NFL 2023 mock draft: Six quarterbacks go early
I combed through a preliminary list of over 300 potential 2023 prospects to assemble an early mock draft.
It’s time to start looking forward now that the 2022 NFL Draft is about two weeks in the rearview mirror. The potential 2023 draft class features between five to eight quarterbacks that could conceivably rise into the first round based on their performances this coming season. The new class also features more blue-chip prospects than its 2022 counterpart, as we’ll see in this way-to-early 2023 mock draft.
This draft order is based on the reverse Super Bowl odds according to BetMGM on May 8. Don’t complain to me if you dislike the order. This is how the vast majority of the industry builds their mocks in the offseason.
Pressure data comes from PFF. All other statistics come from Sports Reference. Height and weight measurements come from individual program websites.
See something that confuses you? Or do you just want to talk about sports? Reach out to me in the comments or on Twitter @Sam_Teets33.
1. Houston Texans- Will Anderson Jr., LB/EDGE Alabama
This top selection completely relies on how Davis Mills plays in 2022. The Texans could easily go with the best quarterback available if he’s awful or shows no progress. Houston has two first round picks in 2023, so they have another shot to take a quarterback in this round. Instead of replacing Mills immediately, Houston opts to take the best player available.
Anderson led college football with 82 pressures in 2021. He also produced 17.5 sacks, 31 tackles for loss, and 101 tackles on his way to claiming the third-most first-place votes in the Heisman Trophy race. He finished fifth overall in the voting. In his two seasons, Anderson has 142 pressures, 24.5 sacks, 41.5 tackles for loss, and 153 tackles.
Similar to Micah Parsons in size (6'4", 243 lbs.), Anderson is a dynamic linebacker/edge hybrid with elite levels of athleticism.
2. Detroit Lions- C.J. Stroud, QB Ohio St.
The Lions have a good amount of confidence in Jared Goff. The organization’s coaching staff likes him, but they recognize the need for a higher-caliber quarterback to succeed in the long run and compete for Super Bowl titles. There’s a potential out in Goff’s contract next offseason that will only cost the Lions ten million in dead cap. Otherwise, he carries a $30.65 million cap hit in 2023 and a $31.65 million cap hit in 2024.
Stroud struggled mightily during his first games as a starter in 2021. He shrunk from the spotlight initially, and Ohio State fans even called for him to be benched. Stroud began finding his stride by mid-season, and he finished the year strong, claiming fourth in the Heisman Trophy race. His success pushed fellow quarterbacks Quinn Ewers and Jack Miller to transfer.
Stroud possesses prototypical size and the arm strength to threaten every level. He’s not a rushing threat. His ball placement and decision-making need to improve. Playing in Ohio State’s offense likely hurts his immediate projection to the NFL, but he’ll face fewer limitations in the league than Alabama’s Bryce Young.
3. New York Jets- Jalen Carter, IDL Georgia
The Jets have thrown multiple high-value assets at their defensive line over the past two years. However, Robert Saleh could move to solidify his second defensive tackle position by adding one of the early blue-chip favorites in the 2023 class. Vinny Curry, Sheldon Rankins, and Solomon Thomas are all free agents in 2023, while Quinnen Williams only has two years remaining on his rookie deal.
Georgia interior defensive linemen Jordan Davis and Devonte Wyatt were first round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft. Carter is arguably already better than both of his former teammates. The 6'3", 310 lb. true junior and former five-star recruit posted 34 pressures, three sacks, and 8.5 tackles for loss in 2021, while Davis and Wyatt combined for 40 pressures, 4.5 sacks, and 12 tackles for loss.
Carter needs to improve his finishing skills as a tackler, but he’s already viewed as a blue-chip level prospect. His best performances included six pressures against Alabama in the National Championship Game and eight pressures versus Auburn earlier in the year.
4. New York Giants- Bryce Young, QB Alabama
Daniel Jones is in the final year of his rookie contract after the Giants declined his fifth-year option. Jones is talented enough to start for one of the league’s 32 teams but not a championship contender. The former sixth overall pick has failed to match the potential he displayed as a rookie, and nothing short of a Pro Bowl performance can keep him in New York past this coming season.
Young is the reigning Heisman Trophy, Davey O'Brien Award, Manning Award, and Maxwell Award winner. The 6'0", 194 lb. former five-star recruit lit up the world during his sophomore season, totaling 4,872 passing yards, 47 touchdowns, and seven interceptions on an NFL-caliber passing workload. Young is more accurate than Stroud and shows better ball placement.
NFL teams will have questions about Young’s size and some of the poor tape he put up toward the end of his first season as a starter. Specifically, most of the Auburn game and both matches in the College Football Playoff revealed some warts in Young’s game.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars- Peter Skoronski, OT Northwestern
The Jaguars surprisingly gave left tackle Cam Robinson a three-year, $54 million extension this offseason. The right tackle starting role remains a tossup between former second round picks Jawaan Taylor and Walker Little. However, it might be easier to ditch the halfway measures and target a premier option.
At 6'4", 294 lbs., Skoronski is undersized for a true junior tackle. Some NFL teams will likely view him as a guard because of his size and questionable arm length. I’ll keep him as a tackle for now, considering he’s survived the tough life as a year-one starter at left tackle in the Big Ten.
Skoronski allowed 17 pressures and two sacks as a freshman before allowing 20 pressures and two more sacks this past season. However, he played roughly 90 more snaps in pass protection in 2021 than in 2020. Skoronski faced Michigan’s pass rushing duo (Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo) and only allowed two pressures. No sacks. No penalties.
Some people overthought Rashawn Slater when he came out of Northwestern a few years ago. Some analysts view him as a guard, while others tried to discredit his tape against then Ohio State defensive end Chase Young. Let’s keep this simple people. We can always make corrections later.
6. Carolina Panthers- Tyler Van Dyke, QB Miami
I fully expect Sam Darnold and Matt Rhule to be gone in 2023. Darnold is in the final year of his rookie contract, and Rhule is entering his third season at the helm but has failed to win more than five games. Carolina took a shot on Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral in the third round this year, but most of his production was scheme dependent in college.
Unlike Stroud and Young, Van Dyke hasn’t posted an elite season yet. The redshirt sophomore emerged as Miami’s starter in 2021 after D'Eriq King underwent season-ending shoulder surgery. Van Dyke played well, tallying 2,931 yards, 25 touchdowns, and only six interceptions. Similar to Stroud, the 6'4", 224 lb. Van Dyke isn’t a threat to run the ball. We’ll see if he can continue his rapid ascent with Mario Cristobal taking over as head coach.
7. Atlanta Falcons- Jordan Addison, WR Pittsburgh
A few years ago, Atlanta had one of the league’s most formidable wide receiver corps, featuring Russell Gage, Julio Jones, and Calvin Ridley. Now Gage is in Tampa Bay, Jones is near the end of his career, and Ridley is serving a one-year suspension and was on his way out anyway.
The Falcons invested in Drake London with the eighth overall pick this year and took Kyle Pitts at fourth overall in 2021. Adding Addison completes the franchise’s overhaul at pass catcher.
Addison is actively considering his options as a transfer, which could significantly alter his draft stock. The 6'0", 175 lb. junior won the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s most outstanding wide receiver in 2021 after teaming up with Kenny Pickett to produce 100 receptions for 1,593 yards and 17 touchdowns. Addison could return to Pittsburgh and catch passes from Kedon Slovis, but he seems set on playing elsewhere.
Addison played more time as an outside receiver in 2021 than as a freshman, but he still projects primarily as a slot receiver.
8. Seattle Seahawks- Phil Jurkovec, QB Boston College
Drew Lock and Geno Smith are the top quarterbacks on Seattle’s depth chart. Both former second round picks are in the final years of their current contracts. I wouldn’t expect the Seahawks to re-sign either option for 2023 unless Lock has a breakout season or the team wants to continue using Smith as an experienced backup.
Jurkovec transferred from Notre Dame to Boston College in 2020 and immediately flashed NFL potential. He produced 2,558 yards, 17 touchdowns, and five interceptions in ten games with the Eagles in 2020 (his redshirt sophomore year). Unfortunately, a hand injury derailed his 2021 campaign, leaving the redshirt senior’s NFL future hinging on his final collegiate season.
Jurkovec needs to cut down on his turnover-worthy plays while increasing his number of successful deep throws. Fortunately, a limited amount of his production since joining Boston College came on schemed-up short plays. Jurkovec has dominated on throws between ten and 20 yards past the line of scrimmage.
9. Chicago Bears- Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR Ohio St.
Chicago took one receiver for Justin Fields this past draft, and it was Velus Jones Jr. Jones is a dynamic playmaker, but he’s an older prospect who primarily projects as a gadget player and return man. The Bears and their young quarterback need a true top receiving threat, and they currently lack the credibility to be a desirable landing spot for top free agents.
Smith-Njigba played on a 2021 offense that featured two future top-11 picks in Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson. Let’s look at how the former five-star recruit and true sophomore compared to his fellow Buckeyes. Smith-Njigba made 95 receptions for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns in 2021. In comparison, Olave and Wilson combined for 135 receptions, 1,994 yards, and 25 touchdowns.
Olave and Wilson weren’t on the field for Smith-Njigba’s most notorious performance. The 6'0", 198 lb. receiver amassed 15 receptions for 347 yards and three touchdowns in Ohio State’s bowl game against Utah. The breakout performance marked Smith-Njigba’s fifth consecutive 100-yard game and seventh such performance of the 2021 season.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers- Paris Johnson Jr., OT Ohio St.
Pittsburgh’s starting tackles in 2021 both ranked among the bottom 20 (among full-time starters) in the league. Dan Moore Jr., a rookie fourth rounder, was clearly out of his depth, and the decision to re-sign Chukwuma Okorafor to big money will likely set the Steelers back several years along the offensive line. They can’t endure many more seasons of miserable tackle play.
Johnson was the No. 9 recruit in the 2020 class. The 6'6", 315 lb. junior barely played as a freshman before seeing roughly 770 snaps at right guard in 2021. Early depth chart projections have him sliding to left tackle in 2022, replacing Thayer Munford and Nicholas Petit-Frere, who were recently selected in the NFL Draft.
Johnson is one of the few complete projections I have in this mock draft (outside of the quarterback position). He’s never played left tackle at the collegiate level and could easily struggle and be forced to return for his senior season. However, he has the pedigree and didn’t allow a sack this past season.
11. Washington Commanders- Kelee Ringo, CB Georgia
The Commanders didn’t take a cornerback until the seventh round this year. Washington’s current options at cornerback are underperforming or were always underwhelming to begin with. I have some hope for Benjamin St.-Juste, but Ron Rivera’s team likely needs to rebuild its entire corner room.
Georgia’s historic 2021 defense isn’t done producing NFL talent. Ringo played nearly 800 defensive snaps during his redshirt freshman season. He intercepted two passes, swatted away eight more, and scored a defensive touchdown. Ringo was the No. 4 recruit in the 2020 class. He missed his entire freshman season because of shoulder surgery, but the 6'2", 205 lb. cornerback performed well during his debut campaign.
Ringo still needs to show significant improvement in 2022. He allowed three touchdowns and just over 340 yards in coverage this past season. In comparison, the more experienced Derion Kendrick didn’t allow a touchdown all year. Ringo has the athletic traits and a strong enough pedigree that I feel comfortable projecting him as a high 2023 draft pick.
12. Philadelphia Eagles- Zach Harrison, EDGE Ohio St.
The Eagles and Howie Roseman love prioritizing the defensive line. They continuously spend draft capital up front, and they’ll need to with Brandon Graham and Derek Barnett set to become free agents in 2023. Josh Sweat will see a larger role, while I think a combination of Tarron Jackson and even Milton Williams could see rotational time.
Harrison entered 2021 with some first round buzz, but this past season was a massive disappointment for the former five-star recruit. Harrison, who was a true junior in 2021, produced 28 pressures, two sacks, and six tackles for loss in roughly 550 defensive snaps. The 6'6", 272 lb. defensive end clearly has high-end upside, but he’s still searching for a breakout season.
I’m willing to jump on Harrison’s bandwagon one more time and give the senior a first round projection for 2023.
13. Minnesota Vikings- Nolan Smith, EDGE Georgia
The Vikings should consider building depth at edge rusher. Za'Darius Smith is approaching his 30th birthday and coming off an injury-shortened season. If he plays poorly, the Vikings could release him next offseason and save roughly $11 million. Meanwhile, Danielle Hunter has only played in seven games over the past two years and is under contract for 2022 and 2023.
Smith was the top national recruit in the 2019 class. The 6'3", 235 lb. edge rusher failed to meet expectations in his first two seasons, but 2021 was a turning point for the IMG Academy product. He produced 28 pressures, 4.5 sacks, eight tackles for loss, and three forced fumbles. Smith also took a massive step forward as a run defender, more than doubling his college career total in tackles and tackles for loss while rarely letting ball carriers slip through his grasp.
Smith will face questions about his size at the next level, and I’m curious to see how the senior will play now that most of his supporting cast has departed for the NFL.
14. New England Patriots- Eli Ricks, CB Alabama
The Patriots selected slot cornerback Marcus Jones and undersized (potential slot corner) Jack Jones in the 2022 draft. Marcus has the potential to emerge as an All-Pro return man and above-average slot corner, while Jack is likely a career backup. The Patriots desperately need help at outside corner because Malcolm Butler and Jalen Mills form one of the weakest duos in the NFL.
Ricks joined the LSU Tigers in 2020 as a five-star recruit from IMG Academy. The top 15 national recruit lived up to the hype, producing four interceptions, five passes defensed, and two defensive touchdowns as a freshman. An injured shoulder that required surgery cost Ricks most of the 2021 season. The 6'2", 195 lb. cornerback recently transferred to Alabama, a school looking to replace Jalyn Armour-Davis and Josh Jobe.
Ricks has a chance to be the top cornerback selected in 2023, although his recent arrest won’t help.
15. Las Vegas Raiders- Bryan Bresee, IDL Clemson
The Raiders have struggled to build depth and strength along their interior defensive line for most of the past five years. They drafted Matthew Butler and Neil Farrell Jr. to address those needs, but neither is a complete player. Butler primarily functions as a pass rusher who lacks the bulk to consistently stop the run, while Farrell is a pure two-down nose tackle.
Bresee suffered a torn ACL this past season, which caused him to miss significant time. However, the former top overall recruit in the 2020 class should recover in time to make a splash as a true junior. Bresee, who stands 6'5" and weighs 300 lbs., made an immediate impact as a freshman, producing 26 pressures, four sacks, and 6.5 tackles for loss.
I would like to see Bresee add more strength to complement his explosive playing style. We already saw him show signs of improving as a run defender and tackler before his injury this past year. Hopefully, he can put everything together along a defensive line that will feature arguably the best collection of talent in the nation.
16. Tennessee Titans- Michael Mayer, TE Notre Dame
Tennessee’s offense wasn’t the same without Jonnu Smith. The current Patriots tight end brought a lot to the table for Mike Vrabel’s squad. Signing Austin Hooper will fill that hole in 2022, but Hooper becomes a free agent again in 2023. Having a reliable tight end is an even larger point of emphasis for the Titans now that star receiver A.J. Brown is gone.
Mayer and Georgia sophomore Brock Bowers are in a league of their own right now. Those are two of the only tight ends in the college football landscape that have the potential to equal the impact of wide receivers at the next level. Mayer, who topped the 80-yard mark six times in 2021, finished his sophomore year with 71 receptions for 840 yards and seven touchdowns.
At 6'4 1/2", 251 lbs., Mayer has the size and strength to improve as a viable in-line blocker, but the Fighting Irish primarily deploy him from the slot.
17. Philadelphia Eagles (Via Saints)- Storm Duck, CB North Carolina
The Eagles have one of the most interesting collections of cornerbacks in the league. Darius Slay and Avonte Maddox (slot) are solidified veterans, but the remaining cornerback rotation includes second-year players Tay Gowan, Zech McPhearson, and Kary Vincent Jr. and rookie priority undrafted free agents Mario Goodrich and Josh Jobe. Philadelphia could target a corner via the draft if none of the young guys step into a starting role with confidence in 2022.
Duck’s name was on everyone’s radar entering the 2021 season. Unfortunately, injuries hampered him for the second consecutive year. Duck appeared in roughly a dozen eye-catching games as a freshman, but he’s made it on the field fewer than ten times over the past two seasons. The former three-star recruit enters his fourth collegiate season hoping to stay healthy and recapture some of his old magic.
18. Miami Dolphins- Cam Smith, CB South Carolina
Xavien Howard is a turnover machine and the Dolphins have a variety of options in the slot, but we still talk about Byron Jones like it’s 2019 and he’s playing for the Dallas Cowboys. Jones hasn’t lived up to his 2018-19 peak, and his contract is straining Miami’s cap. The Dolphins could save four million dollars and offload a bad contract by cutting Jones in 2023.
A redshirt junior who arrived at South Carolina as a four-star recruit, Smith came alive this past season, posting three interceptions and 11 passes defensed while only allowing one touchdown in coverage. The 6'0", 185 lb. corner also intercepted two passes in 2020, but 2021 was his first season performing at the level of a potential top draft pick.
Smith still hasn’t played 500 defensive snaps in a single season.
19. Indianapolis Colts- Felix Anudike-Uzomah, EDGE Kansas St.
No one knows what the Colts have at defensive end. Outside of Yannick Ngakoue (who becomes a free agent in 2023), Indianapolis only has developmental options like Kwity Paye and Dayo Odeyingbo. That room needs more high-end talent and a lot of depth because it’s one of the reasons why Indianapolis doesn’t have a stranglehold on arguably the weakest division in football.
Anudike-Uzomah is a 6'4", 253 lbs. defensive end who earned First-Team Big 12 honors in 2021 after he totaled 43 pressures, 11 sacks, 14.5 tackles for loss, and six forced fumbles on just over 520 defensive snaps. His two best performances versus significant competition came against TCU (nine pressures) and Baylor (five pressures). Anudike-Uzomah is entering his true junior season.
20. Arizona Cardinals- Jordan McFadden, OT Clemson
Right tackle Kelvin Beachum and left tackle D.J. Humphries become free agents in 2023. Arizona doesn’t have any other viable options at tackle outside of third-year guard/tackle Josh Jones. At best, they need depth. At worst, they need two new starting tackles for 2023.
McFadden has two years of full-time starting experience (one at right tackle and one at left tackle) under his belt, plus a fair number of snaps from 2019. He’s coming off his best pass blocking season, having only allowed ten pressures, one sack, and two penalties in 2021. McFadden was the lone bright spot on a tragic Clemson offensive line last year, emphasizing that he’s a cut above the competition.
21. Cincinnati Bengals- Kayshon Boutte, WR LSU
Cincinnati has one of the best wide receiver trios in the league with Tyler Boyd, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins all capable of producing 1,000 yards in a season. However, Boyd, who will make $10.2 million on average over the final two years of his contract, has experienced back-to-back seasons with between 825 and 845 yards. The Bengals could save $8.9 million by releasing him in 2023, which they might have to do as Joe Burrow, Higgins, and Jonah Williams become eligible for extensions.
Boutte is the next prospect in the LSU wide receiver pipeline. A leg injury limited him to six appearances in 2021. During that disappointing season for the transitioning Tigers, Boutte caught 38 passes for 509 yards and nine touchdowns. He spent about half of his time in the slot after spending more than 93% of his eye-opening freshman year playing out wide. Boutte finished his freshman campaign with more yards than former teammate and 2021 second round pick Terrace Marshall Jr.
22. Baltimore Ravens- Calijah Kancey, IDL Pittsburgh
Baltimore drafts good football players. General Manager Eric DeCosta took a chance on Odafe Jayson Oweh in 2021 despite his inconsistent production. He drafted an oversized safety and undersized center in the first round this year and picked David Ojabo (who recently tore his Achilles) in the second. Kancey has some size concerns, but Baltimore can find a role for him.
The Pittsburgh Panthers list Kancey at 6'0", 275 lbs. Those measurements are surely inaccurate, but they demonstrate the size concerns that threaten to drop Kancey down draft boards. However, it’s hard to ignore his terrific production in college. Kancey totaled 38 pressures, seven sacks, 13 tackles for loss, and 33 tackles in 2021. He’s struggled with missed tackles, but the redshirt junior is a viable run defender. It’s his pass rushing prowess that makes him a potential first round pick.
23. Houston Texans (Via Browns)- Will Levis, QB Kentucky
Davis Mills showed potential as a rookie, but we’ve seen plenty of rookie quarterbacks flash before plateauing. Look no further than Daniel Jones, who we replaced earlier in this mock. I believe Mills has earned the right to start 17 games in 2022, but he might prove too limited or inconsistent to get behind as a long-term starter.
A lot of people are buying stock in Levis becoming a top-ten selection. I’m not willing to go that far, although he does have some intriguing physical traits. Levis transferred from Penn State to Kentucky for the 2021 season, in which he posted 2,826 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. He’ll need to eliminate turnovers on his mid and deep throws to become a true first round selection, and he’ll have to do it without his top receiver (Wan'Dale Robinson) and top two offensive linemen (Luke Fortner and Darian Kinnard).
24. Los Angeles Chargers- Myles Murphy, EDGE Clemson
Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack are one of the league’s most formidable pass rushing duos on paper. However, Mack is coming off an injury-shortened season where his production was up and down. The 31-year-old is likely nearing the end of his prime, and the Chargers could save $18.4 million by cutting Mack after the 2022 league year. Murphy at least provides insurance in case Mack continues suffering setbacks.
Murphy was an ACC Second-Team selection in 2021 after posting 42 pressures, eight sacks, and 14.5 tackles for loss on roughly 550 defensive snaps. The former five-star recruit has been a star as a pass rusher and run defender since stepping on the field as a freshman. Clemson hopes Murphy can take another step forward in 2022.
25. Seattle Seahawks (Via Broncos)- Dawand Jones, OT Ohio St.
The Seahawks had an excellent 2022 draft, double-dipping at tackle with Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas. Seattle also has Stone Forsythe from the 2021 draft. While I acknowledge the team’s attempts to find bookend tackles, the Seahawks can’t keep messing around. They already drafted Phil Jurkovec in this mock. It’s time to fix their offensive line.
Jones was an All-Big Ten Third-Team selection in 2021. After seeing minimal snaps at left tackle in 2019 and 2020, the former three-star recruit shifted to right tackle. Jones played nearly 800 offensive snaps this past season, only allowing 11 pressures and three sacks. However, he committed eight penalties and looked pedestrian against Michigan, surrendering two pressures and a sack while committing three penalties.
26. Dallas Cowboys- Antonio Johnson, S/CB Texas A&M
Dallas didn’t add many significant contributors to its secondary in the 2022 NFL Draft. Jerry Jones’ team signed several quality UDFAs at safety, but Johnson has the potential to become what Daxton Hill was for this past class.
Johnson is a former four-star recruit and true junior with one year of starting experience under his belt. He spent just over 600 snaps in the slot and 100 in the box this past season. Johnson was superb in coverage, allowing 5.6 yards per reception while surrendering only one touchdown and committing no penalties.
Johnson was also an excellent contributor against the run, using his 6'3", 200 lb. frame to amass 79 tackles, including 8.5 tackles for loss.
27. Miami Dolphins (Via 49ers)- Tanner McKee, QB Stanford
Tua Tagovailoa has been a disappointment through his first two NFL seasons. We’ve all seen the video of him underthrowing Tyreek Hill the Dolphins posted on social media (for some reason). He lacks the physical tools to excel in the modern game, and he makes too many mistakes to be a viable starter on a championship team given his limitations. Teddy Bridgewater isn’t much better.
Similar to Levis, McKee has more traits than polish at this point in his collegiate career. The former four-star recruit, who joined Stanford as part of the 2018 recruiting class, took over for Davis Mills this past season. He passed for 2,327 yards, 15 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, authoring impressive wins over Oregon and USC early in the season before cratering against Arizona State, Cal, and Washington late in the year.
McKee struggled to complete passes beyond 20 yards. If he doesn’t clean that up, there’s no way he’ll get drafted in 2023. McKee still has at least two more years of eligibility
28. Detroit Lions (Via Rams)- Tykee Smith, S Georgia
The Lions have a complex safety situation. They recently re-signed Tracy Walker to a three-year deal, brought in Deshon Elliott on a one-year deal, and drafted Kerby Joseph. The Walker move was confusing given his average-at-best play. I think Joseph and Smith could become Detroit’s long-term options at safety.
Lewis Cine went in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, and Christopher Smith emerged as a future top 150 pick thanks to big performances in 2021. However, the Bulldogs didn’t have arguably their best safety healthy and available this past season.
Tykee Smith transferred to Georgia from West Virginia in 2021, but a torn ACL kept him off the field. Smith was one of college football’s most dynamic defensive backs in 2020, playing roughly 330 snaps in the slot and 200 in the box. He allowed 4.4 yards per reception despite being targeted 38 times while also amassing 61 tackles, eight tackles for loss, five passes defensed, and two interceptions.
29. Green Bay Packers- Jordan Battle, S Alabama
Adrian Amos is a free agent after this season, and Darnell Savage is in the fourth year of his five-year rookie contract. The Packers should try to get cheaper at safety, considering Amos carries a cap hit over seven million this year and Savage becomes a $7.9 million cap hit in 2023.
Battle would’ve gone in the top 50 selections if he declared for the 2022 NFL Draft, but the former four-star recruit decided to return for his senior season. Battle has already played over 2,100 defensive snaps in college (including over 600 in the box, 550 in the slot, and 940 at free safety) and is coming off the best year of his career.
Battle amassed 85 tackles, three interceptions, and two defensive touchdowns in 2021. He’s scored three defensive touchdowns while with the Crimson Tide and only allowed four in coverage.
30. Kansas City Chiefs- Noah Daniels, CB TCU
Kansas City recently doubled down in the draft, adding Trent McDuffie and Joshua Williams to its cornerback room. However, the Chiefs might need to pursue more cornerback help with L'Jarius Sneed entering the third year of a four-year rookie deal and Deandre Baker, Rashad Fenton, and Lonnie Johnson all operating in the final seasons of their deals.
Late in the first round is the perfect time to take shots on high-upside players at premier positions with desirable athletic traits. At 6'0", 194 lbs., Daniels appeared on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List last year. He was a track star at Fort Worth before committing to TCU as a three-star recruit. According to Feldman, Daniels has benched 405 pounds and previously ran a 4.27 40-yard dash. He has an intriguing combination of speed and strength, but Daniels has only played more than 200 defensive snaps in a season once.
Daniels missed the entire 2019 season with a shoulder injury and suffered a torn ACL in 2020. A string of injuries limited him to five or six games in 2021.
31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Trenton Simpson, LB Clemson
Buccaneers legend Lavonte David is entering the final year of his current contract. Coming off an injury-shortened season at 32 years old, David likely only has a few more prime years. Simpson is far from a perfect replacement for David, but he offers the Buccaneers a versatile linebacker capable of excelling in various roles.
Simpson will see a larger role this year now that two Tigers (James Skalski and Baylon Spector) have left the program. The true junior is shifting from his SAM/nickel hybrid role to WILL. Assuming that transition goes well, the 6'3", 230 lb. former five-star should emerge as one of the 2023 NFL Draft’s more dynamic players.
Simpson amassed 31 pressures, 6.5 sacks, and 12.5 tackles for loss in 2021 while playing slightly more snaps in the slot than the box.
32. Buffalo Bills- Josh Downs, WR North Carolina
The Bills have a solid wide receiver corps that recently added Boise State rookie Khalil Shakir. We all know Stefon Diggs is the leader of that wide receiver room, and former fourth round pick Gabriel Davis showed some WR2 traits late this past season, but Buffalo still lacks a proven second option capable of posting 1,000 yards each season.
Downs was one of the only remaining proven pass catchers on North Carolina’s offense this past season. Sam Howell leaned on the true sophomore heavily, targeting him 144 times. Downs hauled in 101 receptions for 1,335 yards and eight touchdowns. He might struggle to match those numbers with Howell moving to the NFL.
Downs is more physically limited than some of the other wide receivers we’ve covered so far. He’s listed at 5'10 1/4", 171 lbs. on North Carolina’s website. That’s a slot-only option at the next level.
Best Remaining: Offense
Dillon Gabriel, QB Oklahoma
Hendon Hooker, QB Tennessee
Devin Leary, QB N.C. St.
Spencer Rattler, QB South Carolina
Devon Achane, RB Texas A&M
Tank Bigsby, RB Auburn
Jahmyr Gibbs, RB Alabama
Bijan Robinson, RB Texas
Sean Tucker, RB Syracuse
Deuce Vaughn, RB Kansas St.
Dontay Demus Jr., WR Maryland
Rakim Jarrett, WR Maryland
Quentin Johnston, WR TCU
Marvin Mims, WR Oklahoma
Connor Galvin, OT Baylor
Anton Harrison, OT Oklahoma
Jaxson Kirkland, OT Washington
T.J. Bass, IOL/OT Oregon
Jacob Gall, IOL Baylor
Jarrett Patterson, IOL Notre Dame
Andrew Vorhees, IOL USC
Best Remaining: Defense
Gervon Dexter, IDL Florida
Jaxon Player, IDL Baylor
Robert Beal Jr., EDGE Georgia
Andre Carter II, EDGE Army
Brenton Cox Jr., EDGE Florida
Isaiah Foskey, EDGE Notre Dame
Ali Gaye, EDGE LSU
Derick Hall, EDGE Auburn
BJ Ojulari, EDGE LSU
Xavier Thomas, EDGE Clemson
Noah Sewell, LB Oregon
Henry To'oTo'o, LB Alabama
Edefuan Ulofoshio, LB Washington
Mekhi Garner, CB LSU
Joey Porter Jr., CB Penn St.
Tre'vius Hodges-Tomlinson, CB TCU
Malachi Moore, CB/S Alabama
Clark Phillips III, CB Utah
Garrett Williams, CB Syracuse
Brian Branch, S Alabama
Jalen Catalon, S Arkansas
Brandon Joseph, S Notre Dame
JL Skinner, S Boise St.