2023 NFL Combine Biggest Winners and Losers
The 2023 NFL Combine has come and gone, and now the real draft preparation begins for all 32 teams. Filtering through all the film and their notes to find guys who will improve their rosters come this fall.
Honestly, they should just read Trey’s notes. I’ll just link our NFL Draft page, so you have access to all his notes. It’s good stuff.
Over the four days of the 2023 NFL Combine, we saw guys dramatically improve their draft stock, with not many guys doing irreparable damage. In this article, I will go over the three guys who did the best job improving their stock, and the three who did not do as such.
No. 1 Biggest Winner: Nolan Smith (EDGE, Georgia)
The man in the picture of this article arguably had the best performance at the combine for someone who improve their stock. A huge winner. He ran a 4.39 40-time with a 1.52 split, which is bananas. Those guys don’t grow on trees. With a vertical of 41.5 inches and a broad jump of 10’8″, he showed what an athletic freak he is. He can be molded into one of the next great pass rushers.
No. 1 Biggest Loser: Bryce Young (QB, Alabama)
The biggest loser might be a bit harsh for someone who didn’t throw at the 2023 NFL Combine. But the reason he is the biggest loser for me is because of the performances of two individuals: Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud and Florida’s Anthony Richardson.
Stroud had one of the best performances in the throws in recent memory, and Richardson was a man possessed in his testing (I will touch more on Richardson later, spoiler alert). Young weighing in over 200 pounds is a plus for him, but watching these guys go and ball out raises even more questions about Young.
No. 2 Biggest Winner: Bryan Bresee (DT, Clemson)
This defensive tackle class is headlined by Georgia’s Jalen Carter, but Bryan Bresee showed NFL teams at the combine that he just might be the second-best in the class. His on-field drills showcased why he is head and shoulders above some other guys in this class, and he ran pretty well too with a 4.86 40 and 1.71 split. I had him as a potential top pick back in August, and while he won’t be in consideration now, he certainly earned himself some money come April at the draft.
No. 2 Biggest Loser: Andre Carter II (EDGE, Army)
It has been a rough last month for Andre Carter II.
He looked awful at the Senior Bowl. Marc and I were in Mobile and Trey was tuned in at his home and we all had the same takeaway: this guy is nothing special. Well, the 2023 NFL Combine was his shot to prove us all wrong. Wasted it. He’s touted as this athletic freak, but nothing about him jumped off the page from his testing. Stock is plummeting.
No. 3 Biggest Winner: Anthony Richardson (QB, Florida)
I *might* have a bit of a crush on Anthony Richardson. I’ll admit. But how can you not come away from this last week and not be impressed?
For starters, he set the modern record for quarterbacks in the vertical jump with 40.5 inches, a broad jump of 10’9″, and a BLAZING 40 time at 4.43 and a 1.53 split. On the field, he unleashed his cannon of an arm, throwing great ball after great ball on the go routes.
Yes, the accuracy issues were also on display, but the raw ability he has should be more than enough for someone to shoot their shot on him (I’m looking at you, Detroit).
No. 3 Biggest Loser: Kayshon Boutte (WR, LSU)
The 2023 NFL Combine is going to be something Kayshon Boutte might want to forget. His testing was awful. 4.50 and 4.67 40-times with a 1.58 split and a 29-inch vertical. Who is going to want to draft a receiver that can’t jump? His draft stock took a major hit for sure.
Honorable mentions for winners:
- Blake Freeland, (OT, BYU)
- Calijah Kancey (DT, Pitt)
- Darnell Washington (TE, Georgia)
- C.J. Stroud (QB, Ohio State)
- Adetomiwa Adebawore (EDGE, Northwestern)
- Christian Gonzalez (CB, Oregon)
- Zay Flowers (WR, Boston College) I could keep going
Dishonorable mentions for losers:
- Kenny McIntosh (RB, Georgia)
- Mike Morris (EDGE, Michigan)
- The entire safety class outside Brian Branch
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