2023 NFL Mock Draft: Final - Let’s Get Wild
The NFL Draft really does hold a special place in the hearts of sports fans. The NBA and NHL Playoffs are in full swing, baseball hasn’t gotten boring yet, and MMA and Boxing are hitting their summer blockbuster stride. Yet the NFL Draft lauds over these puny institutions as though it were some overwhelming force of nature; unavoidable and unignorable. Like any over-arching power that dictates the way people live their lives, we as a society rarely have any semblance of an idea how this shit works.
CJ Stroud is a bad person because he skipped a camp that he maybe never even committed to so he shouldn’t be a high pick. Jaxon Smith-Njigba was the best receiver in college football by a mile two years ago, played it safe with an injury and didn’t play last year so obviously he’s no longer a top-five wide receiver in the class therefore potentially falling into the early second round. And Jalen Carter was involved in a street race where the car he was racing crashed and multiple people in the car died.
Okay that last one is a valid reason for a players Draft stock to tank, but I do not believe a single other word in that last paragraph. However, that and dozens of other God-awful draft takes are bandied about as we are firmly entrenched in the worst time of any pre-draft process: The week before the draft. People have run out of reports to get out; teams have had plans spoiled and therefore must put out these terrible smokescreens that sometimes we believe because “Maybe that old report was the smokescreen and this is the real deal!”
Regardless of all the things we hate about the pre-draft process, the things we love are in FULL effect this year. Nobody has any idea what 90% of the first round will look like (which for this mock is all we care about), and that means we will assuredly get some of that good ol’ fashioned chaos.
In my previous mock, I made one trade thinking the Colts would move up to that one overall spot for a QB and then the Panthers did the unthinkable and threw in DJ Moore to make all of us Bears fans swoon. In this mock? Trades-galore. I’m making at least three first-round trades (most largely inconsequential back-half trades) because nothing tingles us Draft nerds in our downstairs bits more than seeing “TRADE” come across the bottom of our screens. I’m not going to pre-announce my trades as that would be significantly harder to track for both myself and you (the reader) so without further ado, let’s get this show on the road.
Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
5’10” 204 lbs, Age: 21
Let it be known that I stand by everything I said in my initial mock draft. And for all of the picks my original thoughts will be in these sections below my new thoughts. Though Bryce may have the most talent among QBs in this class in terms of who is just the best at throwing the football to the people it needs to be thrown to, the size is starting to concern me. Talent will always be the deciding factor and maybe it won’t matter for Young as he goes into the NFL, but the arm strength isn’t elite and being as short and slender as he is could provide a legitimate problem when playing behind NFL offensive lines and getting hit by NFL defensive lines.
Bryce Young is the best QB in this class and I am not entirely sure how close it is. If this man was 6’4” 215 teams would be giving up 8 first round picks to draft him with the number one overall pick. Young can make just about every throw and reads the field as well as any QB to come out of the draft in the past decade. His intermediate and short passing accuracy shines on tape. His deep ball could use some work as it has a tendency to come up a tad bit short but that likely works itself out as he puts on muscle. Rumor has it the intent is for him to bulk up by about 10-15 pounds before the actual draft. [He did this.] Young doesn’t always throw the prettiest ball but that ball is almost exclusively in the right place. Maybe that poses some issues early on at the next level but shouldn’t be a major concern. And while I don’t think he has break away speed that guys like Lamar Jackson and Justin Fields have, Young is every bit as agile and adept at making defenders miss to extend plays.
2. Houston Texans: Will Anderson Jr., Edge, Alabama
6’4” 253 lbs, Age: 21
It is absurd how much damage one silly little 4th and 20 did to this team. Will Anderson is probably the best defensive player on the board and this is objectively a smart pick. But when your team is sitting there with nothing but Davis Mills’ absurdly long neck at QB it feels weird to not take one. This is also the place where some of the weirdest draft stories have come out of and this may all mean nothing but something tells me the Texans are expecting to be god awful next year as well. Caleb Williams looms.
Will Anderson Jr. may well be the best player in this draft. With a violently quick first step, and strength to bully interior offensive linemen, Anderson possesses all the tools to be a game changing pass rusher. Anderson plays smart, controlled football and does not limit himself to rushing the passer. He fills running lanes and sheds blocks with the best of them. He is a relatively sure tackler inside the box, and God forbid some poor tight-end gets solo-assigned to him as a blocker. Anderson is okay covering a RB in the flats but as a legitimate coverage linebacker there is extensive work that needs to be done. That said, why waste a perfectly good pass rush monster.
TRADE 3. Washington Commanders: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
6’4” 244 lbs, Age: 21
Someone has to make the trade up, and the Commanders just declined Chase Young’s fifth-year option. They have enough talent on the roster to keep up the dominance of their defensive front while Richardson develops on an offense filled with young, talented skill position players. The Texans have obliterated any leverage they had in trade discussions and the Cardinals have made it somewhat known that they're open for business. As for compensation I like the sound of a 2023 first and second, and 2024 third with Chase Young being the major kicker here. Maybe a 5th gets tossed one way or the other. Regardless, the Cardinals get more capital and a true defensive building block to try and fill that abominable roster out. The Commanders get a guy that has every single tool that has ever been made in his tool box. Whether or not those tools are charged/operational is a different conversation entirely.
It’s rare that a QB in college makes you glow and say “wow” on a regular basis. Watching Anthony Richardson play QB makes me feel like my skin is comprised entirely of bioluminescent algae. If there is a play that can be made by a QB, Richardson possesses the ability to make said play. However, he is a raw talent that is going to go through growing pains and could probably do with the Patrick Mahomes treatment. Richardson is an athletic freak with a cannon for an arm, and if the Raiders are smart and put the right people around him he has the potential to develop into an elite talent in this league. This is the Commanders we are talking about though so this has more than a little potential to fall completely flat.
4. Indianapolis Colts: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
6’4” 229 lbs, Age: 23
Where there is smoke there is fire. Unless the smoke is complete pre-draft BS which is entirely possible. However, Jim Irsay is arguably the worst person in the league at keeping his teams secrets under wraps as he continues to blow any leverage General Manager Chris Ballard has/had. The Colts want a QB and they need one even more. Will Levis feels like the fit and the buzzards have been circling over this being what the Colts wanted during a good chunk of the pre-draft process. I find it weirdly difficulty to find things to say about this particular QB prospect. Oh, and he is nearly 24, meaning that second contract won’t be kicking in until he is 29 years old.
Will Levis is ready to come into the NFL and play QB right away, I hope. Prototype size for a QB paired with a seeming love of the more physical aspects of the game makes Levis a very interesting prospect that some analysts are saying may go one overall. Now while I feel that particular take is very silly, I do understand why there is this hype. Levis will either be the second coming of Justin Herbert, or the second coming of Mitchell Trubisky. [This is a success analogy. I don’t think his playstyle is at all similar to either QB.]
5. Seattle Seahawks: Tyree Wilson, Edge, Texas Tech
6’6” 271 lbs, Age: 22
This entire draft season may as well be titled "How the Bears and Seahawks swindled the NFL." Seattle has such an incredible opportunity to use this draft as a launching point for the long term future success of their team. Drafting a wickedly talented, if yet raw, edge rusher that projects to be a legitimate game wrecker is exactly the type of move great teams of the future make.
Men this big should not be allowed to be this fast. Tyree Wilson feels very much akin to Trayvon Walker from last year’s draft. Wilson is fast, strong, athletic, and able to make every play you need from an edge rusher. The potential here is that of someone who will wreck games for a decade plus. However he lacks coverage skills and just purely due to his size lacks a bit of that agility that separates the great pass rushers from the elite. That said his basement floor is a guy that consistently blows up runs and is at least racking up the QB pressures, if not raw sack numbers.
6. Detroit Lions: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
6’0” 181 lbs, Age: 22
There is no part of me that wants Witherspoon to play my favorite team two times per year. It sounds like hell. That is precisely why the Lions should and hopefully will take Witherspoon. This pairing matches up too well and I will be legitimately distressed if it does not happen.
This is my first real hot take [This became less and less of a hot take as the weeks wore by]. I have seen some analysts slot Witherspoon in as the 4th best DB in this draft, and here I have him going six overall. This feels like the kind of thing we hear about after the draft where Witherspoon and Dan Campbell got in a room together, barked at one another for 8 minutes, fell in love, and Campbell threatened to walk out on the team if they didn’t draft Witherspoon. Luckily for Campbell, Witherspoon is a corner that plays tight man coverage, hits like the spiritual son of a Legion of Boom member, and has never seen a ball he thought he didn’t have a chance at. Witherspoon is the physical embodiment of “He’s got that dog in him,” and for an undersized CB there are few things more important. It doesn’t hurt that he has great ball skills to go along with it. Whoever does draft him though, be prepared for around 18 holding calls his rookie year. That will take some coaching to get out of him.
7. Oakland Raiders: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
6’1” 197 lbs, Age: 20
The Raiders team needs are about as long as a list of defensive positions football players can choose when they first sign up for Pop Warner. However, one of their biggest needs is CB and luckily for them the board falls in a way that may land them the best one in the Draft. Whether that title will go to Gonzalez or Witherspoon long term, the fact of the matter is that Gonzalez is the type of CB that anchors your secondary for years as long as the Cardinals don’t completely mess it up.
Gonzalez is the absolute prototypical size for a corner, and he plays like it too. He has the range to drop deep in cover three and the intellect and ball reading skills to play the flat. In man coverage Gonzalez sticks to his assignment like an insecure boyfriend on a date at the mall with a woman he knows is out of his league. Gonzalez is also a willing tackler. He doesn't play with the reckless abandon that someone like Witherspoon does but he makes good form tackles and seems to relish in being involved in the run defense. Much like any great college DB that plays suffocating man defense, he is way too grabby in coverage and will draw calls at the next level. He will also take risks to make a play and while those pay off in college, he will get beat big from time to time at the next level because of it.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
5’11” 215 lbs, Age: 21
You could make a fairly legitimate argument that Robinson is the most talented player in this draft. Unfortunately in today’s NFL the running back is nowhere near as valued due to the passing game becoming what it has. Running backs are more and more used in committee roles and the because of what happens to them by the time they are 29 or 30, the league cant justify giving more resources to the position. Arthur Smith gives exactly 0 fucks what you think about running backs and how much an NFL offense should run the ball. This pick makes almost no sense as the Falcons have two to three serviceable running backs, but who better to teach Robinson some of the finer ins and outs of being an explosive, multi-faceted rusher than Cordarelle Patterson?
Drafting a running back in the first round is an objectively dumb thing to do. So many guys get drafted in the fourth and fifth round and become great starters. I do not care. Arthur Smith wants to have fun and load the backfield with as much talent as humanly possible. Robinson is a top tier running back talent and an instant upgrade over literally everyone they have on the depth chart. Robinson is a do it all running back prospect that we haven't seen the likes of since Saquon Barkley and he has every possibility to be just as good, if not better.
9. Chicago Bears: Jaxson Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
6’1” 196 lbs, Age 21
The Bears should be all in on Justin Fields. The moves they have made appear to indicate that as well. So let’s do it again. The counter argument here is that the Bears need more O-Line improvements and while I agree, I want to see Fields with a bunch of guys that can get open. The jury is still out on Claypool and if he doesn’t take the necessary steps to becoming a top tier guy, Smith-Njigba has all the tools necessary to be a number two guy on a team with a bonafide number one. Not to mention it is never a bad idea to give a franchise QB a WR he is genuinely friends with.
Jaxson Smith-Njigba has some of the best hands in college football. His stock largely falls due to missing the vast majority of the season with a hamstring injury. Unfortunately we did not get to see him play in what would have been the season for him to show off what he can do as a true number one. Regardless, Smith-Njigba can do literally everything you want from a WR. He doesn’t have blazing speed but his crisp routes will have defenders doing circles, and his ability to go up and grab a seemingly uncatchable ball is unmatched in this class. Mocking him to the Bears is unlikely and glorious to me.
10. Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Carter, Interior D-Line, Georgia
6’3” 314 lbs, Age: 22
The Georgia defensive line from two years ago reunites to wreak havoc across the NFL. There may be character concerns but who better to mentor and guide Carter than his literal college mentor who also happens to be a stud on the field? The Eagles had one of the best defensive lines in the league last year, but lost a couple pieces. The addition of Cater immediately gives them another long team building block to maintain the very high level of play demanded by that organization.
Do you like interior defensive linemen that spend their spare time being literal bears? Then boy do I have the defensive tackle for you. Jalen Carter is a mountain of a man that may be pound for pound one of the five strongest players in this draft. This is a man that clogs up running lanes in his sleep. The beauty is that he often has the speed and agility to set the edge if needed. Carter works best when allowed to work one on one against guards or centers in a 4-3 but could likely play any line position in a 3-4 if you needed it. His weak side prowess is what sets him apart from other DTs in this draft. Okay there are a lot of things that set him aside but that was the most prominent thing I saw in my film study. Carter needs a bit of work when it comes to his pass rush, as when he gets to the NFL certain guys like Quentin Nelson and Chris Lindstrom won’t be so easily pushed around by bull rushes.
TRADE 11. Minnesota Vikings: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio St.
6’3” 214 lbs, Age: 21
The Vikings stand here, on the shoulders of a god awful test scores. All of the QBs had their S2 scores drop recently. They were all time bad, at a score of 18/100. As far as I know a bad grade on this S2 test is about as bad as it gets for an NFL prospect, in the sense that a good NFL QB has never gotten a test score anywhere near that bad. Dropping to the 11th overall pick isn’t some crime or tragedy as far as his talent level goes, however it is a far shot from the potential number 1 overall pick that he was just one month ago. The Vikings have been rumored to want a trade up for a QB, and with Stroud falling so far this is their chance. Its relatively low risk for a relatively decent team with a starting QB under contract for one more year. Why not take a risk on a guy that I wrote the following about just 2 months ago:
C.J. Stroud throws a deep ball so beautifully that it often makes those witnessing it feel the need to openly weep as an expression of appreciation. The accuracy with which Stroud puts footballs into the hands of his receivers is near orgasmic. Stroud is ready to sit behind a great offensive line and sling it to barely open receivers today. Therein lies the problem. Stroud absolutely has the ability to run and extend plays but is often hesitant to do so. Stroud also had the benefit of playing with wide receivers that were probably forced to play in college for one too many years. Without the stellar line and a class of receivers that would be top five in the NFL today, there may be early growing pains. He has every chance to be a long term franchise guy throwing for 5,000 yards and 45 touchdowns.
12. Houston Texans: Bryan Bresee, Interior D-Line, Clemson
6’6” 298 lbs, Age: 21
The Clemson defensive line duo has taken a bit of a hit as the Draft season has worn on. However, we see this every year in which a bad team reaches on a defensive line prospect at a position of need from a good program. We have seen this from another Clemson D-lineman just a couple years ago. I think Bresee has the potential to be really good in the NFL but whether or not his game translates against the generally much larger NFL guards and tackles remains to be seen. That said, anyone lining up next to Will Anderson Jr. is going to have an easier time than otherwise.
Bryan Bresee has some of the best hand-work for a defensive lineman in this class. He is a big body that will clog up the middle, generate pressure on the inside, and rarely miss a gap assignment. Bresee does leave a bit to be desired in terms of pass rush but you aren’t drafting Bresee for his sack numbers. You are drafting him for the 10+ tackles for loss he can/will generate. Also, at some point you have to do something to try and stop Derrick Henry. If ever you were going to draft a player specifically to try and stop one guy on one team, this would be the time to do it. [Written pre-Henry trade rumors.]
13. Green Bay Packers: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
6’5” 249 lbs, Age: 21
The Packers finally completed the Aaron Rodgers trade for the betterment of every NFL fan. So it would make sense that the Packers finally use their mid-first round pick on an offensive weapon. They added young receivers last year and have some extra picks in a WR deep class, so why not go get the guy that we thought was the top TE literally all year. For months there was number one and everyone else. The Packers are also the exact type of team that ignores certain positional value norms as well.
Imagine if you will, if a mountain learned out to run routes and catch passes better than most receivers. Got that mental image? Okay that is what Michael Mayer is as a tight end. Hailing from none other than Tight End University, Mayer has made a name for himself by playing the TE position like someone 40 lbs lighter than he is. Mayer possesses the ability to high point the ball like the best receivers and has a frame that makes it near impossible for a normally sized corner to actually cover him. Linebackers like Devin White and Patrick Queen shouldn’t struggle to keep up but Mayer’s size puts even those types of guys in a tough position. The blocking and route running need work but honestly Travis Kelce has taught us you really don’t need to be that great at blocking to be the greatest TE of all time. It just helps.
14. New England Patriots: Peter Skoronski, T, Northwestern
6’4” 313 lbs, Age: 21
It both feels like a steal and exactly where he should go for Skoronski. The elite tackles in this draft could absolutely go higher than this, and maybe they should. Skoronski is a monster who can play on either side of the line, inside or out, and would immediately upgrade every single offensive line in the NFL. The Patriots would pray for this fall as he also just seems like a Belicheck guy. Which, when given any amount of thought, is terrifying.
Peter Skoronski is what we refer to as “A man amongst boys.” Skoronski possesses the size, agility, and strength to be plugged in at either Tackle spot and forgotten about for roughly 12-15 years. He is uniquely refined as a pass blocker for someone that's only 21 years old and in the run game Skoronski is as violent as you would want.
15. New York Jets: Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
6’6” 313 lbs, Age: 21
This really is the bottom of the Paris Johnson Jr. range. I can’t see him going higher than 9 overall to the Bears (I went back and forth on that a lot) but I can’t see him dropping past this point. The biggest weakness in this Jets offense is their Right Tackle but they have nothing but awesome pieces, a la Alija Vera-Tucker and Mekhi Becton. Paris Johnson Jr. immediately upgrades their weakest line spot and gives sews up any arguably the biggest hole on this team in general. Its weird to think Rodgers’ first season away from the Packers may be his best chance to win a ring since 2010.
I will refer you back to the entry for Peter Skoronski for this. The Jets have a really good interior offensive line but the tackle position needs some work. In most other years Paris Johnson is the easy number one guy at the position. It just so happens we have two generational talents sitting here at tackle and one of them had to go first. Johnson is a top tier O-lineman and if the Patriots picked him over Skoronski I wouldn’t agree with the decision, but I would understand it. So for the Jets to get a guy this good here? I wouldn’t expect more than 17 seconds to run off the countdown clock before that pick got shot out of a cannon at Roger Goodell backstage.
16. Arizona Cardinals: Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
6’0” 197 lbs, Age: 22
For the first time this Mock we have a player that wasn’t on my initial board sliding in at 16. The Cardinals sit in a really weird spot after the trade where they filled one of their biggest team needs, but the holes they still have are endless. Banks is a relatively prototypical sized corner that tested out of his mind at the Combine; precisely what Banks needed to get his stock up. Nothing about his stats stands out other than that he played a role all four years in college (barring injuries in his Jr year). However, corner remains the only position in which lackluster stats might be a good thing. Banks had his highest defended passes stat his senior year with 8, and being ignored by an offense as a corner is the best day you can possibly have.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
6’3” 193 lbs, Age: 22
The Steelers have been rumored to be trade up candidates for a couple weeks now, but I doubt they push for that. If Witherspoon or Gonzalez fall to the 9 spot or maybe even 11 then I could see them making the jump. That didn’t happen here. What did happen is the exact thing I thought would happen in my first Mock which was the Steelers grabbing the legacy pick because he’s just really good and in my opinion, grades out like a long term solution at a position the Steelers have struggled with for a few years now.
Joey Porter had a son that plays corner. It is both not that simple, and exactly that simple. Porter Jr. plays tight man coverage, has speed to keep up with any receiver, and has long arms with great coordination that mean, even if he does get beat, he can recover. Porter Jr. is a raw talent that is a good tackler when needed but seems to be more interested in locking his man down. He also doesn’t seem as interested in interceptions as he is in pass break-ups which is a trait I personally like a lot in a corner. The Steelers are the perfect place for him. They need another corner and their support structure and coaching is exactly what he needs to go from top prospect to legitimate lockdown corner.
18. Detroit Lions: Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa
6’5” 272 lbs, Age: 21
Few people have taken bigger hits to their draft stock during this process than on Lukas Van Ness. More than a few mocks early in the process had him as a top 10 guy, myself included. However, after a lackluster combine and no reports (at least that I saw) of teams being in love with him after meetings, the very raw edge rusher prospect finds himself hoping a team takes a chance. The Lions are exactly that team, as the Lions are not yet in win now mode but they’re close enough they can start to take big swings on risk players that could pay off beautifully. Worst case is Van Ness becomes a mildly productive rotational guy that might get a second contract. But the upside?
Relentless. Lukas VanNess never saw a play he couldn’t finish. VanNess very much feels like a slightly[much] more raw version of Tyree Wilson. They are both amazing in run defense and have some limitations due to their size in the pass rush game, especially when lined up outside of a tackle in an upright stance. Van Ness feels like a guy that you leave in his 3-point stance 95 times out of 100, but when you leave him to do what he does it’s glorious.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
6’5” 311 lbs, Age: 21
Sometimes life just works out. The Bucs need help on their offensive line more than anywhere else (except maybe QB). With some of the other climbers on my board, offensive tackle is the position group that has taken the biggest hit. It ends up helping out some of these mid tier teams perfectly though. Jones comes in and immediately gives the Bucs O-line some of the teeth they have been missing since their Super Bowl run.
Arguably the most athletic of the three big name offensive tackles getting drafted, Broderick Jones is also the most raw. With only 19 starts under his belt, Jones still has a lot of learning to do as a big time starter on an NFL O-line. Jones is 310 pounds of almost entirely muscle and plays like someone stole his lunch money the entire week leading up to gameday. As long as he can reign in some of the big gambles he takes he has the potential to be the best offensive lineman to come out of this draft.
TRADE 20. New Orleans Saints: Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
6’5” 268 lbs, Age: 21
Another trade, this one a bit out of nowhere. The Saints are the kind of team that will do whatever to go get their guy and that isn’t changing anytime soon. Murphy continues to fall but at this point might be the last potentially game changing edge rusher left in the draft. The Saints need pass rush and a potential Cam Jordan replacement as he reaches his mid 30s. compensation probably looks like a 2nd and 4th this year in addition to the pick swap, which for Seattle is great because their biggest needs right now are depth. As for New Orleans they just need to keep cap concerns at a minimum so paying fewer picks is probably a boon in its own right.
Myles Murphy may very well be a top ten talent in this draft. Though he lacks that explosive first step, what Murphy does have is a relentless motor. He pushes through double teams to get to his target in passing situations, and possesses the size and strength to clog running lanes. What Murphy also has that no one else in this draft has is a straight arm given to him directly from Satan himself. Myles gets aggressive amounts of leverage by simply planting one of his arms (usually the left) into a tackles chest and driving him back.
21. San Diego Chargers: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
5’9” 182 lbs, Age: 22
GET ZAY FLOWERS TO SAN DIEGO AT ALL COSTS. I don’t really have more to say about this. As the draft season wears on this feels less and less likely. However, Flowers fills exactly the hole the Chargers have in their offense and Herbert deserve a WR that can actually utilize his canon of an arm.
If Zay Flowers is available and the Chargers don’t take him I will become the living embodiment of discontent. Zay Flowers is an explosive, agile wide receiver that would thrive in a slot role with a team that has two bonafide outside targets soaking up attention from the larger corners. Sound like there’s a good fit for him in the NFL? Flowers is the type of guy that would allow Herbert on second and four to uncork a 60 yard bomb on a skinny post in a way that he currently cannot do very often. Flowers is quite undersized and doesn't run the most crisp routes in the draft but he is as game changing a player as there is at the position in this draft.
22. Baltimore Ravens: Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia
6’2” 238 lbs, Age: 22
Nolan Smith resides in this really weird space where he is a bit too small to be a true pass rusher/outside linebacker, and a bit too big to be a safety, but he tested so well at the combine and has tape that will blow your mind, he has to be a first round pick. It’s going to take a team with a bit of patience and whole lot of creativity to get the most out of Smith, but with his speed and athleticism there is little this man cannot do. He projects as an OLB that focuses primarily on rushing the passer with a great chase down ability and some minor pass coverage potential. However, there is a part of me that wants to see if he can be a box safety. He may be a tad bit short for this but if the right coaches can get there hands on him, Smith looks a lot like the next Isaiah Simmons.
TRADE 23. Tennessee Titans: Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
6’5” 333 lbs, Age: 21
Another player I did not have in my original mock, Wright has been furiously climbing draft boards since the Combine. I still think Wright is probably the 4th best tackle in this frankly quite loaded offensive line class, however he has even gotten a tiny bit of buzz at 9 overall with the Bears. I tend to believe that’s a bit of a smokescreen, but it shows you its at least plausible enough to be leaked out and taken seriously. He’s young, big, and if the Titans keep Derrick Henry he’s also just a perfect scheme fit for what they do with Henry. Wright also feels a bit like a win now pick at tackle for a team that very clearly is stuck in the dredges of mediocrity with no way out. That said, sometimes you just have to go get the best guy for your team and figure out the rest later.
24. Jacksonville Jaguars: Brian Branch, S, Alabama
6’0” 190 lbs, Age: 21
How very unique and original of me. Has every mock draft made in the past month had Brian Branch going anywhere else? Its like, the league knows the Jags want him, the Jags have not made that a secret, and no one seems to care. Bully for the Jaguars as they get a guy that fills a massive hole on their defense and one that, if pedigree means anything, could end up being a legit top tier Safety in the NFL. The Jags are really beginning to hit their stride and in a year or two’s time it is going to be full on win now, so filing the glaring holes is what potentially great teams do to make legit runs. If Branch does go before this, expect a trade back to the early second and them picking up Antonio Johnson.
Brian Branch regularly lined up as a box safety for Alabama which I think he is a bit undersized for at the NFL level; but who cares. He plays the game the same way someone created in a Raytheon lab would play. Branch finds the ball and attacks it. He has legit ball skills in coverage and is extremely rangey in a way that makes him great in zone coverage. Branch also seemingly delights in tackling ball carriers around the line of scrimmage. Occasionally Branch either fails to wrap up his tackles or can be pushed back by larger running backs and tight ends but some time on an NFL regime and 10 pounds of muscle for the 21 year old can likely remedy this. Oh, and he doubles as somewhat of a return specialist, which is fun.
25. New York Giants: Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
6’3” 208 lbs, Age: 21
The Giants have the unenviable task of drafting needs that this draft is particularly light in. Its too early for John Michael Schmitz as they can make a small move in the second and still get him, and the corner class is getting a bit thin. You just signed your QB to a baffling $40 million per year deal. Make the best you can of a seemingly pretty meh situation and give Daniel Jones a WR who has legit “go up and get it” abilities. Johnston is raw and needs to be built up, but the Giants are a minimum of two years away from actually competing, and by the time that comes around, we will know who Johnston is.
Quentin Johnston is a big body that not only goes up and gets 50/50 balls at an astonishing rate but is far too fast for a man of his size. No one in free agency this year has the kind of potential or skill set that Johnston has. Jones needs a new weapon and what better way to kit him out than by getting him arguably the best WR in the draft.
26. Dallas Cowboys: Calijah Kancey, Interior D-Line, Pittsburgh
6’1” 281 lbs, Age: 22
I felt pretty strongly in my first mock about Kancey. I do not feel that way anymore. That said I still think Kancey can be a very productive NFL player and someone worth taking the first round risk on. The arm length thing is real as leverage is a D-tackle’s best friend, but sometimes speed and athleticism can make up for what someone lacks in pure physical characteristics; See Nolan Smith.
A lot of places won’t have Kancey in their first round mocks. They can do one. Kancey is the next best interior defensive lineman after the big two go off the board and the Cowboys *need* help on the interior. Their run defense was lacking last year due in no small part to not having good enough D-tackles. Kancey is admittedly a bit undersized but he has the strength to still plug up running lanes in the middle. What makes him so appealing is his pass rush prowess that includes one of the best swim moves in the Draft.
27. Buffalo Bills: O’Cyrus Torrence, G, Florida
6’3” 330 lbs, Age: 23
The Bills do not lack much on this team. They lost a few defensive pieces in free agency but they have the depth and made moves in free agency to alleviate some of the pressure these losses will put on the defense. Plus, it is entirely fine if the very good defense takes a step back, just so long as the offense takes a leap forward. The Bills could use a good slot receiver, someone with top end speed but taking a risk on someone like Jalin Hyatt when guys like Marvin Mims exist is just silly. Torrence slots in as a starter and is an upgrade to pretty solid but not great offensive line.
O’Cyrus Torrence can step in and immediately help to fix the biggest hole the Bills have. Torrence is a big, strong guard that can slot in and dominate in the run game day one. He is quick enough to protect against the faster, more pass rush oriented D-tackles in the NFL. The only downside to Torrence is he lacks versatility. There is little chance of him being a viable option at center and playing him at tackle is a bad fit.
28. Cincinnati Bengals: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama
5’9” 199 lbs, Age: 21
Joe Mixon was mean to a woman on the street, and is approaching his late 20s. This is the perfect combination for the Bengals to just not give Mixon an extension, trade or even cut him, and move on to the future at runningback. There are plenty of mid to late round options for this team at RB, but the Bengals have the distinct luxury of having recently been to a Super Bowl and still having Joe Burrow on a rookie deal. Drafting a top tier RB like Gibbs is a win now move that I love for this team. Clear a bit of cap for the MASSIVE extension Burrow is about to get and also keep your RB play around the same level that it was previously at, for significantly less money on top of that. Gibbs has the potential to be a great RB in this league and without any other glaring needs, why not swing for the fences in a Conference that is packed with Super Bowl contenders.
TRADE 29. Seattle Seahawks: Jordan Addison, WR, USC
5’11” 173 lbs, Age: 21
Going into making this mock, I very much believed there would be no more than two WRs taken off the board. Here we are at pick 29 and I have put double that amount into this mock. I could obviously be wrong. In fact, I probably am on at least one of these. However Tyler Locket isn’t going to play forever (despite his contact adverse play-style), and the Seahawks aren’t in win now mode. They can play for the future as Geno Smith is in no way their QB of the future. What he is though is good enough to help develop a young WR while keeping this team competitive enough to draft impact guys and eventually maybe move a vet for the franchise guy or two that sets this team up for that eventual championship run.
Addison is just what Seattle needs to add to the core guys they already have at the receiver position. Addison is lighting fast, exactly as agile as you would expect for a WR his size, and runs crisp routes. His acceleration out of a break is top tier as well. Size may be a concern for some, even with these late first picks. To that I would just point towards Devontae Smith. Addison doesn’t high point the ball with the same aggression as Smith, but he makes up for it in other ways.
TRADE 30. Chicago Bears: Anton Harrison, T, Oklahoma
6’4” 313 lbs, Age: 21
The Bears have more than enough capital in the next couple of drafts to make the move up to this pick. Think their first second this year, a fifth this year on top of that and maybe and additional third next year. The Bears could absolutely use a new tackle to help protect Justin Fields as the Bears gear up for their first truly competitive season since 2018. Ryan Poles has shown his aggression in terms of getting what he wants. He has also shown when it comes to what the media reports about his potential moves, misinformation and true leaks get intertwined masterfully. The Bears have been linked to just about every top tier Tackle in the draft (Dawand Jones included), but not Anton Harrison. Now why is that? [Insert Brian Windhorst finger point meme.] If he isn’t fully ready yet when he gets there, the Bears still have serviceable tackles to start while he gets coached up.
Anton Harrison is not a day one starter. He has all the tools to be a great Tackle in the NFL. He has the size, is surprisingly quick on his feet, rarely gets knocked off balance by a power rush; however he lacks aggressiveness in the power running game at times and can get a bit lost when put on an island against a talented edge rusher. The Bears need O-line depth and they need someone that can be a long term answer. Give Harrison one year to develop behind the guys they have now and he will be ready to step in and actually be someone that can keep a franchise guy like Justin Fields safe for the long haul.
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Keion White, Defensive Lineman, Georgia Tech
6’5” 285 lbs, Age: 24
The Chiefs have a team loaded with talent, as you would expect of the defending Super Bowl champions. The positional needs they had were largely resolved in free agency so the Chiefs are largely playing with house money, and have the very enviable position of being able to just wait and see who falls to them. How does versatility on the defensive line sound for a team that had few weaknesses but one of them could have been described as general pass rush? Oh that sounds great? Cool here is a guy that can play outside on a 3-4, inside or outside on a 4-3, and possesses great overall strength for a guy his size. The top end speed isn’t really there which means you probably aren’t getting many chase down tackles off the weakside from White, but what you will get is a guy that has a nose for the QB and has never struggled to get behind the line of scrimmage, even for an undersized defensive tackle.