We're through Week 5 of the 2022 college football season, and we once again saw many top 2023 NFL draft prospects have great performances and post big numbers. That includes some of the top defensive linemen and edge rushers in the class.
How do the top defensive ends, outside linebackers and defensive tackles stack up? How good is consensus No. 1 overall prospect Will Anderson Jr.? Which playmakers off the edge will be great Day 2 and Day 3 picks next April? NFL draft analysts Mel Kiper Jr., Jordan Reid and Matt Miller answer big questions about the defensive linemen and edge rushers coming out of the weekend's slate.
Kiper, Reid and Miller also single out prospects rising up their draft boards and players flying under the radar who could get a draft-stock boost. Finally, they empty their notebooks with everything they saw and heard over the weekend. Let's get started.
Jump to:
Big questions | Risers
Under the radar
Emptying the notebook
Is there any shot a team trades up to No. 1 in April ... to draft Will Anderson Jr.?
Miller: I'm going to say no, only because this looks to be a very strong quarterback class and we have to take positional value into consideration.
Yes, the 6-foot-4, 243-pound Anderson is immensely talented, picking up five sacks and 10 tackles for loss through five games. The Alabama edge rusher's effortless quickness and power make him nearly unstoppable. He has a relentless motor that often results in second-effort pressures. In short, Anderson is Von Miller 2.0. But while he's certainly headed toward a top-three selection, I would be surprised if we saw a team trade up to the top slot for a pass-rusher.
Let's say you have the No. 3 overall pick and a desperate need for help off the edge. Instead of trading up for Anderson at No. 1 overall, you could probably sit tight and have a viable chance to land him anyway. There are several very good QB prospects in this draft, and teams near the top will be eager to look their way before targeting Anderson and the rest of the class.
After Anderson, who is the next-best edge rusher in the 2023 class?
Reid: I'm going with Texas Tech's Tyree Wilson. He is coming off his second multisack performance of the season (37-28 loss to Kansas State), and he has five on the year, along with nine tackles for loss. Wilson is starting to unlock another stage of his development, and it wouldn't surprise me if he's a top-15 pick thanks to a great combination of size (6-foot-6, 275 pounds), excellent physical traits and fantastic upside.
I was also extremely impressed with Clemson's Myles Murphy on Saturday night against NC State (30-20 win). His incredible length on a 6-foot-5, 275-pound frame stands out. Murphy is still figuring out how to maximize his physical traits, but he showed off a nice long-arm move and a one-arm swat that resulted in a sack. His repertoire of pass-rushing moves just keeps getting better. Murphy, Notre Dame's Isaiah Foskey and Georgia's Nolan Smith could all also be in the mix here.
Has Jalen Carter's draft stock fallen? What else do you need to see from him this season?
Kiper: No, he just hasn't been healthy. The Georgia defensive tackle hurt his left ankle in Week 1 and has struggled to stay on the field since then. He then hurt his right knee on Saturday night (26-22 win against Missouri) and missed the entire second half. He could now miss a couple of games. In fact, Carter has played a total of eight defensive snaps in the second half of games this season.
I'm still a huge fan of the 6-foot-3, 310-pounder, who was dominant in 2021. He had 8.5 tackles for loss and arguably was the Bulldogs' best defender -- yes, better than eventual No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker. I still expect him to be a top-10 pick, though I want to see him get healthy. Carter is No. 3 on my updated Big Board.
Clark Phillips III shows off his skills with three interceptions vs. Oregon State.
Which Clemson front-seven player will have the best NFL career?
Miller: There are five legitimate stars on the defensive line alone: defensive tackles Bryan Bresee and Tyler Davis and edge rushers Murphy, K.J. Henry and Xavier Thomas (who has seen his career slowed by injuries). And I love linebacker Trenton Simpson's three-down ability. It's not an easy choice, but I'll take Bresee.
The 6-foot-5, 305-pound tackle has an awesome combination of first-step quickness, power, length and football instincts. Bresee missed Saturday's game because of a non-football medical issue, but he's the most NFL-ready of the bunch while also still having immense potential to continue improving once he works secondary pass-rush moves into his game.
Who is an under-the-radar edge rusher you expect to get drafted on Day 2?
Reid: Nick Hampton of Appalachian State has really impressed me through the first half of this season. He'll likely be a 3-4 outside linebacker at the next level, but his combination of hand-fighting maturity, first-step quickness and closing speed has helped him collect five sacks this season. The 6-foot-3, 235-pounder also has experience dropping into coverage, which will make him appealing to teams looking for versatility off the edge.
Who is a defensive line sleeper you expect to end up as a Day 3 steal?
Kiper: Florida A&M's Isaiah Land is exactly the type of prospect that NFL teams look for on Day 3. The 6-foot-4 Land has extremely long arms, but he's only 225 pounds and is still growing into his frame. He's powerful for his size, though, and is a natural pass-rusher with smooth hips. Land had 19 sacks last season, showing off explosive moves; he looks like he's shot out of a cannon at the snap.
Jordan, I know you put Land No. 1 overall in your preseason HBCU rankings, so this won't surprise you, but Land has the ceiling to be a draft steal.
Which prospect are you moving up your board?
Kiper: Felix Anudike-Uzomah, DE, Kansas State. He was incredible in Saturday's win over Texas Tech, with three sacks and a forced fumble. He beats offensive tackles with speed and with power, and he plays hard on every snap. Anudike-Uzomah had 11 sacks last season, and he's up to 5.5 so far in 2022. He's a true junior, which means he could return to K-State next year, but the 6-foot-4, 255-pound edge rusher just keeps getting better. I have a Day 2 grade on Anudike-Uzomah now, but he's rising.
Miller: Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State. Porter has been fantastic this season as a cover man, showing the instincts to excel in both man and zone coverage. He also has NFL size at 6-foot-2 and 198 pounds to go with what looks like legitimate 4.4 speed. Porter is rarely challenged by opposing offenses, but he still has eight passes broken up on the year and has emerged as a shutdown cornerback. With players like Kelee Ringo (Georgia) and Eli Ricks (Alabama) not living up to expectations yet this season, I'm bumping Porter up to CB1 in the 2023 draft class.
Reid: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama. He was my RB2 coming into the season behind Texas' Bijan Robinson, so this might seem like a stretch. But I'll put it this way: I don't think the RB1 race is anywhere near done. The Georgia Tech transfer has been even better than advertised in the Alabama offense, displaying his versatility as both a runner and a pass catcher. Gibbs took over Saturday's 49-26 win against Arkansas, taking 18 carries for 206 rushing yards and two touchdowns. His explosiveness and burst help him race past defenders, evidenced by a 72-yard score. The 5-foot-11, 200-pounder has 378 rushing yards, 207 receiving yards and five total touchdowns this season, and he is getting comparisons to Alvin Kamara.
Which under-the-radar prospect are you keeping an eye on after Week 4?
Kiper: Cody Mauch, OT, North Dakota State: The Bison ran for 227 yards in the win over Youngstown State on Saturday, and much of that came behind Mauch. At 6-foot-6 and 305 pounds, Mauch is a consistent player who doesn't make many mistakes (though he did have a holding penalty against YSU). He sustains blocks well and moves defenders in the run game. He has good feet and technique in pass protection, as well. Mauch, who has played both right and left tackle in college, is likely to be an early Day 3 pick in April.
Reid: Miyan Williams, RB, Ohio State. The 5-foot-9, 225-pounder has taken advantage of opportunities and catapulted into the top running back role for the Buckeyes. Williams has 290 rushing yards and seven touchdowns over the past two weeks, including a five-score performance against Rutgers on Saturday. He's a complete back and has held up well in pass protection, but it's his tough running style that has helped him see more playing time this season. In a loaded running back class, Williams is a name to watch.
Miller: Jacob Cowing, WR, Arizona. He continues to put together big games, and in a receiver class that hasn't quite lived up to the preseason hype, Cowing is rising up my board. The 5-foot-11, 175-pounder had 12 catches, 180 yards and a touchdown against Colorado to post back-to-back 100-yard games. Ranked as an early-Day 3 prospect, Cowing is scooting up the board each week. His ball tracking and ability after the catch really jump out on tape, and he's unstoppable out of the slot. Cowing is really strong in the red zone, too. He had 1,354 receiving yards and seven TDs last season, and he has already reached 566 yards and seven touchdowns in 2022.
Let's empty the notebooks ...
Reid: Kentucky quarterback Will Levis' turnover woes continued against Ole Miss. He has the flashes of brilliance with his arm strength, accuracy and mobility, but his decision-making, lower-half mechanics and ball security simply must improve. There were plenty of positives from his 18-of-24, 220-yard, two-TD performance on Saturday against Ole Miss, but the turnover problem has been consistent. He didn't throw an interception for a second straight week after three games with at least one, but he did lose two fumbles -- and both came in the fourth quarter and in the red zone with the Wildcats losing by just one score.
Miller: Yeah, we've been talking a lot about Levis' turnovers, and they don't seem to be going away. He's very talented from an arm strength perspective, and he can throw some darts through small windows, but until he becomes safer with the football, it's hard to talk about the Kentucky senior as the top quarterback in this class. Intangibles and a strong skill set will keep Levis in the Round 1 conversation, but he has to limit risks and stop trying to play hero ball as a passer.
Kiper: I might have to move Georgia's Darnell Washington up in my tight end rankings. He does the dirty work for the Bulldogs' offense, but at 6-foot-7 and 270 pounds, he's agile for his size. He adjusted like a 180-pound receiver on one of his three catches vs. Mizzou. And he could be involved in the offense more. Washington is my No. 8 tight end for April's draft.
Reid: Alabama quarterback Bryce Young exited during the second quarter against Arkansas after suffering a shoulder injury on his throwing arm, so it's something to monitor moving forward. Coach Nick Saban suggested it wasn't serious, and the Crimson Tide have a pair of big matchups on deck (Texas A&M and Tennessee). Keep an eye on this situation.
Miller: It's way too early to be concerned about Ohio State receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba's draft stock taking a hit from his lack of playing time this year, but it's definitely a note to file away. A smaller wide receiver (6-foot-1, 200 pounds) who has missed significant time this season because of a hamstring injury warrants caution. Ohio State is handling the injury the right way by giving JSN plenty of recovery time, but you can bet this will come up again should he enter the 2023 NFL draft. He has four catches for 36 yards this season while playing just 40 snaps.
Kiper: Jordan mentioned Alabama's Gibbs earlier, and what stood out to me Saturday is that Day 2 could be full of really solid running backs. The guys who played well and will be in the discussion: Devon Achane (Texas A&M), Blake Corum (Michigan), Zach Charbonnet (UCLA) and Chase Brown (Illinois).
Miller: Utah cornerback Clark Phillips III hasn't gotten the first-round hype he deserves, but that should change after his three interceptions against Oregon State. Phillips was unstoppable for the Utes' defense, taking one of his picks back for a touchdown. At 5-foot-10 and 183 pounds, he's slightly undersized, but Phillips' playmaking ability continues to show up on tape.
Kiper: BYU offensive tackle Blake Freeland is physically imposing at 6-foot-8 and 305 pounds, and he was impressive against Utah State. He hasn't allowed a single sack since 2020. He could be a Day 2 pick and a starting NFL left tackle.
Reid: One player who really stood out in a late-night Washington-UCLA showdown on Friday was Bruins wide receiver Jake Bobo. The Duke transfer flashed constantly as he finished with six catches for 142 yards and two touchdowns. He's a bigger receiver at 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, but he's also crafty in getting open on the perimeter. It wouldn't be surprising if some teams value him as a "move" tight end at the next level. Bobo is still a late-round hopeful right now, but he's a prospect who could make a jump with a strong showing at a postseason all-star game.