• Jayden Daniels continues his rise as the best dual-threat quarterback in the nation: The LSU quarterback's growth in all areas is encouraging and shows that he could be a QB to invest in.
• J.J. McCarthy drops out of the top 50: McCarthy has the arm to succeed at the NFL level. He can hit the “Sunday throws” with both distance and velocity and is improving his touch in 2023. He has a slender build but will be a passer the league covets.
• Try PFF's Mock Draft Simulator: You can trade picks and players and draft up to five rounds for your favorite NFL team.
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
NOTABLE RISERS
CB QUINYON MITCHELL, TOLEDO
Previous Rank: 104
Latest Rank: 46
Big board analysis: Mitchell has some of the highest ball-production numbers in the FBS over the last two seasons. His forced incompletion total and forced incompletion percentage are both top-10 in the FBS. He doesn't have much experience in press coverage, but he has great recovery speed in off-coverage to still make plays on the ball.
WR TROY FRANKLIN, OREGON
Previous Rank: 100
Latest Rank: 64
Big board analysis: Franklin will be a top target for teams looking to add a receiver who will allow them to push the ball downfield consistently. He has smooth strides and good top speed to be a vertical threat in the pros, and his route running has become more polished in 2023.
QB JAYDEN DANIELS, LSU
Previous Rank: 48
Latest Rank: 23
Big board analysis: Daniels is a good dual-threat quarterback who has a ton of yards from scrimmage. Last year, he focused on taking care of the ball and had one of the lowest turnover-worthy play rates in the nation. This year, he's focused on playing better under pressure while pushing the ball downfield more often — and he's done both at career-high levels. His growth in all areas is encouraging and shows that he could be a QB to invest in.
DI T'VONDRE SWEAT, TEXAS
Previous Rank: 95
Latest Rank: 75
Big board analysis: Sweat has been one of the most impactful defensive linemen in college football. He has earned elite grades as a run defender and pass-rusher this season, all while weighing in at 360 pounds. He's far more explosive than the average nose tackle.
WR JA'LYNN POLK, WASHINGTON
Previous Rank: 51
Latest Rank: 39
Big board analysis: As Washington's passing attack has caught fire in 2023, so has Polk's draft stock. He has established himself as one of the go-to contested-catch receivers in the country with incredibly strong hands. He would be an excellent fit for an offense that wants to consistently push the ball vertically.
EDGE CHRIS BRASWELL, ALABAMA
Previous Rank: 49
Latest Rank: 42
Big board analysis: Braswell has the size, speed and strength combination to be a future NFL edge rusher. It's taken some growth for him to become more of a stand-up rusher than a defensive end, as Alabama has wanted. But now that he has got there, his explosiveness and power are on display each week.
CB COOPER DEJEAN, IOWA
Previous Rank: 26
Latest Rank: 20
Big board analysis: DeJean is one of the most well-rounded athletes in college football. He can play outside cornerback, slot cornerback and even safety due to his size (6-foot-1 and 205 pounds) and speed combo. He also has some of the best ball skills of any defensive back in the class. He's one of the draft's top playmakers.
EDGE BRALEN TRICE, WASHINGTON
Previous Rank: 23
Latest Rank: 18
Big board analysis: Trice's top-tier speed-to-power likely leaves opposing blockers sitting in post-game ice baths for longer than normal. He's also a strong run defender, to boot. He is still working on expanding his pass-rush moves, but his effort will never be in question.
WR EMEKA EGBUKA, OHIO STATE
Previous Rank: 25
Latest Rank: 22
Big board analysis: Egbuka is a smooth route-runner who can operate from the slot or on the outside. His game is very well-rounded, as he can separate vertically and find a soft spot versus zone.
WR BRIAN THOMAS JR., LSU
Previous Rank: 74
Latest Rank: 71
Big board analysis: Thomas is one of a handful of burners in this class who can really stretch the field. He's a major part of why LSU's offense is top-three in the FBS in passing yards per game, passing yards per attempt and passing touchdowns. His route tree isn't as diverse as Nabors', but he is improving in that area.
NOTABLE FALLERS
DI MAASON SMITH, LSU
Previous Rank: 56
Latest Rank: 91
Big board analysis: Smith is another former five-star recruit who really just needs experience to solidify a high draft status. At 6-foot-6 and 310 pounds, he is a massive man in the middle. He played 354 snaps in his true freshman campaign with a 7.6% pass-rush win percentage. He was aligned mostly as a defensive end during that season, so his sophomore year was supposed to be when we saw him take over as an interior player. Unfortunately, he tore his ACL seven snaps into the 2022 season.
RB DONOVAN EDWARDS, MICHIGAN
Previous Rank: 63
Latest Rank: 89
Big board analysis: Edwards has athleticism for days. He was responsible for a lot of the 50- and 60-yard runs in college football over the last few years. Vision and patience are still a work in progress, but when he sees it, he's a home-run threat every time he touches it.
RB MARSHAWN LLOYD, USC
Previous Rank: 72
Latest Rank: 96
Big board analysis: Lloyd has long been a good playmaker as a runner, but now with the Trojans, he's getting to show that more often with increased volume. He's one of the more elusive backs in the class and has improved his work as a pass-catcher, too.
QB J.J. MCCARTHY, MICHIGAN
Previous Rank: 29
Latest Rank: 52
Big board analysis: McCarthy has the arm to succeed at the NFL level. He can hit the “Sunday throws” with both distance and velocity and is improving his touch in 2023. He has a slender build but will be a passer the league covets.
DI KRIS JENKINS, MICHIGAN
Previous Rank: 38
Latest Rank: 55
Big board analysis: Jenkins is a powerful player in the middle of a defense. His run-defense abilities give him a very high floor as a projected pro. While his pass-rush production won't pop out at you, it is improving.
DI DONTAY CORLEONE, CINCINNATI
Previous Rank: 46
Latest Rank: 63
Big board analysis: Nicknamed “The Godfather,” Corleone has been one of the best run defenders in college football over the last two seasons. Though he lacks length, his violent hands make him a viable pass-rusher.
WR JOHNNY WILSON, FLORIDA STATE
Previous Rank: 39
Latest Rank: 51
Big board analysis: At 6-foot-6 and nearly 240 pounds, Wilson looks like a giant when he lines up opposite most cornerbacks. Though not as twitched up as some smaller receivers, he has good flexibility and speed for a receiver of his size while also giving the obvious plus of a big catch radius.
DI LEONARD TAYLOR III, MIAMI FLA.
Previous Rank: 20
Latest Rank: 30
Big board analysis: Big men don't often get the athlete label as a prospect, but at 6-foot-3 and 305 pounds, that's what Taylor is. His pass-rush win rate is one of the highest at his position, making him one of the best — perhaps the best — pass-rushing defensive tackles in the class.
QB RILEY LEONARD, DUKE
Previous Rank: 67
Latest Rank: 77
Big board analysis: Leonard is a very intriguing quarterback prospect because of his two best attributes — his athleticism and toughness as a runner, and his natural touch on passes all over the field. His passing profile isn't as consistent as some of the top guys in the class, but his five best throws can go toe-to-toe with almost anyone.
QB QUINN EWERS, TEXAS
Previous Rank: 58
Latest Rank: 67
Big board analysis: Ewers will be a hot name in this quarterback class due to his arm talent, as he has the tools to make all sorts of NFL throws. He has an unorthodox but quick release where the ball can fire off his wrist to the target. However, his deep ball accuracy and general ball placement skills need more consistency if he is to be a reliable NFL starter.