NFL Draft Notebook: Kenny McIntosh will shine during the Senior Bowl

Next week is one of the most critical weeks in the NFL Draft process, as we will see some of the top prospects participate in the Senior Bowl. One of these players who NFL teams will get to see up close is Georgia running back Kenny McIntosh who has the skill set to impress. In this week’s NFL Draft Notebook, we look at why McIntosh is a player to keep a close eye during this week.

In addition to breaking down McIntosh’s game this week’s article also takes a look at the following

• Why the Cleveland Browns should focus on wide receivers at the Senior Bowl
• One of the more polarizing prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft
• And much more

Expect Georgia Runnin Back Kenny McIntosh to have a big Senior Bowl

Every year there are a couple of players who have standout Senior Bowl weeks and see their draft stock rise significantly. This year there is a good chance that player will be Georgia running back Kenny McIntosh.

One of the reasons why McIntosh may see his stock improve next week is his well-rounded game. When looking at him as a runner several traits stand out that should translate to the NFL. One of these is his dynamic speed. In this area, he shows both the speed and the explosiveness to break off the long run.

In addition to his impressive speed as a runner McIntosh also is one of the more elusive backs in the 2023 NFL Draft. What makes him such a hard back to tackle is both his smooth hips which allow him to make sharp cuts and his ability to stop on a dime which forces defenders to run right past him.

What makes McIntosh an even more dynamic weapon is his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. This past season he caught 43 passes for the Bulldogs which ranked third on the team and was 29 more receptions than Daijun Edwards who he split playing time with last season.

As a receiver, the trait that really stands out with him is his consistent hands. He rarely lets the ball get to his body and does a terrific job of attacking the ball as a receiver. These two traits allow him to be either an outlet receiver or be used as a downfield passing target. His elusiveness as a runner also helps out in the passing game allowing him to consistently pick up yards after contact.

This receiving ability is one of the main reasons he will open scouts’ eyes at the Senior Bowl. In one-on-ones vs. linebackers, he should consistently be able to get separation and will show that most linebackers will have no chance of guarding him at the next level.

While McIntosh will see most of his snaps next week at running back, also look for him to get some looks as a kick returner. This was an area McIntosh excelled at in college when used in this capacity. When used to return kicks in 2020 and 2021 he averaged 27 yards per return on 14 kick returns.

If McIntosh can dominate as both a runner and receiver during his time in Mobile, look for him to go from a third-round pick to someone teams consider early in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Why the Cleveland Browns should be looking at wide receivers during Senior Bowl week

The 2022 season was not the type of year the Cleveland Browns, were hoping for finishing with a record of 7-10 and dead last in the AFC North. Their biggest weakness last season was their horrendous run defense which gave up 135 rushing yards per game. However, another area they will need to upgrade this year is their passing game especially when it comes to adding some young wide receivers.

The current wide receiver crop is led by Amari Cooper who hauled in 79 passes last year and is still one of the best receivers in the NFL. The team also has a reliable option in Donovan Peoples-Jones who is penciled in to be the number two receiver for the Browns next year. However, after that, the team lacks any wide receivers who caught over 25 passes last year, and the only other player who shows the potential to develop into a starting wide receiver is second-year player David Bell. This lack of depth should mean the Browns look to add a few rookies to their roster come next April.

Luckily for the Browns there will be plenty of wide receiver talent at next week’s Senior Bowl. One player who Cleveland should consider on the second day of the draft who will be participating in Mobile is Xavier Hutchinson. Hutchinson last year was able to record 107 receptions for the Cyclones and showed the ability to consistently come away with the tough reception. Another player who will be in this game is Princeton’s Andrei Iosivas who has impressive measurables coming in at 6-foot-3 and posting a 38-inch vertical jump. Iosivas could be a good day-three pick due to his long-term potential.

Five Players to Watch at the Senior Bowl

Will McDonald IV, DE, Iowa State
Iowa State’s Will McDonald IV had a disappointing season this year recording just five sacks on the year after recording double-digit sack numbers each of the past two years. McDonald will have the chance to prove in Mobile, that he is the highly thought of pass rusher everyone thought he was last year. He also may have the chance to show that he can hold up as an outside linebacker where some teams may see the 236-pound defender playing at the next level.

Max Duggan, QB, TCU
The Senior Bowl will be an important week for Max Duggan as he will need to prove he has the passing ability to make the NFL. While Duggan threw for 3,698 yards and 32 touchdowns he looked far from an NFL-caliber passer in most of these games. In order to earn a high three draft grade he will need to impress scouts with both his accuracy and arm strength this week.

Cody Mauch, OT, North Dakota State
One of the highest-rated small school players in the 2023 NFL Draft is North Dakota State offensive tackler Cody Mauch. Mauch will have the chance to impress in Mobile next week with his physicality and strong run-blocking skills. However, he will need to prove he has the feet and overall athletic ability to stay at tackle in the NFL, and not be forced inside to offensive guard.

Jay Ward, S, LSU
Look for LSU’s Jay Ward to turn heads at the Senior Bowl next week, and improve his stock significantly. The 6-foot-2 safety is one of the most versatile defensive backs in the draft showing the coverage ability to play cornerback, and the aggression to be a factor vs. the run. He also has been a standout on special teams having blocked several kicks during his LSU career. These traits are why he carries a second-round grade on my board, despite getting a late day-three grade by most draft experts.

Roschon Johnson, RB, Texas
Texas running back Roschon Johnson is another running back who should see his stock improve with a great Senior Bowl week. Johnson is flying under the radar as he was always behind Bijan Robinson at Texas, however, when given a chance it is easy to see Johnson has NFL talent. The first thing that stands out with him is his impressive size coming in at 6-foot-2 and 223 pounds. This size allows him to consistently break tackles and one stat that backs this up is that he caused 45 missed tackles on just 94 carries according to Pro Football Focus.

NFL Draft Scouting Notes

— One of the most interesting draft evaluations this year will be of Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. When looking at his talent he is easily the best receiver in the draft. In this area, he shows the agility to make the tough catch, the strength to break tackles, and the technique to be a crisp route runner. However, he does come with a major question mark which is how much does he love football. This has to be questioned after he skipped the College Football Playoffs, and possibly cost Ohio State the National Championship. The team that selects him is going to have to be convinced Smith-Nijgba will put in the time needed to be a great NFL receiver.

— Joining the Cleveland Browns another team who should look hard at the wide receiver position at the Senior Bowl is the New England Patriots. The team’s top receiver Jakobi Meyers is scheduled to be a free agent and the team doesn’t have much behind him. One receiver who could be a good day-three pick for them is Purdue’s Charlie Jones, whose game is similar to Julian Edelman’s.

— A player who is being overrated right now is Texas Tech defensive end, Tyree Wilson. Wilson was recently rated as the 5th best player in the 2023 NFL Draft by Todd McShay and is routinely rated among the top ten players in the draft. The main reason they have him rated this high is his impressive size coming in at 6-foot-6 and 275 pounds, and his overall physical style of play. However, he lacks the explosion off the ball you want to see from a high first prospect and also has trouble getting around the edge. Due to these concerns, he is someone who should be rated as more of a day-two prospect.

— Former Florida linebacker Brenton Cox Jr. is a player to watch in the Shrine Bowl. As a player, Cox is a proven pass rusher who recorded 8.5 sacks in 2021 and shows the flexibility to get around the corner. The biggest concern with him though is his character as he has been kicked off two teams during his college career. He was dismissed from Georgia before the 2019 season, and this year he was kicked off the Florida Gators. In order to earn a day two pick he is going to need to impress teams during interviews as well as dominate on the field.

— The Seattle Seahawks seem set at quarterback for the next couple of years assuming they can resign Geno Smith this offseason. However, Smith is 32 years old and backup Drew Lock is a free agent and is no sure bet to resign with the team. This could open the door for Seattle to use a mid-round pick on a quarterback in the 2023 NFL Draft. One possible fit could be former UCLA Dorian Thompson-Robinson who is an improving passer and also one of the more mobile quarterbacks in this year’s class.

— One team who has to be disappointed with their draft class is the Carolina Panthers who had the worst draft class according to ESPN when it comes to production this year. The only draft pick who made much of an impact this season was offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu who started every game of the year but struggled at times. The most disappointing draft pick might be linebacker Brandon Smith who was drafted in the fourth round, yet only played 5% of the defensive snaps this season.

— A team that is doing great in the transfer market is Nebraska, and the latest player they got is Arik Gilbert. Gilbert is a former five-star recruit and was a standout his first year at LSU being named to the Freshman All-SEC Team. He then transferred to Georgia where he was a backup and saw limited playing time. Now that he is at Nebraska look for him to be one of the Husker’s goto targets which will likely increase his draft stock significantly.

Quote of the Week

“I’m looking forward to proving people wrong. I’ve lived by that my entire life. I feel like I’ve always been a little undervalued or underrated. That’s always motivated me to play at the highest level. I’m always searching for the next best thing I can achieve. That’s one of the reasons I chose to attend the Senior Bowl.”

-Iowa State WR Xavier Hutchinson to the Draft Network on why he chose to play in the Senior Bowl