Best Landing Spots for 2023 NFL Draft's Most Polarizing Prospects
As the NFL draft draws closer by the day, there are some positions where the draftnik community is gathered neatly in a row, nodding as one. Everyone agrees that Bijan Robinson of Texas is the No. 1 running back prospect in this class. Just about everyone also believes that Alabama's Will Anderson Jr. is the best edge-rusher available.
But they don't agree all the time. Oh, no. In fact, with some players, things are split right down the middle. One group is sure those prospects are stars in the making. The other is equally certain those same players' limitations will eventually relegate them to the annals of bust-dom.
Of course, talent isn't the only consideration. Landing spots matter—a lot. For some, it's important they play in a scheme that accentuates what they do well while masking what they do not. For others, it's a matter of having time to develop and acclimate to the NFL. Or to have a strong supporting cast that will help mitigate the pressure early on.
For every polarizing prospect, there's an ideal landing spot or three—teams that offer an increased chance for success.
Now it's just a matter of hoping those players and the right team come together.
Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
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Most folks consider quarterback the most important position in the NFL. So the most polarizing player at the position has to be mentioned off the jump.
That player is Anthony Richardson of Florida.
Richardson's supporters point to his 6'4", 244-pound frame, 4.43 speed and rocket right arm and see Josh Allen meets Lamar Jackson. Detractors point to a completion percentage south of 55 in college and see Kyle Boller meets Jake Locker.
Both sides may be right. Richardson's physical gifts are undeniable. But so is the fact that he's raw as a prospect. He's not a quarterback who will be ready to start right away. And his future prospects hinge largely on landing with a team that can afford to be patient with him.
Ideal Landing Spots
Detroit Lions: In Jared Goff, the Lions have a solid starter under center. But he's not a difference-maker, and he carries a cap hit north of $30 million in each of the next two years. The Lions could save more than $26 million by releasing or trading Goff a year from now.
Las Vegas Raiders: The Raiders signed Jimmy Garoppolo as a short-term solution under center, but he's a 31-year-old on his third team and has a lengthy injury history. However, he's also a consummate pro who has already shown he can be a grownup about a team drafting his successor.
Seattle Seahawks: This one isn't especially likely after the Seahawks re-upped Geno Smith for three years in the offseason, but there are outs for the team in each of the next two years. The Seahawks have plenty of offensive weaponry, and there would be no huge rush to get Richardson on the field.
Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama
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There is zero doubt that Bijan Robinson of Texas is the top running back in the 2023 class. But behind Robinson, opinions diverge as to who the No. 2 prospect is.
For the B/R NFL Draft Scouting Department, that second-ranked back is Jahmyr Gibbs of Alabama. But as Derrik Klassen wrote, Gibbs' best bet in the NFL is a team that can maximize his abilities in space while avoiding asking him to do too much banging away between the tackles.
"Gibbs' incompleteness may be frustrating at times, but the athletic traits are worth betting on," he said. "Players with his burst and top-end speed can be game-changers under the right conditions. Gibbs would be best served in a system that runs outside zone, pin-pull and counter frequently to maximize his ability in space and on the perimeter."
Ideal Landing Spots
Buffalo Bills: The Bills have a power back in Damien Harris, and while James Cook flashed at times as a rookie, he didn't play well enough to preclude Buffalo from taking a look at Gibbs as the lightning to Harris' thunder. Gibbs wouldn't see many stacked fronts in Buffalo's loaded offense either.
Los Angeles Chargers: This fit almost makes too much sense to happen. Austin Ekeler has requested a trade, and if the Chargers can find a taker during the draft, they could then spend a Day 2 pick on Gibbs, who has a similar skill set as Ekeler.
Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles lost Miles Sanders in free agency, and while Rashaad Penny was brought in to bolster the backfield, his injury history makes adding more players at the position wise. Philly is also a team that relies more on stretch plays and tosses than banging away up the gut.
Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
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Some position groups in the 2023 draft are stacked with talent. But after years of loaded classes at wide receiver, this year's crop at the position isn't one of them.
There's no consensus prospect at the position this year, but Bleacher Report gave the top spot to TCU's Quentin Johnston after the 6'3", 208-pounder caught 60 passes and topped 1,000 yards at TCU in 2022.
However, while B/R views Johnston as a potential WR1 in the pros, Bucky Brooks of NFL.com has his doubts.
"Johnston's suspect hands and ball skills make it hard to pencil him in as a potential WR1 in the NFL," he said. "Despite boasting the kind of size that's rare in this class at 6'3", scouts are more concerned with his 11.8 percent drop rate, per Pro Football Focus. That dismal figure is a huge red flag for a prospect many have mocked in the first round."
Ideal Landing Spots
Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens have already upgraded the receiver room with the addition of Odell Beckham Jr. But Baltimore needs to keep adding passing-game weapons. Beckham would help take pressure off Johnston early in his career, and the two would form a formidable duo on the outside.
Los Angeles Chargers: The Chargers already have a solid one-two punch at wide receiver in Mike Williams and Keenan Allen. But the soon-to-be 31-year-old Allen isn't getting any younger, and Williams has struggled to stay healthy. Adding Johnston to that mix would give L.A. an impressive trio of wide receivers.
Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings might not view wide receiver as a high priority in the draft. But Adam Thielen is gone, and K.J. Osborn hasn't yet shown he can be an every-week contributor. Playing opposite Justin Jefferson would allow Johnston to face single coverage for most of his rookie year.
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Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee
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While the scouts at Bleacher Report are higher on Quentin Johnston than some, they are lower than most on Tennessee's Jalin Hyatt. There have been mock drafts in which the 2022 Biletnikoff Award winner is a first-round pick. But on the latest big board here at B/R, Hyatt isn't among the top 10 wide receivers.
For Klassen, it's a matter of Hyatt's limited route tree and skill set.
"Hyatt's speed alone [4.40 40-yard dash] will make him useful out of the gate," he said. "He should immediately be an effective downfield threat and a useful field-stretching decoy at worst. However, Hyatt's middling route-running skills and difficult transition from Tennessee's offense to the NFL could make for a bumpy start while he tries to find another pitch beside his fastball."
Early success will hinge largely on a fit where Hyatt can just do what he does best as he develops: run past people.
IDEAL LANDING SPOTS
Green Bay Packers: With Aaron Rodgers likely moving on, the Packers need to make an effort to put Jordan Love in good position to succeed as the team's new leader on offense. Hyatt and Christian Watson would give the Packers two young wideouts with potentially stratospheric ceilings.
Kansas City Chiefs: It's not a stretch to say that the Chiefs are an ideal landing spot for every wideout in the class. Something to do with their quarterback, I suppose. But Kansas City does have a need at wide receiver, and Patrick Mahomes has the arm to take full advantage of Hyatt's blazing speed.
New Orleans Saints: This has less to do with playing with Derek Carr than it does with Saints wide receivers coach Kodi Burns, who held the same position with Tennessee in 2021. A familiar face can only help Hyatt as he acclimates to the pros.
Calijah Kancey, DL, Pitt
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First off, can we please stop comparing Calijah Kancey to Aaron Donald? Talk about putting undue pressure on a kid. Yes, like Donald, Kancey is an explosive yet undersized 3-technique tackle. Yes, like Donald, Kancey played collegiately at Pittsburgh.
But Donald was on another level entering the NFL. That isn't to say that Kancey isn't talented. Or that he won't be a first-round pick. But as B/R's Matt Holder wrote, Kancey's lack of size (6'1", 281 lbs) and length makes him a tricky fit in the league.
"Size-wise," Holder said, "the Panther profiles best as an even-front defensive end, but that would be a different spot than what he played in college, and he still doesn't have the desired length to play in that role. The team that selects him will be looking for an interior pass-rusher who might develop into a three-down player with more time in the weight room. But again, that team will be betting on a big outlier."
Ideal Landing Spots
Dallas Cowboys: Osa Odighizuwa and Neville Gallimore were OK for the Cowboys inside last year, but they weren't especially disruptive or consistent. If the Cowboys are going to close ground on the Eagles in the NFC East, they need to do a better job of winning at the point of attack.
New York Jets: The Jets need to improve the middle of the defense, and playing opposite Quinnen Williams is a sure way to keep double-teams off Kancey. If you believe in Kancey's explosiveness, he and Williams could be a nightmare for opposing offenses.
Philadelphia Eagles: If you've paid any attention to Eagles general manager Howie Roseman, then you know he absolutely loves adding pieces in the trenches. Kancey could play a rotational role as a rookie behind Fletcher Cox before stepping into the starting lineup opposite Jordan Davis in 2024.
Bryan Bresee, DL, Clemson
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From a physical standpoint, Clemson's Bryan Bresee appears to have what it takes. The 6'5 ½", 298-pounder is Bleacher Report's second-ranked interior lineman, trailing only Georgia's Jalen Carter. Per Holder, Bresee has what he needs to be a successful lineman in the NFL.
"Bresee does have the rare combination of size, strength and athleticism to suggest he'll be better and more productive as a pro," he said. "He's strong enough to hold up against the run and nimble enough to create havoc as a pass-rusher. It's just a matter of staying healthy and how long it will take him to make the transition."
However, Bresee's collegiate career was something of a disappointment, largely because of injuries. How much those injuries have sapped his athleticism and stunted his development are both legitimate concerns for the team considering an early investment in the big man.
Ideal Landing Spots
Detroit Lions: The Lions were a hot mess defensively last year, in no small part because the middle of the defense was tissue-soft. Bresee could make an immediate impact against the run in Motown, and he and edge-rusher Aidan Hutchinson could combine for a great inside-outside duo.
Minnesota Vikings: Now that Brian Flores is the new defensive coordinator in Minnesota, the Vikings will likely run more hybrid fronts. Bresee could be a big help in that regard. He has the length and quickness to play the 5-tech end spot in three-man fronts and the strength and power to kick inside in sub-packages.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Cameron Heyward has been a mainstay on the Steelers defense for over a decade, but at 33, he's nearing the end of a phenomenal career. Pittsburgh could use Bresee rotationally as a rookie behind Heyward and Larry Ogunjobi while grooming him for a full-time role in 2024.
Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia
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Of all the edge-rushers in this year's deep class at the position, none helped himself more at the NFL Scouting Combine than Georgia's Nolan Smith.
That tends to happen when an edge-rusher peels off a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at 6'2", 238 pounds.
Of course, that weight is part of the problem. Since Smith is less than 240 pounds, most teams that play a lot of four-man fronts with ends in three-point stances are going to view him as too small. Sure, they could add 20 pounds to his frame in the weight room, but that could adversely impact his explosiveness.
That's why Holder sees Smith's most likely fit in the pros as a stand-up pass-rusher in three-man fronts.
"He could play as a stand-up outside linebacker on odd fronts too," Holder said. "That's closer to how he was used in college, but he wasn't the best in coverage, which could be an issue in that scheme at the next level. That being said, he does have good athleticism to flush that part of his game out."
Ideal Landing Spots
Atlanta Falcons: The Falcons added Kaden Elliss and Alvin Dupree in free agency, but the team needs to continue bolstering a pass rush that managed just 21 sacks last year (second-fewest in the league). With Elliss and Dupree in the fold, Atlanta also wouldn't have to rush Smith into a major role early in his rookie year.
Los Angeles Chargers: The Chargers have a pair of expensive veteran edge-rushers in Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack, but with quarterback Justin Herbert's extension looming, it may be time to start considering younger, cheaper options. After a year as an understudy behind Mack and Bosa, Smith should be ready to take over one of those spots.
Philadelphia Eagles: About the only thing that GM Howie Roseman likes better than improving in the trenches is adding more pass-rushers. The Eagles just employed an undersized edge-rusher with great success last year in Haason Reddick (6'1", 240 lbs), who could be a great mentor of sorts for Smith.
Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
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The 2023 draft is loaded at cornerback—so much so that a key contributor to Georgia's back-to-back national championship teams has been relegated to Day 2 status.
Of course, the depth of the class isn't the only reason why Kelee Ringo is widely regarded as a Day 2 pick. There's a lot to like about him physically. He's a big-bodied corner (6'2", 207 lbs) with 4.36-second speed who showed decent ball skills in college.
But there's a problem—a fairly big one.
Ringo may have all of the physical tools, but his technique is a work in progress. He can be stiff in and out of breaks and slow to read how a play is developing. And he struggled so much in man coverage that one NFL defensive backs coach told ESPN's Matt Miller that he thinks Ringo may have to move to safety.
"I almost think you move him to free safety if you run a man defense," he said. "It's that bad."
That coach wasn't alone in that assessment either.
"He's probably safely a Round 2 guy, but I think he has to play in Cover 3 or make a position change," an AFC area scout said.
Ideal Landing Spots
Indianapolis Colts: After getting rid of Stephon Gilmore in the offseason, the Colts badly need to add both quality and quantity at the cornerback spot. It would mean being thrown into the deep end, but learning by doing could accelerate Ringo's development.
New England Patriots: The Patriots have long run a lot of Cover 3, and head coach Bill Belichick has a long history of developing young cornerbacks into difference-makers. Were Ringo to make the change to deep safety, there would be no better place for such a transition.
San Francisco 49ers: The Niners are a good from a schematic perspective, and while San Francisco isn't exactly loaded at the cornerback position, it is stable enough at that spot that Ringo wouldn't necessarily have to start early in the season.
Ji'Ayir Brown, S, Penn State
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For many of the polarizing prospects in this piece, the question is whether considerable potential can overcome limited production. In the case of Ji'Ayir Brown of Penn State, it's the opposite.
Brown was an impact player for the Nittany Lions, a ball-hawking safety who played all over the formation who amassed 10 interceptions over the last two seasons. But a dismal showing at the combine that included a 4.65-second 40-yard-dash demonstrated a lack of plus athleticism.
B/R NFL scout Cory Giddings believes that lack of athleticism leaves Brown as a Day 3 pick and more depth piece than defensive starter.
"While Brown cannot fully capitalize on his instincts due to his lack of overall speed and athleticism, he has experience at a multitude of spots and will provide valuable depth to an NFL team," he said. "His overall upside as a player may be capped by his lack of a true position and athletic profile, but his understanding of the game and ability to fill multiple spots should please most coordinators."
Ideal Landing Spots
Cleveland Browns: The Browns brought in free agent Juan Thornhill as an upgrade at deep safety, but Grant Delpit is headed into the final year of his rookie deal after three so-so seasons. Brown could be an inexpensive replacement for a team short on draft capital.
Los Angeles Rams: The Rams lost a dizzying number of players this year, and while they have 11 picks, only three are inside of the top 150. Given the sad state of L.A.'s depth chart at safety behind Jordan Fuller, there's a real chance Brown would start as a rookie.
New England Patriots: The only thing Bill Belichick loves more that finding Day 3 (or even UDFA) gems in the defensive backfield is players capable of manning multiple spots and contributing on special teams. New England would be a great place for Brown to learn how to offset his lack of speed by playing smart.
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