Check out Mock Draft 1.0: https://www.theloganblackmanshow.com/post/the-draft-expert-2023-nfl-mock-draft-1-0
Hello all and welcome to the Draft "Expert's" officially official 2023 NFL mock draft 2.0! I already loved writing mock draft 1.0, but I truly enjoyed writing this one, especially since we finally have our first officially official trade of the draft, with the Carolina Panthers moving from nine to one in a fairly lopsided trade with the Chicago Bears.
Before we truly get into this, last time I stated that the last mock draft, mock draft 1.0, was the longest ever blog post in Logan Blackman Show or Draft "Expert" history...it was not. In fact, not only was it not the longest post ever, this post is actually longer that one, making it even more irrelevant than it was before. Isn't that fun?
To go along with the Carolina Panthers trade, we do featured at least one other trade in this post, which could truly shake up the entire draft. I thought about keeping the draft pretty clean, with no trades, but I just couldn't resist it, sorry.
There are four quarterbacks, one running back, three wide receivers, three tight ends, six offensive tackles, three defensive tackles, five edge rushers, one linebacker, four cornerbacks, and one safety taken in this draft. So, like we said last time, there's truly something for everyone in this draft!
Without any further delay, I, Logan Blackman, host of the Logan Blackman Show, am proud to present to you mock draft 2.0! Enjoy!
Podcast Links
Pictured: Anthony Richardson, Florida; CJ Stroud, Ohio State; Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State
1. Carolina Panthers (via Chicago) - CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State
To the surprise of absolutely no one, the Chicago Bears traded the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Now, this was something that had been on the cards for the past month, or so, with Bears seemingly telling everyone that the first pick was for sale since pretty much the end of the season. The only question regarding this pick was who was going to trade up. Though a few teams were brought up, the two most likely teams, in the eyes of the public, were the Indianapolis Colts and the Carolina Panthers. With the two teams being permanent residents in quarterback hell, it was time for each team to make a move to secure the next face of their franchise. With the Colts sitting at four, they seemed like the most likely candidate to move up to number one, but after an insanely lopsided trade, the Panthers gave up the ninth and 61st picks of this year's draft, a first and second rounder next year, and wide receiver DJ Moore for the rights to select one of the top quarterbacks in the class. At face value, the Bears absolutely struck gold with this trade, getting their own franchise quarterback, Justin Fields, a true number one option at wide receiver, along with getting multiple picks in the process, was a stroke of genius by GM Ryan Poles. Now, if the Panthers get the next Patrick Mahomes, or something, then this trade will be worth it. As of right now though, it's leaning heavily in the Bears favor. All that being said, the Carolina Panthers control the draft, having their pick of the litter in deciding the next face of their franchise. In a way, this could be Frank Reich's way of getting back at the Colts for releasing him, because as we said before, the battle for this pick was mainly between the Colts and Panthers, and since we know the Texans are taking a quarterback, the Colts are in line to get the third best quarterback in the draft, arguably. Maybe the Colts get the guy they wanted at one at four, but right now, the Panthers could very well take the guy atop the Colts draft board and to me, the Colts top two guys are Ohio State's CJ Stroud and Florida's Anthony Richardson. Though Richardson absolutely destroyed the combine, I think the Panthers, currently, have their eyes on the Ohio State prospect, and could take him here at first overall. This pick is both cool, and sad, for the Big 10 in some ways. With Stroud being taken here at one, he becomes the first quarterback from the Big 10 to get taken in the top 10 since Kerry Collins all the way back in 1995, who was coincidentally taken by the Panthers with the fifth overall pick. Stroud would also become the first Big 10 quarterback selected first overall since Jeff George was taken by the Colts back in 1990. All together, it's been a long ass time since a Big 10 quarterback has been taken this high in the draft, and you can't say Stroud doesn't deserve this illustrious honor. At the combine, apart from Richardson, Stroud arguably looked the best out of the other top quarterback prospects in this draft. Though he didn't partake in the workout portion of the combine, Stroud put forth one of the best throwing portions of the combine in recent memory, showing off terrific ball placement on all short, intermediate, and deep throws, really wowing everyone in attendance. Though I believe any quarterback worth their salt can look good throwing on air, Stroud looked head and shoulders better than every other quarterback that threw at the combine. Though his combine performance was impressive, Stroud put forth two excellent seasons while quarterbacking the Ohio State Buckeyes, even going as far to say that he had been the best player in college football over those two seasons, which saw him become a two-time Heisman finalist. Though I don't think, at their peaks, he was better than Bryce Young, one thing I can say about Stroud is that he was the most accurate quarterback in college football over those years. One could even say he's one of the more accurate quarterbacks in recent college football memory, being a point guard in every sense of the word at the quarterback position. Stroud can place a ball anywhere on the field, and is able to do it on the run as well as in the pocket, which is important in today's NFL. Though he has the ability to throw on the run, he doesn't run the ball past the line of scrimmage that often. When you look at his rushing stats, you would think this dude can't move for shit, but the thing is that he can, he just chooses not to. The only time we saw Stroud run the ball was against Northwestern, in a game that essentially had hurricane force winds, kind of forcing his hand in a sense. We did see it in spurts in the semi-final game against Georgia, but I kind of want to see Stroud utilize his feet more at the next level. It may be a comfort thing if anything, because he can look flustered at times when he's on the move, and has looked rattled when the pocket somewhat collapses around him. If you give him time he'll dice up the opposition, but I do get somewhat nervous when pressure gets thrown on him. All that being said, given what he did at the combine, and in college, Stroud is a deserving candidate to be the first overall pick in the draft.
2. Houston Texans - Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
The Texans stand pat and take the best quarterback in the draft. Don't get me wrong, I do like the Texans current quarterback, Davis Mills, but there's no way, at least in my mind, that they don't move for a quarterback with this pick. Like, though Mills has his flaws, he was far from the only problem down in Houston. I've even seen people on Twitter say that if Mills had a semi-decent receiving core the Texans wouldn't even be in the quarterback conversation. As much as you may like or want to defend Davis Mills, the fact of the matter is that he is fairly limited in what he can do. Sure he's an alright athlete at the quarterback position, but is he someone that you can staple your franchise to long term? I'm not so sure, good receiving core or not. Despite the rumors that Houston could take another Alabama player in Will Anderson here, again, I can't see them moving for any other position than quarterback, and if he's available, there's no way, at least right now, that they can pass on Bryce Young. Despite him not having the biggest frame, listed at 5'10" 204 lbs. at the combine, Young can do so many different things with the ball that others in this class can't. Like, if dude was a few inches taller, we may be talking about a guy who's in that 'generational' conversation. I don't want to insinuate that he is or will ever become Patrick Mahomes, but both Young and Mahomes can do similar things when forced to ad-lib outside of the pocket. The thing Young does better than every one in his class is his ability to throw on the run. As far as accuracy goes, he may be just as accurate on the run than he is in the pocket, which is a truly great skill to have. Besides throwing the ball, Young is excellent when he tucks the ball down and runs. Though he didn't do it insanely often at Alabama, Young is not only quick in his cuts, but because of his size, or lack there of, he's very smart on deciding when and where to take hits. Apart from his shoulder injury against Arkansas, which was more of a freak thing than anything, Young rarely took big hits while on the run. Even in the pocket, Young is not afraid to stand tall in the face of pressure and deliver a strike down the field but again, he's smart about it. Great athlete with a strong and accurate arm, Young is truly special when he gets things going. This past season at Alabama, the offense wouldn't work unless Bryce Young played the role of Superman, which is strange to say about an Alabama offense. Though he's smaller, Young has all the tools to be truly special at the next level. Again, if Young falls past the first pick in the draft, there's no way the Houston Texans will pass on him. Bryce Young would usher in a new brand of football down to the Houston area, and it should be very fun to see.
3. Las Vegas Raiders (via Arizona) - Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
In a fairly shocking move, the Las Vegas Raiders jump the Indianapolis Colts to select, arguably, the third best quarterback in this draft class. Though reports are currently linking them to Kentucky's Will Levis, if the Cardinals are truly 'open for business,' I wouldn't be too surprised to see a team like the Raiders make a move to jump Indy and take the dude that absolutely tore up the NFL combine a week ago in the form of Florida's Anthony Richardson. Like we said, Anthony Richardson was on a different planet when it came to the workout portion of the 2023 combine. At the combine, Richardson absolutely stole the show. Coming in at 6'4" 244 lbs., Richardson posted a 40.5" vertical, a 10'9" broad jump, and an insane 4.43 in the 40 yard dash, with his vertical and broad jump numbers setting new combine records for the quarterback position. Though it didn't set a record, his 40 yard dash time ranks third all time for quarterbacks running at the combine. For a guy at his size, Richardson should not be able to move as well as he does. The dude is an absolute freak of nature and puts it all on display when he's on the football field. Though he's insanely raw, his talent is insane, as he has arguably the strongest arm in the daft. That being said he can be very erratic at times, which causes some throws to go awry. Just look at some of the throws he made in the game against Western Kentucky, or some of the runs he made against both LSU and Texas A&M, the dude exudes talent, but it's just a matter of if he can put it all together or not. For the Colts, if given the proper time, Richardson has all the tools to be a truly great quarterback at the next level. This just feels like a Raiders pick, doesn't it? When looking at the Raiders draft history, they have usually prioritized tools over collegiate production, always looking for the fastest or strongest player at their respective position, regardless of where they may be drafting at the time. Though most out there will see them as reachers, the Raiders always seem to feel good about their pick(s), regardless of what everyone else thinks. Hell, they've drafted both a kicker and a punter in the first round of the NFL Draft, anything is possible with this team. Where Anthony Richardson fits into all of this is that he will widely be considered the most polarizing prospect in the entire draft, regardless of position, and his combine performance proved that. If we look at the last time Josh McDaniels was a head coach, discounting his time in Indianapolis, dude made a very surprising selection towards the latter part of the first round in his second year as the Broncos head coach, taking Tim Tebow, oddly enough also from Florida, with the 25th pick in the draft. About the pick, McDaniels stated that, "he has all the traits you look for. It's a good pick," the same could be said for Richardson. He traded up for Tebow, why not trade up for Richardson? What the dude needs is time, and with the Raiders looking at Garoppolo this offseason, Richardson would be afforded the time to learn, which would greatly benefit him. If/when Garoppolo signs, the plan would be in place to have Richardson ease into the starting role, rather than get thrust right into it. With reports saying Raiders GM Dave Ziegler is 'intrigued' by Richardson, I wouldn't be surprised if they moved up to try and get him. If he pans out, the Raiders could have a very special player on their hands.
4. Indianapolis Colts - Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
I'm sure for a lot of Colts fans out there this would be a nightmare of a scenario. With the Carolina Panthers trading with the Bears to acquire the first overall pick, you would think the Indianapolis Colts draft strategy may have to change, at least a little bit. Before the trade took place, the Colts were, arguably, the favorites to move up to number one, and even then were still second in line in regards to teams who could draft a quarterback, sitting behind the division rival Texans. Now, with the Panthers more than likely taking a quarterback at one, the Colts are in a position where they may get the third best quarterback in the draft. Except in this scenario, they may have to settle for the fourth best quarterback in the draft since the Raiders struck a trade with the Cardinals to move up to number three. Now, I'm sure many Colts fans would like to see Jim Irsay, Chris Ballard, and co. move up the three to make sure they don't get stuck with the fourth quarterback on their board. Though that's what fans will be wanting, I'm not 100% confident that's what they're going to do. If you listened to Colts GM Chris Ballard at the combine, he stated that in order to up, 'there's got to be a guy worthy of it. I know everybody in America is going to say like this is what's great right now, everybody has just automatically stamped that you've got to move up to one to get it right. I don't know if I agree with that. I don't, but that's going to be the narrative, and that's ok, you guys got to write something, you got to keep the news flowing. I don't know if that's the right course of business. When we meet as a staff and we say ok, this is what we need to do, this is the guy for the next 10-15 years and we think he's the right guy, sure we'll do it. But, who's to say we can't get one at four.' All in all, I don't think the Colts are sold on moving up in the draft, regardless if that was for the first pick, or even the third pick. Now, I could completely overthinking this, but I think the Colts may just be fine sitting at four and taking the best available, which could very well end up being the fourth best quarterback in the draft. That being said, I don't think they'll complain too much if they do have to take Levis, as I think he'd definitely do like him as a possible option at four, regardless if the Raiders trade up to three to take Richardson. Though Levis hasn't officially met with the Colts brass, the fact of the matter is that the Colts have sent more scouts to Kentucky football games than any of team in the NFL. They may not have met with him, but there are some decent feelings for the former Kentucky quarterback. Though many out there may be upset by this pick, I do think Levis can develop into a very strong quarterback in this league. To me, Levis is kind of like the Yankees. You either love him or you hate him, there's rarely an in-between when it comes to him, and a lot of that has to go to the fact he didn't take that preverbal 'jump' people were expecting of him at the beginning of the season. If you just solely look at his numbers, nothing really jumps out at you, apart from maybe the interceptions, which Levis threw 10 of this past season. By almost every statistical category, Levis' numbers were down from the season prior, especially his rushing stats, going from 376 and nine touchdowns in 2021 to -107 and only two touchdowns this past season. Though his numbers aren't the best, it can be easy to see why teams are falling in love with Levis. Not only does he have the 'prototypical size' teams are looking for, but what really sets him apart, to some, is his leadership and work ethic. A three star recruit coming out of high school, 28th best quarterback in his class, Levis enrolled at Penn State and was typically used as a Blake Bell style of quarterback, really only used as a running quarterback. To go from that to being Kentucky's first first round quarterback since Tim Couch is pretty special. Dude was behind Sean Clifford, that's how down he was, think about that. Levis' arm strength, athletic ability, and work ethic will see him go in the top 10, regardless of how you feel about him. I don't think he's the next Josh Allen, but this dude could be fun to watch at the next level. Again, maybe I'm reading too much into that Chris Ballard quote, but I honestly think the Colts would feel fine staying at four and taking the best available. He may not be the fans choice, but I definitely think the Colts hold Levis in high regard and I think he'd work really well in Shane Steichen's offense. A backfield of Levis and Jonathan Taylor could be very fun to see.
5. Seattle Seahawks (via Denver) - Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama
If the draft ends up looking like this, the Seattle Seahawks are the team that will truly start the draft. I say that because if the Raiders hypothetically trade up, we know who the first four picks in the draft will be. We may not know which order they get taken in, but we know that the first four picks will be quarterbacks, which again, works out perfectly for the Seahawks as they now have their pick of the top defensive player in the draft. Saying that for a team that is picking fifth overall is truly crazy to think about. If you would've told me that, before the season started, the Seattle Seahawks would be picking in the top five, I would've believed you. Now, if you told me that but then added on that the top five pick wouldn't actually be their own pick, but the pick they received from the Broncos as a part of the Russell Wilson trade I would've called you crazy. Who really saw this coming? Not me. Like, I'm old enough to remember when people, including myself, held Russell Wilson up as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, and a potential first ballot Hall of Famer, how the hell did things change so fast. You're really going to tell me Geno Smith, the same Geno Smith that hadn't been a consistent starter in the NFL since 2014, was not only going to have a better season than Russell Wilson, but would ultimately break the Seattle Seahawks single season passing record? Not only that, but Geno only threw three less touchdowns this season than his entire career combined. Who the actual hell saw that coming? Again, not me, but I can't say I didn't enjoy it, and I'm glad Geno got rewarded with a new three year $105 million deal. The Seahawks going from what looked like a proverbial basement dweller to playoff team, post Russell Wilson trade, is something that needed seeing to be believed, and now they have a real chance to build on the success they had last year by holding a top five pick in the draft. When you look at the Seahawks current roster one thing kind of stands out, and that is the real lack of depth and quality in the edge rusher department, with Shelby Harris and Quinton Jefferson the only registered defensive ends on the roster. So far this offseason, head coach Pete Carroll has stressed the importance of the Seahawks becoming a more dynamic unit up front, and when you look at the rest of their division it's easy to see why he'd think that way, as the Rams and 49ers have built a lot of their success off of their defensive line. So, with this pick we're going to have them address the edge rusher position, having them select Alabama's Will Anderson Jr. here with the fifth overall pick. To many out there, Anderson may have been one of the more disruptive and dominant edge rushers in recent memory, leading the nation in sacks and finishing with the third most first place votes in the 2021 Heisman ceremony. Though his numbers weren't as insane as what they were the season before, Anderson still put up double digit sacks, and even registered a pick-six this past season for the Crimson Tide. Combined, over the past two seasons, Anderson registered 124 pressures over these past two seasons, which is a staggering 49 more than the next closest in college football. Anderson's tireless work rate and athleticism make him a nightmare for opposing offenses and I'm sure Seahawks fans, and the organization alike, would love to see Anderson coming off the edge in the Emerald City.
6. Detroit Lions (via Los Angeles) - Jalen Carter, DL, Georgia
This worked out perfectly for the Detroit Lions. As I'll state a couple more times, four quarterbacks going within the first four picks has very much benefited the teams outside of the top four who do not need a quarterback. Though the Lions could take a quarterback as a 'luxury piece,' I think they'd definitely take the best defensive player available if they fell to them here with the sixth overall pick, which is exactly what happened here. Before I get to the player, for the Lions, with quarterback seemingly out of the question at this point, the Lions should definitely turn their attention to the defensive side of the ball, especially since the Lions boasted the worst defense in the league, by some margin, giving up, on average, 392.4 yards per game. To me, and seemingly everyone else out there, the main positions in question on the defensive side of the ball are going to be corner and defensive tackle. Though I'm sure the Lions would love to take one of the top corners with this pick, especially with Mike Hughes and Amani Oruwariye entering free agency, I just can't see them pass on Georgia's Jalen Carter, were he to become available here at six overall. Regardless of the player, this position shouldn't really come as a surprise to the viewing public, as the Lions have used two of their last three first round picks at strengthening the trenches, something that shouldn't be too shocking with knee cap biter Dan Campbell at the helm. As for Carter, this offseason has been somewhat of a roller coaster. Widely considered as the top player in the draft, some off the field issues have reared their ugly head at the former Georgia defensive tackle, as an arrest warrant was issued for Carter for his involvement in a car accident that took place on January 15th, which resulted in the deaths of Georgia staff member Chandler Louise LeCroy and teammate Devin Alex Willock. Though he turned himself in after the warrant was issued, and was released on a $4,000 bond a few minutes later, this is something he's going to have to address tenfold from now all the way up to the NFL Draft on April 27th. This whole thing could really affect Carter's draft stock, as many teams around the league will start to question Carter's character, causing him to potentially plummet down draft boards all across the league. That being said, I think he does have enough time to try and clear his name within NFL organizations, which shouldn't see him fall as far as he would had this news been broken on draft night. If he is able to rectify how people view him, I don't see why he can't still be selected with a premium draft pick. Sure, he may fall a little more than what most out their originally expected, but as of right now, I think he'll still end up as a top 10 pick, and his fall stops with the Detroit Lions here with the sixth overall pick. Like I said before, Carter has widely been considered as one of, if not the top player in this draft class, which is not something that is usually said about defensive tackles. Even on a Georgia defensive line that boasted the likes of Travon Walker, Jordan Davis, and Devonte Wyatt, many considered Carter to be the most gifted out of that group which again, shows truly how talented of a player he is. Being the main cog in Georgia's defensive machine, Carter's relentless work rate and speed on passing downs makes him damn near impossible to stop. Mixing that with his natural athleticism makes it even harder to stay in front of him, as he has the fluidity to dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge around opposing offensive linemen. He may not have the production, yet, but the talent is clearly there, which should translate into him becoming an even bigger threat at the next level. Where he's, arguably, the most dominant is against the run, as his aforementioned speed and athleticism allows him to split blockers and get to the backfield sometimes even before the back gets the ball. Georgia has built a nice little team based around a stifling defense, and even if you look at last year's team, many out there believe Carter has been the most naturally talented player that Kirby Smart and co. have produced over the recent years. A lot of people may want Anderson, but I can assure you there's nothing really splitting the two defenders. If the Lions want to improve their horrific defense, they should start in the middle with Carter. Adding Carter to a defensive line that already features Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeil would be very fun to see, giving the Lions one of the best young defensive lines in the league.
7. Arizona Cardinals (via Las Vegas) - Tyree Wilson, DL/EDGE, Texas Tech
At the combine, new Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort stated that they are open for business, in regards to trading the third overall pick in the draft. Though this draft may not have a Joe Burrow or Trevor Lawrence level prospect sitting there, a lot of teams within the top 10 could make moves for quarterbacks, especially now since the Carolina Panthers struck a deal with the Chicago Bears to move up to the top pick in the draft. Much like the Bears in some respects, the Cardinals have quite a few holes on their roster, and could really take advantage of a quarterback needy team by trading back. In this scenario, as you can obviously tell, I have them trading back with the Las Vegas Raiders, in order for them to select Kentucky quarterback Will Levis with the third overall pick. So, now picking at seven, who could Oseenfort and new head coach Jonathan Gannon take with the seventh pick in the draft? Well, if you listened to what was being said at the combine, the Cardinals are definitely going to be looking to add some more pieces on the defensive side of the ball, especially with three time defensive player of the year, JJ Watt, announcing his plan to retire back in December of 2022. Outside of Watt, the Cardinals have a few other key defensive pieces entering free agency this offseason, mainly Watt's defensive end parter Zach Allen, making defense, and mainly the defensive line, a top priority entering the draft. Like I said before, if you've listened to what has been said at the combine, out of the top players in the draft, the Cardinals have been mostly associated with Alabama's Will Anderson Jr. and Texas Tech's Tyree Wilson. Though Anderson may be considered the more polished product, and put forth better college production, some reports suggest the Texas Tech edge rusher may be the apple of the Cardinals eye entering the draft. To me, though they may like, or even love, Tyree Wilson, I can't see them taking him over the Alabama edge rusher, so that's where the trade back comes into play. Hypothetically, if the Cardinals trade back, it's going to be with a quarterback needy team, and with the Panthers, Texans, and Colts all likely to take a signal caller, trading back to add a fourth team will see some of the top defenders in the draft start to slide down the draft board, which for the Cardinals means their top guy could fall right into their hands after trading back. Taking a guy you wanted at three at seven is truly one of the best feelings in the world, for both organization and fans. So, with the seventh pick in the draft, I'm going to have the Cardinals select Texas Tech's Tyree Wilson. An absolute freak coming off the edge, Wilson's 6'6" 271 lbs. frame is something the Cardinals could really use to liven up their defensive line. His frame mixed with his athleticism and explosiveness makes him a very fun defender to watch, and a pain to play against. His 86" wingspan makes him an absolute nightmare, helping him set an edge in the run game while also creating separation in the pass game. Despite missing the final three games of the season, Wilson still managed to register seven sacks and 14 tackles for loss. He's the ultimate disruptor and would be an excellent addition to the Cardinals defensive line. He could be an excellent replacement for JJ Watt along the defensive line.
8. Atlanta Falcons - Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
The Atlanta Falcons were a very strange team this past season. Like, I don't know if I was the only one out there, but I thought for sure they'd be the worst team in the NFL. But after being very competitive through the first few weeks of the season, they not only didn't look like the 'worst team in the NFL,' but with how bad their division was, they looked like a potential playoff team. Like, this is a Falcons team that beat the NFC runners up by two touchdowns, and beat the playoff bound Seahawks on the road in week three. Let me put it this way, the only way I thought I'd see the Falcons be at .500, at any point, was at the start of the season, let alone going into week nine. Now, you could be sitting there and asking yourself why I was so down on the Falcons going into this season. The main reason was because of their quarterback situation. After pissing off their greatest ever quarterback by trying to trade for Deshaun Watson, which in turn saw Ryan go up to Indianapolis, the Falcons turned their attention to the former number two overall pick in Marcus Mariota. Now, with how 'in' the Falcons were for the aforementioned Deshaun Watson, why wouldn't they be as, if not more in for Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson? Who, as I recall, has about 24 less sexual assault allegations against him. Like, I loved that they drafted Desmond Ridder last year, and I'm open to see what he can do, but if you have a chance to get Lamar Jackson, the second ever unanimous NFL MVP, for just two first round picks, why not take it? Who knows, but it seems as if, for now, the Falcons are committed to Desmond Ridder being the starter for this upcoming season. So, if they do end up keeping this pick, who should the Falcons select? Well, I think it kind of comes down to three positions, which are offensive tackle, edge rusher, and corner. With former first round pick Kaleb McGary not getting resigned, the option of tackle could be fairly high on the Falcons draft board. Same goes for edge rusher, as the Falcons have ranked in the bottom half of the league in sacks for the better part of six years. Though those two positions are arguably bigger needs, if reports are to be believed, the Falcons really like some of the top corners in this years class, and could very well take one here with the eighth overall pick. With certain defenders falling down the board due to off the field issues and quarterbacks being selected with the first four picks, the chance for the Falcons to take, arguably, the top corner in the draft has gone up exponentially. So, with this pick, I'm going to have the Falcons take former Oregon Duck Christian Gonzalez with their first pick in the draft. Before the combine, the gap between the likes of Gonzalez, Devon Witherspoon, and Joey Porter Jr. was relatively slim. After the combine though, according to reports, it seems most teams view Gonzalez as the top corner in this years draft class, with one of those teams being the Falcons. At the combine, coming in at 6'1" 197 lbs., Gonzalez posted an impressive 4.38 in the 40 along with a 41.5" vertical and an 11'1" broad jump, all near the top for corners at the combine. His impressive performance, mixed with his on field production has seem him become, arguably, the top corner in the class. At his size, Gonzalez has all the length teams are looking for in today's NFL. Coupling that with the fact that he may be the most lockdown corner in the draft and you may have something special on your hands. His size allows him to guard any receiver and his speed and ball tracking abilities rarely sees him get beat deep. Against his former team, Gonzalez registered two interceptions, with one of them close to being returned for a touchdown, even broke a tackle on the run back. The following game, instead of gobbling up a ton of interceptions, he showed off his tackling abilities, leading the Ducks in total and solo tackles in a losing effort against Atlanta. Traits, traits, traits. Fluid, fast, and hungry, Gonzalez has everything you want in a corner. He could be the perfect parter for AJ Terrell, giving the Falcons one of the best corner pairings in the NFL.
9. Chicago Bears (via Carolina) - Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
As we said before, the Chicago Bears absolutely struck gold in trading back with the Carolina Panthers. Not only did they get an absolute bounty of picks, the Bears received wide receiver DJ Moore, giving Justin Fields a true number one option on the outside to pair with Darnell Mooney. I'm really excited to see how this trade pans out once all the picks are used up and everyone is in the league but as of right now, the Bears are the runaway winners of this trade. Hell, they fleeced the Panthers so much that there's already reports that the Panthers could ultimately trade back to try and recoup some of the assets they lost in the trade. Truly remarkable stuff. All that being said, though they won the trade, the Bears still have multiple holes on their roster, and are hoping these picks help them get back to the upper echelon of the NFC North, maybe even the NFC in general. With the Bears having so many holes on their roster they can truly go a multitude of directions. With head coach Matt Eberflus being a defensive minded coach, I wouldn't be all too surprised if the Bears ended up taking an edge rusher, or some other defensive position, here with the ninth pick. Though some will want the Bears to go that direction, I think they should continue to try and get their quarterback some more help on the offensive side of the ball. After the season ended, many people out there looked at wide receiver and offensive line being the Bears first two 'go to' positions of need for the coming offseason. A lot of Bears fans will probably want them to take Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba here, but I feel the addition of DJ Moore has taken off some of the pressure off of taking a wide receiver this early in the draft. Instead, I'm going to go for another college teammate of Justin Fields, having them take Ohio State offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. here with the ninth overall pick. Though some may see Northwestern's Peter Skoronski as the better tackle prospect, Ohio State's Paris Johnson Jr. has everything you could look for as a tackle prospect at the next level. A former five star recruit, Johnson started his career off at Ohio State as a guard, before moving to tackle and making the position his own this past season. At 6'6" 313 lbs., Johnson has the prototypical size for what a lot of teams will be looking for in a left tackle. A natural and fluid mover, Johnson can keep up with almost anyone coming off the edge, setting a nice wall up in both the pass and run game. This past season, per ESPN, Johnson allowed just two sacks and 10 pressures, which is again, an area the Bears will definitely be looking to improve upon this coming season. He's quick against the pass and stout against the run, and I feel his build mixed with his tenacity will push him towards the top of draft boards, in regards to the tackle position. At the combine, speaking about Justin Fields, Johnson stated that, "it would be an honor to be back with him again," so why not reunite them in the Windy City? Strong, quick, and powerful, I'm sure the Bears could use someone like that.
10. Philadelphia Eagles (via New Orleans) - Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
Thanks to the New Orleans Saints, the Eagles, for the second straight year, have multiple first round picks. This is an opportunity that doesn't come around all too often, the team that just had the best record in the NFL, league wide, and that just lost in the Super Bowl possesses a top 10 pick. Granted it may be the 10th pick out of 10 but a top 10 pick is still incredibly valuable and could be a move that helps the Eagles get back to the Super Bowl next season. Now, with this pick, the Eagles could go a couple different directions, with most of the attention being on the defensive side of the ball. After completely falling apart in the second half of Super Bowl LVII, the Eagles defense will need to add some fresh blood. Like, there are going to be a lot of changes on the defensive side of the ball in Philadelphia come next season with the likes of Fletcher Cox, Robert Quinn, Javon Hargrave, James Bradberry, Ndamukong Suh, Linval Joseph, and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson all entering free agency this offseason. Not to mention they also lost their defensive coordinator, Jonathan Gannon, to Arizona this offseason as well, so change will be in the works in Philly. Though GM Howie Roseman loves to address the trenches in the draft, I think it'd be more likely, at this point, that the Eagles lean more towards the secondary with this pick. With both James Bradberry and Darius Slay (who they've given permission to seek out a trade) possibly playing elsewhere next season, I think it'd be wise for the Eagles to reinvest in their secondary in the first round. With Christian Gonzalez off the board to Atlanta, the next best option is Illinois Devon Witherspoon. Though he may not be the most physically imposing corner out there, standing at 5'11" and weighing in at 181 lbs., Witherspoon may be the best on ball defender in this entire draft. Per PFF, 560 of the 738 defensive snaps Witherspoon played this past fall came with a man coverage call. Dude doesn't back down from any challenge. He's very instinctive and has a real nose for the football, while also not being afraid of hitting bigger players on the offensive side of the ball. Again, per PFF, Witherspoon was targeted 63 times, yet allowed just 22 catches for 206 yards with three interceptions and 14 pass breakups. Not to mention he didn’t allow a single touchdown all season. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if he went even higher than this, but for now, Philly will be cool at taking him here at 10. Dude would be an easy replacement for Bradberry and/or Slay, making an immediate impact on the defensive side of the ball.
11. Tennessee Titans - Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
The Titans are entering full blown tank mode, and it's pretty clear to see. As someone who has not really been a fan of the Titans over recent years I can't say I'm not happy about this. Like, am I the only one out there that gets insanely bored watching the Tennessee Titans play football? Like, I understand Derrick Henry is an elite running back and is more than capable at carrying this roster but come on, there's got to be some other option. I like Treylon Burks, but as time goes on that AJ Brown trade, which saw him get sent up to Philly, will be looking worse and worse. It already looks horrific, which is why they fired Jon Robinson in December, but it can only get worse if Burks doesn't stay healthy. Last season, the Titans ranked in the bottom three in yards per game and bottom five in points per game, all while losing their last seven games of the season and still somehow almost squeaking their way into the playoffs. That offensive output is why they fired another member of staff, firing offensive coordinator Todd Downing after the season ended. All that being said, the Titans have to remedy some things on the offensive side of the ball, and though receiver will be talked about a lot, as the old saying goes, it all starts up front. With three different quarterbacks lining up under center last season, the Titans finished in the bottom five in sacks allowed, giving up 49. I'm sure whoever the quarterback is next season, along with Derrick Henry, would love to have some help along the offensive line. With long time left tackle Taylor Lewan getting cut about a month ago, the need for a new bookend left tackle is at an all time high. Though it'll be tough to decide between Northwestern's Peter Skoronski and Georgia's Broderick Jones, I think the Titans will lean towards the latter and select Georgia's Jones with this pick. To me, Broderick Jones could very well get picked before the Titans are on the clock, as his insane power and length make him a very intriguing prospect heading into April. He may not be the biggest tackle, standing at 6'4" and weighing 311 lbs., but the dude is as muscular as they come, and use his strength to absolutely dominate oncoming defenders with relative ease. Even when he does get beat, he uses his length and speed to recover, allowing zero, zero, sacks this past season as Georgia won their second straight National Championship. That being said, though he didn't allow a sack, one could be obligated to say that he is more of a 'project piece' than the other top tackles in this class, as he can be very aggressive at times, which can cause him to be a little erratic. But if the Titans can coach him up right, they may end up getting the best tackle in this class. At only 21-years old, his best football is definitely in front of him. Who knows, maybe he could be blocking for Caleb Williams, or Drake Maye, next year.
12. Houston Texans (via Cleveland) - Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia
After hopefully drafting their new franchise quarterback with their first pick, the Texans, like the Seahawks, Lions, and Eagles before, have been blessed with two first round picks. This one comes courtesy of the Cleveland Browns in the trade that sent their last franchise quarterback, Deshaun Watson, up to Cleveland. Unlike the aforementioned teams though, their first pick was the one that actually belonged to them, whereas the other teams held picks from other teams that vastly under performed last season, so this pick, in theory, means more to the Texans organization then the three previous teams. Like we said before though, Houston drafted, who they hope will be, their next franchise quarterback, as that was arguably the most glaring need on the roster, despite how many fans Davis Mills may have out there. After quarterback, the Texans could go in a multitude of directions, both on offense and defense. Offensively we're probably looking at wide receiver or offensive tackle, with both positions possibly being pretty bare by the time the draft rolls around. Defensively, edge rusher and corner will be considered top priorities, even with them spending last year's third overall pick on LSU defensive back Derek Stingley Jr.. Though the offense will need some improvements, I'm sure new head coach DeMeco Ryans will want to sure up some things on the defensive side of the ball. Coming from San Francisco, who built a lot of their success off the back of a very solid defensive line, Ryans will want to make sure his team can get after the quarterback. Though they didn't put up terrible sack numbers last season, their leading sack getter was Jerry Hughes, who will be turning 35 before next season starts in August. Not to mention Rasheem Green, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, and Kevin Pierre-Louis are all entering free agency this offseason, leaving the edge rushing department lacking options. With those players potentially leaving, and Ryans coming from San Francisco, leads me to believe they should draft one of the best edge rusher available and to me, one of those guys is Georgia's Nolan Smith. Much like a bunch of Georgia players before him, Smith is an absolute freak of an athlete. Standing at 6'2" and weighing in at 238 lbs., Smith absolutely destroyed the combine, posting a 41.5" vertical, a 10'8" broad jump, and an insanely impressive 4.39 in the 40. The thing with his 40, it didn't even look like he was ever at full speed, it just looked so effortless for him, which is truly scary. Now, I don't think there will be a lot of times Smith is running 40 yards in a straight line in a football game, but that effortless athleticism will definitely see him vault up draft boards, and it definitely shows on film. Though he may be slightly undersized, Smith's natural athleticism and bend allows him to blow past the best blockers at the college level. He's almost like a blur to offensive linemen, as there aren't a lot of edge rushers that possess that kind of speed at the collegiate level. Now, because of his size, if he doesn't blow past you, he can get held up to a certain extent, but I fully expect him to bulk up at the next level to be able to shrug off opposing offensive linemen. Twitchy and athletic, Smith could be a perfect fit in DeMeco Ryans' defense. I'm sure Texans fans would be thrilled if their team ended up with Smith and Bryce Young, could be the start of something fun down in Houston.
13. Green Bay Packers (via New York) - Peter Skoronski, iOL/OT, Northwestern
After all this time, it finally seems like longtime quarterback Aaron Rodgers will finally be playing somewhere else this upcoming season. Though nothing is finalized yet, it seems like both parties involved feel a deal will go through in the coming days, or weeks. Much like the quarterback that came before him in Green Bay, Aaron Rodgers is soon to become the new quarterback of the New York Jets, which will be weird and sad to see on a few fronts. Coming from a neutral, I would've liked to see Rodgers finish out his career in Green Bay, however unlikely that seemed over the past few years. It's been fairly well documented to this point that Rodgers and current Packers GM Brian Gutekunst do really see eye to eye, with some reports once stating that Rodgers and the Packers relationship wouldn't be resolved unless Gutekunst was removed as general manager, especially after Gutekunst traded up in the 2020 draft to draft his eventual replacement. Funny how winning changes things though, as Rodgers went on to win back-to-back MVPs, which saw him sign a contract extension with the Packers last offseason. Sadly, he's not going to see out that contract, and we will be ushering in a new era in Green Bay, the Jordan Love era. As someone who spends a lot of time studying prospects in the NFL Draft, I can say that I do like Jordan Love, and I think he has the potential to be a very good quarterback at the NFL level. While at Utah State, Love showed off his ability to extend plays, being able to make some impressive throws on the run, similar to the quarterback he would eventually be replacing. His number though from his sophomore to junior year took a bit of a dip, which saw his draft stock tumble, a bit, in the process. Lo and behold though, the Packers moved up to get him, making him the first ever Utah State player selected in the first round. Time will tell if Love is truly the answer at quarterback in Green Bay but for now, the Packers have no choice but to give him the keys to the franchise. With Love potentially entering his first year as the Packers starter, one would imagine the Packers would love to surround him with some new pieces on offense, in whatever way possible. It's no secret Rodgers didn't necessarily have the best report with the Packers offense last season, so they may be smart to try and upgrade some of the positions on the offensive side of the ball. Though wide receiver and tight end will be high on a look of draft "expert's" list of needs for the Packers this offseason, one must remember the Packers don't use high value picks on offensive skill positions, for whatever reason. Now, that could change with a new quarterback in town, but I feel the Packers may instead try to upgrade the offensive line, which has been something of a problem area for the Packers in recent years. Now, when key players along the line are healthy, the line has been somewhat solid, but that's an issue in itself, isn't it? They need to add some fresh blood to the offensive line, so why not look to add a former Packer captain's grandson to try and help fix the o-line woes? Enter in Northwestern's Peter Skoronski. Much like the last Northwestern tackle selected in the first round, Skoronski may not possess the size a lot of teams are looking for in offensive tackles, but I don't think there's any doubt he could be a beast at tackle in the NFL. Getting the starting job as a freshman, Skoronski had his best season to date this past time around, allowing just one sack in 882 snaps. That's pretty damn impressive. Powerful at the point of attack, with quickness to boot, Skoronski would be an excellent pick up here at 13 by the Packers. He would be a great option at either guard or tackle for the Packers, giving Jordan Love more time to work in the pocket.
14. New England Patriots - Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
This could very well be one of the most surprising picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, and with good reason. Throughout the entire college football season, we as fans have been told about the likes of Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Jordan Addison, among others, but not many have watched a lot of Zay Flowers, and most of that comes down to that the dude played at Boston College. I promise you though, this dude could very well be worth the pick. If you look at the New England Patriots, one thing they have started to do recently is draft who they want, regardless of if the national media or fans think they 'over drafted' said player. Like, just look at last year when they drafted guard Cole Strange from Chattanooga, no one, and I mean no one saw that coming. Hell, even Les Snead and Sean McVay of the Rams could've believe it, even saying that they were hoping he'd be available when they picked, all the way down in the third round. The same could kind of also be said for wide receiver Tyquan Thornton, who didn't really have a ton of college production, but blew away the combine with his 4.28 40 time. That speed is something the Patriots are in desperate need for on the outside, and have been relatively vocal about getting a wide receiver this offseason, whether that's via trade or via the draft. With Flowers hailing from Boston College, who plays their football just 35 minutes north of Gillette Stadium, you would imagine the Patriots are very familiar with his game. Not only that, but the Patriots have been all over the former Golden Eagle at the Shrine Bowl, who have been the main coaching staff of the western team, which weirdly, the team Flowers is on. Like, you would think playing for one of the most eastern bound schools in the nation in Boston College would have you playing for the east, right? I don't really understand these all star games with their player selections but I'm sure the Patriots don't mind all too much. This past season, the Patriots were really without a true 'difference maker' on the outside, and with the likes of Nelson Agholor and Jakobi Meyers entering free agency, their already slim options could become even slimmer. Flowers, who is primarily a slot guy but can easily play on the outside when asked, put up very solid numbers in his time at Boston College, going for a career high in receptions, yards, and touchdowns this past season in a team that finished with three wins. Flowers ability to get open is what truly sets him apart in this class, and is why the Patriots should look at him. He's very shifty from the point of attack and once he loses you, you don't come back. Just last season alone, per PFF, Flowers registered 503 yards after the catch, which is pretty damn impressive. Not only that, but Flowers, per ESPN, also forced 25 missed tackles, which ranked third in the nation for wide receivers this past season. Flowers may not be the biggest receiver in this class, standing only 5'10" and weighing 172 lbs., but the dude can absolutely dominate the wide receiver position with his route running and elusiveness. Again, this may seem like a reach for Flowers, but if the Patriots want him as bad as some reports want us to believe, there's no reason to believe they wouldn't take him here with the 14th pick. Not to mention, the Patriots took four players from the Shrine Bowl in last year's draft, just another thing to think about.
15. Green Bay Packers - Lukas Van Ness, DL/EDGE, Iowa
After trading, arguably, the greatest quarterback in their franchises history, the Packers are now entering in the Jordan Love era. If this is anything like when Rodgers followed Favre, the Packers may, once again, be set up for the foreseeable future. As I stated before, I like Jordan Love, and I think he can be a very good quarterback at this level, but time will truly have to tell, right? After taking an offensive linemen with their first pick, taking Northwestern's Peter Skoronski at 13, the Packers could truly go in a multitude of directions. Like I said before, the need for another wide receiver, or a tight end, will be high on everyone's 'need board' for the Packers this offseason, but again, the Packers just don't do that sort of thing. Again though, that could change with a new quarterback in the building, but I'm going to stick to tradition here and not select either of those positions here at 15. Instead, I think the Packers will focus on the defensive side of the ball, with edge rusher and safety, arguably, being the top two priorities. With Adrian Amos entering free agency, safety could be the pick here, especially with Alabama's Brian Branch still on the board, but I'm going to go with what I feel is a more 'Packers pick,' and select Iowa's Lukas Van Ness here with the 15th overall pick. Like I stated before, Adrian Amos is entering free agency, but so are defensive ends Dean Lowry and Jarran Reed. Not to mention former first round pick Rashan Gary is coming off a torn ACL, which he suffered in week nine. When you look at it like that, edge rusher may start to look a little more enticing to Packer faithful. Before I really start, the Green Bay Packers and the Iowa Hawkeyes have seemed to always have a good relationship, so this a very aesthetically pleasing pick, to me at least. With the aforementioned Lowry and Reed traditionally lining up as d-ends in the Packers 3-4 set-up, and Rashan Gary playing as a stand up outside linebacker, that's where Van Ness' versatility comes into play. Though he famously didn't start any games last season in Phil Parker's defense, Van Ness certainly made his presence known. Nicknamed 'Hercules,' Van Ness is an excellent bull rusher that uses his power to dominate the opposing offensive line, whether that's from the inside or the outside. His power is certainly something that can set him apart compared to some of the other rushers, as he uses it to his advantage in both the run and pass game, just overall causing problems for the opposition. He's raw, but he has the potential to be a truly awesome player at the next level. After testing well at the combine, the Packers may want to take him with their first selection. Thankfully though, they stand pat and take him here at 15, making this a pretty solid first round for the Green Bay Packers. (I have read a few reports, dating back over a month, that the Packers do like Tennessee receiver Jalin Hyatt, but I think they may move for him in the second round, if he's available, rather than take him with the 13th or 15th pick, as of right now)
16. Washington Commanders - Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
In a weird twist of fate, longtime Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator, Eric Bieniemy, has taken the offensive coordinator job with the Washington Commanders. I'm not 100% sure why this guy can't get a head coaching job, but I'm sure as hell Washington was perfectly ok with that. Hell, he might be the guy to ultimately take over for Ron Rivera, whether he eventually gets fired or retires, Bieniemy could be the perfect replacement. Now, with Bieniemy running the offense, this may look a little different. Washington has a lot of very talented skill position players but have had a lot of inconsistencies from the quarterback position. Whether that be Carson Wentz or Taylor Heinicke, the Commanders never really had one guy hold down the spot long term. Now, ever since the season ended, a lot of reports have come out saying that last year's fifth round selection, Sam Howell, will be the team's starting quarterback going into the season. As someone who really likes Sam Howell, I'm excited to see him get an opportunity as the Commanders starting quarterback, whether the reports are true or not. Now, if these reports are just that, reports, and don't have any real substance to them, we may see the Commanders try to trade up in the draft to select a quarterback. Much like the Bears in 2017 when they traded up one spot for Trubisky, they can say 'this guy's the starter' as much as they want, but when there's a talented quarterback falling down the draft, maybe they could make a move. Though that could happen, I for one think Howell could work in Bieniemy's offense, as he can move around the pocket and ad-lib when needed. So, if quarterback is out of the way, the next 'top priority' for the Commanders would come at either offensive line or corner. With it being a little too early to take someone like O'Cyrus Torrence, I think the Commanders will go in the corner direction and take the best one available, who is undoubtedly Penn State's Joey Porter Jr.. At 6'2" 193 lbs., Porter possesses all the size teams are looking for at the corner position in today's NFL. Along with his prototypical size, he also possesses great arm length for the position. With a length of 34", Porter's arms are as long as HOF tight end Rob Gronkowski, and is even on par with what most teams are looking for in arm length when it comes to offensive tackles. That length allows him to re-route receivers, and his size keeps them from breaking away, allowing him to be up on almost every receiver he covers. He also possesses great speed, and though it didn't show in his 40 time, Porter uses his speed to track with some of the fastest players on the field. I think his combination of size and length make him an intriguing corner prospect in this draft, and I think he would be an excellent addition to Jack Del Rio's defense, giving the Commanders a true shut down corner.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers - Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
As a neutral, something I've head a lot of Steelers fans say over the past couple years is that they need to finally address the offensive line, in at least some capacity. Over the past couple seasons, the Steelers have had somewhat of a patch work offensive line since the mass exodus of linemen during the 2021 offseason, which saw the likes of Matt Feiler, Alejandro Villanueva, Daniel DeCastro, and Maurkice Pouncey all leaving the Steelers organization. Apart from bringing former Chicago Bear James Daniels, the Steelers have done a pretty bad job at retooling their offensive line, which is why a lot of Steelers fans were upset after they selected Alabama running back Najee Harris with the 24th pick in the 2021 draft. It wasn't that they didn't like Harris, that was irrelevant, it was more of a factor of who the hell is going to block for him? Again, James Daniels has been a nice addition, especially since he didn't allow a single sack this past season. But apart from Daniels, the Steelers offensive line is nothing special, especially at the tackle position. As of right now, the Steelers have two tackles on the active roster. Granted, they're both starters, but both of them can, and should be improved upon going into next season. In last year's draft, the Steelers selected Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett with the 20th overall pick in the draft, wouldn't that feel like a nice vote of confidence? Getting an offensive linemen drafted for you, and Najee, with the team's first pick in the draft? It'd certainly hype me up. I think the Steelers have something in Pickett, and I think it'd be wise to build a nice little wall in front of him, and someone like Tennessee's Darnell Wright would be a very solid place to start. If you've followed recent reports following the combine, an offensive linemen that has been on the rise is the aforementioned Darnell Wright. Acing every test thrown his way, Wright has put forth a very solid offseason leading to the draft. After putting forth a very solid season this last time out at Tennessee, Wright has gone on to have very good showings at the Senior Bowl and at the combine. I for one am happy though that his performances last season have started to get a little more recognition recently, as while blocking for Hendon Hooker, in 507 pass blocking snaps, Wright gave up an insanely impressive one sack, with his best performance coming against Alabama, and mainly this mock drafts fifth overall pick, Will Anderson Jr.. His performance against Anderson was so impressive that the Alabama edge rusher even went as far to say that Wright was 'the best' tackle he faced throughout his college career. That's some very high praise. At 6'6" 335 lbs., Wright has the prototypical size teams are looking for in tackles. Though he's that big, Wright moves extremely well, as his foot speed and aforementioned size allow him to be a calm blocker in the pass game. Against the run, Wright is able to just overpower opponents, and when he gets ahold of you it's pretty much over. Another thing that's key with Wright is that he doesn't back down from anybody, looking for contact in any way he can. Though that can cause some problems since he sometimes absorbs the contact first, his power, again, allows him to make up for that. Wright is a special tackle prospect whose stock is only on the rise, so it wouldn't surprise me if he actually ended up going sooner than this pick. That being said, I'm sure the Steelers won't mind, and take him, without thinking twice, here at 17.
18. Detroit Lions - Brian Branch, CB/S, Alabama
Like we stated before with the Jalen Carter pick, the Detroit Lions defense needs a major overhaul. This past season, one could say that the Lions were kind of a surprise team. Yes, many expected them to be better than what they were last season. Hell, they covered 11 out of a possible 17 games last year, they were clearly going to boast more than three wins this time around. When I say 'better,' I more mean how they looked throughout games, mainly on the offensive side of the ball. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson had the offense clicking on all cylinders, with the team ranking in the top five in total offense and points per game. Johnson even had the likes of Jared Goff and Jamaal Williams look like Pro Bowlers, with the latter breaking Barry Sanders franchise single season rushing touchdown record. But then again, though the offense looked great for a vast majority of the season, the defense needs some serious work done to it. Everything the offense is the defense is the antithesis of. Where the offense rank top five in total offense and points per game, the defense rank in the bottom five in points per game and dead last in total defense, with the worst area coming in the passing game, giving up 245.8 yards per game. Stealing Jalen Carter at six is a damn good way to start the overhaul, but the secondary still needs to be addressed, especially with the likes of Mike Hughes and Amani Oruwariye entering free agency this offseason. Not to mention starting free safety DeShon Elliott and starting nickel Will Harris are entering free agency as well. With all those needs in the secondary, I think it could be wise for the Lions to look for someone who could fill a hole at multiple positions. For me, a guy that could be perfect for the Lions defense is Alabama secondary piece Brian Branch. The reason I said 'secondary piece' and not an actual positions is because Branch can literally play at any spot in the secondary. Playing as Nick Saban's 'STAR' role on defense, you'll see Branch line up in deep coverage as a safety, in the slot as a nickel, or along the line of scrimmage, either getting after the passer or making plays in the run game. In that 'STAR' role you cannot, by any means, be afraid of contact, and Branch certainly isn't, ranking in the top three for Alabama in regards to total tackles. With at least some of those players leaving in free agency, I could very much see the Lions taking someone like Branch, lining him up wherever and just have him make plays. With Will Harris potentially leaving, Branch could very much just fill the hole left by him at the nickel position, as that is arguably his best position. But even then, I don't think Branch would have an issue playing as a free safety, replacing DeShon Elliott. I think this dude could really help transform the Lions defense. Adding him after taking Carter at six would be beautiful for the Detroit Lions, and I kind of hope it happens.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
This isn't necessarily the biggest position of need for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but I just feel the value may be too good to pass up on a running back as talented as Bijan Robinson. When you are looking at the Bucs potential draft needs, your eyes naturally turn to the defensive side of the ball, as the likes of Lavonte David, Akiem Hicks, William Gholston, Sean Murphy-Bunting, among others, could all be playing somewhere else next season. Like, in my last mock draft, I had the Bucs taking Alabama's Brian Branch to potentially replace Sean Murphy-Bunting. But with Branch coming off the board a pick earlier to the Lions, he is no longer an option for Tampa, so they'll have to look elsewhere. Besides the obvious needs on defense other areas of concern could arise along the offensive line, as left tackle Donovan Smith was released from the team about a week ago. Though they could go in that direction, I feel it may be too early to go after an offensive linemen, as the top four have already come off the board. That, in my opinion, is where Bijan Robinson comes into play. Again, running back isn't the biggest need for the Buccaneers going into next season. Sure they released Leonard Fournette, but the do still have last years third round pick Rachaad White still on the roster, and as someone who liked him coming out of college, there is part of me that wants to see him in a more prominent role in the Tampa Bay offense. Though I'd like to see that, I don't know if he really did enough with the opportunities that he was given to be handed the keys to the backfield, and when someone as talented as Bijan Robinson becomes available, I'm sorry but you have to take him. The problem for Robinson is though he's insanely talented, the running back market has changed drastically, and the view on running backs in the draft has also changed drastically, meaning there's little to no chance Robinson goes anywhere near second overall. If the running back position hadn't been devalued so much, Robinson would very much be in the conversation for a top five pick. Like, the running back he is mot often compared to is Saquon Barkley, who was taken second overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. Truly a top five or six prospect in this class, Robinson has all the tools you're looking for in a three down back in today's NFL. He's got great size, patience, and speed that make him almost unstoppable to slow down on any given down. That's not just in the run game, Robinson is almost equally as dominant when used in the pass game, as he runs great routes and has excellent hands. His natural ability is truly off the charts, and this would be an absolute steal if the Bucs got him all the way down here at pick 19. He'd be absolutely perfect for the Bucs offense, and would be excellent in alleviating some of the pressure placed on possible first year starter Kyle Trask.
20. Seattle Seahawks - Calijah Kancey, DL, Pitt
After being blessed with Will Anderson with their first pick, the Seahawks double back down on the defensive side of the ball and take Pitt's Calijah Kancey. Like I stated before with the Will Anderson pick, head coach Pete Carroll has talked about the Seahawks needing to be more dynamic up front more than a few times this offseason, and again, when you look at the recent success the Rams and 49ers have had, it's pretty easy to see why that'd be a top priority. Now, I can understand why people would send Seattle an offensive weapons, of some sort, here with the 20th pick, especially since Geno Smith signed a new contract to remain the Seahawks quarterback. Hell, even I had them taking USC's Jordan Addison in my last mock draft but again, I feel like with how the NFC West has been shaped, and run, over the past few seasons, addressing the defensive line is big for the Seahawks, especially is it seems the Rams are going to embark on a tank this upcoming season. With the Rams and Cardinals seemingly non-factors this year, the Seahawks are competing with the 49ers for NFC West supremacy. Though I'm still giving it to the 49ers, the Seahawks can become a threat if they ace these first round picks, and to me, they have. Since this is my mock draft I'm going to be biased, but I think adding Anderson at five and Kancey here at 20 would be an excellent draft for the Seahawks. Heavily compared to another former Pitt Panther in Aaron Donald, Kancey wowed some people at the combine. Not only did he come in an inch taller than what he was listed in college, but he came through big with a 4.67 time in the 40 yard dash, which is a combine record for defensive tackles. Could you guess who held the record before Kancey? It was the aforementioned Aaron Donald, of course, who ran a 4.68 in the 40. Though they do hold some weight, I think the comparisons to Donald are a little unfair to Kancey, as though he could become a great player in NFL, it's not the most likely outcome that he becomes as great as Aaron Donald. Of course that's not slight on Kancey, it's just showing how great of a player Donald has been throughout his NFL career. Being an undersized defensive tackle from Pitt will cause people to compare though, right? Regardless of the Donald comparisons, Kancey is a very disruptive defensive tackle. Again, though he's only 6'1" 281 lbs., Kancey's speed is an insane mismatch for most interior offensive linemen. Along with his impressive speed, Kancey always puts forth great effort, as the dude is an absolute menace on the inside when it comes to getting after the quarterback. The dude was still insanely productive while at Pitt, putting up 13.5 sacks across the past two seasons, which is the most out of defensive tackles in college football over that same time period. With a 17.1% pressure rate last season, Kancey is arguably the best interior pass rusher in this class, which could see him even go higher than this pick come draft night. He may be small, but the dude can ball, and I'm sure the Saints would be perfectly happy if he fell to them here at 20. His speed and relentless pressure is exactly what Pete Carroll is looking for along the defensive line. Adding him with Anderson would make for some fun times in Seattle.
21. Miami Dolphins (forfeited)
22. Los Angeles Chargers - Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
Not much has changed from the last mock draft, as we yet again have Utah's Dalton Kincaid heading to Los Angeles with the Bolts first pick. After blowing a 27-point halftime lead on the road against the Jaguars, losing the game 31-30 in one of the weirdest, yet strangely predictable things I've seen in quite some time, some people were surprised to see head coach Brandon Staley keep his job. Now, I don't necessarily think Staley is a bad coach, and I wasn't too surprised to see him keep his job, but I wouldn't have been that surprised had he been fired, does that make sense? Instead of Staley, the Chargers fired their offensive coordinator and their pass game coordinator, hoping that would bring out the best in an offense that truly should be one of the tops in the league, especially with Justin Herbert pulling the strings. Former Cowboys Kellen Moore and Doug Nussmeier were brought in to breathe new life to the Chargers offense, and for their sake I hope they can accomplish that. As for player personnel the Chargers will have some tough decisions to make, with a lot of attention turning to star wide receiver Keenan Allen, who's name has been brought up recently as a potential 'cap casualty,' which could be the fate of a lot of star players from around the league. Even with Keenan only playing 10 games last season due to injury, Herbert still managed to put up 4,739 yards, with six different players registering over 500 receiving yards. With Keenan not getting any younger, a lot of people may assume that the Chargers will move for a wide receiver here. Though I like the idea, I think the Chargers may move for another receiving position, moving instead for one of the top tight ends in the class. While in Dallas, Moore liked to use Dalton Schultz in a lot of different ways, and after having to watch Travis Kelce dip his nuts in your face twice a year since 2013, tight end may be atop the Chargers list in this draft. Though there will be discussions about who's the best in the class, I think Utah's Dalton Kincaid would provide the Chargers a lot of versatility from the position. Arguably the best natural receiver in this tight end class, Kincaid only ranked behind Georgia's Brock Bowers in regards to yards for tight ends last season, while also registering eight touchdowns. Whether he was along the line of scrimmage or in the slot, which is where he lined up most of the time, Kincaid was a real threat in Utah's passing game, utilizing his size and his ability to really stretch the field to tear apart opposing defenses. He also has an innate ability to make people miss after the catch, using his explosiveness to cut up field after a crossing route, blowing past linebackers past the line of scrimmage, breaking tackles like George Kittle in the open field. Though more than capable, he may not be a complete bulldozing blocker, yet, but his receiving abilities could push him atop tight end boards across the league. He would be very fun to watch in the Chargers offense.
23. Baltimore Ravens - Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
For whatever reason, the Baltimore Ravens can never seem to get a deal done with start quarterback Lamar Jackson, placing a non-exclusive franchise tag on the former unanimous NFL MVP. By all accounts, Lamar should be getting paid with the best of them, but for whatever reason, again, he and the Ravens just can't seem to come to an agreement, which could see the former MVP playing somewhere else next season, despite reports saying that no team in the NFL is not in for Jackson. If I'm the Ravens, I want Lamar as my starting quarterback, as I think it'd be stupid for them to consider other options given what he's done throughout his time in Baltimore. The money is one thing, making sure he's happy on the field is another, as the Ravens have struggled mightily at surrounding Lamar with adequate weapons, especially after trading former first round pick Marquise Brown to Arizona during the '22 draft. Though they somehow managed to get a first round pick back for Brown, which wound up being used on Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum, the Ravens didn't go out and get an adequate replacement for the desert bound Brown. Sure, they drafted Coastal Carolina tight end Isaiah Likely, who put forth a solid rookie year, but that's pretty much it. Yes, technically they brought in DeSean Jackson, Demarcus Robinson, and Sammy Watkins, but those are not long term options, more stop gaps, if anything. Now, Rashod Bateman and Devin Duvernay are fine, enough, options, but both ended last season on IR, and neither have proved themselves to be legit options at this point in their careers. The Ravens need to draft a receiver here, and the best one available, to me, is arguably Ohio State's Jaxon Smith-Njigba. On his day, JSN is the best receiver in this draft and should be considered a top 10 pick, but he could possibly slide down draft due to two major factors. The first one is that he is primarily, if not exclusively, considered a slot guy, as all but eight of his 95 catches in 2021 came from the slot. The other big factor is that he couldn't stay on the field this past season, mainly due to a hamstring injury that he suffered in Ohio State's first game against Notre Dame, appearing sparingly in just three games last season. The thing is, if he didn't get hurt this year, we would've probably seen the best version of JSN, as he was expected to line up more on the outside this season. Had the hamstring injury not happened, we may be talking about, again, a top 10 pick in the draft. A fantastic route runner who gets to stop speed quickly, JSN could probably get open in a phone booth, the dudes acceleration out of the break is friggin nasty, and was on full display when he was Ohio State's number one option on a team that featured Garrett Wilson, the 2022 NFL OROY, and Chris Olave. Along with being a polished route runner, JSN is a hands catcher, which is very important, and can make defenders miss once the ball is in his hands. After putting forth a very solid performance at the combine, arguably the best out of the top receivers, Smith-Njigba could really go anywhere in the draft. I just think that those two previously mentioned factor could cause him to slide, slightly, but again, I wouldn't be surprised at all if he ended up going somewhere in the top 15. For this scenario though, I'm sure the Ravens would be fine with him sliding to them. Jaxon Smith-Njigba would be an excellent addition to the Ravens offense.
24. Minnesota Vikings - Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
The Minnesota Vikings fans are going through a pretty tough time right now. After finishing with a very strange 13-4 record, which saw many out there label the Vikings as the 'frauds of the NFL,' the Vikings have entered somewhat of a cap hell, which has seen them cut some of the key faces within the franchise. So far this offseason, we have seen the likes of Eric Kendricks, Cameron Dantzler, and fan favorite Adam Thielen all face the chopping block, with the likes of Harrison Smith and maybe even Dalvin Cook possibly given the same fate. Again, this is a very strange time for the Minnesota Vikings, who seemingly had a roster that could compete with some of the best teams in the NFL, especially on the offensive side of the ball. As for the defense, even before the recent releases, the Vikings had some problems. Like, I don't think it's that outlandish to say that the Vikings are the main reason Daniel Jones got a four year $160 million contract extension. This past season against the Vikings, in both the regular season and post season, Jones put up 635 passing yards with three touchdowns and one interception, not to mention his 112 yards on the ground as well. Last season, in again the regular season and the post season, Daniel Jones had three games where he passed for over 300 yards, two of them were against the Vikings. Thanks Ed Donatell. The sad thing is though, these kind of performances were not just exclusive to 'Vanilla Vick,' as the Vikings ranked in the bottom two in total and passing defense as well as ranking in the bottom five in regards to points allowed per game. All in all, the Vikings defense needs a serious face lift. Though adding Brian Flores is an excellent start, there's still more work that needs to be done. With the aforementioned Cameron Dantzler getting cut and with Patrick Peterson, Chandon Sullivan, and Kris Boyd entering free agency, cornerback should arguably be the Vikings number one priority come draft day, even if they resign the likes of Peterson, who will be 33 in July. In the last mock draft I had them taking Mississippi State's Emmanuel Forbes. Though I'm still high on Forbes, I think Maryland's Deonte Banks' combine performance will push him into first round consideration, which is who I have the Vikings taking here with their first round pick. To be honest, I almost had Banks going to the Vikings in my last mock draft before opting to go for Forbes, but again, I think his combine performances makes him a near lock to go in the first round, at this point in time. At 6'0" 197 lbs., Banks posted an impressive 4.35 in the 40 yard dash along with an insane 42" vertical and a 11'4" broad jump. His athleticism mixed with his ball playing skills, again, should make him a first round draft pick, if he wasn't already. A very physical corner, Banks is very good in press coverage, using his physicality to re-route receivers, making the quarterbacks life a whole lot harder. Then, when the ball is in the air, he uses his, again, insane 42" vertical to out jump almost any receiver he's covering. Though he's got all the tools to be a top corner, I think what truly would make him work in Flores' defense is the fact that he doesn't take any plays off. Banks is all action all the time, and I think that mixed with all the traits I brought up earlier makes him a very intriguing prospect to look at if you're the Minnesota Vikings. In a defense that's needs improvements everywhere, adding Banks would be a very solid way to start.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars - Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
The Jacksonville Jaguars were kind of the NFL's fairytale story this year, weren't they? After proudly possessing the number one overall pick in the draft for the second consecutive year, the Jaguars came into this season with the expectations of, 'well, we can't be worse than last year, can we?' Like, going from Urban Meyer to Doug Pederson is one of the biggest coaching upgrades I've seen in recent history. A former Super Bowl champ and NFL quarterback, Pederson's main job was not to win, but to salvage and repair what was left of Trevor Lawrence's confidence. The dudes talent is unquestionable, but if you don't have confidence you won't succeed at that level. So that was the main goal, if they won, that'd be an added bonus. Then, after going into the bye week with a 3-7 record, the Jaguars would go off on a nice little streak, winning six of their last season games to not only make the Playoffs, but to win the division. It was a truly impressive run that saw them come back from 27-0 to beat the LA Chargers. Though they lost to the Chiefs in the next round, the Jaguars can be truly proud of how their season went. If you would've told me all that would happen after they made all of those weird offseason moves I would've probably called you crazy. It was kind of like they were signing players just to sign them, while also handing them a blank check and paying them whatever they wanted. As weird and strange as it was, it worked, and now they've got to focus on retooling to try and build on the success that they had this past season. When looking at the Jaguars roster, I don't know if they have any glaring holes, but there is something that pops out to me right away, it's that Luke Farrell, no, not the former Cubs pitcher, is the only tight end on the active roster, with the likes of Evan Engram, Chris Manhertz, and Dan Arnold all hitting free agency this offseason. Apparently there's a plan in place to resign Evan Engram, but if they don't or can't due to the cap, someone like Georgia's Darnell Washington would be an excellent addition for the Jaguars offense. Like many Georgia Bulldogs, Washington put forth a very solid showing at the combine. At 6'7" 264 lbs., Washington posted a staggering 4.64 in the 40 yard dash, along with looking very fluid in the tight end drills. Often compared to longtime Jaguar Marcedes Lewis, Washington is an absolute unit at the tight end position. Coming from Georgia, who are a more run heavy team, Washington is an exceptional blocker in the run game, using his freakish size to his advantage, being able to completely overpower smaller linebackers and defensive backs, and would be able to open up more holes along the edges, helping reestablish the Bengals rushing attack. In the passing game it's kind of a similar story, where he's just too damn big to be covered by linebackers or defensive backs, being able to out muscle and out jump any defender that covers him, making him an elite red zone target. With the Jaguars being a very well balanced team, I think Washington would be an excellent fit, making both Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne's lives a lot easier. He's dominant in the run game and has a very high ceiling as a receiver, which he has not even come close to reaching yet. You just don't see tight ends that are 6'7" 264 lbs. that can move like him that often, and I could really see the Jaguars taking him with their first round draft pick. While serving as the head coach for the Eagles, Doug Pederson's offense commonly featured two tight ends sets, mainly with the likes of Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert, so why not try to replicate that down in Jacksonville with the likes of Washington and Evan Engram? Should Engram be resigned, of course.
26. New York Giants - Jordan Addison, WR, USC
The New York Giants really surprised people this past season. Not only by making the playoffs, which in itself was a minor miracle, but also having Daniel Jones look like a legit NFL quarterback. That was ultimately the goal when they hired former Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, but a lot of people were skeptical, and who can blame them, going into this season. Now, if you've listened to the Logan Blackman Show long enough, you would know that I've always tried to hold out a little bit of hope for the former Duke quarterback. I've always thought he has the tools to be a solid quarterback in the NFL, it was just a matter of if he could put it all together or not. Now, did I ever think he'd become a four year $160 million quarterback? No, not really. In my wildest dreams, I never thought 'Vanilla Vick' would be one of the highest paid quarterbacks in the league, but he did deserve to get paid, in some capacity, this offseason, especially when you look at the people he was throwing to. Out of all the playoff teams this past season, Jones arguably had the worst supporting cast. Yes he had a resurgent Saquon Barkley, but he didn't have a true number one option, or even a true number two option, that is until they traded for Isaiah Hodgins. Though Hodgins looked good in his limited time in New Jersey, the Giants still need to get Jones some weapons going into next season. Like, there's no way Kenny Golladay and his 81 receiving yards can be a legit option for the Giants moving forward, they've got to strike in the draft. Though I think this player could, and probably should, go higher than this pick, I think his combine performance may see him undeservingly drop down some draft boards, and the Giants should be a-ok with that, as they sprint up to the podium to select USC's Jordan Addison. Now, Addison may not be the most physically imposing wide receiver in this class, at 6'0" 175 lbs., but the dude is a truly elite wide receiver that can make a quarterbacks life a thousand times easier. Able to line up both on the outside and in the slot, Addison may have not had the same monstrous season he had during his last season in Pittsburgh, but he was still dangerous. A smooth as hell route runner, Addison gets open with relative ease, and is able to maintain said separation due to his speed and quick bursts. Again, he's not the biggest, so he sometimes struggles in 50/50 situations, but he's so smooth out the break, so you don't really see him in a whole lot of those situations. Giants general manager Joe Schoen stated that he wants to try and add some separators this offseason for their new $40 million quarterback, and Addison certainly ticks those boxes. Compared to current Bills receiver Stefon Diggs, I'm sure head coach Brian Daboll would love to have another version of Stef on his team in New Jersey. If he's available, there's no way the Giants can pass on him. This would be a slam dunk pick for the Giants, giving Daniel Jones a true number one option out wide.
27. Dallas Cowboys - Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas
The Dallas Cowboys will be a very interesting team to watch this upcoming season. To a few people out there, this team could really be just a few pieces away from being one of the best teams in the NFL, at least that's what Cowboy fans tell me. Look, I think this team is very talented, but I don't know if I'm fully ready to consider them 'contenders' or anything like that yet, like, they still have some holes on their roster. Starting on the offensive side, the main areas I'm sure people will be looking at are running back, wide receiver, and tight end, in no real particular order. Starting with running back, I for one don't think Ezekiel Elliott is a dependable every down back anymore. Sure, he's good in short spurts, but his contract tells us he's getting paid like he's still a top guy in the league. If you've watched the Cowboys over these past two seasons one thing is kind of starting to become clear, and that is that Tony Pollard should be the Cowboys number one option in the running game. They resigned him, which is good, but I feel Jerry still wants to hold out hope that Zeke will return to his short lived elite form. I'm just hoping they can restructure his contract, because it doesn't look like he's leaving, at leas this offseason. As for receiver, they have CeeDee Lamb, but they'll definitely need to get someone to partner him. Maybe they try to go after Odell Beckham Jr. again, but if he's truly asking for $20 million a year, I think they may look elsewhere. But who knows, it is Jerry Jones after all. They can also draft someone but I think that they may wait til at least the second round to move for a wide out. Same goes for tight end, even after letting Dalton Schultz walk in free agency. So, which position should they look to address? Well, though it may not be many peoples top top option, I think they may look to the defensive side of the ball in the first round, mainly focusing at corner and linebacker. Getting a true number two corner to partner Trevon Diggs on the outside could definitely be the move here, but since the Cowboys seemingly haven't offered anything the linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, I think linebacker may be the play here, with the play being Arkansas linebacker Drew Sanders. The obvious connection is right there, Sanders is an Arkansas guy, so is Jerry Jones. That's all I need to really say, right? Not to mention the dude is from Dallas, going to two different high schools that were 38 and 18 minutes away from AT&T Stadium. It just makes sense to me. But no, there's more to Sanders than just these connections, this dude is an absolute baller at the position. At 6'4" 235 lbs., Sanders can play a multitude of positions on the defensive side of the ball. Whether he plays as a SAM or a MIKE, or even as an edge rusher, Sanders will make plays for you on defense. A transfer from Alabama, this past season at Arkansas Sanders put forth his best season at the collegiate level, registering 103 total tackles, 40 solo, nine and a half sacks, five passes defended, three forced fumbles, and one interception, all career highs, and by some margin. A good mixture of size, speed, and instincts, Sanders can make plays in both the pass and run game, whether that's getting after the quarterback, dropping off into coverage, or stuffing running backs at the line of scrimmage, Sanders is a do it all linebacker that would be very scary next to Micah Parsons. If the Cowboys don't resign Leighton Vander Esch, look for Sanders to be near the top of the Cowboys draft board come April 27th.
28. Buffalo Bills - Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
This is not a pick that I initially thought about when I was first looking at the Bills offseason needs after the playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. If you were to ask me right after that game what I thought the Bills biggest offseason needs were I'd tell you, in no real particular order, offensive line, wide receiver, and safety, especially since long time servant Jordan Poyer is even more likely playing somewhere else next season. Since that game though, you may be able to add linebacker and edge rusher, but those three were the first position groups to come to mind after the season. So, after listing five different position groups for the Bills to address in the draft, why the hell did I chose a tight end here with the 27th pick? To be honest, I don't know, but this is pretty much what my gut is telling me at this point and time, so I'll try to explain. This offseason, Bills general manager Brandon Beane took to the radio waves, doing quite a few interviews discussing what the Bills offseason plans were, and one thing he stated, on a few occasions, was the need to add more playmakers on offense. Hold on, I know I've already said receiver is a top need, but Beane would add that, "you're looking for mismatches out there you really are. It's not like you've got to go fill (a need) with a receiver. We're looking for positions on offense beyond the O-line where we can add a mismatch type player." Beane also spoke on the importance of the tight end position, stating, "you're trying to determine is the tight end just a receiver only and they know it so they're probably going to play him like a receiver. But if you can find those guys that are not a throw away in the run game and can put their hand in the dirt and at least crack neutral. Then maybe you get the defense into base personnel. And you can throw it off of that. Or good enough that if they want to play you in nickel and you've got two tight ends in the game, you're in 12 (personnel) that you can run the ball." Let's take a quick trip back to Beane's time with the Carolina Panthers. In his first season as assistant GM, the Panthers finished with a 15-1 record and an appearance in the Super Bowl. Throughout that season, the Panthers lined up in 12 personnel a lot, with Greg Olsen and Ed Dickson starting almost every game together at the tight end position. Though he didn't put up monster numbers, Dickson was still an important part to how the Panthers worked on offense, starting 43 of a possible 64 games in Carolina. Between 2014 and 2017, the Panthers started most of their games in 12 personnel, giving them two extra blockers and receivers on offense. Beane has also spoke this offseason about wanting to find a partner for current tight end Dawson Knox, something they have tried to do in recent years but have, for the most part failed. After the OJ Howard experiment didn't go as expected, the Bills went with Quentin Morris in that TE2 role, which featured varying results. Like last offseason, I think the Bills will look to add a partner for Dawson Know, but this time I feel it may come way of the draft. So, with this pick, I'm going to have the Bills take Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer here with the 27th pick. Now, there is a strong chance Mayer goes sooner than this pick, but I just have a hard time imagining a lot of teams using a top 20 pick on a tight end, even if they are as talented as Mayer is. While at Notre Dame, Mayer received the nickname 'Baby Gronk' on account of his playing style, but also the fact he wore the number 87. Like Gronk, Mayer is a technician in the run game, using his physicality to drive back opponents with ease. He's also really good when catching the ball, even breaking Notre Dame's all time career tight end receptions mark, beating the record by 40 in just three years. He also became the first Notre Dame tight end to receive a consensus All American nod since 1976, a truly special player while at Notre Dame. Great in both the run and pass game, Mayer uses his power to his advantage in both areas. If available, I think he'd be an excellent get for the Bills, helping out both Josh Allen and the Bills overall rushing attack. At the combine, Mayer spoke quite a bit on 'culture,' doesn't he already sound like a Bills player?
29. Cincinnati Bengals - Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
As you may have guessed it, the Cincinnati Bengals are a pretty good football team. That being said, even pretty good football teams have their holes, and the Bengals actually have a few of them. Like, starting on the defensive side of the ball, mainly in the secondary, the Bengals could be without some key starters going into next season, with Jessie Bates, Vonn Bell, Eli Apple, and Tre Flowers all entering free agency, the secondary could definitely be addressed with this pick. Looking to the offensive side of the ball, which is undoubtedly the Bengals strong point, tight end is definitely an area of concern, with the Bengals top two tight ends, Hayden Hurst and Drew Sample also entering free agency. In my last mock draft we had the Bengals taking Georgia tight end Darnell Washington with this pick, but with teams apparently falling in love with his physical attributes, I would expect him to possibly go a little higher than 29. Still sticking on the offensive side of the ball, I feel the Bengals may try to address a spot that many out there have been screaming for them to address in recent years, and that is the offensive line. Yes, last offseason the Bengals did go out and grab some decent pieces along the o-line, signing the likes of Alex Cappa, Ted Karras, and La'el Collins to try and keep quarterback Joe Burrow from getting sacked 70 total times, again, with Collins even coming out and telling Burrow that, 'your new bodyguard is in town, no one's touching you.' The problem with that quote is that the Bengals gave up a pretty impressive 13 times in just the first two games. In total, Burrow's regular season sack numbers went down 10, from 51 to 41, but he was still sacked 10 times in the playoffs, taking five against the Kansas City Chiefs with a pretty makeshift offensive line. All in all, Burrow and the Bengals ranked in the bottom six in regards to sacks for the second straight year, and with Collins tearing his ACL in week 16 and Jonah Williams coming off of surgery to replace a dislocated knee cap, tackle could be atop the Bengals draft priorities this time around. Though the top ones are all off the board, someone who is expected the rise come draft day should be Oklahoma's Anton Harrison. Again, this guy could definitely go a lot sooner than this, but given the Bengals current o-line woes, they'll be happy that Harrison fell to them here. A super young and athletic tackle, Harrison played 1,002 total pass blocking snaps over his career at Oklahoma, allowing just four sacks across that time frame. For a team that has seen their starting quarterback sacked 92 times, in just the regular season, over the past two seasons, that's definitely someone they can get behind. Coined the most athletic tackle in the draft, Harrison plays every play through the whistle, with his tireless work rate being one of the main reasons why he's only given up four sacks throughout his career at Oklahoma. Though he plays hard, he'll need to make some improvements when it comes to run blocking, which is bound to happen when you play for a team as pass happy as Oklahoma. That is a reason why he may be taken later, but his athletic ceiling tells us that he should be able to develop into a solid run blocker if given the time. Harrison turned 21 back on February 2nd, this kid has everything you're looking for when it comes to a potential franchise left tackle. Again, he'll need some time to fully develop, but I think this dude could be special at the next level and would hopefully keep pass rushers off of Joe Burrow for years to come.
30. New Orleans Saints (via Denver from Miami from San Francisco) - Myles Murphy, DL/EDGE, Clemson
The Saints are back to their very odd ways once again. Like we mentioned in the last mock draft, apart from their Super Bowl win in 2010, the Saints have never been good enough to really compete, but have never been bad enough to tank, all while seemingly always having negative cap space. Saying they have negative cap space is putting it lightly, the Saints seem to always rank either at the bottom, or near the bottom, when it comes to cap space every offseason. Like, how the hell does this team do anything? Maybe I'm overrating but that's what it seems like, right? As of right now, the Saints currently $25 million over the cap, which is currently the worst in the NFL. That being said, the Saints were still somehow able to secure former Raiders quarterback Derek Carr to a four year $150 million contract. Like I've said in the past, maybe I've missed something, but this just seems to be a common occurrence for the Saints franchise. Now, will Carr be enough to get them over the hump? Who knows, what we can say is that the Saints now have the best quarterback in the NFC South, which I guess isn't really saying a whole lot since second place is a competition between Sam Darnold, Desmond Ridder, and Kyle Trask, as of right now anyways. With quarterback seemingly off the table, where else could the Saints look in the draft? Well, as of right now, the Saints biggest needs arguably go along the defensive line, whether that's at edge rusher or defensive tackle. As of right now, Saints two starting defensive tackles, David Onyemata and Shy Tuttle are free agents, along with their back-ups, Kentavius Street and Albert Huggins. The Saints could also be without former first round pick Marcus Davenport, which leaves five potential holes along the defensive line. Once again, given the Saints current cap situation, adding someone along the defensive line via the draft should be the Saints number one priority. With needs everyone along the defensive line, maybe it'd be wise to try and add someone versatile enough to play every position, if need be. That's where someone like Clemson's Myles Murphy comes into play. Now, this seems a little low for Murphy, doesn't it? Like, after the college football season ended, many had Murphy as high as a top five pick in the draft, and now I have him going 29th? What happened here? Well, I think the main reason can go to the fact that a bunch of edge rushers put forth quality showings at the combine, namely Nolan Smit, who we didn't have going before Murphy in the last mock draft. Not to mention Murphy didn't do any of the on field workouts or run the 40 at the combine, which is something I think he could've truly benefited from. That being said, Murphy has all the physical traits you're looking for in a versatile defensive lineman. At 6'5" 268 lbs., Murphy has the ability to get after the quarterback from both the inside and the outside. What makes him truly standout vs some of the other edge rushers in this class is his burst, as he is quick to make contact with the opposing offensive linemen. His natural size mixed with his length allows him to gain separation from those trying to block him. All that going along with a tireless work rate makes him a very intriguing prospect for the Saints, should he somehow fall this far in the draft. His versatility to play anywhere along the defense line, whether in a four point stance or standing up, makes him very useful for the Saints. There's a very very strong chance he goes higher than this, but there's usually that one player that slides a little more than they should, in this case it's Myles Murphy, to the Saints benefit.
31. Philadelphia Eagles - Bryan Bresee, DL, Clemson
Like I said before with the Eagles first pick of the draft, they may have a little exodus of players from the defensive side of the ball this offseason. I'm aware they can resign some of these players, but with the likes of Fletcher Cox, Robert Quinn, Javon Hargrave, James Bradberry, Ndamukong Suh, Linval Joseph, and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson all entering free agency this offseason, it can be a scary time for the organization and fans alike. The problem is not all of these players will be back in Philly next season. Though there is a chance the Eagles move for a running back with Miles Sanders leaving in free agency, I think unless it's Texas' Bijan Robinson, the Eagles will likely look towards another position to improve upon with their second first round pick. After taking Illinois corner Devon Witherspoon with the the 10th pick, I'm going to have the Eagles take an interior defensive linemen, to hopefully alleviate some of the holes that could be left by certain players leaving in free agency. There's a chance he goes higher than this, but I think the Eagles would be more than happy to see Clemson's Bryan Bresee available here this late in the first round, and sprint up to take him here with their second pick. Now, for a player as talented as Bresee, he really shouldn't be going this low, as he is an absolute freak on the inside of the defensive line. But some injury problems will more than likely see him slide down the draft board a little more than what he should, which is to the Eagles benefit here in this mock draft. At 6'5" 298 lbs., Bresee possesses a lot of speed from the three tech position, being able to both disrupt the run game while also being able to get after the quarterback and screw up the opposition's passing attack. His natural size and speed mixed with his work rate makes him a perfect fit for the Lions culture, as he seemingly doesn't stop moving until he's made some sort of impact on the play. If he can stay healthy, which is a big if, the Eagles could have one of the best young interior defensive line pairings in the league, pairing Bresee up with last year's 13th overall pick. Jordan Davis. If they can secure Devon Witherspoon and Bryan Bresee, I'm sure Eagles fans would be absolutely thrilled, as they should be.
32. Kansas City Chiefs - Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State
The Kansas City Chiefs are Super Bowl champs once again. Hurray. After starting the season off with some mixed expectations after star wide receiver Tyreek Hill was traded to Miami, the Chiefs hopped on the back of their superstar quarterback as he carried them to the promise land for the second time in four years. It is kind of weird how quickly some people got off the Chiefs bandwagon after the Hill trade, but in all honesty, it could've made them even more dangerous. Not having a true 'go to' wide receiver allowed other receivers to get more involved in the game, which in turn could've helped the offense. Adding players like JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling in free agency, Skyy Moore in the draft, and Kadrius Toney via trade gave the Chiefs more options, despite not having that number one guy. The Chiefs, in some ways, did a similar thing the season prior, chopping and changing their offensive line beyond recognition after the Super Bowl loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Much like this offseason, the Chiefs brought in a bunch of new linemen through multiple different avenues. Bringing in Joe Thuney in free agency, adding Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith in the draft, and trading for Orlando Brown. One thing the Chiefs have been good at since Brett Veach has been the GM is replenishing certain position groups, whether that be the receiving core or the offensive line. This offseason they may have to do that again with the latter, as tackles Orlando Brown and Andrew Wylie are entering free agency this offseason. If I had to guess, I don't think they'll bring both of them back, so they, by default, will have to replace at least one of them, and the draft may be the best way to do it. So, with this pick, I think it may be wise for the Chiefs to move for someone like Ohio State's Dawand Jones. At 6'8" 374 lbs., Jones is an absolute man mountain at the tackle position. Though his height and weight are impressive enough, Jones also possesses a wingspan of 89.5", in other words, Jones has the longest wingspan in the history of the Senior Bowl. Nicknamed 'Baby Thanos,' Jones has a wider wingspan than NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo. Though he's an absolute behemoth at the position, Jones does move pretty well, but could use some improvements in regards to his foot speed. That being said, in two seasons as a starter, Jones only allowed 15 pressures, which would be an excellent addition to the Chiefs offensive line. He absolutely dominates the opposition, overpowering everyone that comes in his path. I think Jones would be an excellent addition to the Kansas City Chiefs offensive line.
Positions Drafted
Quarterbacks - 4
Running Backs - 1
Wide Receiver - 3
Tight Ends - 3
Offensive Tackles - 6
Interior Offensive Line - 0
Interior Defensive Line - 3
EDGE Rushers - 5
Linebackers - 1
Cornerbacks - 4
Safeties - 1
Just Missed Out (20)
*alphabetical order by position
Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama
Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee
Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State
Steve Avila, iOL, TCU
Cody Mauch, iOL, North Dakota State
John Michael Schmitz, iOL, Minnesota
O'Cyrus Torrence, iOL, Florida
Mazi Smith, DL, Michigan
Adetomiwa Adebawore, EDGE, Northwestern
Derick Hall, EDGE, Auburn
Will McDonald IV, EDGE, Iowa State
BJ Ojulari, EDGE, LSU
Keion White, EDGE, Georgia Tech
Julius Brents, CB, Kansas State
Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
DJ Turner, CB, Michigan
Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M
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