2023 NFL Draft: Potential Day 2 Picks Who Could Quickly Become Stars
With the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs set to face off in Super Bowl LVII on Sunday, the 2023 NFL draft might not be front of mind. However, the draft is already less than three months away.
Many fans will focus on the opening round of the draft over the next few months since those prospects are often expected to become immediate contributors. However, many of the top players we'll see in Sunday's big game weren't taken in the first round.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was a second-round pick. So were standout Kansas City defensive lineman Chris Jones and Philadelphia wide receiver A.J. Brown. Chiefs star tight end and likely future Hall of Famer Travis Kelce was a third-round selection.
Prospects selected on Day 2 of the draft often become massive NFL stars, and some of them do it quickly. For example, Hurts is only in his third season and second as a full-time starter.
With this in mind, let's examine some likely Day 2 picks in the 2023 NFL draft—players ranked between 35th and 70th on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's latest big board—who could become stars within their first few seasons. We'll dive into what makes each prospect special and examine the types of situations that could help them achieve early success.
Prospects are listed according to predraft rankings.
Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
1 of 8
Big Board Ranking: No. 37
Kentucky signal-caller Will Levis makes our list because few positions make potential stars quite like quarterback.
Given the value of quarterbacks, Levis could hear his name called on Day 1 of the draft. However, he isn't a particularly polished prospect, may need time to develop and could easily be a Day 2 selection.
With that said, Levis does bring a lot of intriguing qualities to the table. He has good size at 6'3" and 232 pounds, tremendous arm strength and experience in Kentucky's pro-style offense.
Levis isn't much of a running threat, but he had solid if unimpressive numbers with the Wildcats. This past season, the former Penn State transfer threw for 2,406 yards with 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
For Levis to be an early star, he'll need both the opportunity to play and an offense that plays to his strengths, which is the case for most quarterback prospects. Would Jalen Hurts have ascended as quickly with a franchise other than Philadelphia? Likely not.
"Levis will fit best in a McVay/Shanahan style system that allows him a smoother transition to the league from a mental standpoint," Derrik Klassen of the B/R Scouting Department wrote.
Landing with Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams would be an ideal situation for Levis. McVay's offense is predicated on receiver spacing and deploying the ball from the pocket. With the 35-year-old Matthew Stafford possibly nearing the end of his career, Los Angeles might offer Levis a chance to start within the next few seasons.
Devon Achane, RB, Texas A&M
2 of 8
Big Board Ranking: No. 39
Some of the NFL's biggest stars at running back—including Derrick Henry, Nick Chubb and Alvin Kamara—were Day 2 draft selections. Texas A&M running back Devon Achane has the potential to follow in their footsteps.
Achane is highly unlikely to enter the first-round conversation because of his undersized 5'9", 185-pound frame. However, he's a fast, shifty breakaway threat who can make plays in the running or the passing game.
"On film, there may not be a faster player in the class at any position," Derrik Klassen of the B/R Scouting Department wrote. "Achane plays with legit track speed in the open field and can hit his top gear at a moment's notice. When Achane gets a runway, he will outrun everyone else on the field without fail."
This past season, Archane logged a career-high 1,102 rushing yards, 196 receiving yards and 11 total touchdowns.
Home run hitters frequently become early NFL stars, and Archane would be tremendous in an offense that prioritizes the passing game and speed. The Kansas City Chiefs would be a great landing spot for him, especially with receiving back Jerick McKinnon headed into free agency.
McKinnon logged only 72 carries in the regular season this yeear, but he caught 56 passes for 512 yards and scored 10 total touchdowns. That's the sort of workload Archane could handle as a rookie, and his breakaway speed might make him a first-year sensation while he's doing it.
Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa
3 of 8
Big Board Ranking: No. 42
Everyone loves an offensive star, but defenders can enter the rookie spotlight as well. Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell has the pro-ready traits to become a notable defensive standout early in his career.
While Campbell is somewhat athletically limited and probably won't become a star pass-rusher or coverage specialist, the 6'5", 246-pound run-stuffer can be a force in the box.
"He could slide in the draft if teams are looking for a linebacker with more man-coverage skills," Matt Holder of the B/R Scouting Department wrote. "However, he could be a great Day 2 pick for a team seeking an impact run defender on the second level of its defense."
This past season, Campbell logged a team-high 125 tackles, 59 solo stops, two interceptions and 5.5 tackles for loss.
Given his skill set, Campbell would be best served by landing with a team that needs a quality run defender right away such as the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers ranked dead last in yards per carry allowed this season (5.4), and they could potentially lose linebacker Drue Tranquill—who led the team with 146 tackles this season—in free agency.
Landing with a team like the Chargers could give Campbell the opportunity to rack up triple-digit tackles. That might be enough to earn the former Hawkeyes standout serious consideration for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
.png?w=256)
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa
4 of 8
Big Board Ranking: No. 47
The 2023 draft class is shaping up to be deep at tight end. Three tight ends—Michael Mayer, Dalton Kincaid and Darnell Washington—are ranked inside of the B/R Scouting Department's top 35. All three of them could conceivably go on opening night.
Iowa tight end Sam LaPorta is much more likely to fall to the second or third round. He's a talented pass-catcher who logged 58 catches and 657 yards last season but is limited as an in-line blocker.
"LaPorta has the makings of a quality starting tight end in the NFL and being part of a more consistent unit should be a benefit to his overall ability to make an impact," Joe Marino of the Draft Network wrote.
LaPorta could enjoy an early emergence by landing somewhere with a strong passing game and established blocking tight ends. A team like the Cincinnati Bengals would be ideal.
The Bengals have solid utility tight ends in Devin Asiasi and Mitchell Wilcox, but they could lose receiving tight end Hayden Hurts in free agency. Hurst caught 52 passes for 414 yards and two touchdowns in the regular season, which might be LaPorta's statistical rookie floor.
While LaPorta would vie for targets with wideouts Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in Cincinnati, the Bengals' prolific passing attack could make the Iowa product a potential Pro Bowler by the end of his rookie contract.
Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina
5 of 8
Big Board Ranking: No. 54
North Carolina receiver Josh Downs will likely be pegged as a Day 2 talent because of his size (5'10", 175 pounds) and likely role as a slot specialist. However, he brings plenty of reliability and big-play ability to the table as well.
As a sophomore in 2021, Downs hauled in a career-high 101 catches for 1,335 yards and eight touchdowns. He finished this past season with 1,029 yards and a career-high 11 touchdowns on 94 receptions.
"Downs is a nifty slot receiver," Derrik Klassen of the B/R Scouting Department wrote. "Downs plays with above-average twitch and foot speed, a combination that allows him to win fairly consistently on slants, whip routes, square-ins and speed outs. Downs also has enough raw speed to threaten as a field-stretcher, both horizontally and vertically."
An offense that prioritizes timing and precision while looking to attack the middle of the field would be perfect for Downs. Think of the New England Patriots, who have long relied on tight ends and slot specialists like Wes Welker, Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman between the hash marks.
The Patriots recently hired Bill O'Brien as their offensive coordinator. O'Brien was New England's offensive coordinator in 2011, a year in which Welker was an All-Pro with 1,569 receiving yards and nine touchdowns on a league-leading 122 catches.
With a quarterback like Mac Jones—who was a rookie Pro Bowler in 2021—and an offense like New England's, Downs could have legitimate Offensive Rookie of the Year potential.
Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
6 of 8
Big Board Rank: No. 58
Georgia has won back-to-back national championships in part because it was loaded with defensive talent. Several Georgia products, including defensive lineman Jalen Carter, edge-rusher Nolan Smith and safety Christopher Smith, are likely to be first-round selections this year. However, cornerback Kelee Ringo looks more like a Day 2 pick
Ringo has the desired size for an NFL cornerback (6'2", 210 lbs), but he lacks the change-of-direction skills needed to thrive in man coverage. He also had limited splash plays in his two years as a starter, tallying only four interceptions and one forced fumble in 29 games.
However, Ringo could make an early impact in a zone-based defense where he can read the quarterback, move on the football and use his size to his advantage.
"Ringo looks to be a Day 1 starter that can protect deep thirds and funnel routes underneath and to the strength of the coverage. Only a two-year starter, he can improve the technical aspects of his game," Damian Parson of the Draft Network wrote.
The Philadelphia Eagles, who might lose a tremendous zone-coverage corner in James Bradberry in free agency, could help Ringo become an instant star. Defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon uses different coverage schemes, but his game plans are often zone-heavy.
The Eagles are also great at generating pressure—they had a league-high 70 sacks in the regular season—which can force quarterbacks to deliver the ball before their receivers are ready. This would give a big, physical corner like Ringo numerous opportunities to separate the receiver from the ball.
While Ringo might not be a lockdown man corner from Day 1, he can a star in the right role.
Noah Sewell, LB, Oregon
7 of 8
Big Board Ranking: No. 61
Like Jack Campbell, Oregon linebacker Noah Sewell has physical limitations that could keep him out of the first round. While he has good size (6'2", 253 lbs), he isn't the shiftiest or rangiest of defenders and isn't well-suited for pass coverage.
However, Sewell is a great run defender who can also disrupt passing lanes, pressure the quarterback and generate turnovers. Over the past two seasons, he logged 170 tackles, 5.5 sacks, nine passes defended, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.
Sewell can make an immediate impact as a two-down run defender who transitions to the edge on obvious passing downs.
"In the passing game, Sewell is much more effective when blitzing off the edge as he has excellent snap timing, anticipation and power to get home," Brentley Weissman of the Draft Network wrote.
Sewell's ability to rush off the edge could make him a great fit for a team like the Baltimore Ravens.
Baltimore has traditionally used a 3-4 base defense, but first-year coordinator Mike Macdonald used more of a hybrid front with dedicated rush linebackers coming on the line in passing situations. Justin Huston and Jason Pierre-Paul (12.5 combined sacks) helped fill the rush linebacker role in 2022, and both are scheduled to become free agents.
While linebackers drafted in the first round are typically expected to do everything well, Sewell is a Day 2 prospect who can do enough things at a high level to be an early NFL standout.
A.T. Perry, WR, Wake Forest
8 of 8
Big Board Ranking: No. 62
Wake Forest wide receiver A.T. Perry probably doesn't possess the elite speed needed to earn first-round consideration. If he tests poorly at the scouting combine, he could fall out of Day 2 as well.
However, Perry does have great size (6'5", 205 lbs), a wide catch radius and an ability to create separation. Those skills were on display during practices for the East-West Shrine Bowl.
"Perry showed off his entire skill set during the one-on-ones out in Las Vegas," Michael Renner of Pro Football Focus wrote. "His ability as a bigger receiver to separate down the field is something that everyone is looking for in the NFL, and it makes him a weapon at all three levels of the football field. He finished as the highest-graded receiver in attendance."
Perry, who caught 81 passes for 1,096 yards and 11 touchdowns this past season, projects as a great possession receiver with some downfield ability who will win most one-on-one matchups. He could become an early star for a team with a balanced offense and seeking size on the perimeter.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could be such a team. They had a similar receiver in 6'4" wideout Chase Claypool before trading him to the Chicago Bears ahead of this year's trade deadline. Pittsburgh has a knack for developing Day 2 pass-catchers and Claypool (873 receiving yards, 11 total touchdowns) was an instant rookie star for the Steelers in 2020.
Pittsburgh drafted another bigger receiver in 6'3" George Pickens this past season, and it had another rookie sensation on its hands. In Pittsburgh, Perry could be an immediate red-zone threat and understudy to Johnson, who will be a free agent in 2025.
College statistics from Sports Reference.
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
