The Best Scheme Fits for the Top NFL Prospects at Every Position

Taking draft order out of the equation, these teams would be ideal landing spots for the most talked-about 2023 options at the end of April.

This year’s NFL draft has plenty of intrigue. Even the draft experts are split on who’s the best prospect at many positions, including quarterback.

With the Bryce Young–C.J. Stroud debate taking up most of the spotlight, we decided to highlight three intriguing prospects at every position. (Will Anderson Jr. is intentionally left off the list, given he is an obvious fit for any team that gets him.)

It’s a deep class for cornerbacks and tight ends, and there’s no obvious top choice at wide receiver or offensive tackle. For NFL teams, it might come down to needs and traits preferences. But for now, let’s focus more on scheme fits rather than somewhat obvious potential landing spots based on draft order.

Here are best scheme fits for 27 of the top draft prospects, sorted by position. 

Quarterback

C.J. Stroud, Ohio State

Best scheme fit: Panthers. New coach Frank Reich prefers pocket passers with size, as is evident by the quarterbacks he worked with while with the Colts (Andrew Luck, Jacoby Brissett, Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan). Stroud fits the description at 6'3", and many draft experts have described him as the most accurate quarterback (in this draft class) from the pocket. Stroud picking apart teams with a balanced attack—which he would likely receive from offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, a running backs guru—could be a winning recipe for years to come.

Will Levis, Kentucky

Best scheme fit: Vikings. Familiarity with coach Kevin O’Connell’s scheme would likely help Levis regain his form from his standout 2021 season, when Liam Coen was Kentucky’s offensive coordinator. (O’Connell and Coen worked together as assistant coaches for Sean McVay with the Rams two years ago.) Levis is inconsistent, but he has the size, arm strength and athleticism to thrive under the guidance of O’Connell.

Anthony Richardson, Florida

Best scheme fit: Lions. Similar to Levis, there’s no need to play it safe with a basic play-action, run-heavy scheme for the gifted Richardson, who again put on a show during his pro day last week. Ben Johnson, Detroit’s creative play-caller, might be the perfect coordinator to unlock Richardson’s high upside. The athletic former Florida QB has elite arm strength but also accuracy issues; a strong supporting cast with good coaching in Detroit could lead to quick improvements there.

Running back

Bijan Robinson, Texas

Best scheme fit: Eagles. Robinson is clearly the consensus No. 1 running back prospect in this draft and would excel in any scheme, but his tantalizing skill set might be the missing piece for the Eagles to win the Super Bowl. With Jalen Hurts’s mobility, the Eagles often had opposing defenses conflicted last season—so imagine the stress they would apply if Robinson was drafted by Philadelphia later this month. The versatile Texas product can catch and block, and would be a big-play threat in the running game.

Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama

Best scheme fit: Bengals. Gibbs lacks size, but he’s a versatile running back who can quickly become a quarterback’s best friend on the field. He’s a standout pass-catcher, and his skill set resembles what Austin Ekeler has done for the Chargers. With Samaje Perine now in Denver, Gibbs would form a strong backfield committee with Joe Mixon—if the Bengals don’t part with Mixon.

Devon Achane, Texas A&M

Best scheme fit: Bills. Josh Allen and the Bills operate an explosive offense, but they’re missing juice—or something along the lines of what Isiah Pacheco provided for the Chiefs as a rookie this past season. Achane, who ran a 4.32 40-yard dash at the combine, could add another wrinkle to Buffalo’s offense. He lacks size, but he’s still a dangerous playmaker in space.

Wide receiver

Jordan Addison, USC

Best scheme fit: Giants. Coach Brian Daboll could help unlock Addison’s potential the same way he did for Stefon Diggs in Buffalo. Addison would give the Giants another downfield threat, but he would also fill multiple needs as a wideout who’s capable of becoming a high-volume inside receiver. Addison proved he could handle a heavy workload at USC and Pittsburgh.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State

Best scheme fit: Falcons. Smith-Njigba’s smooth route running would give Atlanta another option in Arthur Smith’s run-heavy scheme already filled with joker-type players such as Kyle Pitts and Cordarrelle Patterson. With Smith-Njigba capable of getting open quickly, he can likely become an efficient target in the league, which could create more downfield opportunities for wide receiver Drake London, the 2022 No. 8 pick.

Though an injury limited his 2022 season, Smith-Njigba made waves at Ohio State as part of the ’21 powerhouse pass-catching trio including himself, Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson. 

Joshua A. Bickel/USA TODAY NETWORK

Quentin Johnston, TCU

Best scheme fit: Ravens. There’s plenty of uncertainty in Baltimore after Lamar Jackson requested a trade, but if he stays with the Ravens, the quarterback would benefit from Johnson’s downfield presence (that’s if Johnston becomes more reliable with his hands). Obviously, his drop rates are a red flag for a receiver, but Johnston has a high ceiling with his size and speed, and the Ravens are known for making bold moves in the draft. Also, new offensive coordinator Todd Monken has a knack for taking plenty of downfield shots. 

Tight end

Dalton Kincaid, Utah

Best scheme fit: Commanders. After years of working with Travis Kelce in Kansas City, Washington’s new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy knows the importance of having a tight end threat in the passing game. Kincaid would open up Bieniemy’s playbook as the best pass-catching tight end in this year’s draft. The Utah product isn’t a standout blocker, but he’s a mismatch nightmare in the passing game.

Michael Mayer, Notre Dame

Best scheme fit: Chargers. Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, who was hired by Los Angeles in March, had plenty of success in Dallas with tight end Dalton Schultz. Mayer is a complete tight end who would help Justin Herbert as both a pass catcher and blocker. Moore likes to push the ball downfield, but coach Brandon Staley knows the importance of having versatile tight ends from his time with McVay. Mayer isn’t as athletic as Kincaid, but he offers more at the position and is ready to contribute now.

Darnell Washington, Georgia

Best scheme fit: Rams. Speaking of versatile tight ends, Washington might be available in the second round and would be an ideal fit in McVay’s scheme. (It often operates under the 11-personnel, which requires tight ends to contribute in multiple areas.) Washington excels as an in-line tight end, but he has upside as a receiver with a massive catch radius. And if he doesn’t improve in the passing game, Washington at least has a safe floor as a nasty run blocker and red zone target. 

Offensive line

Peter Skoronski, OT-OG, Northwestern

Best scheme fit: Titans. This might be more about team needs than scheme fit. With Skoronski capable of playing tackle and guard, he could help the rebuilding Titans in multiple areas after they released left tackle Taylor Lewan and lost guard Nate Davis to the Bears in free agency. Skoronski’s versatility, footwork and power has him atop most draft experts’ big boards.

Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee

Best scheme fit: Chiefs. Wright struggled as a left tackle in college, but that’s probably not an issue for NFL teams—he was a standout right tackle, and that position might be just as important as the left side in today’s game. Wright is an excellent run blocker and would fill the void left by Andrew Wylie to become Patrick Mahomes’s new starting right tackle.

Joe Tippmann, C, Wisconsin

Best scheme fit: Eagles. Jason Kelce is back for another season in Philadelphia, but he might retire after the 2023 season. Tippmann could be the center of the future and continue the Eagles’ reputation as one of the best offensive lines in the NFL. At 6'6", Tippmann is a little tall for the position, but his athleticism means that doesn’t hurt him.

Defensive back

Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon

Best scheme fit: Seahawks. Coach Pete Carroll is fond of lengthy, athletic playmakers on both sides of the ball, as can be seen by the draft selections of cornerback Tariq Woolen and wide receiver DK Metcalf, to name a few. Seattle might be set at cornerback after getting it right last year with Woolen and Coby Bryant, but adding the versatile 6'1" Gonzalez with the No. 5 pick would give Carroll one of the best secondaries in the NFL.

Brian Branch, S, Alabama

Best scheme fit: Jets. Branch’s versatility at safety and slot cornerback would complete coach Robert Saleh’s surging defense. Branch has the ball skills to make a full-time transition at safety.

Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois

Best scheme fit: Colts. Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley is in need of a top cornerback after the team traded Stephon Gilmore to the Cowboys. Witherspoon is a physical corner and would thrive in Bradley’s zone-heavy scheme.

Edge rusher

Smith led the 2021 championship Bulldogs team in forced fumbles before injury limited him in ’22.

Dale Zanine/USA TODAY Sports

Nolan Smith, Georgia

Best scheme fit: Cardinals. If Arizona trades down from the No. 3 pick, it should strongly consider Smith for new coach Jonathan Gannon, who had one of the best defensive fronts in the league last season as the defensive coordinator of the Eagles. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah compared Smith to Philadelphia’s Haason Reddick, who played his best football under Gannon’s guidance.

Lukas Van Ness, Iowa

Best scheme fit: Falcons. New defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen is one of the best at developing defensive linemen, which he did the past six seasons with the Saints. Atlanta needs run stoppers and pass rushers, and Van Ness can do both from multiple positions on the field. He’s a polished run stopper and would likely improve as a pass rusher, as well, under Nielsen.

Myles Murphy, Clemson

Best scheme fit: Raiders. Murphy is a stout edge rusher who can start right away to assist Maxx Crosby on the defensive line. Murphy is productive with his bull rush and can play in a variety of alignments, which would allow defensive coordinator Patrick Graham to get creative with his fronts.

Inside linebacker

Trenton Simpson, Clemson

Best scheme fit: Bears. Matt Eberflus is probably set at linebacker after Chicago signed Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards, but the coach is a fan of tall, athletic linebackers who can cover, and that’s what Simpson offers as a prospect. In what is otherwise a pretty thin linebacker class, Simpson has the skill set to flourish in the NFL.

Jack Campbell, Iowa

Best scheme fit: Cowboys. Campbell is the throwback linebacker with solid instincts and strong communication skills. He’s also reliable in coverage and would do well in Dan Quinn’s revamped 4–3 scheme.

Jeremy Banks, Tennessee

Best scheme fit: Titans. Banks might not be a top draft prospect, but he caught the eye of NFL Media’s Nick Shook in Indianapolis, who mentioned the ’backer on his 2023 All-Combine Team. Banks recorded more than 100 tackles last season, becoming the first Tennessee player since ’15 to reach that milestone. Perhaps coach Mike Vrabel keeps the combine gem in Tennessee. 

Interior defensive line

Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh

Best scheme fit: Chargers. No one is Aaron Donald, but that didn’t stop draft pundits from making the easy comparisons between him and Kancey, an undersized and athletic defensive tackle from Pittsburgh. The lack of size might be an issue for Kancey, but Brandon Staley knows how to free interior defensive linemen and would be the ideal coach to utilize Kancey’s athleticism as a pass rusher. Staley was also Donald’s defensive coordinator with the Rams in 2020.

Bryan Bresee, DL-DT, Clemson

Best scheme fit: Texans. New coach DeMeco Ryans spent the past two seasons guiding arguably the best front seven in the NFL as the defensive coordinator of the 49ers. The Texans, however, are lacking playmakers on the defensive line and would benefit from selecting Bresee, a quality pass rusher from inside and on the edge. Bresee has high upside, but he was plagued by injuries in college.

Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan

Best scheme fit: Saints. Dennis Allen’s defensive line lost plenty of talent in free agency because of a tight salary cap, but his unit can make up for that with the versatile Smith, a physical pass rusher with a high motor. Smith, who led defensive linemen with 34 bench press reps at the combine, has enticing athletic traits.