2023 NFL Draft: Which sleepers improved their stock during the all-star circuit? (2024)

The all-star games are over. The exercise Olympics are on deck.

With the Senior, Shrine and NFLPA Collegiate Bowls in the books, and pro days and the combine happening soon, let’s take a look at 22 NFL Draft sleepers (broken down by position) who have turned heads over the last few weeks. These aren’t necessarily top-50 prospects, but instead are players who have done enough to be firmly in the draft conversation.

Quarterback

Aidan O’Connell, Purdue: Fresno State’s Jake Haener was the most consistent passer at the Senior Bowl, but it was a very up-and-down week for the QBs there. Meanwhile, O’Connell (9,219 yards, 65 touchdowns and 30 interceptions for his career) seemed to have a fine showing at the Shrine Bowl, along with UCLA’s Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

O’Connell (6-foot-3, 212 pounds) plays with outstanding vision and processing skills, enough to overcome a lack of ideal arm strength. He’s hardly a perfect prospect, but if you’re looking for a young No. 2 who will keep improving as he grows, O’Connell fits.

"Aidan O'Connell does a lot of things that make you shake your head and say, 'Nobody can be like this. This guy's too good to be true.'"

The latest example came last week, when the QB led @BoilerFootball to the West title following the death of his brother, Sean. pic.twitter.com/DUkti470f2

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) December 3, 2022

Running back

Eric Gray, Oklahoma: Gray (5-9, 210) wasn’t the smallest back at the Senior Bowl, but it was pretty close. He’s not going to be an every-down thumper in anything resembling a power scheme and his pass protection needs work. However, there is a lot Gray can do for an NFL team, right now, with the football in his hands.

Gray and Tulane RB Tyjae Spears not only were among the fastest players on the field in Mobile last week, they were arguably the most elusive. Gray’s ability to create separation as a route runner out of the backfield was on full display —he probably could work from the slot — and his frame is big enough to handle arm tackles as he weaves through traffic. Gray caught 99 passes in college (spread over stops at Oklahoma and Tennessee), and he has plenty of D’Andre Swift-like qualities.

Wide receiver

Nathaniel “Tank” Dell, Houston: The 5-8, 163-pound Dell had, perhaps, college football’s best and most ironic nickname, although it’s probably more apt than you think. Dell’s not big enough to be a tank, but after he’s done putting defensive backs through the spin cycle with sudden cuts and speed bursts, they may feel as if they’ve been run over by some military equipment.

Houston WR Tank Dell. An actual tank? Who am I to say. Can really run though.

💥💥📈📈https://t.co/Fpxk0S0nsw pic.twitter.com/3gcdK3TE2O

— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) February 7, 2023

Anything Dell loses in size, he makes up for with his ability to start, stop and separate. His top speed in Mobile was north of 20 miles per hour. More important, though, is his ability to change direction without losing speed. Bell’s cuts are sudden and involve his entire frame, and he’s able to create separation multiple times within one route because of that. Dell’s size is a concern, but his quickness at the line of scrimmage makes it a challenge for larger DBs. You can’t punch what you can’t catch.

Michael Wilson, Stanford: Wilson has missed more games than he’s played over the last three seasons. Any evaluation of him starts with that sentence. However, when he’s healthy and in shape, he looks terrific. A full-body route runner with good size and body control, Wilson (6-1, 216) was able to create separation during Senior Bowl practices with route precision underneath, while showing good speed and outstanding play strength to finish downfield.

Wilson averaged 16.1 yards per catch on 26 receptions over six games last year, but his stats really don’t tell the tale. One of the fastest players in Mobile, Wilson’s top on-field deceleration time (how quickly a player slows down mid-route) also was better than any other Senior Bowl receiver.

Jake Haener finds Michael Wilson for the TD!

A @FresnoStateFB to @StanfordFball connection for the National Team!

📺: @seniorbowl on NFL Network pic.twitter.com/ZZPWydGGcx

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) February 4, 2023

Jonathan Mingo, Ole Miss:Mingo (6-1, 226) runs routes a lot like Wilson does, only he’s bigger, longer and stronger. Mingo’s 76 1/4-inch wingspan was among the top numbers at the Senior Bowl and, like Wilson, he’s able to carry his weight with ease. He often moves like a 180-pounder without giving up any of his play strength.

If not for a foot injury that required multiple surgeries (and cost him seven games) in 2021, Mingo might already be in the league. That injury history will be something evaluators have to investigate fully. The talent, however, is undeniable.

Tight end

Payne Durham, Purdue: The erratic QB play in Mobile may have helped Durham, as the 6-5, 258-pounder was able to show his large catch radius time and time again — he made several impressive plays in the air against multiple defenders. Durham has great length (33 1/4-inch arms) and plays with terrific body control as a route runner and at the catch point.

He has work to do as a blocker, but he can make contested catches and be a chain-moving option.

Offensive line

McClendon Curtis, G, Chattanooga: Curtis was among the most consistent offensive linemen in Mobile. He was good in one-on-ones and team work, regardless of the competition. He repped at both guard spots and even kicked out for some tackle work at one practice. Curtis has outstanding length (35-inch arms) to go with a great frame (6-5, 331), but most important: He knows how to use all of it.

Steve Avila, G/C, TCU: The longer TCU kept playing last season, the less of a sleeper Avilla became. After his performance in Mobile, he may no longer even qualify for this list. Avila (6-3, 332) is a very good football player and saw time at every spot along the offensive line during his TCU career, including 11 starts at center in 2021. He’s likely going to be a guard at the next level, but his versatility, football IQ and quickness could make him a steal for someone in the middle rounds.

Juice Scruggs, C, Penn State: One of the best offensive line performers at the Shrine Bowl, Scruggs’ biggest physical asset inside is his length. The 6-3, 308-pound center has 33 3/8-inch arms (and 10 1/4-inch hands), and he showed an ability to put it all together during Shrine practices in Las Vegas, especially in pass protection.

This is not a deep center class, by any stretch, and teams are going to split hairs on guys like Cody Mauch and Olu Oluwatimi to find the best of the bunch. As the process wears on, Scruggs’ length and ability to win consistently over the ball in pass protection could give him an edge.

. @JuiceScruggs going to work at @ShrineBowl practice! 💪#NFLDraft | @PennStateFball pic.twitter.com/iALPDRcP2O

— Priority Sports (@PrioritySports) January 28, 2023

Nick Broeker, G, Ole Miss: Broeker and BYU’s Blake Freeland were the most athletic offensive linemen at the Senior Bowl; Broeker was the more explosive of the two. His speed at the snap was good enough to make up for play-strength issues, as he often was able to fire off the ball and climb to the second level before linebackers could properly ID a play. Broeker is not a mauler, but in a zone scheme — tucked next to a mauler — he could be really effective. While a lack of length and strength will be an issue throughout the process, his movement skills are there.

Quinton Barrow, OT, Grand Valley State: The Senior Bowl tackles on the rise don’t really count as sleepers anymore — Matthew Bergeron and Darnell Wright were great; Wanya Morris also helped himself. However, Barrow absolutely qualifies. A Shrine Bowl participant, Barrow measured in with 34 1/4-inch arms and flashed good foot speed for a 6-5, 322-pound tackle. The GLIAC Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2022, he had a 96.7 percent pass pro efficiency grade from Grand Valley’s staff last season.

Defensive line

Karl Brooks, Bowling Green:Perhaps the most unique pass rusher in the 2022 class, Brooks was an edge defender (who played plenty in a two-point stance) at Bowling Green. He also was one of the nation’s most productive pass rushers, finishing this past season with 69 pressures. He did that at 6-3, 303 with only 32 1/4-inch arms. He’s oddly shaped for an edge but can be really effective as a quick and powerful interior tackle.

We’ll see how Brooks holds up versus the run at the next level, but the former high school receiver has versatility, football smarts and a lot of quickness.

KARL BROOKS entered the CHAT 📲

The first sack of the @seniorbowl went to Karl Brooks ‼️#KB11 finished his great week in Mobile in style 😤#ToTheMoon 🟠🟤 x #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/PmLqq4njUx

— BG Football (@BG_Football) February 5, 2023

Adetomiwa Adebawore, Northwestern:The 6-1, 284-pound Adebawore was one of the longest defensive linemen at the Senior Bowl (34-inch arms, 82 1/8-inch wingspan). He also had some of the biggest hands at the entire event (10 7/8 inches). His punch can be lethal and if it doesn’t get you, his hand strength will. A violent player inside, Adebawore could probably hang in at a few different spots, including on the edge.

Edge

Dylan Horton, TCU: Horton’s lack of size (6-3, 265, 32 3/4-inch arms) is going to be a concern for some. When you line him up next to an edge like Notre Dame’s Isaiah Foskey, you can see the physical difference. However, when you turn Horton’s tape on or watch him compete … you see that, too.

One of the fastest defensive linemen at the Senior Bowl (18.26 mph top speed), Horton also really plays with great hands. They’re powerful, quick and relentless. Horton is never out of a fight, even against longer linemen who might get the jump on him early in a rep, which doesn’t happen often.

.@seniorbowl scouts have seen plenty of good tape on @TCUFootball EDGE Dylan Horton over past two years. @dhorton_98 has rush versatility from 2-pt/3-pt and good combo length & power. HS safety is now 275 lbs & will blowup Combine (38.0 VJ, 10’ BJ).#TheDraftStartsInMOBILE™️ pic.twitter.com/397ASTu2CU

— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) October 8, 2022

Derick Hall, Auburn:The fastest edge at the Senior Bowl (19.12 mph top speed), the 6-2, 252-pound Hall measured in with 34 3/8-inch arms and the longest wingspan (83 inches) of any defensive player in Mobile. He can convert speed to power with that length, and while not every rep is perfect, he’s as twitched-up an edge athlete as you’ll see in this class. Georgia Tech’s Keion White is probably the better athlete (and overall prospect), but don’t sleep on Hall. There’s a lot to like.

Linebacker

Ivan Pace Jr., Cincinnati: A stack of bricks that can run, Pace (5-10, 231) is as tenacious as he is smart on a football field. A Luke Fickell linebacker all the way, Pace overcomes his size limitations by never finding himself out of place, either in coverage or against the run. He’s not afraid to get downhill in the run game, and he brings plenty of lumber when he finds the ball carrier. There will be limitations to what he can do in coverage, but there aren’t many areas in which he struggles or makes mistakes when playing in the stack. You have to look beyond the size.

Marte Mapu, Sacramento State: Mapu is a back-seven hybrid who worked plenty with the linebackers at the Senior Bowl. He has safety traits, though, and played a lot of nickel in college for the Hornets and coach Troy Taylor (who’s now at Stanford). Mapu had seven interceptions and 22 pass breakups at Sacramento State, to go along with 165 career tackles. The 6-2, 217-pounder has 33 3/8-inch arms — longer than several offensive linemen in Mobile.

Mapu can defend tight ends, and he spent most of his time at the Senior Bowl proving he’s capable of getting downhill and defending the run from the stack. He was one of the most explosive defenders, via GPS results, throughout the week.

Daiyan Henley, Washington State: A wide receiver turned linebacker at Nevada, Henley produced 106 tackles (12 tackles for loss), four sacks and three forced fumbles during his lone season with Washington State. He (6-foot, 230) was the third-fastest linebacker on the field during Senior Bowl practices. What’s more, his 33-inch arms can help in coverage and make him an asset as a blitzer.

Cornerback

Darius Rush, South Carolina: Rush was Dane Brugler’s Senior Bowl winner of the week at cornerback, and for good reason. He is a great example of why length only really matters if you know what you’re doing with it, which Rush absolutely does. He was able to use his near-80-inch wingspan to constantly undercut routes and get his hands on passes. The 6-1, 196-pound Rush also was the fastest Senior Bowl cornerback in terms of top play speed, topping out at 21.65 miles per hour.

Julius Brents, Kansas State: Speaking of length, Brents offers size that would make many offensive tackles envious. The 6-3, 202-pound corner has 33 3/4-inch arms and an 82 7/8-inch wingspan. He’s also an under-control athlete who can play both in man and zone. In Mobile, he showed good eye discipline and an understanding of what to do with all that length. During one-on-ones, Brents was able to cut off a few routes before they even had a chance.

Official Senior Bowl Measurements #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE™️ pic.twitter.com/kWNk4eM2z0

— Reese's Senior Bowl (@seniorbowl) January 31, 2023

Safety

Sydney Brown, Illinois: Another of Brugler’s top performers from the Senior Bowl, Brown got better at something on every rep. He was the most vocal player in any team scenario, too, constantly sorting traffic pre-snap to get teammates lined up properly. And, of course, he was always around the ball. Brown and Rush may have helped themselves more than any other defenders in Mobile.

Illinois CB Devon Witherspoon has drawn a ton of attention early in the draft process, and rightly so, but Brown (brother of Illini RB prospect Chase Brown) should be high on that discussion list.

#Illinois SAF Sydney Brown had his best practice on Thursday.

Great example of his ability to play through the hands of the receiver and turn catches into incompletions. pic.twitter.com/pKEPGUIAkd

— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) February 3, 2023

Jammie Robinson, Florida State:Robinson measured in at 5-10, 196 and doesn’t have great length (29 5/8-inch arms), but he showed very good speed and general movement skills — notably, he maintained great balance throughout contact in coverage. Robinson’s a physical player who can be hard to shake off a route, especially for tight ends or receivers trying to win with power. He had 23 pass breakups and seven picks during his college career, which started at South Carolina and ended with the Seminoles.

(Photo of Nathaniel “Tank” Dell: James Guillory / USA Today)