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3 Players Who Will Be Busts in the 2023 NFL Draft

NFL Draft Busts

The 2023 NFL Draft will have more than a few future players who will be busts, finding themselves out of the game sooner than expected. Names like Ryan Leaf, Tony Mandarich, Josh Rosen, JaMarcus Russell, and Brian Bosworth are on an illustrious list of dumpster fires. Here are three who potentially hold a match for a dumpster in your favorite NFL city.

3 2023 NFL Draft Prospects That Will Be Busts

Hendon Hooker – Quarterback, Tennessee

Weight: 217 pounds
Height: 6’-3”

Quarterback Hendon Hooker took the faithful in Knoxville, TN on an exciting ride in the early part of last season. As a freshman in 2019, the Volunteers quarterback appeared in 10 games, throwing for 1,556 yards on 163 attempts. His completion percentage was 60.7 for an average of 9.5 yards per pass. He would have 13 touchdowns while taking 17 sacks, and a solid passer rating of 113.9.

As a senior, Hooker would post a successful season that brought national exposure. He threw the ball for 3,135 yards on 331 attempts, with a completion percentage of 69.2 for an average of 9.5 yards per pass. Hotossed 27 touchdowns, finding the turf 26 times, and posted a passer rating of 123.9. He would add another 129 rushes for a total of 786 yards. 

The question is he is a quarterback an organization should hand the reins to. Reports are that he has impressed the brain-trust of the Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, Indianapolis Colts, Washington Commanders, and Green Bay Packers to potentially roll the dice and select him in the first or early second round. The Seattle Seahawks, who now have an aging Geno Smith, have made no secret they will pick a quarterback early. The Seahawks could select Hooker with the fifth overall pick (from Denver), or the 20th overall. He could also go to Seattle in the second round at No. 37 (also from Denver), or No. 52. 

The problem is Hooker likely piqued while at Tennessee. On tape he holds the ball too long, gets sloppy with his mechanics, and has a tough time with accuracy. A torn ACL will not help his stock either. He was part of an offense that no team runs in the NFL meaning the learning curve will be steep at the next level. That said, owners will love his quick release and live arm. He throws a very tight spiral and has shown good touch at the intermediate levels as well as dropping it into the bucket on deep, down the middle routes. If Al Davis of the Raiders had this prospect available to him in the first round there is no doubt, he would pick him with the seventh selection.

Hendon Hooker is not a Bonafide NFL quarterback. He simply does not have that type of game to lift an organization over the long haul. Teams who draft him in the first or second round will be looking for a refund sooner than later as he has Akili Smith from Oregon written all over him.

Jalen Carter – Tackle, Georgia

Height: 6’-3″
Weight: 310 pounds
40 time: 4.96

To say it simply, Jalen Carter has not helped himself these past few months. Off the gridiron, it has been an absolute nightmare the past few months. He pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges stemming from his role in an alleged street racing accident. That accident cost the lives of Georgia teammate Devin Willock and Georgia recruiting analyst Chandler LeCroy.

Do you want more? Carter was cited for driving 90-mph in a 45-mph zone. When he showed up at Georgia’s pro-day, he was nine pounds heavier than at the combine and could not finish position drills. Carter does not just have “red flags”, but blaring sirens and cautionary tape around him. 

From his freshman season in 2020 to 2022, Carter made his presence known. Despite an MCL injury in his last season in Athens, GA, he still managed to appear in 10 games, playing 308 snaps. He had 18 tackles and seven assists. As a pass rusher, he produced 25 total pressures, which included 17 quarterback hurries, five hits on the QB hits, and recorded 3 sacks for the year.

For his size, he is remarkably agile and quick on his feet. His first step often stuns the blockers and shows good speed side-to-side in the running game. Carter is strong, moves laterally extremely well, and as a pass rusher, has a nose for the ball.

Teams will roll the dice on a player who has demonstrated a penchant for being reckless and irresponsible. Fans should remember Henry Ruggs III. Ruggs III was the 12th overall pick by the Raiders in the 2020 NFL draft and was the driver in a crash that killed a 23-year-old woman on November 2, 2021. 

Jalen Carter has all the tools to be a top pick in the draft. His antics and sloppy self control will harm his draft stock. Carter himself will prove to be a player too much about himself.

Teams likely to draft Jalen Carter:  Chicago Bears, Seattle Seahawks, Las Vegas Raiders.

Noah Sewell – Linebacker, Oregon

Height: 6”-1 ½”
Weight: 246 pounds
40 time: 4.64

Noah Sewell is part of an NFL family. His brother Penei Sewell was a top-five pick playing for the Detroit Lions. Both played at Oregon and are part of a proud lineage of football players from American Samoa. 

His best season in Eugene was his sophomore campaign. He appeared in 14 games, playing 879 snaps. He is on record with 72 tackles, 15 assists, and 37 stops. Along with 34 quarterback pressures, he hurried the passer 21 times, recorded nine hits, with four sacks and one interception.

While his play dropped off last season, Sewell has a lot of upside. He has above-average athleticism for his position, and good size. As a run defender, Sewell is very aggressive to the ball. His instincts are average, and any kind of misdirection will be a problem at the next level. 

His shortcomings are troublesome as he will miss tackles. One red flag is he does not wrap his arms around players and drive them to the ground. Sewell is a MIKE linebacker, but get him outside the box, and his lateral movement proves a detriment. 

A few teams had him as a potential first-round pick after the first of the year, but that hype has cooled. Sewell is a late second-day selection or day three. His limitations are not hard to see on film, and any team who thinks he is “under the radar” will be a loser in the end.

Teams who could draft Noah Sewell: Las Vegas Raiders, Washington Commanders, Minnesota Vikings, Los Angeles Chargers

Main Photo: Brianna Paciorka – USA Today Sports

 

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