QB: CJ Stroud, Ohio State
This year’s draft class is loaded with talented quarterbacks, but I find the cream of the crop quarterback to be Ohio State’s CJ Stroud. Stroud has a big arm and proved that on the biggest stage, he performs. Even though the Buckeyes lost, he torched Georgia’s tenacious defense for 348 yards and 4 touchdowns going 23-34 on pass attempts. If I’m the Panthers, I’d take Stroud number one and not think twice about it. Yes, Bryce Young is great, but Stroud just has a different level of poise and readiness for the league.
RB: Bijan Robinson, Texas
In this year’s running back class, we don’t see a ton of talent towards the top. In the middle rounds, there will be great value picks. But towards the top, one player prevails. It’s Bijan Robinson. Robinson runs mean and has great vision. He was great in every aspect of the season rushing for 1,580 yards and 18 scores while also catching 19 passes for 314 yards and 2 touchdowns. Some bonehead Alabama fans would argue for Jahmyr Gibbs, but that’s a pie in the sky debate.
FB: Hunter Luepke, North Dakota State
Did you really think I wasn’t going to show love to the fullback position? Are you out of your mind? Hunter Luepke was a machine for North Dakota State. He played a mix of halfback and fullback rushing for 619 yards and 9 touchdowns on 98 carries and also caught 14 passes for 196 yards and 4 touchdowns. He’s the number one fullback in the draft and a team will get a real grinder by drafting him.
WR: Jordan Addison, USC
Addison took home the Biletnikoff in 2021 and while he may not have won the award this past season, he still produced at a crazy rate. There’s an argument to be made that you’re the best receiver in the draft when you catch 59 passes for 875 yards and 8 touchdowns. He runs the crispiest routes of any wideout in the draft and has outstanding hands. I’m still not sure who the first wideout off the board will be, but if it’s any of the three I have on here, it’s the right call. They’re all ballers.
WR: Quentin Johnston, TCU
Quentin Johnston burst on the scene in 2022 in the same way the TCU Horned Frogs did. He caught 60 passes for 1,069 yards and 6 touchdowns. Johnston was easily Max Duggan’s favorite target because of his size and speed. He stands at 6’4 with a massive catch radius and runs a 4.37 40 yard dash. There’s no doubt that his size, speed, and hands will make him a star in the NFL. The question that’s being asked is who will be throwing him the rock in 2023.
WR: Jaxon Smith-Injigba, Ohio State
Had Jaxon Smith-Injigba not gotten hurt early in the season, he’d be a projected top five pick. In 2021, the talented wideout reeled in 95 passes for 1,606 yards, and 9 touchdowns. He has the elite gene in his DNA, but his injury in 2022 hurt his draft stock immensely. He’ll still most likely be one of the first three receivers off the board because of his 6’1, 200 pound frame, 35″ vertical, and 4.48 40 yard dash.
TE: Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
I’ve been hearing the hype around Dalton Kincaid, but let’s be real, Michael Mayer is still HIM. He’s maybe the safest, most surefire pick in this who draft class. He played right away as a true freshman and only expanded off what he accomplished season after season. This past year, Mayer caught 67 passes for 809 yards and 9 touchdowns. What sets him apart from the other tight ends in this years draft is that Mayer is a violent blocker. When Tommy Rees (scumbag) put him in the game, it was like having an extra offensive lineman.
OT: Peter Skoronski, Northwestern
In past drafts, especially last year, we saw great offensive line classes. This year doesn’t pack the same talent punch that we’ve witnessed in past drafts. With that being said, Peter Skoronski is the best offensive lineman on the board. He can play both guard and tackle positions adding a layer of versatility that other players don’t have. His ferocious punch leads to him moving flesh better than anyone else and he’ll be the pass protector a franchise like Chicago or Las Vegas yearns for.
OT: Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State
While Skoronski is more of the mauler type, Paris Johnson serves up a motor that’s unmatched and has great energy. He’s a great athlete having jumped 9’2″ in the broad jump at the combine. He could eventually morph into one of the league’s true elite pass protectors like Ronnie Stanley or Rashawn Slater. All he has to do is get a little stronger. These two tackles are the clear cut one and two in the draft and could both be top 12 picks.
OG: O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida
O’Cyrus Torrence is huge. He’s just a mountain of a man. Torrence’s 6’5, 330 pound frame further asserts his bully mentality in the run game. Not only does he want to win his rep vs a defensive player, he wants to humiliate them and bury them in the dirt. If you love football, you’ll adore the way O’Cyrus Torrence plays the game. The only concern in his game is that he’s not super athletic which hurts him in pass protection.
OG: Cody Mauch, North Dakota State
Did you expect to see two North Dakota State Bison on here? While Luepke is holding down the fullback position, Cody Mauch is one of the most proven guards in the draft. Mauch’s balance and toughness make him an ideal day two selection and could immediately be a plug and play guard for a team. Mauch has really great hands in the run game, but lacks hand placement in the pass game. If he can patch that up along with gaining a stronger punch, we’ll be looking at a menace in a few years.
C: John Michael Schmitz, Minnesota
As combine season has progressed further, John Michael Schmitz has seen his draft stock rise. He’s a former wrestler and that shows when you watch the tape. Schmitz possess fabulous leverage winning at both the first and second level in the run game. His lateral movement is great and again was shown on tape when you watch him pass protect. Schmitz has great IQ and is a proven leader. Whoever drafts him gets a starting center on day one.