Mock Draft - 3-7-23

published on 3/7/2023


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Round 1

Picks 17-31
17. Jets: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia

TRADE - Pittsburgh sends 2023 1-17, 2023 3-80 and a 2024 6th round pick to New York for 2023 1-13

New York needs help along the OL. Trading down from 13 and still getting the prospect they may target in their original draft slot would be great value.


18. Lions: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas

No one is going to be happy seeing their team take a RB in the first round, but Robinson is a top 5 talent in this class. Dan Campbell is still an old-school coach at heart in many ways, and adding a home run threat like Robinson would make life easier on Jared Goff and allow OC Ben Johnson to get even more creative.


19. Buccaneers: O'Cyrus Torrence, G, Florida

Tampa has several needs, most notably at QB. But Kyle Trask was a recent second round pick and will likely be given a shot to start, so adding help up front will be a priority. The OL last year struggled, and Torrence is the top IOL on many boards.


20. Seahawks: Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan

I have Smith higher on my board than most. Again, Pete Carroll emphasized the need to get more dynamic up front. Smith is a 330 pound menace in the trenches, the kind of disruptor that Seattle needs.


21. Chargers: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College

It's no secret that the Chargers need to add more speed to their WR room. Flowers possesses the speed and quickness that L.A. needs, while also providing valuable depth to a room whose stars have dealt with injuries in recent years.


22. Ravens: Nolan Smith, OLB, Georgia

The Ravens love to draft athletic pass rushers, as shown by selections like Odafe Oweh in recent years. Smith is a twitched up EDGE with sub-4.4 speed, whose unique traits and track record as an elite prospect will keep him from falling out of Round 1.


23. Saints: Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh

TRADE - New Orleans sends 2023 1-29, 2023 3-71, and a 2024 3rd round pick to Minnesota for 2023 1-23 and 2023 3-87

New Orleans is no stranger to aggressively moving up in the draft. Kancey is a unique prospect who has drawn some comparisons to Aaron Donald, another undersized IDL prospect hailing from Pitt. New Orleans appears set to go all in...again...with Derek Carr, so adding a potential difference maker in the trenches could be a priority for Dennis Allen.

For Minnesota's part, GM Kwesi Odofo-Mensah has shown he is open to trading down, and here he is able to move up significantly in the 3rd round while picking up a future 3rd.


24. Jaguars: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah

Evan Engram was excellent last year, but he'll be playing on the franchise tag in 2023 and will be 30 in the 2024 season. Kincaid is a dynamic pass-catching talent who will give Trevor Lawrence yet another weapon to work with.


25. Giants: Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina

The Giants feature the worst WR corps in the league, although Darius Slayton and Isaiah Hodgins have had their moments. Downs represents the last 1st/early 2nd round talent at the position, so this wouldn't qualify as a reach. With a weak free agent WR class, New York has to figure out a way to add talent at the position and Downs would be a huge piece of that equation.


26. Cowboys: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame

Dallas has acknowledged that it needs to add more talent to its skill position groups. With Dalton Schultz set to test free agency, the Cowboys could look to replace him with the most well-rounded TE in the draft.


27. Bills: Brian Branch, S, Alabama

The Bills' safety duo of Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer aren't getting any younger, and obviously there are questions about Damar Hamlin's health moving forward. With Hyde coming off of injury entering his age-33 season, Branch is a logical pick as the best player available on the board who happens to fit a need.


28. Bengals: Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State

Jones is a massive prospect, coming in at 6'8 and just shy of 375 pounds, with an absurd wingspan due to his 36 3/8 inch arms. Jonah Williams is entering the final year of his deal, and La'El Collins posted a 57.9 PFF grade last year. Jones represents a sensible choice as instant depth at a critical position, as well as a potential long-term solution.


29. Vikings: Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson

TRADE - New Orleans sends 2023 1-29, 2023 3-71, and a 2024 3rd round pick to Minnesota for 2023 1-23 and 2023 3-87

With Eric Kendricks being released, the Vikes are currently projected to start Jordan Hicks and Troy Dye as ILB's in their 3-4 scheme. Simpson is a very good athlete who represents an immediate upgrade at a position of need.


30. Eagles: Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson

The Eagles landing Bresee with the 30th pick would be tremendous value. Bresee is a former top prospect who has fought through injuries and personal tragedies, but whose best days still seem to be in front of him. A great athlete, Bresee would be a very nice fit alongside Jordan Davis as Philly looks to replace a lot of aging veterans set to hit the free agent market.


31. Chiefs: B.J. Ojulari, DE, LSU

With Frank Clark's release, Kansas City would be wise to look at EDGE here, especially with several high-end talents on the board. While Myles Murphy may be a consideration, Ojulari is the best pure pass rusher on the board left, and that's a skillset KC desperately needs.


Picks 17-31