2023 Draft Positional Rankings

We are officially within striking distance of my favorite day of the year and I’ve been well behind my normal slate of content. My guys, 4 different mocks, 3 steelers specific ones, positional rankings, diamonds…all of this shit is going to most likely come over the next week as I just genuinely want to enjoy the draft before it pasts.

Positional rankings are a bit of a dart throw into the abyss at this point since some of the top 5 guys are some what cement, but there are a few key callouts I wanted to blog about before hitting publish. Keep in mind, this is my positional ranking for the next level as opposed to where these guys are talent level right this very second. If I was doing talent level, Hendon Hooker would be my third QB for example.

Quarterbacks

First off, I wanted to put Hendon Hooker above Will Levis but as I mentioned this is about my rankings of where I think their talent level will be. I adore Hooker but not many teams are banging down the door for a 25-year-old torn acl survivor, meaning that he will probably land in a pretty favorable spot (CC Jalen Hurts?).

1. Bryce Young – Alabama
2. C.J. Stroud – Ohio State
3. Will Levis – Kentucky
4. Anthony Richardson – Florida
5. Hendon Hooker – Tennessee

Running Backs

A lot of people (rightfully so) have Charbonnet as the RB3 here but man, Devon Achane’s tape has blown me away. Although it isn’t a far drop from 3 to 4, I do think all three of the guys I have after the top two are Dynasty gems to target. Spears was the best back in Mobile and turned a ton of heads, so it’ll be interesting ultimately how these backs pan out.

1. Bijan Robinson – Texas
2. Jahmyr Gibbs – Alabama
3. Devon Achane – Texas A&M
4. Zach Charbonnet – UCLA
5. Tyjae Spears – Tulane

Wide Receivers

Wide Receivers is a weird one considering the wild range of the JSN love. I was hard pressed to not slot in Zay Flowers as my true WR1 and be done with it but I have to respect the peak of JSN’s talent at Ohio State. I also am falling in LOVE with Cedric Tillman. Hyatt was the beneficiary of Tillman’s injury last season but keep in mind Hyatt was always their WR2. I also am starting to turn toward the truth that is Josh Downs and am in love with a few late round guys like Perry and Washington.

1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba – Ohio State
2. Zay Flowers – Boston College
3. Cedric Tillman – Tennessee
4. Jordan Addison – Pitt
5. Jalin Hyatt – Tennessee

Tight End

Many people will have Dalton Kincaid at TE1 due to his offensive talent, but the most notable switch up here is Benton Strange from Penn State. If you know me, you know my obsession with talent at the TE level which is most of the time misplaced into folk tales of integral offensive pieces that almost never works out but I love the upside of Strange. He will have to earn his time on the roster and feels a bit more like a Tommy Tremble than Dawson Knox but I do love me some upside.

1. Michael Mayer – Notre Dame
2. Dalton Kincaid – Utah
3. Darnell Washington – Georgia
4. Brenton Strange – Penn State
5. Luke Musgrave – Oregon State

Offensive Tackle

The one note here is where the team that drafts Skoronski plays him. If he’s a tackle, Skoronski is an All-Pro tackle. If he’s a guard, he’s an All-Pro guard. If he’s a center…you get the trend here. I love this guy and have him as my best overall offensive lineman so wherever they play him, he’s probably the best.

1. Peter Skoronski (barring guard move) – Northwestern
2. Paris Johnson Jr. – Ohio State
3. Broderick Jones – Georgia
4. Darnell Wright – Tennessee
5. Anton Harrison – Oklahoma

Interior Offensive Line

I mentioned to Greg in our TFTB Draft group chat that I recently made the switch from Torrence to Avila as the draft’s best guard. I may be getting cute but Torrence’s slide has got me thinking about his playstyle and how limited some teams may view him. Vorhees is also an interesting guy that I love is he can come back from his injury well.

1. Steve Avila – TCU
2. O’Cyrus Torrence – Florida
3. Emil Ekiyor Jr. – Alabama
4. Andrew Vorhees – USC
5. Braeden Daniels – Utah

Center

The top 4 guys at center shouldn’t shock people, but I am calling my shot here ranking North Dakota State’s Cody Mauch as a center. Mauch is a converted Tight End who found success in college but his shorter arms and tiny widdle hands just make him a no-brainer slide in to the Center position.

1. John Michael Schmitz – Minnesota
2. Joe Tippmann – Wisconsin
3. Luke Wypler – Ohio State
4. Ricky Stromberg – Arkansas
5. Cody Mauch (calling my shot) – North Dakota State

Defensive Tackle

Shouldn’t be any surprises here except maybe Keeanu Benton at the 5 spot.

1. Jalen Carter – Georgia
2. Calijah Kancey – Pitt
3. Bryan Breese – Clemson
4. Mazi Smith – Michigan
5. Keeanu Benton – Wisconsin

Defensive Edge

Don’t stress, Will Anderson is in the OLB category. A lot of people rave about Tyree Wilson this year and for good reason, but he feels more like an athlete than a true NFL DE. His tape at Tech was physically impressive, but he looks to get lost on some plays and that could punish him at the next level.

1. Lukas Van Ness – Iowa
2. Tyree Wilson – Texas Tech
3. Myles Murphy – Clemson
4. Felix Anudike-Uzomah – Kansas State
5. Keion White – Georgia Tech

Outside Line Backer

These top three are cement at this point. No notes.

1. Will Anderson Jr. – Alabama
2. Nolan Smith – Georgia
3. Will McDonald IV – Iowa State
4. BJ Ojulari – LSU
5. Derick Hall – Auburn

Inside Line Backer

Man, I love Drew Sanders. I think Trenton Simpson is getting a large lack of love due to his positional freedom at Clemson and the scary bust-ability of Isaiah Simmons but we can’t deny he’s a terrific ILB. I love this class and from Sanders to Campbell, three teams are going to be VERY happy with their selections.

1. Drew Sanders – Arkansas
2. Trenton Simpson – Clemson
3. Jack Campbell – Iowa
4. Henry To’o To’o – Alabama
5. Ivan Pace Jr. – Cincinnati

Corner Back

A contradicting take to my rankings, but Witherspoon will be drafted ahead of Gonzalez. I love both of these corners and honestly, this is as deep a corner class as I can remember. Guys like Cam Smith, Kelee Ringo, Julius Brents and D.J. Turner are still available after the top five and if the Steelers can snag any of them I’d feel confident in our secondary once again.

1. Christian Gonzalez – Oregon
2. Devon Witherspoon – Illinois
3. Joey Porter Jr – Penn State
4. Emmanual Forbes – Mississippi State
5. Deonte Banks – Maryland

Safety

Speaking of the Steelers, we also need one of these guys. Safety is going to be a weird one to rank but it will always start with Brian Branch from Alabama. I still believe in the original hype around Antonio Johnson, but Ji’Ayir Brown and Jordan Battle are talented players who should be done at the end of day two.

1. Brian Branch – Alabama
2. Antonio Johnson – Texas A&M
3. Ji’Ayir Brown – Penn State
4. Jordan Battle – Alabama
5. Sydney Brown – Illinois