The Champ Mock 4.0

published on 4/10/2023


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Round 1

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

Wright has experience at both LT and RT and could offer help on either side of Pittsburgh's much-maligned OL.


18. Lions: Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh

Brad Holmes gets his poor man's Aaron Donald here. I'll note that Michael Mayer could be tempting for Detroit in this spot as well.


19. Buccaneers: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky

The slide ends, as the Bucs hope that Levis can be their QB of the future.


20. Seahawks: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College

After nabbing Wilson at #5, now Seattle addresses its lack of WR depth with Flowers, who could immediately be Seattle's #3 wideout while also possibly becoming Tyler Lockett's long-term replacement. I will note that Flowers is now the #2 choice among oddsmakers to be the first WR chosen, at +330.


21. Chargers: Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU

I think the Chargers might be tempted to take Dalton Kincaid, but with Johnston on the board, that size/speed combo is something that Justin Herbert simply doesn't have right now.


22. Ravens: Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland

I had Jordan Addison here before, but I'm changing my mind after the Odell Beckham signing. Teams seem to really love Banks, and CB is arguably a much-bigger need now instead of WR. Yes, the Ravens are a club not afraid to eschew need and go for a BPA approach, but Banks might be seen as such anyway.


23. Vikings: Jordan Addison, WR, USC

Well, I previously had the Ravens taking Addison and the Vikings getting Banks. I'm going to just reverse it here. The depth at receiver is quite thin for the Vikings at the moment, and Addison would give them another prolific pass-catching option. Kevin O'Connell wants to throw the rock, and a player of Addison's pedigree might appeal to them in this spot more than, say, the CB5 of the draft.


24. Jaguars: Brian Branch, S, Alabama

Branch can fill a role as one of those chess piece type of DB's, a Minkah Fitzpatrick, if you will, for the Jags.


25. Chiefs: Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State

TRADE! #31 and #95 for #25.

The Super Bowl champs move up in front of Dallas to be sure of getting Jones, a player who could offer a high-upside RT solution for them. I'm sure they will allow Lucas Niang to compete for that role, but Jones' size and length and agility are truly rare to see. Since KC has an extra 4th rounder at #122 (from Miami), it makes this move up worth it for them.


26. Cowboys: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame

As the Cowboys want to run the ball even more under Mike McCarthy (LOL), Mayer would make more sense than Dalton Kincaid, perhaps, as Mayer is the far better run-blocker. Dallas will hope that he's the second coming of Jason Witten.


27. Bills: Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa

The Bills lost Tremaine Edmunds in free agency, and I had Drew Sanders here in all my previous mocks where I had the Bills going with a LB. But there seem to be a lot of sharp mocks connecting Campbell to the Bills instead (and, thus, being the first LB off the board), and I trust it enough to do the same, at least for now.


28. Bengals: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah

Hayden Hurst departed as a free agent, and Kincaid is the best pass-catching TE in this draft. It's likely that Tyler Boyd will not be on the team next season, and Tee Higgins may not be, either, as looming mega-extensions will happen soon for Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase. Kincaid has the talent to be a top option for Burrow within a year or two.


29. Saints: Myles Murphy, DE, Clemson

The Saints are getting quite thin with edge rush talent, with Cam Jordan aging and nearing the end of his contract and with the loss of Marcus Davenport in free agency. Murphy goes as the 5th edge player in the 1st Round.


30. Eagles: O'Cyrus Torrence, G, Florida

Torrence posted a poor RAS score and there are concerns that he wouldn't work well in a ZBS scheme. However, Philly has a guard opening, and though Cam Jurgens could be a candidate to fill it, Torrence didn't allow a sack in college and he could be a road-grading guard to help open holes in the run game. Jurgens, for his part, could still be the heir apparent at center whenever Jason Kelce retires.


31. Giants: Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State

TRADE!

After moving down the board and picking up KC's 3rd rounder, the ball-hawking Forbes should be a good fit for Wink Martindale's scheme. I'm thinking that Forbes' 14 INT's and 6 pick-sixes in his career, plus the outstanding athletic testing that he displayed, could get him into the 1st Round, despite the light 166-pound frame.


Picks 17-31