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Mel Kiper raves about Josh Downs, Charlie Jones in 2023 NFL Draft class

On3-Social-Profile_GRAYby:On3 Staff Report•01/20/23
Josh Downs, North Carolina Tar Heels receiver
North Carolina receiver Josh Downs signals for a first down in the ACC Championship Game against Clemson on Dec. 3, 2022. (Icon Sportswire / Getty Images)

The deadline for underclassmen to declare for the 2023 NFL Draft was on Monday, so NFL teams now have a much better idea who will be on their draft boards and were. And two underclassman receivers who declared for the 2023 NFL Draft have caught the eye of long-time ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper.

Those two would be North Carolina‘s Josh Downs and Purdue‘s Charlie Jones.

Jones absolutely exploded in 2022 for the Boilermakers, hauling in 110 catches for 1,361 yards and 12 touchdowns, becoming one of the most prolific pass-catchers in the country after transferring in from Iowa.

“I think when you look at Charlie Jones at Iowa, he was a return man, he had catches, but he goes to Purdue and he shines,” Kiper said. “Charlie Jones, they knew they had to contain him, defenses knew what they had to do and Charlie Jones will battle for the football. Contested grabs go his way. I want to see what he runs at the Combine. That’s a guy I want to see how he runs at the Combine and how he tests out, because there’s a kid, productive as heck this year.”

Jones’ versatility was impressive, perhaps his best attribute as he readies for the 2023 NFL Draft.

After transferring to Purdue his return duties were minimal compared to his time in 2018 at Buffalo and in 2020 and 2021 at Iowa. Still, he flashed his skills there in addition to his receiving duties.

He rang up a career 620 yards and a touchdown on punt returns in college, averaging 8.05 yards per return. He also recorded 1,002 yards and a touchdown on kick returns, averaging 21.32 yards per return.

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Josh Downs also an impressive 2023 NFL Draft option

Kiper didn’t discuss Josh Downs’ skill set quite as much, but he noted him as another productive receiver to keep an eye on in the 2023 NFL Draft.

The long-time ESPN analyst discussed Downs — and the quarterback throwing to him — on the First Draft podcast.

“Josh Downs at North Carolina, we have Drake Maye at quarterback,” Kiper said. “We’re going to be talking about a lot about Drake Maye at North Carolina, Caleb Williams at USC battling it out to be the No. 1 pick in the draft in 2024. But Josh Downs, outstanding player.”

The 2023 NFL Draft will take place from April 27-29 in Kansas City. The 2023 NFL Combine will be held in Indianapolis from Feb. 28 to March 6.