Fans will see some unfamiliar sights in the early rounds of the 2023 N.F.L. draft. From middle-schooler size receivers to tight ends built like comic book supervillains to prospects already halfway to earning their AARP cards, this year’s draft class reflects a tipping point in on-field strategies and N.F.L. priorities, as well as the rules that govern how the N.C.A.A. does business.
Here are a couple of trends that will become apparent when Commissioner Roger Goodell starts calling names during the first round on April 27 in Kansas City, Mo.
Action Figure Cornerbacks
The cornerbacks available are so big, athletic and impressive that it’s a wonder anyone caught a pass on an autumn Saturday last year.