‘Tis the season, the best time of the year. The NFL Draft is finally here. The stretch between the Super Bowl and the draft feels like half the year even though it’s only a couple months.
Mock drafts seem to be the way that we all pass the time, you’ve probably read too many by now. This one’s a little different than just going through the entire first round.
The first round is only 12% of the draft, every pick matters though. What about the teams with no first round picks this year? Their first selection gets magnified in importance and we never really read about that.
I went through every team's first selection, including the entire first round for teams with multiple picks, and drafted as if I were the general manager trying to fix my team. I also went through what their entire draft strategy should be and identified some prospects after day one that would be a good fit for each team. Also, not projecting any trades just to make life easier for everyone.
Heads up, you’re going to read a lot about teams loading up on corners.
Carolina Panthers: #1 Bryce Young, Quarterback, Alabama
I don’t think this is what the Panthers will end up doing, I think they will ultimately draft Anthony Richardson. Bryce Young is the best quarterback though, so for me it’s a no brainer to take the best player at the most important position. The height doesn’t bother me at all, he’s been the shortest guy on his team since like junior high. For me, the concern is his weight. NFL quarterbacks are going to get hit so Bryce Young’s ability to stay on the field is a legitimate question. If you’re confident that he can stay on the field, then Bryce Young is a no brainer. His talent is worth the risk in my opinion, which is why if I’m the Panther’s I’m making him my quarterback of the future.
I’d love to see Carolina add depth on both lines of scrimmage and in the secondary. I’m a Terrace Marshall believer, but adding a Josh Downs (receiver, North Carolina) or Marvin Mims (receiver, Oklahoma) as a day two pick would be an easy way to help their new quarterback out.
Houston Texans: #2 CJ Stroud, Quarterback, Ohio State; #12 Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Receiver, Ohio State
In real life I think Stroud will end up being the first pick, which would leave the Texans with Bryce Young. They should be happy with either of the top two quarterbacks though. I think the absolute worst Stroud could be in the NFL is somewhere in the Kirk Cousins/Derek Carr range. Not the best, and I’ve certainly had my qualms with both of those players, but if you’re guaranteed that level on a rookie contract it’s hard to pass up. Best case scenario for Stroud is he can become a top eight quarterback in the league and be a difference maker for a Super Bowl contender. There is no other option to consider, and if it takes more than two minutes for the Texans to put the card in then they should be fined for malpractice.
Houston is the first team with multiple first round picks, and a huge opportunity to revamp their roster. Jaxon Smith-Njigba immediately will be the best receiver the Texans have had since DeAndre Hopkins. Pairing JSN with Nico Collins and John Metchie gives Houston a plus receiving corps, and whoever they draft at quarterback will be dropped into a potential top ten offense in the league.
Top of the second round the Texans should be able to get a quality edge rusher still like Felix Anudike-Ozomah (Kansas State). Ideally I think Houston would like to add to their receivers but the value in the middle rounds doesn’t add up with their roster. Jonathan Mingo (receiver, Ole Miss) is really the only mid-round receiver that wouldn’t overlap the skill sets of Nico Collins and John Metchie. Collins, Metchie, and tight end Dalton Schultz aren't a bad group, so I’d focus on dart throws at corner and interior offensive line in the middle rounds.
Arizona Cardinals: #3 Will Anderson Jr., Edge, Alabama
Will Anderson Jr. is the best player in the draft, and the Cardinals need help everywhere but especially on the defensive line. This would be another no brainer pick. The Cardinals could be getting a lot of calls to trade down, and that’d be an interesting option. It’d be tough to pass up on Will Anderson Jr. though, who’s not a Nick Bosa level prospect, but half a tick below that and can be an immediate difference maker right away.
Because their roster is so bad they can pick whoever they want and it will be a boost to their roster. I’d like to see them focus on receivers and secondary players and see if they can get some cheap starters at those positions.
Indianapolis Colts: #4 Anthony Richardson, Quarterback, Florida
I really thought hard about going a different route than quarterback for the Colts; I wanted to give them a different position player because a lot about Richardson scares me. In reality though the Colts have been wandering in the desert for years trying to find a quarterback. Patchwork efforts with washed up veterans have wasted a really talented roster. Indy is at a point where they have to take a home run swing. In October I felt like I was higher on Richardson than everyone else was. Then the combine happened and Richardson broke like every quarterback record possible and Richardson started skyrocketing up draft boards. He’s not a project in the sense that he doesn’t understand how to play the quarterback position; he goes through his progressions well and has a good feel for being able to maneuver in the pocket. My only real concern, and it is a big concern, is there are throws that he just completely misses on. It’s not all the time; he has a beautiful deep ball and has shown he can layer intermediate throws as well. But there are a few deep out throws in particular that he’s just not even close on. I do think I’m being very nit picky, and part of that probably has to do with Florida receivers running routes on top of each other a lot last season. He’s too talented and Indy is too desperate to not take a swing on him though.
I don’t think Brian Branch (safety, Alabama) will be available at pick #35, but if he is, the Colts should run the card up and get an immediate boost to their secondary. I’d also like to take a couple mid-round swings on offensive lineman to hopefully upgrade a disappointing position group last year.
Seattle Seahawks: #5 Jalen Carter, Defensive Tackle, Georgia; #20 Nolan Smith, Edge, Georgia
Most people have Jalen Carter falling in the draft, but if you’re Seattle and can get who a lot of people think is the best player in the draft then you gotta pull the trigger. On the field he is a smart, explosive, powerful player who knows how to get off blocks in a variety of ways. He and Will Anderson are the only two players in the draft that feel like guarantees, or at least as close as you can get. The only reason he’ll be available at five is because of a reckless driving incident which saw two people lose their life; teams taking him will have to be comfortable with what they’re getting off the field.
Carter’s teammate at Georgia, Nolan Smith, is an elite athlete who ran a sub 4.4 forty yard dash with a 41.5” vertical and 10’8” broad jump. Those are good numbers for a wide receiver, and better than a lot of receivers in this class. He is undersized, but utilized the right way he can be an impact pass rusher. Seattle double dipping with Georgia defensive lineman would give them a scary defensive front.
DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett are one of the best wide receiver duos in the league, but taking a shot on a third receiver like Tank Dell (receiver, Houston) or Rashee Rice (receiver, SMU) would make life easier for both those guys, as well as Geno Smith. No position on the roster is good enough to be considered ready to go, so this draft should be focused on receiver, offensive line, and secondary. Taking a shot on a mid round quarterback like Dorian Thompson-Robinson (quarterback, UCLA) would be a worthwhile gamble as well.
Detroit Lions: #6 Christian Gonzalez, Cornerback, Oregon; #18 Calijah Kancey, Defensive Tackle, Pittsburgh
Christian Gonzalez has an uncanny ability to mirror the wide receiver while keeping his eyes in the backfield. He flips his hips with ease, has no issue changing direction, and is physical in press coverage. His only major red flag is that he wore #0 at Oregon—hopefully in the NFL he can get a jersey number upgrade. He’d be a day one starter for a Detroit team that has depth in the secondary but no one I’d classify as an impact player (I’m still surprised Jeffrey Okudah hasn’t panned out so far).
Kancey is an undersized but disruptive defensive tackle who can shoot gaps and blow up blocking schemes. The question with Kancey is how will his size translate to the next level, but if he can maintain his quickness while improving at getting off blocks he’ll be a quality NFL player.
It’s weird to say this but Detroit doesn’t have a ton of glaring holes. Even if they get a corner in the first round, adding another safety or nickel like Clark Phillips III (cornerback, Utah) would give them some more flexibility in the secondary. The Lions also have two second round picks in addition to their two first round picks. If a tight end like Luke Musgrave (tight end, Oregon State) or Sam LaPorta (tight end, Iowa) falls to the middle of the second, that'd be an easy way to upgrade that position and help Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams.
Las Vegas Raiders: #7 Michael Mayer, Tight End, Notre Dame
Anyone who knows me knows that I am not a fan of Jimmy G and don’t think he is a quality NFL quarterback. I think there’s a very good chance that Las Vegas is picking in the top five next year, putting themselves in a great position for either Drake May from Carolina or Caleb Williams from USC. I’d rather strengthen the roster and make a move for one of those two next year instead of drafting Will Levis or another quarterback at this spot. Michael Mayer is getting forgotten about as the best tight end in this year’s class. He’s not the best pure receiver, but he is the best tight end. He does everything exceptionally well; he’s a strong blocker, can create space route running and make contested catches, and can also create yards after the catch. The Raiders need a lot of help all over the roster, but getting a tight end who can help the quarterback you’re drafting next year while also upgrading your roster in 2023 makes perfect sense to me. This is higher than any other mock I’ve seen Mayer go, so I doubt he goes here in real life but I think it’d be the best move for Las Vegas
The secondary is in shambles, so drafting a corner in the first round wouldn’t draw any complaints from me. They should come away from this draft with at least three players who can contribute to their defensive backfield. If O’Cyrus Torrence (guard, Florida) is available at pick thirty-eight he’d be a low risk player who would stabilize the offensive line.
Atlanta Falcons: #8 Tyree Wilson, Edge, Texas Tech
First thing that stands out about Tyree Wilson is simply how massive he is, measuring at 6’6” 271 lbs with a 35 ⅝” wing span at the NFL combine. Against the run he’s patient and does a great job of setting the edge. He has a variety of pass rushing moves, and can get to the quarterback from any angle. For an Atlanta team who has a legit shot to win their division this year but also desperately needs a talent injection on their defensive line Wilson would be a perfect fit.
Upgrading the interior on both lines of scrimmage should be a priority on day two or day three. Also adding a talented running back who slips to round four like Zach Charbonnet (running back, UCLA) or Tank Bigsby (running back, Auburn) would allow the Falcons to take advantage of this deep running back class without reaching and add a potential starter on day three.
Chicago Bears: #9 Lukas Van Ness, Defensive Line, Iowa
Lot of folks are giving the Bears an offensive lineman in their mocks, but they at least have options on the offensive line. There’s not anyone on their defensive line who I would count as a plus starter. The nice thing about Lukas Van Ness is he can play anywhere on the defensive line. The Bears can play him as an edge and then on obvious passing downs bump him inside as a three technique pass rusher (three technique refers to putting the defensive tackle on the outside shoulder of the guard). Also one of the requirements of graduating from Iowa is moving to Chicago, so the Bears and Van Ness would be a perfect fit.
Even with the addition of DJ Moore, I’d like to see the Bears add another receiver for Justin Fields. A deep threat like Jalin Hyatt (receiver, Tennessee) who could come in his rookie year and not be forced to do more than he’s comfortable with, and develop into a more well rounded receiver over his rookie contract. Going with Van Ness in the first round would mean spending a couple mid-round picks on interior offensive lineman and hoping last year's fifth round pick Braxton Jones continues to develop at tackle.
Philadelphia Eagles: #10 Devon Witherspoon, Cornerback, Illinois; #30 Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Edge, Kansas State
I wanted to give Van Ness to the Eagles since Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham are on one year deals and probably playing their last year in Philly. In this scenario Van Ness is already gone, and they also aren’t locked in long term at cornerback. Darius Slay almost left this off season and James Bradberry will be thirty at the start of this season. Witherspoon is a multi-year starter at Illinois but blew up this season and became a Thorpe Award Finalist. He’s the most physical corner in the class and loves to hit. He’s instinctive and a fluid athlete. I think he’d be able to play in the slot with no issue, then whenever either Slay or Bradberry move on, Witherspoon could seamlessly move to outside corner.
Felix Anudike-Uzomah is the last edge who I’m stoked about taking in the first round. He has multiple plus pass rushing moves and can get to the quarterback in a variety of ways. He showed an ability to fight through double teams at Kansas State, but with the Eagle’s loaded defensive line he’d be able to line up and not be the focal point of the offensive game plan. .
The Eagles should use this draft to prep for losses after this season. As of this writing after the first round they have a second round pick, third round pick, and two in the seventh. Grabbing an interior offensive lineman and interior defensive lineman on day two makes the most sense. With the two seventh rounders, why not take a swing on an athletic linebacker or even a quarterback like Dorian Thompson-Robinson or Jake Haener (quarterback, Fresno State) if they happen to fall and get a cheap back up for Jalen Hurts.
Tennessee Titans: #11 Peter Skoronski, Offensive Line, Northwestern
The Titans went from one of the best rosters in the league to one plagued with holes within just a couple years. Peter Skoronski is the best player left on the board, and will be a day one starter no matter where he plays along the offensive line. The biggest question with Skoronski is if he’s long enough to play tackle with a 32 ¼” wingspan. If he falls outside of the top ten then that risk diminishes because even if he ends up as a guard you’d feel confident you’re getting an elite guard prospect.
At pick 41 there’s a good chance that you’ll be able to get a Josh Downs or Tank Dell, even though they’re not going to be a WR1 then can strengthen a bad unit there. Picks after that should attack secondary and edge players.
New York Jets: #13 Paris Johnson Jr., Offensive Tackle, Ohio State
The Packers have officially given up on trying to acquire pick 13 for Aaron Rodgers, so barring any other trades this pick is staying in New York. This is a really good roster, and even though I’m not stoked about Rodgers he would be an upgrade at quarterback. Johnson Jr. has all the tools to be a plus tackle in the NFL. He’s a strong blocker who can finish through the play and put a defender on his back.
The Jets should leave this draft with a couple offensive lineman, another receiver, and ideally a couple defensive backs. If Darnell Washington (tight end, Georgia) falls he’s an exceptional athlete who would be worth a gamble if he’s there in the third round. I don’t think he will, but players slide every year that we don’t think will. The Jets have a good enough roster where they don’t have to force picks and can take advantage of talented players sliding.
New England Patriots: Jordan Addison, Wide Receiver, USC
The 2021 Biletnikoff Award winner transferred from Pitt to USC and kind of revamped his role. At Pitt he primarily played on the outside, while he primarily played in the slot at USC. For his whole career he had 1,102 snaps from the slot and 757 snaps outside according to PFF. More and more slot versus outside roles are becoming blended and just getting good receivers who can create mismatches is the way to win. Addison’s biggest red flag is his height and weight, but does so many things well that taking him in the middle of the first is well worth the risk. He’s a natural route runner who creates separation with ease and would be the best receiving option from day one in New England.
At the risk of sounding repetitive, the Patriots should come away from this draft with a lot more depth at receiver, offensive line, and in the secondary. I think there’s a chance that 2023 goes South pretty quick and New England is looking at the Caleb Williams and Drake Maye sweepstakes. This year should be about strengthening the roster outside of quarterback.
Green Bay Packers: #15 Dalton Kincaid, Tight End, Utah
In the perfect world you’ve developed a ready to go roster to drop a rookie quarterback into and take advantage of his rookie contract. The Packers are going the opposite route though; assuming they pick up the fifth year option for Jordan Love they’ll have him on his rookie contract for two more seasons. Kincaid would be an easy option to immediately upgrade the Packer’s receiving options.
The next two years are all about seeing if Jordan Love can be the guy. The Packers need help on defense, particularly at safety, but adding weapons around Jordan Love and depth on the offensive line should be the only real focus for Green Bay
Washington Commanders: #16 Joey Porter Jr., Cornerback, Penn State
Washington has a much better roster than they’re getting credit for. In my opinion Sam Howell was the best quarterback in last year's class and should’ve gone in the first round, I have no idea how he went in the fifth. Terry Mclaurin and Jahan Dotson are both top twenty-five receivers in the league. They have a plus defensive line and a solid line backing corps. I actually like their corners Benjamin St. Juste, Cameron Dantzler, and Kendall Fuller. You can never have too many cornerbacks though, and Joey Porter Jr. is the best corner and the best player available at this point.
When you’re in a position like Washington with no glaring holes you can just sit back and take the best player available at valuable positions. Secondary and offensive line are the weakest positions though, and should be the focus areas in this year's draft.
Pittsburgh Steelers: #17 Darnell Wright, Offensive Tackle, Tennessee
Another spot where the player taken right before would be a great fit, especially because the original Joey Porter spent his career in Pittsburgh. Wright is the best tackle on the board and since they have Pickett on the roster they might as well try and protect him. Wright is a massive tackle who has some development opportunities and could turn into a solid starter.
Pittsburgh signed Patrick Peterson in free agency, who isn’t the same level of player he was in Arizona but Peterson is the best football player I’ve ever seen in person. They could still use a shot in the arm in the secondary though, so using at least one of their two second round picks on a defensive back could help upgrade their defense.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: #19 Will Levis, Quarterback, Kentucky
The slide finally stops for Will Levis. If you’re a fan of Levis you’re mostly pointing to the 2021 season. Last season he was banged up a bit and had a much worse supporting cast than he did in 2021. Levis has played in two separate NFL offenses and has prototypical size and arm strength. A lot of his picks last season were drops from his receivers, but he also has some “on target” throws where he hits the receiver but they’re either high or behind the receiver so it eliminates YAC opportunities. He also basically has one throwing speed which is full gear, and his biggest opportunity area is working on change of pace and intermediate throws. There’s a couple times where he takes an extra hitch or beat which allows more recovery time for the defender, so even if the receiver creates separation he can limit those windows with his timing. For a good roster like Tampa who has multiple quarterbacks already on the roster taking a gamble on Levis is well worth the risk in the middle of the first round.
Tampa Bay’s offensive line went from good to bleh in a couple of seasons, kinda like Tennessee’s roster in general. They’re not in a position where they should reach for offensive lineman, but they should be prioritizing offensive lineman in the middle rounds.
Los Angeles Chargers: #21 Myles Murphy, Edge, Clemson
Strengths can become weaknesses faster than you can blink in the NFL. Last season the Chargers were expected to have probably the best pass rushing duo in the league with Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack. It didn’t quite pan out like the Chargers had hoped last year, Bosa had groin surgery after the Jaguars game and missed a big chunk of the year. Khalil Mack is going to be 32 entering this season, and without reloading at edge the Chargers are walking a very fine line. Murphy can play standing up or with his hand in the dirt, is clean with his hands, and is good enough in the run game to be a useful three down player right away for the Chargers.
Even though value in this spot of round one doesn’t line up for a receiver, their second and third round picks could get a really good pass catcher who could help boost the offense. Coming away from this draft with multiple players along the defensive line would be a huge boost to the Chargers, maybe a late round flier on an athletic linebacker as well.
Baltimore Ravens: #22 Deonte Banks, Corner, Maryland
If I were running the show I’d pay Lamar Jackson, making quarterback not a need and allowing me to use this pick to boost the secondary. Just like the Chargers defensive line, the Ravens secondary went from top of the league to riddled with question marks super quick. Marlon Humphrey is still the man, and second year player Jayln Armour-Davis overplayed his fourth round draft slot last season. The Ravens defensive backfield was awesome because of their depth and flexibility. Banks would be the second year in a row they drafted a defensive back after taking Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton in the first round last year. Banks is a physical corner who loves to tackle and can make plays on the ball.
Without a second round pick the Ravens would have to hope a quality receiver slips to the third round, but I think most of the players who could be available would be redundant to who they already have in their receiving room.
I love J.K. Dobbins but adding depth behind him on day three could really help their offense. I think Roschon Johnson (Texas) would be a great fit in Baltimore if he’s still available in the fourth or fifth round.
Minnesota Vikings: #23 Hendon Hooker, Quarterback, Tennessee
There is no player/team pairing I want to see more than Hendon Hooker to the Vikings. Kirk Cousins will be thirty-five this season and in the last year of his contract. The Vikings have a good roster, albeit with some holes. Hooker doesn’t have the athletic tools of Anthony Richardson or Will Levis, he did play both of them this season though and was by far the best quarterback on the field. I recognize the upside is lower, he ran an offense at Tennessee that simply hasn’t produced good NFL quarterbacks, and is already twenty-five years old. Let Cousins play out the last year of his contract while Hooker rehabs from his ACL tear (should be cleared no problem by the season, but realistically that takes more than a year to fully recover from). 2024 comes and you get a comp pick for letting Cousins walk and you have a cheap, experienced quarterback step in an upgraded roster and there’s a very easy path to becoming one of the top teams in the NFC.
Justin Jefferson is obviously unreal; and I do like K.J. Osborn and even have him on my fantasy team, but adding another receiver to strengthen that room is a pretty big must for the Vikings. On day three there will be a talented linebacker who slips, mostly because it’s not the best linebacker class ever. Drew Sanders (linebacker, Arkansas) or Henry To’oto’o (linebacker, Alabama) are two linebackers who were really good in college and would be well worth a fourth round draft pick.
Jacksonville Jaguars: #24 Brian Branch, Defensive Back, Alabama
Outside of the Lions the Jaguars had the biggest turn around in the league. Technically they had a better one than the Lions, but for some reason we were all much more excited about the Lions. If I’m the Jaguars I’m focused on improving my team as much as possible to stay on top of the division and capitalize on Trevor Lawrence’s rookie contract window. Brian Branch is the easiest way to ensure your team comes away from the draft in a much better position. He can line up at nickel or safety giving your defense a ton of flexibility. He always seems to be around the ball and has a great feel for timing pressure and is routinely in the backfield. He even showed the ability to return punts at Alabama—he literally would never have to leave the field.
The Jaguars have nine picks as of this writing in the 2023 draft, lots of opportunities to improve their roster. Adding depth on both lines of scrimmage should be a priority with their day two picks. Travis Etienne is a stud, but they don’t have a ton of depth behind him. Tank Bigsby (running back, Auburn) is one of my favorite players in this class. Because of the depth at running back there’s a good chance he falls to day three. Using one of their two fourth round picks on Bigsby to take some of the pressure off Etienne would be a low risk way to upgrade the offense.
New York Giants: #25 Emmanuel Forbes, Cornerback Mississippi State
The Giants were the toughest team for me. They’re in the unique position of having a roster that I don’t think is that great but also not having a lot of holes. I think quarterback is a massive hole, but they’re not gonna draft one after just extending Daniel Jones. At this point you just go best player available and see what happens, and I think that’d be Emmanuel Forbes. Only major concern with Forbes is his size, weighing in at 166 lbs. at the combine. Despite his frame he’s capable at rerouting receivers in press coverage and is able to shed blocks and make tackles in the run game. He has maybe the best ball skills in the entire class, and I think can excel in any defensive scheme.
The playoff beatdown against the Eagles reminded us that this is not a contending roster yet. Jordan Battle (safety, Alabama) is likely a day two player who could step in day one and improve the secondary as well. They’re also another team who could take a late round swing on an athletic linebacker like Sanders, To’oto’o, or Noah Sewell (linebacker, Oregon) who’s a freaky player but might better be suited for edge in the NFL.
Dallas Cowboys: #26 Zay Flowers, Wide Receiver, Boston College
Flowers has been the best player on Boston College by a mile for a couple years now. The word that comes to mind with Flowers is sudden. He’s a twitchy route runner and creates separation as well as anyone I can think of. Because the Cowboys have a prototypical wide receiver one in Cede Lamb they don’t need Flowers to fill that role, which would make this a perfect fit for Flowers as well. Flowers can line up anywhere, and more importantly score from anywhere on the field. He excels at creating separation in the red zone, so for a Dallas team that led the league in red zone touchdown percentage they’d be nearly unguardable inside the twenty.
Tony Pollard is a stud, but like Jacksonville adding another back on day three would be a cheap way to upgrade the offense. Roschon Johnson and Tyjae Spear (running back, Tulane) would both be great fits. Siaki Ika (defensive tackle, Baylor) has fallen down boards a bit but would be a great fit with the Cowboys and fills a relative need.
Buffalo Bills: #27 Broderick Jones, Offensive Tackle, Georgia
Jones is my favorite tackle in this class. He plays with an aggression that leads to a lot of defenders on their back. He has quick feet and closes space well in pass protection. I believe Jones can come in and play right tackle for Buffalo, or worst case be a depth piece for the offensive line to protect Josh Allen.
Buffalo is another team who could add a linebacker on day three, To’oto’o and Sanders are still my favorite players there. Mohamoud Diabate (linebacker, Utah) is someone who I haven’t really heard talked about at all but if they haven’t addressed linebacker by their sixth round pick he’s a player who could make the roster and contribute at least on special teams and defensive packages.
Cincinnati Bengals: #28 O’Cyrus Torrence, Interior Offensive Line, Florida
This is a rough situation for the Bengals where the board doesn’t match up with their needs. In real life I think there’s a chance Michael Mayer would be available here, or even one of the cornerbacks who have already gone off the board. When needs don’t match the players available, you have to go with the best player available. Torrence played really well at the Senior Bowl. He does a really good job of getting to his block and would help shore up an offensive line that didn’t really improve in 2022.
Their second round pick could be a sweet spot for tight end. If Sam Laporta is still there at the end of the second round he'd allow the Bengals to line up five wide or in eleven personnel (one running back, one tight end) without having to substitute at all. Jordan Battle would be another good way to upgrade the secondary, there just aren’t a lot of safeties and he might be one of the last ones you feel really good about being able to be a solid starter.
New Orleans Saints: #29 Keion White, Edge, Georgia Tech
I loved watching White play. He lived in the backfield and was constantly disrupting plays for Georgia Tech. He gets upfield fast and can beat blockers a bunch of different ways. Cam Jordan isn’t getting any younger, and Marcus Davenport just signed with Minnesota. White is the best player available at a premium position and would be the first step in reloading that defensive line.
Coming away with a couple defensive lineman wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. Saints are in a position where they need help all over the roster so best player at positions of value should be the strategy for them. I really don’t like their roster, but also think they should be considered the favorites to win the NFC South so that’s fun. Taking a day three shot on a quarterback like Dorian Thompson-Robinson or Tanner Mckee (quarterback, Stanford) would be almost a must I think.
Kansas City Chiefs: #31 BJ Ojulari, Edge, LSU
Ojulari blew up against Arkansas in his coming out party. He can bend the edge as a rusher as well as anybody in this draft class. He’s more of a speed rusher with a variety of pass rushing moves. Kansas City is losing Frank Clark so Ojulari would be the best way to replace that lost speed coming off the edge.
The Chiefs could be an intriguing team to draft Cedric Tillman ( receiver, Tennessee) who’s a big bodied wide receiver with plus athleticism who had a much better 2021 than 2022 season. Coming away with one or two tackle projects in the middle rounds should also be at the top of the list for Kansas City.
Los Angeles Rams: #36 Quentin Johnston, Wide Receiver, TCU
I’m nervous about Johnston—catches too many balls with his shoulder pads instead of his chest for my taste. For a Rams team that has a lot of picks but only one in the top fifty they have to swing for the fences, then in the middle rounds they can worry about high floor players. Johnston only jumped at the combine, posting a 40.5” vertical and a 11’2” broad jump which are explosive numbers. He had a 10%-plus drop rate and a sub-50% contested catch rate, which to me are massive red flags. He’d be the highest ceiling player left on the board by a mile, and would pair well with Cooper Kupp’s style. Middle of the first round I’m not interested but his talent is absolutely worth the risk in the second round.
The Rams strategy has been to trade their high value picks for stars at premium positions and use their mid round picks to draft starters at lower value positions like interior offensive line and linebacker. Now that they have what I think is the worst roster in the league they should use every single pick on either quarterback, receiver, edge, or cornerback. I know every single pick on those positions is a stretch but if we compromise at 75% I’d be happy with the Rams draft strategy.
Miami Dolphins: #51 Sam LaPorta, Tight End, Iowa
I know I’ve given LaPorta to a couple teams hypothetically already, but the Dolphins shouldn’t let him get past #51 if he’s still available, and I do think that’s a big if. LaPorta is a natural athlete who unfortunately didn’t get a lot of opportunities in Iowa’s hard to watch offense (unrelated to LaPorta, but if Iowa would’ve had just an average offense they win the Big 10 West easily and go to a NY6 bowl). In Miami LaPorta would at best be the third receiving option behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, which would create some YAC opportunities and give him time to grow into a more prominent role in the NFL.
This team is gunning for it, trading for Jalen Ramsey this offseason and Bradley Chubb during the season last year. I’d like to see them reload at those positions and take some fliers on young defensive lineman and defensive backs.
Denver Broncos: #67 Marvin Mims, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma
I love Marvin Mims. He’s an explosive athlete who can break tackles and score from anywhere on the field. He’s only 5 '11 " but I believe he has the skill set to play outside in the NFL, although I am in the minority on that. Being a legit deep threat involves so much more than just running fast.There is a lot of nuance involved that we don’t get to see on the tv angles. Mims has a great understanding of those small intricacies of creating separation, and has a loosely similar college game to Dyami Brown at UNC. Mim’s was a massive part of Oklahoma’s game plan every week, they prioritized getting him the ball in a variety of ways. Denver doesn’t have an A+ receiver, but they do have a couple A- or B+ receivers and Mims could definitely fit into that receiving room and give head coach a lot of creativity on offense.
The Broncos also pick at #68 and linebacker Drew Sanders from Arkansas I think could still be available.I’d love to see the Broncos take him there if he’s still on the board. I actually like the Broncos offensive line, but adding some interior depth on day three couldn’t hurt.
Cleveland Browns: #74 Isaiah Foskey, Edge, Notre Dame
I saw Foskey play in person last season in South Bend and I was awestruck, I wasn’t aware human beings could be that massive. I’d be comfortable taking Foskey much higher than this, but based on projections it looks like he could be available here for Cleveland. He does a great job of creating separation from offensive tackles and can collapse the pocket very quickly.
Nick Chubb isn’t getting any younger, and even though he should still have a few very productive years left, taking a running back in the fourth or fifth round to add to your depth there would be smart. Kyu Blu Kelly (cornerback, Stanford) and Starling Thomas V (cornerback, UAB) are two day three corners who could also add some depth to the secondary and I think easily make the roster.
San Francisco 49ers: #99 Drew Sanders, Linebacker, Arkansas
I know I’ve also given Drew Sanders to a bunch of teams already just like I did with Sam LaPorta. I think Sanders will be gone by the time the Niners are on the clock, but if he’s still there than San Francisco should run the card in. Sanders is my favorite linebacker in this draft, and if you’re still reading then you probably figured that out at this point. Sanders was a five star recruit in high school who played basically every position in high school, including quarterback. Started his college career at Alabama and played as an edge rusher before transferring to Arkansas where he starred at off-ball linebacker. You can see his time as an edge rusher in Tuscaloosa seep through into the way he plays linebacker; he has a great feel for timing his blitzes and creating pressure. Heplays sideline to sideline, quickly sheds blocks, and lights up the ball carrier any chance he can get. He can also play coverage well enough where you wouldn’t need to take him off the field. Sanders is a player I would go to bat for if I were in the 49er’s, or any NFL team's draft room.
Because the Niners are the last team to make the list, they have picks #101 and #102 right after the Sanders pick, and because they’re my favorite team I’m just gonna finish up with who I’d take with those last couple picks in the third round. Jammie Robinson (safety, Florida State) can line up anywhere and make an impact. He can cover the slot, make tackles behind the line of scrimmage, play as a deep safety or anything else you could ask him to do. After losing Jimmie Ward in free agency Robinson would have an opportunity to see a lot of early playing time all over the field.
Wanya Morris (offensive tackle, Oklahoma) had an unreal jump in performance through his college career. He started his career at Tennessee and earned just a 20.9 pass blocking grade from PFF his first year as a starter, which jumped up to 73.9 this past season at Oklahoma. After the first few offensive tackles there is a pretty steep drop off in projection, Morris is the one mid-round projected guy who I feel really confident could become a plus NFL starter. Trent Williams is entering his age 35 season and Mike McGlinchey signed with Denver this off-season, so San Francisco needs to reload at tackle.
-By Jake Cowden