2023 NFL Draft: Highlighting risers and fallers on the PFF draft board

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Tennessee Volunteers offensive lineman Darnell Wright (58) blocks at the line of scrimmage against Pittsburgh Panthers defensive lineman Calijah Kancey (8) in overtime at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The 2023 NFL Draft will be here in the blink of an eye.

With just over two weeks to go until the Carolina Panthers are officially put on the clock, teams and draft analysts alike are putting in the final hours of film study and finalizing their draft boards.

The PFF draft board isn't finalized just yet — though the current top 150 can be found here — but here are the risers and fallers from our latest update.

Editor's note: Be sure to download the latest edition of the PFF draft guide, which is loaded with more than 300 pages of PFF-exclusive advanced stats, grades and analysis on some of the top prospects expected to enter the draft.

RISERS

T DARNELL WRIGHT, TENNESSEE

Previous rank: 70
New rank: 20

Bottom Line: Wright is an ascending tackle with a ton of experience against top competition in a class chock-full of inexperienced tackles.

Click here for advanced stats, grades and a deep-dive analysis


IOL CHANDLER ZAVALA, N.C. STATE

Previous rank142
New rank: 70

Bottom Line: Zavala is an ascending guard prospect whose lack of FBS playing time shouldn't scare anyone off.

Click here for advanced stats, grades and a deep-dive analysis


S Anthony Johnson Jr., Iowa State

Previous rank354
New rank: 69

Bottom Line: You can't ask for a more encouraging first year switching from corner to safety. Johnson has the traits to be a long-term starter at the position.

Click here for advanced stats, grades and a deep-dive analysis


T Cody Mauch, North Dakota State

Previous rank88
New rank: 56

Bottom Line: Mauch is an outstanding fit for any team that gets their offensive linemen out on the move in the run game. It just might take him a few years to get there in pass protection.

Click here for advanced stats, grades and a deep-dive analysis


CB Cory Trice, Purdue

Previous rank302
New rank: 95

Bottom Line: If you're using a press-heavy scheme, Trice is high on your board. If not, you're probably not even evaluating him as a corner.

Click here for advanced stats, grades and a deep-dive analysis

FALLERS

S Christopher Smith, Georgia

Previous rank94
New rank: 131

Bottom Line: Smith is on the smaller side for a safety and isn’t the kind of player you want in the box consistently. But he is one of the best in the class at filling from deep and making a ton of plays on the back end.

Click here for advanced stats, grades and a deep-dive analysis


CB Eli Ricks, Alabama

Previous rank61
New rank: 107

Bottom Line: Ricks missed a large portion of 2022 after transferring from LSU to Alabama, but when he locked receivers down when he was on the field. He yielded all of six catches on 19 targets for 77 yards with five pass breakups on the year.

Click here for advanced stats, grades and a deep-dive analysis


RB Keaton Mitchell, Eastern Carolina

Previous rank140
New rank: 144

Bottom Line: Mitchell is lightning in a bottle. He’s got the kind of burners that don’t get caught from behind. He recorded 31 carries of 15-plus yards to lead all of college football in 2022.

Click here for advanced stats, grades and a deep-dive analysis


ED Mike Morris, Michigan

Previous rank101
New rank: 158

Bottom Line: Morris may not be the kind of athlete who is drafted in the first round, but he's a darn good football player on tape with an NFL-projectable body.

Click here for advanced stats, grades and a deep-dive analysis

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