The 2023 NFL Draft promises to be unpredictable.
Not long after the Carolina Panthers traded away a haul — two first round picks, two second-rounders and upper-crust wideout D.J. Moore! — to move up to the top spot, reports suggested the club wasn’t quite certain which of this year’s quarterback prospects would be its guy. The presumptive top non-QB selection, Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter, was charged with reckless driving and racing on the night a teammate and UGA staffer were killed in a car accident. There’s a stacked class of cornerback talent, but no one’s quite sure just who the No. 1 prospect will be.
That makes this year’s mock drafts even more of a crapshoot than usual. Each team’s player rankings are different, and the current draft order is merely a template to be torn apart by trades leading up to and including draft night. The only certainty is that this year’s passers will be a commodity after the 2022 class proved to be a marshmallow-less bowl of Lucky Charms.
With that in mind, I dialed the QB value slider all the way up and made this year’s top tier of prospects — Bryce Young, CJ Stroud, Will Levis and Anthony Richardson — my top four picks. Let’s see where they ended up.
MORE: Our latest “consensus” mock draft looking at who the experts are taking.
1
Carolina Panthers (via Chicago Bears): QB Bryce Young, Alabama
Team needs: QB, RB, OL, EDGE, LB
Panthers owner David Tepper loves a distressed asset. Buying low on recognizable stocks helped make him a billionaire. Now he gets another chance to put that plan in action by drafting Young.
There’s no real way to buy low after shipping two drafts worth of premier picks and D.J. Moore to Chicago to move up to the first overall pick. That’s OK, because Young is hardly a falling star. While he weighed in light at the combine and didn’t participate in drills, he remains a franchise quarterback with an innate knack for making plays in big moments. He’s not a quantifiable product but a series of impulses that all seem to work out right on the field.
That makes him a valuable acquisition in Carolina, a franchise that’s been lost in the wilderness since Cam Newton lost his fastball. Young’s height may limit his throws over the middle of the field, but his accuracy and recognition downfield make him too tempting to pass up, even if betting odds favor C.J. Stroud at No. 1 right now.
2
Indianapolis Colts, via projected trade with the Houston Texans: QB CJ Stroud, Ohio State
Team needs: QB, CB, S, OL
Trade details:
- Colts trade their 2023 first round pick (fourth overall), 2023 second round pick (35th overall), 2023 third round pick (79th overall)
- Texans trade their second overall pick
The Colts are well aware how much a modest trade-up to the top three to grab a quarterback costs; they extracted three second round picks to move from No. 3 to No. 6 so the Jets could draft Sam Darnold in 2018 (lol). This deal doesn’t cost as much and, more importantly, blocks the Seahawks, Raiders, Falcons and Titans from jumping the line and taking Richardson before they can.
Stroud is very publicly a favorite of team owner Jim Irsay. While that could be a smokescreen, Irsay’s earnestness in the past suggests there isn’t any subterfuge here; he just really, really likes the Ohio State quarterback. That makes sense! There’s a lot to like! Stroud is a polished passer with wonderful touch downfield and the athleticism to extend plays when needed. He won’t fall out of the top three.
3
Las Vegas Raiders, via projected trade with the Arizona Cardinals: QB Anthony Richardson, Florida
Team needs: OL, DB, LB, DT, QB
Trade details:
- Raiders trade their 2023 first round pick (seventh overall), 2023 second round pick (38th overall), 2024 second round pick, 2024 third round pick
- Cardinals trade their third overall pick, 2024 fourth round pick
Jimmy Garoppolo’s three-year, $75 million deal is really only a two-year pact (and is escapable after one). That leaves the Raiders in position to take a high-upside project like Richardson, even if it comes at a cost of moving up the draft board.
If there’s one thing the Davis family likes, it’s an athletic marvel capable of lighting up the Draft Combine. Richardson did just that, breaking the curve for quarterback workouts while looking like a younger, cheaper version of Josh Allen. Like Allen he’s going to have to parse out the bad habits and inaccurate throws that haunted him in college, but the template for improvement is there.
4
Houston Texans, via projected trade with the Indianapolis Colts: QB Will Levis, Kentucky
Team needs: QB, WR, EDGE, LB, OL
It’s officially a franchise quarterback jamboree. The Texans’ trade back keeps the team on the top tier of passer prospects. While the Cardinals’ decision to deal the third pick prevents them from landing Richardson, Levis is a pretty solid consolation prize.
The Kentucky quarterback was stifled by losses to his receiving corps and offensive line in 2022, but still managed to up his efficiency numbers as the sun amidst a depleted solar system. The 6-foot-4 prospect has all the makings of an NFL dropback passer and has the athleticism to escape the pocket and make throws on the run. Houston needs help across its roster, so an asset-gleaning trade back that still allows general manager Nick Caserio to pick up a young franchise quarterback makes sense for one of the league’s worst teams.
5
Seattle Seahawks (via Denver Broncos): EDGE Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
Team needs: EDGE, LB, IOL, DT, CB
The run on quarterbacks works out in Seattle’s favor, as they get arguably 2023’s top overall prospect at a position of need. Anderson is a category four hurricane poured into a 6-foot-4, 250 pound frame. He explodes off the line of scrimmage and into the backfield, beating offensive tackles with a variety of moves that will translate to the next level. Once there, he’s a problem; he had 34.5 sacks and 58.5 tackles for loss across 41 collegiate games.
Pete Carroll is rebuilding the Seahawks in the image of their successful early/mid-2010s run. To do so, he needs a smothering defense that can make life hell for opposing quarterbacks. His secondary is close. Adding Anderson would be another piece of the puzzle for his front seven.
6
Detroit Lions (via Los Angeles Rams): DL Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech
Team needs: S, LB, DT, QB
The Lions might be tempted to add a cornerback here, but they’ve addressed that need mightily in free agency. Detroit signed Cameron Sutton, Emmanuel Moseley and CJ Gardner-Johnson this March, and while the team could still use a long-term building block in case Jeff Okudah fails to pan out it can always target one with the 18th pick.
Texas Tech DE Tyree Wilson (6’55/271) escorts TCU LT into the backfield to disrupt Max Duggan’s throw
The QBs frustration was palpable, so the next play Wilson is keyed on, leaving the rest of the DL singled up to flush Duggan for an incompletion
He then destroys IOL for a Stop pic.twitter.com/finSzdLors
— Eric Froton (@CFFroton) March 27, 2023
A deep corner class instead leads the Lions to beef up their defensive front. Jalen Carter could be the play here, but his recent arraignment and frustrating pro day performance could instead lead Dan Campbell to add a beefy pass rusher to complement Aidan Hutchinson.
Wilson is a beefy, edge collapsing presence with the explosion to get his 6-foot-6, 271-pound frame upfield in a hurry. He and Hutchinson can force opposing quarterbacks to step up in the pocket — and give Alim McNeill some easy clean-up sacks in the process.
7
Arizona Cardinals, via projected trade with the Raiders: CB Christian Gonzalez , Oregon
Team needs: EDGE, CB, DT, OL, WR
Arizona could reach for an edge rusher here, but there’s more value at cornerback — a position of extreme need this spring. Gonzalez currently looks like the top candidate, though his place as the first corner drafted will depend on how Illinois stud Devon Witherspoon shows out at his pro day after skipping drills at the combine.
Christian Gonzalez read this play like a BOOK 😳
Several NFL scouts believe Gonzalez is a “sure shot” Top-10 pick in the Draft.
The Oregon CB has instincts for DAYS. pic.twitter.com/LIFI7t72PP
— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) March 27, 2023
Gonzalez is big, fast and has the college resume to back up his physical skills. He recorded four interceptions and seven passes defensed in his lone season with the Ducks after transferring over from Colorado. He can press big wideouts at the line of scrimmage and run with deep threats anywhere on the field. The Cardinals don’t have many building blocks at the moment. Gonzalez qualifies.
8
Atlanta Falcons: DL Jalen Carter, Georgia
Team needs: QB, EDGE, LB, DB
David Onyemata was a nice addition up front, but he and Grady Jarrett will both be on the wrong side of 30 years old this season. Adding Carter to that mix massively beefs up defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen’s front and gives Atlanta a potential All-Pro for years to come.
Jalen Carter just bulldozes the RT out of the way. Sheesh pic.twitter.com/ohta9ChZYd
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) September 3, 2022
The issue with Carter is that no one’s quite sure how his arrest and subsequent plea bargain for street racing stemming from an accident that killed a UGA teammate and staffer in another car will affect his draft stock. His dismal pro day showing raised further concerns about his future, taking a toll on a player who was once thought to be this year’s best overall prospect. ESPN’s Mel Kiper is convinced he won’t slide out of the top 10, but there’s still a long way to go before draft day.
9
New York Jets, via projected trade with the Chicago Bears: OT Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State
Team needs: OL, EDGE, S, LB
Trade details:
- Jets trade their 2023 first round pick (13th overall), 2023 fourth round pick (112th overall), 2024 third round pick
- Bears trade their ninth overall pick, 2024 fifth round pick
The Jets are getting Aaron Rodgers at some point. They’ll need to protect him while simultaneously appealing to the, uh, more interesting pieces of his personality. In this case, that means taking the initiative to move up the draft board to ensure *he* gets the benefit of 2023’s top offensive line prospect.
Johnson and Mekhi Becton would make up a pair of young, imposing bookends if Becton can get healthy, or he can take over blindside protection duties on his own. The Ohio State star gets the nod here thanks to his size (6-foot-6, 315 pounds) and 36-plus inch arm length, which gives him the leverage to swat away edge rushers before they can punch inside or force them to take the longest possible route outside the pocket. He’s not as refined as a guy like Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski, but his physical gifts make him a worthy gamble in the top 10.
𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 😮💨#DevelopedHere | #ProDay2023 pic.twitter.com/ztH8dGkPZA
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) March 22, 2023
10
Washington Commanders, via projected trade with the Philadelphia Eagles: CB Joey Porter Jr., Penn State
Team needs: QB, OL, CB, S, LB
Trade details:
- Commanders trade their 2023 first round pick (16th overall), 2023 second round pick (47th overall), 2023 fourth round pick (118th overall)
- Eagles trade their 10th overall pick, 2023 second round pick (62nd overall)
There’s a surplus of offensive line, cornerback and wide receiver talent available at the edge of the top 10 — three positions where the Eagles don’t have a glaring need. So Howie Roseman does a very Howie Roseman thing by trading back and amassing draft picks, leaving the Commanders to kick off the double-digit selections. Plus, what does Dan Snyder care about future draft picks anyway if he’s not gonna be team owner in 2024?
Porter Jr. could be the second cornerback off the board, or the first, or the fifth. No matter where he goes he’ll be just fine in the NFL because he’s a big corner-corner prospect (6-foot-2) who can bully wideouts at the line of scrimmage or turn and run with them downfield. Washington would pair him with 6-foot-3 Benjamin St. Juste and Kendall Fuller to beef up a secondary capable of feasting on the NFC’s inferior quarterbacks. Devon Witherspoon and Deonte Banks would also be reasonable calls here — same with offensive linemen Peter Skoronkski and Broderick Jones.
11
Tennessee Titans: OT Broderick Jones, Georgia
Team needs: EDGE, WR, CB, LB, OL, TE
The Titans are a bit of a mess right now, trapped between sneaking into the playoffs and a rebuild thanks to the waning efficacy of a run-heavy offense. The current projected starting tackles for that unit are Andre Dillard and Nicholas Petit-Frere — an Eagles backup and a player who rated out as one of PFF’s worst starters, respectively. There is a vast gulf between what Tennessee wants out of its blocking and what it currently has. Jones is a raft that can connect the two.
Look at Georgia LT Broderick Jones get out in space and get the kill shot on the DB. Bulldogs aren’t messing around on either side of the ball today. pic.twitter.com/Z9GblTFTVm
— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) November 5, 2022
The UGA product is a twitchy, nimble blocker whose quick feet betray his 311-pound frame. He’s spent the last two seasons protecting Stetson Bennett’s blindside for the national champions, which is about as high level a resume as you’re going to get. He’s another high-potential tackle, pushing him up draft boards and into the No. 2 spot for this year’s offensive linemen.
12
Houston Texans (via Cleveland Browns): WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
Team needs: QB, WR, EDGE, LB, OL
Will Levis needs someone to throw to. His top rostered wideouts are currently Robert Woods, Noah Brown and Nico Collins.
That means defensive minded head coach DeMeco Ryans will spent his first two draft picks as a Texan on players who can overhaul his terrible offense. Smith-Njigba’s stock sunk after a hamstring injury limited him to three games last fall, but has rebounded after an effortlessly smooth showing at the combine — even if he didn’t run the 40.
This is a player capable of taking over games and destroying defenses, as shown by his 60 catches and 958 receiving yards over a five-game (!!!) stretch in 2021. Houston badly needs a WR1 to settle its depth chart. Smith-Njigba has the chops to be that guy for the next decade.
13
Chicago Bears, via projected trade with the New York Jets: OT Peter Skoronski, Northwestern
Team needs: OL, EDGE, DT, LB, WR
The Bears execute another trade-down here, but moving from No. 1 to No. 13 makes sense. This is a team with plenty of holes to fill, but perhaps none larger than offensive line. With a just-OK class of blockers this spring, sliding back four more spots allows general manager Ryan Poles a chance to walk away with a top tier offensive tackle and pick up valuable draft assets, even if the Jets earn the honor of taking 2023’s first lineman.
Skoronkski is a very nice consolation prize after missing out on Johnson and Jones. The Northwestern lineman is capable of holding down multiple positions on the offensive line and has been a starter at tackle for the Wildcats since his true freshman season in 2020. While his slightly short arms may paint him more as an interior lineman, there’s no denying his technique and footwork as a pocket protector. No matter where he ends up, he has the skill to be an All-Pro.
Northwestern OT Peter Skoronski recorded the 2nd-best vertical (34.5") and broad jump (9'7") of the OL group at the 2023 NFL Combine, earning an 83 athleticism score.
Skoronski is the top ranked offensive lineman on @MoveTheSticks' latest top 50 big board (7th overall). pic.twitter.com/qVpsHVW9vh
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 5, 2023
14
New England Patriots: CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
Team needs: OT, LB, WR, S, CB
This is a prime spot for Bill Belichick to trade back, especially with the top three offensive linemen off the board. However, Witherspoon may prove too tempting to pass up for a team in need of defensive backs.
The Illinois star has some real Sauce Gardner traits to his game after emerging as a prolific shutdown corner capable of erasing opponents’ top wideouts from the playbook.
Devon Witherspoon: 24.6 Passer Rating Allowed
1st among Power 5 CBs🔒 pic.twitter.com/4v3AFOmA7Y
— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 1, 2022
With Jalen Mills moving to safety, Witherspoon can handle duties on the outside and allow Jack and Marcus Jones a little breathing room as they round out their NFL skillsets. Witherspoon looks like the kind of player who can contribute from Day 1, which is a boon when the quarterbacks in your division are Josh Allen, Tua Tagovailoa and (probably) Aaron Rodgers.
15
Green Bay Packers: EDGE Nolan Smith, Georgia
Team needs: WR, OL, EDGE, S, TE
There’s nothing the Packers like more than taking a defensive player in the first round — especially if he’s from Georgia. Smith would become the fourth Day 1 Packer pick from UGA since 2021 should his post-combine rise drop him squarely in the middle of the first.
Smith wasn’t prolific in the middle of a dominant Bulldogs defense, but whatever he lacked in counting stats he made up for by testing out as one of the most ridiculous athletes in combine history. The edge rusher is fast, powerful, explosive and maintains the flexibility to bend around opposing blockers at a ludicrous angle. He’d join a pass rush rotation currently held down by Preston Smith and Rashan Gary — a 30-year-old and a pending 2024 free agent. Smith is immediate insurance should either leave with the potential to be an All-Pro if he can turn his absurd talent into on-field production.
16
Philadelphia Eagles (via New Orleans Saints) via projected trade with the Commanders: RB Bijan Robinson, Texas
Team needs: EDGE, LB, RB, CB, DL
The Eagles don’t *need* Bijan Robinson. Their tailback rotation of Kenneth Gainwell, Boston Scott and Rashaad Penny is a perfectly fine platoon of guys who might not put together a massive full-season effort but can step up on any given with with big performances. But this is a luxury pick, gleaned from the Saints a year ago, then traded down in this scenario to bolster Roseman’s draft assets. That kind of cushion clears the runway to take a first round running back; especially one as good as Robinson.
Just a reminder of how silly of a prospect Bijan Robinson is. pic.twitter.com/M5YlVGqaWg
— Jake Anderson (@JakeAndersonPGA) March 26, 2023
Robinson is the most complete running back prospect to enter the draft since Saquon Barkley. His 6.3 career yards per carry average is impressive; his 13.4 yards per catch as a target out of the backfield is ludicrous. At 215 pounds he’s capable of pushing piles in short-yardage situations and with 4.4-second 40 speed he can break free for long runs. He’d be another pick-your-poison option in an Eagles offense loaded with playmakers.
17
Pittsburgh Steelers: DL Bryan Bresee, Clemson
Team needs: OT, CB, DT, LB
Pittsburgh has a need up front, as Montravius Adams is better suited for a rotational role and Cameron Heyward, while still wrecking fools, turns 34 in May. Bresee can fix that as a versatile interior lineman with the strength, size and athleticism to line up over center or fire through gaps and jumble opposing offenses.
Bresee isn’t a player whose numbers will blow you away, but he’s a catalyst who jump-starts a chain reaction of big plays even if he’s not always there to finish it. The 298-pound tackle and former top overall high school recruit can have an immediate impact in the Steelers’ already stout run defense and refine his pass rushing technique while learning from Heyward. It’s not a sexy pick, which makes it an extremely Steelers pick.
18
Detroit Lions: DL Calijah Kancey, Pittsburgh
Team needs: S, LB, DT, QB
Bresee’s selection opens up Detroit to continue its defensive overhaul and add another one of the pre-draft process’s biggest risers. Kancey ran the fastest 40 of any prospect over 280 pounds in recorded history, showcasing the explosion and strength that makes a comparison to fellow undersized Pitt tackle Aaron Donald entirely too easy.
A defensive front of Aidan Hutchinson, Tyree Wilson, Alim McNeill and Kancey is a fearsome combination of speed and size. That’s a unit that can rush the passer from anywhere and seal holes on running plays. The Lions have worked hard in free agency to overhaul their deficient secondary. At the draft, they can focus on the guys who’ll make life easier for all those new cornerbacks.
19
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: EDGE Lukas Van Ness, Iowa
Team needs: OL, QB, CB, S, EDGE
Shaq Barrett is 30 years old and played less than half the 2022 season thanks to injury. Van Ness can fill the void any age-related decline brings while giving the Bucs a dynamic 1-2 punch of young edge rushers alongside Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (four sacks, 14 quarterback hits in 2022).
Van Ness wasn’t a starter at Iowa but still chipped in seven sacks per season the last two years — all of which came in handy for an offense committed to World War I cosplay under Brian Ferentz. The guy looks like a Disney prince and has the strength to back that up, but his 4.5-second 40 speed at over 270 pounds suggests he’ll be able to win on the corners in the NFL. He’s a bit more of a gamble than similarly rated edge rushers like Myles Murphy or Will McDonald, but he’s got the potential to pay that off in a big way.
20
Seattle Seahawks: LB Jack Campbell, Iowa
Team needs: EDGE, LB, IOL, DT, CB
Getting Will Anderson at No. 5 was a steal. Now Pete Carroll gets to turn that goodwill into a bit of a reach — and a run on Iowa stars.
Campbell was incredible as a Hawkeye, earning the Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker and generally being *everywhere* on the field in Iowa City. He bolstered that performance with a truly impressive showcase at the combine, suggesting those skills can translate to the next level, particularly for a defense in need of a tone-setter in the middle of the field.
Seattle, reduced to signing Devin Bush this offseason, certainly qualifies. Campbell sees the field with a predictive nature, closing holes before they can open. Will that be enough to push him past Drew Sanders and Trenton Simpson to be the first off-ball linebacker selected? It’s not an awful bet.
21
Miami Dolphins: Pick forfeited
Team needs: EDGE, TE, RB, DL
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
Los Angeles Chargers: TE Luke Musgrave, Oregon State
Team needs: OL, EDGE, CB, LB, DL
Twist! Musgrave is the fourth-ranked tight end prospect in the consensus big board rankings, but he has the talent to be the top pass-catcher in his group on Sundays. He’s a silky route runner able to create separation. He uses his 6-foot-6 frame to keep defenders away from the ball and pay big dividends in the passing game.
Two questions linger about Musgrave despite his upside. 2022 looked like a potential breakthrough year, but he only played two games due to injury. Can he contribute on a regular basis and can he be an asset as a blocker? He’s big and athletic enough to be a worthy risk over the more polished resumes or Michael Mayer or Dalton Kincaid. Justin Herbert needs more viable targets downfield. Adding a big tight end with 4.6-second 40 speed qualifies.
23
Baltimore Ravens: WR Quentin Johnston, TCU
Team needs: WR, EDGE, DL, CB
This draft board plays into the Ravens’ weaknesses, as the nine picks after Jaxon Smith-Njigba went without a wideout. That gives Baltimore the chance to add an inexpensive impact receiver to pair with Lamar Jackson or whomever is taking snaps for the team in 2023 and beyond.
Quentin Johnston was tied for 11th in the NCAA with 19 missed tackles forced and 20th in average YAC.
Not hard to see why. Elusiveness and explosive speed at this size is NFL-calibre stuff. pic.twitter.com/6Zvx1ZpWPH
— Cole Jackson (@ColeJacksonFB) March 27, 2023
Johnston is a force, a speedy wideout with a solid 6-foot-2 frame and the innate ability to understand and exploit holes in coverage. He’s capable of breaking games open as a deep threat or a burner after the catch. He’s also an expert ball-tracker who adjusts well downfield to back-shoulder and underthrown passes. That could come in handy if the Jackson rift is real in Maryland.
24
Minnesota Vikings: CB Deonte Banks, Maryland
Team needs: EDGE, CB, S, LB, TE
Signing Byron Murphy was a great buy-low(ish) move for a team pressed hard against the salary cap. Adding Banks would add another high-upside option to a needy secondary. The Vikings ranked 26th in pass defense DVOA, ranked 21st in passer rating allowed and just lost their best corner, Patrick Peterson, to leave in free agency.
Banks can be a plug-and-play starter with the potential to be so much more. He was one of the combine’s fastest participants and at 6-feet is big enough to hold his own in jump ball situations downfield. He also allowed just 4.3 yards per target in coverage last season at Maryland, punishing quarterbacks who turned his way and proving he can be a top option against WR1s.
25
Jacksonville Jaguars: CB Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State
Team needs: DL, CB, S, OG
Forbes has lightning speed (4.35 second 40) and had 14 interceptions along with 20 passes defensed in three seasons at Mississippi State. So why doesn’t he crack the top 20 here? Because at 161 pounds he was also the combine’s lightest participant.
The Jaguars will have to get him eating four dozen eggs each morning to help him get large, but pick up a potential game-changer here. Forbes is sticky in coverage, using fluid hips to stick to his targets and elite quickness to chase them downfield. Tackling may be an issue throughout, but he’s instinctive and hard to shake, giving him the chops to be the kind of player you can trust on an island.
— FBVids (@vids_fb) January 9, 2023
26
New York Giants: WR Jordan Addison, USC
Team needs: WR, CB, LB, QB, S
New York has spent the offseason acquiring or re-signing wideouts like Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton, Parris Campbell and Jamison Crowder. Those are all nice depth options, but $160 million man Daniel Jones desperately needs a player to command double teams and create space for those guys to thrive.
Addison can be that player. His move from Pittsburgh to USC didn’t come with the kind of leap some expected after a thoroughly impressive 100-catch, 17-touchdown 2021 with the Panthers, but he remains a high-level wideout who regularly generates big plays. He can thrive from any spot in the lineup, and while his play strength is a concern his ability to get open helps wipe away the negatives on his game film.
27
Dallas Cowboys: LB Drew Sanders, Arkansas
Team needs: LB, TE, S, CB, C
Jerry Jones gets to address a need *and* support his alma mater by picking up Sanders, a rangy linebacker with Texas roots. Leighton Vander Esch returned to form this season and signed a two-year contract to stay in Dallas, but his injury history suggests the Cowboys could use extra depth at the position. Next to him is 2022 fifth round pick Damone Clark, who has room to grow but struggled in coverage.
How many defenders in CFB lead their teams in QB Pressures, Tackles & FFs?!
That’s @RazorbackFB OLB Drew Sanders… He plays off ball & on LOS. Exceptional play speed/instincts and energy!
Feel like I’m watching an SEC version of Troy Anderson from last class (2nd Rd pick) pic.twitter.com/pgIIM5ogKR
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) November 29, 2022
Adding Sanders would give Jones a successor for Vander Esch and a replacement for Clark. The first-team All-American can work off-ball or, like Micah Parsons, bring a blistering pass rush from the second level (9.5 sacks in 2022). He’s a versatile multi-tool capable of making the Cowboy defense even more of a havoc engine than it already is.
28
Buffalo Bills: OG O'Cyrus Torrence, Florida
Team needs: CB, LB, IOL, S
Interior line has been a need in western New York. Rather than make this a run of off-ball linebackers, the Bills get the chance to add the draft’s top guard by landing the massive Torrence at No. 27.
The former Louisiana star transferred to Florida in 2022 and acquitted himself well against the smothering defenses of the SEC. The 330-pound monster isn’t particularly twitchy or fast, but he’s powerful and understands how to use his leverage to finish blocks. He’s got the size to eclipse defensive tackles and rarely gets called for penalties, making him a high-floor prospect for any team in need of protection.
The power that O'Cyrus Torrence (RG no. 54) has to relocate or erase defenders is on a much different level than most OL in this draft pic.twitter.com/eaF6yiB5LX
— Connor Rogers (@ConnorJRogers) March 21, 2023
29
New Orleans Saints (via Denver Broncos in trade for Sean Payton, via Miami Dolphins, via San Francisco 49ers): EDGE Myles Murphy, Clemson
Team needs: IOL, RB, DT, EDGE, TE, WR
Murphy has been an unexpected slider through the pre-draft process, particularly for a former five-star recruit who put up big numbers (36 tackles for loss, 18.5 sacks) at a college powerhouse like Clemson. That drop ends here as the Saints get a badly needed infusion of young talent to their pass rush.
He didn’t work out at the combine and questions linger about his explosiveness, but even if he isn’t dusting offensive tackles with his first step he’s still productive on the edge. He’s powerful and relentless, using long arms to push blockers back and slice inside to disrupt plays. New Orleans lost Marcus Davenport to free agency and Cameron Jordan turns 34 years old in July. The Saints need more talent up front; Murphy is the most talented pass rusher on the board.
30
Cincinnati Bengals: S/CB Brian Branch, Alabama
Team needs: DB, DT, TE
In one offseason the Bengals have lost Jessie Bates III and Vonn Bell while Eli Apple and Tre Flowers each remain unsigned. There’s a massive need in the secondary, so while a tight end like Michael Meyer is tempting here it lacks the impact of adding talented to the defensive backfield (additionally there’s a deep class of tight ends this year).
Branch can fill that gap at several different positions. He can handle duties at box or free safety, slide into the slot, or work outside against deep threats. His passer rating last season when targeted was a mere 75.5, handling his business in both man and zone coverage. Cincinnati needs a lot of help in coverage; Branch can provide it in just about any way defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo asks.
I don’t care how. Get Brian Branch in a #Packers jersey asap. pic.twitter.com/Q48ZLkNPis
— Eli Berkovits (@BookOfEli_NFL) January 23, 2023
31
Philadelphia Eagles: EDGE Will McDonald IV, Iowa State
Team needs: S, EDGE, LB, RB, DL
Howie Roseman took a luxury pick after trading back to No. 16 by landing Robinson. Now he takes care of a more pressing need by adding a young, high-ceiling edge rusher in Iowa State staple McDonald.
The 6-foot-4, 240 pound linebacker has twice set the Cyclone record for sacks in a season and has a chance to be ISU’s first first round selection in 50 years. He’s an explosive athlete with the first step (along with a couple wicked moves) to get into the backfield with impunity and bend under the lunging arms of offensive tackles. Once in the pocket he’s a sure-handed tackler capable of playing alongside Brandon Graham in 2023, then taking over his spot on the depth chart in 2024.
Iowa State put 6-foot-4, 239-pound Will McDonald IV inside the tackles on 20% of his snaps in their three-man fronts, and probably wondered why he got washed out. You put him outside the tackles, and it's just one big splash reel. Could have a Haason Reddick-level impact. pic.twitter.com/X44hxsXXQl
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) March 25, 2023
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Kansas City Chiefs: OT Darnell Wright, Tennessee
Team needs: OL, WR, CB, DT, LB, S
Wright is a wide-bodied (6-foot-5, 333 pounds) offensive tackle who played on both corners at the University of Tennessee and showcased a refined game in 2022. While Kansas City spent big to ensure its left tackle of the future (four years, $80 million for Jawaan Taylor), Wright could slide into Andrew Wylie’s old spot.
Darnell Wright vs Will Anderson Jr. pic.twitter.com/yDxz2PvB75
— John Brennan (@jbrens20) March 26, 2023
The good news for the Chiefs is that there’s a deep second tier of blockers with the potential to grow into starting lineup mainstays. Syracuse’s Matthew Bergeron has raised his profile considerably the last six months. Oklahoma’s Anton Harrison is a battle-tested space-clearer. Maryland’s Jaelyn Duncan showcased upper crust athleticism at the combine. Any of those guys could get the call here — or maybe Kansas City hopes that depth holds up and addresses its need at wideout instead.
