The 2022 season marks one of the most important milestones in the 2023 NFL Draft cycle. This is the time of year when big boards start to settle. But each and every week, there are more and more NFL draft sleepers to unearth. Here’s the crop of sleepers for Week 1 — a near-dozen prospects who deserve more respect on the national stage.
2023 NFL Draft sleepers to watch in Week 1
Kenny Logan, S, Kansas
The 2023 NFL Draft safety class has developed a great deal already. What was once a question mark is now an exclamation point, as over a dozen safeties, with many different molds, dot the draft board. One of those safeties is Kenny Logan, who might be one of the most do-it-all safeties of the bunch.
Logan is the heart and soul of the Jayhawks’ defense, having logged 110 tackles, four tackles for loss, an interception, six pass deflections, and two forced fumbles in 2021. He’s 210 pounds, but he can cover range on the back end, as well as impose his will downhill. This season, he’s even in line to return kicks.
Cornelius Johnson, WR, Michigan
Michigan reached the CFB Playoffs last year on the back of a dominant defense and running game engineered by Hassan Haskins. Naturally, the passing game — and the weapons within it — went overlooked at times. But while his production doesn’t jump off the page, Cornelius Johnson has a very translatable skill set as an NFL draft prospect.
At 6’3″, 208 pounds, he offers great size, length, and athleticism. But he’s not your usual traits-rich project. He’s quietly a very sound, manipulative route runner, and he offers enticing three-level upside.
Cam Hart, CB, Notre Dame
The 2023 NFL Draft cornerback class is incredibly strong. There’s talent both at the top and in the wings. One prospect in this stacked class who still hasn’t gotten a ton of buzz is Notre Dame’s Cam Hart. The physical tools are alluring with Hart, who cracked Bruce Feldman’s Freaks list this past summer.
Feldman documented Hart as having a 38″ vertical and an 11’2″ broad jump at 6’2 1/2″ and 205 pounds. The length and explosiveness are two qualities that absolutely stand out on tape. He can turn and blanket receivers with that combination. He still has room to grow, but Hart has a high-ceiling profile.
Ikenna Enechukwu, EDGE, Rice
A member of the Shrine Bowl 1000, Ikenna Enechukwu might be one of the most exciting Group of Five EDGE prospects on the radar. His production is respectable, as the Rice defender logged nine tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in 2021. But you don’t get a true feel for his upside until you turn on the tape.
Enechukwu has a strong 6’4″, 267-pound frame with long 34″ arms. At his size, he explodes off the line and can channel his burst and length into awesome power. 2021 was a big step up for Enechukwu in terms of efficiency, both against the pass and the run. He could be emerging as a true NFL talent.
Sataoa Laumea, G, Utah
Earlier in the offseason, I listed Sataoa Laumea as one of the sleepers in the 2023 NFL Draft interior offensive line group. That sentiment remains, but Laumea has a chance to prove himself against a venerable opponent in Week 1.
To open the year, Laumea and the Utes will face off against the Florida Gators, who have potential first-round pick Gervon Dexter on their defensive front. Dexter’s initial burst and power can be a lot to handle, but at 6’4″, 312 pounds, Laumea has the core strength and leverage to hold his own. A good performance could put him on the map.
DJ Johnson, EDGE, Oregon
At this point, it’s common knowledge that the 2023 NFL Draft EDGE class is strong. But one name who may eventually deserve more due for his contributions to the class is DJ Johnson. Johnson was a player without a home position in 2021.
He played on defense and also saw reps at tight end. But with Dan Lanning entering the fold, Johnson is taking all of his 6’4″, 275-pound frame to the edge, and the results could be exhilarating. According to Feldman, Johnson has reached near 23 mph at his size and can bench 455.
Keaton Mitchell, RB, East Carolina
In an NFL where versatile, dynamic weapons are becoming more and more valuable, Keaton Mitchell is sure to get a look. Mitchell had 174 carries for 1,132 yards and nine touchdowns in 2021, with 22 catches for 253 yards and an additional score. At 5’9″, 184 pounds, Mitchell has a documented 36″ vertical jump, and he might test with sub-4.4 speed when it’s all said and done.
Mitchell has field-stretching speed, and it doesn’t take him long to reach that speed. However he gets the ball, Mitchell makes an impact. That’s something NC State may discover this week.
Zamari Walton, CB, Georgia Tech
Another Shrine Bowl 1000 prospect, Zamari Walton brings an enticing combination of length and athleticism at 6’3″, 190 pounds. His best season came in 2020 when Walton notched two interceptions and five pass deflections.
This year, he’ll be counted upon to lock down receivers on the boundary alongside Myles Sims. Walton’s skill set could be coveted by teams who run zone-heavy systems. And against Clemson in Week 1, he’ll have a chance to shine against players like Dacari Collins and Joseph Ngata.
Jowon Briggs, DT, Cincinnati
With Curtis Brooks making the leap to the NFL, the Cincinnati Bearcats will need a new presence on the interior of their defensive line. Jowon Briggs is next up to take the snaps left by Brooks, and he brings a similar skill set. Briggs has good burst and a tireless motor, but he might also have a notable edge in play strength.
At 6’1″, Briggs has built himself up to 315 pounds this offseason — a weight that should only make his strength and rotational power even more dangerous. Briggs vs. Ricky Stromberg is a must-see Week 1 battle.
2023 NFL Draft sleepers at the FCS level
Carson Camp, QB, South Dakota
Names like Trey Lance, Carson Wentz, and Jimmy Garoppolo demand that you always keep your eyes on FCS quarterbacks. And the next one to make an imprint on the NFL might be South Dakota’s Carson Camp. Few FCS QBs can boast next-level physical tools, but Camp is an exception.
He’s a mobile QB who can extend plays and escape the pocket, and he also has an elastic arm, which he can use to generate velocity off-platform. After completing 180 of 276 passes for 2,252 yards, 17 scores, and seven picks as a redshirt freshman in 2021, Camp is looking to take the next step.
Brevin Allen, EDGE, Campbell
Brevin Allen was featured in a 2022 NFL Draft sleepers piece last season. But now that he’s returned to school after racking up 15 tackles for loss and eight sacks in 2021, it’s time to remind everyone about the talent that the Campbell Camels have on their defensive line.
Feldman helped bring Allen more notoriety by naming him on his Freaks list, but Allen still needs more recognition. According to Feldman, Allen has clocked a 4.59 40-yard dash at 6’4″, 265 pounds. Rushing inside and outside, he plays the “beast end” position for Campbell — a title fitting for his rare and imposing talent.