The 2023 NFL Draft is less than a month away. Every year fans and the media get excited over the first round of the Draft. However, roughly 50% of the prospects selected in the first round fail in the NFL.
Talent evaluators fall in love with the untapped potential upside of a prospect. Unfortunately, those prospects typically also have a low floor, making them boom-or-bust players. Sometimes it works out for the NFL team, while other times, the player doesn’t finish his rookie deal with the club.
Meanwhile, there is the opposite type of prospect. The safe floor players have a low chance of busting but typically come with a lower ceiling. However, that isn’t the case with this 2023 Draft Class. These three prospects have a safe floor and will stick around for the next several years. Yet, they also have tremendous upsides.
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2023 NFL Draft Prospects
Bijan Robinson (RB – Texas)
Some believe running backs don’t matter anymore, that they are a dime a dozen. Well, that’s not the case with Robinson. The former Longhorn is arguably the top running back prospect in the past 20-plus years. Robinson had 258 rushing attempts for 1,580 yards and 18 touchdowns last year at Texas. He is a pure runner who looks smooth and effortless in the open field.
Furthermore, Robinson is a dangerous weapon in the passing game. He had 60 receptions for 805 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in his career. Some scouts have said the superstar would be a first-round pick as a wide receiver. Robinson will be a top-five running back in the NFL before taking his first career snap. More importantly, he could go down as the best running back ever.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR – Ohio State)
Last year everyone got excited watching Marvin Harrison Jr. destroy college football, but he isn’t draft-eligible until next year. While Harrison shined, Smith-Njigba, unfortunately, became an afterthought because he missed most of last year because of injuries. Yet, Smith-Njigba was unstoppable in 2021 despite Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave combining for 135 receptions, 1,994 receiving yards, and 25 touchdowns.
Meanwhile, Smith-Njigba had 95 receptions for 1,606 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in 2021. More importantly, the star receiver destroyed Utah in the Rose Bowl that year without the other two wide receivers playing, totaling 15 receptions for 347 receiving yards and three touchdowns. His route running and quickness will easily transition to the NFL and don’t be surprised if Smith-Njigba has a 2022 Amon-Ra St. Brown-like season performance as a rookie.
Will Anderson (EDGE – Alabama)
Anderson was named the top non-quarterback prospect in this draft class two years ago. The former Alabama superstar was unstoppable in 2021, totaling 101 tackles, including 31 for a loss. Furthermore, he had 17.5 sacks that year, the most in the SEC and the entire country. However, his number declined last year, as teams consistently double and triple-teamed the elite edge rusher.
Yet, Anderson had 51 tackles, including 17 for a loss and 10 sacks in 2022. He finished first in the SEC in both tackles for a loss and sacks. Anderson had a 1.61 10-yard split at the NFL Combine, putting him in elite company. This Alabama product’s floor is a 12-year starting edge rusher who records a couple of double-digit sack seasons. However, his ceiling is potentially the top pass rusher in the NFL.
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.