2023 NFL Draft Best Value Picks
HENDON HOOKER | 68th OVERALL
During the 2022 college football season, former Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker had glimpses of player capable of winning the Heisman Trophy and potentially landing in the first round of the NFL Draft, until he suffered a season sending injury. The 25-year-old rookie has been viewed as an early round pick but somehow fell to the Lions in the third round which is probably a full round later than many predicted. While the Lions already have a starting veteran QB in Jared Goff, Hooker has a real shot at competing for the starting gig in the future which would be a big win for the Lions organization.
TRENTON SIMPSON | 86th OVERALL
Coming into the season my favorite LB in the class was former Clemson standout Trenton Simpson. The 6-2, 230 lb. athlete was a Swiss army knife type defender for the Clemson defense and viewed by many as a future star. Following this past season though Simpson’s name seemed to fall out of favor and went from a lock first rounder to being snatched up in the third round by the Ravens, who are certainly known for developing great LBs. The Ravens have invested a large contract in Roquan Smith and with Patrick Queen’s rookie contract nearing its end, it may be smart for Baltimore to slide Simpson into a starting role. If the Ravens get the prospect, we saw in college the past two years they may have themselves an elite defender as well as a leader of the defense.
KELEE RINGO | 105th OVERALL
Like Trenton Simpson, Georgia CB Kelee Ringo was a future star in the making since 2021. The big-framed CB had a fantastic year for the Bulldogs defense in 2021 ending with a national championship win and a spot on most early first round mock drafts. But while the Georgia defense continued to dominate into the following season, Ringo seemed to lose some steam as a lock top 20 pick and could somehow fall to day 2 of the draft. Come 2023 and not only did Ringo drop out of the first-round conversation but landed to the Eagles in the fourth round which was not a surprise considering the Eagles drafted to other Georgia prospects in Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith. Ringo may not be the same player he was in 2021 but if the Eagles get even 75% of his full potential, Philadelphia could have themselves a legit replacement for veteran Darius Slay.
DAWAND JONES | 111th OVERALL
Everyone knew about Ohio State OT prospect Paris Johnson Jr. but his teammate, Dawand Jones, made a name for himself at the Senior Bowl. The mammoth OT prospect (6-8, 375 lbs.) was a star at the Senior Bowl shutting down every pass rusher that he went up against and had teams likely comparing him to another massive lineman like veteran Orlando Brown. While he may not have the most athleticism due to his size, the consensus was that we would probably go on day 2 of the draft yet somehow slid down many draft boards on draft night and fell to the Browns in the fourth round. While the Browns already have their OT duo set for 2023, Jones has the upside to be a starter in the future and might replace former first rounder Jedrick Wills if he doesn’t have a comeback season.
LUKE WYPLER | 190th OVERALL
Rounding out the list is another former Buckeye in IOL Luke Wypler who was not only a top C prospect but also considered a prospect who could start in 2023. Cleveland landed the talented prospect in the sixth round and become a potential long term starter for the Browns which would be a home run pick.