NFL Draft 2023 Big Board: Ranking the prospects 21-40

The 2023 NFL draft is not one of the better ones in recent memory, but what it lacks in high-quality prospects at the top, it makes up for with depth throughout the first round and into the second as well. Here’s a look at the prospects ranked 21-40

Coming from good NFL stock, with his father being a force-of-nature linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers for many years, Joey Porter Jr. has all the size and pass defending tools to be a shutdown corner at the top level. He can be overly ‘handsy’ at times which could well lead to penalties in the NFL, but if he can polish out this issue, he has a bright future ahead.

Kancey is certainly smaller than your traditional defensive tackle, coming in at just under 280lbs, but he has elite quick-twitch movements and can make a mess in the pocket before the QB can complete their drop back. He does present issues in run defense and may have to play a limited role early to avoid obvious rush downs.

A solidly built edge rusher with better-than-good athleticism, Murphy is perhaps being undersold here. He offers good pass rushing ability and solid enough rush defense alongside. He may never become a truly elite pass rusher, but you can leave him on the field for all three downs and be pretty happy, a sort of set-and-forget player.

The second TE on this big board, Mayer is a little bit of a throwback at the TE position, with very solid blocking in the run game and intuitive route running underneath he has drawn comparisons to Jason Witten, and rightfully so. Described as a QB’s ‘safety blanket’ the TE position is incredibly valuable to a good offense and Mayer projects to be a solid starter early in his career.

Gibbs impressed in athletic testing, running a 4.36 40-yard dash showcasing his game-breaking speed. He is possibly best as a complimentary piece rather than as a bell-cow, his pass catching and ability to take any touch to the house makes him an ideal 3rd down back.

Another hyper-competitive corner, Banks stands at 6’ and weighs just under 200 lbs which is pretty much ideal size for an outside guy. He is certainly not going to shy away in the run game and is known for his physicality. His coverage is very good if not top level, sometimes losing out to shiftier receivers.

Truly a giant even amongst NFL TEs, Washington is a mouth-watering prospect. His athletic ability was only showcased a few times at UGA, but when called upon he was able to use his size to dominate the catch point. He also offers run blocking at the level of most offensive tackles due to his sheer bulk so can offer production in all phases of the game.

Rangy and fast, Johnson offers field stretching ability in ways most receivers in this class don’t. Where he can struggle is at the catchpoint, too often trying to trap the ball against his body rather than extend and take the catch. If he can work on this, there is a good player in there who will be an asset in the NFL.

Despite playing as a slot-corner in college, Branch is being projected by many as a safety at the next level and it’s easy to see why. With good short area quickness he is able to cover most TEs whilst also being a good enough tackler to come down and make plays in the box when required.

Breese could well turn out to be a steal in this draft with evaluators slowly knocking him down draft boards. On the positive side, he has great tools and quickness where he can win early with good aggressiveness. The negatives are a lack of consistency and his less-than-ideal size. There is a very good player here though.

Probably the best deep threat in this draft class, Hyatt has a limited route-tree struggling with any quick breaks, but when he is asked to line up and go in a straight line, there are very few who can keep up. Receivers like this are tough to project to the NFL given their limitations, but Hyatt has a good chance to be a solid option moving forward.

Hooker will enter his rookie season as a 25-year-old coming off an ACL tear, which is an inauspicious start to his career. Having said that, he is a very solid prospect who could well be a starter in the NFL.

Another UGA prospect, Ringo has the pedigree you would like from an early-round pick, the number one cornerback in the nation coming out of high school and a very solid career in Athens, he has the talent and physicality to excel in the NFL. He is quite stiff for a corner so could be picked on in the quick pass game.

Probably best suited as space-filling nose-tackle type at the next level, Smith is a large man. Weighing over 320 lbs he will be asked to anchor against the run and crash the pocket against the pass. If all his potential comes together he could be a top-level DT in the league, but there is work to be done.

An edge rusher with a slight frame, Ojulari wins quickly in his pass rush or he doesn’t win at all. He isn’t strong enough to disengage from blockers once they get their hands on him, but if he gets the edge he will consistently cause issues for opposing QBs.

Another very solid defensive tackle prospect, Benton could well be a career starter if he develops well. With ideal size and a good first step, there is potential he becomes a disruptive force in the middle of the field.

A tall linebacker who projects as a chess piece in the NFL, Sanders offers versatility which defensive coordinators will be looking to exploit. With good size he has the ability to plug the middle of the field from an inside linebacker spot, but is more than happy to rush the passer when called upon. An intriguing prospect who could fill a Micah Parsons-esque role.

The best pure linebacker in the class, Campbell has the size to impact the opposition run and pass games. Standing over 6’5” he matches up well against TEs, although probably best to avoid man coverage situations where possible. The Iowa prospect looks to be a long term starter in the NFL.

A multi-year starter at the FCS level, the NDSU prospect looks like someone who may need a little time to get used to the speed of the NFL. But with really good size and noticeable strength, he could well be a versatile piece along most NFL O lines.

Good size and very solid speed, Charbonnet looks like an NFL running back before even stepping on the field in the league. The running back position is becoming less and less valuable with sides happy to move on from players after their first contract, Charbonnet has a good chance to break this trend and be a good starter for a long time.