With each passing week, the 2023 NFL Draft pool gets a little bit deeper. Which 2023 NFL Draft sleepers put themselves on the map in Week 1, and who should you keep an eye on as potential high-value acquisitions?
2023 NFL Draft sleepers to watch in Week 2
Jaylen Harrell, EDGE, Michigan
Naturally, David Ojabo’s breakout will draw eyes to Michigan’s EDGE room in 2022. There’s certainly talent to work with, and as we saw last Saturday, development may already be underway. Eyabi Anoma, Braiden McGregor, and Jaylen Harrell all flashed against Colorado State.
Yet, Harrell may have had the most impressive performance. The 6’4″, 246-pound defender was a factor on several sacks with his constant pressure generation and proved to be an asset in run defense with his hot motor and athleticism in space. A former highly-touted recruit, Harrell is getting his chance to shine. And just like Ojabo, he may run with it.
Tayvion Robinson, WR, Kentucky
Wan’Dale Robinson was the go-to weapon for Kentucky in 2021. And with his departure via the 2022 NFL Draft, a void remained this past offseason. The Wildcats have visibly filled it with Virginia Tech transfer Tayvion Robinson, who had six catches for 136 yards in his Kentucky debut.
Ironically, the new Robinson has similar dynamic ability after the catch to his like-named predecessor. But at 5’11”, 187 pounds, the latter Robinson is bigger, with a much wider wingspan. As Robinson continues to gain chemistry with Will Levis, his stock as a three-level weapon should only continue to rise.
Brandon Kipper, G, Oregon State
In time, we may see multiple members of the Oregon State offensive line populate NFL rosters. It’s a talented unit with a particular strength on the interior. Jake Levengood is a rock-solid center whose stock is rising after his Week 1 performance. And Brandon Kipper is another interior blocker with NFL aspirations.
Unlike Levengood, Kipper has size on his side — he’s a massive blocker at 6’6″, 327 pounds, who also shows good mobility and knee bend for his size. And in the run game, he naturally displaces defenders with his power. He’s a sound, well-rounded prospect who could get more love as the season progresses.
Roger Rosengarten, OT, Washington
He’s only a third-year player, so there’s a good chance Roger Rosengarten returns to school. But his performance against Kent State in Week 1 — his first career start at right tackle — should get him on the NFL draft radar, whether in 2023 or 2024. The 6’6″, 303-pound blocker — who was a high four-star recruit coming out — flashed brightly in both pass protection and run support.
For such a young player, Rosengarten already has great technique and hand replacement as a pass blocker, and his athleticism and length combine for impressive power capacity on the ground. Keep an eye on No. 73 — he’s a dude.
Ben VanSumeren, LB, Michigan State
Week 1 was a dominant showing from Michigan State’s transfer acquisitions. Jacoby Windmon, a definite NFL draft riser, had four sacks, and Khris Bogle chipped in with his own. Aaron Brule was disruptive, and Daniel Barker had a touchdown on the offensive side. But one of the most impressive performances came from a 2021 transfer addition: Linebacker Ben VanSumeren.
VanSumeren, standing at 6’3″, 235 pounds, was once a Michigan signee with a documented 40″ vertical. He’s a certifiable athlete with eye-catching range, a trait that allowed him to rack up 11 tackles and a tackle for loss. Big Ten play will be a bigger test for him, but he has the physical tools to keep rising.
Amari Burney, LB/S, Florida
This Florida team is legit. There are layers of prospects on both sides of the ball — early-round hopefuls that you can’t look away from, as well as sleepers with underrated NFL projections. Amari Burney falls in the latter category. The fifth-year senior stands at 6’2″, 228 pounds, and mans the hybrid STAR position for the Gators.
A former wide receiver and safety in high school with a documented 4.48 40-yard dash coming out, Burney has the traits and used them to his advantage on Saturday. Burney made seven tackles and caught the game-clinching pick, making a terrific read and break on a red-zone pass. Versatility, athleticism, energy — these are things that Burney provides.
Brian Ugwu, EDGE, Miami (OH)
The stat sheet says one sack and one tackle for loss, but Brian Ugwu’s impact went beyond even that in Miami’s Week 1 game against Kentucky. The Wildcats eventually pulled away with this one, but the RedHawks’ defensive line gave Kentucky’s front five a lot of trouble, and Ugwu played no small part in that.
Despite being just 6’3″, 246 pounds, Ugwu was able to push the pocket from 3-technique with his power and play strength. And on the edge, he showcased enough burst to surge into contact and rip around the corner. After losing Dominique Robinson to the 2022 NFL Draft, the RedHawks have another EDGE to watch.
Mohamed Kamara, EDGE, Colorado State
Colorado State’s outing against Michigan was mostly a game to forget. But EDGE rusher Mohamed Kamara was a bright spot for an ailing Rams team. Kamara emerged in 2021 with 6.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss, and that production carried over on Saturday.
Kamara most impressive play was a third-down sack where he set up his blocker with a jab-step inside. He then used a swim to get outside and stacked a quick rip move to break into the pocket. At 6’1″, 250 pounds, Kamara is undersized, but he has good frame density and proportional length, and he showed he could use his traits effectively on Saturday.
Dante Cephas, WR, Kent State
The Golden Flashes weren’t always able to find an offensive rhythm in their Week 1 45-20 loss against the Washington Huskies. But when they did, Dante Cephas was often the catalyst. The redshirt junior had six catches for 105 yards and a score last weekend.
Even in an assumed talent mismatch against Washington’s secondary, Cephas kept finding ways to break free and make an impact. He’s an explosive weapon at 6’1″, 186 pounds, who can find space over the middle. But he also plays strong after the catch, insulating his three-level upside.
Quindell Johnson, S, Memphis
Quindell Johnson is the consummate 2023 NFL Draft sleeper. For three seasons, he’s been productive for the Memphis defense. From 2019 to 2021, he amassed 243 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, a sack, six interceptions, and 20 pass deflections. He’s a good player with legitimate explosiveness and a solid frame at 6’0″, 205 pounds. His Week 1 showing was just an extension of his career as a whole.
Johnson flew around the field with nine total tackles, a fumble recovery, and a pick-six on an overthrow. You expect 2023 NFL Draft prospects to stand out at the Group of Five level, and Johnson does.
2023 NFL Draft sleepers at the FCS level
Robert Mitchell, G, North Carolina Central
It wasn’t a big-ticket FCS vs. FBS matchup, but Robert Mitchell stood out in the Duke’s Mayo Classic last weekend, which pitted NC Central against North Carolina A&T. Whenever the Eagles needed a push up front, they went Mitchell’s way.
The 6’4″, 305-pound redshirt senior doesn’t have overwhelming size, but he can violently extend after making contact and drive defenders back with complete power exertion. He consistently finished blocks in Week 1 and showed active hands in pass protection, more than once rocking rushers with snatch-and-trap moves. NC Central plays Campbell on October 1, so keep an eye out for Mitchell vs. Brevin Allen.
Ben McNaboe, EDGE, North Dakota
North Dakota gave Nebraska an admirable fight in Week 1, and the presence of EDGE rusher Ben McNaboe made a tangible impact on the Fighting Hawks’ defense. McNaboe doesn’t have great size — he’s listed at 6’3″, 240 pounds, with average length at best. But on Saturday, the former Minnesota commit won in multiple ways, nonetheless.
McNaboe notched a sack early on, using lateral agility and hand strength to levy a quick inside swim on right tackle Bryce Benhart. Later, he also had a nice speed rush, getting around the apex with burst and ankle flexion, flushing the QB out. McNaboe used his big-ticket matchup to his advantage.