallace, a fine career backup. Those size issues are worrisome as is, but it is especially so considering Young has no elite physical tools to help overcome them.

Kyler Murray, for example, had similar concerns, but he had a much stronger arm and better athletic ability. Add those size issues to Young's decline in processing in 2022—partly a result of injury and Alabama's poor offensive line—and his profile becomes risky.

Young is an excellent college player who needs to climb over a number of obstacles to work in the NFL. He may very well do it—he has the accuracy, playmaking creativity and baseline processing skills—but he is a major size outlier with good-not-great physical tools. Young would have a better chance to overcome those obstacles on a team with a good offensive line that can give him space and safety.

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GRADE: 8.2 (Year 1 Starter)

OVERALL RANK: 16

POSITION RANK: QB3

PRO COMPARISON: Downscaled Tony Romo

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Derrik Klassen

HEIGHT: 6'4"

WEIGHT: 313

HAND: 10"

ARM: 32 1/4"

WINGSPAN: TBD

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40-YARD DASH: 5.16

3-CONE: 7.80

SHUTTLE: TBD

VERTICAL: 34.5"

BROAD: 9'7"

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POSITIVES

— Consistently times the snap and explodes out of his stance to gain proper depth and spacing in his pass set and beat rushers to the spot.

— Very good foot quickness with fluid and balanced footwork to mirror and expand his landmarks against wider alignments while redirecting smoothly to cover up counters inside.

— Has quick, active and accurate hands to establish leverage inside the defender's frame, refit and releverage back inside if he loses initial contact.

— Transitions into his anchor quickly and under control with excellent knee bend and angles to create lift, generate force through the ground and dissipate power.

— Dependable and steady eyes and spatial awareness to recognize, process, pass off and pick up line games and stunts.

— Shows precise and consistent aiming points to fit on defenders in the running game with tight, strong hands to create lift, drive, control and steer.

— Excellent contact balance and recovery skills to stay attached to post-snap movement and shed attempts.

— Plays with very good physicality, effort and leg drive to finish blocks regardless of situation or opponent.

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NEGATIVES

— Marginal arm length allows defenders to establish first meaningful contact, gain easy access into his frame and keep him at their fingertips.

— Can get overaggressive and set too far out on edge-rushers, creating a soft inside shoulder that forces him into recovery mode.

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2022 STATISTICS

— 12 starts at left tackle

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NOTES

— Named AP first-team All-American (2022)

— 5-star prospect out of Maine South High School in Park Ridge, Illinois

— First 5-star prospect to ever sign with Northwestern

— Started 33 games over his three year career, all at left tackle

— Two first-team All-Big Ten selections in 2022 and 2021, with one second-team selection in 2020 as a true freshman

— Three-year letterman in high school in basketball and track and field. Skoronski was a stand out in the shot put with a personal best throw of 57'3"

— Grandfather Bob Skoronski was an offensive tackle and team captain on all five of the Packers championship teams under head coach Vince Lombardi. His father, Bob Jr., played defensive line at Yale University

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OVERALL

Skoronski took over at left tackle as a true freshman with Rashawn Slater sitting out the 2020 campaign and went on to start 33 games at the position over three years inside a balanced, multiple run scheme that mixes in zone and gap concepts, play-action and dropback passes. Skoronski has a stout, compact build with evenly dispersed weight throughout his frame and marginal arm length. He has very good athletic ability, quickness and agility.

Skoronski is a smooth, fluid pass protector with the foot quickness and movement skills to beat rushers to the spot, expand his landmarks to protect the corner and redirect to thwart inside counters. He is able to generate force through the ground, create lift with his hands and effectively transition into his anchor with good stopping power. His balance paired with alert eyes and excellent spatial awareness leads to outstanding recognition skills to handle line games and stunts. Skoronski's substandard arm length allows defenders to establish first meaningful contact on him several times a game that can press him back on his heels, but his recovery balance is excellent, allowing him to stay attached to the block more often than not.

In the running game Skoronski uses precise aiming points and footwork with equally proficient hand placement to fit, leverage, drive and steer defenders from a variety of angles and run concepts. He is able to refit and stay attached against post-snap movement and shed attempts with the movement skills to pick off targets on the move. He plays with good physicality, consistently runs his feet and looks to finish through the whistle.

Overall, Skoronski has the body type of an interior player with the feet and skill level of a starting left tackle. He is a technician with nimble movement skills, excellent balance, an advanced understanding of leverage and spatial awareness that puts him in consistently good positions before, during and after contact. His best long-term fit as a pro remains a question, but there is no doubt that he has the physical traits, makeup and skill set to be an immediate starter at all five positions and an asset to any offensive line room in the NFL.

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GRADE: 8.4 (Year 1 Starter)

OVERALL RANK: 9

POSITION RANK: IOL1

PRO COMPARISON: Joe Thuney

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Brandon Thorn