With the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft now complete, I am pleased to present my 2023 NFL Mock Draft: Day 2 Edition. These second-round and third-round projections are based on the draft order as it currently stands and my personal impressions of remaining team needs and interests, and do not reflect any potential trade scenarios.
Second-round selections are presented graphically below, followed by the complete Day 2 mock draft.
2023 NFL MOCK DRAFT: DAY 2 EDITION
Round 2
32) Pittsburgh Steelers (from CHI) — Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State 33) Arizona Cardinals (from HOU) — Adetomiwa Adebawore, DL, Northwestern 34) Detroit Lions (from ARZ) — Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame 35) Indianapolis Colts — Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia 36) Los Angeles Rams — Will Levis, QB, Kentucky 37) Seattle Seahawks (from DEN) — John Michael Schmitz, OC, Minnesota 38) Las Vegas Raiders — Julius Brents, CB, Kansas State 39) Carolina Panthers — BJ Ojulari, EDGE, LSU 40) New Orleans Saints — Keion White, EDGE, Georgia Tech 41) Tennessee Titans — Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia 42) Green Bay Packers (from CLE via NYJ) — Cedric Tillman, WR, Tennessee 43) New York Jets — Matthew Bergeron, OT, Syracuse 44) Atlanta Falcons — Brian Branch, DB, Alabama 45) Green Bay Packers — Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State 46) New England Patriots — Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss 47) Washington Commanders — Cody Mauch, OL, North Dakota State 48) Detroit Lions — O’Cyrus Torrence, OG, Florida 49) Pittsburgh Steelers — Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas 50) Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Zach Charbonnet, RB, UCLA 51) Miami Dolphins — Tucker Kraft, TE, South Dakota State 52) Seattle Seahawks — Keeanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin 53) Chicago Bears (from BAL) — Derick Hall, EDGE, Auburn 54) Los Angeles Chargers — DJ Turner, CB, Michigan 55) Detroit Lions (from MIN) — Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee 56) Jacksonville Jaguars — Steve Avila, OG, TCU 57) New York Giants — Joe Tippmann, OC, Wisconsin 58) Dallas Cowboys — Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa 59) Buffalo Bills — Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson 60) Cincinnati Bengals — Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State 61) Chicago Bears (from SF thru CAR) — Tyrique Stevenson, CB, Miami 62) Philadelphia Eagles — Sydney Brown, S, Illinois 63) Kansas City Chiefs — Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee
Round 3
64) Chicago Bears — Devon Achane, RB, Texas A&M 65) Houston Texans — Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina 66) Philadelphia Eagles (from ARZ) — Roschon Johnson, RB, Texas 67) Denver Broncos (from IND) — Tuli Tuipulotu, EDGE, USC 68) Denver Broncos — Daiyan Henley, LB, Washington State 69) Los Angeles Rams — Isaiah Foskey, EDGE, Notre Dame 70) Las Vegas Raiders — Nick Saldiveri, OL, Old Dominion 71) New Orleans Saints — Tyler Scott, WR, Cincinnati 72) Tennessee Titans — Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina 73) Houston Texans (from CLE) — Tank Dell, WR, Houston 74) Cleveland Browns (from NYJ) — Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M 75) Atlanta Falcons — Jayden Reed, WR, Michigan State 76) New England (from CAR) — Tyler Steen, OL, Alabama 77) Los Angeles Rams (from NE via MIA) — Darius Rush, CB, South Carolina 78) Green Bay Packers — Jartavius Martin, DB, Illinois 79) Indianapolis Colts (from WAS) — Marvin Mims Jr., WR, Oklahoma 80) Pittsburgh Steelers — Siaki Ika, DT, Baylor 81) Arizona Cardinals (from DET) — Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah 82) Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Jaelyn Duncan, OT, Maryland 83) Seattle Seahawks — Zacch Pickens, DT, South Carolina 84) Miami Dolphins — Chandler Zavala, OG, North Carolina State 85) Los Angeles Chargers — Brenton Strange, TE, Penn State 86) Baltimore Ravens — Cory Trice Jr., CB, Purdue 87) Minnesota Vikings — Braeden Daniels, OL, Utah 88) Jacksonville Jaguars — Luke Schoonmaker, TE, Michigan 89) New York Giants — YaYa Diaby, EDGE, Louisville 90) Dallas Cowboys — Israel Abanikanda, RB, Pitt 91) Buffalo Bills — Gervon Dexter Sr., DL, Florida 92) Cincinnati Bengals — Tyjae Spears, RB, Tulane 93) Carolina Panthers (from SF) — Henry To’oTo’o, LB, Alabama 94) Arizona Cardinals (from PHI) — Rashee Rice, WR, SMU 95) Kansas City Chiefs — Blake Freeland, OT, BYU 96) Arizona Cardinals (compensatory) — Ji’Ayir Brown, S, Penn State 97) Washington Commanders (compensatory) — Isaiah McGuire, EDGE, Missouri 98) Cleveland Browns (special compensatory) — Byron Young, EDGE, Tennessee 99) San Francisco 49ers (special compensatory) — Wanya Morris, OT, Oklahoma 100) Las Vegas Raiders (special compensatory; from KC via NYG) — DeMarvion Overshown, LB, Texas 101) San Francisco 49ers (special compensatory) — Terell Smith, CB, Minnesota 102) San Francisco 49ers (special compensatory) — Marte Mapu, LB, Sacramento State
With the 2023 NFL Draft now upon us, I am pleased to present my 2023 NFL Mock Draft: Final Edition. These first-round projections are based on the current draft order and my personal impressions of team needs and interests entering the draft, with consideration given to a potential late-round trade scenario.
Enjoy the draft!
1 | Carolina Panthers (via CHI) — Bryce Young, QB, Alabama After the Panthers traded up with the clear intent to a draft quarterback, they have done their due diligence on all of top prospects at the position. C.J. Stroud seemed to emerge as their preferred choice initially, but Bryce Young is now the overwhelming favorite to be selected first overall.
2 | Houston Texans — Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama Quarterback is the obvious need, but with the Texans missing out on the opportunity to draft their reported favorite, Bryce Young, the question now is whether they like either C.J. Stroud or Will Levis here. If not, it could be Will Anderson Jr., arguably the top defensive prospect in this draft, who heads to Houston with the second overall pick.
3 | Arizona Cardinals — Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech The Cardinals have been and expect to continue fielding offers from teams looking to trade up for a quarterback, but likely do not want to drop too far down only to see their top targets come off the board right in front of them. A trade down that yields a reasonably compelling return and still leaves Arizona in prime position to draft a top offensive lineman, cornerback, or edge rusher — such as Tyree Wilson — would be ideal for a team that has a plethora of needs on both sides of the ball.
4 | Indianapolis Colts — Will Levis, QB, Kentucky If the Texans elect to pass on a quarterback, look for the Colts to weigh a trade up with either them or the Cardinals to secure their top choice at the position. Indianapolis could just as easily draft C.J. Stroud or Anthony Richardson, but there is ample buzz that suggests their passer of preference is Will Levis.
5 | Seattle Seahawks (via DEN) — Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida The Seahawks will likely have a decision to make here whether to continue fortifying their defense through the draft or rolling the dice on the athletically gifted Anthony Richardson as their quarterback of the future. That said, it’s boom or bust for Seattle with the fifth overall pick — or perhaps a pick later in sequence acquired in a trade down — as they bank on being able to develop Richardson’s raw talent.
6 | Detroit Lions (via LAR) — Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois Defense expects to be the focus for the Lions with the sixth overall pick, as they will be within striking distance of or selecting from among the top cornerbacks, edge rushers, and defensive lineman Jalen Carter. Their level of comfort with Carter likely determines whether he is the pick, but I can also see a scenario where Detroit simply prefers Devon Witherspoon.
7 | Las Vegas Raiders — Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon The Raiders are firmly in the first-round quarterback market, but they are also in dire need of premier talent at every level of their defense. That said, while I think it’s more likely that Las Vegas shops this pick to acquire more draft capital, I would lean towards cornerback Christian Gonzalez being one of the primary targets that they hope to come away with — either at seventh overall or slightly down the board.
8 | Atlanta Falcons — Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas With the two top cornerbacks and edge rushers eluding them, the Falcons may be pressed to simply opt for the best player available. With that in mind, Atlanta has emerged as the first potential landing spot for running back Bijan Robinson. Whether or not a team should spend premium draft capital on a running back is certainly a conversation that can be had, but there’s no denying that Robinson is an elite prospect and makes sense as the selection for a team whose offense would run through him.
9 | Chicago Bears (via CAR) — Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State Even after trading down ahead of the draft, the Bears may end up in position to select a prospect they would have considered at first overall in Jalen Carter. Whether Carter is or isn’t available, there are also a number of signs that have begun to point at athletic offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. being in heavy consideration here for Chicago.
10 | Philadelphia Eagles (via NO) — Jalen Carter, DL, Georgia The Eagles fielded one of the best rosters in the league last year from top to bottom, but took a number of hits this offseason. Having Jalen Carter slide to them on draft night — or more likely, Philadelphia trading up to stop his fall — would more than cushion the blow from those losses, while giving the polarizing prospect the opportunity to grow into a pro under veteran leadership on and off the field.
11 | Tennessee Titans — Peter Skoronski, OL, Northwestern The Titans expect to be adding a new piece to their offense on draft night, either here or perhaps earlier in a trade up. Quarterback or receiver could be in play, but I see Tennessee continuing to remake their offensive line and targeting versatile tackle-guard prospect Peter Skoronski to fill a starting role.
12 | Houston Texans (via CLE) — C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State While they pass on a quarterback at the start of the draft in this scenario, the Texans still somehow manage to land C.J. Stroud when they come back up on the clock for their second selection — perhaps in part due to the unflattering narratives circulating about Stroud in the lead up to the draft. In any case, while the board appears to fall in their favor here, I see this fit being more likely to fall into place as the result of the Texans trading up.
13 | Green Bay Packers (via NYJ) — Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State It would be ironic for the Packers to finally draft a wide receiver for the first time in 20 years with a quarterback change now officially on the horizon. But, imagine Green Bay not only breaking the trend, but emphasizing the point by using the pick acquired in the Aaron Rodgers trade to do it and selecting Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
14 | New England Patriots — Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College The Patriots are a team to watch for a cornerback, an offensive tackle, or a wide receiver, and with a number of names still on the board to consider, I see New England opting for local product Zay Flowers, a playmaking pass-catcher who has been linked to the organization since the start of the draft process.
15 | New York Jets (via GB) — Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia Now that the Jets have their new quarterback, the priority should be to shore up his frontline protection. Offensive tackle Broderick Jones has room to grow but offers the upside to be a long-term solution at a position where New York has been chasing consistency.
16 | Washington Commanders — Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee Cornerback and tight end could be in consideration here, but if the Commanders have a shot at one of the top offensive linemen at the midpoint of the first round, it’s difficult to see them passing. In this scenario, it’s rugged right tackle Darnell Wright who goes to Washington.
17 | Pittsburgh Steelers — Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State Offensive line or a trade up could be in play depending on how the board falls, but cornerback is a clear and present need for Pittsburgh. Deonte Banks is also a consideration, but it may just be meant to be for Joey Porter Jr. to join the Steelers and follow in the footsteps of his father.
18 | Detroit Lions — Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa Along with cornerback, which they addressed earlier in this scenario, defensive line appears to be the highest-priority target for Detroit in the first round. Tight end is also a possibility, but they likely take the chance the position stretches to the top of the second round. If they are unable to land Tyree Wilson, who they are reportedly interested in, with their earlier pick, a fallback option with comparable upside for the Lions could be Lukas Van Ness.
19 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Brian Branch, DB, Alabama The Buccaneers head into the draft with a vacancy at offensive tackle, but may not be keen to dip into the next tier this early. An alternative could be pursuing a key chess piece for their defense and drafting a high-floor, do-everything defensive back in Brian Branch.
20 | Seattle Seahawks — Nolan Smith, LB, Georgia Should the Seahawks proceed with drafting a quarterback with their first pick in the draft, virtually every other position appears to be in play with their second pick. That said, I see the opportunity to draft hybrid edge defender Nolan Smith here being too appealing for Seattle to pass up.
21 | Los Angeles Chargers — Jordan Addison, WR, USC From my view, the choice for the Chargers here will come down to two players — edge rusher Myles Murphy and wide receiver Jordan Addison. Looking at the team’s roster construction, the same considerations factor in at both positions: age, injury concerns, and salary increases for the current starters heading into next offseason. The pick may ultimately depend on who has the most influence in the war room. That said, after initially slotting Myles Murphy here, I see Jordan Addison staying in Los Angeles to start his career as a pro.
22 | Baltimore Ravens — Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland The Ravens likely explore a trade down given their limited number of picks, but may think twice about moving back with one of the the top four cornerbacks still on the board. Deonte Banks would address a critical need and would have the opportunity to emerge as an immediate starter for Baltimore.
23 | Minnesota Vikings — Calijah Kancey, DL, Pitt The Vikings expect to be in play for a wide receiver here certainly and possibly a quarterback. However, should they miss out on their primary targets or opt to trade down for more picks, I can see them shifting their focus to defense with the intent to juice up the interior pass rush. Calijah Kancey is a physical outlier, but is undoubtedly a disruptive force inside with a skill set that compares favorably to other successful pros at or around his size.
24 | Jacksonville Jaguars — Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah The Jaguars are in an advantageous position heading into the draft, not having very many obvious holes to fill. As such, they can afford to draft the best player available on their board. Should edge rusher Myles Murphy or defensive back Brian Branch remain available, they expect to be the mix, but I can also see Jacksonville opening up the anticipated early run on tight ends with the selection of dynamic pass-catcher Dalton Kincaid.
25 | New York Giants — John Michael Schmitz, OC, Minnesota Projecting a wide receiver to the Giants here has been popular throughout the draft process, as well as cornerback more recently, and rightfully so. But when the chips are down, I ultimately see New York investing again in the offensive line to protect their investment at quarterback — specifically keeping the front of the pocket clean. For my money, there’s no better prospect in this draft to plug in and play at the pivot than John Michael Schmitz.
26 | Dallas Cowboys — Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame The Cowboys have made shrewd moves to address problem areas this offseason, notably at wide receiver and cornerback. While you can’t rule it out here, the need to draft a prospect at either position with their first-round pick has been appreciably reduced. Running back is a need, however, and the Cowboys would surely love to see Bijan Robinson still available here. But, it’s more likely they close on a guard or a tight end, with a number of names in the mix. With that in mind, Michael Mayer has gained steam as a primary target in recent weeks and emerged as the favorite to be drafted by Dallas.
27 | Buffalo Bills — Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan At a glance, the Bills appear to have their bases covered at most every position, but it’s difficult to ignore the sizable void at linebacker and the limited time remaining on the contracts of multiple interior defensive linemen. I personally like the fit of linebacker Drew Sanders here, but Buffalo may be more partial to adding a big body up front — and defensive tackle Mazi Smith certainly fits that profile.
28 | Cincinnati Bengals — Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State Offensive line and tight end have been the popular projections for the Bengals here and they are in range to draft a prospective starter at either position if they so prefer. But, if Cincinnati feels comfortable with their current in-house options at right tackle and the capacity for the board to stretch at tight end, I can see them addressing a thin depth chart at cornerback with Emmanuel Forbes, who plays well above his well-publicized weight class.
29 | New Orleans Saints (via SF) — Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson With a new quarterback in place, the Saints expect to add more weapons to their offense through the draft, which puts receivers Jalin Hyatt and Quentin Johnston in the conversation here of the names still available. But, I can see adding a top prospect on the edge — where they have a reasonable need — enticing New Orleans more and perhaps to the point of trading up. I didn’t forecast it here, but I have a scenario in mind where, if Myles Murphy starts to slide, the Saints make the call to move up with a cooperative partner. Otherwise, depending on how the board falls and considering how his stock has cooled, I don’t think it’s too far-fetched to suggest that Murphy is still around if they stay put.
30 | Las Vegas Raiders (via PHI)* — Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee * Projected trade up with Philadelphia Eagles * There seems to be enough smoke coming from league circles to now believe five quarterbacks coming off the board in the first round is a real possibility. Personally, I think if it happens, it will be the result of a team trading back in at the end of the night, perhaps with the Eagles here, who may attempt to recoup assets if they move up from their earlier pick. The Raiders have done their homework on all of the top quarterbacks in this draft and, depending on how they have them stacked and how the board falls, could engineer an exchange with Philadelphia to jump back into the first round and draft Hendon Hooker.
31 | Kansas City Chiefs— Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee The Chiefs enter the draft with a number of familiar pieces now missing from their roster and I look at drafting offensive line or defensive line here, a trade down, or a trade up for a player they really covet all being options for Kansas City. But, I can see them continuing to remake their receiver corps with an emphasis on the element of deep speed and drafting blazer Jalin Hyatt.
All 32 teams. All 7 rounds. All 259 selections. This is the DRAFTPLEX 2023 NFL Draft Super Mock.
Projections are based on the official draft order as of April 12 and my personal impressions of team needs and interests heading into the draft, and do not reflect any potential trade scenarios.
First-round selections are presented graphically below, followed by the complete seven-round mock draft.
2023 NFL DRAFT SUPER MOCK
Round 1
1) Carolina Panthers (from CHI) — Bryce Young, QB, Alabama 2) Houston Texans — Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama 3) Arizona Cardinals — Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech 4) Indianapolis Colts — C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State 5) Seattle Seahawks (from DEN) — Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida 6) Detroit Lions (from LAR) — Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois 7) Las Vegas Raiders — Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon 8) Atlanta Falcons — Jalen Carter, DL, Georgia 9) Chicago Bears (from CAR) — Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee 10) Philadelphia Eagles (from NO) — Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa 11) Tennessee Titans — Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State 12) Houston Texans (from CLE) — Will Levis, QB, Kentucky 13) New York Jets — Peter Skoronski, OL, Northwestern 14) New England Patriots — Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State 15) Green Bay Packers — Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State 16) Washington Commanders — Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland 17) Pittsburgh Steelers — Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia 18) Detroit Lions — Adetomiwa Adebawore, DL, Northwestern 19) Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Nolan Smith, LB, Georgia 20) Seattle Seahawks — John Michael Schmitz, OC, Minnesota 21) Los Angeles Chargers — Jordan Addison, WR, USC 22) Baltimore Ravens — Brian Branch, DB, Alabama 23) Minnesota Vikings — Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College 24) Jacksonville Jaguars — Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson 25) New York Giants — Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU 26) Dallas Cowboys — Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas 27) Buffalo Bills — Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas 28) Cincinnati Bengals — Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame 29) New Orleans Saints (from SF thru MIA & DEN) — Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee 30) Philadelphia Eagles — Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State 31) Kansas City Chiefs — Calijah Kancey, DL, Pitt
Round 2
32) Pittsburgh Steelers (from CHI) — Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson 33) Houston Texans — Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia 34) Arizona Cardinals — Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina 35) Indianapolis Colts — Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia 36) Los Angeles Rams — Will McDonald IV, EDGE, Iowa State 37) Seattle Seahawks (from DEN) — Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan 38) Las Vegas Raiders — Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah 39) Carolina Panthers — BJ Ojulari, EDGE, LSU 40) New Orleans Saints — Bryan Bresee, DL, Clemson 41) Tennessee Titans — Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee 42) New York Jets (from CLE) — Joe Tippmann, OC, Wisconsin 43) New York Jets — Daiyan Henley, LB, Washington State 44) Atlanta Falcons — DJ Turner, CB, Michigan 45) Green Bay Packers — Keion White, EDGE, Georgia Tech 46) New England Patriots — Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss 47) Washington Commanders — Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma 48) Detroit Lions — Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama 49) Pittsburgh Steelers — Julius Brents, CB, Kansas State 50) Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Matthew Bergeron, OT, Syracuse 51) Miami Dolphins — Cody Mauch, OL, North Dakota State 52) Seattle Seahawks — Tuli Tuipulotu, EDGE, USC 53) Chicago Bears (from BAL) — Felix Anudike-Uzomah, EDGE, Kansas State 54) Los Angeles Chargers — Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State 55) Detroit Lions (from MIN) — Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina 56) Jacksonville Jaguars — Tyrique Stevenson, CB, Miami 57) New York Giants — Darius Rush, CB, South Carolina 58) Dallas Cowboys — Steve Avila, OG, TCU 59) Buffalo Bills — Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State 60) Cincinnati Bengals — Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah 61) Chicago Bears (from CAR thru SF) — Keeanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin 62) Philadelphia Eagles — O’Cyrus Torrence, OG, Florida 63) Kansas City Chiefs — Derick Hall, EDGE, Auburn
Round 3
64) Chicago Bears — Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa 65) Houston Texans — Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa 66) Arizona Cardinals — Cedric Tillman, WR, Tennessee 67) Denver Broncos (from IND) — Devon Achane, RB, Texas A&M 68) Denver Broncos — Siaki Ika, DT, Baylor 69) Los Angeles Rams — Cory Trice Jr., CB, Purdue 70) Las Vegas Raiders — Isaiah Foskey, EDGE, Notre Dame 71) New Orleans Saints — Tucker Kraft, TE, South Dakota State 72) Tennessee Titans — Tyler Scott, WR, Cincinnati 73) Houston Texans (from CLE) — Tank Dell, WR, Houston 74) Cleveland Browns (from NYJ) — Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M 75) Atlanta Falcons — Jayden Reed, WR, Michigan State 76) New England (from CAR) — Blake Freeland, OT, BYU 77) Los Angeles Rams (from MIA thru NE) — Sydney Brown, S, Illinois 78) Green Bay Packers — Ji’Ayir Brown, S, Penn State 79) Indianapolis Colts (from WAS) — Nick Saldiveri, OL, Old Dominion 80) Pittsburgh Steelers — Byron Young, EDGE, Tennessee 81) Detroit Lions — Brenton Strange, TE, Penn State 82) Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Zach Charbonnet, RB, UCLA 83) Seattle Seahawks — A.T. Perry, WR, Wake Forest 84) Miami Dolphins — Luke Schoonmaker, TE, Michigan 85) Los Angeles Chargers — Tyjae Spears, RB, Tulane 86) Baltimore Ravens — Chandler Zavala, OG, North Carolina State 87) Minnesota Vikings — Henry To’oTo’o, LB, Alabama 88) Jacksonville Jaguars — Jaelyn Duncan, OT, Maryland 89) New York Giants — Luke Wypler, OC, Ohio State 90) Dallas Cowboys — Rashee Rice, WR, SMU 91) Buffalo Bills — Roschon Johnson, RB, Texas 92) Cincinnati Bengals — Isaiah McGuire, EDGE, Missouri 93) Carolina Panthers (from SF) — Xavier Hutchinson, WR, Iowa State 94) Philadelphia Eagles — Gervon Dexter Sr., DL, Florida 95) Kansas City Chiefs — Marvin Mims Jr., WR, Oklahoma 96) Arizona Cardinals (compensatory) — Israel Abanikanda, RB, Pitt 97) Washington Commanders (compensatory) — Dorian Williams, LB, Tulane 98) Cleveland Browns (special compensatory) — YaYa Diaby, EDGE, Louisville 99) San Francisco 49ers (special compensatory) — Tyler Steen, OT, Alabama 100) Las Vegas Raiders (special compensatory; from KC thru NYG) — Yasir Abdullah, LB, Louisville 101) San Francisco 49ers (special compensatory) — Terell Smith, CB, Minnesota 102) San Francisco 49ers (special compensatory) — Marte Mapu, LB, Sacramento State
Round 4
103) Chicago Bears — Jartavius Martin, DB, Illinois 104) Houston Texans — Wanya Morris, OT, Oklahoma 105) Arizona Cardinals — Zacch Pickens, DL, South Carolina 106) Indianapolis Colts — Trey Palmer, WR, Nebraska 107) New England Patriots (from LAR) — Andre Carter II, EDGE, Army 108) Denver Broncos — Olusegun Oluwatimi, OC, Michigan 109) Las Vegas Raiders — Braeden Daniels, OL, Utah 110) Atlanta Falcons (from TEN) — K.J. Henry, EDGE, Clemson 111) Cleveland Browns — Ivan Pace Jr., LB, Cincinnati 112) New York Jets — Christopher Smith II, S, Georgia 113) Atlanta Falcons — Emil Ekiyor Jr., G, Alabama 114) Carolina Panthers — Colby Wooden, DL, Auburn 115) New Orleans Saints — Zach Harrison, EDGE, Ohio State 116) Green Bay Packers — Zach Kuntz, TE, Old Dominion 117) New England Patriots — Riley Moss, DB, Iowa 118) Washington Commanders — Tavius Robinson, EDGE, Ole Miss 119) Minnesota Vikings (from DET) — Jakorian Bennett, CB, Maryland 120) Pittsburgh Steelers — Parker Washington, WR, Penn State 121) Jacksonville Jaguars (from TB) — Josh Whyle, TE, Cincinnati 122) Kansas City Chiefs (from MIA) — Davis Allen, TE, Clemson 123) Seattle Seahawks — Owen Pappoe, LB, Auburn 124) Baltimore Ravens — Tank Bigsby, RB, Auburn 125) Los Angeles Chargers — Byron Young, DL, Alabama 126) Cleveland (from MIN) — Kyu Blu Kelly, CB, Stanford 127) Jacksonville Jaguars — Anthony Bradford, OG, LSU 128) New York Giants — Jordan Battle, S, Alabama 129) Dallas Cowboys — DeMarvion Overshown, LB, Texas 130) Buffalo Bills — Jammie Robinson, S, Florida State 131) Cincinnati Bengals — Zach Evans, RB, Ole Miss 132) Carolina Panthers (from SF) — Noah Sewell, LB, Oregon 133) Chicago Bears (from PHI) — Chase Brown, RB, Illinois 134) Kansas City Chiefs — Garrett Williams, CB, Syracuse 135) New England Patriots (compensatory) — Kenny McIntosh, RB, Georgia
Round 5
136) Chicago Bears — Charlie Jones, WR, Purdue 137) Buffalo Bills (from ARZ) — Payne Durham, TE, Purdue 138) Indianapolis Colts — Rejzohn Wright, CB, Oregon State 139) Denver Broncos — Jose Ramirez, EDGE, Eastern Michigan 140) Cleveland Browns (from LAR) — Kendre Miller, RB, TCU 141) Las Vegas Raiders — Aidan O’Connell, QB, Purdue 142) Cleveland Browns — JL Skinner, S, Boise State 143) New York Jets — Karl Brooks, DL, Bowling Green 144) Las Vegas Raiders (from ATL) — Daniel Scott, S, California 145) Carolina Panthers — Kei’Trel Clark, CB, Louisville 146) New Orleans Saints — Nick Herbig, LB, Wisconsin 147) Tennessee Titans — Ricky Stromberg, OC, Arkansas 148) Chicago Bears (from NE thru BAL) — Cameron Mitchell, CB, Northwestern 149) Green Bay Packers — Jaren Hall, QB, BYU 150) Washington Commanders — Tre Tucker, WR, Cincinnati 151) Seattle Seahawks (from PIT) — Andrew Vorhees, OG, USC 152) Detroit Lions — Carter Warren, OT, Pitt 153) Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Clayton Tune, QB, Houston 154) Seattle Seahawks — Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, CB, TCU 155) San Francisco 49ers (from MIA) — Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU 156) Los Angeles Chargers — Nick Hampton, LB, App State 157) Baltimore Ravens — Lonnie Phelps Jr., LB, Kansas 158) Minnesota Vikings — Dylan Horton, DL, TCU 159) Detroit Lions (from ATL through JAX) — Mike Morris, EDGE, Michigan 160) New York Giants — Moro Ojomo, DL, Texas 161) Houston Texans (from DAL) — Eli Ricks, CB, Alabama 162) Indianapolis Colts (from BUF) — Mohamoud Diabate, LB, Utah 163) Cincinnati Bengals — Derius Davis, WR, TCU 164) San Francisco 49ers — Jay Ward, DB, LSU 165) New Orleans Saints (from PHI) — Nick Broeker, OG, Ole Miss 166) Kansas City Chiefs — Colby Sorsdal, OT, William & Mary 167) Los Angeles Rams (compensatory) — McClendon Curtis, OG, Tennessee-Chattanooga 168) Arizona Cardinals (compensatory) — Juice Scruggs, OC, Penn State 169) Dallas Cowboys (compensatory) — Jaquelin Roy, DL, LSU 170) Green Bay Packers (compensatory) — Asim Richards, OT, North Carolina 171) Los Angeles Rams (compensatory) — Keondre Coburn, DT, Texas 172) New York Giants (compensatory) — DeWayne McBride, RB, UAB 173) San Francisco 49ers (compensatory) — Will Mallory, TE, Miami 174) Las Vegas Raiders (compensatory) — Jerrod Clark, DT, Coastal Carolina 175) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (compensatory) — Atonio Mafi, OG, UCLA 176) Indianapolis Colts (compensatory; from DAL) — Michael Wilson, WR, Stanford 177) Los Angeles Rams (compensatory) — Eric Gray, RB, Oklahoma
Round 6
178) Kansas City Chiefs (from CHI thru MIA) — Deuce Vaughn, RB, Kansas State 179) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from HOU) — Dee Winters, LB, TCU 180) Arizona Cardinals — Darrell Luter Jr., South Alabama 181) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from IND) — Andre Iosivas, WR, Princeton 182) Los Angeles Rams — Isaiah Land, LB, Florida A&M 183) Detroit Lions (from DEN) — Jarrett Patterson, OC, Notre Dame 184) New England Patriots (from LV) — Sidy Sow, OG, Eastern Michigan 185) Jacksonville Jaguars (from NYJ) — Kobie Turner, DL, Wake Forest 186) Tennessee Titans (from ATL) — Jason Taylor II, S, Oklahoma State 187) New England Patriots (from CAR) — Brodric Martin, DT, Western Kentucky 188) Houston Texans (from NO) — Alex Forsyth, OC, Oregon 189) Los Angeles Rams (from TEN) — Jake Haener, QB, Fresno State 190) Cleveland Browns — SirVocea Dennis, LB, Pitt 191) Los Angeles Rams (from GB) — Jake Moody, K, Michigan 192) New England Patriots — Dorian Thompson-Robinson, QB, UCLA 193) Washington Commanders — Cameron Latu, TE, Alabama 194) Detroit Lions — Ronnie Bell, WR, Michigan 195) Denver Broncos (from PIT) — Chad Ryland, K, Maryland 196) Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Jaylon Jones, DB, Texas A&M 197) Miami Dolphins — Cameron Young, DT, Mississippi State 198) Seattle Seahawks — Sean Tucker, RB, Syracuse 199) Baltimore Ravens — Justin Shorter, WR, Florida 200) Los Angeles Chargers — Jordan McFadden, OL, Clemson 201) Houston Texans (from MIN) — Tyler Lacy, DL, Oklahoma State 202) Jacksonville Jaguars — Brandon Hill, S, Pitt 203) Houston Texans (from NYG) — Alex Austin, CB, Oregon State 204) Las Vegas Raiders (from DAL) — Warren McClendon Jr., OT, Georgia 205) Buffalo Bills — Thomas Incoom, EDGE, Central Michigan 206) Cincinnati Bengals — Desjuan Johnson, DT, Toledo 207) New York Jets (from SF thru HOU) — Starling Thomas V, CB, UAB 208) Jacksonville Jaguars (from PHI) — Grant DuBose, WR, Charlotte 209) New York Giants (from KC) — Cam Jones, LB, Indiana 210) New England Patriots (compensatory) — Isaiah Moore, LB, North Carolina State 211) Minnesota Vikings (compensatory) — Joey Fisher, OL, Shepherd 212) Dallas Cowboys (compensatory) — Chamarri Conner, S, Virginia Tech 213) Arizona Cardinals (compensatory) — Jalen Redmond, DL, Oklahoma 214) Las Vegas Raiders (compensatory) — Arquon Bush, CB, Cincinnati 215) Washington Commanders (compensatory) — Brandon Joseph, S, Notre Dame 216) San Francisco 49ers (compensatory) — Viliami Fehoko Jr., EDGE, San Jose State 217) Kansas City Chiefs (compensatory) — Puka Nacua, WR, BYU
Round 7
218) Chicago Bears — Robert Beal Jr., EDGE, Georgia 219) Philadelphia Eagles (from HOU thru MIN) — Rakim Jarrett, WR, Maryland 220) Las Vegas Raiders (from ARZ) — Evan Hull, RB, Northwestern 221) Indianapolis Colts — Anthony Johnson Jr., S, Iowa State 222) San Francisco 49ers (from DEN) — Nesta Jade Silvera, DT, Arizona State 223) Los Angeles Rams — Jaxson Kirkland, OL, Washington 224) Atlanta Falcons (from LV) — Ryan Hayes, OT, Michigan 225) Atlanta Falcons — Jacob Copeland, WR, Maryland 226) Jacksonville Jaguars (from CAR) — Mekhi Blackmon, CB, USC 227) New Orleans Saints — Deneric Prince, RB, Tulsa 228) Tennessee Titans — Blake Whiteheart, TE, Wake Forest 229) Cleveland Browns — M.J. Anderson, DL, Iowa State 230) Houston Texans (from TB thru NYJ) — D.J. Johnson, EDGE, Oregon 231) Las Vegas Raiders (from NE) — Elijah Higgins, WR, Stanford 232) Green Bay Packers — Dontayvion Wicks, WR, Virginia 233) Washington Commanders — Chris Rodriguez Jr., RB, Kentucky 234) Pittsburgh Steelers — Bryce Ford-Wheaton, WR, West Virginia 235) Green Bay Packers (from DET through LAR) — Mekhi Garner, CB, LSU 236) Indianapolis Colts (from TB) — Demario Douglas, WR, Liberty 237) Seattle Seahawks — Xavier Gipson, WR, Stephen F. Austin 238) Miami Dolphins — Nic Jones, CB, Ball State 239) Los Angeles Chargers — Ronnie Hickman, S, Ohio State 240) New York Giants (from BAL) — Tyrus Wheat, EDGE, Mississippi State 241) Pittsburgh Steelers (from MIN thru DEN) — Aubrey Miller Jr., LB, Jackson State 242) Green Bay Packers (from JAX) — Ochaun Mathis, EDGE, Nebraska 243) New York Giants — Tyson Bagent, QB, Shepherd 244) Dallas Cowboys — Max Duggan, QB, TCU 245) New England Patriots (from ATL thru BUF) — Adam Korsak, P, Rutgers 246) Cincinnati Bengals — John Ojukwu, OT, Boise State 247) San Francisco 49ers — Jack Podlesny, K, Georgia 248) Philadelphia Eagles — Jake Witt, OT, Northern Michigan 249) Kansas City Chiefs — Hunter Luepke, FB, North Dakota State 250) Kansas City Chiefs (compensatory) — Jeremy Banks, LB, Tennessee 251) Los Angeles Rams (compensatory) — Ventrell Miller, LB, Florida 252) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (compensatory) — Dante Stills, DL, West Virginia 253) San Francisco 49ers (compensatory) — Lew Nichols III, RB, Central Michigan 254) New York Giants (compensatory) — Shaka Heyward, LB, Duke 255) San Francisco 49ers (compensatory) — Austin Ajiake, LB, UNLV 256) Green Bay Packers (compensatory) — Xazavian Valladay, RB, Arizona State 257) New Orleans Saints (compensatory) — Durell Nchami, EDGE, Maryland 258) Chicago Bears (compensatory) — Jon Gaines II, OG, UCLA 259) Houston Texans (compensatory) — Derek Parish, FB, Houston
DRAFTPLEX 2023 NFL Mock Draft: 1.0 Edition projections are based on the current first-round draft order and personal impressions of team needs and interests as of March 22, and do not represent any potential trade scenarios.
The moment of truth has arrived. The 2022 NFL Draft is finally here and after spending hours evaluating, questioning, changing, agonizing, and changing again, my final selections are now locked in.
And I have to be honest — I feel both a sense of confidence in my projections and a sense of dread that those that did not make the final cut will factor into how the draft plays out Thursday night. But, this is what I’m going to let ride.
With that being said, I am pleased to present my final 2022 NFL Mock Draft. These first-round projections are based on the current draft order and my impression of team needs heading into the draft. And while many may be implied, there are no potential trade scenarios being projected.
Enjoy the mock and enjoy the draft!
1 | Jacksonville Jaguars — Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia It is rare that the first overall pick remains a relative mystery headed into draft week, but here we are. Aidan Hutchinson is still the favorite, but the meteoric rise of Travon Walker has him firmly in the conversation. Against my better judgment, I’m following the smoke and serving a last-minute swerve at #1.
2 | Detroit Lions — Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan If the first card turned into the commissioner doesn’t read Aidan Hutchinson, the second absolutely will. The fit is almost too perfect for the Lions. We’ll see if the scenario is too good to be true on Thursday.
3 | Houston Texans — Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU What the Texans do with the third overall pick was the most difficult projection for me to make, because I think it sets the tone for the first half of the draft. An offensive tackle makes total sense, as would a pass rusher. There is also Ahmad ‘Sauce’ Gardner, who has been connected to Houston and was going to be my pick for them coming into this final exercise. But, I wonder about Derek Stingley Jr. and if a team were completely comfortable with him as a prospect after doing their homework, where he would go. While the more likely marriage between team and player is at #13 or in a trade-back scenario, I’m taking a leap that Derek Stingley Jr. becomes the next Texan at #3.
4 | New York Jets — Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon As a prospect, the personality is polarizing, but the talent is elite. Of course, we’re talking about Kayvon Thibodeaux. I am confident that if he remains on the board at #4, the Jets will bank on the promise that under the bright lights of Broadway, a star is born.
5 | New York Giants — Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State If this scenario plays out, the Giants have all of the top offensive linemen still on the board. Any one of Evan Neal, Ikem Ekwonu, or Charles Cross could realistically be the selection, but in a mild upset, my projection is Cross, who they reportedly favor among the trio.
6 | Carolina Panthers — Ikem Ekwonu, OT, North Carolina State The Panthers have been all over the quarterbacks in this class, but at this point, I really wonder if they will go all in here when the time comes Thursday night. Having Ikem Ekwonu and Evan Neal (or potentially Charles Cross) still on the board only makes that decision more difficult. If they stand in and pick, I think they pass on a passer and draft a tackle — in this case, Ekwonu.
7 | New York Giants (via CHI) — Ahmad ‘Sauce’ Gardner, CB, Cincinnati The Giants have been closely linked to Sauce Gardner throughout the process and he’s likely in consideration for them at #5. Unless another team steals him away, I don’t see a scenario where Sauce doesn’t become a Giant.
8 | Atlanta Falcons — Jermaine Johnson II, EDGE, Florida State What the Falcons do at #8 is another pivotal point in the draft sequence Thursday night. They could draft a quarterback, draft the best player available still on the board (in this case, tackle Evan Neal), trigger the run on receivers, or draft a pass rusher. As badly as I believe they need offensive help, I have them taking Jermaine Johnson II and then looking to add weapons on day two of the draft.
9 | Seattle Seahawks (via DEN) — Evan Neal, OT, Alabama I think the Seahawks are in position to land a prospect receiving Top-5 consideration. As it turns out here, they are in position to land Evan Neal, a prospect who has and should still be receiving consideration at #1 overall. Neal would bring blue-chip talent to an offensive line that desperately needs it.
10 | New York Jets (via SEA) — Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama The Jets made a play for Tyreek Hill and are reportedly interested in trading for Deebo Samuel, so they are clearly looking to upgrade their receiver corps. While Garrett Wilson and Drake London would make sense, I am actually projecting Jameson Williams, who looks to be on track to a full, speedy recovery from his ACL tear, to be the first receiver off the board and on his way to New York.
11 | Washington Commanders — Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State The Commanders likewise have been linked to the top group of receivers, specifically the Ohio State duo of Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave. If Wilson ends up going to the Falcons or the Jets, I think Olave will be the pick. But, in this case, Wilson is there for the taking and is off to Washington to join fellow Buckeyes Terry McLaurin and Curtis Samuel in the Commanders’ receiving corps.
12 | Minnesota Vikings — Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame Kyle Hamilton has had a rollercoaster of a draft season and may now have the widest projected range of any top prospect based on the evaluation of his ability and the valuation of the position he plays. I personally feel his range is between picks 11-15 at this stage, which would put the Vikings in play as a suitor, especially with Derek Stingley Jr. off the board.
13 | Houston Texans (via CLE) — Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah Lovie Smith defenses are known for having stud linebackers. If a pass rusher they covet isn’t on the board after they secure their choice of cornerback, I could see Devin Lloyd being a consideration for the Texans at #13 or in a trade-back scenario.
14 | Baltimore Ravens — George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue The Ravens could go in a number of different ways here, but perhaps the top consideration is an edge rusher to pair with Odafe Oweh. I think the most likely options in this range would be Jermaine Johnson II and George Karlaftis. With Johnson off the board, it’s Karlaftis.
15 | Philadelphia Eagles (via MIA) — Drake London, WR, USC The Eagles continue the mid-first run on wide receivers, drafting Drake London, who would pair with last year’s first-round selection DeVonta Smith and provide a big, athletic target for quarterback Jalen Hurts.
16 | New Orleans Saints (via IND thru PHI) — Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State The Saints are another team with designs on drafting a wide receiver, with Chris Olave being perhaps the most popular target. Here, the board falls in their favor.
17 | Los Angeles Chargers — Zion Johnson, OG, Boston College The Chargers have been linked to different prospects here, but the offensive line seems to be where they have the most to sort out. Tackle Trevor Penning is a possibility, but I think it might be Zion Johnson who is primed to appear next season in powder blue.
18 | Philadelphia Eagles — Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington Back on the clock, the Eagles expect to turn their attention to defense with their second first-round pick, with cornerback and safety being the most likely considerations. I would look at Trent McDuffie being the pick here and becoming an instant starter for Philadelphia.
19 | New Orleans Saints — Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia The Saints expect to address both trenches at some point early in the draft. With that in mind, drafting either Jordan Davis or Devonte Wyatt from Georgia would go a long way toward strengthening the interior defensive line, with Davis being my pick for the Saints here.
20 | Pittsburgh Steelers — Malik Willis, QB, Liberty Like Carolina, Pittsburgh has done their due diligence on this quarterback class. But, I think the Steelers are in less of a panic position than the Panthers, and thus, can afford to let the board fall to them. But, I’m not sure that they do. That said, while they are able to draft the quarterback I believe they favor — Malik Willis — here at #20 in this scenario, I can see them making a play to move up, perhaps into the Top-10, to come away with him.
21 | New England Patriots — Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa After bouncing Trevor Penning around in various draft positions and destinations as I worked through this final mock, I landed on the Patriots — and really liked the player-team fit. Their offensive line is in a state of flux and they may also be willing to move up to get the blocker of their choosing, which puts Penning in the mix. Zion Johnson was the other name I looked at here for New England before bumping him up to the Chargers.
22 | Green Bay Packers (via LV) — Daxton Hill, DB, Michigan Will the Packers pass on drafting a receiver with their first of two first-round picks? Perhaps! I have them drafting Daxton Hill, whose versatility would be a valuable addition to the secondary now and in the future in Green Bay.
23 | Arizona Cardinals — Arnold Ebiketie, EDGE, Penn State There is always a surprise or two on draft night and this would be no exception. Arnold Ebiketie is not a name commonly found in the Top-25, but is worthy of first-round consideration — especially for a team like Arizona that needs an edge and will likely be wiped out if they wait until they come back around on the clock in the second round. I think Ebiketie is also a trade-back option for the Cardinals in case a team wants to move up.
24 | Dallas Cowboys — Kenyon Green, OG, Texas A&M Wide receiver, pass rusher, and offensive line look to be the Cowboys first-round targets. That said, I think they are focused in on addressing left guard and will end up doing so with Kenyon Green, who will be a plug-and-play starter for Dallas.
25 | Buffalo Bills — Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State The Bills have an obvious need at cornerback that I’ve addressed with Andrew Booth Jr. in both of my previous 2022 mock drafts. But, here, I’m being a little reckless and having them finally drafting a first-round running back like it seems like we’ve all been projecting them to do for years. Breece Hall, welcome to Buffalo!
26 | Tennessee Titans — Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati Yes, the Titans are in win-now mode, but after coming up short this post-season, you have to wonder if their quarterback play with Ryan Tannehill is good enough to win now in a stacked AFC. With that in mind, the Titans might consider bringing in either Kenny Pickett or, my pick here, Desmond Ridder to push Tannehill.
27 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Devonte Wyatt, DT, Connecticut Tampa Bay has work to do on both lines, but late in the first round and with this scenario playing out as it has, offensive line help is probably not the value play. The interior defensive line, however, could receive a tremendous boost with the addition of Devonte Wyatt, who expects to go in this range.
28 | Green Bay Packers — Logan Hall, DL, Houston Will the Packers also pass on drafting a receiver with their second of two first-round picks? Apparently so! I feel like Logan Hall is making a late push for first-round consideration and the Packers could be the team to take him off the board. They still have two seconds and can also put together a package to trade up for one of the receivers in the next tier, such as Skyy Moore or Christian Watson, if they would like.
29 | Kansas City Chiefs (via SF thru MIA) — Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida The Chiefs are in a similar situation as the Packers, with receiver being a primary need and a likely target with one of their two first-round picks. But, they also have two seconds and can also put together a package to trade up on night two of the draft. They are also in prime position to trade back for a team wanting to jump back into the first round. Whether they stay or go, I think one of their early picks will be allocated to cornerback, with Kaiir Elam being my pick.
30 | Kansas City Chiefs — Boye Mafe, EDGE, Minnesota Same story here, but with the twist I mentioned with Arizona’s pick. The Chiefs need help on the edge, but probably miss out on a player they want if they wait until the second round. Like Arnold Ebiketie, I think Boye Mafe is worthy of consideration in the late-first, with Kansas City being in the conversation to take him off the board.
31 | Cincinnati Bengals — Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington It’s difficult not just slotting in center Tyler Linderbaum to the Bengals and calling it a day. But, I think they might feel good about what they’ve done with their offensive line through free agency, and if they do decide to draft a center, are fine to do so on Friday or Saturday. Alternatively, I think cornerback is a consideration, where I decided to go with Kyler Gordon, who is in the late-first round mix.
32 | Detroit Lions — George Pickens, WR, Georgia I feel like George Pickens gets his name called at some point late on Thursday night, with Green Bay and Kansas City being the most likely to turn in his card, but what about Detroit? Aside from the physical talent, there’s a grit and intensity to his game that would seem to appeal to the Lions. If they don’t draft a potential successor to Jared Goff or another team doesn’t trade up with quarterback aspirations of their own, maybe Pickens is the pick and Goff gets another chance to find success with better talent around him.
