We can only cover so much ground when conducting preliminary 2023 NFL Draft scouting in the summer. The 2022 season will inevitably bring countless new developments, and breakout stars will emerge on the NFL draft stage. We can’t predict every breakout. But with our 2023 NFL Draft All-Breakout Candidate Team, we can point you in the right direction.
2023 NFL Draft All-Breakout Team: Offense
Like Jameson Williams and Kenneth Walker III in the cycle before, the 2023 NFL Draft class is packed with explosive potential on the offensive side of the ball. Scroll through to see the top breakout candidates at each position. For the full positional lists, view the links below.
Quarterback | Running Back | Wide Receiver | Tight End | Offensive Tackle | Interior Offensive Line
Quarterback
Anthony Richardson, Florida
He carries just 66 career attempts into the 2022 season, but Anthony Richardson is locked into the starting role for Florida. With awe-inspiring physical tools and arm talent, he has the traits to buoy a massive ascent.
Running Back
Kenny McIntosh, Georgia
After losing James Cook and Zamir White, Georgia will likely turn to Kenny McIntosh to head their RB group. McIntosh has been hyper-efficient in a limited sample, and he can shine with his smooth athleticism and natural receiving ability.
Trey Benson, Florida State
A bigger back with the athleticism and fleet-footed style of a smaller one, former Oregon commit Trey Benson has been getting rave reviews this offseason. A change of scenery could be just what he needs to emerge at Florida State.
Wide Receiver
Jermaine Burton, Georgia
The logical fallacy of association will naturally connect Jameson Williams to Jermaine Burton when discussing breakouts. But by now, we know Alabama can develop receivers. And Burton, with his stocky frame and natural catching ability, has the tools to rise.
Jaden Walley, Mississippi State
Makai Polk leaving opens the door for Jaden Walley to take over as the Bulldogs’ premier pass-catching weapon. Walley may only be 6’0″, 180 pounds, but he’s athletic, flexible, tough, and a true three-level weapon.
Jordan Watkins, Ole Miss
Formerly of Louisville, there’s a sense that Jordan Watkins’ potential was never fully unleashed in the Cardinals’ offense. Luckily, his mix of speed, explosiveness, and loose hips is tailor-made for Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss Rebels.
Tight End
Arik Gilbert, Georgia
Perhaps one of the most anticipated prospects of the past few cycles, Arik Gilbert appears on track to suit up for Georgia in 2022. His rare mix of functional athleticism and play strength sets the foundation for a potentially drastic ascent this coming season.
Jahleel Billingsley, Texas
The heavily-anticipated 2021 breakout never came to pass for Jahleel Billingsley. But now that he’s found a new home at Texas, perhaps he can realize his potential as a dynamic and versatile pass-catching threat. Not only is Billingsley incredibly talented, but he has a lot of talent to play off of.
Offensive Tackle
Tyler Steen, Alabama
From the depths of the SEC to the very top, Tyler Steen has come. Steen started at Vanderbilt in 2021 and will now, presumably, replace Evan Neal at left tackle in 2022. Technically, Steen has room to keep improving, but he has great power capacity and change of direction for his size.
Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State
Olumuyiwa Fashanu only started Penn State’s bowl game in 2021, but he engineered flashes of brilliance in his first career start. The 6’6″, 321-pound blocker has imposing length, but his suddenness and mobility for his size is what’s truly eye-catching.
Offensive Guard
O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida
With his 6’5″, 335-pound frame, O’Cyrus Torrence dominated Sun Belt competition for three seasons. He’s a known quantity at this point, but a standout season at Florida, against SEC competition, can vault Torrence into the early rounds.
Tre’Mond Shorts, LSU
Tre’Mond Shorts previously played at ETSU, where his 6’5″, 340-pound frame allowed him to bully the competition. With 41 starts under his belt, Shorts brings needed ability and experience, as well as a desire to put himself on the map against Power Five competition.
Center
Olusegun Oluwatimi, Michigan
Olusegun Oluwatimi has his fans already. But playing under the bright lights at defending playoff competitor Michigan will truly allow him to gain notoriety on the national stage. Strong, steady, and well-leveraged, Oluwatimi profiles as a dependable center man.
2023 NFL Draft All-Breakout Team: Defense
The 2022 NFL Draft was defined by nothing, if not the breakout stars on defense. Travon Walker rose from sleeper territory to No. 1 overall pick, and prospects like Jermaine Johnson II, David Ojabo, and Quay Walker helped strengthen the talent pool later in the cycle. Who might experience this kind of rise in the 2023 NFL Draft? As was the case for the offense, view the links below to see the full positional lists.
Defensive Tackle | EDGE | Linebacker | Defensive Backs
Defensive Tackle
Omari Thomas, Tennessee
Alongside Matthew Butler, Omari Thomas often flashed in 2021, helping to form one of the most explosive DT duos in the country. Thomas’ burst is a central part of his game, along with his play strength and proportional length at 6’4″, 316 pounds.
Alfred Collins, Texas
All you need to know about Alfred Collins’ talent is this. He’s 6’5″, around 300 pounds, and at times was able to play JACK linebacker in 2021. He’s a truly uncommon physical talent, with striking burst, length, and power capacity. Moving to the interior full-time will be very good for Collins.
EDGE
Durell Nchami, Maryland
An upper-body injury prevented Durell Nchami from completing what looked to be a stellar 2021 campaign. But he’s back in 2022, with his strong 6’4″, 255-pound frame and extraordinary ankle flexion and cornering ability.
Bradyn Swinson, Oregon
Naturally, there’s a void to fill at Oregon after the departure of Kayvon Thibodeaux. And there’s a sense that Bradyn Swinson will be relied on to fill that void. Swinson has a long, athletic frame that naturally carries weight, and his length and explosiveness make him dangerous in pursuit.
Linebacker
Justin Flowe, Oregon
Injuries robbed Justin Flowe of the majority of his first two collegiate seasons. But now fully healthy, the former five-star recruit aims to make up for that lost time in 2022. Flowe has all the necessary athleticism and play strength. All he needs is an opportunity.
Mohamoud Diabate, Utah
Last cycle, Utah produced a first-round pick in Devin Lloyd. Now, in 2022, Florida transfer Mohamoud Diabate brings a similar mold. A long, explosive, and fluid athlete at 6’3″, 227 pounds, Diabate is in a perfect spot to maximize his talent.
Kam Arnold, Boston College
He started his career as a safety, but Kam Arnold has found new promise at linebacker. He’s a bit undersized at 6’1″, 227 pounds, and still learning how to navigate through congestion. Nevertheless, Arnold’s an explosive, tenacious defender with excellent coverage ability, and he’s only trending up.
Cornerback
Mekhi Garner, LSU
Cornerbacks well over 200 pounds almost seem like a thing of the past. But Mekhi Garner is an outlier, with a strong 6’2″, 215-pound frame. He’s physical, but also athletic and instinctive, and could drastically improve his stock with a year at LSU.
Jarvis Brownlee, Louisville
At 5’11”, 186 pounds, Jarvis Brownlee is much lighter than Garner. But he packs a devastating punch at the contact point and plays with unmatched energy. With lightning-fast feet, fluid hips, and lively twitch, Brownlee provides a very sustainable impact.
Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M
Antonio Johnson was quietly one of the best defenders in the league last year. But still, it feels like he’s not talked about enough. The 6’3″, 200-pound defender is the quintessential modern big slot, and 2022 could help him cement himself in the early rounds.
Safety
Craig McDonald, Auburn
Craig McDonald transferred to Auburn after a standout season at Iowa State. The redshirt sophomore has the traits to fill the void left by Smoke Monday. McDonald is a phenomenal athlete at 6’3″, 210 pounds, with awesome flashes of recovery athleticism on tape.
Khoury Bethley, Arizona State
Statistically, Khoury Bethley already achieved his breakout with a dominant 2021 campaign. But he’s still very much overlooked on the national stage. At Arizona State, more eyes will be on his all-encompassing playmaker archetype.