How Do Florida's Day 3 NFL Draft Picks Align With Their New Teams?

The 2023 NFL Draft has officially come to a close with the final clock expiring on Saturday.

Six former Florida Gators athletes heard their names called during the annual three-day event, distributed evenly between offensive and defensive picks.

In anticipation of their future roles, All Gators will break down the team fit for all six selections organized by the day they were picked, further analyzing how each should align on their new team.

After examining quarterback Anthony Richardson's fit on Sunday and day two selections Gervon Dexter and O'Cyrus Torrence on Monday, we wrap up our post-draft fit series with the Gators' day three selections, Ventrell Miller, Justin Shorter and Amari Burney.

LB Ventrell Miller, Jacksonville Jaguars

The Florida boy stays in the Sunshine State to plug holes as a run defender.

Coming off the board unexpectedly in the fourth round, as his nature as an undersized 'backer and injury history created concern, Miller slots into a Jacksonville defense looking to match the firepower the offensive side of the ball has to offer.

He joins a linebacker corps compiled of Foye Oluokun, the NFL's leading tackler in back-to-back seasons, Devin Lloyd and Chad Muma.

Possessing an elite sense of run diagnosis and burst from the second level to fill gaps, Miller projects to be a rotational linebacker prospect who fills in on first and second downs or obvious rushing situations. The bulk of his time will come in relief of Oluokun as the team's middle linebacker, expected to take over a role that Shaquille Quarterman held last season.

Although Miller's limited to early downs and short yardage situations, namely due to his inconsistency in coverage, Miller can aid Jacksonville's efforts against the run — which multiple members of the franchise expressed to be a top priority in defensive philosophy under defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell in 2022.

General manager Trent Baalke also described Miller as a "core four" contributor, meaning he'll likely serve a role on kickoff coverage, kickoff return, punt coverage and punt return.

While his role in relief defensively will draw the most attention, the special teams' output may be what makes or breaks Miller's NFL career in Jacksonville. 

WR Justin Shorter, Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills have sputtered out in the playoffs over the past two seasons due to their inability to run the football.

As a result, a significant point of emphasis for the franchise this offseason has been equipping the roster with capable ball carriers and trenchmen to conquer that area of weaknesses. That was evident by their aforementioned second-round selection of Torrence. 

However, the need to run the football in the postseason is merely an add-on to what the Bills want to do.

It won't change their identity.

As a result, the number of weapons for quarterback Josh Allen to target through the air cannot be too plentiful, especially when factoring in the modern approach of using the passing attack to open holes in the running game.

Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis remain his first and second options, while general manager Brandon Beane and Co. climbed in the first round to select Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid to fulfill another target hole.

But, the compilation of potential talent that can strain opposing defenses doesn't stop there. Insert Shorter, a big-bodied, field-stretching wideout. 

While he may have underwhelmed at the collegiate level relative to his five-star status as a prep prospect, his emergence as a deep threat in the 2022 season pairs well with the downfield attack the Bills have employed with Allen behind center. Shorter accounted for the nation's seventh-best yards per catch metric in his final campaign with the Gators, earning 19.9 yards per reception.

Standing at 6-foot-4, 223 pounds, the Monmouth Junction (N.J.) native presents an imposing frame that can create mismatches against corners in coverage on the outside.

There is still room for growth as a contest catch receiver, but his upside in that area to create another viable red zone and short-yardage target warranted the selection.

His early contributions could be limited, as the target share will be low with the compilation of pieces lining the team's skill positions. However, with proper progression, Shorter can emerge as a viable fourth or fifth option to further the team's desire to create explosive plays through the air. 

LB Amari Burney, Las Vegas Raiders

Leave it to Las Vegas to roll the dice on a high-upside piece.

Stepping into a defense that ranked bottom five in the league a season ago — allowing 353.3 yards per contest to opponents — Burney joins an influx of new faces in the first and third levels as Josh McDaniels and Patrick Graham look to sure up that unit.

The former Gator, whose success will depend mainly on where he aligns, will likely assume a backup role to Divine Deablo at the weakside linebacker spot in 2023. However, his potential and versatility suggest that his impact could be more significant than your average rotational linebacker. 

Possessing impressive athletic metrics paired with a history of production in a multitude of areas during his time at the University of Florida, Burney can serve in numerous roles for the Raiders. He spent time in the secondary, both at nickel cornerback and safety, before switching to off-ball 'backer later in his collegiate career, showcasing an ability to operate in coverage if needed. 

The St. Petersburg (Fla.) native pairs that ability with a significant uptick in production as a pass rusher in 2022 as well as his oft-overlooked run-stopping output. 

At his peak, Burney has the making of a Swiss army knife-like piece that can be dropped into any scenario the Las Vegas defense faces once he finds comfort in the speed of the professional game. 

It's a role that suits him well and can elevate the unit as a whole, aiding its attempt to halt the potent offenses lining the AFC West and conference for the foreseeable future.