Who’s #1? Updated GBN Big Board posted … With the college football season now in the books, save for the bowls, the GBN Big Board for the 2023 draft has been updated and expanded. A couple of things stood out. On the one hand, even though what appears to be an inordinate number of players are opting to return to school for at least another year, this has the potential to be a very deep draft with quality prospects likely available well into the third day. At the same time, though, there is still a ton of sorting out to do before the picks start coming off the board on April 27th. Indeed, its not even totally clear that there is a consensus #1 overall prospect for this year’s draft at this time. Alabama’s Will Anderson is still the likely favorite there, but there are whispers around the league that more than one team has some concerns about Anderson’s size – he’s barely 245 pounds – and by extension his ability to play with his hand on the ground against 325-pound OTs at the next level. There have always been whispers of late that ‘some’ teams would take Georgia DT Jalen Carter if they had the first pick. No question about his size, although there are some questions whether Carter’s motor runs full-out all the time. Of course, there are still plenty of questions as to who is the #1 QB among Bryce Young of Alabama, Ohio State’s CJ Stroud, Will Levis of Kentucky and Florida’s Anthony Richardson. Young does seem to have a slight edge, while Stroud and Levis may have slipped somewhat on boards around the league. At the same time, we keep hearing that nobody should be shocked that if in the end the Gators’ Richardson, who has the best package of size, athleticism and arm strength, but who did struggle at times with accuracy and decision-making this season, is ultimately the first QB off the board next spring. Just 142 days, though, and we’ll know for sure!! Stay tuned.
