Hello one and all, welcome to the very first officially official Draft "Expert" mock draft of the 2023 NFL Draft season! I know it comes around every year but this is truly an exciting time, as we are slowly inching closer and closer to April 27th, the official start date of the NFL Draft!
Now, this mock draft was a lot of work, and currently holds the record for the longest blog post in Draft "Expert" and Logan Blackman Show history. Did I plan it to come out this way? No, not really, but I'm not complaining! Again, this is truly the most exciting time of the sports world, and I for one cannot wait!
In this mock draft you will see some trades, which is something we stayed away from during the 2022 mock draft cycle. Though I wanted to try and avoid them, I just can't see a world, at this point in time, where the Chicago Bears hold on to the first overall pick. That pick controls the entire draft, so we had to strike a trade in order for this to work, at least for me.
There are also four quarterbacks, one running back, four wide receivers, three tight ends, five offensive tackles, one interior offensive lineman, three defensive tackles, five edge rushers, four corners, and one safety. There's truly something for everyone in this draft!
That's enough intro for now, so let's get right into it!
Podcast Links
Pictured: Will Anderson Jr., Alabama; Bryce Young, Alabama; Anthony Richardson, Florida
1. Indianapolis Colts (via Chicago) - Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
In a move that really shouldn't surprise anyone, the Indianapolis Colts have struck a trade with the Chicago Bears in order to land the first overall pick, in turn selecting the guy who they think will be able to lead their franchise to the promised land. This has really been a long time coming for the Colts organization. After Andrew Luck shockingly retired during a pre-season game in 2019, the Colts have been in insane quarterback limbo, trotting out a new hopeful face of the franchise each year since then. In each of the last four seasons since his retirement, the Colts have had a different opening day starter than the previous season. Whether that be Jacoby Brissett, Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, or, most recently, former league MVP Matt Ryan, the Colts just can't seem to find a guy that sticks, and hopefully that ends here. Colts owner Jim Irsay is one of the more 'hands on' owners throughout the league, and has been chasing that preverbal quarterback 'dragon' since they drafted Peyton Manning first overall in 1998. With each passing season you see where Irsay has essentially made the executive decision on who starts at quarterback each and every week, with the Colts chopping and changing their lineup pretty much each and every game. With Irsay so hands on, and with him making those quarterback decisions I, and many others out there, believe he's going to move heaven and earth to get his guy. In a recent press conference, Irsay leaned up to the microphone and said, 'that Alabama guy doesn't look bad, I'll tell you.' This is obviously referring to former Bama quarterback, and Heisman Trophy winner, Bryce Young, but what is strange about this is that we're in 'silly season,' meaning you can't always trust everything you hear, or can you? See, with the Colts, again, in desperate need for a quarterback, and Jim Irsay being involved in every single asset of the organization, I don't necessarily think this is a red herring, but rather him just flat out saying he likes, and potentially wants, Bryce Young. There's an old saying that says 'he's playing chess, not checker,' but I honestly think Irsay may be a checkers guy, and again, just telling you who he wants. Though it is a strange audio clip and video, it is fairly easy to see why Irsay, like so many others, like the former Alabama star. To me, Young is the best quarterback in the class. His ability to make something out of nothing is truly special, with his ability to make any throw from any position being, arguably, his best attribute. The only 'issue' you could really have with Young's game, or him as a prospect is his size. Though he's listed at 6'0" 194 lbs., Young is probably somewhere more in the range of 5'10" 180 lbs.. That's not me stating a fact, that's just what it looks like to me. Despite his size, Young is very smart when it comes to taking hits, and doesn't try to play bigger than himself, especially when he gets into the open field. Young is as elusive as they come, but smartly decides when and when not to run, in order to avoid taking any massive shots. I honestly think that if Young was 6'2" we wouldn't even be having a discussion about whether or not you should take him this high. Dude is one of the most talented quarterbacks I've ever watched and more than deserving of being picked first overall. If Irsay gets his way, and he usually does, we may end up seeing Bryce Young go to Indianapolis in April.
2. Houston Texans - CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State
I'm kind of conflicted when it comes to this pick. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying the position is the question, I think without a shadow of a doubt the Texans are taking a quarterback, it's just a matter of who. With Bryce Young heading off to the division rival Colts, all eyes will be on Houston, and new head coach DeMeco Ryans, as they look to take a guy that will be able to battle it out with Bryce Young and the Colts for the next decade or so. I think the two quarterbacks in question are Ohio State's CJ Stroud and Kentucky's Will Levis. Starting with the latter in Levis, dude has everything you're looking for in a potential franchise quarterback. Thanks to Josh Allen, among others, toolsy quarterbacks who had somewhat suspect college careers are now being touted as top quarterbacks in the draft. Though it may seem weird to some out there it does make sense when you look at the fabric of the NFL. Throughout its existence, the NFL has been a 'copycat league,' essentially meaning what worked well for them should work for me, and vice versa. Sadly though, that's not always the case, just look at the Bengals taking John Ross ninth overall hoping he'd be the next Tyreek Hill, it doesn't always work out, and that's seemingly how a lot of people are feeling about Levis, at least on the great space known as Twitter. All of Levis' tools, mixed with the fact CJ Stroud and Deshaun Watson share an agent, points to Houston leaning more towards the Kentucky star, or does it? Though he may not be the physical specimen that Levis is, or have as big of an arm, Stroud is by far the most accurate quarterback in this class. A true point guard for the 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 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. When comparing Stroud and Levis you're really comparing apples to oranges. Both are insanely talented but posses completely different skill sets, and had insanely different college experiences on the field. Where Levis had the size and arm strength Stroud has the accuracy, and it could all come down to which style the Texans prefer. This offseason, the Texans went out and hired former Texas A&M quarterback Jerrod Johnson to serve as the teams quarterback coach. Before becoming the Texans quarterback coach, Johnson served as a mentor at the Elite 11 quarterback camps, where both Bryce Young and CJ Stroud were present. I could be reaching a little bit here, but this could be a sign of Houston targeting one of those aforementioned quarterbacks. I would completely understand if Houston made the move for Levis here, but if a connection between Stroud and the coaching staff exists, he may end up being their guy.
3. Arizona Cardinals - Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama
The Cardinals are one of the weirder teams throughout the NFL. On one hand, they have some very talented players that should put them in the playoffs each and every year. But on the other hand, they have been plagued as of late by weird front office decisions and the offensive mastermind known as Kliff Kingsbury. It could be a hundred years in the future and that hire will still not make sense to me. I understand they may have fallen in love with Kyler Murray during his time at Oklahoma, and wanted to hire the guy who recruited him out of high school, but the dude was fired, fired, from his college job and was about to take an offensive coordinator position at USC before the Cardinals rang him up. Like, dude got a promotion after getting fired. How does that happen? Again, that can go down to the weird organizational decisions we alluded to earlier. But things could very well be on the up and up down in the desert, as both Kingsbury and GM Steve Keim are no longer a part of the organization. With those two out of the picture, Arizona went out and hired former Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon to be their new head coach, and hired Monti Ossenfort to serve as their new GM. Hopefully this time around things work out for the Cardinals organization, it can't be much more disappointing than the last regime. Now, with the two teams above the Cardinals selecting a quarterback, after the Colts traded up with Chicago, the Cardinals really have a chance to transform their defense, an area that seemed kind of neglected in recent years. When you look at the two aforementioned people now running the Cardinals you can see where they may lean in the draft process between Alabama's Will Anderson Jr. and Georgia's Jalen Carter. Though he came from the Titans organization, new GM Monti Ossenfort started his NFL journey with the New England Patriots under Bill Belichick, who has always prioritized a good pass rush, above anything, in his teams. Same goes for new head coach Jonathan Gannon, who, coming from the Eagles, always wanted to make sure the edges were secure, making for a very tight lipped defense. Last season, Gannon's defense led the league in sacks, totaling up 70, 15 more than the next closest team. If both of the top defenders, and really top players, are available here at three, my guess is that the Cardinals would lean more towards Will Anderson Jr. with this pick. When picking between Anderson and Carter there's not really a 'lose' situation, as both players were dominant at their respective decisions while in college. Anderson, though, may have been one of the more disruptive and dominant edge rushers in recent memory though, 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 Cardinals fans, and the organization alike, would love to see Anderson coming off the edge in the desert.
4. Chicago Bears (via Indianapolis) - Jalen Carter, DL, Georgia
For the first time since 1947, the Chicago Bears controlled the draft, possessing the number one overall pick. Or at least they did until they struck a trade with the Indianapolis Colts. That was fun while it lasted, wasn't it? Now that that's out of the way, if you've listened to the Logan Blackman Show before, which I hope you have, you would know that the 'premier' positions when it comes to the draft, to me, are quarterback, offensive tackle, and edge rusher, so why would I think the Bears would take an interior defensive linemen over players like Will Anderson and Tyree Wilson? Well, that mainly comes down to who is currently running the Bears organization. After the brilliant duo of Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy were fired last offseason, the Bears went out and got Ryan Poles from Kansas City and Matt Eberflus from Indianapolis, who was widely considered to be a prime head coaching candidate at some point in his career. When you look where they came from and who they worked with and under, you can see why getting a stud in the middle of their defense could be priority number one. Like we just said, Ryan Poles came from Kansas City, and when you look at the star man, or main attraction on the Chiefs defense, you tend to not look much further than Chris Jones, a perennial All Pro who just finished third in the latest defensive player of the year voting. Then when you look at Eberflus, coming from Indianapolis, one of, if not their main star on defense is another All Pro in the form of DeForest Buckner. Why this is important is because we're trying to look for patterns, and with both the Bears GM and head coach being a part of teams that have studs in the middle of their defense, you can see why I'd think they'd go this route. Though not as tall as Jones or Buckner, Carter has all the ability in the world to be as disruptive as the pair at the next level. 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. The Bears want to improve their defense, they should start in the middle with Carter, if they keep the pick, of course.
5. Seattle Seahawks (via Denver) - Tyree Wilson, DL/EDGE, Texas Tech
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. The Seahawks seemingly going from proverbial basement dweller to playoff team post 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 along the defensive line, mainly along the edges 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. 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 defensive line, having them select Texas Tech's Tyree Wilson here with the fifth overall pick. An absolute freak coming off the edge, Wilson's 6'6" 275 lbs. frame is something the Seahawks 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 length 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 Seahawks defensive line.
6. Carolina Panthers (via Detroit from Los Angeles) - Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
There's almost no doubt in my mind that the Carolina Panthers are drafting a quarterback during the 2023 NFL Draft. Not only that, there's really no doubt in my mind that they'll use their first pick in the draft on, who they hope, turns out to be their franchise savior. Much like we talked about with the Indianapolis Colts before, the Panthers have been in somewhat of a quarterback limbo since they cut Cam Newton back in 2019. Like, since they cut their greatest ever player, they made a bunch of different moves to try and find their next franchise quarterback, but none of them stuck for seemingly more than a year. After cutting Newton, the Panthers brought in the likes of Teddy Bridgewater, Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield, and even Cam Newton again after he was cut by the New England Patriots. The weird thing about all these moves are that only Sam Darnold lasted more than one season in Carolina, with Bridgewater, Mayfield, and Newton all getting cut or traded either during or after their first year in Carolina. Like, I'm old enough to remember some brainiacs out there saying the Carolina Panthers were a playoff team after they traded for Baker Mayfield, what a crazy time that was. The thing is as well, the Panthers had a chance to change their quarterback fortunes a couple times already in the NFL Draft, but instead of taking guys like Justin Fields, Mac Jones, or even Kenny Pickett, who was recruited by Matt Rhule out of high school, they chose the likes of Jaycee Horn and Ikem Ekwonu. Though those guys could turn out to be something at the next level, I'm sure a lot of Panthers fans wished they took one of those quarterbacks with those top 10 picks. Now, the Panthers did manage to get Ole Miss' Matt Corral in the third round of the 2022 draft, but after suffering a Lisfranc injury in the pre-season, the chances of him coming in this offseason and being the starter is slim, in my opinion, especially with owner David Tepper becoming increasingly impatient about the teams direction at quarterback. After hiring former Colts head coach Frank Reich, who was the first ever quarterback in Panthers history, to serve as the teams new head coach, expectations are that he can develop a guy into the next great Panthers. Back in December, I remember seeing a head line discussing David Tepper's apparent love for Kentucky's Will Levis, not to mention new quarterback coach Josh McCown has also expressed his admiration for Levis and his skill set. I don't think they'll be able to get him at nine, but after a trade up with the Lions, the Panthers make the move to get their guy. Levis is a real lightning rod when it comes to the draft, with everyone and their mom having a different opinion about how good Levis will be at the next level, with evaluations going from the next Josh Allen to out of the league in two years. 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. Once upon a time, Reich worked wonders with Carson Wentz, there's no reason why he couldn't do the same with Levis in Carolina.
7. Las Vegas Raiders - Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
The Derek Carr era in Vegas is over. After spending his entire nine year career with the Raiders organization, Carr and the Raiders agreed to allow him seek pastures new this offseason, as Carr was officially released a few days ago. Looking back to the start of the season this should kind of come as a surprise, at least it has to me. After going out and getting Josh McDaniels, the Raiders made a big time splash and brought in Carr's college teammate, Davante Adams to give him another weapon to go along with Josh Jacobs, Hunter Renfrow, and Darren Waller. By all accounts, this was supposed to be a career year for Carr, and in some ways it was, just not in the good ways. Tying a career high in interceptions while also attempting the least amount of passes in his career, to go along with his second ever lowest completion percentage and his third lowest passing yards. All in all, this was kind of a lost year for the Raiders. I'm not saying they were going to win a Super Bowl or anything, but I didn't think they'd be that unwatchable. Look, I am aware that the Raiders struggles do not solely fall on Carr's shoulders, as the Raiders ranked in the bottom five in total defense as well as having one of the more inconsistent offensive lines in the NFL, but Carr didn't necessarily cover himself in glory. Him being benched and scapegoated, to a certain extent, wasn't fair, but now it's time to look to the future if you're Vegas, and hope they can be the one to turn the ship around, per se. Though they're linked with the likes of Jimmy Garoppolo and Aaron Rodgers, the Raiders will likely be drafting a quarterback here with their first pick. For me it'll come between quarterback and tackle, but I'm sure McDaniels wants his guy, and his guy, to me, could very well be Florida's Anthony Richardson. This may be one of the more shocking picks of the draft, but this just feels like a Raiders pick, doesn't it? Well, maybe not to the average viewer I guess, but Anthony Richardson going to the Raiders here at seven shouldn't be as shocking as some may perceive it to be. 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. His talent is insane, as he has arguably the strongest arm in the daft, though 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. That's where Mr. Big Brain Josh McDaniels comes into play. 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. What dude needs is time, and with the Raiders looking at the likes of Garoppolo and Rodgers this offseason, Richardson would be afforded the time to learn, which would greatly benefit him. Whether it's Garoppolo or Rodgers, 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 for him here at seven. If he pans out, the Raiders could have a very special player on their hands.
8. Atlanta Falcons - Keion White, DL/EDGE, Georgia Tech
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. To go from trying to get Deshaun Watson, who on his day is easily a top 10 quarterback, to Marcus Mariota, who hadn't been a starter in two years, didn't really fill me with the most confidence. Did Mariota fit Arthur Smith's offense better than Matt Ryan? Yeah, but it still didn't move the needle for me. I loved that they drafted Desmond Ridder, and we'll see what he can do as the Falcons potential starter going into next season, but I still wasn't confident. Their o-line was bad and they had little to no pass rush whatsoever, two very important factors in being a quality football team. Sticking with the pass rush here, if you look at the landscape of the NFL over the past two seasons, the Atlanta Falcons have ranked in the bottom two in sacks, finishing with 21 this season and a staggering 18 this season prior. Like, you'd have to take your happy ass all the way back to 2017 to find a season where they finished in the top half of the league in sacks. I know they drafted Arnold Ebiketie and DeAngelo Malone last year, but they have to address the pass rush early in the draft. Please, for the love of God, do not draft another position player this high in the draft. Now, there's a few options the Falcons could go with here at eight. After Anderson and Wilson, the next best options could be considered Clemson's Myles Murphy, Iowa's Lukas Van Ness, and Georgia Tech's Keion White. Though the latter may not be as widely talked about as the other two, he may be the Falcons pick here at number eight. Much like Travon Walker in last year's draft, no one really had Keion White near the top of the draft after this past college season ended, with most people considering him a second or maybe even a third round draft pick. But after having a very good Senior Bowl week, dominating a lot during the practices, White has seen his stock sky rocket, to now where he's considered a first round lock, and potential top 10 pick, which is where we have him now. A bigger edge rusher, at 6'5" 286 lbs., White has the size and ability to line up as a d-end in the Falcons 3-4 front, but also has the speed and explosiveness to be a stand up outside linebacker. A powerful and tireless worker, White uses his aforementioned size and athleticism to shed blocks with relative ease, not staying blocked for longer than a second, if that, at a time. Just look at his game against North Carolina, registering seven tackles and three sacks in a game where he was double teamed about 90% of the time. This may seem like somewhat of a reach now, but I think White would be a perfect addition to the Falcons defense.
9. Detroit Lions (via Carolina) - Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
The Lions could go a couple different directions with this pick, which they acquired after a trade with the Carolina Panthers. The big question going into the draft is whether or not the Lions will use one of their first round picks on a quarterback. Though I think that may be a possibility, it's much more likely, at least in my opinion, that they'd possibly move for a quarterback with their second pick rather than their first. With quarterback out of the way, the Lions should turn their attention to the defensive side of the ball, especially since they, statistically, had the worst defense in the league by some margin. The main position of question here will probably be between cornerback and defensive tackle, especially since the Lions have used two of their last three first round picks at strengthening the trenches, something that shouldn't be too surprising with Dan Campbell at the helm. Though they could possibly look at Bryan Bresee or even Calijah Kancey with this pick, I think it may be a little too early to take the d-tackles here, so I'm going to have them look to the secondary here, especially with Mike Hughes and Amani Oruwariye entering free agency this offseason. Out of all the corners in this class, Illinois' Devon Witherspoon feels the most like a Detroit Lions pick. Though he's not the most physically imposing corner out there, standing at 6'1" and weighing in at 180 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. With current Lions defensive coordinator, Aaron Glenn, being a 'smaller' corner in the NFL, I'm sure he'd love to add someone who has the fire that Witherspoon has. Dude has the mentality of someone twice his size, and is physical enough to compete with someone, again, who is twice his size. He could be the perfect corner for Dan Campbell.
10. Philadelphia Eagles (via New Orleans) - Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
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, Brandon Graham, 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 James Bradberry potentially seeking pastures new this offseason, and Darius Slay just turning 32-years old, some fresh blood may be atop the Eagles list of priorities this offseason. With Illinois' Devon Witherspoon going a pick earlier to Detroit, the Eagles will more than likely decide between Penn State's Joey Porter Jr. and Oregon's Christian Gonzalez. Both possess great length for the position, but I feel like Porter may be the better fit for Philly here with the 10th pick in the draft. One of the things I like about Porter going to Philadelphia is that you won't lose any of the length on the outside with Bradberry potentially leaving. At 6'2" 198 lbs., Porter can more than replace the possibly outgoing 6'1" 210 lbs. Bradberry. Though he's got the prototypical size, he also possesses great arm length for the position. With a length of 35", Porter's arms are an inch longer than 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. Expected to run somewhere in the 4.3 range at the combine, Porter uses his speed to track with the fastest players on the field. So, you mix his unreal size and length with his breakaway speed and you've got a truly special corner on your hands. 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 would make an immediate impact for the Eagles.
11. Tennessee Titans - Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
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 expected to be a cap casualty this offseason, the need for a new bookend left tackle is at an all time high, and with how the board has shaken out, the Titans could very well have their pick. Though the top three guys all have their qualities, I think the Titans will lean towards Georgia's Broderick Jones. 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.
12. Houston Texans (via Cleveland) - Myles Murphy, DL/EDGE, Clemson
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 the best edge rusher available and to me, that's Clemson's Myles Murphy. At 6'5" 275 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 Texans to take a gander at here at 12. His versatility to play anywhere along the defense line, whether in a four point stance or standing up, makes him very useful for the Texans. I'm sure DeMeco Ryans would love Murphy on his defense.
13. New York Jets - Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
The New York Jets have some decisions to make when it comes to the quarterback position. Since drafting BYU's Zach Wilson second overall back in 2021 things haven't gone so well for the Jets on the offensive side of the ball, with Wilson really flattering to deceive in his time in New Jersey. I've been one to try and give a little leeway to quarterbacks, but Wilson is sure as hell making it hard to say he's got anything in regards to being a top dog in the NFL. With Wilson's porous play over the past two seasons, the Jets have been linked with a bunch of different quarterbacks, namely Aaron Rodgers, Jimmy Garoppolo, Derek Carr, and even Lamar Jackson. Much like the Broncos last year, the Jets went out and hired Nathaniel Hackett to replace Mike LaFluer as the teams new offensive coordinator, all in hopes to land the great Aaron Rodgers. Will it work this time? Who knows, but the Jets are sure trying the damndest, or at least making it seem like it, to get Rodgers. A move for Rodgers would make sense for the Jets, as he has worked with Zach Wilson in the past and could serve as a mentor to the seemingly lost quarterback, as GM Joe Douglas seemingly wants to ride this Zach Wilson train as long as humanly possible. For better or worse, I guess. That being said, whoever the Jets bring in as the quarterback, or even if they continue to ride it out with Wilson, the offensive line will surely need a face lift heading into next season, as their unit has ranked in the bottom half of the league for the past however many years. Being a former offensive lineman himself, I'm sure Douglas would like to refortify their offensive line, especially with former 11th overall pick Mekhi Becton appearing in just one, one, regular season game since 2020. With reports saying they are fed up with Becton and are tired of waiting for him to stay healthy, moving for one of the top tackles makes all the sense in the world here at 13. Though Skoronski may be 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" 315 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, definitely an area the Jets will 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 the tackle position. Strong, quick, and powerful, I'm sure the Jets could use someone like that.
14. New England Patriots - Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern
I have gone back and forth in my head a thousand times about what the New England Patriots will do with the 14th pick in the draft. This is a weird time for the once formidable Patriots, as they have now missed the playoffs for the second time in three years and have a lot of weird turmoil on the offensive side of the ball. After drafting Alabama's Mac Jones with the 15th pick in the 2021 draft, things between Jones and the Patriots staff have seemed weird, at least to me. Once Josh McDaniels took his talents to Vegas last offseason, many expected the Patriots to bring back Bill O'Brien, who served as Alabama's offensive coordinator for the past two seasons. Instead of bringing back a familiar face, the Patriots, weirdly, opted to bring in the offensive dynamic duo of Joe Judge and Matt Patricia, with that latter, at one point, being dubbed 'the next Belichick' by famous rapper Mark Wahlberg. What made these hirings even weirder is that neither one of them, at any point in their careers, had served as an offensive coordinator at any point, with Patricia being a defensive guy and Judge being a special teams and linebackers guy. For the typically well thought out Patriots, this was a strange move. Not only having one, but two, none offensive coordinators call the offense. To the surprise of no one, Mac Jones wasn't too thrilled about this, which in turn led to the Patriots finally bringing O'Brien up from Alabama to serve as the teams OC. Now, the Patriots offense has some more issues than just offensive coordinator. Though that was the biggest issue, the Patriots still have questions regarding their offensive line and receiving core, especially with Nelson Agholor and Jakobi Meyers entering free agency this offseason. Receiver may be atop the list for a lot of fans out there, but I think Belichick, after being burnt by N'Keal Harry in 2020, would opt to try and fix the offensive line, especially with Marcus Cannon and Isaiah Wynn also entering free agency, not to mention there's only two tackles on the active roster. As much as I would love to send Zay Flowers to New England, I think, if he's available, the move would be for Northwestern's Peter Skoronski. Whether you view him as a tackle or a guard, Skoronski is as consistent as they come along the offensive line. 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. Now, this wouldn't be the first time the Patriots chose a 'hybrid' offensive linemen in the first round, as the aforementioned Isaiah Wynn was widely considered a guard-tackle hybrid when the Patriots took him 23rd overall in 2018, so this should be considered on brand for Belichick and co.. 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 14 by the Patriots, and would be considered far less of a reach than Cole Strange was last year. (I really want to put Zay Flowers here, but the value of Skoronski was too good to pass up)
15. Green Bay Packers - Lukas Van Ness, DL/EDGE, Iowa
The Green Bay Packers are kind of going through a transitional period at this point in time. After signing, arguably, the greatest quarterback in their franchises history in Aaron Rodgers to a new three year $150.8 million contract, fresh off the back of winning two consecutive MVPs, things were looking up good in Green Bay. Sure they lost in the divisional round to the San Francisco 49ers, and sure Davante Adams wants out and is eventually traded to Vegas to play with his old buddy Derek Carr but Rodgers is locked up, and he can play with anyone so this shouldn't be much of a down year, right? Well, as it turns out, it was. Sure, Rodgers is one of the most talented quarterbacks in the NFL who has won four NFL MVPs but replacing the best receiver in the NFL with two very raw rookies didn't flow as seamlessly as many Packers fan expected. Now, Rodgers wants out, with the Jets and Raiders currently the front runners in landing the aforementioned four time MVP. As someone who is a relative fan of Jordan Love, some of you may have forgotten about him, I'm excited to see what he can do, if actually given extended time as the Packers starting quarterback. Now, with Love seemingly becoming the Packers next quarterback, many people will speculate that they will finally move for an offensive weapon in the first round, as Packers GM Brian Gutekunst and Rodgers haven't had the best relationship. Though I think that could be an option, especially with Notre Dame's Michael Mayer and Utah's Dalton Kincaid still available, I think the Packers will target someone to help on the defensive side of the ball, namely in the secondary or in getting after the quarterback. With safety Adrian Amos set to become a free agent, safety could be atop of a lot of peoples lists for the Packers, but with Dean Lowry and Jarran Reed entering free agency as well, and Rashan Gary is coming off a torn ACL, which he suffered in week nine, then edge rusher starts to look enticing for Packer faithful. When looking at the remaining top edge rushers in this class, none stand out more than Iowa's Lukas Van Ness. Before I start, the Green Bay Packers and the Iowa Hawkeyes have seemingly always had a good relationship, so this a very aesthetically pleasing pick, at least to me. 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. If he tests well at the combine, as most Iowa players do, he could go even higher than 15 come April. But for now, the Packers can sit calmly and take him here.
16. Washington Commanders - Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
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 Oregon's Christian Gonzalez. At 6'2" 201 lbs., 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 Washington. Traits, traits, traits. Fluid, fast, and hungry, Gonzalez has everything you want in a corner. He would be an excellent addition to Jack Del Rio's defense, giving the Commanders a true shut down corner.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers - Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State
This may seem like a little bit of a reach now, but don't be surprised if the Pittsburgh Steelers move for Ohio State's Dawand Jones early in this draft. This partially goes down to need, as the Steelers have had somewhat of a patch work offensive line since the mass exodus of linemen during the 2021 offseason, with 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 who is damn near as big as the Great Wall of China in the form of Dawand Jones would be a pretty nice way to start. Like I said before, this will probably be seen as a reach to some people, and rightfully so. But as we see in almost every single draft, there are players, like a Dawand Jones, that shoot up draft boards based a lot off their physical traits, and Jones certainly possesses those. At 6'8" 359 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, arguably, the Steelers worst unit. He absolutely dominates the opposition, overpowering everyone that comes in his path. I think Jones would be an excellent addition to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Mike Tomlin never hides his feelings when he likes a prospect. He spent a lot of time watching and talking to Jones at the Senior Bowl, this pick should definitely be in play, whether it's here or at pick 32.
18. Detroit Lions - Bryan Bresee, DL, Clemson
Ah ha! As we said before, the Detroit Lions first pick will probably be between a corner, who ended up being Illinois' Devon Witherspoon, or Clemson's Bryan Bresee and low and behold, they wound up with both players, ain't that something? Like we said before with the Witherspoon pick, the Lions have to address the defensive side of the ball. This past season, the Lions ranked fourth in total offense, while also ranking fifth in points scored per game. All things considered, it seems like offensive coordinator Ben Johnson really has things cooking on the offensive side of the ball. The defensive side of the ball, as we said before, is a completely different story, ranking dead last in yards allowed per game and bottom three in points allowed per game. Again, the defense must be addressed for the Lions to try and make a push for the playoffs next year. As we said before, together, Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes want to make sure their trenches are secure, as they've used two of their last three first round picks on the trenches, two picks they absolutely aced by the way. With last year's second overall pick Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeill already along the line, they might want to look for a nice three tech to partner McNeill on the inside, allowing Hutchinson even more room to work on the outside. We said they'd think about it at pick number six, but taking Bryan Bresee here at 18 would be an excellent bit of business by the Lions brass. 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 Lions benefit here in this mock draft. At 6'5" 305 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 Lions may have one of the best young defensive lines in the league, while also having one of the better 2023 NFL Drafts as well. If they can secure Devon Witherspoon and Bryan Bresee, I'm sure a lot of Lions fans will be thinking playoffs come next season. As they should.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Brian Branch, CB/S, Alabama
For the second time in two years, the Tom Brady era down in Tampa Bay has finally reached its conclusion. Unlike last year though, this one actually seems legit, as Brady has even taken the time to fill out the proper paperwork to finalize his retirement. As a fan of a team that got blasted by Brady almost every single time they played, I can honestly say he will not be missed. Now, if I'm speaking as an unbiased NFL fan, Brady is the greatest of all time and it's going to be weird not seeing him take the field on Sunday's anymore. With Brady now out of the picture, the Bucs find themselves back in familiar water, pretty much going up shits creek without a paddle. There's a lot of key pieces entering free agency this offseason, players like Lavonte David, Akiem Hicks, William Gholston, Sean Murphy-Bunting, among others, could all be playing somewhere else next season. Adding that to the fact that the Bucs have the least amount of cap space league wide and you've got yourself in a not very fun position. Who knows if Todd Bowles is the guy to lead them out of this period long term, but he's going to at least have to be the guy to at least steady the ship for the time being. Though there will be questions raised about Bowles long term future in the bay, one thing is for sure, that he can coach a defense. Though Bowles knows his way around a defense, it'd be working some sort of miracle if they can put forth a solid defensive effort this season, given how many players may be seeking pastures new this offseason. As we sit here right now, the Buccaneers only have four active players on their roster in the secondary, with Carlton Davis and Antoine Winfield Jr. the only starters on the roster. With Todd Bowles being a secondary coach for most of his coaching career, I can't imagine he'd want to leave the cupboard this bare going into the season. With the top three corners already off the board, the Bucs may have to look at another part of the secondary with this pick. Though they could pick the likes of Cam Smith, Emmanuel Forbes, Deonte Banks, or Kelee Ringo here, I think the versatility of someone like Brian Branch would be very hard to pass up if you're the Bucs. Though it may be halfway surprising that he's available here at pick 19, but I'm sure the Bucs won't care, as Branch is one of the most talented secondary pieces in this draft. 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 Sean Murphy-Bunting being one of those aforementioned free agents, I could very much see the Bucs taking Branch and playing him in the slot, filling the hole that could be left with Murphy-Bunting potentially leaving. Even if dude comes back, Branch can play safety next to Winfield Jr.. Again, this dude can do pretty much anything you ask of him on the defensive side of the ball, and if the Bucs want to stay somewhat relevant going into next season, improving and replenishing the defense has to be one of their top priorities. Branch would be perfect for Bowles and the Bucs defense.
20. Seattle Seahawks - Jordan Addison, WR, USC
Like we said with the Seahawks first pick, if you would've told me the Seahawks would be picking somewhere in the 20s in this draft, I could've believed you. But again, if you said the pick in the 20s was their pick the whole time, and not the Broncos pick, I would've called you crazy. I just can't get over the fact how much the Seahawks and Broncos either over or under performed this season, it's like the most extreme way each team could've gone out this year. I hope this is the last time I say this here but again, Geno Smith was a freak of nature this season. After not being a regular starter since 2014, his second year in the league, Smith broke the Seahawks all time single season passing record, being named to the Pro Bowl in the process, and was arguably the best quarterback during the Pro Bowl flag football game. Now, there was a portion of the season where it looked like he was going to crash back down to reality, but every time he got semi close to that reality, he'd start playing like a franchise quarterback again. There's going to be a lot of discussions surrounding Geno's future this offseason, as the former Mountaineer is set to hit free agency this offseason. There will likely be offers coming in from every direction, but it sounds like Geno and the Seahawks brass are keen on striking up a new deal. With Geno potentially re-singing in Seattle, I'm sure they're going to give him some insurances. Like, I don't think they'll draft a quarterback, at least early on in the draft, and I would imagine they'd look to add another weapon for him on the outside. Look, I like Tyler Lockett a lot, as he's been a part of a few championship runs of mine in fantasy football, but the dude will be turning 31 in September. I'm not saying he can't keep going for a thousand plus yards a season, but NFL teams are sometimes easy to let go of 30+ year old wide receivers. Plus, I don't think it'd be a bad thing at all to get Geno, or whoever, another weapon, as this offense is already pretty solid, why not add to it? All that being said, I think the Seahawks could move for someone like 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. Putting Addison with Metcalf and Lockett would be very fun to see for both Seahawks fans, and naturals. If the Seahawks managed to come out of this draft with Tyree Wilson and Jordan Addison, I would say it's been a job well done in the first round. Thanks again Broncos.
21. Los Angeles Chargers - Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
As the old saying goes, you can take the Chargers out of San Diego, but you can't take the San Diego out of the Chargers. When people move states or cities, a lot of people are trying to 'start over,' get a new lease on life and experience new things. For the Chargers, who choked and blew leads in every which was in San Diego, would've liked to keep that negative energy down in 'America's finest city' but that sadly wasn't the case. After picking off Trevor Lawrence four times in first half, getting up to a 27-0 lead on the road, no one would've judged you if you thought the game was over, that is if you thought it was over from a Chargers perspective. In a sense it was, because no matter what the lead is, at any point in the game, the Chargers will somehow find a way to screw it up, it's in their nature. Chargers gonna Charger, and they Chargered that up more than any Chargers team in recent memory, losing the game 31-30. It was was one of weirdest, yet strangely predictable things I've seen in football in quite some time. Now, what was surprising to some people is that head coach Brandon Staley kept his job. 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 potentially getting cut, a lot of people may assume that the Chargers would move for a wide receiver there, and 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, the 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.
22. Baltimore Ravens - Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee
The Ravens will certainly be one of the teams to watch when the draft rolls around, mainly because we don't know whether or not Lamar Jackson will be the Ravens starting quarterback next season. By all accounts, Lamar should be getting paid with the best of them, but for whatever reason he and the Ravens just can't seem to come to an agreement, which could see the former MVP playing somewhere else next season. If I'm the Ravens, I want Lamar as my starting quarterback, and would do anything to make sure he's paid and happy going into the season. The money is one thing, making sure he's happy on the field is another thing, 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 I'd imagine they're going to want to add some speed, i.e. adding Jackson after trading Brown last season. If you want speed, you won't have to look much further than Tennessee's Jalin Hyatt. At 6'0" 180 lbs., Hyatt may be the most electrifying player in the draft. If you've ever seen, or heard, about the movie 'SpaceBalls,' Hyatt has what they call 'ludicrous speed,' which is 'where during the story, a person will travel at such high speeds that it has a physical and/or psychological effect on the person, usually mutation or insanity.' That speed is a big reason why Tennessee had such a good season this past year, going for over 100 five times last season, with a season high of 207 and five, five, touchdowns against Alabama. Those hot stretches last season saw him come away with the Biletnikoff Award as the nations best receiver. He's not just all speed though, Hyatt is a very reliable hand catcher, rarely dropping any passes last season. Mixing that with his speed allows him to track the ball really well, which is made easier when you have a quarterback who throws such a pretty deep ball, in Hendon Hooker. Again, the Ravens are more than likely going to look to add speed to their receiver core, and though there are other options, Hyatt is speed personified. He may not be super shifty, but he'll blow your doors off and give you a wink as he's passing. As the old saying goes, you can't teach speed.
23. Minnesota Vikings - Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
The Minnesota Vikings were widely considered to be the 'frauds of the NFL' this past season. Despite having a 13-4 record, the Vikings would sometimes struggle with lesser opposition, either allowing the said team to come back, or having to come back themselves, there were times things just seemed to be hard for no apparent reason. Offensively, the Vikings have one of the better weapons groups in the league, featuring the likes of Justin Jefferson, TJ Hockenson, and Dalvin Cook, for now, with a more than capable quarterback at the helm in Kirk Cousins, but defensively the team really struggled. Despite the 13 win season, the Vikings finished second to last in yards allowed per game and ranked in the bottom five in points allowed per game. If you, statically, have a worse defense then the teams picking first and second in the draft, you have some major issues. All these defensive struggles came to a forefront in the playoffs, as the Vikings were absolutely cooked by Daniel Jones, allowing him to go for 379 total yards of offense with two touchdowns and no turnovers. It's that game alone that made people go crazy for a little bit and call Jones a top 10 quarterback, that's how bad the Vikings defense was this past season and is exactly why they fired fan favorite Ed Donatell and brought in Brian Flores. What an insane upgrade that is, isn't it? Flores, famously, may not be a 'players coach,' but the dude is a damn good coach who should be able to help right the ship defensively in Minnesota. Now, the Vikings first two picks from the '22 draft, Lewis Cine and Andrew Booth Jr., should be back and healthy next season, as both ended last season on IR, which should make for a vastly improved secondary, if they pan out. Though those two should help improve, they could still use some more help, as Patrick Peterson and Chandon Sullivan are pending free agents and Cameron Dantzler, another fan favorite, will more than likely still be employed by the team next season. They need to fix the secondary, and I feel like Mississippi State's Emmanuel Forbes could be a really nice piece for Flores and the Vikings. With Dantzler being a former Bulldog, I'm sure a lot of Vikings fans will have their reservations about drafting another corner from Mississippi State, but I can assure you, Forbes is better. He may not have the prototypical size some teams are looking for, standing at 6'0" and weighing 180 lbs., but Forbes is an elite ball tracker and is elite in off coverage. While at Mississippi State, Forbes, like Josh from 'Drake and Josh,' was a ball magnet, bringing in a whopping 14 interceptions across a three-year college career, finishing joint second nationally with six this past season, including three pick-sixes. He's very instinctual, has the speed to track with any receiver, and again, just has a nose for the football. He may not be the most polished tackler, but Forbes may be the best cover corner in this draft.
24. Jacksonville Jaguars - Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
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?' After watching how Urban Meyer's team played last year, they would've had to try their damndest to be worse than that team. You want to know what's sad though? My team was the first team the Jaguars beat, on US soil, since week one of the previous season. Sure, they had a win that season before they beat the Bills, but that was in London, the Bills hold the distinct honor of their first US win, which is awesome. Once the fire cleared and you could clearly see how bad things actually were in Jacksonville under Urban's tenure, it just made the loss feel that much worse. That being said, 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, who kind of lost his way towards the end of his time in Philly, 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 Notre Dame's Michael Mayer would be an excellent addition for the Jaguars offense. Now, there is a massive 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 the run game, good in the pass game and uses his power to his advantage in both areas. If available, I think he'd be an excellent get for the Jaguars, helping out both Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne. Again, I could see him going higher, but for now, the Jags are cool with taking him at 24.
25. New York Giants - Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
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. Like, the dude has ability, he has a good arm and can make plays in the run game, but every time he seemingly took one step forward he'd take two steps back, i.e. his massive run against the Eagles a couple years ago where he tripped over his own feet in the open field. That's why people were skeptical about whether Daboll could help Jones realize his potential, but he did that this year. Daniel Jones isn't Josh Allen, by any means, but the dude more than earned a second contract with the Giants based off this season. I'm not saying make him one of the highest paid quarterbacks in the league, but he deserves 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 a lot of people may be expecting Ohio State's Jaxon Smith-Njigba or TCU's Quentin Johnston, I think they'll move for a player that's been rising up draft boards recently in the form of Boston College's Zay Flowers. 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. If the Giants truly believe Danny Dimes can be the guy moving forward, they've got to surround him with some weapons. Flowers may not be everyones pick, but the dude is an absolute baller at the receiver position.
26. Dallas Cowboys - Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
I'm very intrigued to see how the Dallas Cowboys attack the first round of the draft, as they could definitely go a couple of directions with this pick. The main positions in question, to me, and wide receiver and linebacker. Starting with the latter, I don't know why, but Arkansas linebacker Drew Sanders just feels like a future Dallas Cowboy. Maybe it's the Arkansas connection between him and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones but man, I could definitely see him with a star on his helmet next year. That being said it's not just that, the dude can absolutely play. An Alabama transfer, Sanders made plays wherever plays needed to be made while at Arkansas. Running a similar defense to that of the Buffalo Bills, Sanders registered 103 total tackles, 40 solo, with 9.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and one interception. At 6'5" 232 lbs., Sanders would be really scary next to Micah Parsons in the Cowboys defense under Dan Quinn, especially with 2018 first round pick Leighton Vander Esch potentially leaving in free agency. Though Sanders is a guy I'd keep an eye out for, if Ohio State's Jaxon Smith-Njigba is available, I cannot see a world where Jerry Jones passes on him. A childhood Cowboys fan who went to high school 48 minutes away from AT&T Stadium, this pick just seems like a match made in football heaven, doesn't it? This past season, the Cowboys made a push to try and sign former Giant Odell Beckham Jr., but questions about the true health of his knee raised some concerns, and the Cowboys, like the Bills, ended up passing on the would've been Super Bowl MVP, had he not gotten injured. After failing to secure Beckham, the Cowboys went out and signed TY Hilton, a solid option, but at 33 and Turing 34 in November, Hilton was viewed more as a stop gap rather than a long term option next to CeeDee Lamb. The last ditch desperation play all started because they didn't properly replace Amari Cooper, who they shipped off to Cleveland for peanuts, and that's being generous. With Michael Gallop not taking the leap everyone expected him to, the Cowboys real receiving options start and stop with CeeDee Lamb. Maybe they'll involve Jalen Tolbert or KaVontae Turpin in the offense more next year but again, I feel Jaxon Smith-Njigba will be the pick if available. Jerry boy loves stars, and more often then not will do anything to add more stars to the Cowboys roster, sometimes ignoring glaring needs in the process. The difference is, this time, JSN is very much a need. His slide down in the draft has 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 a top 15, maybe even 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, even though he may not have the highest top end or secondary speed out of the other receivers in this draft. All in all, I think this makes a ton of sense for the Cowboys, who should be looking to surround Dak Prescott with more talent this upcoming season. (after talking to my Cowboys insider Zach Tracy, Bijan Robinson would also be a decent option here at 27)
27. Buffalo Bills - O'Cyrus Torrence, iOL, Florida
As a Buffalo Bills fan, this year kind of feels like a waste. After getting told by everyone and their mothers at the start of the season that the Bills would win the Super Bowl, and quarterback Josh Allen would run away with the MVP, the Bills would go on to get knocked out in embarrassing fashion to the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Divisional round. I don't want to use the word 'embarrassing,' but that's the only word to think of when I look back on that game. Hell, there's people out there that would probably use harsher words to describe this Bills season, with some even considering the Bills to be one of the biggest 'frauds' this past season. After starting off very strong, the Bills weirdly staggered to a 13-3 record, but nothing ever felt easy, at least as easy as it did early on in the campaign. Yes, the Bills finished 13-3, but after struggling against a battered Dolphins team and, again, getting destroyed by Cincinnati at home, I can't say I disagree with the 'fraud' claims. That being said, am I nervous about the future? Not really, no. The Bills still have some talented players on their roster, they just need to figure out how to replenish the roster with little to no cap space. The past however many years, the Bills have used their 'richer' draft capital on drafting defensive talent. Though it makes sense given Sean McDermott is a defensive minded head coach, it's about time the offense got some love, don't you think? If the Bills are going to keep Ken Dorsey, and keep implementing a 'go doing something Josh' offensive strategy, you've got to give him some help. This past season, the Bills game plan, every game, was Josh Allen go do something. Sure, sometimes it worked, but when you implement that style of offense you can be prone to him trying to do too much, which led to some untimely turnovers this past season, i.e. in games against the Jets and Vikings. I'm not going to sit here and act like I've got all the answers, but you cannot afford to waste Josh Allen, you've got to get him some more help on offense. Though receiver will be high on a lot of peoples lists, I'd imagine that if the Bills do move for an offensive player, it'd be on the offensive line. As a fan, I'm tired of seeing the patch work who's who offensive line the Bills have been implementing recently, and want to see them actually try to build a wall in front of the face of the franchise. If he's available, I cannot envision a world where the Bills pass on Florida's O'Cyrus Torrence. An absolute behemoth at the guard position, Torrence stands at 6'5" 346 lbs., making him one of the heaviest offensive linemen in the draft. He puts that weight to good use though, as he dominates in the running game, using his size and power to push defenders back, creating massive holes to run through, which is something the Bills have desperately needed to work on. Not only is he stout in the run game, he isn't half bad in the passing game either, as per ESPN, in 47 career starts at Florida, Torrence has allowed just one sack. That mixed with his run blocking would make him an excellent addition to the Bills offensive line. I think this would be a great move for the Bills, not only protecting your best player in Josh Allen, but also opening up lanes for whoever the Bills number one back is next year (hopefully James Cook).
28. Cincinnati Bengals - Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
The Cincinnati Bengals beat the utter piss out of my Buffalo Bills in the playoffs this past year, and I'm not even that upset about it. This may sound bad, or wrong, but I would rather lose like that than lose like the Bills did to the Chiefs in the divisional round the season prior. The pain and heartache I felt after that game was terrible, as it was only the second sporting event I ever cried after. Maybe I was affected more because I was in the stadium for that one but that Bengals game, once it was over, I was more thankful than anything. I was more mad than upset, and was just happy that I didn't need to watch that ass kicking anymore. Was I sad the season was over? Of course, but to be honest, I felt like I needed a few months break after watching that game. Now, as for the Bengals the team, they're pretty damn good. They've got an elite quarterback, an elite wide receiver to go along with a couple of other really good wide receivers, and have good, competent coaches. This team is dangerous, and though it'll be interesting to see how they handle the Tee Higgins contract situation, they've got a very good team, which is very weird for me to say since we're talking about the Bengals. The same Bengals that won zero playoff games in the 21st century until Joe Burrow got there. Craziness. In regards to the draft though, I think the Bengals could go a couple of directions. Defense will need to be looked at as the Bengals corners could definitely use an upgrade, and maybe they could find a piece on the interior d-line, but I'm sure a lot, if not most people out there will turn their attention to the offense, in at least some capacity. Whether it be on the offensive line or tight end, or even running back to replace the potential cap casualty known as Joe Mixon, fans will want to see them surround Burrow with more talent or protection. With those two parameters in mind, I think I have a way to fill both those holes, in the form of drafting Georgia tight end Darnell Washington here with the 28th pick. With the Bengals top three tight ends all entering free agency this offseason, a move for a tight end could definitely be on the cards for them here in the first round. At 6'7" 270 lbs., 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 Bengals being as balanced as they are, I think Washington would be an excellent fit. 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" 270 lbs. that can move like him that often, and I could really see the Bengals taking him with their first round draft pick, replacing some, if not all of the aforementioned tight ends that could be leaving in free agency.
29. New Orleans Saints (via Denver from Miami from San Francisco) - Calijah Kancey, DL, Pitt
This pick has belonged to so many different teams over the past year it's not even funny. Ok, it's a little funny, but this pick literally got traded four times since Zach Wilson's Pro Day, where the 49ers officially made the trade with the Dolphins to move from 12 to three in order to select North Dakota State's Trey Lance. So, in a way, Trey Lance is the reason Sean Payton is the new head coach of the Denver Broncos. For those who may have forgotten how the Broncos acquired this pick, that came from the trade that sent former 2018 fifth overall draft pick, Bradley Chubb, to Miami. Which then led the Broncos, who had no first round picks after the super awesome Russell Wilson trade, to send their newly acquired first round pick to New Orleans in order to secure the services of Sean Payton. Got it? Let's just hope that for Broncos fans sake, that Payton can help Russell Wilson rediscover his once great form and help the Broncos score more than a measly 16.9 points per game. Now, on to the New Orleans Saints, who I will never truly understand. 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? Sticking with free agency, as of right now, the Saints two starting defensive tackles, David Onyemata and Shy Tuttle are free agents, and given the Saints current cap situation (-$52 million) it wouldn't be crazy to expect the pair to head somewhere else this offseason. Not to mention back-ups Kentavius Street and Albert Huggins are also free agents, so I think we have found our potential position of target with the Saints first pick. Now, though he may not be the biggest interior defensive line presence in this draft, Pittsburgh's Calijah Kancey may very well be the best option available for the Saints here at 29. At 6'0" 280 lbs., Kancey is far from the biggest defensive tackle in this draft, but for what he lacks in size he makes up for in effort, as the dude is an absolute menace on the inside when it comes to getting after the quarterback. A lot of people are going to make the Aaron Donald comparison, which in some realms makes sense. Smaller pass rushing defensive tackle that went to Pitt, I can see why people are making the comparison, but that's not at all fair to Kancey, but the dude was still insanely productive, 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 go a lot 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 29.
30. Philadelphia Eagles - Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
Man, the Eagles were so close to capturing their second Super Bowl victory, but a collapse in the second half and an ill-timed defensive holding call kept them from lifting the Lombardi Trophy, to the dismay of everyone here in the great state of Iowa. Now, though they didn't end up winning the Super Bowl, Eagles fans can feel good about how this season went for team. From squeaking into the playoffs and having questions about the quarterback position last year to the best record in the NFC, a Super Bowl run, and a legit MVP candidate at quarterback, I'd say this season was a success. The only thing is though that the Eagles could lose some very key pieces from this years team in free agency this offseason. After boasting, arguably, the best defense in the league last season, in a season which saw them register 70 sacks, they have lost their defensive coordinator and could be losing a lot, and I mean a lot, of talent from the defensive side of the ball, namely along the defensive line and in the secondary. After addressing the secondary with their first pick, selecting Penn State's Joey Porter Jr., thanks to the Saints, I wouldn't be all too surprised if the Eagles dipped their hand back into the defensive cookie jar and took an edge rusher or defensive tackle with their second pick in the first round. Though it would be tempting, I think the prospect of passing up on someone like Bijan Robinson would be too hard to bare for the Eagles brass and their fans. If you've watched the Eagles at any point this year, you kind of understand what their offensive mo is, and that is to run the ball then hit you over the top to either AJ Brown or DeVonta Smith, and it worked to a 't' last season. For most, if not all of the season the Eagles used somewhat of a platoon system in the backfield, rotating between the likes of Miles Sanders, Kenneth Gainwell, and Boston Scott. The thing is, though Miles Sanders rushed for a career high 1,269 yards, the first time he's rushed for over a thousand in a season, he is expected to leave in free agency. Along with him, Boston Scott is also on the market, leaving Kenneth Gainwell and former 49er Trey Sermon as the only two backs on the roster. I think Miles Sanders is a fine running back, but I think Bijan Robinson would be an upgrade over the former Nittany Lion back. Speaking of former Nittany Lion running backs, the back who Robinson has been compared the most to is Saquon Barkley, with some people saying Robinson is the best back to enter the draft since Barkley did back in 2018. 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, instead becoming the second to last pick in the first round. Truly a top five 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 Eagles got him all the way down here at pick 30. He'd be absolutely perfect for the Eagles offense, and could even make them more dangerous than what they were last year.
31. Kansas City Chiefs - Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
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. With Orlando Brown the more likely of the pair to get resigned, that leaves a hole at the right tackle position. With Dawand Jones already off the board, going to Buffalo at 27, the Chiefs turn their attention to the 'next best' guy in the form of Darnell Wright. 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. Like we said before, Brett Veach has always done an excellent job at replenishing positions of need, and with at least one of the tackles leaving this offseason, it'd be smart to invest in one here, and Wright could be the right guy moving forward.
Positions Drafted
Quarterbacks - 4
Running Backs - 1
Wide Receiver - 4
Tight Ends - 3
Offensive Tackles - 5
Interior Offensive Line - 1
Interior Defensive Line - 3
EDGE Rushers - 5
Linebackers - 0
Cornerbacks - 4
Safeties - 1
Just Missed Out (20)
*alphabetical order by position
Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama
Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State
Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
Cody Mauch, iOL, North Dakota State
John Michael Schmitz, iOL, Minnesota
Siaki Ika, DL, Baylor
Mazi Smith, DL, Michigan
Tuli Tuipulotu, DL, USC
Derick Hall, EDGE, Auburn
Will McDonald IV, EDGE, Iowa State
BJ Ojulari, EDGE, LSU
Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia
Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas
Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson
Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
Tyrique Stevenson, CB, Miami (FL)
Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M
Thank you for taking the time to read through the list! Hope you enjoyed it! If you did, give the article a like and comment down below how you felt!
While you're at it, go subscribe and/or follow me on all forms of social media!
Facebook: The Logan Blackman Show
Instagram (personal): @blackmanlogan
Instagram (show): @theloganblackmanshow1
LinkedIn: Logan Blackman
Twitter: @logan_blackman
YouTube: The Logan Blackman Show
Comments