Category: 2023 Player Profiles

STRENGTHS
Bijan is a complete running back with all the skills and high football IQ to become a franchise back for the team that selects him. He is one of the best pass-blocking running backs I have ever seen coming out in a draft. Bijan is a pure running back with excellent receiving skills to make an athletic catch or a contested catch like a receiver down the field. He is a strong running back who can gain yards by breaking tackles at the line of scrimmage. He shows good vision in the open field and because of his strength is difficult for defensive backs to bring down without help. Because he is so smart reading the blitz his blocking skills to protect his quarterback will bring the deep ball back to a team’s offense. Bijan is everything you look for in a franchise running back, good speed, quick feet, excellent lateral explosion, vision to make players miss, pass-blocking skills, high football IQ, and the ability to catch the ball in any situation. He is as good as Jonathan Tylor and Saquon Barkley when they both came out.

CONCERNS
What do I say when you see the obvious…you don’t nit-pick it to death you just draft the obvious. I will say this, if Bijan does get injured his talent will be hard to replace because he can do everything, run, block, catch the ball and be a workhorse back if that’s what you need. That’s not a reason to not select him early in this draft, it is every reason TO draft him early.

BOTTOM LINE: 1.47
There is a need for Running Backs to be a lot different in this new passing-happy offense of the NFL. Some teams realize it and are starting to use RBs all over their offense instead of just in the backfield. I tried explaining this when Derrick Henry came out. He has talent way beyond just using him as a smash-mouth running back. But, no one listens to me then, low and behold, WR Deebo Samuel, and WR Cordarrelle Patterson both with RB-like bodies, come along and teams start to figure it out and the worm starts to turn. Now teams are looking for bulkier receivers and slimmed-down running backs who have the leg strength to be used in the backfield as well as the high football IQ to run routes and gain yardage after the catch. Add to that a running back who knows how to pick up the blitz and now a team that has been dinking and dunking down the field can start to go vertical with play action and that opens up the playbook to any style of offensive system “during” a game. Multi-talented/Position players are worth their weight in gold because they open up your offense on third and long to any play in your offense game plan and Bijan is just that, a multi-talented/Position player.

STRENGTHS
Jahmyr has that quick twitch athletic talent, along with excellent vision to make yardage when there is no yardage to be made. He reminds me a lot of former Eagles/Bills RB LeSean McCoy and Christian McCaffery. Jahmyr has those quick feet that make it easy to change direction in a box and that helps him big time when he runs between the tackles. He has the speed to take the ball all the way, outrunning most defensive backs or breaking their tackles with speed, quickness, and vision in the open field and that makes him one of the most explosive offensive players in this draft. Jahmyr is the new hybrid “Receiver/Back” that teams will start using more and more of in the NFL.

CONCERNS
Jahmyr is not a great pass blocker but truthfully a player like this you don’t stick him in the backfield to pass block. Jahmyr has that type of speed to be an explosive impact player so asking him to pass block in the backfield is not a good use of his talents.

BOTTOM LINE: 1.61
There is this stupid thought process out there that you can get a running back at any point in the draft so don’t bother to select one in the first round. Most of this is based on some sort of media “thought-provoking” nonsense. To me, that’s just crap. First-round talent is first-round talent and the only reason you can get a running back in any round is because of the value of the position and the need is not there in the first round. I understand the value of positions…Rob and I brought that to your attention in 2006 by developing the two-board system but…I will never accept for a minute, that you pass on selecting a talented player at any position because you THINK you can find one later in the draft with equal talent. You pass on that talented player because you have more of a need at a different position or in your evaluation you don’t agree with others about that RB’s character, talent, or projection to impact. Trust me, teams are not passing on 1st round-talented RB’s because they think they can find a better one or equally talented one later in the draft. That’s like suggesting you pass on selecting a WR in the 1st round because you can get one at any point later in the draft. Do you want to know the true deciding factors for not selecting a RB in the first round of a draft? The lack of blazing speed, ability to pass block, and nowadays, if they struggle catching the ball out of the backfield. If a RB isn’t proficient in those three areas then they most likely will not get selected in the first round no matter how many yards they have gained at the college level. Of course, that doesn’t mean that they don’t have 1st RD talent in other skills like running the ball, and that’s why you can find a RB later in the draft because most of them can run the ball.

STRENGTHS
DeMarvion is the new “cover hybrid linebacker safety” with the athletic skills of a receiver. He is also a good tackler and has the instincts, and high football IQ to make plays all over the field. DeMarvion shows the leadership skills and communication talent to be a leader for your defense. He shows the burst to the ball, the chase-down speed, and the quickness needed to be a playmaker. DeMarvion has the wing span of an Albatross and that makes him very disruptive in coverage and when using him blitzing or on the line of scrimmage as a pass rusher. He’s a 6’4” quick-twitch athlete, who can play multiple positions on your defense and is a playmaker. The Albatross is coming to the NFL in the form of DeMarvion Overshown.

CONCERNS
DeMarvion right now is not a great pass rusher when used coming off the edge. He lacks the hand techniques and ability to shed blocks and strength to hold the edge. Nevertheless, his speed and quickness along with his long arms and long stride will scare the crap out of most quarterbacks into making bad decisions. Because of DeMarvion’s long Albatross-like arms and lack of techniques he struggles to get off blocks and make tackles. Once again DeMarvion is an excellent open-field tackler and in a defense that keeps him free to make tackles, he will impact.

BOTTOM LINE: 1.47
The truth is, DeMarvion is a hell of a football player and that is all you really need to know about him. He reminds me a lot of the Charges Derwin James, who I consider one of the top five players in the 2018 draft and everyone told me I was crazy. Derwin was the 17th pick in that draft and I wonder if DeMarvion will go that high because he is listed as a linebacker and unless a team uses a 4/2/5 defense, I’m not sure Coaches will see how DeMarvion fits into their schemes and this could affect his draft status. I don’t worry about schemes when it comes to the draft unless I think a player is limited to a scheme to impact. DeMarvion is not limited to a scheme to impact. He is a multi-scheme, multi-position player who can impact and help run your defense on the field. The real question is, how will the team that selects him use him? For me, the answer to that question is…all over the dam field in a different spot on every down and distance.

STRENGTHS
Peter is a big offensive lineman who has played Left Tackle for his college team. He shows on film (in some games) solid athletic talent to play offensive line at the next level. When he uses his quickness off the snap of the ball Peter moves very well. He has the ability to pull, go out to the second level and make blocks, and be used on sweeps and screens. When Peter stays on balance he shows solid overall strength when run blocking and pass blocking. Peter should be excellent in his workouts I have no doubt because of his quickness off the ball. If Peter can prove more consistency in his overall play from game to game he can become a standout offensive lineman for the team that selects him.

CONCERNS
Peter is very inconsistent from game to game and sometimes even from quarter to quarter This inconsistency in his overall play is a big issue for me. It either shows a lack of mental toughness or immaturity but either way his film is disturbing to me. I do know this, there is a very good offensive lineman lurking behind that lack of inconsistency, it just needs someone to challenge him and bring it out for every snap in every repetition and in every game.

BOTTOM LINE; 2.94
Peter most likely will be a guard at the next level who can fill in at tackle if need be. Before you jump all over me go look at the Penn St game film, the whole game. Then look at the Nebraska game, the whole game, and tell me number 77 is the same player you see in both those games. In the Nebraska game, Peter is quick off the snap with good balance and dominating in the run game, and with pretty good lateral agility when pass blocking. He shows good balance and he uses pretty good hand techniques. In the Penn St game he is a mess, looking overweight, off balance, catching and tackling instead of blocking, and overall doesn’t look like he could even play at the next level at any position. He does improve in the latter part of the game and once again starts to show at least quickness off the ball and starts to move better. So, the question is which Peter are you drafting? The Nebraska player who looks like a 1st round talent or the Penn St player who looks like a later-round question mark? Do you trust him? Will he show up for every repetition and block for your franchise QB? I think he will but don’t be surprised if he is not on the field right away until he earns it in practice. Remember, I suspect his workouts will be very good.

STRENGTHS
Drew has the potential to become an excellent multi-position linebacker for the team that selects him. He has the size and liner length teams are looking for in players to play just about any position on both sides of the ball in today’s NFL. Drew plays with an excellent burst to the ball and anticipation. He has that ability, while the play is happening, to analyze what is happening in front of him and quickly react to it. He plays with a high football IQ that helps him to gain the advantage quickly and disrupt the offensive line’s blocking scheme making tackles all over the field. Drew does a good job in zone coverages and because of his football intelligence, it is very hard for his opponents to run screens and wheel routes successfully against him. In the right defensive system, Drew will be an impact defensive player, and given time he can be an impact player in any defensive scheme.

CONCERNS
There are a few small concerns if Drew wants to continue to be an off the line, linebacker. He anticipates the play in front of him but doesn’t communicate that to his teammates helping to make them better. Drew will need to gain a lot more strength to deal with the bigger, stronger and more athletic offensive lineman. He does show some coverage skills but will have to show more of it in his workouts to convince teams that he can handle wheel routes and Tight Ends in single coverage.

BOTTOM LINE: 1.97
Drew flashes big time when he is playing on the line of scrimmage and that makes him a perfect fit as an ER/OLB in a 3/4 defense. The teams that run that style of defense will rank him higher than teams that do not and that will affect his draft status. I really like Drew’s potential and maybe because of that, I’m nit-picking but to me, if Drew improves these little things at the next level he can play multiple positions on and off the line in any style of defense and will become a core player and the type of player a team can build their defense around. If he doesn’t correct these issues then he becomes a good defensive player who needs to be in the right system (3/4 Defense) to impact and that’s not a bad thing it’s just…he has so much more potential than just being a good player. At least that’s how I see it. Give Drew some time to build his strength up and decide exactly what kind of defensive player he wants to be and fans should fall in love with him for sure.

STRENGTHS
Christian is a long, smart, fast, confident cornerback. He uses solid techniques in single coverage and is excellent at understanding spatial awareness in zone coverages working well with his teammates. He is a solid open-field tackler and that is something all 32 teams look for now in their evaluations of their corners. Christian has the speed and burst along with the solid change of direction skills that will make it easy to be used in any style of defensive back scheme. He has the size to be used as a safety or corner and the burst and speed to be used to blitz off the edges or if used in the slot. Christen talent-wise, has what all 32 teams are looking for in a defensive back.

CONCERNS
“Christian plays with confidence”, that being said in the game against Georgia he did not. His reactions were slow and he lacked the overall aggressiveness needed to fight off blocks and make impact tackles against sweeps and screens to his side. Christian also has not gone up against the quality of receivers on an every-game basis, that have the mental toughness, speed, strength, and clever route-running skills of the receivers at the SEC level much less the NFL level.

BOTTOM LINE: 1.89
I don’t believe there is any doubt about Christians’s talent to be successful, at the next level but I do believe it will take some time and some good coaching to “mature” that talent. At the college level sometimes, the best player on the team gets the least amount of coaching. Why, because there are others on the team that need it more and the coaches do not have the time to spend with all the players equally because of the college rules. So, the more talented players wind up getting less coaching to improve. I think it’s wise for Christian to come out early. He still needs a lot of mental repetitions and must learn to play with more aggressiveness and not lose confidence in his own play when he is up against talent that matches his. I like Christian’s potential to become an excellent defensive back and a leader for the team that selects him. Nevertheless, he needs time to mature in his overall play on the field and not lose confidence and be intimidated as the whole Oregon team was against Georgia. Remember Adversity should magnify a player’s character and leadership skills and character and leadership are what make a player more successful at the next level, not talent. Every player has talent in the NFL or they wouldn’t be there.

STRENGTHS
Anthony has that long, tall, lengthy size, with potential lockdown athletic talent, that every team in the NFL is looking for in a draft. He is an aggressive form tackler, coming up quickly to support the running game. He has excellent overall quickness for his size and those long strides, making it easy for him to cover ground quickly giving him surprising makeup speed. Because of his size and ability to tackle Anthony can be used inside or outside in coverage situations and as a safety all over the field. He looks to have a high football IQ, reading receivers and timing his breakups at the right time when he is in trail coverages. Anthony is aggressive but not the type of aggressiveness that will get him any more penalties than the average lockdown corner in the NFL.

CONCERNS
As of this writing, Anthony is flying under the radar of the sports media but the scouts know all about him. He does struggle with his hip flip but because of his long strides and long length Anthony recovers quickly. Of course, when he works out, some teams will knock him down because of this but I see that as a big mistake.

BOTTOM LINE: 1.81
When you have Anthony’s size, length, agility, and high football IQ you can compensate for a slow hip flip and still be a lockdown corner. That being said, the smart playoff teams will use that slow hip flip to push Anthony down and suggest he can only be a safety and we all know how teams value the safety position in general…not as high as cornerbacks for sure. Anthony reminds me a lot of Richard Sherman but Anthony is more consistent in single coverage than Richard was. Of course, if Anthony can have as good a career as Richard has had, he will certainly be worth the 1st round grade I have on him. What round will Anthony be selected in? What do I look like a soothsayer? Look at Rob’s board for that information and don’t get this Anthony Johnson mixed up with any other Antonio Johnson.

STRENGTHS
Zay reminds me of former Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson. He is quick and fast and the type of player who doesn’t need to be on the field for every down and still will make an impact play. Zay is smart and understands how to get open against zone coverages and is a dynamic run-after-the-catch receiver. Zay can play on the inside or the outside and be used as a move receiver. Zay is difficult to cover one on one because he uses different gears when he runs his routes, shifting speeds and using his quickness to separate from the defender. He will run a deep route with a burst off the line, then slow’s, and then burst again almost like making a double move when it’s really just a pause in his route, speed-wise. He is smart and when he doesn’t peek before the ball gets to him, he has excellent hands and a good catch radius. Zay is a playmaker, it’s really just that simple. He’s a match-up nightmare for defensive coordinators and a career-maker for offensive coordinators. I call him “all the way Zay” because evetime he touches the ball he could take it all the way.

CONCERNS
Size is always an issue for a receiver because of the injury factor and the overall, physical factor making teams leery of selecting smaller, quick receivers too early in a draft. Usually, receivers of Zay’s size get selected on the second day but there are always exceptions to every rule.

BOTTOM LINE: 1.78
If you need a playmaker on your offense you would be smart to select Zay at any point or any round in this draft. DeSean Jackson was selected in the 2nd round. Tyreek Hill wasn’t selected until the 5th round. Ted Ginn was the 9th pick of the 2007th draft. Ginn never lived up to that early pick selection but DeSean and Tyreek have for sure. Zay has 1st round talent but because of his size might not get selected in the 1st round. Remember this, size matters when you select players in a draft but doesn’t once a player hit’s the field…it’s all about impact and production and I suspect “all the way” Zay, will give the fans plenty of both, impact and production for sure. Check on Rob’s value board to see the most likely round Zay will be selected in.

STRENGTHS
JL is the new hybrid Safety/Linebacker that teams are looking for in this new passing league. He is a punishing tackler and because of his excellent speed and high football IQ, he can play multiple positions from one down to the next, for your defense. JL is big, with a large wing span and length that allows him to cover on passing downs and in the red zone. He has the athletic talent and fluidity to even be used on the outside as a corner in certain situations and against certain players and that can be established when game planning for an opponent. JL will make the tackle in the open field which is so very important for a safety to make. He is smart and understands zone coverages and will make a quarterback pay, intercepting the ball if a quarterback makes a mistake. He covers a lot of ground very fast and with his long arms and this makes him the type of player who can make an impact play for your defense.

CONCERNS
The biggest concern for JL will be how teams value his position and if they think he is a “tweener”. For me, the biggest concern is his punishing tackles and if he can stay on the field to impact more than his potential to wind up on a team’s weekly Injury Report. Of course, the fear of injury is no reason not to select him early in this draft…just a concern.

BOTTOM LINE: 1.50
Teams that use a 4/2/5 defense as their main defense I suspect will value JL higher than teams that just think of him as a safety. For me, those teams that value JL as just a safety, are most likely, the teams that pick in the top ten every year. JL is a multi-position, multi-talented football player. I don’t care what defense you play this guy should be part of it and coaches should change their defenses to accommodate his talent and get him on the field for every down. He has the talent to build your defensive backfield around so, thinking he’s just a 2 deep safety and not selecting him early would be a big mistake…Hugh!

STRENGTHS
Parker is a Randle Cobb/Cole Beasley style of receiver. He has the build of a running back with the vision in the open field to make players miss him and will give up his body to make a catch. He snatches the ball with sure hands and with a “snake-like strike” that allows him to have a large catch radius and to play bigger than his size. Parker will catch the ball to move the chains. He will catch the ball and make the needed yardage after the catch. He will catch the deep ball when you thought he couldn’t get enough separation. Parker is a slot receiver with the mental makeup of a gunner on your special teams. That’s right, he’s like that manic that runs full speed down the field to make that impact tackle on the returner. Trust me, Parker will be that “pain in the ass” receiver that coaches scream at their defensive players about during a game because he just keeps making plays all over the dam field down after down after down.

CONCERNS
Parker is not that fast and he’s not overly quick but he knows how to run routes in sync with a quarterback and will give up his life to make the catch when your team needs it the most. His workouts at the combine will be big for teams to evaluate him.

BOTTOM LINE: 3.03
Every team needs a receiver like Parker Washington. Some teams don’t know how to use him and will overlook him because there are bigger and faster receivers but, none of those receivers will catch the ball and make more impact plays than Parker will. Of course, Parker’s impact will depend on the team that selects him and how they use him and that will affect his draft status. Look for Parker on Rob’s value board but remember this profile once your team selects him because he has excellent potential to be an impact player. Parker is the type of player I would target and look to select if I were a GM, but that’s just me.

STRENGTHS
Cody is the type of offensive lineman that doesn’t stop blocking until he hears the whistle. He’s big and strong and has the quick feet that all offensive linemen need, to play multiple positions on the offensive line. Cody shows leadership skills through his play on the field. He is unique in that he never stops moving his feet off the snap of the ball. Cody has excellent overall athletic talent and although he is still learning the Left Tackle position he is better than half the Left Tackles in the NFL right now. He is smart and understands that he needs to marry his athleticism to the Techniques of his position, and not just rely on athleticism alone. He has the athleticism to be used as a pulling guard or tackle and gets to the second level with ease and quickness that most offensive linemen do not possess. Cody has the potential to be a franchise Left Tackle, Left Guard, or Right Tackle for the team that selects him.

CONCERNS
Cody is aggressive and penalties might a problem at first but he will adjust, just give him some time. Some teams will be wary that Cody played for North Dakota State and not for an SEC team and will downgrade him for that reason. That being said, the Senior Bowl will be big for Cody to impress those teams who don’t believe that he can be considered as an early pick, in this draft.

BOTTOM LINE: 1.50
Cody has the talent to be as good a Left Tackle as Jason Peters and as good a Right Tackle as Lane Johnson. He shows on film, respect for learning the correct Techniques of his position like former Browns LT Joe Thomas. How do I know this? I have seen his quick technique progression, on film, from when he used to play Tight End. I have seen him keep his feet and stay on his blocks 20 yards down the field. I don’t care what level you play at, that’s impressive. Cody could be a special offensive lineman but…if you want to nitpick yourself from selecting him early, be my guest just remember, I told you so. Remember my rule, when you see the obvious, you draft the obvious.