NFL Network's Cynthia Frelund predicts WR to Giants in first 2023 mock draft
The 2022 season is now completely in the rearview mirror.
With Super Bowl LVII done, the entire NFL is shifting into offseason mode. The Eagles are locked into the 30th overall pick and the Chiefs into No. 31, which means the first-round draft order is now officially set.
The combine is just 14 days away, which has led to many analysts from across the NFL landscape to release their latest projections for the first round of the draft.
In her first 2023 mock draft, NFL Network analytics expert Cynthia Frelund predicted an offensive playmaker to the Giants at No. 25 in the form of Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers.
"Flowers lined up out wide on almost two-thirds of his snaps at BC, and while that may not be how he's used at the next level, he has the speed and route traits that Giants coach Brian Daboll could use on third down, specifically," Frelund wrote.
Flowers started 13 games as a freshman back in 2019 and registered 536 total yards from scrimmage with four touchdowns.
The 5-foot-10, 172-pound receiver really burst onto the scene as a sophomore when he caught 56 passes for 892 yards and nine touchdowns across 11 games. He earned his first All-ACC First-Team selection, becoming just the second wide receiver in Boston College history to achieve the accomplishment.
As a junior, Flowers reeled in 44 passes for 746 yards and five touchdowns, which led to him being named as an All-ACC Third-Team selection.
The young receiver saved his best for his senior campaign. Flowers set a new school record with 12 receiving touchdowns while tying the record for receptions in a season with 78 and finishing third on the school's all-time single-season list with 1,077 receiving yards. He was once again selected to the All-ACC First-Team in addition to being named a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award, an honor given to the nation's top receiver.
By the time Flowers finished his collegiate career, he was Boston College's all-time leader in receptions (200), receiving yards (3,056) and receiving touchdowns (29).
"Flowers is an undersized wideout with outstanding quickness, ball skills and production," writes NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah. "He took the majority of his reps outside but he's also very productive in the slot. He is extremely quick in his release and at the top of his routes. He doesn't waste any steps or movement. He does everything full speed. He has a very good feel working in zones. He has strong hands to extend for the ball or reach back and pluck it off his back hip. He tracks the deep ball with ease. He is outstanding on jet sweeps because of his quickness and make-you-miss ability. Overall, Flowers' only flaw is his lack of size and bulk. He reminds me of T.Y. Hilton."
NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah updated his ranking of the top 50 prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft.
No. 50 Zach Charbonnet, RB, UCLA
No. 49 Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa
No. 48 John Michael Schmitz, IOL, Minnesota
No. 40 Keeanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin
No. 47 Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
No. 37 Steve Avila, IOL, TCU
No. 46 Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee
No. 45 Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson
No. 44 Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa
No. 43 Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan
No. 42 Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee
No. 38 Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State
No. 39 Cody Mauch, OT, North Dakota State
No. 36 Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
No. 41 O'Cyrus Torrence, IOL, Florida
No. 35 BJ Ojulari, EDGE, LSU
No. 27 Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
No. 34 Joe Tippmann, IOL, Wisconsin
No. 32 Felix Anudike-Uzomah, EDGE, Kansas State
No. 31 Brian Branch, DB, Alabama
No. 30 Quentin Johnson, WR, TCU
No. 29 Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama
No. 28 Keion White, EDGE, Georgia Tech
No. 26 Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh
No. 25 Will McDonald IV, EDGE, Iowa State
No. 33 Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
No. 24 Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
No. 21 Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
No. 22 Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
No. 20 Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
No. 23 Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
No. 17 Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
No. 13 Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia
No. 19 Broderick Jones, OT Georgia
No. 16 Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
No. 18 Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
No. 14 Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa
No. 15 Jordan Addison, WR, USC
No. 12 Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
No. 10 Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
No. 11 Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
No. 9 Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
No. 8 Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern
No. 7 C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
No. 5 Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
No. 6 Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
No. 4 Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech
No. 3 Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
No. 2 Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama
No. 1 Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
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