Where Top 2023 NFL Draft Prospects Would Have Been Ranked in 2022 Position Groups
Comparison is inevitable leading up to the 2023 NFL draft, but those examinations aren't limited to this cycle.
Every prospect class is different. Some years are considered strong at wide receiver, for example, while others seem to lack a high-end talent. There is no standard set of top-, mid- and low-tier players; it all depends entirely on the latest wave of prospects.
In that case, how would our perceptions of 2023 prospects be viewed through last year's lens?
The list directly compares a player's grade from B/R's NFL Scouting Department relative to their position in the final rankings of 2022.
Quarterbacks
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Start off in style, right?
Not only would Ohio State's C.J. Stroud (8.6) be the highest-rated quarterback, Florida's Anthony Richardson (8.5) would be second. Last year's class featured Cincinnati product Desmond Ridder (8.4) at the top.
From an overall perspective, Stroud (sixth) and Richardson (seventh) are a fair bit higher than Ridder (17th).
Alabama's Bryce Young (16th) is also slightly above Ridder despite a lower prospect rating (8.2).
Rounding out the list, Kentucky's Will Levis (7.9) would've slotted in as the second-best prospect in 2022. However, he noticeably trails Stroud, Richardson and Young this year.
Bijan Robinson, RB
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If you follow draft coverage even remotely closely, you know Bijan Robinson sits on a tier of his own.
Robinson offers a rare blend of versatility and explosiveness for a running back. In three seasons at Texas, he rushed for 3,410 yards at 6.3 per carry, reeled in 60 passes for 805 yards and totaled 41 touchdowns.
Subsequently, it's no surprise B/R graded him at 9.0—well ahead of Alabama's Jahmyr Gibbs (7.7), the No. 2 back in 2023.
Not only is Robinson the fourth-best prospect in this class, but he would also've matched Alabama's Evan Neal for the second-highest rating last cycle.
Wide Receivers
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Six teams picked a wide receiver during the opening round of the 2022 NFL draft. All six players—led by USC's Drake London (8.9) and Ohio State's Chris Olave (8.7)—held a rating of 8.1 or higher from B/R, and a total of 11 prospects checked in with at least a 7.6 mark.
The position isn't as stacked in 2023.
Leading the group, TCU's Quentin Johnston (8.4) and OSU's Jaxon Smith-Njigba (8.3) would've been top-five and top-seven prospects last year, depending on tiebreakers.
USC's Jordan Addison (7.9), an expected first-round selection in 2023, would have matched Georgia's George Pickens and Clemson's Justyn Ross on the grading scale.
Boston College's Zay Flowers (7.5) is the fourth-best prospect but is 16th when combining the 2022 and 2023 classes.
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Michael Mayer, TE
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While the receiver class is down compared to 2022, the 2023 crop of tight ends is absolutely loaded.
Take it away, Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach!
Last year, Ohio State's Jeremy Ruckert (7.6) topped the chart. This cycle, however, boasts an elite prospect in Notre Dame's Michael Mayer (8.7)—who B/R's scouting crew ranked fifth overall, as well—with several other well-regarded players at the position.
Georgia's Darnell Washington (7.8) and Utah's Dalton Kincaid (7.8) both would have surpassed Ruckert, while Oregon State's Luke Musgrave (7.6) carries an identical grade.
The first tight end drafted in 2022 was Colorado State's Trey McBride at 55th overall. Mayer, Washington and Kincaid might all be picked before that selection in 2023.
Peter Skoronski, IOL
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The most impressive part of Peter Skoronski's scouting report is how favorably he compares to the rest of his position.
B/R's scouts identified five superlatives for interior offensive linemen in the 2023 class: best run-blocker, best pass-blocker, best zone-blocker, most pro-ready and most versatile.
Skoronski is the choice in all five categories.
Looking back to 2022, Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum (8.6) earned a higher rating than Skoronski (8.4). But if the Northwestern star follows in his fellow Big Ten product's footsteps, he'll be an immediate impact player.
TCU's Steve Avila (7.6) is second to Skoronski in 2023.
Jalen Carter, DL
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Georgia star Jalen Carter is the last of four 2023 prospects who deserve their own category.
Carter is a perfect example of the "what could've been" storyline; last season, Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux (9.2) earned the highest rating in the class. Carter (9.5) would have easily stood out at No. 1 overall in 2022, but he trails a certain Alabama edge-rusher in 2023.
Tough luck, you know?
Carter, nevertheless, headlines the list of defensive linemen this cycle—and has bragging rights over a former UGA teammate. Jordan Davis received an 8.9 last year.
Also of note, Clemson's Bryan Bresee (8.3) would have only trailed Davis in the 2022 class.
Edge-Rushers
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Speaking of that Alabama edge-rusher...
Will Anderson Jr. is the jewel of the 2023 cycle, holding a 9.6 rating and standing atop the overall ranking. Anderson would have commanded the same spotlight over Thibodeaux in 2022.
Given that Anderson accrued 58.5 tackles for loss with 34.5 sacks, his billing is no surprise.
Perhaps the more interesting grade belongs to Clemson's Myles Murphy (9.1), who would've only narrowly trailed Thibodeaux. Murphy would also inch up from the No. 3 prospect in 2023 to No. 2 last year.
Georgia's Nolan Smith (8.3) would have ranked no higher than fourth at the position or 19th overall in 2022. This cycle, however, he is third and 12th, respectively.
Cornerbacks
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When you poke around mock drafts, you'll probably see a few cornerbacks picked early in the opening round. B/R's scouting panel has three in the first 14 picks, for example.
But they all would have trailed LSU's Derek Stingley Jr. (8.9) and Cincinnati's Ahmad Gardner (8.6) in 2022.
The positive note is the 2023 standouts—Illinois' Devon Witherspoon (8.5), Penn State's Joey Porter Jr. (8.4) and Oregon's Christian Gonzalez (8.3)—are all quality prospects. Each one holds a top-15 ranking in this cycle and would've hovered in the top-20 range last year.
Throw in Utah's Clark Phillips III (7.9), and the 2023 class includes four cornerbacks with top-31 (first-round) ratings.
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