Gold: Top 10 Pac-12 NFL Draft prospects feature CB, TE flavor
For the first time since 2019, the Pac-12 does not have a clear-cut top-10 pick.
But unlike that year, when the league’s teams waited until Washington State’s Andre Dillard went off the board at No. 22 to the Philadelphia Eagles, the conference shouldn’t have to wait too long this year.
And after Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez goes off the board — perhaps as early as No. 7 and as late as No. 12 — the wait shouldn’t be long again.
Here’s a look at my top 10 Pac-12 prospects for the 2023 NFL Draft, which begins Thursday night ….
1. Oregon CB Christian Gonzalez
Draft Projection: Early 1st round
When the 2022 Pac-12 season began, there was a legitimate debate as to who the league’s top cornerback was: Utah’s Clark Phillips III or Stanford’s Kyu Blu Kelly.
Gonzalez, who transferred to Eugene after 2 years with the Colorado Buffaloes, was considered a talented and promising defender, but perhaps a notch below the 2 veterans.
But after a fantastic season, a brilliant NFL Combine and and with better measurables than his 2 Pac-12 contenders, Gonzalez rates as the league’s top prospect and arguably the draft’s best defensive back.
The 6-2, 201-pound corner was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection after picking off 4 passes, notching 7 more pass breakups, registering 50 tackles and a blocked kick.
After running a 4.38 40-yard dash, putting up 14 reps on the 225-pound bench press and adding a 41.5-inch vertical jump, teams are tantalized by his total package.
Back to remind you that Christian Gonzalez is CB1 in this class and the gap is larger than you think…
pic.twitter.com/1MQ7DPQUH8— Jacob Lintner (@lintnermedia) April 24, 2023
2. Utah TE Dalton Kincaid
Draft Projection: Mid-to-late 1st round
Much like the DB debate, there was some question as to the top tight end in the conference entering 2022. This time, it was Utah’s Brant Kuithe vs. Oregon State’s Luke Musgrave. Like Gonzalez, Kincaid ascended the list because of a rare combination of size, speed and production. With Kuithe sidelined because of injury, Kincaid assumed the TE1 mantle for the Utes — often a fruitful role — and produced like a madman.
His draft fate may have been sealed with perhaps the Pac-12’s most impressive offensive performance of the year, when he had 16 catches for 234 yards and a touchdown in a 43-42 Week 7 win over USC. With all due respect to Phillips, Caleb Williams, Jordan Addison and more, Kincaid looked like the best future NFL prospect that day.
He finished the year with an impressive 70 catches for 890 yards and 8 touchdowns despite battling a shoulder injury.
A lengthy target at 6-4, Kincaid won’t win many foot races — his longest connection of the year went for 37 yards — but he figures to be a passing threat in Year 1.
Utah TE Dalton Kincaid had himself a day against USC.
Here are all 16 catches (on 16 targets) by Kincaid. pic.twitter.com/P5t5TG4bdv
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) April 22, 2023
3. USC WR Jordan Addison
Draft Projection: Late 1st round
Limited by injuries at times and surprisingly stifled at others, it’s fair to say Addison didn’t have the record-breaking impact that he had with the Pitt Panthers as a Biletnikoff Award winner.
But in a league full of talented defensive backs, including a quartet of corners projected to go in the 1st round, Addison had some monster games, including 7 catches for 172 yards and 2 scores in Week 2 at Stanford and 11 grabs for 178 yards and a touchdown in a 48-45 late-season win at the Rose Bowl over UCLA.
Addison’s Combine showing was not particularly electric, but in this draft, what Addison does well, not many others do. Perhaps the draft’s top route-runner, Addison is projected a mid-to-late 1st-round pick.
Jordan Addison Thread pic.twitter.com/Jvt6fAUKUI
— Zack Eisen (@zackeisen21) April 22, 2023
4. Oregon State TE Luke Musgrave
Draft Projection: Late 1st/early 2nd round
After playing just 20 games in his 4-year Oregon State career and coming off an early year season-ending injury, Musgrave’s impressive Senior Bowl showing sent him shooting up draft boards.
He’ll vie with Kincaid and Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer to be the 1st tight end drafted, though his he’ll have to sell teams on potential over production. Two inches taller than Kincaid, Musgrave posted solid combine numbers with a 4.61 40-yard dash, a 36-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot, 5-inch broad jump.
One big thing in his favor: He appeared to be blossoming into a major target before being sidelined. He had 169 yards on 11 receptions (15.4 average) with a touchdown in 2 games before being sidelined.
Keep an eye on #OregonState TE Luke Musgrave. Measured at 6-6, 253 with a 36-inch vert.
Can really run seams (4.61 speed), likes to block, natural hand-catcher as well.
Had a number of teams rave to me about about him during the Combine, with one telling me he was one of the… pic.twitter.com/JK9CijCRJj
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) April 7, 2023
5. USC DE Tuli Tuipulotu
Draft Projection: 2nd round
A 2-time all-conference player for the Trojans, Tuipulotu nonetheless made a major lap for USC last season as a junior. He improved from 5.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles-for-loss to 13.5 sacks and 22 tackles for loss last year. Those numbers ranked 1st and 2nd nationally.
What Tuipulotu lacks in measurables — 6-3, 266 pounds isn’t freakish — he makes up for with motor and production.
At times last year, he was just utterly dominant. He had a sack in 8 games — including 4 games with 2 sacks, highlighted by 3 in a 30-14 win over Washington State.
Here are all 13.5 of Tuli Tuipulotu’s 2022 sacks. #Browns
You’re welcome.
pic.twitter.com/CMik4rZr2W— Matt Wilson (@CoachWilson66) April 18, 2023
6. Utah CB Clark Phillips III
Draft Projection: 2nd-3rd round
Phillips was one of the best players in the conference over the past 3 seasons, and he played much bigger than his size and speed portend.
But that’s what he’ll have to contend with later this week: questions about both.
Phillips had a fantastic career for the Utes, capped off by a magnificent junior season that included 6 interceptions, with 2 touchdown returns, as well as 6 passes defended. That gave him 9 picks and 21 total passes defended in his career — numbers that will be too hard to ignore for NFL general managers. Neither, unfortunately, are these numbers: 5-9 and 4.51 40.
#Utah CB Clark Phillips III
Makes a lot of plays. Physical, competitive. Transition speed. Ball production. pic.twitter.com/J9rN7sxJnS
— Matt Bowen (@MattBowen41) April 15, 2023
7. UCLA RB Zach Charbonnet
Draft Projection: 3rd round
A difference-maker since Day 1 for the Bruins after transferring from Michigan, Charbonnet had 2 terrific years in blue and gold. He was on pace for some truly special stats but missed 3 games last year.
He still finished with 1,359 yards and 14 touchdowns in 10 starts, adding 37 receptions for 321 yards.
His solid-if-not-spectacular combine performance — 4.53 40, 37-inch vert, 10-2 broad — locked him in as a lock to go in the top 3 rounds. Fantasy football players are eagerly awaiting where he lands.
Zach Charbonnet🔎
Position: RB
School: UCLA
Class: Senior
Age: 22
Height: 6-0
Weight: 214 lbsDraft Projection: Day 2
NFL Comp: Tyler Allgeier⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ https://t.co/IDw1E94bM1 pic.twitter.com/8ZSjSfKS5w
— Yards Per Fantasy (@YardsPer) April 14, 2023
8. Washington State LB Daiyan Henley
Draft Projection: 3rd round
If NFL teams valued personality and production as much as they did size and speed, Henley would be a shoo-in for the 1st round. Heck, I’d pick him 1st overall. He’s that dude.
But his Combine measurables left a bit to be desired, and some of the knocks against him — questions about his instincts and pursuit — are damaging for a prospect of his caliber.
He made a tremendous impact on the Wazzu defense, though. He had 200 tackles, 4 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 5 fumble recoveries and 5 interceptions over the past 2 years.
Daiyan Henley is my #1 LB in this draft class. But he’s also my #1 soundbite pic.twitter.com/x7Ax1AmgRg
— Chris Simms (@CSimmsQB) April 20, 2023
9. Oregon State CB Rejzohn Wright
Draft Projection: 3rd-4th round
Flip a coin between the next 2 top-10 cornerbacks. Both hail from impressive pedigrees and had fine seasons last year. Wright’s potential, though, might be a notch higher than the veteran Cardinal corner.
Wright, the younger brother of former Beaver DB Nahshon, was an all-conference honorable mention in 2021 but took another step last year, earning 1st-team all-conference honors after notching 38 tackles, 2 interceptions and 9 pass breakups in 12 games, with 11 starts.
The 2023 CB draft class is deep and teams will find strong contributors down the board, one name to watch.. RezJohn Wright
The physical defender has allowed only 750 yards in 26 games while adding 4 picks and 18 PBU. My scouting report: https://t.co/LVW60viO4I
— Tristen Kuhn (@KuhnTristen) April 13, 2023
10. Stanford CB Kyu Blu Kelly
Draft Projection: 3rd-4th round
Like Wright, Kelly has football in his blood, hailing from former long-time NFL defensive back Brian Kelly. The 4-year Stanford starter didn’t have quite the season some expected, but he was still very good.
He also had a good Combine showing with a 36-inch vert and a 10-11 broad jump. His 4.52 40 left a little to be desired, though. But his production and perseverance through a couple bad Stanford seasons did not.
Kyu Blu Kelly is a CB prospect in the 2023 draft class. He scored a 8.75 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 277 out of 2212 CB from 1987 to 2023. https://t.co/5JC0OVmF7E pic.twitter.com/58N7rBPgsw
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 14, 2023