I have one last 2023 NFL Mock Draft for you. And it’s a doozy. As I’ve been doing for about a decade now, this is a complete mock draft across the entire NFL, all 259 picks, with explanations and blurbs for each.
For what it’s worth, this mock began last Friday so some news and information shifted over that time that makes this already feel a little outdated. But you try changing a mock once you’re on pick #155.
As always, let me know your thoughts below. Now, here’s pick #1 to Mr. Irrelevant at #259.
Round One
1. CAR – Bryce Young/QB Alabama: As hard as it is to do with the #1 overall pick, don’t overthink it. Young is the cleanest prospect in the draft. There’s been so much focus on his height and overall frame because there’s almost too much time to nitpick about his ability to actually play quarterback. Accurate, poised, a leader and winner, the Panthers finally get their franchise quarterback. They won’t regret it.
2. HOU – Tyree Wilson/EDGE Texas Tech: Really struggled with this one. Quarterback seems like the obvious choice but this draft could be wild and unpredictable. Head coach DeMeco Ryans is a defensive guy who would love a mammoth defensive end to be a cornerstone of his defense, building what they created in San Francisco. His job security as a first-year hire helps if things go south this season. And if the Texans struggle again, they’ll be in line for Drake Maye or Caleb Williams in 2024. Houston’s pass rush did little last year and isn’t on track to look better this season.
3. ARI – Will Anderson/EDGE Alabama: Anderson is regarded as the top non-QB in this class. One of the most productive college pass rushers in recent memory, he’s still somehow sorta flown under the radar for being a potential/likely top-five selection. If the Texans don’t go QB, it’s more likely than not that the Cardinals trade out of the pick. If they stay, Anderson is a no-brainer.
4. IND – Anthony Richardson/QB Florida: Perhaps a mini-upset here with Richardson over C.J. Stroud. Richardson is a little rough around the edges but is a more polished quarterback than he’s given credit for with excellent pocket presence. The Colts need a quarterback and can’t keep relying on veteran misfits.
5. SEA – Jalen Carter/DL Georgia: Quarterback would be interesting here, but it sounds like the team is high on Carter and not worried about any potential off-field questions. A hulking defensive tackle who flashes moments of dominance, he has to be more consistent at the next level after getting by a bit on sheer size and natural talent in college. But if Pete Carroll can coach him, Carter will be a stud.
6. DET – C.J. Stroud/QB Ohio State: Cornerback is a real possibility here but with Stroud falling a couple spots, Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes don’t pass on him. A good pocket passer with touch and accuracy and more mobility when allowed to showcase it, he could temporarily sit behind Jared Goff and take over as the team’s starter in 2024.
7. LVR – Will Levis/QB Kentucky: The final of the top four quarterbacks off the board, Levis could go earlier or slide. Here, he’ll settle in with the Raiders. Jimmy Garoppolo is a short-term option and Levis can sit and learn behind him for a season. Josh McDaniels needs a long-term option at QB if he wants to last in Las Vegas.
8. ATL – Bjian Robinson/RB Texas: Let’s get a little weird with the draft. If the Falcons are going to give the keys to Desmond Ridder, they better surround him with weapons. Robinson is the best back in the draft and one of its best players, though I don’t think he’s quite the elite talent some have made him out to be. Arthur Smith knows the value of a great runner and ground game from his time in Tennessee. Ridder can’t be asked to do too much if he’s going to succeed.
9. CHI – Christian Gonzalez/CB Oregon: First corner comes off the board. A height/weight/speed cover corner with loose hips, he’s my top cornerback in the class. The Bears have made big strides to upgrade their defense this offseason with Gonzalez being the latest piece. A Day One starter.
10. PHI – Jaxon Smith-Njigba/WR Ohio State: What do the NFC defending champs need? Not a lot. So they might as well load up with as many offensive weapons as possible. A.J. Brown, Devonta Smith, and Smith-Njigba is a tremendous “Big Three” that most defenses won’t have the firepower to stop. Smith-Njigba had a monster 2021 season before suffering a hamstring injury that wiped out most of his 2022. He’s not going to be a big play/vertical guy but a chain mover and zone beater while Brown and Smith win downfield on the outside.
11. TEN – Peter Skoronski/OG Northwestern: A Mike Vrabel type of guy and obvious choice with Smith-Njiba off the board. A top college left tackle, he’ll kick inside to left guard. Skoronski lacks great size but is a tremendous technician who uses his hands well and will maul in the run game inside as the Titans’ run game looks to get Derrick Henry and back on track.
12. HOU – Darnell Wright/OT Tennessee: A surprise first tackle off the board over Paris Johnson Jr. and Broderick Jones, Wright fits better with his right tackle experience, heavy hands, and run blocking opposite of LT Laremy Tunsil, locked up on a long-term deal earlier in the offseason. Wright has good feet and a strong punch as the Texans build out the trenches in the draft.
13. GB – Paris Johnson/OT Ohio State: Aaron Rodgers has finally been dealt to the Jets with the two teams swapping first-round picks, among a flurry of other moves. Receiver is a consideration but the value isn’t quite there. Instead, they land on Johnson – the class’s best tackle – to replace David Bakhtiari. The latter is still on the team but has talked like he’s on his way out and has obviously been plagued by injuries for years. Johnson is an A+ athlete with squeaky clean character.
14. NE – Dalton Kincaid/TE Utah: This draft is going to have some curveballs starting at #14. Bill Belichick knows the value of mismatch pass-catching tight ends and tried and missed by finding those guys in free agency with Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith. So he goes back to the draft and gets Kincaid, a middle-of-the-field problem for defenses who caught 16 touchdowns over the last two years. There’s a back injury here but the Patriots rolled the same dice with Rob Gronkowski. Safe to say it paid off for them.
15. NYJ – Broderick Jones/OT Georgia: Hopefully a Day One left tackle to replace Mehki Becton, a pick that hasn’t worked due to injury and poor play. Jones doesn’t have a ton of experience on the blindside but the upside here is big and the value here is tremendous. Jones, like Johnson, is a one-year starter but long and athletic.
16. WSH – Devon Witherspoon/CB Illinois: A slight fall for Witherspoon, who couldn’t work out until late in the pre-draft process. A heavy hitter who can play inside/out, Witherspoon plays with plenty of energy and passion. Good value here for the Commanders.
17. PIT – Joey Porter Jr./CB Penn State: With the top tackles gone and Porter still around, this makes sense for obvious reason. The son of Joey Porter Sr., Porter Jr. has great length and steady play who will tackle and support the run. He could be a full-time starter by 2024.
18. DET – Deonte Banks/CB Maryland: A lot of runs here in the early portion of the draft as Banks is the third corner in a row taken. A physical press corner who tested off the charts at the Combine, Banks is a little raw but corner is a need for the Lions. Banks has improved his stock throughout the pre-draft process.
19. TB – Lukas Van Ness/DE Iowa: Van Ness could go higher but high-teens still seems reasonable for him. Thirteen sacks over his last two seasons with the prototypical build to play defensive end but also has scheme versatility. While Tampa recorded 45 sacks as a team last season, no one had more than 6.5.
20. SEA – Nolan Smith/LB Georgia: Just good value here for the Seahawks as they take their second Bulldog of the draft. Smith, who ran in the 4.3’s at the Combine, may float in more of an off-ball role but he’s capable off the edge. Seattle focuses on boosting its front seven.
21. LAC – Zay Flowers/WR Boston College: Receiver isn’t a top-heavy class but Flowers has a good shot to go in the first round. Explosive post-catch, he’s able to win to all levels of the field and brings much-needed juice to a Chargers offense that will hopefully open things up more than they have with Justin Herbert. Flowers can run the full route tree and create big plays. He was a productive player at BC despite less-then-stellar QB play.
22. BAL – Myles Murphy/EDGE Clemson: Murphy hasn’t received much buzz due to an injury that caused him to miss the Combine and his Pro Day but he ran well at his private workout earlier this month. With size and length, he doesn’t have great twitch but fits the mold of a Ravens bulky EDGE rusher. Justin Houston is well into his 30s and cooled down after a hot start last season.
23. MIN – Mazi Smith/DT Michigan: Surprise. The end of the first round is going to get wacky in a draft class that isn’t very heavy at the top. Smith replaces Dalvin Tomlinson, who left for Cleveland. A good tester without great pass rush production, he can still collapse the pocket.
24. JAC – Bryan Bresee/DT Clemson: The Jaguars are reportedly high on Bresee, a “traits” player who lacked production due to injury and illness. Mentally tough and disruptive when he’s on the field, he’ll at least be a heavy rotational player as a rookie. The Jags’ interior d-line is a weakness.
25. NYG – O’Cyrus Torrence/OG Florida: One of the few true guards in the draft, Torrence is a wide-body at over 330 pounds. A transfer from UL-Lafayette, he comes with plenty of experience, starting since his true freshman season, and showed he could hang in the SEC last season.
26. DAL – Michael Mayer/TE Notre Dame: A replacement for Dalton Schultz, Mayer is a well-rounded and rock-solid tight end, long viewed as a top prospect at his position. It’s not the flashiest pick but another weapon for QB Dak Prescott.
27. BUF – Will McDonald IV/EDGE Iowa State: An exciting pass rusher who was a multi-sport star growing up and can literally jump over cars, McDonald excelled at Iowa State and tied the Big 12 career-sack record. Von Miller is recovering from a torn ACL and is 34 years old. On paper, McDonald profiles similarly to Miller as a bendy, toolsy pass rusher.
28. CIN – Jahmyr Gibbs/RB Alabama: Not a ton of needs for the Bengals and holes at RT and safety don’t have ideal options here. They go with Gibbs to replace Joe Mixon, who may be released if he doesn’t take a pay cut. Gibbs is a different body type but had a good 2022 season in his one year with the Crimson Tide, averaging more than six yards per carry.
29. NO – Keion White/DE Georgia Tech: Long and athletic, there’s a little Cam Jordan in his game, making this a good scheme fit. The Saints’ defense is more multiple than they used to be but White can move around. Old Dominion transfer burst onto scene in 2022 and received a draft invite, suggesting he’ll be a Day-One pick.
30. PHI – Adetomiwa Adebawore/DT Northwestern: Where he goes in the draft will be interesting, capable of going 15-20 spots higher or 10-15 spots lower than this. The Eagles lost Javon Hargrave while Fletcher Cox is nearing the end of his career, creating a pathway for Adebawore. Short but long, he’s one of the most unique players in the draft.
31. KC. – Brian Branch/DB Alabama: With the Miami Dolphins forfeiting their first-round pick, the Chiefs make the final pick of Day One. And Branch is their choice. A big hitter even at just 190 pounds, Branch has a solid football IQ and can align all over the defense like what the team had with Tyrann Mathieu. They get that back with Branch, who doesn’t have elite speed but plays fast.
Round Two
32. PIT – Anton Harrison/OT Oklahoma: In the next tier of left tackles after Paris Johnson Jr. and Broderick Jones, Harrison is only 21, athletic, and a good pass protector. He’ll immediately challenge incumbent left tackle Dan Moore Jr. for the starting job.
33. HOU – Hendon Hooker/QB Tennessee: A team may trade up for Hooker at the back end of the first round but here, he falls right to the Texans and is too hard to ignore. Though he’s an older prospect coming off a torn ACL and didn’t play in a conventional NFL-style offense, Hooker has talent comparable to the top names in the class. He was having a Heisman-caliber season before getting hurt. Houston does not have its QB of the future. Until now.
34. ARI – Quentin Johnston/WR TCU: Once thought to be the top receiver off the board, he falls a bit and is the third one taken in the class. There are questions about his hands and ability to separate, but he brings size and athleticism. The Cardinals need a big-bodied receiver with DeAndre Hopkins on the verge of being traded.
35. IND – John Michael Schmitz/C Minnesota: Ryan Kelly is closing in on 30 and coming off a year in which he struggled. The Colts are reportedly high on Schmitz, who comes with tons of experience in the middle, is a nasty run blocker, and a better athlete than how he tested.
36. LAR – Tyrique Stevenson/CB Miami (FL): The Rams’ first pick of the draft. A good-sized corner who models his game after Patrick Peterson, Stevenson doesn’t have a lot of obvious flaws in his game. He tackles, he covers and challenges throws underneath, and he’s matured over the years. LA adds to its cornerback room after trading Jalen Ramsey.
37. SEA – Steve Avila/OG TCU: Usually, the Seahawks do something a little wacky and unexpected in the draft but the board has allowed them to take value and collect lots of talent. Avila is a widebody at 330 pounds with center and guard experience. Guard figures to be his home in the NFL.
38. LVR – Calijah Kancey/DT Pitt: A potential first-round pick, Kancey slips into the second round over size and length concerns. He may look like Aaron Donald but pinning hopes he’ll be the next one is asking a lot, to say the least. Kancey also isn’t nearly as long as Donald. But he’s a one-gap penetrator and disruptor with lots of upside. Maxx Crosby was responsible for over 46% of the Raiders’ sacks last year and 32% of their tackles for loss. They need more help up front.
39. CAR – Felix Aniduke-Uzomah/DE Kansas State: Defensive end help for the Panthers, who need it opposite Brian Burns. Aniduke-Uzomah plays with power and a hot motor with heavy production the last two years, including six forced fumbles in 2021 and 26.5 TFL over the past two combined seasons. Carolina had just 35 sacks in 2022.
40. NO – Jack Campbell/ILB Iowa: Tough, physical, and a good athlete in testing and on tape, he can be a three-down guy at the next level. Campbell made plays everywhere at Iowa. While Demario Davis remains one of the league’s most underrated players, he is 34 years old. He won’t play forever.
41. TEN – Jordan Addison/WR USC: Good value here. Addison was thought to be a first-round pick but might not be that high-end receiver offenses run through. He’s effective out of the slot with great burst at the top of his route and had a monster season two years ago before transferring to USC. The Titans need weapons and lots of them.
42. GB – Joe Tippmann/C Wisconsin: Big and super athletic, Tippmann stays at home and goes to Green Bay. Back-to-back o-line picks for the Packers, who really invest everything in building around Jordan Love. Elgton Jenkins’ elite versatility allows him to line up all over, potentially at RT, and move Tippmann to LG. I may or may not also be trying to shoehorn this pick in after the Aaron Rodgers trade was announced with this entire mock draft nearly completed. Let’s make that our little secret.
43. NYJ – Trenton Simpson/ILB Clemson: An uber-athlete who might not have a totally defined position, the Jets go defense after bolstering the offensive line with their first pick. Simpson had a great workout, a 4.43 40 at 235 pounds, with 23 career tackles for loss, 13 sacks, and three forced fumbles. ILB isn’t a screaming need, but C.J. Mosley is well into his 30s, even if he’s still playing well. Simpson could rotate in for a year before taking over full-time.
44. ATL – DJ Turner/CB Michigan: An underrated name in this class who can play on the outside or in the slot, he broke up 10 passes last season. The team has A.J. Terrell and Jeff Okudah on the outside but another corner who can work inside is still needed.
45. GB – Darnell Washington/TE Georgia: Marcedes Lewis’ time in Green Bay might be done and Washington can step in as a top-end blocker and butt kicker. He’s a little awkward and clunky in his movements but he’s tough to bring down and will be an issue for linebackers at the next level in the pass and run game. Adding a pass rusher is also a possibility here.
46. NE – Daiyan Henley/ILB Washington State: Earlier than people expect but Henley is a high-end cover linebacker who will pair well with the hard-hitting Ja’Whaun Bentley. A former wide receiver who transferred from Nevada, he picked off five passes over the last two seasons.
47. WSH – Cody Mauch/OG North Dakota State: A left tackle in college, Mauch will likely play along the interior at the next level. A mauling run blocker who played all five positions at the Senior Bowl, he could be a Day One starter at right guard for the Commanders.
48. DET – Jalin Hyatt/WR Tennessee: A speedy, big-play receiver to add some juice to the Lions’ vertical passing game. And a new target for C.J. Stroud. He only has one year of solid production, but it was a big one, averaging nearly 19 yards per reception and 15 touchdowns a year ago. He’ll help replace D.J. Chark and 2022 first-round pick Jameson Williams, who has been suspended for the first six games of the 2023 season.
49. PIT – Keeanu Benton/DL Wisconsin: A long defensive lineman who can play the shade or over tackle, Benton holds the point of attack against the run and has quickness to win off the line. He’ll rotate in behind Cam Heyward and Larry Ogunjobi and has the frame Pittsburgh likes, which is becoming harder and harder to find.
50. TB – Dawand Jones/OT Ohio State: A bit of a slip for Jones, who could go higher than this. But he had an up-and-down pre-draft process, not getting his weight down and not even getting on the scale at his Pro Day. Still, he’s big and long and powerful with maybe the best highlight reel of any tackle in this class.
51. MIA – Matthew Bergeron/OG Syracuse: An athletic and aggressive left tackle in college, Bergeron bumps to left guard for the Dolphins, who are making their first pick of the draft. A four-year starter and team captain in 2022 for the Orange, Bergeron is a solid pick to challenge Liam Eichenberg, who struggled last season.
52. SEA – Julius Brents/CB Kansas State: The Seahawks’ solid draft continues. Long and physical the way Pete Carroll likes him, Brents could go 20 spots higher than this. He’ll pair nicely opposite Tariq Woolen. Brents had a strong Senior Bowl week and stood out in 1v1 drills that typically favor the offense.
53. CHI – Isaiah Foskey/DE Notre Dame: Once viewed as a potential first-round pick, Foskey doesn’t quite play his physical tools and doesn’t have a ton of bend around the edge. But he holds up against the run, is a great special teamer with four career blocked punts, and the Bears need big-time pass rush help.
54. LAC – Emmanuel Forbes/CB Mississippi State: A bit of a fall for Forbes. He plays bigger than his weight but is still just 170 pounds and came in at 166 at his Pro Day, a historically low number, giving him a very lanky frame. Still, he was durable in college and made plays on the football. The Chargers get value here.
55. DET – Luke Musgrave/TE Oregon State: The Lions continue to load up on skill players and this is nice value. Musgrave only played in two games last year before tearing his ACL but was healthy enough to work out during the pre-draft process. A fluid player who plucks the ball away from his body, his game reminds me a fair bit of T.J. Hockenson, whom the Lions dealt away to the Vikings last year.
56. JAC – Sydney Brown/DB Illinois: It’s not a great safety class but Brown plays with fantastic energy, has versatility, and picked off six passes last season. He’ll be a high-energy piece for the Jaguars as they focus on defense with their top two picks.
57. NYG – BJ Ojulari/DE LSU: A fun story here to pair with his brother, Azeez Ojulari. BJ seems to be rising up on draft boards late in this process. He had consistent production in his career and finished with 16.5 career sacks, giving the Giants a deep defensive line.
58. DAL – Blake Freeland/OT BYU: A tall and super-athletic tackle, he could challenge to start at right tackle or soon replace Tyron Smith at left tackle. Dallas goes offense with its first two selections of the draft.
59. BUF – Drew Sanders/ILB Arkansas: Nice value here for the Bills to get Sanders, a Top 45-type pick. An EDGE rusher in college who moved to off-ball linebacker, he is a little underdeveloped but will look to replace Tremaine Edmunds, who scored a big deal in Chicago.
60. CIN – Cam Smith/CB South Carolina: As wide receiver has done in past years, a deep cornerback class pushes down a couple of names like Smith. A good cover corner with inside/outside versatility, he can wear a lot of hats for the Bengals’ defense.
61. CHI – Siaki Ika/NT Baylor: The Bears brought in Andrew Billings, who has a similar game, but it’s just a one-year deal and short-term arrangement. Ika is a giant plugger in the middle who won’t offer a ton as a pass rusher but will stop the run. Chicago ranked 27th against the run last season.
62. PHI – Antonio Johnson/S Texas A&M: Johnson played a lot of slot/overhang in college but projects as more of a traditional strong safety with good hit power. Helps replace the loss of Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, a key piece of that Eagles defense last season.
63. KC – Jonathan Mingo/WR Ole Miss: A big-bodied slot receiver who loves to block, he’s versatile, which will fit well in Andy Reid’s offense, but offers more size and a different skill set than Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney. The Chiefs want some size in that room.
Round Three
64. CHI – Jaelyn Duncan/OT Maryland: The tackle class starts to thin out here but Duncan is a plus-athlete who needs a season to refine his game. Late to playing football, he has to work on his punch and become more technical, but if he unlocks his talent, he’s a starting-caliber left tackle in the league. This addresses a need for the Bears.
65. HOU – Josh Downs/WR North Carolina: A clean evaluation, Downs has great quickness and runs underneath routes as well as anyone. Really good value here and Downs could go 20-25 spots higher than this.
66. ARI – Kelee Ringo/CB Georgia: One of the draft’s biggest fallers, it’s certainly possible that Ringo goes higher than this. But every draft, someone slips, and Ringo draws the short straw with questions over his tightness and whether he can stick at cornerback. Good value here for the Cardinals and at his best, Ringo is a fast and high-effort corner battle-tested in the SEC.
67. DEN – Derick Hall/EDGE Auburn: Another semi-slip for Hall, a potential Round-Two candidate. Long and physical, he sets an edge against the run and had a nice Senior Bowl week. The Broncos have lost plenty of EDGE rushers in recent years. Hall will begin building things back.
68. DEN – Luke Wypler/C Ohio State: Though he lacks great length, Wypler is one of the class’s top centers and could be a Day One starter. Lloyd Cushenberry did not have a good season last year for Denver. Wypler was a two-year starter in Columbus.
69. LAR – Tyler Steen/OG Alabama: A Vanderbilt transfer who played left tackle, he’ll shift to LG for the Rams. Stout anchor and he put together a rock-solid Senior Bowl week. Steen could be a Day One starter for the Rams as they rebuild their whole roster.
70. LVR – Zach Charbonnet/RB UCLA: The third RB off the board, Charbonnet transferred from Michigan and averaged a whopping seven yards per carry last year. Good size with burst and can catch. Josh Jacobs is on the tag and Johnson could replace him in 2024.
71. NO – Clark Phillips/CB Utah: Just good value here for the Saints. Phillips is one of the top slot corners in the draft, arguably the best, with great ball skills. Bradley Roby is entering the final year of his deal before it voids.
72. TEN – DeMarvion Overshown/LB Texas: A safety turned linebacker, Overshown is a little lean and raw, but the Titans needs inside linebacker help after losing David Long. Overshown could see sub-package work in Year One.
73. HOU – Sam LaPorta/TE Iowa: Tight end isn’t a dire need for the Texans but they play the value game with LaPorta and take advantage of a deep tight end class. A break-tackle machine, LaPorta could slide in as the #2 behind Dalton Schultz, who is on just a one-year deal. More weapons for this offense as the Texans have already made multiple picks in the draft.
74. CLE – Tuli Tuipulotu/EDGE USC: Welcome to the draft, Cleveland. While the Browns beefed up their defensive line and added pass-rush help this season, they need a better rotation. Tuipulotu is a power rusher who can kick inside in sub-packages and is just 20 years old. GM Andrew Berry typically takes younger prospects he can build up.
75. ATL – Anthony Bradford/OG LSU: The Falcons have loaded up their offensive line over the years but still need left guard help. Bradford is a rising name who played some tackle in college but will stick at guard. A good athlete for the position with bulk at over 330 pounds.
76. NE – Quan Martin/S Illinois: Martin is versatile and had great testing in the pre-draft process, none better than his 44-inch vertical. He checks a lot of the boxes that Bill Belichick looks for and helps replace long-time safety Devin McCourty, who retired earlier this year.
77. LAR – Marvin Mims/WR Oklahoma: Rams feel the need for speed and add it with Mims, a game-breaker who repeatedly won downfield at Oklahoma. He averaged over 19 yards per reception in his career. The question will be if Matthew Stafford has enough in his arm to get him the football.
78. GB – Cedric Tillman/WR Tennessee: Back-to-back wide receivers here. Tillman, who can function as a big slot, had a great 2021 season before battling injuries this past year. More weapons for Love as the Packers go offense with their top three picks.
79. IND – Gervon Dexter/DT Florida: Good value here for the Colts with Dexter being a potential second-round pick. They add some pass rush help in the middle if Dexter’s poor snap timing can be improved upon. Another rusher with tools but lacks refinement. He’ll rotate in behind DeForest Buckner.
80. PIT – Ji’Ayir Brown/S Penn State: A versatile defensive back who led the NCAA in interceptions and tackles for loss in separate seasons, Brown didn’t test extremely well in the pre-draft process but plays with a great motor and intensity. He can wear a lot of hats in Pittsburgh’s secondary.
81. DET – Nick Herbig/LB Wisconsin: Another Dan Campbell type of player, Herbig rushed the passer in college but will play more of an off-ball role at the next level. He’s physical and stays relatively local to add depth at LB in Detroit.
82. TB – Jordan Battle/S Alabama: Battle has size and flashes on tape but needs to be more consistent and trust his instincts. The Bucs need secondary help, especially in the secondary after losing Mike Edwards to the Kansas City Chiefs.
83. SEA – Devon Achane/RB Texas A&M: Nice value here for the Seahawks. He can play running back or split out of the backfield with game-breaking ability. Kenneth Walker had a great rookie year, but the Seahawks like to have depth at running back and Walker missed time with injury last year.
84. MIA – Byron Young/EDGE Tennessee: One of two players named Byron Young in this year’s draft, he could go higher after a great pre-draft workout. But he’s 25 years old and his tape isn’t as strong as his testing. Still, he can be a #3 pass rusher out of the gate for the Dolphins, who make just their second selection of the draft.
85. LAC – Tyjae Spears/RB Tulane: The Chargers add a running back to potentially replace Austin Ekeler, who has requested a trade. Spears, who turned heads at the Senior Bowl, shows burst and long speed. He can catch out of the backfield too, averaging more than 11 yards per reception last year, important for this Chargers offense.
86. BAL – Darius Rush/CB South Carolina: The Ravens wait awhile until their second pick of the draft but get a solid prospect in Rush. Overshadowed by teammate Cam Smith, Rush battled injuries earlier in his career. When healthy, he is a high-end athlete and good man coverage cornerback. He picked off a pair of passes last year and helps replace Marcus Peters.
87. MIN – Chandler Zavala/OG NC State: A Combine snub, Zavala had a fantastic Pro Day workout after proving he can play up following a transfer from Fairmont State. The Vikings need interior offensive line help and Zavala can push to start right away.
88. JAC – Roschon Johnson/RB Texas: The second Longhorn runner off the board. Johnson is a bruising running back who can catch and block and will be an awesome addition on special teams, an unselfish player who put program first at Texas. The Jags like having a one-two punch. He’ll pair well with Travis Etienne.
89. NYG – Riley Moss/CB Iowa: An underrated corner in this class with some of the best speed at the Senior Bowl, Moss is scheme-versatile, and the Giants definitely need outside cornerback help. He picked off 11 career passes for the Hawkeyes.
90. DAL – Garrett Williams/CB Syracuse: The Cowboys don’t have a ton of needs here so they can take a flier on Williams, who is coming off a torn ACL. He may not be able to contribute right away but that creates value here later in the third round. Stephon Gilmore is a free agent after the season and entering his mid-30s.
91. BUF – Tank Dell/WR Houston: One of the most exciting players in the draft, Dell lacks size but it didn’t slow him down in college. A great route runner who is able to separate against man coverage, he also dominated in the red zone and could be that last-level piece in the Bills’ offense. Gabe Davis running long, Stefon Diggs running intermediate, and Dell in the short passing game.
92. CIN – Wanya Morris/OT Oklahoma: An underrated name in this class, Morris is a plus-athlete who reaches and cuts off in the run game well. Right tackle is a need here assuming Jonah Williams won’t actually end up playing there.
93. CAR – Henry To’o To’o/LB Alabama: One of the best names in the draft, To’o To’o had over 200 tackles the last two combined years for the Crimson Tide. Some inside linebacker help for the Panthers.
94. PHI – Izzy Abanikanda/RB Pitt: An underrated back in the pre-draft process, Abanikanda paired great workout times with excellent size (5’10, 216, 44.5 40, 41-inch vertical). Abanikanda eases the loss of Miles Sanders and could see a starting role early into Year One.
95. KC – Isaiah McGuire/EDGE Missouri: A big and powerful EDGE rusher who can bend through contact, McGuire has a good pass-rush plan. Though not a hyper-athlete, has played on his feet and can function in space. Rotational depth for the Chiefs.
96. ARI – Nick Saldiveri/OG Old Dominion: Sleeper prospect who played right tackle in school, not allowing a sack last season. He probably shifts to guard at the next level. Good value here for the Cardinals to get some stout interior o-line help.
97. WSH – Luke Schoonmaker/TE Michigan: Well-rounded tight end who can catch and block. Logan Thomas got healthy last year but, turning 32 in July, he is no longer a long-term option. Schoonmaker had six touchdowns over 2021 and 2022.
98. CLE – Noah Sewell/LB Oregon: The younger brother of Lions’OT Penei Sewell, Noah had a down 2022 season but was possibly miscast in a new role and system. He has size, athleticism, and youth for the Browns to work with under new DC Jim Schwartz. Anthony Walker is coming off a serious injury. Cleveland was one of the league’s worst teams against the run last season.
99. SF – Tre’vius Hodges-Tomlinson/CB TCU: A top slot corner last season, Tomlinson lacks size at 178 pounds but picked off five passes and forced five fumbles over the last two combined seasons. The 49ers look to continue having one of the NFL’s top defenses.
100. LVR – Owen Pappoe/LB Auburn: A blazing 4.39 40 at 225 pounds gets him into the back end of Day 2. He didn’t make a ton of splash plays in college, just three tackles for a loss last season, but there’s traits to build upon. Signing Robert Spillane isn’t enough to make the Raiders feel comfortable in that room.
101. SF – Eric Gray/RB Oklahoma: Comp picks, thy name is San Francisco. The 49ers made the monster move last year to trade for Christian McCaffrey but need protection given his injury history. Gray is a slashing runner with 99 career receptions. He a good scheme fit.
102. SF – Zach Harrison/DE Ohio State: Body type the 49ers like. Harrison is long and plays with power and had a great showing at the end of the Buckeyes’ 2022 game against Maryland, beating up OT Jaelyn Duncan to secure the win. But Harrison’s productivity never quite translated the way it should.
Round Four
103. CHI – JL Skinner/S Boise State: Long box safety who was hampered in the pre-draft process by a torn pectoral. Skinner has worked hard to improve his game and reminds me a lot of Jayron Kearse. The Bears focus on defense in the draft after being the 32nd-ranked scoring defense last season.
104 .HOU – Cory Trice/CB Purdue: Good value here in the fourth round. Trice is a long and physical corner who spent a large chunk of his career at safety and could flip back there in the NFL. He’s one of the draft’s most disciplined and hardest-working players. He tested well during the pre-draft process.
105. ARI – Zacch Pickens/DE South Carolina: A replacement for the departed Zach Allen, Pickens has size and length but lacked great college production, just 11.5 career tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. That causes him to slip into the early portion of Day Three.
106. IND – Tyler Scott/WR Cincinnati: Big-play receiver who can win downfield and open up the Colts’ passing game with their new “ham cannon” quarterback Anthony Richardson. Scott averaged over 16 yards per reception each of the last two seasons.
107. NE – Kei’Trel Clark/CB Louisville: Slot corner as the Pats continue to add to their secondary. Liberty transfer had five career picks over the last three seasons with the Cardinals.
108. DEN – Kyu Blu Kelly/CB Stanford: Well-put together outside corner with length and ball skills. Nice Senior Bowl week. Denver needs some secondary help.
109. LVR – McClendon Curtis/OG UT-Chattanooga: A tackle in college, Curtis would excel at guard as a thick people-mover that the Raiders seem to be drawn to.
110. ATL – Karl Brooks/DL Bowling Green: Athletic interior lineman who began his college career as a linebacker and still aligned over edge throughout his career. High production in the MAC with 46 career tackles for loss and 27.5 sacks, 10 of which came last year.
111. CLE – Zack Kuntz/TE Old Dominion: Height/weight/speed tight end who tested off the charts at the Combine. He’s tall and will have to work to have better leverage as a run blocker, though he’s being drafted for what he can do in the passing game. The Browns should have enough weapons for this offense after adding several wide receivers in the offseason.
112. NYJ – Chase Brown/RB Illinois: Brown is a speedster who ran 4.43 at the Combine and broke out last year for a 1,600-yard season. Depth behind Breece Hall, who is coming off a torn ACL.
113. ATL – Jayden Reed/WR Michigan State: A versatile receiver, returner, and willing blocker, Reed doesn’t have high-end physical tools but should work well to all levels of the field and finishes at the catch point. Atlanta hasn’t had enough options in the passing game for years.
114. CAR – Kobie Turner/DT Wake Forest: Underrated name in the class, Turner transferred from Richmond. He picked up 10 tackles for a loss and two sacks last year and put up strong numbers at his Pro Day. He’ll fit well next to Derrick Brown.
115. NO – Rashee Rice/WR SMU: Nice value grab here for the Saints. Rice could hear his name on Day Two after a monster 2022 season, over 1,400 yards and 10 touchdowns. He posted a solid athletic profile at the Combine, running in the low 4.5s with a 41-inch vert. Michael Thomas stayed but he may not play past 2024.
116. GB – Colby Wooden/DE Auburn: The Packers’ first defensive selection of the draft. Wooden was steadily productive, though not flashy, in his college career and forced three fumbles for the Tigers last year. He’ll need to add some weight but has good length for his frame.
117. NE – A.T. Perry/WR Wake Forest: Perry could be a Day-Two pick. Versatile player with a great football IQ that teams will love, especially a squad like New England. Back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with 26 receiving scores across 2021 and 2022.
118. WSH – Dorian Williams/ILB Tulane: Physical linebacker who can run and cover. He’ll help replace the departed Cole Holcomb. Williams had 132 tackles last season for the Green Wave.
119. MIN – Michael Wilson/WR Stanford: Bit of a receiver run here. Wilson may go a touch higher after excelling in the Senior Bowl. But he didn’t run all that well and injuries killed his college production. He never had a season with more than 700 receiving yards and was held to well under 500 last year. Helps replace Adam Thielen, who is now a Carolina Panther.
120. PIT – Yaya Diaby/EDGE Louisville: Pass-rush depth behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. Diaby was miscast as a 3-4 end in school but projects well as an outside linebacker in the NFL. Only one year of production but it was a good one: 14 TFL and nine sacks in 2022.
121. JAC – Warren McClendon/OT Georgia: Right and left tackle who played mostly on the right side in Athens. He lacks ideal size but was part of those championship teams. Walker Little hasn’t played much football and struggled last season. He may not be the answer as the team looks to replace Jawaan Taylor.
122. KC – Mehki Garner/CB LSU: Chiefs like bigger outside cornerbacks. Garner transferred from UL-Lafayette and though light on production– he had just three career INTs, zero last year — he could see action in Year One.
123. SEA – Olu Oluwatimi/C Michigan: College football’s 2022 Rimington Award Winner hasn’t gotten much love in the pre-draft process. But he’s fine value for the Seahawks, who are looking for a long-term answer in the middle, in the fourth round.
124. BAL – Bryce Ford-Wheaton/WR West Virginia: Height/weight speed receiver who doesn’t create much separation and drops too many passes but is a hard type of player to find. The Ravens signed Odell Beckham Jr. but he probably won’t play past this season after inking a one-year deal.
125. LAC – Tanner McKee/QB Stanford: Been awhile since a quarterback went off the board. Well-built QB like Justin Herbert though McKee doesn’t have quite the arm you’d expect. He stays out west to battle for a backup job. Chase Daniel has apparently retired, leaving Easton Stick as the backup and even he’s on an expiring contract.
126. CLE – Deneric Prince/RB Tulsa: Good size with great testing who didn’t have a great college career but the analytics may point in his favor. Could back up Nick Chubb after the team lost D’Ernest Johnson and with Kareem Hunt unlikely to return. Prince ran for over 700 yards last season.
127. JAC – Andrei Iosivas/WR Princeton: Good flyer on Iosivas, a height/weight/speed track guy with a good football IQ who was a downfield playmaker in college. He’s not quite as athletic as Christian Watson and leaves something to be desired after the catch. Still, he’ll be a #4 receiver off the bat.
128. NYG – DeWayne McBride/RB UAB: Saquon Barkley is playing on the tag…assuming he signs it. Depth here is worrisome and McBride is an ultra-physical runner who breaks tackles at will. He rushed for over 3,000 combined yards his last two seasons. There’s a slight fumble concern and he caught only five career passes, making him a two-down type of guy.
129. DAL – Zach Evans/RB Ole Miss: Back-to-back running backs here as the Cowboys look to replace Zeke Elliott. Evans, who transferred from TCU in 2022, averaged an absurd 6.9 yards per carry over his three-year college career. He has good size.
130. BUF – Ricky Stromberg/C Arkansas: Good value here with Stromberg, a strong and stout center who will add quality o-line depth for the Bills behind 31-year old Mitch Morse.
131. CIN – Andre Carter/DE Army: For years, the Bengals had big DEs like Carlos Dunlap and Michael Johnson. Carter is tall at 6064 though he’s far lankier and thinner than those names. Still, he’s a true 4-3 end fit, and the Bengals add depth behind Sam Hubbard and Trey Hendrickson.
132. CAR – Jon Gaines II/OG UCLA: Gaines was one of the top athletes of any offensive linemen in this year’s class with a great short shuttle score. He has some guard/center versatility though his tape isn’t as strong as his workout suggests. Still, depth for the Panthers, who don’t have much of it.
133. CHI – Tucker Kraft/TE South Dakota State: Not a ton of needs left for the Bears at this point so they roll the dice on Kraft. He is a large and athletic tight end with good college production though his numbers dipped in 2022 after a QB change. He’ll be a nice pairing with Cole Kmet.
134. KC – Brodric Martin/NT Western Kentucky: D-line depth in the middle for the Chiefs. Martin has good feet for his big and long frame and can flow against the run. Lacked top-end production but had good tape. If he refines his technique, this could be a steal.
135. NE – Jaquelin Roy/DT LSU: Good value for the Patriots as they fortify the trenches. Roy had just 3.5 tackles for a loss last year but can plug the run for the Pats, who make their sixth pick of the draft.
Round Five
136. CHI – Dorian Thompson-Robinson/QB UCLA: Bears get round five started with a quarterback to challenge for the backup role behind Justin Fields. Some maturity questions around DTR but he’s a plus-athlete who saw his completion percentage jump in a big way in 2022, up more than seven points to 69.6%. Good system fit.
137. BUF – Cameron Latu/TE Alabama: Chance to be the Bills’ #2 tight end behind Dawson Knox, who has battled injuries over the years. Latu is a downfield threat who averaged more than 15 yards per catch two years ago.
138. IND – Jaylon Jones/CB Texas A&M: Colts need outside corner help and this, honestly, is probably waiting too long for one. But Jones has the size and length Chris Ballard wants though he had light production last year: zero interceptions and only two pass deflections.
139. DEN – Jakorian Bennett/CB Maryland: More cornerback help for the Broncos with Bennett, who has the ability to play in the slot. Need some cover guys to handle Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert. Bennett broke up a whopping 22 passes the last two years combined.
140. CLE – Dontayvion Wicks/WR Virginia: Wicks didn’t run as well as he looks on tape, posting a 4.62 at the Combine before notching a 4.58 at his Pro Day. Still, he’s athletic who was a serious deep threat two years ago, averaging more than 20 yards per grab on 57 receptions. His numbers dipped last year. The Browns have a crowded WR room but Wicks can fight for a spot. Maybe he spends a year on the practice squad.
141. LVR – Carter Warren/OT Pittsburgh: Big and long left tackle with experience. Teams can’t have too many quality offensive tackles or at least options to turn to.
142. CLE – Terell Smith/CB Minnesota: More cornerback depth knowing Denzel Ward’s lack of durability. Smith has size and weight and picked off a pair of passes last season while supporting the run with 4.5 tackles for loss.
143. NYJ – Jammie Robinson/SS Florida State: A fall for Robinson but a lack of size (5’10, 200) and speed (4.59 40) pushes him down draft boards. He made plays for the Seminoles with 12 TFL the last two years and five total interceptions across 2021 and 2022. Good value here.
144. LVR – Darrell Luter Jr./CB South Alabama: Cornerback is a need for the Raiders, who could add one sooner than here. Luter didn’t have a great Senior Bowl week but brings some size and made plays on the ball in college. He posted great triangle numbers at the Combine, running in the mid 4.4s with a 40-inch vertical.
145. CAR – Jake Witt/OT Northern Michigan: Small-school sleeper with great size. I can see Frank Reich, whose Colts teams often took low-level fliers, add tackle depth with this year’s class being pretty thin past the top names. A former basketball player who also played TE in 2021, catching six passes, he’s a project but super athletic. He should be drafted, even if this may be a little early.
146. NO – Juice Scruggs/C Penn State: A sleeper, Scruggs hasn’t played a ton of football but his tape is impressive. He drives and creates movement in the run game with a great anchor in pass protection, showing well against Michigan’s Mazi Smith in 2022. He’ll just need to check out medically from a 2019 broken back. Good depth behind Erik McCoy.
147. TEN – Jake Haener/QB Fresno State: The Titans miss out on a top QB in the first round but grab Haener to challenge Malik Willis as the team’s #2 QB. Haener had a solid Senior Bowl week and profiles as a long-time backup quarterback.
148. CHI – Mohamoud Diabate/LB Utah: The Bears were aggressive in signing T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds in the offseason so off-ball linebacker isn’t a major need. But depth is important and Diabate has size and is athletic, sorta like Edmunds. A transfer from Florida, he recorded 13.5 tackles for loss last season.
149. GB – Jake Moody/K Michigan: Kicker alert! And the Packers need one, only having Parker White, who has never attempted an NFL kick, on the roster. Moody is the top leg in the class after converting 86.7% of his total field goals over the last two years. And he’s used to kicking in inclement weather.
150. WSH – K.J. Henry/EDGE Clemson: Could go later than this due to a lack of high-end athleticism and testing. But there’s pedigree and some length as the Commanders add some EDGE depth.
151. SEA – Parker Washington/WR Penn State: Still a couple of good receivers on the board. Washington is a slot option who lacks great athleticism but is thickly built and can break tackles. Nice value here as the Seahawks plug a lot of holes with their draft picks.
152. DET – Byron Young/DL Alabama: Good size for the middle of the Lions’ defensive line. Detroit has done well to retool its D-line, including reviving former Crimson Tide Isaiah Buggs’ NFL career after things didn’t work out in Pittsburgh.
153. TB – SirVocea Dennis/LB Pittsburgh: Well-rounded linebacker who had a nice week at the Senior Bowl. Devin White has requested a trade while Lavonte David isn’t getting any younger. If White truly is on the move, the Bucs could add an inside linebacker sooner than here.
154. SEA – Jay Ward/DB LSU: Versatile defensive back who probably ends up at safety. Seahawks just focusing on talent at this point. Ward had a nice career with 17 PDs and six interceptions and two defensive touchdowns.
155. SF – Braden Daniels/OG Utah: Bit of a fall for Daniels, who doesn’t have great weight at under 300 pounds. A plus-athlete running a sub-5.00 40 with guard and tackle experience, this is a strong depth add in the fifth round.
156. LAC – Cameron Young/DL Mississippi State: The Chargers seemingly have an injured defensive line every season so adding here is always smart. A four-year starter without big numbers — Young had only nine career TFL and two sacks — but with size and good length (34-inch arms).
157. BAL – Earl Bostick, Jr./OT Kansas: Underrated name in the class with good feet to play left tackle and a bit of time at right tackle earlier in his Jayhawks career. The Ravens certainly need help along the offensive line.
158. MIN – Carrington Valentine/CB Kentucky: Sleeper name at corner in a deep class after breaking up 10 passes last year for the Wildcats. A depth piece that helps replace the departed Patrick Peterson.
159. DET – Joey Fisher/OT Shepherd: The closest man to embodying Dan Campbell’s “biting kneecaps” philosophy. Fisher is tough as nails, competitive, and has size with a strong Pro Day workout. There’s a chance two Shepherd players get drafted this year.
160. NYG – Clayton Tune/QB Houston: Posted big numbers in the Cougars’ offense with 40 touchdowns last season and 104 for his career. Decently athletic too with 15 career rushing scores. Tyrod Taylor has struggled to stay healthy and will be a free agent after the 2023 season.
161. HOU – Jeremy Banks/ILB Tennessee: Hendon Hooker’s teammate, Banks is a good athlete. After converting from running back, he had a big 2021 season. But he has off-field issues that will need to be answered for a team to take a chance on him.
162. IND – Deuce Vaughn/RB Kansas State: A Nyheim Hines replacement, Vaughn is the smallest player in the draft at 5’5, 179 pounds. That didn’t stop him from putting up over almost 1,300 yards rushing last season while making plays in the passing game too. A fun player to watch in college.
163. CIN – Bryce Baringer/P Michigan State: Punter alert! Bengals are still searching for Kevin Huber’s long-term replacement and Drue Chrisman should have competition this offseason. Baringer, easily the draft’s best punter, averaged an awesome 49 yards per punt last season for the Spartans.
164. SF – Daniel Scott/S California: Six-year college player who became a team captain and crushed his pre-draft workout. Versatile and smart, he’ll provide safety depth and help out on special teams.
165. NO – Moro Ojomo/DT Texas: Just 21 years old, he posted three sacks last year. Ojomo is a potential Year One rotational player along the Saints’ defensive line next to first round pick Keion White.
166. KC – Andrew Vorhees/OG USC: Vorhees unfortunately tore his ACL during on-field workouts at the Combine. But he showed his toughness to return and pump up an Indy-best 38 reps on the bench press the following day. He has good tape and finishes in the run game. May need a year and he’s an older prospect but the Chiefs were rewarded taking a chance on Trey Smith in 2022. They take the same gamble here. The most worrisome thing here might be Vorhees’ age by the time he hits the field.
167. LAR – Aidan O’Connell/QB Purdue: The Rams have just one QB – Matthew Stafford – on their roster. O’Connell is a conventional pocket passer with good touch and accuracy though he works more effectively underneath than pushing the ball downfield. A former walk-on who earned the starting job, he’s got a shot to be the #2 come Week One. Right now, mathematically he is.
168. ARI – Anthony Johnson/S Iowa State: Nickel/safety hybrid with size and solid production, 15 career tackles for a loss, three sacks, two picks, and an impressive five forced fumbles. Budda Baker is asking for a trade and safety talent behind him is thin.
169. DAL – Sidy Sow/OG Eastern Michigan: Highly experienced guard with torque in the run game and good burst out of his stance was a left tackle his freshman season before kicking inside to guard. Sort of reminds me of Tyler Smith without all the penalties.
170. NYJ – Jarrett Patterson/C Notre Dame: Patterson is tall and big but has unusually short 31 3/8 inch arms, which really hurts him here. Still, the Jets could use center depth, bringing back starter Connor McGovern but only on a one-year deal. Another option is pragmatic.
171. LAR – Keondre Coburn/NT Texas: Interior plugger with 15 tackles for a loss and 6.5 career sacks. He’ll help replace A’Shawn Robinson, who just signed a one-year deal with the Giants.
172. NYG – Brenton Strange/TE Penn State: Playing the value game here with tight end not a critical need after trading for Darren Waller. Still, Waller has battled injury and Strange, a value pick in the fifth round, can block and catch, finding the end zone five times last season.
173. SF – Ryan Hayes/OT Michigan: The 49ers need right tackle help to replace Mike McGlinchey and addressing that deep into the fifth round is far from ideal. But the 49ers don’t first pick until late in the third round, putting them in a difficult spot. Hayes played LT at Michigan but will try to flip in the NFL. He and Daniels will try to fill the gap.
174. LVR – Demario Douglas/WR Liberty: Small but athletic wide receiver who was consistent throughout his Flames career, though he never posted a 1,000-yard season. Also an effective return man with two career scores in the punt game.
175. TB – Tank Bigsby/RB Auburn: The Bucs need to get more out of their run game now that Tom Brady has retired. Last year, no Bucs RB averaged better than 3.7 YPC. Bigsby had a solid college career and is a well-rounded option late in the fifth round.
176. IND – B.J. Thompson/DE Stephen F. Austin: The Colts love dipping their toes into the small-school waters. Thompson has great size at 6056, 243 pounds with a frame to add additional weight. He ran a 4.61 and jumped 37.5 inches at his Pro Day with a solid 7.06 three-cone. A Baylor transfer, there’s production here too with 9.5 sacks last season for the Lumberjacks.
177. LAR – Trey Palmer/WR Nebraska: Still good receiver talent on the board. Palmer goes lower than projected. His 4.33 speed is attractive but he’s a linear player who didn’t test well otherwise (29.5-inch vertical, 7.13 three-cone) and just one year of serious production.
Round Six
178. KC – Trevor Reid/OT Louisville: Long left tackle for his height (34 5/8 inch arms) with athleticism and experience. Could be a sneaky good late-round pick as the Chiefs add to their offensive line. Reid jumped an incredible 38 inches at his Pro Day.
179. TB – Charlie Jones/WR Purdue: Bucs need some youth at wide receiver. Jones has a Scotty Miller sort of vibe. Iowa transfer who had a huge 2022 for the Boilermakers though he’s a little light at 177 pounds.
180. ARI – Michael Turk/P Oklahoma: Cardinals don’t have a punter on the roster with NFL experience. Granted, neither does Turk but he was a great punter for the Sooners, averaging a booming 51.2 yards per punt in 2021. That number dipped in 2022, however, though it was still nearly 47 yards per try. He’s even thrown a touchdown pass.
181. TB – Mehki Blackmon/CB USC: Tampa Bay right back on the board. From slot receiver to slot corner, Blackmon can play man or zone. A Colorado transfer, Blackmon picked off three passes and broke up 12 more last season for the Trojans. He may get drafted higher than this.
182. LAR – Jalen Redmond/DL Oklahoma: Adding talent and value here. Redmond’s lack of height projects him a bit more on the interior as the Rams eventually look for Aaron Donald’s replacement, who might be in his final year with the team. Redmond had 10 tackles for loss last season.
183. DET – Xavier Hutchinson/WR Iowa State: A fairly considerable fall here for Hutchinson, who could be a fourth-round type of selection. Could work as a big slot and while not a serious need, the value here is simply too strong. Hutchinson went over 1,100 receiving yards last season for the Cyclones.
184. NE – Asim Richards/OG North Carolina: College tackle who will kick to guard at the NFL level. Only put up 13 reps on the bench press but was a three-year starter for the Tar Heels. The Pats add some general o-line depth, something they’ve yet to address so far.
185. JAC – Eli Ricks/CB Alabama: Good-sized corner who had a strong freshman season at LSU before his production tailed off. Didn’t run all that well and numbers were light in 2022 after transferring to the Crimson Tide but there’s some tools there for the Jags to bet on.
186. TEN – Christopher Smith III/S Georgia: One of my favorite sleepers in the draft, Smith is neither big nor did he run well but the dude can play. Good angles, playmaker, and picked off three passes in each of the past two years.
187. NE – Marte Mapu/LB Sacramento State: Maybe not a need for the Pats but this is the type of player the Pats go after. Similar to Kyle Duggar, Mapu can function as a hybrid player, a safety/overhang in college after playing true ILB at the Senior Bowl. The guy can cover. He’ll start his career on special teams.
188. HOU – Mike Morris/DL Michigan: The Texans have more picks than they need even though they were one of the worst NFL teams last season. Morris is really good value at this spot with athleticism and length. He had a big 2022 with 7.5 sacks for the Wolverines.
189. LAR – Isaiah Land/DE Florida A&M: Rams are betting on traits here with Land, who has slowly added weight throughout his career, was a dominant defensive player in college and showed well at the Senior Bowl, playing end and some inside linebacker. Land broke the school record for sacks in a game, a five-sack performance against South Carolina State. He was the 2021 SWAC DPOY with 19 sacks.
190. CLE – Jake Andrews/C Troy: The Browns’ strong offensive line showd some cracks last year with injuries across the board. Andrews has interior versatility and can back up Ethan Pocic, who had a surprisingly nice 2022 season and was re-signed in the offseason.
191. LAR – Davis Allen/TE Clemson: Lots of picks for the Rams, who are likely to end up trading some of these. But here, they truly focus on BPA and value to take Allen. He found the end zone 12 times over his last three seasons despite some bumpy QB play.
192. NE – Payne Durham/TE Purdue: The second tight end the Pats have drafted. Durham is a well-rounded player with soft hands who can block and made eight trips to the end zone last season.
193. WSH – Puka Nacua/WR BYU: Good route runner who lacks high-end traits but averaged nearly 19 yards per grab two years ago. Washington transfer who was productive the last two years for the Cougars.
194. DET – Chamarri Conner/S Virginia Tech: Versatile missile who comes down to support the run, though his production faded over his college career. Could carve out a role on special teams.
195. DEN – Kadeem Telfort/OT UAB: Mountain of a man at 6’7, 322 pounds with 36-inch arms. Experienced left tackle to slide in behind Garrett Bolles, who has turned his career around and earned a long-term deal.
196. TB – Jaren Hall/QB BYU: Potential #3 QB who is a bit older and shorter though it didn’t stop the Bucs from signing Baker Mayfield. He fired 31 touchdown passes in 2022 and led BYU to a winning record in his two years starting.
197. MIA – Cory Durden/DL NC State: Just the third selection for the Dolphins and first in quite some time. Far from ideal. Durden is a late-round sleeper with size and good length, 33+ inch arms. He had good production early in his career at Florida State before transferring. We’ll see if he can find that magic again in Miami.
198. SEA – John Ojukwu/OT Boise State: Late draft riser who will provide depth behind the Seahawks’ top tackles, Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas. Depth behind them looks thin. Ojukwu is a rare five-year starter.
199. BAL – Jalen Moreno-Cropper/WR Fresno State: Ravens loading up on receivers and they’ve drafted them in the late rounds many times before. Bit of a fall for JMC based on his draft stock projection but had a nice 2022 season with nearly 1,100 receiving yards. He can be an asset in the receiver run game, too.
200. LAC – Emil Ekiyor, Jr./OG Alabama: Could go higher than this but the Chargers will jump on the value. Ekiyor started three years at guard for the Crimson Tide and used his squatty body to maul in the run game.
201. HOU – C.J. Johnson/WR East Carolina: Big-play wide receiver who will let DBs know about it when he finds the end zone. Some off-field concerns but worth the late-round risk. Averaged 15.2 yards per catch and a TD every 6.7 receptions in 2022.
202. JAC – Will Mallory/TE Miami (FL): Deep tight end class pushes a talent like Mallory down. But Mallory has straight-line speed and has been consistently productive. Jacksonville is looking to lock up Evan Engram to a long-term deal, but they can add behind him.
203. HOU – Kenny McIntosh/RB Georgia: Some may believe McIntosh will go higher than this but he ran a little slow and wasn’t terribly productive while splitting time in the Bulldogs’ backfield. He had just one season of more than 400 rushing yards but caught the ball well. He can try to carve out a third-down role early in his career.
204. LVR – Josh Whyle/TE Cincinnati: Whyle has a nose for the end zone with 15 touchdowns over his last three years though his production ticked down last year without Desmond Ridder. The Raiders have signed veterans Austin Hooper and O.J. Howard to replace Darren Waller but they’re stopgap options, not long-term solutions. May be a team that looks for Brock Bowers next year for Will Levis.
205. BUF – DeMarcco Hellams/S Alabama: Underrated safety with 108 tackles last season and seven pass breakups. Jordan Poyer was brought back but the safety room is getting older in Buffalo.
206. CIN – Keaton Mitchell/RB East Carolina: Electric back who ran for over 1,450 yards last year with 15 total touchdowns. Great speed and the second back the Bengals draft after losing Samaje Perine to Denver with Mixon likely on his way out. Wouldn’t be surprised to see the Bengals double-dip at this position.
207. GB – Starling Thomas V/CB UAB: Fast slot corner who didn’t finish a ton of plays; zero picks last season but broke up 15 passes in 2022. That ranked fourth in the NCAA. He also offers a little bit of return value.
208. JAC – Isaiah Moore/LB NC State: Underrated thumper who racked up 15 tackles for loss last season. Good add for the Jaguars, who have made plenty of picks in this mock.
209. NYG – Grant DuBose/WR UNC-Charlotte: Sleeper wideout who had a solid Senior Bowl and brings good size to the league. Knows how to finish plays with 15 touchdowns over his last two years after transferring from JUCO Miles College.
210. NE – Caleb Murphy/EDGE Ferris State: Pats going back into the small-school waters to select Murphy, one of the draft’s most productive pass rushers. A Grand Valley State transfer, all Murphy did was rack up a ridiculous 25.5 sacks last season with 39 tackles for loss, setting an NCAA record in the former and tying the record in the latter. He won the 2022 Ted Hendricks Award, which was probably the easiest decision those voters have ever made. There’s size here too at 263 pounds.
211. MIN – Alex Palczewski/OT Illinois: You won’t find anyone with more experience than Palczewski. He made an incredible 65 starts in college, seeing the bulk of his time at right tackle while also playing guard. Has a similar body type as RT Brian O’Neill.
212. DAL – Jason Taylor II/S Oklahoma State: Ballhawk who intercepted six passes for the Cowboys a year ago. His tape isn’t as good as his statistics indicate and his run defense is a concern. But the Cowboys bet on this production at the end of the sixth round.
213. ARI – Aubrey Miller/ILB Jackson State: Physical thumper with a nose to pop the football out. Good Senior Bowl week and a Combine snub, he’ll try to replicate the success James Houston had in Detroit last season.
214. LVR – Christian Izien/CB Rutgers: Safety/slot hybrid blew up his Pro Day workout with a 4.43 40, 41.5-inch vertical, and 20 reps on the bar. Plays the run hard with 15 tackles for loss over his career. Bill Belichick’s affinity for Rutgers players rubs off on Josh McDaniels.
215. WSH – Sean Tucker/RB Syracuse: Productive two-year starter with some mileage. Nearly 600 career carries and also had 64 receptions over his Orangemen career. Number 3 option behind Brian Robinson and Antonio Gibson. The big concern here is a heart issue discovered at the Combine, which could cause him to go undrafted.
216. SF – Hunter Luepke/FB North Dakota State: If there’s an easy pro comparison to make, it’s Luepke – who could be a higher pick than this – to the 49ers’ Kyle Juszczyk. Versatile, physical, and dude plays with full intensity all the time. Juszcyk is under contract through 2025 but he’s also 32 years old. No team uses a FB as often as the 49ers.
217. KC – Lonnie Phelps/EDGE Kansas: High-energy pass rusher who will be a beast on special teams. Isn’t terribly big but Miami (OH) trasfer carried over his production to the Power 5. He racked up 11 TFL and seven sacks last season for the Jayhawks.
Round Seven
218. CHI – Ronnie Bell/WR Michigan: After missing most of 2021 with a right-knee ACL tear, Bell bounced back for an 889 yard season last year for the Wolverines. His 15.6 career yards per catch certainly is eye-catching. The Bears’ wide receiver room has filled up so Bell may be ticketed for the practice squad.
219. PHI – Brayden Willis/TE Oklahoma: Versatile H-Back who could become a chess piece in the Eagles’ offense. Had his best year in 2022, finishing with 39 receptions and 10 carries.
220. LVR – Junior Fehoko/DE San Jose State: Big and powerful strongside end with plus projection, a healthy 19 TFL and nine sacks last season to go along with five forced fumbles over his last two years. Also gets his hands in throwing lanes with six pass deflections in 2021. Bit of a slide here for Fehoko, who is a powerful but not twitched-up rusher.
221. IND – Colby Sorsdal/OG William & Mary: Underrated interior offensive lineman who has a real shot to get drafted. Colts adding some beef towards the end of the draft.
222. SF – Jerrod Clark/NT Coastal Carolina: Big interior plugger who overcame a back issue and mental health struggles to turn in a solid college career. Picked up 10 tackles for loss last season and can work as a one-tech for the Rams.
223. LAR – Art Green/CB Houston: Underrated corner with a good pre-draft process. Three tackles for a loss, two picks, and eight pass breakups last season. The 6’1, 200-pounder ran a blistering 4.38 40 and had a 36-inch vert at Houston’s Pro Day. Definitely a combination of production and testing to get drafted.
224. ATL – Scott Matlock/DE Boise State: Another underrated name who might go higher than this. Has size and is a solid athlete; has played a ton of snaps over the years. Had seven sacks two years ago before his numbers dipped in 2022.
225. ATL – Noah Gindorff/TE North Dakota State: Big-bodied in-line blocker and one of the best in his class. Also shows soft hands and ability to make catches in traffic, plays that showed up a bit more often in 2019 with Trey Lance at QB. A recurring ankle injury is the big medical red flag, but Gindorff got healthy for a private Pro Day in mid-April. Fits the Falcons’ system well as a #3 TE.
226. JAC – DJ Johnson/DE Oregon: Ran a blistering sub-4.5 at the Combine, which will get him on NFL team’s radars and a chance to be picked higher than this. His other testing wasn’t nearly as impressive, and he has just one year of production. Even that wasn’t overwhelming, as he finished 2022 with six sacks.
227. NO – Ivan Pace/ILB Cincinnati: Short but stout linebacker and one of the best blitzers in the class. Could go higher than this. Miami (OH) transfer who turned some heads in Mobile at the Senior Bowl.
228. TEN – Mohamed Ibrahim/RB Minnesota: Late-round depth behind Derrick Henry, who continues to have trade rumors swirl around him. An absolute workhorse RB with nearly 900 carries in 2022 despite missing nearly all of 2021 after tearing his Achilles. He came back to rush for a career-high 1,665 yard and 20 touchdowns last season. He didn’t do much out of the backfield though with 22 career grabs.
229. CLE – Isaiah Bolden/CB Jackson State: Big slot in a similar mold to Greg Newsome and who reminds me of Rasul Douglas. Also a really impressive return man who began his career at Florida State before transferring to play for Deion Sanders.
230. HOU – Alex Forsyth/C Oregon: Technically sound center who could play some guard. Not a great athlete and tested really poorly. That drops him but he could go a round higher than this. Everyone is looking for o-line depth late in the draft.
231. LVR – Justin Shorter/WR-TE Florida: The Raiders have far more draft picks than any team needs. They’ll make some trades here. I know the team took a tight end 30 picks earlier, but this is dart-throwing time. Shorter played receiver but could shift to an athletic move/F tight end at the next level, a semi-similar comparison to Darren Waller, though Waller was much bigger.
232. GB – Ben VanSumeren/LB Michigan State: Blew up his Combine with an incredible workout, highlighted by a 42-inch vertical. Played RB at Michigan before transferring to MSU. Super raw and his processing is a mess but he runs well in a line. Definite practice squad stash candidate.
233. WSH – Dalton Wagner/OT Arkansas: Tall and long tackle who isn’t a great athlete but had 40 career starts in the SEC. Most of his work came at RT but he’s logged a tiny bit of time at LT and RG. Seventh-round depth for the Commanders, who have yet to draft a tackle.
234. LAR – Kendre Miller/RB TCU: Good value here as Miller could go higher during draft weekend. Broke out with 1,400 rushing yards last season and 17 touchdowns. Rams have yet to draft a running back. For once have a lot of picks with which to work.
235. GB – Nick Hampton/EDGE Appalachian State: This is a fall compared to where he’s projected to go. Hampton’s lack of size at 6’2, 236 will give teams pause, though he makes up for it with plus length. He has production with nearly 30 TFL and 20 sacks over his last two years. He’s considered a sleeper by some draftniks.
236. IND – Ventrell Miller/LB Florida: Late-round LB depth who had 8.5 tackles for a loss last year. And a teammate of Anthony Richardson. Always nice to give your new franchise QB a familiar face.
237. SEA – Ronnie Hickman/S Ohio State: A bit on the small side, he got moved around quite a bit at Ohio State. But he’s aggressive and will fill the alley in the run game. It’s enough to get picked before the draft ends.
238. MIA – Ronnie Brown/RB Shepherd: Two Shepherd players getting drafted. Pretty cool. Brown has the speed Mike McDaniel’s offense covets, running in the mid 4.4s at his Pro Day. Ran for over 1,800 yards in the PSAC last year and also had a 100-yard kick return TD against Kutztown.
239. LAC – Bumper Pool/LB Arkansas: Definitely part of the all-name team of the 2023 NFL Draft class. Pool plays to his name and comes downhill against the run with nearly 450 career tackles, 27.5 of which came for a loss. Also had an impressive 19 career pass breakups.
240. NYG – Dante Stills/DL West Virginia: Productive player with 53 career tackles for loss with 24.5 sacks while also notching five forced fumbles. Could go higher than this.
241. PIT – Jerome Carvin/OG Tennessee: Versatile and experienced interior lineman with extensive experience at all three spots. That’ll help him hang around and push for a backup spot, primarily behind center Mason Cole.
242. GB – Malik Cunningham/QB Louisville: With Aaron Rodgers gone, the Packers might want to add to their QB room. Cunningham is a good athlete but will have to recapture the magic of two years ago. Last year, he threw just eight touchdowns in 10 games. He did his damage on the ground with 32 rushing scores, leading some to wonder about a position switch.
243. NYG – Anfernee Orji/LB Vanderbilt: Recorded 106 tackles last season for the Commodores. Ran an impressive 4.53 with 38.5-inch vertical. He could get drafted higher than this.
244. DAL – Antoine Green/WR North Carolina: Vertical/Z-receiver who makes plays downfield. Struggled with health throughout his career but a 1v1 jump ball guy and red zone threat who could land on the Cowboys’ practice squad.
245. NE – Jarrick Bernard-Converse/CB LSU: Late-name riser who ran 4.4 and jumped 42 inches at his Pro Day. Definitely turned heads. Experienced DB who transferred from Oklahoma State and picked off a pair of passes. He could go higher than the late seventh.
246. CIN – Nick Broeker/OG Ole Miss: Spent his first couple season as a left tackle before bumping to guard his senior season. Pushes his weight around as a run blocker and isn’t bad value with one of the draft’s final picks.
247. SF – Malik Knowles/WR Kansas State: Knowles hasn’t gotten much buzz but I like the fit for the 49ers. Receiver, runner, returner, he can align in a lot of places like Deebo Samuel, though Knowles obviously has a way to go to be anywhere close to that level. He didn’t test well during the pre-draft process.
248. PHI – Jose Ramirez/EDGE Eastern Michigan: Overlooked name – even in this mock draft. Could go a round higher after posting 19.5 TFL and 12 sacks last season to help his team win its first bowl game since 1987. A lack of height and length does hurt him, though. The Eagles have a strong track record of taking late-round pass rushers.
249. KC – Ty Okada/S Montana State: Late riser who blew up his Pro Day with a 4.47 40, 40.5-inch vertical, 10’9” broad, and 6.85 three-cone on a windy, outdoor day. Safety/slot with six TFL, a pick, and a blocked kick last season.
250. KC – Xazavian Valladay/RB Arizona State: Decent size at 6’0, nearly 200 pounds with back-to-back 1,000+ yard rushing seasons for Wyoming and ASU, where he transferred for the 2022 season. Caught 37 passes last year for the Sun Devils.
251. PIT – Shaka Heyward/ILB Duke: A distant cousin of the Heywards, though he’s never met Cam or Connor. Heyward ran well and had a decorated 2022 with 93 tackles (six for loss), two sacks, two picks, six pass breakups, and two fumble recoveries. Will challenge for a #5 spot.
252. TB – Andrew Farmer/DE Lane College: Small-schooler with 9.5 sacks last year. Led D2 in tackles for a loss, which earned him an HBCU Combine Invite. Bucs roll the dice late.
253. SF – Drake Thomas/ILB NC State: Lots of draft picks for the 49ers to close things out. Thomas racked up 19.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks last season so this is the worthwhile flier to take the chance on. The Wolfpack have several draft picks this year.
254. NYG – Tariq Bracy/CB Notre Dame: Unheralded slot corner who could go undrafted but the Giants secure his rights with a draft pick. Had six tackles for loss and a pick last year for the Fighting Irish while forcing three fumbles in his career.
255. SF – Chad Ryland/K Maryland: There’s not much else the 49ers need. I even tried to give them a long snapper but they signed their starter to a three-year extension in the offseason. Ryland’s converted over 80% of his kicks three years running and transferred from EMU to Maryland last year. He’ll compete with the traded-for Zane Gonzalez.
256. GB – Trey Dean III/S Florida: Well-built safety who ran poorly at the Combine. Plays faster on tape with 255 career tackles, making plays in coverage and around the line of scrimmage.
257. NO – Connor Galvin/OT Baylor: Late-round tackle option so they don’t have to fight for him as an undrafted free agent. First-team All Big 12 in 2022 and a 4 1/2 year starter at LT for the Bears.
258. CHI – Alex Ward/LS UCF: GM Ryan Poles keeps adding competition everywhere. He’ll compete with veteran Patrick Scales for the roster spot. Ward, considered the draft’s top long snapper, attended the Senior Bowl and Combine.
259. HOU – Kyle Patterson/TE Air Force: This year’s Mr. Irrelevant. Brings size to the table at 6’5 260 but good luck trying to find tape of him catching the ball. Only 18 career receptions with just three catches in each of his last two years in college. He’s also battling a knee injury but there’s size and some athleticism. Just don’t expect him to be the next Brock Purdy.
