The NFL draft is loaded with players from the transfer portal and the PAC-12 has some interesting names to watch for 2024
The transfer portal has completely taken over college football. Teams like TCU have essentially built the core of their roster through the portal. It has essentially become free agency in the college football world. Every year, countless players rise through the draft rankings at their new schools. In the PAC-12, there are some transfers at new schools who could find themselves surging up 2023 NFL draft rankings. Here are three guys to watch on the West Coast in 2023.
Photo Credit: URI Athletics
Ajani Cornelius, Oregon Ducks (Via Rhode Island), OT
Dan Lanning has made it a point to upgrade the trenches ever since he took over after the 2021 season. Ajani Cornelius is sure to help in that department. Standing at a massive 6-4 and 315 pounds, Cornelius has the requisite size and strength to hold up at the next level. Cornelius was one of the most sought after transfers this off-season, and Oregon was able to win him over despite countless schools coming after him extremely hard.
A little-known prospect, he is sure to see an uptick in NFL draft stock with the transfer to Oregon and the PAC-12. The Ducks have fostered a great offensive line culture in recent years and Cornelius appears to be the next Oregon offensive lineman to find themselves playing on Sundays.
Top-5 FCS OL Offensive Grades in 2022 according to @PFF_College: 1⃣ Cody Mauch; NDSU (90.9) 2⃣ Colby Sorsdal; William & Mary (89.6) 3⃣ Ajani Cornelius; Rhode Island (89.5) 4⃣ Matt Weimann; St. Thomas (86.6) 5⃣ Brian Stevens; Dayton (86.5) 📸: @NDSUfootballpic.twitter.com/HZjHuM1YSL
MarShawn Lloyd, USC Trojans (Via South Carolina), RB
Lincoln Riley has built a reputation as one of the best run designers in the country. Adding a player of MarShawn Lloyd’s caliber to his backfield should make for some impressive numbers in 2023. Lloyd is one of the countless players to depart from the Gamecocks this off-season.
This was a player who contributed for the Gamecocks despite not touching the ball as much as he would have liked. Lloyd only had 129 touches during the entire 2022 campaign and still managed over five yards per carry. Adding a threat like this to Lincoln Riley’s offense is sure to raise his draft stock quite a bit.
Patrick McMorris, Cal Golden Bears (Via San Diego State), SAF
The California Golden Bears have built a reputation within the PAC-12 of having one of the better defenses. This off-season, they added a notable transfer in cornerback Patrick McMorris. McMorris is a 6-0, 210 pound safety who is transferring in from San Diego State.
McMorris is sure to get more attention from the NFL now that he is playing on Cal’s defense. In the Mountain West Conference, McMorris was the 2022 Co- Defensive Player of the Year. Had he declared for the draft in 2023, he likely would have been invited to All-Star events such as the Senior Bowl and Shrine Game.
Patrick McMorris is a terrific player. He led the Aztecs with 12 tackles on Friday. Here he makes one of the plays of the game. pic.twitter.com/qfo92HI5xM
Photo Credit: Briana McDonald 49ers Digital Media Coordinator
As the dust settles on the 2023 NFL draft, I am left scratching my head. The 49ers started their draft late in the third round at pick #87 with a glaring need for the team was offensive line and secondary help after losing Mike McGlinchey, Daniel Brunskill, Jimmie Ward, and Emmanuel Moseley. Instead, the 49ers traded up in the third round with the Vikings to draft safety Ji’ayir Brown from Penn State.
After that, the draft was a bit… odd, for lack of a better word. With pick #99 the 49ers selected kicker Jake Moody from Michigan. Taking a kicker was not the craziest thing for the 49ers due to Robbie Gould testing free agency for the upcoming season. At the end of the draft, the 49ers did not select an offensive lineman, which has been a need since the 2022 season ended.
Below is a list of the new 49ers and how they can contribute in 2023.
Pick 87: Ji’ayir Brown S | Penn State
Ji’ayir Brown is an explosive safety ready to make a play. He is great at run defense, racking up 153 total tackles in his college career with nine of them being for loss. His pass defense is also impressive where he totaled 10 interceptions and nine pass deflections. His discipline might get him in trouble due to over pursuit or misreading a play. Luckily, he will be playing in one of the best defenses in the NFL, which will be able to cover up his mistakes.
I look forward to him contributing a lot in his first year and possibly starting early in the season due to Jimmie Ward and Tarvarius Moore signing with new teams.
Pick 99: Jake Moody K | Michigan
Jake Moody was the best place kicker in the 2023 NFL draft. He made 148 of his 148 extra point attempts at Michigan and made 52 of his 60 field goals in his last two seasons. Most of those field goals came within 40 yards, where he was very consistent. His downside is his leg strength, where he is a bit questionable once he crosses the 40-yard threshold.
It will be an interesting spring and summer where he and veteran Zane Gonzalez battle to fill the huge void Robbie Gould left.
Pick 101: Cameron Latu TE | Alabama
Cameron Latu will not hop off the page with his athleticism or power, but has a way of shaking the secondary and pinpointing the ball. He is not great at run blocking off the line, but does excel at next-level blocking.
I can see the 49ers using him when needing a short pass or help with blocking downfield on wide receiver screens. He will more than likely start the season as a 3rd string tight end and not see a large capacity of snaps.
Pick 155: Darrell Luter Jr. CB | South Alabama
Darrell Luter Jr. is a physical corner with long arms. His stats are not as impressive as a first-round talent, but he makes it up with his physicality and long arms. He is great at press coverage, but may have an issue with zone coverage. He will need to improve his coverage on the long ball, but his long arms and ability to read a wide receiver’s eyes should help him quickly adapt in the NFL.
I do not expect him to start Week 1, but with the luck the 49ers have with the health of their corners he could be thrown in at any time.
Pick 173: Robert Beal Jr. DE | Georgia
Robert Beal Jr. is a lengthy athletic edge rusher who found himself being overshadowed by his star-studded teammates at Georgia. He is a raw talent that needs to be coached to his true ability. He is inconsistent with his pass rush moves, but when they work he looks like an All-Star.
I think after a season or two with one of the league’s top defensive line coaches, Kris Kocurek, we could see Robert Beal Jr. have a nice career in the NFL.
Pick 216: Dee Winters ILB | TCU
Dee Winters is a bitundersized in comparison to the average NFL linebacker, but he is not afraid to stick his nose in a play. He is great at shooting the gaps and laying a big hit on a ball carrier. He will need to work on his pass defense and ability to read an offense. I expect him to see some snaps during the season, especially on obvious run downs.
Pick 247: Brayden Willis TE | Oklahoma
Brayden Willis has strong hands and a great ability to pick up yards after catch. He likes to get to the middle of the field, and is not afraid to make a contested catch. He will be able to provide some help in the 49ers pass offense, but needs to improve his run blocking. Maybe a year under George Kittle’s wing could help Willis’ run blocking ability.
Pick 253: Ronnie Bell WR | Michigan
Ronnie Bell is a strong-handed receiver who’s not afraid to block in the run game. Bell had ACL surgery in 2021, but bounced back with an impressive season. Speed and quickness are a bit lacking, but he makes it up with strong hands and well-timed leaps. I would imagine he would start the season on special teams and occasionally get a few snaps on offense.
Pick 255: Jalen Graham OLB | Purdue
Jalen Graham is an energetic line backer who plays with no fear. He plays very physically, but can also drop back in coverage. He is a bit undersized and lacks the ability to read blocking assignments at times. Jalen will be in a backup role and play on special teams.
If I had to give this 49ers draft a grade, I would give it a “C”. Some holes will be filled, and some are still a question mark.
Day two of the NFL draft is in the books, and we look forward to the top prospects left for day three. I surveyed some of our own NFL draft experts, along with experts from some popular draft outlets to get a sense of some of the favorites still left on the board.
“Perry is a senior coming from a gimmicky Wake First offense, but he provides a nice blend of speed and size. He can stretch the field as an outside receiver and has a bit more finesse to his route running than other receivers. He’s limited in the amount of routes he ran, but for a team who wants speed on the outside, AT Perry is a solid pick on Day 3.”
Zack Dietz – Giants Country: Darius Rush, CB, South Carolina
“One of my favorite remaining prospects is South Carolina CB, Darius Rush. Blessed with great size, length, and athleticism, the former Gamecock is an experienced defensive back who would be an ideal in press-heavy schemes. Many analysts saw him as the better SC corner over Smith, who Miami selected in the second round last night.”
Tyler Forness – Vikings Wire: Darius Rush, CB, South Carolina
“Darius Rush is my favorite defender in the draft class and a member of the All-Forno team. A freaky athlete that can make up ground in coverage, Rush needs to work on staying with the receiver early on in the route to become a capable starter.”
Saivion Mixson – ATB Network: Darius Rush, CB, South Carolina
“The fact that Darius Rush is here is insane. Rush has what it takes to be a corner for a LONG TIME in this league. His ability to recognize a receiver’s routes and a receiver’s hips into and out of routes was on display at the Senior Bowl and I thought would be enough for someone to take him in the third. Oh well, someone is going to get a good immediate depth piece that could become more later in his career.”
Eric Edholm – NFL.com: Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah
“He’s small, sure, but his reaction skills, ball skills, and competitiveness all stand out. Maybe he’s only a slot, but less-talented, smaller corners were taken before him.”
Devin Jackson – Philadelphia Inquirer: Jalen Cropper, WR, Fresno St
“Cropper is more quick than fast, using varied route tempo with natural hands to attack the ball over the middle of the field while having the versatility to be used all over the field, creating chunk yardage plays on pop passes and jet sweeps. I believe he can be a high-end WR3 in an offense with how savvy he is exploring zone coverage.”
“This time last year, if you would’ve tried to tell anyone that Kelee Ringo would be a Day 3 pick in the 2023 NFL draft, they would’ve assumed he suffered a catastrophic injury or (had) done something terrible off the field. But neither of those things happened and yet, Ringo remains.
The 20-year-old CB from Georgia started for two years on one of the best defenses in college football history. He even ran in the 4.3s at the Combine. But there were concerns about his lateral agility and ability to consistently mirror quicker receivers. Some even predicted that he would move to safety.
These concerns were well-founded when it came to Ringo as a first-round prospect. But on Day 3, even if he does have to move to safety, his physical tools are simply too enticing to pass up.”
“My favorite remaining prospect on Day 3 is Missouri EDGE Isaiah McGuire. He’s 6’4”, 270 pounds, with near-34” arms. High-end explosiveness off the snap and elite power capacity, but also has underrated bend for his size, and a working pass-rush arsenal around the apex. Stacks a high motor in both phases on top of it all. He’s my 40th overall prospect.”
“We have seen recent years produce capable pass-rushers on the third day of the draft including Maxx Crosby, Josh Sweat, Carl Lawson, and Matt Judon. If there was somebody in this year’s class that I would bet on that could turn into that type of pro, McGuire would be my pick. He possesses the size, power, and a well-developed array of moves and his dominant tape against first-round Georgia tackle Broderick Jones is more than enough to sell you on his upside.”
“Scott slipping to day three is criminal. One of the more explosive receivers in the class, Scott has an underrated ability to throttle down seamlessly and create blind spots. Not just a speed guy, Scott will make the NFL pay.”
Brian Maafi – ATB Network: Adetomiwa Adebawore, DL, Northwestern
“Day three is typically about two different type of players, either a guy with traits and upside you take a shot on, or someone who has a decent floor, but maybe not much upside but can contribute in a specific role. Adebawore is the former. He has the highest ceiling of all the players left in my opinion and is a player I think would be worth the shot.”
Daniel Olinger – The Draft Network: Christopher Smith II, S, Georgia
“Watching Jalen Carter’s film the last two days, Smith pops immediately too on Georgia’s tape. He’s a maniac who loves nothing more than getting a 20-yard running start before blowing someone up in the backfield. I know safety isn’t a premium position, but Smith was a starter on the national champion team’s defense for a reason. He can definitely work his way to being a starter at the next level.”
“An NCAA record-setting heptathlete on the track, Iosivas should be appealing for teams looking to add developmental speed on Day 3. He played in the Ivy League and skipped spring practice every season to run track, but he flashes legit ability at all three levels of the field on tape.”
Honorable Mentions:
There are many others that deserve mention as favorite players left on day three. Here are a few others that weren’t mentioned.
Jay Ward, S, LSU
Jay Ward is a versatile piece for any secondary. He can play as either a nickel or as a deep safety. He’ll be equally good at either and will be able to carve out a role as a third or fourth safety for a team. I believe he can be a budget version of Quan Martin, who the Commanders drafted at pick 47.
Nick Herbig, Edge, Wisconsin
Nick Herbig is a very intriguing player. There is not a consensus on where he will play at the next level. Some think he’s best as an edge rusher, others as an off-ball linebacker due to his size limitations. Either way, Herbig is a round 3 caliber player who fell. His skill set as a pass rusher is what is most enticing for me.
Daniel Scott, S, Cal
Daniel Scott is one of my favorite day-three safeties. He impressed me at the Senior Bowl where I thought he was one of the top safeties there. On his physicality there, Scott noted “We got full pads on… obviously got a little bit of jitters so you want to play a little faster, compete a little bit, but I just wanted to show, you know just cause I’m not six-five… and 200 something pounds I can still bang with people, still cover, show my versatility.” Overall, I think he will be a good value for whoever selects him.
Luke Wypler, iOL, Ohio State
Luke Wypler is one of my favorite centers in the draft. In fact, I like him more than some interior linemen draft on day two. He has very good movement ability and should have enough anchor to hold up at the next level. I believe someone is getting a starting caliber player on day three, given he goes into the right scheme.
Bryce Baringer, P, Michigan St
Bryce Baringer is the top punter in the draft this year, and whoever drafts him will get immediate improvement at that position (and won’t spend a 3rd rounder on it… 49ers). Baringer boomed punts for the Spartans this past season but has been working to improve his hangtime. Baringer talked about the switch from college to the NFL where there aren’t three or four guys that release on the snap, stressing the need for added hangtime, saying “If they can’t return it, I did my job”.
For the Cleveland Browns, day two of the NFL draft was pretty quiet, with just two selections in the third round and no trades. They attacked value with the first selection and attacked a need with the second selection. Overall, it was a fairly successful day two for the Browns. It could have been better, but it was still solid.
74: Cedric Tillman, WR, Tennessee
Photo Credit: AP Photo/Mark Humphrey
The Browns add another outside playmaker in Cedric Tillman out of Tennessee. Tillman battled injuries this past season, but he was extremely productive in 2021. In 2022, Tillman had 37 receptions for 417 yards and 3 touchdowns, for 11.3 YPR. However, in 2021 he had 64 catches for 1081 yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging 16.9 YPR.
If Tillman can stay healthy, he will be a productive outside receiver. Tillman ranked as the 62nd overall player and the 7th ranked receiver according to PFN’s consensus big board.
98: Siaki Ika, iDL, Baylor
Photo Credit: John E. Moore III via Getty Images
With their second pick on day two of the NFL draft, the Browns add a big bodied nose tackle who can be a good asset in run defense for Jim Schwartz’s defense. Ika comes in at 6027, 335lbs. His athleticism does not match up with what the Browns typically take, but the awful performance stopping the run last year may be a cause for this drastic departure from their typical selection.
Ika was the 73rd overall player and the 2nd ranked nose tackle, and the 6th overall defensive tackle according to PFN’s consensus big board.
Day Three Selections
Round 4, Pick 111
Round 4, Pick 126 (from Minnesota)
Round 5, Pick 142 (from L.A. Rams)
Round 5, Pick 144
Round 6, Pick 190
Round 7, Pick 229
With these picks, the Browns have the flexibility to move around on day three, as well as to accrue future capital. The Browns still have needs to fill, but there are a ton of players left that can be contributors to the team.
So, my thoughts on the Green Bay Packers picks from both day one and two of the NFL draft. They are very Gutekunst-esque, and I knew a lot of those “rumors” that came out the day before and the day of the first night didn’t make sense and were smokescreens.
Of course I have made some of my thoughts public already on Twitter, and the live stream I did on day two, but I will get all my thoughts out here organized. So let’s get to it, and don’t forget to check out my other writings.
Round one, Pick 13: Lukas Van Ness – ED – Iowa
From as far back as a month or two, he was one of the players I was predicting the Packers would draft. I kept saying either Van Ness, Myles Murphy, or Broderick Jones. He just made too much sense. The former Hawkeye is young, highly athletic, plays a premium position, has long arms, and plays with power. That’s why the JSN or Michael Mayer, or even Dalton Kincaid, talk that popped up last minute never made sense.
He will play a good chunk early on until Rashan Gary is back, but we should still see a lot of Kingsley Enagbare, as well. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were packages with him standing up over the center like Za’Darius Smith used to.
Round two, Pick 42: Luke Musgrave – TE – Oregon State
Musgrave was a player that I had identified as a potential fit for the Packers awhile ago. My only question was if LaFleur would want to — or know how to — use him? Since Gutey has been GM, the only tight end he has drafted was Josiah Deguara, who is more of an H-back. So that was a bit of an unknown.
Musgrave is an athletic freak, but you have to know what type of player you are getting when you draft him. I’ve made this comparison many times, but he is similar to Mike Gesicki in the sense of how you use him, and his skill set. He is not the type of tight end you line up at the Y 100% of his snaps. He is tall, long, and a bit linear. He’s not much of a blocker, although he can improve.
The former Beaver is a seam stretcher who wont get a lot of YAC unless he has a open lane. The best way to use him is probably detached 70-ish% of the time.
Reed is an interesting one. Out of full transparency, he wasn’t on my Packers draft board. I debated with myself on whether to have him on or not; I liked his film, but his arms were only 30 1/2″. The Packers typically like their receivers 32″ or longer, but of course Amari Rodgers had 30 1/2″ arms. Otherwise he hit all their benchmarks and his low RAS was mostly due to size and a not-so-great vertical.
The former Spartan also played bigger than his measurements. He dropped some weight for the combine, weighing over 190 at the Senior Bowl. He will be a weapon on offense and special teams.
Round three, Pick 78: Tucker Kraft – TE – South Dakota State
Kraft was another player that I had earmarked early on as a good fit with Green Bay. He is the type of tight end the Packers usually go for. Good size, good athleticism, and a solid all-around player as both a receiver and blocker. He has a wide body and can box out defenders. Kraft can also play inline or split out.
The former Jackrabbit of course still needs to be a better blocker and work on his routes, but he should develop into a solid Y tight end. Some have compared him to a better Dallas Goedert.
