The Champ Mock 3.0

published on 3/25/2023


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Round 1

Picks 17-31
17. Steelers: Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee

Although Porter Jr. is not on the board, the Steelers see the seasoned tackle, Wright, and snap him up for their woeful OL. Perhaps it won't be as woeful with Isaac Seumalo signed in free agency and now Wright being added.


18. Lions: Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh

I'm going to go back to another pick I had earlier in mock season. DT's with the production and athleticism that Kancey showed at the Combine rarely make it out of the top 20-25 picks. There are no character concerns with him that I'm aware of, which is important for this regime, and perhaps Brad Holmes would see him as a poor man's Aaron Donald. Holmes, of course, was previously in the Rams front office. In thinking about a possible TE pick here, the position is deep enough to where the Lions could still come away with a solid prospect with one of their 2nd Round picks. Kancey, though, is more of a rare commodity imo.


19. Giants: Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU

TRADE! #25 and #89 for #19.

Tampa Bay, though it still has some quality veterans on the roster, could be entering into a retooling, at the very least. Picking up New York's 3rd rounder here might be a smart way to go, and the Giants make the move 6 spots up the board to get in front of Seattle, the Chargers, and the Ravens in order to select Johnston. The Giants currently have about a million slot WR options, but Johnston could give them a gamebreaker on the outside.


20. Seahawks: Jordan Addison, WR, USC

Addison would give Seattle a polished WR3 option as a rookie, and Addison would seem likely to be the heir apparent to Tyler Lockett in the offense.


21. Chargers: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah

I think Johnston's speed would be intriguing for the Chargers if available, even though it looks like the team will be returning Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Josh Palmer to the fold. Of course, the Giants moved up for him in this mock, and I think that Kincaid might be prioritized over Michael Mayer because he's the better receiving option. Daniel Jeremiah also has Kincaid as his top TE, and Jeremiah works for the Chargers, of course, as their radio analyst.


22. Ravens: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College

As the Lamar Jackson saga continues, I won't project a trade for him, even though I don't think he wants to play QB for them any longer. Regardless of who is playing QB, the team HAS to get better at WR, especially since new OC Todd Monken will want to open up the offense a lot more. Flowers, I think, is going to be seen as clearly better than the next-best group of WR's, as he excelled even with a poor QB situation at Boston College. The speed is game-breaking.


23. Vikings: Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland

Though depth at WR is an issue, an outside CB is still a pressing need. Byron Murphy was an excellent addition in free agency, but he's not an outside corner. Banks is a press-man corner and he should fit into what Brian Flores is looking for. I also think that his 98th-percentile athleticism will be what GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is looking for.


24. Jaguars: Brian Branch, S, Alabama

Branch met extensively with Jaguars coaches at his Pro Day, and the fit and value make sense if he's available.


25. Buccaneers: Nolan Smith, OLB, Georgia

TRADE!

The Bucs, like the Eagles, like to build through the trenches. So after the move 6 spots down the board, they go with the athletic edge rusher from Georgia.


26. Cowboys: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame

Welp, my idea of a Jalen Ramsey trade to the Cowboys obviously didn't happen, and I was way off on the possible compensation that the Rams could get. However, what I WAS right about is that Dallas was looking to make a splash defensively, and they did that by acquiring Stephon Gilmore from the Colts for only a 5th Round pick! That's like stealing, folks!

Switching back to the pick, with Mayer on the board, and knowing he's also a help in the run game, the 'Boys nab him as the replacement for Dalton Schultz.


27. Bills: Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas

Tremaine Edmunds left in free agency, so a big need at linebacker has developed. Enter the versatile Sanders.


28. Bengals: Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina

Smith replaces Eli Apple as a possible starting CB solution opposite Chidobe Awuzie.


29. Saints: Myles Murphy, DE, Clemson

The Saints' most effective pass rusher is the aging Cam Jordan, and reinforcements are most definitely needed.


30. Eagles: Will McDonald, DE, Iowa State

Philly uses another 1st rounder in the trenches, in this case the exciting McDonald, who has enjoyed a strong pre-draft process. Philly can add him to its core of edge rushers, and he could be a rotational pass rusher as a rookie.


31. Chiefs: Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State

One of my favorite tackle prospects just falls right into the laps of the Super Bowl champs. As tackle is a premium position, I'll go away from Jaylin Hyatt and opt for the Buckeye instead.


Picks 17-31