The 2023 college football season hasn’t even started yet, but NFL draft analysts are already projecting the top prospects for the next draft.
There will be many surprises depending on the performance of particular players this upcoming season. For example, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers could skyrocket into being viewed as one of the top prospects in the 2024 NFL draft, or he could fall to the middle rounds with another underwhelming season.
As of now, Pro Football Network projects Ewers to be taken off the board by the Minnesota Vikings with the No. 14 overall pick.
Kirk Cousins is set to hit free agency at the end of the season, with the Vikings choosing not to extend his contract beyond 2023. Drafting Quinn Ewers would be a different direction for Minnesota. An athletic player with creative instincts, Ewers has a lively arm that can hit anywhere on the field, and his ability to throw from different angles generates exciting plays.
But for Ewers to be a first-round pick, he’s going to have to show big developments in his footwork and mechanics. Ewers’ footwork can feel rushed and unnecessary, while his unconventional throwing motion doesn’t generate the accuracy the NFL needs. However, if Ewers can fix some of these fundamentals, a player with great potential is waiting to be unlocked.
Wide receiver Xavier Worthy, who many currently view as Texas’ top NFL draft prospect ahead of the 2023 season, fell to the Cincinnati Bengals with the No. 29 overall pick in PFN’s mock draft.
At 6’1” and 163 pounds, Xavier Worthy isn’t your typical first-round receiver. But he’s an elusive and fiery playmaker who’s a big play waiting to happen. With Tyler Boyd out of contract after 2023, Worthy could be the future of the slot position in Cincinnati.
Texas tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders could find his way into the first round with another strong showing in 2023 as well.
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