2023 NFL Draft Big Board: Top 5 players at each position

2023 NFL Draft Big Board with Top 5 positional rankings at every position to see which players your team should target early. 

The 2023 NFL Draft is only one month away, so now is a good time to reexamine this year’s draft class.

This year’s draft class is deep at several positions. Running back, wide receiver, offensive tackle, and cornerback all feature high-end talent and extensive depth. This is also the best tight end class in recent memory.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at the top five players at each position in this 2023 NFL Draft Big Board (excluding kickers and punters).

Note: This is a 2023 NFL Draft big board with personal rankings for each position, not a mock draft. 

Table of Contents

2023 NFL Draft Big Board: Quarterbacks

On paper, it’s hard to dispute Young’s resume. During his college career, he threw for 8,352 yards, 80 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. His production did not waver against top-level competition, either. In October, he lit up No. 6 Tennessee for 455 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions. For the season, he threw for 14 touchdowns and two interceptions against ranked opponents.

There are still concerns here. Alabama has a mixed history with first-round quarterbacks. Mac Jones has been up and down, and Tua Tagovailoa may be the most divisive quarterback to evaluate in the NFL.

There is also the height controversy, but those concerns are overblown. At the NFL combine, he was measured at 5-foot-10 and 1/8, which makes him exactly the same height as Kyler Murray.

If you are looking for a superstar, Richardson is your guy. Physically, he has got everything: speed, size, arm strength…

Unsurprisingly, he lit up the NFL combine and drew comparisons to Cam Newton in the process.

He was the quarterback class’s top performer in the 40-yard dash (4.43 seconds), broad jump (10-foot-9), and vertical jump (40.5 inches).

At his ceiling, Richardson has the potential to be a dynamic dual-threat quarterback. He can hit receivers deep down the sideline and collect first downs with his speed in the open field. Given his skillset, the Newton comparison makes sense. However, Newton was far more successful in college; he was a Heisman winner and National Champion.

Right now, Richardson is still very raw. Last season, he completed 53.8 percent of his passes for 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions. The Gators finished with a 6-7 record and had the 57th-ranked scoring offense in the FBS.

Richardson will need some time to develop. He is not the best decision-maker, and his accuracy can be inconsistent.

Richardson feels like a boom-or-bust prospect. Still, he has the highest ceiling in the draft. The question is who will be bold enough to take a swing on him?

Stroud may be the first quarterback off the board, and it’s understandable. Over the last two seasons, he threw for 85 touchdowns and 12 interceptions at Ohio State. At 6-foot-4, he has ideal size, as well.

Stroud’s consistency and game management are impressive for a 21-year-old quarterback.

For teams concerned about Young’s size and Henderson’s floor, Stroud is the logical choice.

Hooker has size, athleticism, awareness, discernment, and arm strength. However, there are two big problems:

1. He’s coming off an ACL injury.
2. He’s 25 years old.

Those two factors will rightfully affect his draft stock, but he would be a solid selection for a quarterback-needy team on Day 2.

Levis falls into a familiar draft archetype for me. Physically, he checks all the boxes. He’s 6-foot-4. He has great arm strength. On the other hand, he is inconsistent, and his college numbers are not eye-popping. There are also real questions about his decision-making.

Developmental quarterbacks that check all these boxes tend to follow a boom-or-bust pattern (Mitchell Trubisky, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen).

Levis certainly has the raw talent to be successful in the NFL, but in the first round, I’m wary. Young, Stroud, and Hooker offer higher floors. Meanwhile, Richardson is a once-in-a-generation athlete, and his speed gives him both a higher floor and ceiling than Levis.

If Levis was a Day 2 pick, it would be a different conversation.

Honorable mentions: Tyson Bagent, Stetson Bennett, Clayton Tune

Wide Receivers | Tight Ends | Offensive Tackles | Interior Offensive Linemen | Defensive Tackles | EDGE Rushers | Linebackers | Cornerbacks | Safeties