Welcome to Mock Draft season! This will be my 5th year mock drafting for the NFL Draft which will happen this year April 27th through the 29th.
My second Mock Draft will publish on March 10th after the NFL Combine, and my third on April 27th before the actual Draft.
This season's draft class more than last years' has an emphasis on the Quarterbacks, with four 1st-round grades and up to six potential draftees on the first day. With last year's generationally low talent, teams are very excited for this year's crop of QB's and are more than willing to trade up to draft the potential future of their franchises.
Other strong positions in this class is cornerbacks, defensive ends and offensive tackles. This class is generally strong with plenty of depth, as over 250 players project to be draftable, (only 224 picks at draft).
If you have any comments or changes you would make to the mock, feel free to leave a comment or tweet at me @DrapeauZak.
Without further ado, here's my first 2023 NFL Mock Draft.
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1. Will Anderson Jr.
Chicago Bears
6'4" 243 lbs.
Alabama Edge Rusher
With so many teams looking to trade up and draft either Young or Stroud, the Chicago Bears are in the best position to make out like bandits and cultivate several picks for a potential suitor at number one.
However, Will Anderson Jr. is too good of a prospect to pass up. Anderson Jr. totaled 34.5 sacks and 58.5 tackles for loss on his way to virtually every defensive award possible at Alabama, including the Nagurski and Bednarik awards for best defensive player in college football this season.
With the Bears' history of dominant defenses and pass rush, Anderson Jr. may be the next Khalil Mack to help with the Bears' lowest sacks total from last year with only 20. Anderson will immediately become the best defensive lineman on the team and will possibly elevate this defense as the Bears continue their rebuild.
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2. Bryce Young
Houston Texans
6'0" 194 lbs.
Alabama Quarterback
Young has been a consensus #1 pick since the moment he took over at Alabama in his freshman year three years ago. Although he finished behind Caleb Williams in most of this season's awards, Young won almost every award possible in his Heisman trophy winning season in 2021.
The Houston Texans are possibly at their lowest point since the franchise started in 2022. After trading their franchise QB Deshaun Watson last offseason, the Texans have begun a complete rebuild of their team, and the first step to a rebuild is finding their QB of the future.
Young will bring stability, accuracy and leadership to the Texans that will definitely help the team focus on upgrading the rest of the team while not having to worry about the QB.
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3. C.J. Stroud
Indianapolis Colts (via Arizona)
6'3" 218 lbs.
Ohio State Quarterback
With our first mock trade, the Colts move up one spot to guarantee their QB of the future. This move comes after the Bears promise not to trade down and the Cardinals start getting offers from teams. The Colts are in desperate need of a QB and are willing to trade their first round pick and fourth round picks next year along with the number four pick to move up one spot.
C.J. Stroud is one of the elite QBs in college football, having thrown 85 touchdowns and only 12 interceptions in his two seasons at Ohio State. Stroud's size and pocket presence give him one of the best prototypes to come out of the draft since Joe Burrow.
The Colts have a better than average offensive line and a pair of explosive playmakers in Jonathan Taylor and Michael Pittman Jr. to get Stroud started turning around this offense, which ranked 27th in total offensive and 31st in points.
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4. Jalen Carter
Arizona Cardinals (via Indianapolis)
6'3" 311 lbs.
Georgia Defensive Line
After trading down one spot while accumulating multiple picks next year, the Cardinals take the number 1B prospect in this year's draft. If Will Anderson Jr. was the best edge rusher, Jalen Carter is the best defensive lineman, putting these two players head and shoulders above the rest of this very talented crop of defensive prospects.
Jalen Carter is a large and strong defensive tackle who can rush the passer and stuff the run. Carter graded a 92.7 PFF grade this year ranking second in the country. To pair with one of some of the most dominant physical abilities at DT, Carter's hands showed a lot of improvement with his ripping and swimming abilities against top SEC competition this year.
The Cardinals defense already has Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Simmons, Zaven Collins, Zach Allen and Myjai Sanders who are all 25 years old or younger. Adding Jalen Carter to that will make Arizona the best young defense in the NFL.
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5. Will Levis
Carolina Panthers (via Seattle)
6'3" 232 lbs.
Kentucky Quarterback
Here we have another mock trade where the Panthers trade up with the Seattle Seahawks. They gave up the number nine pick and forty-one pick this year, with their second and fourth-round picks next year for the number 5 pick and a fifth-rounder next year.
The Panthers somehow traded Christian McCaffrey and got better last season with a revolving door at QB barely passing by. With new Head Coach Frank Reich under helm, the QB specialist will be wanting to solidify the spot and Will Levis is a perfect man for the job.
While still needing time to work on his pocket skills, Levis' arm is one of the best talents in this draft and combining with his size and speed, projects to be a solid starter in this league. With proper patience and tutelage, Levis and Reich will be scary.
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6. Tyree Wilson
Detroit Lions (via Los Angeles Rams)
6'6" 275 lbs.
Texas Tech Edge Rusher
As part of the Matthew Stafford trade, the Lions got the number six pick to go along with the 18th. Head Coach Dan Campbell has used his top draft picks bolstering the Lions frontlines, with Penei Sewell and Aidan Hutchinson. Both are perennial Pro-Bowlers, and here's another to add to their list.
Tyree Wilson is long and explosive coming off the edge and can pair up with Hutchinson to establish a ridiculous 1-2 punch of edge rushers. At Texas Tech, Wilson produced back-to-back seasons with 13+ tackles for loss and 7 sacks. His ability to play the 5-hole or 7-hole makes his versatility very appealing for a coach like Campbell.
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7. Peter Skoronski
Las Vegas Raiders
6'4" 315 lbs.
Northwestern Offensive Tackle
The Raiders will most likely look for a Quarterback in Free Agency based on their win-now-type roster. One of the biggest needs this team has besides QB is the O-line, who gave up more than 2 sacks allowed per game last year.
Peter Skoronski isn't as talented as some other Top-10 drafted lineman but his pass-blocking and hands is as elite for a tackle as you will see coming out of college. Skoronski would be a top-5 pick if not for his short arm length, which may cause NFL teams to project him at Guard.
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8. Bryan Bresee
Atlanta Falcons
6'5" 300 lbs.
Clemson Defensive Line
The Atlanta Falcons have a very interesting Free Agency ahead of them. With a lot of new rumors surrounding this team with Lamar Jackson talks, this mock draft lives in the universe where the former-MVP lands in Atlanta. The Falcons had a much better performance from their team than expected this year and in their lackluster division, could be just a few pieces away from contending for a division title.
We've seen many teams like the Lions crawl back from top-10 pick "honors" by building their defensive line, and that's exactly what the Falcons should do. Breese is a former #1 recruit out of high school and a 3-year starter at Clemson. He will instantly become a leader on this defense.
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9. Anthony Richardson
Seattle Seahawks (via Carolina)
6'4"236 lbs.
Florida Quarterback
The Seahawks have one of the best trade arsenals in the NFL right now thanks to the Russell Wilson trade and added value with the mocked trade with Carolina. They have the potential to disregard QBs this year and trade 5+ picks to get the #1 next year and draft Caleb Williams, which I believe is a solid option, but let's play along like Pete Carroll doesn't want to rebuild for two years.
Anthony Richardson is the biggest gamble in this draft, at least if he's drafted this high. He may have the most upside of any QB, standing 6'4" with a great arm and more than good athleticism outside of the pocket. He needs a lot of work against pro-defenses, patience in the pocket and other NFL tools, but Pete Carroll just may be the man to do it. With Geno Smith's explosion this year, it's clear Caroll is a QB whisperer. Geno will turn 33 at the beginning of next season and would be a perfect mentor for the future of Seattle's franchise.
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10. Myles Murphy
Philadelphia Eagles (via New Orleans)
6'5" 275 lbs.
Clemson Defensive Line
Rounding out the top-10, the Super Bowl runner-up Philadelphia Eagles have a chance to add to a roster many would call flawless with a premiere pick. The Eagles are looking to reload this year as they attempt to get back to the big game for the third time in six years.
The Eagles have this pick after trading two first-rounders to the Saints last year in a move that brought them the #18 pick last year and #10 this year. The end results of this trade, Saints receive Chris Olave and Trevor Penning and Eagles receive A.J. Brown and #10 pick this year. WOW.
Myles Murphy will add to the best pass rush in the league and will take Brandon Graham's spot when the legend retires. Murphy's size and speed is a horrifying combo especially under the tutelage of this daunted Eagles D-line.
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11.Paris Johnson Jr.
Tennessee Titans
6'6" 310 lbs.
Ohio State Offensive Tackle
With the top ten picks solidified, the Tennessee Titans are the next up to the podium. The team lost their last 7 games to lose the AFC South title to the Jaguars and end their season in huge disappointment.
Malik Willis seemed to take the reigns of the team as Ryan Tannehill is on his way out. For a young quarterback who likes to get outside of the pocket, one of the most important pieces a team can surround him with is his offensive line. The Titans gave up the 5th most sacks last year and seem to be moving on from Taylor Lewan.
Paris Johnson Jr. was a staple at left tackle for Ohio State in his last two seasons and brings size, length and power in a great combo. Johnson will be a day one starter and could help Willis and Derrick Henry become even more dangerous through the trenches.
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12. Michael Mayer
Houston Texans (via Cleveland)
6'4" 265 lbs.
Notre Dame Tight End
The Houston Texans used their own number two pick to draft their franchise Quarterback, so with the Browns' number 12 pick they need to get him help. If one of the top tackles were to fall this far, I believe the Texans would draft them, but since they're gone they'll draft the best skill position available.
Michael Mayer is as complete of a tight end coming out of the draft in a very long time. Being snubbed of the 2022 Mackey award won't stop Mayer from being the first tight end picked. With 1,650 yards and 16 touchdowns in his last two seasons, Mayer proved his receiving prowess, while being one of the best run-blocking tight ends as well. Houston's top two picks will be a dynamic duo for years to come.
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13. Andre Carter
Green Bay Packers (via New York Jets)
6'7" 260 lbs.
Army Defensive Line
Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets has been talked about for weeks and I pulled the trigger in this mock draft. To bring him to New York, the Jets traded the number thirteen pick, a 2024-second round pick and a player or two.
The Packers now have the thirteenth and fifteenth pick, and use the first of the two on the defensive line with Andre Carter. Carter's size is elite and he uses his bend expertly. His presence opposite of Rashan Gary will be a great power-finesse combo for this defense and create terrifying matchups for opposing offenses.
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14. Joey Porter Jr.
New England Patriots
6'2" 196 lbs.
Penn State Cornerback
The New England Patriots missed out on the playoffs for the second time in three years. With Bill Bellichick at the helm, they plan it to also be the last time they pick this early.
The Patriots hired Bill O'Brien to coordinate the offense like he did from 2007-2011, when the Patriots offense was at it's scariest with Tom Brady. That stability should take care of the offenses' worries which allows Bill to do what he does best and draft a defensive back.
Joey Porter Jr. is a big, lengthy corner who excels on an island and will easily slide into the role Jonathan Jones is leaving behind. Porter Jr. has the ability under the Patriots tutelage to become the next premiere outside cornerback in New England within only a couple of season.
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15. Quentin Johnson
Green Bay Packers
6'4" 215 lbs.
TCU WR
With their second pick in the post-Aaron Rodgers era, the Packers will do what they never did for A-Rod; draft a first-round skill position player.
Quentin Johnson is the best receiver in this class and uses his 6'4" height and soft hands to make some insane catches on the sideline and in the end zone. His route running ability especially at the line of scrimmage sets him apart from the other receivers in this class because he is dangerous at any part of the field . He is more of an outside receiver but has the ability to start from the slot as well.
Johnson will add to the already deep collection of young receivers on the Packers already but will most likely be the best sideline option for the G-men and has an outstanding chance to win offensive rookie of the year under this Packers offensive scheme.
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16. Christian Gonzalez
Washington Commanders
6'2" 201 lbs.
Oregon Cornerback
The Washington Commanders are in a very tricky position. With Carson Wentz and Taylor Heinicke under contract for another year it's unlikely they draft a QB but could find other options in Free Agency. The Commanders are a defensive focused team and have drafted very well on that side of the ball so why not continue the trend with Gonzalez.
The Oregon cornerback is a former track star with blazing speed to match with his 6'2" frame. His technique definitely has room to improve, but under Ron Rivera and surrounded by DB's like Kendall Fuller, Gonzalez has a very high-potential as a lockdown corner who can follow any receiver downfield.
As a backup pick, look for Brian Branch to potentially go here. Knowing the Alabama-love the Commanders have shown in the draft and the weakness at safety makes this reach very possible.
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17. Calijah Kancey
Pittsburgh Steelers
6'0" 280 lbs.
Pittsburgh Defensive Line
The Pittsburgh Steelers were so close to making the playoffs last year, even with rookie QB Kenny Pickett starting most of the season. Make no mistake, the Steelers are retooling, not rebuilding. What better way to add to this impressive roster than within the trenches as Cameron Heyward gears up to play maybe his last season.
Let the Aaron Donald comparisons begin. Calijah Kancey has almost the same exact measurables as the three-time DPOY and comes from the same university. While Kancey's strength and explosiveness aren't quite up to par with Donald's, whose are? The Steelers take the best player from their hometown university for the second year in a row and get one of the best pass rushing defensive tackles in the draft.
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18.Devon Witherspoon
Detroit Lions
6'1" 180 lbs.
Illinois Cornerback
With their second pick so far, the Detroit Lions select another defensive player. This time to mold their back-end, the Lions take a cornerback for insurance on Jeff Okudah. The third-year corner had his best season as a pro but is far from a staple and the Lions are running out of time with him. Amani Oruwariye has been a decent piece but the Lions should be safe and not sorry and draft another.
Witherspoon had a tremendous career at Illinois and draws comparisons to Jets rookie of the year Sauce Gardner. His only knack is his skinny frame which can easily be improved on an NFL workout plan. He has great speed and aggression when it comes to the ball. In his last year at Illinois, he had 3 interceptions and a conference-leading 14 pass deflections. Witherspoon should be able to jump to CB2 right away, letting Oruwariye handle the slot; his natural position.
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19. Kelee Ringo
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
6'2" 210 lbs.
Georgia Cornerback
In this mocked universe Derek Carr signs with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as Tom Brady's successor. With the quarterback position taken care of, the Buccaneers are free to replace other players set to leave in Free Agency with this pick. Although the Buccs may want to go after other positions here, the Cornerback position is a big need for them and seeing three corners go in the last four picks may force them to take the the fourth first-round graded player in Ringo.
Kelee Ringo was a consensus top-10 pick before the season started and has had a solid two-year career at Georgia. The only reason he slid down the boards is because there wasn't much improvement from last year, yet he still projects as a safe first-round pick due to his size and hands. If Ringo struggles at outside corner duties, he will easily be able to slide into the slot and have a great career tracking through the middle of the field with his big body and great hands.
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20. Broderick Jones
Dallas Cowboys (via Seattle)
6'4" 310 lbs.
Georgia Offensive Line
Yet another mock trade and again it has the Seattle Seahawks trading down and accumulating even more picks. The Cowboys move up from their 27th pick to 20 and receive a 2024 4th-round pick while giving away their 6th-round pick this year and a 2nd-rounder next year.
The Cowboys love versatile big men and Broderick Jones is the best example in this year's class. The Georgia tackle has played numerous games at guard last year while being promoted to the blindside tackle for the National Champions in his final year. His brute power and aggression makes him project better at guard in the NFL, but his pass-blocking showed improvement this year and he will likely play both positions for a team who had several injuries to this group last year.
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21. Forfeited Pick
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins were stripped of this pick after illegal negotiations with Tom Brady while the former QB was still under contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Dolphins also will forfeit their 2024 3rd-round selection.
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22. Isaiah Foskey
Los Angeles Chargers
6'5" 260 lbs.
Notre Dame Defensive End
The Los Angeles Chargers have one of the most complete rosters in the NFL but continuously disappoint when it comes to post season success. The team has a young QB at the end of his rookie contract, two dominant pass rushers, a feared one-two combo at wide receiver, a good offensive line and a great secondary. So what do they need to draft here?
Barring a potential trade they should go with another pass rusher, as you can never have enough in the NFL these days especially in the daunting AFC West. Isaiah Foskey has been a staple on the Notre Dame defensive line for the last three years, racking up 28 TFLs and 25 sacks. He should be able to slide into the 7 or 5-technique and make the four-headed combo of himself, Bosa, Mack and Sebastian-Day a treacherous row for defenses.
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23. Bijan Robinson
Baltimore Ravens
6'0" 221 lbs.
Texas RB
The Ravens are in a very different position this year after Lamar Jackson was mock traded to the Atlanta Falcons. Tyler Huntley officially has the reins and will flourish in this offense like Jackson did with the right scheme. The Ravens will need to rely even more on the run game and RPO's and to do so, will need a consistent back to rely on after J.K. Dobbins injuries.
The first running back off the board will be Bijan Robinson, who has been the best running back in college football for the last two season. Robinson won the top running back of the nation award this year and has racked up 2,700 yards and 29 touchdowns in his last two years of work at Texas and will immediately become Baltimore's workhorse back. Robinson's receiving ability is moderate but can be improved on an NFL roster, although it may take a year or to to grow into that role.
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24. O'Cyrus Torrence
Minnesota Vikings
6'5" 327 lbs.
Florida Offensive Guard
The Minnesota Vikings are in win-now mode, and need to capitalize on the offensive weapons they have immediately. A playmaker combination of Jefferson and Cook comes by so rarely that the Vikings need to retool this offseason like it's the last year in their Super Bowl window. With Kirk Cousins at quarterback, the team may be limited, but that doesn't mean they can't optimize the soon-to-be 35 year old's ability.
The Vikings love to draft offensive lineman early in drafts, and O'Cyrus Torrence has one of the lowest floors of any o-lineman this year. Torrence is a huge man at 6'5" 327 and has surprising finesse along with his power. His run blocking is elite and should easily help Dalvin Cook out in the run game while assuring an already great pass-blocking line.
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25. John Michael Schmitz
Jacksonville Jaguars
6'4" 320 lbs.
Minnesota Center
The Jacksonville Jaguars went from the #1 pick last year to the #26 pick this year. That is the RIGHT DIRECTION for first-year HC Doug Pederson. The offense has a great handle at quarterback and skill positions, while the defensive line and secondary are strong groups as well. The aim for this team should be to build around the future of the franchise Trevor Lawrence, and that starts with the offensive line.
Schmitz is a workhorse of a center, at 320 pounds he excels at physicality. His hands are so strong, as soon as he gets a hold of defensive lineman there is little chance they escape his grasp. His pass-blocking ability definitely needs improvement, but for a team like the Seahawks that will prioritize mobility for their quarterbacks, Schmitz can afford to miss some blocks while still holding his assignments early on in his career. The Seahawks have needed a center for several years now and here's their man that will captain this offense for the foreseeable future.
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26. Jordan Addison
New York Giants
6'0" 175 lbs.
USC WR
The Giants had their best season since 2011 this year under Brian Daboll and behind Daniel Jones. Their offense were their identity and seemed to get better as the season progressed. With Daniel Jones apparently asking for $45 million+ in contract negotiations, he's going to need to perform at an All-Pro level as far as the Giants are concerned. To do that, he will need some help from his receivers, and a complete overhaul of the position may be the way to do that.
Adding a receiver like Jordan Addison may be the step this team needs to make Daniel Jones one of the elite QB's in the league. Addison is a NFL-ready slot receiver with deep threat ability that is unmatched in this class. His size may scare some suitors away as he may never become a sideline-receiver, but with New York's urgency at the position, using Smith-Njigba at slot would be a perfect way to develop the young receiver into a player this team can depend on.
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27. Nolan Smith
Seattle Seahawks (via Dallas)
6'3" 235 lbs.
Georgia Edge Rusher
The Seahawks are taking their second traded-back first round pick and have a number of position of need to fill. The team is solid all-around but with their earlier acquisition of Anthony Richardson, can plan for the future with this pick while trying to add a starting caliber player. They will be looking for the best overall value regardless of position.
One of the best steals of the draft comes at the back end of the draft at 27 in Nolan Smith to the Seahawks. Smith is a prominent edge rusher in this class with better than average coverage skills for an outside linebacker as well. Team needs have prevented him from being drafted closer to my Big Board ranking of 16. Smith will immediately become a starting linebacker and can blitz at will opposite of Uchenna Nwosu in the Seahawks multiple scheme. Look for a possible DROY from this pick.
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28. Jahmyr Gibbs
Buffalo Bills
5'11" 200 lbs.
Alabama RB
The Buffalo Bills left the season in disappointment after losing in the divisional round of the playoffs. The offense really had a dud putting only 10 points on the board against a decent but not great Bengals defense. Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs in an all time duo, but more playmakers seem to be necessary to put this team over the top.
Jahmyr Gibbs is the most versatile running back in the country with his three-down running back ability. On a team like Alabama where the depth chart is DEEP in every position, Gibbs didn;t get as many touches as he would on other teams, similar to Josh Jacobs in 2018. When he did have the ball he took advantage every time, averaging over 6 yards per carry and 10 yards per reception this season. Gibbs will immediately become Buffalo's premiere back and could be the reason they finally make a Super Bowl in this era.
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29. Cam Smith
Cincinnati Bengals
6'0" 188 lbs.
South Carolina Cornerback
The Bengals made their second straight appearance to the AFC Championship this year and were 8 seconds away from going to overtime and possibly making it to another Super Bowl. The Bengals have proven last year wasn't a fluke and that they're a top-3 team in the AFC. Their roster isn't perfect but their defense proved to be legit and answered most of the questions about their legitimacy.
Having to resign 3 of their starting defensive backs will be a huge challenge for this team being that it's the weakest part of the defense already. Eli Apple is most likely leaving and to replace him, Cam Smith will step in and likely not miss a beat right away. Smith's speed and instincts are perfect for a NFL corner, but his size leaves something to be desired when roaming through the middle of the field.
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30. Jaxon Smith-Njigba
New Orleans (via San Francisco)
6'1"200 lbs.
Ohio State WR
New Orleans has a lot of holes to fill in their roster. While they're most likely to go after a quarterback in Free Agency, like Jimmy Garoppolo in this Mocked Universe. They could use any position available at this pick and should go for the best overall value.
Smith-Njigba had a phenomenal sophomore year at OSU, out-performing Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave. Smith-Njigba did his best work out of the slot that year and had over 1,600 yards. Unfortunately Smith-Njigba would only play in 3 games this season battling a hamstring injury throughout the year.
New Orleans may be lucking out here as Smith-Njigba may have been a certified top-10 pick if he were healthy, his run-after-catch ability is insane and his versatility makes him a dangerous weapon on this Saints' offense. Pairing him with their first-round pick last year, former- Buckeye Chris Olave will only maximize Smith-Njigba's morale and performance.
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31. Bryan Branch
Philadelphia Eagles
6'0" 196 lbs.
Alabama Safety
The Eagles were one "holding penalty" away from a real shot at a Super Bowl trophy. Their roster is complete top to bottom and could use some depth or future stars. The Eagles have certain positions that will need a new starter in a year or two like their secondary or offensive line.
Bryan Branch is another steal for the Eagles at thirty-one and fits this team to a tee. Branch is a cover-first safety who possesses great run-stopping tackling and instincts for the ball carrier. With Philadelphia's impeding safety free agents, Battle will have a chance to see a good amount of playing time on one of the best defenses in the league.
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32.Herndon Hooker
Minnesota Vikings (via Kansas City)
6'4" 232 lbs.
Tennessee Quarterback
The Chiefs roster isn't perfect and Patrick Mahomes still won a Super Bowl with them. The possibilities they have are endless but the Vikings traded enough for the Chiefs to move out of Day 1. The Vikings trade the fifty-six pick and the ninetieth pick to move up to thirty-two and take their quarterback of the future.
Herndon Hooker is a project for sure but his upside is worth a first round-pick especially if the team has the patience to stash him for a year or two. His size is elite and his throwing ability on short throws is NFL-ready, but he needs to work on his pocket presence and deep ball throws. His NFL comparison is already starting on the Vikings roster, and with Cousins set to sign another one-year extension, will be the perfect teacher and model for Hooker. Trading two high picks will be easily worth this pick coupled with their earlier pick of O'Cyrus Torrence to protect whoever quarterback starts in the future.
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Mock Draft 2.0 will be releases on March 10th after the combine and my full Big Board will be released in the coming weeks exclusively on fansonlysportz.com
Check out fansonlysportz.com for more sports media content posted daily.
Make sure to stay tuned as we continue coverage on the 2023 NFL Draft, including mock drafts, big boards, team needs with more FOSN faces joining in soon!
-Z.D.
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