Tag: Gervon Dexter Sr

Saints make a couple of missteps in this three-round 2023 mock draft

The Saints made a couple of missteps in this 3-round 2023 mock draft, burning a first-round pick on a TE coming off injury and spending their second pick on a Round 4 WR:

The New Orleans Saints are putting the final touches on their big board of prospects for the 2023 NFL draft, and they’ll soon begin their own series of in-house projections and mock drafts to get a feel for what their competitors around the league might do.

Here’s a look at how things might go wrong. Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar put together an expansive three-round mock draft with the real thing just days away, and it’s a grim look for the Saints. Whether they’re getting away from their athletic prototypes or drafting prospects with injury concerns, this kind of haul would be disappointing after the first three rounds:

Three Gators included among The Athletic’s latest Big Board

There are three former Gators that Florida fans should pay attention to in particular this draft season, according to the latest prospect rankings from the Athletic.

The 2023 NFL draft is now less than a month away, and that means it’s about time that prospect big boards and rankings begin being regularly updated and changed by the day.

The Athletic released its 2023 Big Board of the top 100 prospects in the draft cycle, and three former Florida Gators made the cut. Quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] leads the way at No. 14 overall to no surprise. After an impressive pro day showing on Thursday, Richardson could easily rise over the next week or so.

Richardson is almost a lock to come off the board in the first round at this point in the evaluation process, and he’s done just about everything right so far.

Guard [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag] is the next man up on the list at No. 36 overall. Although that would put him out of first-round range if each team picked the highest-ranked available player, that’s not the way the draft works. Torrence is the best guard prospect in the draft and could easily see one of the first 30 teams reach for him.

Last on the list is defensive tackle [autotag]Gervon Dexter Sr[/autotag]., who is hoping to sneak into the second round after three years in the Swamp. Dexter hasn’t quite shown the kind of consistency that pro scouts want to see, but his physical gifts make him a popular target. Expect some team to reach on him as well.

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2023 Florida Pro Day results and observations

Florida’s 2023 Pro Day was basically the Anthony Richardson Show, but plenty of other Gators got in some good work on Thursday.

A dozen former Gators took part in Florida’s 2023 Pro Day on Thursday, and all 32 NFL teams were in attendance.

The event was televised on the SEC Network, thanks in large part to the attention drawn by potential first-round pick [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag]. The former Florida quarterback wowed NFL coaches and scouts with his performance, but it was also a good opportunity for those people to see the other Gators hoping to hear their names called when the draft finally takes place on April 27.

Not every player participated in the same drills. For example, Richardson only threw and skipped things like the 40-yard dash after posting a good number at the combine.

Pro Days are a chance for players to put their best foot forward and improve in whichever areas scouts still have questions about. Even players that were dismissed from the program, such as [autotag]Brenton Cox Jr[/autotag]., got a chance to work in front of everyone.

Some players upped their stock while others didn’t take the jump (literally) that they had hoped for. Here’s how the Gators fared on Thursday in their final appearances at the Swamp.

Here’s when Florida football’s NFL Pro Day is scheduled

Florida has announced details of its annual Pro Day, with eleven Gators players expected to participate.

The road to the 2023 NFL draft continues for former Florida Gators football players, with the program announcing Monday that the annual pro day will be held on March 30, according to the University of Florida’s official website.

Eleven draft-eligible players from the 2022 Florida Gators football roster will participate in this year’s pro day, including projected first-round draft picks quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] and offensive lineman [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag]. Joining them will be linebacker [autotag]Amari Burney[/autotag], linebacker [autotag]Brenton Cox Jr[/autotag]., defensive tackle [autotag]Gervon Dexter Sr[/autotag]., safety [autotag]Trey Dean III[/autotag], offensive tackle [autotag]Richard Gouraige[/autotag], linebacker [autotag]Ventrell Miller[/autotag], wide receiver [autotag]Jordan Pouncey[/autotag], wide receiver [autotag]Justin Shorter[/autotag], and safety [autotag]Rashad Torrence II[/autotag].

Pro day events will include official weigh-ins, bench press, vertical jump, broad jump, 40-yard dash, 60-yard shuttle, and positional workouts. Among those in attendance will be NFL scouts, coaches, and general managers.

Coverage of pro day will take place from the Condron Family Indoor Practice Facility, with the event broadcast at 10 a.m. EDT on the SEC Network. Former Florida football player and current SEC Network analyst [autotag]Chris Doering[/autotag] will report live from Gainesville while Peter Burns, Jordan Reid and Matt Stinchcomb will be in-studio.

There will also be coverage on NFL+, the NFL’s streaming app, with the NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and former NFL wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. reporting live from the indoor practice facility.

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Nine former Gators invited to 2023 NFL Combine

Plenty of former Gators are looking to boost their stock at the annual scouting combine ahead of the 2023 NFL draft.

The University of Florida will be well represented at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine as nine former Gators received invitations to attend the event, which takes place from Feb. 28 through March 6.

First-round hopefuls [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] and [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag] were of course added to the invitation list, and [autotag]Gervon Dexter Sr[/autotag]. is another name that Gators fans could hear called early that earned an invite to the combine.

Richardson could boost his stock immensely at the combine. His physical gifts have always been the draw, and letting NFL scouts and coaches see him in person should be like dropping bait on a hook in a crowded pond. Torrence already boosted his stock during Senior Bowl practices, so he just needs to maintain his first-round status at this point.

Wide receiver [autotag]Justin Shorter[/autotag], offensive lineman [autotag]Richard Gouraige[/autotag] and safeties [autotag]Trey Dean III[/autotag] and [autotag]Rashad Torrence II[/autotag] also received invitations to the combine. Dean recently earned defensive MVP honors at the East-West Shrine Bowl, but the rest of these guys could use a little hype going into the draft after staying out of the news cycle recently.

Linebacker [autotag]Ventrell Miller[/autotag] name is the final Gator on the list, but he won’t be able to participate fully as he recovers from foot surgery. That same surgery kept him from playing in the Senior Bowl, but maybe Miller will be able to do some interviews and light work at the combine.

Finally, [autotag]Brenton Cox Jr[/autotag]. rounds out the list of former Gators invited to the combine. While he didn’t finish the season with the team — Cox was dismissed from the team following the Georgia game — the former Gator and Bulldog is best known for his time in the Swamp. He’ll likely have the Florida name attached to him throughout this cycle.

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Saints pick a couple of former Florida Gators in 3-round mock draft

The Saints picked a couple of former Florida Gators in this post-Senior Bowl mock draft, while also adding a second-round quarterback:

Everyone has their own mock draft this time of the year — you can find the latest take from our own Ross Jackson here — and this scenario from Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling would make a lot of sense for the New Orleans Saints. Few teams have invested as many highly-valued picks in their offensive and defensive lines in recent years as New Orleans, and Easterling has that trend continuing in his post-Senior Bowl projection.

With their first pick at No. 29 overall, he has the Saints selecting Florida Gators offensive guard O’Cyrus Torrence. Easterling said this of the fit:

“After getting back into the first round courtesy of the Sean Payton trade, the Saints are able to fill one of their biggest needs with the top prospect at his position. Torrence is a plug-and-play starter at guard, and without a quarterback worthy of this spot still on the board, the Saints would be wise to address the offensive trenches instead.”

Torrence has started at both right guard and left guard at the college level, and he just spent a week of throwing opponents around in Senior Bowl practices in front of the Saints coaching staff. He could step into the lineup immediately at left guard (if the Saints move on from Andrus Peat as a post-June 1 cut, saving $11.8 million) or take the reins at right guard (should the Saints not pick up Cesar Ruiz’s fifth-year option). This wouldn’t excite a lot of fans, but it lines up with how the Saints have built their team.

What about the next two rounds in Easterling’s mock draft? He’s been banging the drum for the Saints to pick Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker for a while now, and he’s still high on that match at No. 40 overall. Hooker is on the same recovery timeline that had Joe Burrow and Deshaun Watson ready to start the next season after mid-November knee injuries, and he’s also one of the most talented quarterbacks in this draft class. If his knee checks out, he’d be a good get for New Orleans at this slot. They need to keep throwing darts at the board and hope they hit something without an established passer on top of the depth chart.

And in the third round, at pick No. 71, Easterling has the Saints going back to Florida and selecting Gators defensive lineman Gervon Dexter Sr. He’s been a consistent pressure player for Florida the last two seasons while predominately lining up along the interior rushing against guards and centers. But he plays with great length and his listed size (6-foot-6, 312 pounds) suggests he can move around outside. The Saints recently hired his old defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, so there’s some familiarity there.

Nailing these early-round picks is crucial for the Saints’ success in 2023 and beyond. Their core of talent is getting older and they’ll need to replace every-down players as more starters begin to age out. Reinforcing the trenches on both sides of the ball while bringing in a quarterback with very high upside could get things back on track in New Orleans.

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Three Gators taken in first two rounds of latest mock draft from The Athletic

The Athletic thinks that at least three former Gators will go in the first two rounds of the 2023 NFL draft.

A trio of Gators should hear their names called in the first two rounds of the 2023 NFL draft, according to the latest mock from The Athletic.

Nick Baumgardner put together a two-round mock draft to close out the first month of the year, and former UF quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] made the list along with offensive guard [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag] and defensive lineman [autotag]Gervon Dexter Sr.[/autotag]

Richardson goes at No. 19 overall to the Tampa Buccaneers in this mock and Torrence is at No. 25 overall with the New York Giants. Tampa’s quarterback issues have only grown since the playoffs ended and Tom Brady left town, and Richardson’s stock seems to have settled in the first round. Experts have linked him to teams like Carolina at No. 9, but going in the middle of the first round feels like less of a reach.

Torrence isn’t a lock to go in the first round just yet, though. While Baumgardner may like him at No. 25 overall, the truth is that New York could go in another direction. Yes, Torrence is likely the best guard on the board, but it’s not a draft where interior linemen will be flying off the board too early. If the Giants do opt to go with a skill position pick, Torrence could slip to Day 2 of the draft. Unlike Richardson, Torrence has the potential to be a plug-and-play draft selection. He’s ready for the next level, while Richardson still needs some development.

Finally, [autotag]Gervon Dexter Sr[/autotag]. is projected to come off the board at No. 44 overall (Round 2, pick 13) and join the Atlanta Falcons as a defensive tackle. Dexter is another player that might have benefitted from another year in college, but his ceiling is seemingly limitless. Consistency is the only thing missing from his game, but this is an NFL-ready body.

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Florida named a loser at NFL draft declaration deadline by 247Sports

Several Florida players are headed to the NFL this offseason, and that puts Billy Napier and the Gators in a tough spot.

Monday was the deadline for players to declare for the 2023 NFL draft, and 247Sports wasted little time declaring the Florida Gators as one of the primary losers of the cycle.

Losing quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] was “potentially unavoidable,” but that doesn’t even consider the losses of First Team All-American right guard [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag], starting left tackle [autotag]Richard Gouraige[/autotag] and leading receiver [autotag]Justin Shorter[/autotag]. Gouraige and Torrence anchored an elite line for the Gators in 2022, and Shorter was a consistent threat and veteran presence on the team.

Richardson’s departure hurts the most, though. He had several years of college eligibility left, and most scouts agree he could have used another year to hone his talents. Still, money talks, and Florida’s recent NIL struggles suggest that they couldn’t compete with the numbers linked to a potential first-round pick.

On defense, Florida is losing another underclassman that could have benefitted from one more year in the SEC, defensive lineman [autotag]Gervon Dexter Sr[/autotag]. Much like Richardson, there’s a lack of consistency on tape for Dexter and it will hurt him in the draft process. Replacing an explosive talent like him isn’t easy either. A former five-star recruit, Dexter leaves Florida with the feeling of what could have been.

The other major loss on defense is linebacker [autotag]Ventrell Miller[/autotag], who is often described as the heart and soul of the team. Losing him in 2021 was disastrous for Florida and the team looked lost without him on the field against USF this season. Someone is going to have to step up and take over Miller’s role in 2023.

The Gators are also losing both starting safeties to the draft, [autotag]Rashad Torrence II[/autotag] and [autotag]Trey Dean III[/autotag]. With [autotag]Tre’Vez Johnson[/autotag] transferring to Missouri, Florida will need to replace three starting defensive backs next year.

Billy Napier will work with the pieces he has, and it’s hard to blame college players for taking their shot at the pros, but it’s undeniable that Florida is in a much worse spot than it was just a few months ago, at least from a depth standpoint. The transfer portal will have to provide some answers here, but Napier might let his first recruiting class get some early playing time as well.

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Two Gators among The Athletic’s ‘most intriguing’ early entrants into the 2023 NFL draft

It’s not surprising to see Anthony Richardson on this list, but who is the other former Gator The Athletic thinks is among the most intriguing underclassmen in the draft?

Players leave college early every year to embark on their professional careers, and the 2023 draft features a pair of Gators that are forgoing significant time at the University of Florida to try their luck at the NFL.

On Monday, the deadline for college players to enter their name in the NFL draft passes, so The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner put together a list of the 15 most intriguing underclassmen that have declared for the 2023 draft. Former Florida quarterback and potential first-round pick [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] naturally made the list and defensive lineman [autotag]Gervon Dexter Sr[/autotag]. also joined him.

Richardson is, of course, one of the most interesting prospects in the draft due to his obvious physical talents and lack of time spent as a starter. The combine should be the perfect showcase for him to dazzle, but it will be hard to judge Richardson’s readiness for the NFL after just 393 snaps for the Gators over two seasons.

Baumgardner warns NFL teams looking to hit the jackpot on Richardson that he’ll be a work in progress that isn’t likely to take over the starting job in Year 1 of his professional career.

“One of the hardest evaluations in the entire class regardless of position,” Baumgardner wrote. “There’s not a physical trait a modern quarterback needs that Anthony Richardson doesn’t have, and Richardson’s testing numbers should only confirm as much. He is a giant athlete with twitch, explosion and arm talent. If everything clicks, he could be an offense’s dream…

“… If your franchise isn’t ready for a player like Richardson, you can’t draft him. If you have a developmental plan, though, he could be a massive steal.”

Dexter, on the other hand, has had time to show scouts what he’s capable of, and there are those who believe he could wreak havoc at the next level. He’s appeared in every game for Florida over the last three years, but he’s lacked consistency at times.

“There are moments from Gervon Dexter’s career that make your jaw drop. He is a terrific combination of size, power, body control and agility, and his flashes are some of the best in the country. He has game-wrecker potential as an interior pocket pusher who also can hold up against the run.

His consistency as a player, however, just isn’t anywhere near where it should be or where it will need to be, if he’s going to find his ceiling at the next level.”

If Dexter can prove that he’s disciplined and get into top shape leading up to the draft, a strong combine showing could help boost his stock. Otherwise, he’s likely to be picked in the middle rounds of the draft.

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Two Gators selected in first two rounds of ESPN’s latest 2023 mock draft

Florida should see a few players selected through the first two days of the 2023 NFL draft, according to ESPN’s latest mock.

ESPN’s Jordan Reid released his post-New Year’s 2023 mock draft on Wednesday and Florida has two players projected to come off the board through the first two rounds of the event: quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] at No. 9 overall to the Carolina Panthers and offensive guard [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag] at No. 17 to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Richardson’s draft stock has been debated plenty, but there’s still no consensus on where a clearly talented arm with a mildly worrisome injury history who could probably use another year of prep should go. His physical tools should keep in the top two rounds, but the question is whether Florida’s Jekyll and Hyde quarterback can be trusted as a franchise building block.

He’s not a four-year starter, or even a two-year starter for that matter, so his final draft spot will likely come down to which team needs to take a chance on a quarterback. Carolina fits that bill.

“Most scouts around the league agree that Richardson will be one of the toughest evaluations in this cycle …” wrote Reid. “… A lot of questions loom in Carolina this offseason, and one of the biggest is the future outlook under center. Richardson will need patience, proper development and a franchise that avoids constant staff turnover. If the Panthers can maximize him, they can stabilize their QB position. Only Houston has a worse QBR over the past three years than Carolina.”

Torrence is a more sure bet to go in the first round, but the offensive line market can be finicky and the tackles always receive more favor than the guards. Fortunately, it does get much better at the guard position than Torrence.

Whenever a team has all its reach picks stolen from them, they can grab Torrence in the first round and rest content knowing they have a potential starter for years to come.

The Steelers have historically gravitated toward wide-bodied interior blockers, and Torrence fits the mold at 6-foot-5, 347 pounds. And he uses that frame extraordinarily well in multiple areas, displaying a skill set that translates well to the Steelers’ power-running scheme.

Florida should have a decent number of players turning pro aside from those two, including defensive tackle [autotag]Gervon Dexter Sr[/autotag]., safety [autotag]Rashad Torrence II[/autotag] and linebacker [autotag]Ventrell Miller[/autotag] among plenty of others already declared.

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