More than 30 college coaches on the NFL draft: Surprises,

• Adam Rittenberg, ESPN Senior WriterMay 5, 2023

  , 07:00 AM ET Close College football reporter.

• Signed up with ESPN.com in 2008.
• Graduate of Northwestern University.April has ended up being progressively

busy for college football coaches.Finishing spring practice, hosting recruits, striking the roadway to see prospects or simply keeping an eye on the spring transfer portal window, which closed at midnight Monday.But college coaches still had time to track the NFL draft, not only what happened with their own players however with the ones they dealt with over the previous few seasons.College coaches have an unique viewpoint on draft prospects. They have followed numerous because high school, and after that hired or game-planned for them over the previous couple of years. After introducing the draft response piece in 2021 and following up in 2022, I got in touch with more than 30 college coaches in current days to collect their thoughts on the draft. I spoke mostly to head coaches and organizers in the Power 5, but likewise some Group of 5 coaches, to break down who went where and why.They came away with ideas– on the first-round surprises, the quarterbacks, best suitable for players/teams, the general outputs for college programs

and, obviously, sleepers.Most coaches spoke anonymously.Here’s an examination of the 2023 NFL draft through the eyes of college coaches (Note: Coaches are listed according to their roles throughout the 2022 season ). Dive to: QBs |

First round Second round |

Coaches dish Sleepers QB disputes: Richardson, Levis, Hooker and

others Regardless of some pre-draft chatter, the top quarterbacks off the board went as expected: Alabama’s Bryce Young

at No. 1 overall to Carolina, followed by Ohio State’s

C.J. Stroud at No. 2 to Houston. Then, the drama started, as Florida’s Anthony Richardson went No. 4 to Indianapolis, regardless of starting just 13 games for the Gators and doing not have the stats of a common top-five choice.”He’s an excellent skill, and if they can get him to improve the precision and the decision-making, then he’ll end up being incredible

,”said a protective coordinator who dealt with Richardson last season.