Who might be the best pure football players in the draft still available at No. 16 in the 2023 NFL draft when the Commanders are set to be on the clock Thursday night?
Former Washington tight end and now current football analyst Logan Paulsen believes the best player on the board might actually be available at No. 16 for Washington.
Paulsen seen Sunday on the Commanders Draft Week episode on Commanders Central told viewers that “He’s not the biggest, not the strongest, not the fastest, Brian Branch (of) Alabama plays that nickel, safety spot, he can make plays.”
Alabama Safety Brian Branch had a top-30 visit with the Eagles, per @RapSheet
He’s a big-time hitter and is projected to go in the 1st-round. pic.twitter.com/Fn94teqzzx
— DIE-HARD
Fans (@Eaglesfans9) April 19, 2023
Fred Smoot echoed Paulsen saying Branch reminds Smoot of “the Honey Badger,” Tyrann Mathieu.
Paulsen repeated again that Branch is not the biggest or fastest safety, “but he might be the best football player”.
Another defensive player that Paulsen and Smoot really like is Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell. Paulsen elaborated, “Everyone says he is not a great athlete, but I see plays like this (game film), and he seems like a pretty athletic dude running down an athletic quarterback. Good football instincts, physical like you said (to Smoot), but also really smart.”
Jack Campbell is 250lbs and moves like this pic.twitter.com/bYJFqSNjTN
— Justin Penik (@JustinPenik) April 15, 2023
Campbell is someone Paulsen and Smoot were referring to that possibly might be still available at No. 47 (round two) for the Commanders.
Back to round one and pick No. 16, both Smoot and Paulsen singled out Tennessee right tackle Darnell Wright as someone they really hope is still on the board when the Commanders are on the clock.