The 2023 NFL Draft is complete, and the crazy undrafted free-agent period is all but officially finished (see where all of the prospects ended up, here.) What that means is — it’s time for undrafted free agent rankings. By now, everyone knows a handful of UDFAs ultimately make names for themselves.
Let’s rank this year’s class of UDFAs by talent, of course, and also situation, which for these players is absolutely critical.
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8. Eagles CBs Eli Ricks (Alabama) and Mekhi Garner (LSU)
Starting off with two throwback-y cornerbacks, both from the SEC who landed in Philadelphia with the entire Georgia Bulldogs program. I say throwback-y because Ricks and Garner are long, beat-you-up-at-the-line cornerbacks who don’t exude twitch and speed but are always around the football in coverage.
Now, the lesser athletic profiles will put them behind the eight-ball in what’s a decently crowded secondary. But James Bradberry has long been one of the lengthiest cornerbacks in football. There’s clearly a place for that type of defensive back in Philadelphia’s defense.
7. Jets WR Jason Brownlee (Southern Miss)
Brownlee is one of those lanky but super-springy leapers. His route-running didn’t appear to be brutal on film. either, and he was increasingly productive at Southern Miss. In three seasons, he had 135 grabs with 21 touchdowns at close to 16 yards per reception. He actually reminded me a lot of Laquon Treadwell on film. The Jets certainly have some weaponry for Aaron Rodgers at receiver, but there’s no telling which receiver Rodgers will jive with in his Jets tenure. And Browlee’s back-shoulder/rebounding mastery is comparable to Allen Lazard’s.
6. Giants WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (West Virginia)
Ford-Wheaton had one of the best combinations of size and explosiveness in the entire class at the position; he’s north of 6-foot-3 and 221 pounds with 4.38 speed. DK Metcalf-ian, really. Ford-Wheaton’s hands are iffy, but not so iffy that he deserved to go undrafted. He is already 23, which doesn’t help his perceived upside. Anyway, with the Giants, there really…
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