Way-Too-Early 2023 Rookie Mock

Photo: USA Today Sports

The long-awaited NFL Draft just wrapped up this weekend, and fantasy managers are getting ready to start their rookie drafts. With the excitement in the air for rookie draft season, this is one of the most active times in leagues, with many managers re-shaping their rosters for the upcoming season. Given that there is so much uncertainty at the quarterback position in dynasty especially given the rookie classes' lack of draft capital, there should be a ton of movement in your dynasty leagues. There will be more teams this year trying to acquire win-now pieces in fantasy leagues. Meaning now that the 2022 class has come and gone, it's time to start looking ahead to the 2023 class. Before you trade or trade for those 2023 picks, let's dive into what those drafts could look like next year to give you the appropriate value of each pick. Here is the first edition of the Footballguys Way-Too-Early 2023 rookie mock draft.

1.01 QB C.J. Stroud (Jr – Ohio State): 6-foot-3, 218 lbs

C.J. Stroud’s 2021 season was filled with its fair share of up-and-down moments. After Ohio State lost to Oregon at the beginning of the 2021 season, many called for backup Kyle McCord to take over the starting job. However, Stroud responded well after his injured shoulder healed. He threw for 4,435 yards and 44 touchdowns, including a record-setting performance against Utah in the Rose Bowl, where he threw for 573 yards and six touchdowns in a dramatic comeback. Throughout this off-season and in the spring game, Stroud has started to earn buzz as the QB1 of the 2023 class ahead of Alabama quarterback Bryce Young. Scouts and coaches have raved about his mental processing skills, which many quarterbacks struggle with. Stroud should be on the shortlist for the Heisman in 2022 and seems to be on a collision course to play Alabama in the National Championship game. He’s developed every season as a passer, and if he can fine-tune his accuracy, the sky’s the limit for the Ohio State quarterback.

1.02 QB Bryce Young (Jr – Alabama): 6-foot-0, 194 lbs

While the NFL only drafted one quarterback in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, the 2023 class has two clear-cut top quarterbacks. The first is C.J. Stroud and the second is Bryce Young. The Heisman Trophy winner threw for 4,872 yards and 47 touchdowns last year while leading Alabama to a National Championship appearance. Scouts have touted Young’s maturity and his ability to make plays off-script. His playmaking ability in the pocket is the trait that sticks out when watching Young play. He’s not a dual-threat quarterback by any means but, he can extend plays and let his playmakers make plays on the outside. His anticipation on throws stands out on his tape, and he has the accuracy needed to place the ball anywhere on the football field. Alabama has also added wide receiver Jermaine Burton from Georgia, wide receiver Tyler Harrell from Louisville, and running back Jahmyr Gibbs in the transfer portal to go along with the other weapons from their top recruiting classes the past two seasons. Young could have a better season in 2022 than he did in 2021. Next season, he and Stroud should be the top two selections in rookie drafts.

1.03 RB Bijan Robinson (Jr – Texas): 6-foot-0, 215 lbs

After the top two quarterbacks, the next pick must be consensus RB1 Bijan Robinson. Without Robinson, Texas would have never even sniffed five wins this season. That’s how big of a difference-maker he is in this offense. Robinson carried the offense with over 1,100 yards rushing and three hundred yards receiving. He scored 15 total touchdowns in 2021. Robinson would have put up even better numbers, but he was knocked out for the season after dislocating his elbow late in the year. Robinson has dealt with injuries his whole career but is still the top running back in the 2023 class. As a runner, his explosiveness and vision set him apart from other running backs in his class. If Robinson had been able to declare this year, he would have been a Round 1 selection. Another positive for Robinson is that the 2022 Texas Longhorns will be the best team he’s played on in college. He’ll be surrounded by NFL-level talent all over that offense, and if he can stay healthy, there’s no reason Bijan won’t get invited to New York this December for the Heisman ceremony. He should be locked into a top-three rookie draft selection at this point in the process.

1.04 WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Jr – Ohio State): 6-foot-0, 198 lbs

Jaxon Smith-Nijigba is the best receiver in the country, and he plays for Brian Hartline, the best receiver coach in the country. After seeing Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave go round one in the 2022 NFL draft, Smith-Njigba will likely follow them as a top-15 selection. In 2021, he proved that he was ready to take the next step in his career, catching 95 balls for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns. Smith-Njigba has the best hands on the Ohio State depth chart, and he can be lined up anywhere on the field. Not to mention he’s one of the best athletes at the receiver position. He’s a versatile receiver who has the speed to play on the outside but is also a technical route runner who can excel in the slot. He is an offensive coordinator's dream regarding the prototype receiver you want in your offense. Smith-Njigba also has a chance to be invited to the Heisman ceremony in December and could lead college football in receiving yards in 2022. He is a talented football player.

1.05 WR Kayshon Boutte (Jr – LSU): 6-foot-0, 185 lbs

While Smith-Njigba is the WR1 right now in college football, LSU’s Kayshon Boutte is right behind him. In 2020, Boutte was a Freshman All-American and set the SEC record for receiving yards in a game in the season-finale against Ole Miss with 308 yards. He would finish the season with 735 yards and nine touchdowns. Boutte was LSU’s leading receiver in 2021, with 38 catches for 508 yards and nine touchdowns in just six games. Unfortunately for Boutte, his season ended in mid-October after he suffered a lower leg injury, or he would have soared past the 1,000-yard mark. Before the injury, he showed why many had him as their WR1. He’s explosive with the football and is a threat to score every time he touches the ball. He’s also a physical receiver who wins in contested catch situations. While he certainly has the talent to be the WR1 in the 2023 class, his stock has taken a hit since the end of the season. He has been recovering from his injury, and he appears to be at odds with new head coach Brian Kelly. Not to mention the Tiger’s quarterback situation is a mess. Boutte could still be the first or second receiver taken in next year's draft even with all those question marks. Which speaks to his level of talent. Boutte will be a top-five selection in rookie drafts if he can earn that draft capital.

1.06 RB Jahmyr Gibbs (Jr – Alabama): 5-foot-11, 200 lbs

Alabama picked up one of the best players in the transfer portal in 2022. Jahmyr Gibbs is the total package as a running back and will fill a significant need for the Crimson Tide. Senior Brian Robinson Jr Jr., who had 1,343 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, entered the 2022 NFL Draft. Sophomores Jase McClellan and Roydell Williams suffered season-ending knee injuries, and freshman Camar Wheaton transferred out of the program. Leaving Gibbs as the most experienced running back in that running back room and primed to take over that backfield. This should bold well for Gibb's potential pro outlook considering the draft capital that Alabama running backs receive. Before transferring from Georgia Tech, Gibbs rushed for 1,206 yards and scored eight touchdowns in two seasons while also adding 768 receiving yards on 59 receptions and five touchdowns. Gibbs is a three-down back with a massive upside: His receiving ability. Every fantasy manager is looking for a running back that can catch like Gibbs, and that type of skill will be coveted by the NFL and fantasy managers alike. Gibbs is the clear RB2 in the 2023 class with a chance to move higher depending on his production at Alabama.

1.07 RB Zach Evans (Jr – Ole Miss): 5-foot-11, 215 lbs

Zach Evans also has a chance to make his case to be RB2 of the vaunted 2023 class this year. As you will find, the 2023 class has a slew of running backs behind Bijan Robinson that will help dynast managers retool their backfield. Evans was one of the highest-ranked recruits in the country coming out of high school. Unfortunately for Evans, his time at TCU was marred with Covid-19 issues and a few injuries. However, in limited action in two seasons, he still finished strong with 1,036 yards on 146 attempts and scored nine touchdowns. As a runner, he has incredible power, and his ability to jump cut is second to no one in the country. He can alter his running style and is the type of back that can score any time he gets the ball. His ability to turn every run into a net positive gain excites scouts the most. He’s a physical back with three-down potential. He’ll need to prove that he can play an entire season, but if he does, Evans may find himself in the top half of rookie drafts. He should flourish at Ole Miss and in Lane Kiffin’s offense.

1.08 WR Quentin Johnston (Jr – TCU): 6-foot-4, 194 lbs

Evan’s former teammate, wide receiver Quentin Johnston is another high-profile wide receiver in the 2023 class. He averaged over 22 yards per reception in his freshman season, and his big-play ability has been on display ever since. He’s suffered from a few lingering injuries that have caused him to miss time, but when healthy, he’s shown to be one of the best receivers in college football. In just nine games last season, he led TCU with 634 receiving yards and six touchdowns, adding 33 receptions. Johnston averaged just under 20 yards per reception duplicating his standout freshman numbers. Down the stretch of 2021, defenses could not stop him. He has a giant catch radius, and his deep ball tracking skills are second to none. He will also be playing in a Sonny Dyke’s offense in 2022, where he should see more targets in the passing game than he has the last two seasons combined. Johnston could be the biggest riser of this class and looks to be a first-round rookie selection.

1.09 WR Jordan Addison (Jr – Transfer Portal): 6-foot-0, 175 lbs

Jordan Addison won the Biletnikoff Award and earned consensus All-America honors last year during his sophomore season at the University of Pittsburgh. He was Kenny Pickett’s right-hand man in that offense and was one of the main reasons for Pickett’s resurgence, which saw Pickett get drafted in the first round of the NFL draft by the Steelers. Any receiver that can make Pickett look as good as he was last season deserves to be in the conversation as a first-round pick in 2023. During the season last year, Addison was a force catching 100 passes for 1,593 yards and 17 touchdowns while helping lead the Panthers to an ACC Championship and an 11-3 record in 2021. He has a smaller frame but has a knack for always finding open spaces in the defense. His YAC ability is already NFL-ready, and he has some of the best hands in the country. What is scary about Addison is he still has room to grow, given that the last two seasons are the only two in which he played wide receiver full-time. In high school, Addison split time at quarterback and running back. There have been rumors about him leaving Pittsburgh, which Addison affirmed by entering the transfer portal. It seems that USC or Alabama are his two top destinations. If he ends up in one of those schools, his stock will continue to rise.

1.10 RB Sean Tucker (Jr – Syracuse): 5-foot-10, 202 lbs

There aren’t many analysts talking about Syracuse running back Sean Tucker, and that's a mistake. The junior running back has done it all for the Orangeman. As a freshman, he was given the opportunity for carries due to injuries, and he rushed for 626 yards and four touchdowns and never gave the job back. In 2021, Tucker was the nation's sixth-leading rusher with 1,496 yards and averaged just under 125 yards per game. He also ranked third in the country in yards per scrimmage with 1,751 yards. Tucker has consistently proven he can be a workhorse back in college football, and with another year of production in 2022, the NFL will most likely feel the same. As a runner, Tucker excels after contact. He was one of the most efficient runners in college football after contact last season and was in the top ten for avoided tackles. He’s a fast downhill runner with the ability to catch.

1.11 TE Michael Mayer (Jr – Notre Dame): 6-foot-5, 250 lbs

Michael Mayer could have declared for the NFL draft after his freshman season and been one of the best tight end prospects in the draft process. That's just how dominant he has been since his freshman season at Notre Dame. Mayer will be the best prospect at the position since Kyle Pitts, albeit Mayer will have a different athletic profile. Mayer is a true tight end. In his freshman season, he finished tied for first on the team with 42 receptions and second in yards with 450, scoring two touchdowns. Last season, we saw Mayer lead the Irish receivers with 71 catches and finish tied for first on the team with seven touchdowns. He would average a team-high 70.0 receiving yards per game for a total of 840 yards and was consistently their best weapon. Mayer can catch and has the speed and athleticism to break big plays all over the field. His receiving numbers in a lackluster Notre Dame offensive scheme are even more impressive. NFL teams will also covet Mayer’s ability to block, and he could be a first-round NFL draft selection.

1.12 RB Tank Bigsby (Jr – Auburn): 6-foot-0, 208 lbs

Tank Bigsby has the most pressure to solidify his NFL stock among everyone in this draft. Bigsby was one of the most highly touted running backs of this class coming out of high school but has suffered from the fact Auburn hasn't been good the past two seasons. After showing flashes his freshman season, Bigsby rushed for ten touchdowns and 1,003 yards on 207 carries in 2021 and had 16 catches for 116 yards. While those numbers are good, they are not good enough for a player of his caliber. Bigsby also saw some touches taken away by true freshman Jarquez Hunter and thought about transferring until returning to Auburn. If Bigsby was that talented, he shouldn't be losing touches to a true freshman and contemplating entering the transfer portal. However, Bigsby does have the skills needed to play at the next level. As a runner, he’s explosive and has one of the best jump cuts in college football. He also possesses good hands and could easily be a three-down back at the next level. Bigsby has a ton of pressure to perform this season. He’s one of those prospects that could see an Isaiah Spiller level drop in next year's draft.

2.01 QB Anthony Richardson (Jr – Florida): 6-foot-4, 236 lbs

Anthony Richardson is the player that everyone should be on the lookout for. The junior quarterback out of Florida is primed for a breakout season in 2022. At 6’4 and 236 pounds, Richardson checks all the boxes for size and athleticism. He has elite mobility, and that is his best trait heading into the year, but he should develop as a passer this season. Richardson has always had the arm talent to put the ball wherever he wanted but was never put in a system that highlighted his strengths as a passer. He was always relegated to a power run scheme when he was allowed to play. That will change in new head coach Billy Napier’s system. That system will allow him to make quick decisions on reads and get the ball out quickly. It would not surprise me to see Richardson be a darkhorse for the Heisman Trophy this season. The NFL loves tools and Richardson has them.

2.02 WR Joshua Downs (Jr – North Carolina): 5-foot-10, 180 lbs

Joshua Downs has been one of the toughest evaluations this off-season. The Tar Heel has done everything asked of him and more at UNC. Last season, he was North Carolina’s best weapon and had 1,335 yards receiving on 101 receptions for eight touchdowns. He’s a versatile athlete and can play in the slot or outside at the next level. That type of versatility is something NFL teams will covet. He has the speed to take the top of the defense and playmaking skills to be a YAC threat. He also has an impressive catch radius for his size and can make acrobatic catches in traffic. If Downs can duplicate his sophomore season with worse quarterback play in 2022, he might sneak his way into the first round of rookie drafts next season.

2.03 RB Kendall Milton (Jr – Georgia): 6-foot-1, 220 lbs

This pick is solely based on potential. Kendall Milton has not had the opportunity to showcase his talents the last two seasons primarily because of Georgia’s depth at the running back position. Milton did get 56 carries last season and had 264 yards rushing but was mainly used in blowouts. With Zamir White and James Cook heading to the NFL, Milton is expected to compete for the starting role in that offense, and if the spring game is any indication, it would be surprising if he didn't win the job. What sets Milton apart from other runners on the team is his physicality and exceptional contact balance. He routinely turns runs into positive gains, and he is shiftier than people give him credit for. When asked to get involved in the passing game, Milton is also a capable pass-catcher. Milton has the size and athleticism to be a day two pick in the NFL draft. He’s a prospect to watch this upcoming season.

2.04 WR Jermaine Burton (Jr – Alabama): 6-foot-0, 200 lbs

Jermaine Burton spent the past two seasons at Georgia, where he caught a combined 53 balls for 901 yards and eight touchdowns. But Burton never quite got the workload necessary to have a break-out season there. Last season, Burton had just thirty targets which tied him for fourth on the team. Five out of the seven most targeted players at Georgia averaged a depth of target of fewer than ten yards downfield, while Burton’s ADOT was 14.3. To put it simply, Georgia’s offense was not an ideal fit for Burton. Burton transferred to Alabama, where they will be replacing over 240 targets from Jameson Williams and John Metchie III. Burton could lead the team in every receiving category in 2022, and based on Alabama’s track record of 1st round receivers, Burton could add himself to that list.

2.05 WR Rakim Jarrett (Jr – Maryland): 6-foot-2, 200 lbs

Heading into his freshman season, some scouts had Jarrett as their WR1 of the 2023 class. He came to Maryland as an athletic freak who was one of the most dominant high school receivers we have seen. During his freshman season, he only played four games due to the COVID-19 virus but posted two very strong games in limited action. Last season, he had 62 receptions for 829 yards and five touchdowns and looked great down the season's stretch. He has the athleticism and raw talent that excites you about his upside as a receiver. Maryland does a good job of scheming targets for him on the outside and getting him in open spaces. Jarrett will need to refine his route running ability and improve on his ability to separate if he wants to vault himself up into the first round of rookie drafts next year, but he has the upside to do it.

2.06 QB Tyler Van Dyke (Jr – Miami): 6-foot-4, 224 lbs

After Miami quarterback D’Eriq King was lost for the season due to injury, Tyler Van Dyke stepped into the starting quarterback job and never looked back. After three shaky games, Van Dyke settled in and threw for 2,194 yards and twenty touchdowns in the last six games of the season. Throughout those six games, he had at least 300 yards and three touchdowns in all of them, including two four-touchdown games. He was one of the best college quarterbacks down the season's stretch. As a passer, he has the arm strength to push the ball downfield and showed the awareness to be an NFL prospect. His ability to manipulate defenders where he wants them to go with his footwork and eyes is one of the best traits he had while studying his tape. With QB3 of this class wide-open, TVD will have the opportunity to play his way into that spot. He’ll be playing in a new system with unproven wide receivers on the outside and if he struggles, we could see him move down draft boards.

2.07 RB Blake Corum (Jr – Michigan): 5-foot-9, 200 lbs

Before his injury last season, Blake Corum was in the Heisman Trophy conversation. Michigan’s sophomore running back got off to a great start to the 2021 season, rushing for over 400 yards on the ground in the first three games as part of Michigan’s rush heavy offensive attack. Unfortunately for Corum, he suffered a high ankle sprain and wasn't the same runner the rest of the season. He would still finish 2021 with 952 rushing yards and eleven touchdowns, but he wasn't the same player with the injury. Even with his size Corum has potential as an NFL prospect. Corum runs hard and has good speed. He has incredible contact balance and thrives in between the tackles. He will be competing with Donovan Edwards for carries this year, but in a run-heavy scheme at Michigan, he should get plenty of volume to improve his draft stock for 2023.

2.08 RB Devon Achane (Jr – Texas A&M): 5-foot-9, 185 lbs

Devon Achane would be higher on this list if he were bigger. That's the only thing holding him back from being a first-round draft pick in rookie drafts next season. Over the past three seasons, we have seen what the NFL thinks about players with Achane’s profile, and it has not been pretty. But if anyone could buck that trend, it could be Achane. He is one of the fastest players in college football and is an explosive runner. Achane was a change of pace back for the Aggies last season, and 36% of his carries resulted in either first downs or touchdowns. That was good enough to lead the SEC. He also was third in the conference with yards after contact; something you love to see from a running back of his stature. He would finish with 910 yards on just 130 carries averaging 7.0 yards per attempt. He also added 24 receptions for 261 yards averaging just over ten yards per catch. Achane will need to have a dynamic season to dispel some of the question marks about his size but could be the type of weapon the NFL is looking for to be a game-changer on the field.

2.09 RB Lew Nichols III (Jr – Central Michigan): 5-foot-10, 220 lbs

Lew Nichols III is a non-power five running back which has not boded well for running back prospects in the past, but he has been too good to leave off this list. Nichols rushed for 508 yards and four touchdowns on 78 attempts in 2020. In those six games, he showed his potential and was named the MAC freshman of the year. In 2021, he exceeded all expectations rushing for 1,848 yards on 341 carries and scored s16 touchdowns. He also caught 40 balls for 338 yards and had two receiving touchdowns. He was one of the best running backs in college football and proved that he could handle a ton of volume. As a runner, he has quick feet and accelerates through the line of scrimmage. He also uses his vision well to find open spaces. Nichols has the size needed to take on multiple defenders and can make defenders miss in the open field. His biggest question mark will be his speed. That's the one trait holding him back from being higher on this list.

2.10 QB Cameron Ward (Jr – Washington State): 6-foot-3, 225 lbs

Cameron Ward is a former FCS quarterback who transferred to Washington State in January following his head coach, now Washington State’s offensive coordinator. Last season at Incarnate Word, he threw for 4,648 yards and 47 touchdowns with only ten interceptions while averaging forty-six pass attempts a game! He owns school records for career passing touchdowns (71) and yards (6,908) at Incarnate Word and is one of my favorites to see a significant rise in his draft stock this college football season. He has a quick release and the arm talent to succeed at the next level. He looked fantastic in the spring game throwing for four touchdowns and over 250 yards in the first half. Time will tell how he will look against other Pac-12 opponents, but he’s currently in my top 24 rankings due to his upside and tools.

2.11 TE Arik Gilbert (Jr – Georgia): 6-foot-6, 265 lbs

Arik Gilbert has had the most fascinating and turbulent college football career in recent memory. The former LSU Tiger transferred to Georgia after reportedly transferring to Florida but sat out last season for personal reasons. He then showed up to team workouts at a reported 300 pounds but has since worked himself back into shape. Gilbert has always been a talented player. In his senior year of high school, he recorded 105 receptions for 1,860 yards and 15 total touchdowns. He is an athletic monster and has reportedly run in the mid 4.6s for his 40-yard-dash, which is almost unprecedented for a player his size. If Gilbert can show that he has matured and has taken the next step in his development, there is no reason to think he won't get drafted relatively high in next year’s draft. He is a unicorn at the position which creates mismatches all over the football field.

2.12 RB Zach Charbonnet (RS Jr – UCLA): 6-foot-1, 220 lbs

Zach Charbonnet had a resurgence at UCLA in 2021. The former Michigan running back ended the regular season leading Pac-12 rushers with seven 100-yard games and averaged ninety-four yards per game. He finished the season with 1,137 yards rushing and thirteen touchdowns and surprised many by coming back to UCLA instead of declaring for the NFL draft. Given the lack of top-end prospects in the 2022 class of running backs, Charbonnet’s decision to go back to school hurt his draft stock for 2023. With that said, if he can duplicate his production in 2022, he could earn Day 2 draft capital next year which would warrant a second-round selection.

Other Players to Watch

• Kentucky QB Will Levis
• South Carolina QB Spencer Rattler
• Pittsburgh RB Israel Abanikanda
• TCU RB Kendre Miller
• Oklahoma WR Marvin Mims
• Penn State WR Parker Washington
• Virginia WR Dontayvion Wicks
• Ohio State TE Gee Scott Jr.

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