Super Bowl 57 has come and gone. The NFL Scouting Combine is on the horizon.
That means it’s officially draft season.
Sure, NFL free agency will dominate headlines through March, but the terminus of the early offseason journey is the three-day event set to take over Kansas City April 27 through 29. That’s when 259 high profile rookies will begin their pro journey after hearing their names called by commissioner Roger Goodell or any number of special guests — some exalted, others less so.
There’s still a lot of jockeying and jostling left to take place over the next two months. The Combine and Pro Days will help shape scouts opinions of players on whom they’ve studied hours upon hours of game tape. Free agency will patch some roster holes while leaving others, giving us a better idea of each team’s draft priorities. Trades will drastically shake up the draft order, further muddying any predictions made in February.
Let’s focus on that last piece. This month’s FTW mock draft leans into the volatility of these picks with five first round deals — including three in the top six selections alone. The Chicago Bears kick things off by sliding back and gleaning a king’s ransom from quarterback hungry team(s). But who else could move up the draft board this spring?
Here’s a look at all 31 picks of the 2023 NFL Draft.
1
Houston Texans (via projected trade with the Chicago Bears): QB Bryce Young, Alabama
Team needs: QB, WR, EDGE, LB, OL
Trade details:
- Texans trade their 2023 first round pick (second overall), 2023 second round pick (33rd overall) and 2024 second round pick.
- Bears trade their first overall pick and fourth round pick (projected to be 102nd overall after compensatory selections are awarded).
While many mocks have the Colts trading up to this spot, I’m throwing the Texans in for a modest move-up to ensure the top quarterback on their board. Hiring DeMeco Ryans after wandering through a rebuilding wasteland with David Culley and Lovie Smith was a signal the time to mess around is over. Dealing up to lock in Young would be the next step in that evolution.
Young is currently the clubhouse leader to be the first quarterback selected, and for good reason. No one else in the class can match his pure playmaking abilities. Houston will have its work cut out surrounding him with the talent he’ll need to thrive, but a boatload of cap space suggests the Texans will be able to rebuild, at least partially, this spring.
2
Indianapolis Colts (via projected trade with the Chicago Bears): QB CJ Stroud, Ohio State
Team needs: QB, CB, S, OL
Trade details:
- Colts trade their 2023 first round pick (fourth overall) and 2024 first round pick.
- Bears trade their second overall pick (acquired from the Texans) and 2024 fourth round pick.
The Colts don’t need to trade up from the fourth overall pick to push the Bears or Cardinals away from a quarterback. They need to trade up in order to keep the Raiders, Falcons and Panthers from cutting in line. Team owner Jim Irsay has been effusive — and very public — with his praise of Stroud. Since he’s the guy capable of making Jeff Saturday an honest-to-goodness NFL head coach for reasons still unknown to mankind, it’s reasonable to believe he’ll get what he wants here — even if it comes at the cost of a pricy trade up.
Trading away that 2024 first rounder is steep, but if Irsay believes Stroud can get this team to the playoffs it’s roughly in line with both the traditional Jimmy Johnson and updated Bill Belichick-styled draft pick value charts. Whether or not the Colts are a playoff team is questionable, but the only man whose opinion matters here is Irsay’s, and he’s nothing if not confident. So, the Bears get what could be tremendous value in next year’s draft and Indianapolis gets its quarterback.
Stroud might be that guy! He’s tremendously accurate and efficient as a downfield passer. While some of his numbers have been padded by the NCAA’s most stacked receiving corps, he’s proven to be a quarterback who can put the ball on the numbers in big moments. He has a 10:1 touchdown:interception ratio and more than 900 passing yards in only two (two!) bowl appearances. While questions about his ability to perform under duress in the pocket persist, he looks like a rock solid quarterback prospect — something the Colts haven’t had since Andrew Luck.
3
Arizona Cardinals: EDGE Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
Team needs: EDGE, CB, DT, OL, WR
JJ Watt was responsible for more than a third of the Cardinals’ total sacks in 2022 and used that opportunity to retire on a high note. Zach Allen, a rising pass rusher who benefitted from Watt’s presence, is a free agent. This leaves edge rusher as one of many holes Arizona needs to fill, and Anderson is the surest thing to fill it.
Anderson’s headline is the 17.5 sacks recorded in 2021, but he’s more than just an edge rusher. He’s an athletic marvel capable of beating tackles inside and out and swallowing up ball carriers in space. He’s still got room to grow, but he’s capable of filling the Cardinals’ void up front and immediately leading the team in sacks, QB hits, pressures and general backfield ransacking.
4
Chicago Bears (via projected trades with the Texans, Colts): DL Jalen Carter, Georgia
Team needs: OL, WR, EDGE, DT, LB
Well, well, well. The Bears trade down twice, pick up a boatload of draft assets, and still get the player who may have made the most sense for them at No. 1 overall. Carter is a versatile monster who can line up in multiple positions on the defensive line and breed havoc from each.
The Georgia product is arguably 2023’s top prospect. He’s a block-consuming black hole in the middle of the field with absurd power and speed at 310 pounds. He’s got Aaron Donald/Chris Jones potential, and it’s no coincidence those two have won Super Bowls in each of the past two Februarys.
So the Bears get Carter here. They also get:
- 2023’s 33rd overall pick (from Houston)
- The Colts’ 2024 first round pick
- and the Texans’ 2024 second round pick
all for a minor trade down and the inconvenience of parting with a pair of fourth round picks. If general manager Ryan Poles can pull this off, he might get his own holiday in Chicago.
5
Seattle Seahawks (via Denver Broncos): EDGE Myles Murphy, Clemson
Team needs: EDGE, S, LB, IOL, DT, CB
Seattle needs to punch up its pass rush and has two excellent options with this pick gleaned from the Russell Wilson trade. The race for the third defender selected currently looks like a toss up between Murphy and Texas Tech stud Tyree Wilson. The Seahawks have some space to gamble here, so let’s give them the higher-ceiling, lower-floor option in Murphy.
While Murphy has been consistently productive in three seasons since arriving in Clemson as a five-star prospect, he’s carefully refined his game and proven he’s more than just the product of a successful program. He has the physical tools and versatility to thrive up front in a 4-3 setup or as an outside linebacker in the Seahawks 3-4 — another nod over the slightly less athletic Wilson (who, again, is still great at football). Murphy can slide into an immediate starting role and boost Pete Carroll’s latest attempt to build a playoff streak.
6
Carolina Panthers (via projected trade with the Detroit Lions via Los Angeles Rams): QB Will Levis, Kentucky
Team needs: QB, RB, OL, EDGE, LB
Trade details:
- Panthers trade their 2023 first round pick (ninth overall) and 2023 second round pick (39th overall).
- Lions trade their sixth overall pick and a 2023 sixth round pick (currently 192nd overall).
David Tepper had been quiet as a new owner for the first two years of his tenure in Carolina — a curious move from a man who literally displayed brass testicles on his work desk for a large period in his life. He finally made a splash this season by firing Matt Rhule, then hiring Frank Reich despite Steve Wilks’ competence as an interim head coach. Now he approves another big move to push the Panthers three slots up the draft board in a deal with the Lions.
Carolina could opt for a veteran retread at quarterback, but that’s been exactly what’s failed the club each of the last three seasons. Moving up to No. 6 allows the Panthers to draft Levis, leapfrogging the Raiders and Falcons in the process. Levis is a prototypical NFL quarterback whose efficiency improved after a breakthrough 2021 even as his Wildcats struggled. He’ll be an immediate upgrade in Charlotte and the kind of developmental franchise passer the team has lacked since Cam Newton’s first stint in teal.
The trade itself is an expensive cost, but it might be what it takes with a solid class of quarterbacks and a handful of needy teams standing between the Panthers and a player like Levis. Carolina is searching for an identity and has a coach capable of developing quarterbacks. That makes this an acceptable risk.
7
Las Vegas Raiders: CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
Team needs: OL, DB, LB, DT, QB
Witherspoon is a common sense pick, which means he’s probably not going to be a Raider. But if Las Vegas opts to buck trends it could add a cornerback capable of having an immediate impact in the NFL.
Witherspoon’s college production flashed Sauce Gardner levels of talent — a cover corner who tracks routes like he has insider info and gets to the ball to utterly shut down opponents. The Illinois star has quietly climbed up draft boards this winter. A strong showing at the Combine could cement his place as 2023’s first defensive back selected.
8
Atlanta Falcons: DL Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech
Team needs: QB, OT, EDGE, LB, DB
Desmond Ridder’s presence may be enough to keep Atlanta from reaching for Anthony Richardson’s boom-or-bust tendencies at No. 8. Instead, the Falcons punch up their pass rush after ranking dead last in pressure rate in 2022 (14.6 percent).
Wilson is a consistent mauler capable of lining up at end or kicking inside to shoot gaps in order to exploit weakness. He’s also been steadily rising throughout the pre-draft process and could work his way into the top five come April. Instead, he slides a bit here to take on an immediate starring role in Georgia. Only one Falcon had more than four sacks last season, so it won’t take much for him to impress.
9
Detroit Lions (via projected trade with the Panthers): CB Christian Gonzalez, Oregon
Team needs: CB, S, LB, DT, QB
Gonzalez was very good at the University of Colorado and then elite after transferring to Oregon, exploding for four interceptions and seven passes defensed in his lone season as a Duck.
He’s a big cornerback at 6-foot-2 who also brings lightning fast speed to the table and could make an immediate Tariq Woolen-like impact for a Lions defense that ranked 23rd against the pass in 2022. He’s also a steady tackler capable of shedding blocks to stop plays before they can break free for long gains — another asset Detroit can use in its quest to cap off its expedited rebuild under Dan Campbell.
10
Philadelphia Eagles (via New Orleans Saints): CB Joey Porter Jr., Penn State
Team needs: EDGE, LB, RB, CB, DL
The Eagles had 2022’s top pass defense, but both James Bradberry and CJ Gardner-Johnson are free agents this spring. Adding Porter would keep a Pennsylvania-based star close(ish) to home and provide a low-cost above-average starter for a team without a ton of salary cap space at the moment and a lucrative Jalen Hurts contract extension on the way.
Porter is a marvel — fast enough to work in the slot or along the sideline without giving up a speed or quickness advantage and strong enough to stand out in press coverage and deter routes downfield. His 2022 numbers don’t jump out at you (zero interceptions, 11 passes defensed) until you realize he put that together in 10 games with Big Ten quarterbacks largely writing off whatever wideout was unlucky enough to draw him in coverage.
11
Tennessee Titans: QB Anthony Richardson, Florida
Team needs: EDGE, CB, LB, OL, TE, WR
Quarterback isn’t the Titans’ biggest need, but it’s clear something needs to be done in Nashville following 2022’s cratering and the first losing record of the Mike Vrabel era. Ryan Tannehill had a modest bounce back from 2021 but still struggled in stretches. Selecting Richardson would give Tennessee a clear succession plan for 2024 — the same year the Titans can unload their veteran quarterback at a dead cap hit of less than $5 million (for comparison, declaring him a pre-June 1 cut this spring would cost $18.8 million).
Richardson is an unmoored rocket launcher, capable of glorious displays of destruction both in favor of and against his own team. There’s some Josh Allen to his game — a big, beefy, laser-armed quarterback who struggled with accuracy in college and runs like a one-man herd of buffaloes when called upon. Allen was a major risk as a prospect who made good on his prodigious tools. Does Tennessee have the coaching staff to do the same for Richardson?
12
Houston Texans (via Cleveland Browns): WR Quentin Johnston, TCU
Team needs: QB, WR, EDGE, LB, OL
DeMeco Ryans may advocate for a defender here, but there’s no great fit at No. 12. Rather than trade back, the Texans get Young some much needed support by adding 2022’s breakthrough wide receiving star Johnston. The TCU standout is big and explosive, standing 6-foot-4 and averaging 19 yards per reception in three collegiate seasons.
More importantly, he played through minor injuries throughout the Horned Frogs’ 2022 run to the National Championship Game, showcasing the kind of commitment NFL coaches absolutely cannot get enough of. He recognizes coverage well and manages to find gaping holes to exploit even as TCU’s top big play threat. He’d be an immediate boon for a Houston team whose top returning wideouts — not counting currently disgruntled Brandin Cooks — are Nico Collins and Amari Rodgers.
13
New York Jets: OT Peter Skoronski, Northwestern
Team needs: OL, EDGE, S, LB
The first offensive lineman off the board is Skoronski, a versatile blocker capable of filling multiple positions who can be a ready made 2023 starter at tackle or someone who kicks inside in a pinch to bring technical, crisp protection to the guard position. While he may not have the ceiling of Paris Johnson Jr. or Broderick Jones, he has the highest floor of any lineman in this year’s draft.
It’s not a sexy pick, but it’s one that would have an immediate impact for a contending team. The Jets can use free agency to lock down a viable starting quarterback. Then they can draft Skoronski to keep him upright.
14
Los Angeles Chargers (via projected trade with the New England Patriots): OT Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State
Team needs: OL, CB, LB, DL
Trade details:
- Chargers trade their 2023 first round pick (21st overall), 2023 third round pick (85th overall) and 2024 third round pick.
- Patriots trade their 14th overall pick and 2024 fourth round pick.
Rather than sweat out a potential run on offensive linemen, the Chargers get proactive here and the Patriots get to embrace the Belichick Way ™ and trade down in the first round. Johnson has started at both right guard and left tackle at Ohio State, giving up only two sacks in two seasons as a first teamer (both came last year at tackle).
Physically he looks like an All-Pro blindside protector — a massive presence with nimble feet and quick hands capable of punching away the more fearsome pass rush. His improvement throughout 2022 sets the stage for even more growth as a pro, giving LA a pair of Pro Bowl caliber bookends to keep Justin Herbert’s jersey clean over the next decade.
15
Green Bay Packers: S Brian Branch, Alabama
Team needs: WR, OL, EDGE, S, TE
Each year we wait for the Packers to spend a first round pick on a wideout or tight end capable of taking the top off Aaron Rodgers’ offense. Each year, Green Bay opts for something else instead; 12 of the team’s last 13 Day 1 picks have been defensive players (the one exception? Jordan Love, who could be taking over QB1 duties this fall depending on the result of Rodgers’ latest descent into madness).
In that spirit, the Pack eschew Michael Mayer or Jordan Addison in order to select a safety who has been rising up draft boards in recent weeks. Branch’s value lies in his versatility. He can play deep safety, take snaps as a linebacker or slide into the slot to erase productive routes over the middle. Green Bay is liable to lose Adrian Amos to free agency and could use reinforcements in an NFC North ripe with Pro Bowl wideouts and tight ends. Branch is the kind of player who’d be a rising tide for that group, even if he’s not an especially exciting selection.
16
Washington Commanders: TE Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
Team needs: QB, OL, CB, S, LB
Logan Thomas turns 32 in July and only has 57 catches over the previous two seasons. Replacing him isn’t the team’s top priority, but Washington now has Eric Bieniemy at offensive coordinator — and if there’s one guy who understands the value of a dynamic pass catching tight end, it’s him.
Covering Mayer with a linebacker is like trying to track lightning across the night sky. He tracks the ball well and gets upfield with a quickness, creating a defense-scrambling counter punch to Terry McLaurin. Mayer is also a viable in-line blocker who clears space in the running game and does just about everything well. He’s a Day 1 starter capable of generating optimism for the Commanders and making life easier for whichever quarterback arrives to take snaps in 2023.
17
Pittsburgh Steelers: OT Broderick Jones, Georgia
Team needs: OL, CB, DT, LB
Pittsburgh could use a dynamic WR1 and both Jordan Addison and Jaxon Smith-Njigba are available — but the Steelers’ style is to wait until Day 2 or 3 and pick up a future Pro Bowler anyway. Instead, Mike Tomlin gets a new toy for his offensive line and caps off a mini-run of blockers by selecting Georgia’s Jones.
The former Bulldog was the team’s blindside protector through two straight national championships, allowing just 13 quarterback hurries and two sacks — both in 2021 — across 30 games. Jones is big, strong and fast and could blast his way up draft boards by lighting up the Combine. For now, however, he slides to 17 and becomes a plug-and-play starter clearing space for Kenny Pickett and Najee Harris in the Steel City.
18
Detroit Lions: DL Bryan Bresee, Clemson
Team needs: CB, S, LB, DT, QB
The Lions could double-dip at corner here or reach for a high-ceiling pass rusher like Nolan Smith or Lukas Van Ness. Instead, they get a player Dan Campbell is gonna appreciate the hell out of in Bresee, a role-filling defensive lineman capable of lining up in multiple slots and creating the chaos that allows teammates to thrive.
The 300-pound tackle/end is big enough to occupy multiple blockers but fast and strong enough to shoot gaps and blow up plays before they can get started. Detroit ranked ninth in pressure rate but just 18th in sacks last season. Having Bresee to shrink pockets from the inside out alongside Alim McNeill will help turn those pressures into negative, drive-killing plays for an ascendant Lions team.
19
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: CB Kelee Ringo, Georgia
Team needs: IOL, QB, CB, S, EDGE
Jamel Dean is a free agent and only one team in the NFL has a worse salary cap situation for 2023 than the Buccaneers (it’s the Saints, who are finally paying the bill after years of pretending the cap was a college student’s first credit card). Ringo could be an immediate replacement in a defense that’s likely to see plenty of turnover besides Dean.
The UGA star is an upper crust athlete with blazing speed and good size (6-foot-2) for the position. While concerns about his coverage skills linger, there’s no doubt he’s a projectable defensive back with the room to grow into an absolute star — something a rebuilding Tampa Bay team needs badly.
20
Baltimore Ravens (via projected trade with the Seahawks): WR Jordan Addison, USC
Team needs: WR, EDGE, DL, CB
Trade details:
- Ravens trade their 2023 first round pick (22nd overall), 2023 fourth round pick (projected to be 124th) and 2024 fourth round pick.
- Seahawks trade their 20th overall pick and 2024 fifth round pick.
A modest deal here allows Baltimore to jump the WR-needy Patriots and add an impact playmaker to its lineup. Addison wasn’t able to fully capitalize on his 2021 momentum after transferring to USC, but he remains a viable and valuable young wideout who can thoroughly gash defenses with precise routes and big gains after the catch. His sense of timing and leverage make him a matchup nightmare who can immediately challenge NFL cornerbacks.
That’s precisely what the Ravens need. Rashod Bateman is a useful receiver but injuries have limited him to only nine starts in two seasons as a pro. The currently rostered wideouts behind him are Devin Duvernay, James Proche, Tylan Wallace and Andy Isabella which is … not great. Addison would make an instant impact and help Lamar Jackson use what’s primed to be a franchise tag season to his benefit in search of a massive long-term contract.
21
Miami Dolphins: Pick forfeited
Team needs: EDGE, TE, RB, LB, S
The NFL docked Miami this pick and a 2023 third rounder and fined team owner $1.5 million for violating “the integrity of the game” as it pertained to tampering with then-Saints head coach Sean Payton and Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady.
22
New England Patriots (via projected trade with the Chargers): WR Zay Flowers, Boston College
Team needs: OT, LB, WR, S
Part of the appeal of a trade back in this situation is that it would put the Patriots in position to draft a receiver who could make an instant impact while acquiring bonus draft assets. Addison would look great in Foxborough, but Flowers is an appealing consolation prize whose consistency and ability to create space would be a boon for a team that stands to lose Jakobi Meyers (and Nelson Agholor) in free agency this spring. Flowers broke through in 2022 by showcasing an increased ability to bring down catches in traffic.
This is huge, because Flowers isn’t; at 5-foot-10 and 172 pounds he’d consistently be one of the lighter players on the field each Sunday. Furthermore, he’s fast, shifty and capable of working from the slot or outside. Even better, he’s a maestro with the ball after the catch — and that’s the kind of drive-padding yards after catch Mac Jones could desperately use in 2023.
23
Seattle Seahawks (via projected trade with the Ravens): WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
Team needs: EDGE, LB, IOL, DT, CB
Another wideout isn’t a pressing need, but Tyler Lockett will turn 31 years old this September and Seattle hasn’t been shy about using valuable draft assets to flesh out its receiving corps. D’Wayne Eskridge was the team’s second round pick in 2021 but so far only has 17 catches in 20 career games (zero starts). That makes a sliding Smith-Njigba too tempting to pass up.
The Ohio State product has a ceiling as high as any WR in this year’s draft but plenty of risk as well. After lighting up the NCAA over the back end of 2021 he was slowed by a hamstring injury in 2022 and had only five catches in three games. The Seahawks have some house money to play with here. They picked up Murphy at No. 5 with the pick gleaned from dealing broken Russ Wilson and are coming off an unexpected (by most) playoff appearance. This seems as good a place as any to make another calculated risk and hope Smith-Njigba can be the missing piece to truly unlock Seattle’s offensive potential.
24
Minnesota Vikings: CB Cam Smith, South Carolina
Team needs: EDGE, CB, S, LB, TE
The best cornerback available is Smith, who is a high caliber prospect and an easy choice for the Vikings to make. Patrick Peterson was Minnesota’s top corner in 2022 by far, and while he could re-sign this spring he’s also set to turn 33 years old. The South Carolina product would be an instant boost for the league’s 26th-ranked passing defense.
Smith had a breakout 2021, then saw opposing quarterbacks largely ignore his side of the field in 2022. He’s a capable press defender who is physical enough to handle big wideouts and stick to the hip of NFL playmakers. His aggressiveness is going to lead to some frustrating penalties as a rookie, but putting in the work can grind down those rough edges and produce a gem.
25
Jacksonville Jaguars: OT Anton Harrison, Oklahoma
Team needs: DL, CB, S, OL
What the Jags do in free agency will dictate the direction of this pick. If Evan Engram leaves, tight end Dalton Kincaid could be the choice. If Jawaan Taylor signs an extension, Jacksonville could look for an interior lineman like O’Cyrus Torrence. But given the results of 2023 Engram may realize his value is maximized in Jacksonville and the Jaguars may not want to match an overpay on Taylor’s potential — leading to Harrison at No. 24.
The Oklahoma tackle gets the nod here over Ohio State mythical creature Dawand Jones (6-foot-8, 375 pounds) thanks to his resume as a blindside-protecting stalwart with the Sooners. He allowed only four sacks across nearly 1,900 NCAA snaps and has the size, lateral quickness and punch to be the latest link in a chain of rock solid Oklahoma offensive linemen (Orlando Brown, Lane Johnson, Creed Humphrey and, uh, a bunch of guys who didn’t play in the most recent Super Bowl, too).
26
New York Giants: WR Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee
Team needs: WR, CB, LB, QB, S
Darius Slayton admirably stepped into the Giants’ WR1 role and posted a top five yards per target number (10.2) but the odds he sustains that are slim and, even if he did, he’d need help. His expanded route tree clears a path to add Hyatt, a Tennessee burner who averaged 18.9 yards per catch while hauling in 15 touchdowns last season.
His vertical skill set may not be a perfect fit for a retained Daniel Jones — his strong 2022 hinged on a career-low 6.4 air yards per pass — or it could revive his deep ball capabilities. Hyatt can create space in man coverage and outrun safeties, opening lanes for the rest of his receivers to thrive. With pricy extensions potentially on the way for Jones and Saquon Barkley and an underwhelming cast of free agent receivers, Hyatt may be New York’s best option to breathe new life into a moribund receiving corps.
27
Dallas Cowboys: RB Bijan Robinson, Texas
Team needs: OL, LB, S, CB
Ezekiel Elliott could be a cap casualty. Tony Pollard is a pending free agent and dealing with a broken leg. Jerry Jones loves himself a high profile running back and can get a Lone Star State dynamo in Robinson, who ran for more than 3,400 yards — and more than 6.3 yards per carry — in three years as a Longhorn.
The dynamic tailback is valuable as a runner or receiver, a player who can explode vertically or horizontally similar devastating effect. The recent trend back to the RB1 in the NFL could mean he’s drafted long before the Cowboys have a shot, but if he slides he’ll have his share of suitors among last year’s playoff teams. Dallas gets it done here at 26, ensuring a few more years of efficient running to bolster Dak Prescott’s passing game.
28
Buffalo Bills: OG O'Cyrus Torrence, Florida
Team needs: DL, CB, S, OG
The Bills could use help in the middle of the line and Torrence delivers the best available blocker at the end of the first round. The 350-pound mauler handled the jump from Sun Belt to SEC competition in 2022 with aplomb, asserting himself against a higher class of defender and proving he could handle top tier athletes in the trenches.
Torrence is a mean, massive interior lineman who gets out in space to clear lanes for running backs and acquits himself well in pass protection — even if he could use a little work in that department.
29
Cincinnati Bengals: TE Dalton Kincaid, Utah
Team needs: OL, DB, DT, TE
Hayden Hurst had his moments but was ultimately inconsistent and is now a free agent. Kincaid could step into the void he leaves behind and immediately become one of Joe Burrow’s favorite targets.
The Ute tight end was a touchdown threat in 2021 but thrived as a No. 1 target for a 10-win team in 2022 behind 70 catches, 890 yards and eight touchdowns last fall. His stock has risen steadily in the pre-draft process. If he nails the Combine he’ll push Mayer for TE1 honors — and likely not make it all the way to Cincy at No. 29.
30
New Orleans Saints (via Denver Broncos in trade for Sean Payton, via Miami Dolphins, via San Francisco 49ers): EDGE Lukas Van Ness, Iowa
Team needs: QB, WR, IOL, RB, DT
The Saints once traded up to grab an unproven pass rushing talent whose traits were a bigger selling point than his talent. Marcus Davenport is a free agent now, but general manager Mickey Loomis can restart the cycle by drafting Van Ness.
The Hawkeye never started a game in college but put together back-to-back seven-sack seasons despite those limited reps. New Orleans needs help just about everywhere and the league’s worst salary cap situation with which to find it. This places an emphasis on high ceiling players at expensive positions of need. Finding an impact edge rusher would certainly fit that bill.
31
Philadelphia Eagles: EDGE Nolan Smith, Georgia
Team needs: EDGE, LB, RB, CB, DL
Smith is a bit of a wild card — a lean edge rusher who played a role on a national championship team but who also missed nearly half the 2022 season due to a torn pectoral and never racked up big numbers (in large part due to everyone else on the UGA defense being an absolute monster).
Smith has all the tools to turn into a Pro Bowl defender in the NFL and there may be no better place for him to develop than a Philly team that had four different players finish with at least 11 sacks last season. Philadelphia may bid adieu to Fletcher Cox, Javon Hargrave and Brandon Graham this offseason as they hit free agency. Bringing in a low cost replacement like Smith could keep that front seven rolling — and cover Smith’s growing pains as he levels up his game.
32
Kansas City Chiefs: OT Dawand Jones, Ohio State
Team needs: OL, CB, DT, LB, S
The Chiefs know the value of a monster tackle; they traded away a first rounder for Orlando Brown Jr., who they’ll likely sign to a lengthy and expensive contract extension this spring. Right tackle Andrew Wylie is also a pending free agent, so in comes Jones to theoretically take his spot.
Jones has a build meant to stretch the upper limits of your “create a player” sliders in the Madden franchise.. He’s 6-foot-8 and 375 pounds and is by no means a gentle giant. He crushes linebackers at the second level and while pad level is always going to be a concern he’s got quick enough feet and long arms to keep from getting beat around the edge.
