Better-Than Team for 2023 NFL Draft: Here are the prospects Pete Prisco likes more than scouts do

When watching tape to prepare for the NFL Draft, one of the things I love to see in a player is how violent they are playing the game. We know it’s a violent game, but there are some guys who play with a little more of the nasty than others.

One of those guys is San Jose State edge player Viliami Fehoko. There isn’t a battle he backs down from, which is why he is such an intriguing prospect. When he attacks, he does so with brute power and force, often times knocking the opposition back or stopping them clear in their tracks as they try to block him.

At 6-foot-4 and 276 pounds, with 33-inch arms, he played a multitude of positions for the Spartans, lining up inside as well as in a stand-up rush position. That versatility, coupled with his ability to rush the passer from all spots and to play with a toughness scouts love, are why he’s the captain of this year’s Better-Than team, a team made up of players I like more than the scouts.

Being the captain has prestige of sorts. Guys who were captains in past years were Lavonte David, Jason Pierre-Paul, Jimmie Ward and Grady Jarrett.

Players who have been on the team in the past who were drafted after the first round, only to go on to be star players, were Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, Bills receiver Stefon Diggs, 49ers tight end George Kittle and Vikings edge player Za’Darius Smith. Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett, Jets receiver Allen Lazard and Vikings right tackle Brian O’Neill were also on the team in the past.

That doesn’t mean there haven’t been misses. Who can forget when quarterback Christian Ponder was my captain or when former Patriots corner JoeJuan Williams, who hasn’t come close to expectations, was the captain in 2019 and was a second-round bust.

Fehoko has to hope he falls in line with the captains that made it. I think he will. Fehoko finished with 23 sacks in his San Jose State career, with nine last season, getting them from a variety of spots. The one thing that stands out about his game in addition to his tough play are his pass-rush moves and good hands. That’s usually a problem for young players, but it’s a strength of his game. His spin moves are among the best in this draft.

Fehoko isn’t the type of player who will beat a tackle with pure speed, but he can get to the quarterback thanks to his power and pass-rush techniques. With the way teams are looking for…