seats 10 to 6 – Café Crème Sport

The NFL season is over, it’s time for the Draft! On April 27, no less than 250 newcomers ready to smash everything in the big league will be called. To best prepare for this annual celebration, the CCS invites you to come back to our 50 favorite prospects. After evaluating all of this vintage, here are the 50 former university players who obtained the best marks. To decide between them, Hugo and Cyprien each made their own ranking. The rankings were then aggregated to obtain an average position per player. The 50 winners will be presented to you each week in groups of 5. Here they are!

10 – Paris Johnson, OT, Ohio State

At Hugo’s: 8

At Cyp: 17

WE love :

A 2m giant with a wingspan of 2m15, it necessarily attracts the eye. A former 5-star recruit, Johnson is the desired physical and athletic prototype for Left Tackle’s premium position. The main argument for the Buckeye is that it combines this ultra imposing size with very light feet. Whether in small or large spaces, Paris Johnson’s lower body seems almost supernatural for a man with such a massive body. The phrase “dancing bear” comes up a lot in scouting circles for athletic Left Tackles. Johnson is certainly one of those who best represents this expression. The chasing step of the Columbus Tackle is perfectly fluid and gives it a feeling of ease. Beyond being tall and agile, his general coordination and flexibility are simply rare.

We like less:

On the lower body, it’s a treat. Above the belt, it’s more complicated, especially technically. Johnson is too immature in his hand technique. His punch is imprecise, sent with suspicious timing to say the least, and that leaves his chest too vulnerable. At this time, his size serves him as he becomes fragile against the bullrush.

9 – Peter Skoronski, OL, Northwestern

At Hugo’s: 19

At Cyp: 5

WE love :

Skoronski is the ultimate Lineman. The technique of a veteran, the light and synchronized feet, the compact shoulders and the precise punch… All the boxes that an Offensive Lineman is asked to tick, the former Northwestern ticks them hands down. Here we are faced with an ultra-complete profile and, concretely, a prospect that could not be cleaner. So complete that Skoronski’s other great strength is his versatility. It’s simple, if we call him an “Offensive Lineman” it means that he is quite capable of filling the 5 positions on the line. A quality on which we place a great deal of importance at the CCS.

We like less:

Skoronski is one of those prospects who have ONE flaw, but a big one. In this case, it is the wingspan. Measured at 81.9cm, “Skoro’s” arms are well below the 83.8 bearing set for OTs. And as with boxers, wingspan is hugely important to the Tackles. This deficit leads many to think that Skoronski would be more of a Guard than a Tackle. This repositioning would mask his physical flaws, but at the cost of playing a position with lower added value. All scenarios remain possible at the present time, and it remains difficult not to see Skoronski becoming an excellent professional.

8 – Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois

At Hugo’s: 14

At Cyp: 9

WE love :

Devon Witherspoon is everyone’s favorite in this class. And we will certainly not oppose the consensus. The CB is the result when you add a strong football IQ and an unconditional love of contact. His fierce and spectacular tackles have already made the rounds of the web. Athletically, its changes of direction are instantaneous and we will qualify its top speed as sufficient. Witherspoon’s strength on the cover is his gray matter. He knows exactly what to expect from the attack, and it’s not uncommon to see him anticipating his opponents’ moves. To put it simply: throw in his area if you dare, he only asks for that!

We like less:

Athletically and physically, Witherspoon fits right in. By drafting him, you shouldn’t expect to recruit a physical phenomenon, it’s not his game. Will he be able to perform against the “big boys” of the NFL, not to be outdone to provide athletes from elsewhere ? We will also monitor its resistance over the long term. He finished this season injured and one wonders if his style of play is reasonable in an NFL that will not give him gifts.

7 – Nolan Smith, LB, Georgia

At Hugo’s: 8

At Cyp: 12

WE love :

Look at Georgia’s defense, we dare you not to notice number 4. It’s the former No. 1 high school rookie in the nation, an athletic freak who Kirby Smart made his defensive point guard: Nolan Smith. Arguably one of the most unique players in the class, Smith is a very thin and flexible outside linebacker with a devastating first step. Against the pass, he is a speed rusher with obvious athletic talent. Against the race, and despite his big weight deficit… he’s a demon. He’s simply the best run defenseman in the class. Smith can stand up to the physical challenge against 20-kilo heavier Linemen, as well as he can slip under them if they over-commit. As if that weren’t enough, he is very smart in his reading of the game, can fall back on cover when needed, and plays with daunting energy. He was the leader of the best college defense for 2 years, and there is nothing wrong with his attitude. It’s hard to have missed his stratospheric Combine, but let’s be clear: there is a real football player behind the athlete.

We like less:

If we draft an Edge rusher, it is above all for his prowess in the pass rush. And on this point, Smith has some catching up to do. All the physical talent is there, but everything remains to be done on the technique. His very polymorphic profile and his use at Georgia did not help develop this aspect of his game. Add to that an injury that ended his season prematurely, and there is an incomplete aftertaste of the university career. of the high school superstar.

6 – Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame

At Hugo’s: 14

At Cyp: 4

WE love :

Mayer is THE Tight End. In all facets of the game, he epitomizes position. As his position demands, Mayer is as dominant in blocking as he is in receiving. In the racing game, it can ensure multiple assignments, and maintains the same ferocity regardless of the type of block. Far from making up the numbers, it’s a real factor that can easily be described as 6th Lineman. What often comes up in Mayer’s assessment are his hands. Whether to maintain his block, but also in the passing game. To create separation, he knows how to use his arms as his main weapons when running his tracks. He is thus able to offer a quick passing window to his QB. At the time of receiving, one comes back to one’s mighty hands. Mayer has the mental focus and physical strength to land with the ball in his position even with multiple defenders on his back.

We like less:

Will Mayer be a dominant TE? In the block, yes. At the reception… There is debate. We have no problem seeing him enter the top 15 of his position, but to guarantee a high selection, it would take more. And when we talk about the top of the basket in this position, we almost always come across huge athletes. Mayer just not being an alien like the Pitts, Waller, Kelce or Kittle, we see him staying a notch below as a pro. It remains to be seen where GMs will be comfortable with this.

The TOP 50 of the 2023 NFL Draft:

50 to 46 – 45 to 41 – 40 to 36 – 35 to 31 – 30 to 26 – 25 to 21 – 20 to 16 –15 to 11