2023 NFL Mock Draft — Two Rounds

It’s NFL Draft week, which means it’s finally time to show some results for the hours and hours I have ignored my responsibilities to play with the PFF Mock Draft Simulator. This time, I have truly gone too far, and you will be the benefactors of my deteriorating mental state. So please enjoy my first two-round mock, with write-ups for all 63 picks that has taken 17 and counting pages on the Google doc in which I am writing this.

As always, this mock is what I would do, with a couple of large asterisks for the sake of realism.

1. Carolina Panthers (from CHI) — Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

I’m glad we moved past the post-combine overreaction — Bryce Young is and has always been the best quarterback prospect in this class. Young is excellent as a mover in the pocket — while he causes his own pressures a little more than you’d like by drifting in the pocket, he avoids sacks at an elite level and had an unprecedented 71 PFF Grade while under pressure. He also is excellent at using angles to manipulate defenders and create openings for his receivers while on the run. The best quarterbacks in the league are also the best at creating offense when the play breaks down. The Panthers should continuously invest in the offensive line to try and prevent any durability issues, but even as a size outlier, Young has all the intangible traits of a franchise quarterback, and he would have an argument to be called the best quarterback in the NFC South entering the season.

2. Houston Texans — CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State

CJ Stroud is a fascinating evaluation. For much of his career at Ohio State, he seemed to rely on the incredible surrounding talent a little too much. He would spend 3–4 seconds in the pocket regularly, and in the rare occasion where his superstar receivers could not get open, he didn’t seem willing to create with his legs and become a playmaker when the structure broke down.

And then he went out and did exactly that in the biggest game of his career against a defense entirely comprised of future NFL players.

How do you balance a small sample size of the tape you were waiting to see the entire time, but it came against the best team he played at any point in college? I am willing to buy in. Even without the Georgia tape, Stroud has the physical tools and processing ability that NFL coaches salivate over. And even though it was just one game, I’m much more optimistic seeing his playmaking ability against Georgia than I would be if we had seen it before and then it went away in the CFP game. While the Texans are making a lot of noise about passing on a quarterback, I cannot get behind an endorsement of tanking for a quarterback again when a very good prospect is available here.

TRADE: ARI sends 1.3 to DET for 1.6, 2.55, 2024 2nd

3. Detroit Lions (from ARI) — Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida

I’ve heard a lot of Detroit fans are very against taking a quarterback in this class, let alone trading up for one. For the life of me, I do not understand this position. First of all, in normal circumstances, trading up for a QB is incredibly expensive. Here, the Lions have the chance to do so without offering up a future first, presuming no one else offers Arizona such a pick here. Secondly, while Jared Goff with a stacked roster is a playoff contender, having a quarterback on a rookie quarterback is an even bigger advantage to potentially build an even deeper roster. Thirdly, Anthony Richardson is a really good prospect!

Richardson, even though he only has a season of college experience, has a very advanced pocket presence, and like Young, is exceptional at avoiding sacks. He’s better at reading defenses than he gets credit for, and you can noticeably see him improve later in games and later in the season, showing his ability to learn from his mistakes and progress in such a short time. He’ll certainly need to improve his mechanical consistency and figure out when he needs to put touch on a ball versus throwing an absolute laser, but his running ability makes the floor much higher than typically expected for a boom-or-bust prospect.

4. Indianapolis Colts — Will Levis, QB, Kentucky

While Will Levis is a controversial prospect (and somehow the betting favorite to go number 2???), I still think he is worthy of a first-round pick and the Colts would be willing to pull the trigger even if he is the last QB on the board. Levis is certainly a project, but a lot of the criticism is unfairly assigned. He has been labeled as turnover prone, but his weaknesses are more so his pocket presence. He is also pretty good at processing coverages for someone labeled as a physical project.

The pocket presence is definitely a concern. While his offensive line was pretty terrible this past season, Levis seemed unable to pick up free rushers. But given how badly the Colts need a quarterback, you have to be willing to take a shot at some point.

5. Seattle Seahawks (from DEN) — WIll Anderson, EDGE, Alabama

If Will Anderson is passed over as the top edge rusher in this draft, I will have an aneurysm. He was the best player in college football in 2021. He has the speed to threaten the arc and the power to threaten inside. He is as blue chip as blue chip edge rushers come, and if Tyree Wilson goes off the board before him under the guise of “potential”, my head will explode. Anderson’s potential is perennial all-pro. While the Seahawks should have the same philosophy I applied to the Lions if a quarterback is available, I hope Pete Carroll, who has expressed a desire to add talent on the defensive line, understands the value of taking the top player on most people’s big boards at fifth overall.

6. Arizona Cardinals (from LAR through DET) — Paris Johnson Jr, OT, Ohio State

While the first five picks have been very chalky, here is where I deviate (because what fun is writing the same mock draft ten people have before?). Since the Cardinals took Kyler Murray with the first overall pick, they drafted two straight linebackers and then traded for a veteran receiver. Even before Murray got hurt, this roster was in dire straits, primarily due to their refusal to add cheap talent in the trenches outside of Zach Allen, who is no longer on the roster. With this season already guaranteed to be a loss, I would take the top tackle in the draft and try to revamp the offensive line by the time Kyler returns.

Paris Johnson is not the best pass blocker in the draft right now; that award goes to Peter Skorniski. But as someone who generally prefers the higher-floor player all else equal, it should be notable here that I prefer Johnson as a franchise left tackle. The arm length of Skoronski is a concern, but Johnson does so much well and has such a great athletic profile for a first-year starter that it would be a serious upset for him not to be a starting tackle in the league for a decade plus. Johnson knows he’s a phenomenal athlete, and he uses that ability and his length to control defenders and keep them square to his body. He needs to improve his ability to handle power and use his hands effectively, but these are minor adjustments that NFL coaches should be able to instill easily.

7. Las Vegas Raiders — Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia

If the Raiders do not make a move for a quarterback, they have a plethora of options here at seven to address their many holes on the offensive and defensive lines and in the secondary. While I would consider defensive back to be their most pressing needs, I often address “what-I-would-do” mocks by asking myself, as an opposing fan, what would be the scariest thing the Raiders could do? Adding a premier talent at the 3-tech to go alongside Maxx Crosby is, in my eyes, said scariest thing. Carter, like Anderson, is a blue chip prospect and there is not much analysis I could do to add to the discourse about Carter, the player. While the Raiders might shy away from a prospect with off-field concerns after having issues with two previous top draft picks in recent years, from a football perspective, Carter is the best player available and might be the best player in this draft class when all is said and done.

8. Atlanta Falcons — Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia

If both top cornerbacks are on the board for Atlanta come Thursday night, I would be shocked for one of them not to be the pick. That said, when it comes to positional value, I have defensive and offensive line a tier above cornerback due to year-to-year volatility. And when I have two (or three) players in the same tier, I would go with a pass rusher. And Nolan Smith is one of the most exciting athletes at the position in this year’s class. While his tape is not as flashy — he was asked primarily to contain the run in Georgia’s scheme — his 4.39 40 yard time combined with the excellent bend he demonstrates gives everyone reminders of Micah Parsons, another incredible athlete who wasn’t asked to primarily rush the passer in college. The Falcons have two good to very good defensive tackles, and adding a premier athlete who can threaten the edge will make Grady Jarrett’s day even easier.

9. Chicago Bears (from CAR) — Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois

With the top offensive and defensive line options off the board, the Bears take the top cornerback in this class to add to a young room highlighted by Jaylon Johnson and 2022 2nd round pick Kyler Gordon. Witherspoon is a phenomenal athlete who completely locked down his side of the field in college. While he is in the same tier as Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez for me, his proficiency in press coverage gives him the slight edge to CB 1A. Witherspoon is aggressive attacking the point of catch; he doesn’t have the alien-like route matching skills that Gonzalez possesses, he uses his physicality to keep receivers close and then, more often than not, breaks up any pass a quarterback is willing to throw.

10. Philadelphia Eagles (from NO) — Brian Branch, CB, Alabama

Philadelphia’s secondary ultimately was why the Eagles could not win the Super Bowl this past season. The aforementioned Gonzalez would be a phenomenal pick here, given their starting boundary corners are 29 and 32. But given the loss of Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, starting slot cornerback is a big hole, and in the modern NFL, slot corners are just as valuable as the outside. Many are listing Brian Branch as a safety; I disagree with this designation. Branch was Saban’s green-dot at Alabama, his most trusted defender. And as a slot cornerback, Branch uses his quick-twitch ability and explosiveness to be an incredibly effective zone defender. I would not blame any Eagles fan who would prefer Gonzalez with this pick, but in trying to balance long-term value with contending this year, Branch is my pick.

11. Tennessee Titans — Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

The Titans desperately need to add blue-chip talent to their offense. Targeting either an offensive tackle or a wide receiver would be a good selection. Here, I have them taking my top receiver in this class. JSN is a talented route runner who will do most of his damage from the slot. Some might balk at taking a slot receiver so early, but the distinction is I don’t think JSN is slot-only. He has the elite separation ability and functional long-speed to threaten outside, even if he is most effective out of the slot. His polished route running will mesh well with Treylon Burks, a more explosive athlete but a less refined separator.

12. Houston Texans (from CLE) — Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech

Tyree Wilson is another fascinating evaluation. His raw pressure rate was one of the best in the country, but when watching tape, he seems to win with effort more than anything else. Most of his highlights come after fighting for several seconds with the offensive lineman. But then, every so often, he will execute a beautiful long-arm move, using his phenomenal athleticism and length to completely dominate his opponent. But for how high his raw pressure rate was, this happens less often than one would expect. Ultimately, his lack of pass rush moves keeps him out of the top ten for me. That said, adding a long and powerful edge rusher for Demeco Ryans after taking a quarterback at 2 is a perfect scenario for the Texans. While I’m lower on Wilson than many, he still has value as a top-16 prospect, and I understand why people are buying into his athletic profile even more.

13. Green Bay Packers (from NYJ) — Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College

Time to talk about complimentary wide receiver skillsets! Even with JSN off the board, the Packers still have the opportunity to take a good separator who can win in the intermediate range while Christian Watson threatens over top. Flowers is a solid route runner who wins less as a technician, but he is excellent at setting up defenders and is explosive out of his breaks. While some might shy away from Flowers due to his size, he has a little more density and explosiveness than USC’s Jordan Addison, which makes me more confident that he can survive against press coverage in the NFL.

14. New England Patriots — Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon

I expect the Patriots to target an offensive tackle here, but with arguably the top cornerback in the class on the board, I imagine the Patriots would run this card to the stage. As mentioned earlier, Gonzalez is borderline freaky with how quickly he flips his hips to mirror the routes ran by opposing receivers. His film is reminiscent of Chiefs’ 2022 selection Trent McDuffie, whose similar matching ability quietly made him one of the most important defenders on the Super Bowl-winning roster. Unlike McDuffie, however, Gonzalez, at 6’1” and 32” arms, does not have the size questions that caused the former to fall out of the top 20.

15. New York Jets (from GB) — Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern

With a starting quarterback finally locked in, the Jets now must address the offensive line to give said quarterback the best chance in a fairly loaded AFC East. The issue with the Jets’ line is there are several questions: will Mekhi Becton be healthy enough to play left tackle? Will Alijah Vera-Tucker return to right tackle, where he played well in limited snaps, or will he kick back inside? The good news is that, regardless of the answer to either of those questions, Peter Skoronski would be an effective starter on the Jets line wherever there might be a hole to plug him into. Skoronski started at left tackle for Northwestern, and he was very effective at using his lower-half anchor to prevent any issues related to his length. Better athletes at the NFL level will challenge Skoronski, but his technique should prevent him at the very least from being completely exposed.

16. Washington Commanders — Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland

One of the fastest risers of this draft season has been Banks, and for good reason. He posted a perfect 10 RAS at the combine (with the asterisk of not running any agility drills), which prompted everyone to take a second look at his (very impressive) Maryland tape. Like Witherspoon, he is a solid press cornerback, preventing receivers from separating at the line and then sticking to them en route, even if his consistency in press technique could be slightly better. He is less effective at dealing with quick-breaking routes across the middle, but a well-schemed defense should be able to prevent him from being exposed here even if he does not develop at all. The excellent Commanders defense has lacked talent at the boundary corner position at times, and adding Banks with a hopefully fully healthy defensive line should allow the unit to return as one of the best in the league.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers — Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia

Broderick Jones just feels like a Pittsburgh Steeler. An explosive athlete who bullies defenders off the ball in the run game, Jones could find his way into the top fifteen on draft night if one of the many teams with tackle needs buys into his athleticism. He is less effective at controlling pass rushers with core/anchor strength than Johnson or Skoronski, but he has probably the most powerful punch in the class, which allows him to shut down pass rushers if he lands the first blow. He’ll have to develop his hand technique to reach his ceiling as a pass-blocker, but even right now, he slots into the starting left tackle position that is one of the few holes left on the Steelers offense surrounding second year quarterback Kenny Pickett. The philosophy is simple: do everything in your power to help your rookie contract QB succeed.

18. Detroit Lions — Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh

One of the few holes remaining on the Lions roster is the interior defensive line. They have Alim McNeil, who as a third-year player should be an effective nose tackle, but adding a penetrating three-tech to go with the second-year duo of Aidan Hutchinson and James Houston would make the Lions front one of the better units in the league.

Many are concerned with Kancey’s size and (lack of) length. I choose to believe that, if a player would be a top-ten pick with prototypical size, that they are still worth a first-round pick (as we saw with McDuffie last season). Kancey is so effective at shedding blocks and attacking the interior of offensive lines, combined with his freakish athleticism give me plenty of confidence that Kancey can overcome his t-rex arms.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma

The Buccaneers desperately need a starting tackle after cutting Donovan Smith, and in this scenario have a pretty clear choice — take Harrison, who played left tackle in college at Oklahoma, and keep Tristan Wirfs at the position he was an all-pro at, or take Tennessee’s Darnell Wright and try Wirfs on the left side. Ultimately, I would lean Harrison — while he lacks a bit of functional strength and needs to clean up some balance issues, he is a very effective pass blocker, using his length and footwork to keep pass rushers ineffective.

20. Seattle Seahawks — Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson

After adding an edge rusher with their top ten pick, Pete gets his wish to completely transform his defensive line by adding a supremely athletic 3 tech to pair with Dremont Jones on the defensive interior. Breese’s tape was underwhelming in 2022 after returning from injury in 2021, but he was dealing with several personal circumstances, and I’m willing to bet on the athlete to return to his freshman form, where he excelled by using his raw athleticism. He’ll need to develop his hand-fighting technique to beat defenders, but with Will Anderson beating tackles up the arc, Bresee collapsing the pocket would complete the transformation of Seattle’s defensive line.

21. Los Angeles Chargers — Joey Porter Jr, CB, Penn State

The Chargers could either beef up their secondary or add another wide receiver to a room that looked pretty thin without Keenan Allen last season. Either option would be perfectly fine, so once again I am applying the “what would scare me more?” rationale. Ultimately, I would be more fearful of the Chargers adding Porter, who’s length and athleticism would allow the Chargers to move Asante Samuel Jr. to the slot full time. Plus, having a duo of juniors leading their secondary would be really fun, and potentially lethal if JC Jackson can regain some of his New England form.

22. Baltimore Ravens — Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas

Ravens fans, if you hate this let me apologize. Even though this mock is a “what-I-would-do” format, I wanted to force myself to remain fairly realistic, which means Robinson must go in the first round. Of all the places I considered, I think this would be the best fit. Everyone knows that Robinson is without a doubt the best running back prospect since Saquon Barkley, but nobody knows how to value such a player in the draft. While the Ravens have two solid receiver prospects on the board to add to a room that still needs another guy, I don’t completely hate taking the better overall prospect here. JK Dobbins was effective after his return, but he looked considerably less explosive, and I worry about his long-term sustainability. Lamar Jackson has not yet gotten a full season with a dominant running back, which could add a level to this offense that puts less pressure on Jackson to produce in the running game.

23. Minnesota Vikings — Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU

After the departure of Adam Theilen, the Vikings quietly have one of the biggest needs at wide receiver coming into the draft. KJ Osborn is effective if not spectacular, but besides him, the Vikings depth chart hollows out very quickly. Given how Justin Jefferson is an effective receiver at all three levels, I’m less concerned about finding the right complement. However, when Jefferson is being used underneath, this offense could use a more effective deep threat than Jalen Reagor, and that’s the dynamic I believe Johnston would add to this offense. Johnston is a tough evaluation, given that he’s big but doesn’t play like a big receiver, and he ran a 4.5 but plays like he runs a 4.4. Ultimately, with his dynamic run after catch ability, I believe Johnston will be an effective field stretcher with the ability to develop more of an intermediate game, even if the combine performance was underwhelming.

24. Jacksonville Jaguars — Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa

Normally, I would advocate doing everything to help out your rookie contract franchise quarterback. But when the only real holes remaining on the offensive side of the ball are on the interior line, adding a cheap rookie deal at a premium position is also a fantastic decision. I’m a bit lower on Lukas Van Ness than the consensus, but here in the later half of the first round is excellent value.

One short watch of Van Ness’ tape is all anyone needs to see that he wins with raw power. He even got the best of Paris Johnson Jr. in their matchup several times this past season by using his strength and leverage to attack the tackles’ anchor. While 17 reps on the bench is underwhelming, it is understandable given his 34 inch arms. The obvious caveat is that Van Ness is incredibly raw and was just a rotational edge with Iowa this past year, but his athletic ability gives him a solid floor with the tantalizing potential if he develops a better pass rush plan.

25. New York Giants — Jordan Addison, WR, USC

For the first four wide receivers off the board, I spent a lot of time discussing how each one fit into their respective offenses. But the Giants need receiver talent so badly that any archetype will do. Addison is a very technical route runner; he won’t blow anyone away with his long speed, but his excellent change of direction skills allowed him to create laughable amounts of space against average college defensive backs. Ideally, he would add an additional 10 pounds or so, as beating press coverage at 173 pounds is going to be challenging against NFL cornerbacks. But even if he is relegated to a slot-heavy roll (which I find unlikely), he will be an effective weapon for a team who will take anything at the receiver position.

26. Dallas Cowboys — Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan

The Cowboys defense loaded with flashy talents adds a beefed up nose tackle here to solidify the interior of their line. Smith will be a starting nose tackle from day 1, but unlike some other noses in this class, he has the athletic profile to develop into a three-down player, similar to Cincinnati’s DJ Reader. As a member of Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List, Smith put up an incredible 34 reps on the bench press, even though he did not participate in the rest of the combine. While he lacks the freakish agility Kancey uses to penetrate, his strength and explosiveness should be enough to develop his pass rush ability.

27. Buffalo Bills — Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee

Spencer Brown has proven to be a disappointment at right tackle, and so the Bills shore up their offensive line here by adding a player who, frankly, they would be lucky to see on the draft board at this point come Thursday night. Wright is one of the best athletes at tackle in this class, boasting a 9.68 RAS with notable 90th percentile 10-yard split and 97th percentile broad jump, demonstrating his short-area explosiveness. These marks are even more impressive considering Wright weighed in at 333 pounds. Wright is also one of the better hand fighters in the class, which he demonstrated against some very difficult competition in the SEC.

28. Cincinnati Bengals — Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah

Look, even me, the positional value harpy, thinks that the Bengals adding Dalton Kincaid would be terrifying. While Hayden Hurst was very serviceable for the Bengals this past season, he is now in Carolina, and Kincaid brings a dynamic element that could take the Bengals offense to another tier. Without any of the top defensive backs still on the board to replace the starters that left in the offseason, adding a weapon in Kincaid that can attack the intermediate levels of the field from both in-line or in the slot would add an element to the Bengals passing attack that underperformed in the AFC championship game when the Chiefs were bracketing both of their boundary receivers and daring any of the other Bengals weapons to win their one-on-ones.

29. New Orleans Saints (from SF through MIA and DEN) — Adetomiwa Adeboware, EDGE, Northwestern

The Saints lost David Onyemata and Marcus Davenport during free agency, and with Cam Jordan feeling the effects of age, the Saints defensive line, which was already thin this past season, is in desperate need of an injection of talent at any position. Adeboware is possibly the freakiest athlete in a draft chalk full of them. His WORST percentile between the all of the speed, agility, and explosiveness testing drills was 98.4th percentile in the shuttle run. He played both 3 tech and edge at Northwestern, and is noticeably raw on tape at both positions. But his athletic profile prevents him from being labelled as a “tweener”, or a guy who fits at neither position. Wherever the Saints defensive coaches feel he best fits long term, I support this selection. I want that athlete on my team, and we figure out the rest later.

30. Philadelphia Eagles — Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson

You can basically copy and paste the writeup for the Jaguars’ pick and just replace every instance of “Van Ness” with Murphy. The two are even shockingly similar in athletic profile; Murphy is a little faster while Van Ness was slighly better in the agilities. On tape, Murphy doesn’t always utilize his explosiveness, and it seems that his get-off is inconsistent. But when he’s locked in, his athleticism is virtually unstoppable, and at times he even shows some flashes of bend. A team like the Eagles which has developed phenomenal athletes into star pass rushers on both the interior (Javon Hargrave) and the edge (Hassan Reddick) will be more than happy to grab a pass rusher most had in the top ten of preseason big boards.

31. Kansas City Chiefs — Felix Anudike-Uzomah, EDGE, Kansas State

The Chiefs put out one of the greatest offenses of all time even after losing a Hall-of-Fame talent at the receiver position by surrounding their superstar with complimentary pieces. Now, let’s apply that same principle to the Chiefs’ defensive line. Chris Jones had a DPOY-caliber year this season, but it often felt like he was carrying the entire burden of the Chiefs’ pass rush (and did so, with a little help from Frank Clark, to singlehandedly end the Bengals season in the AFC Championship Game).

After adding Charles Omenihu in free agency, the Chiefs have a pretty decent pass rush rotation already. They have Jones, superstar, Omenihu and Mike Danna are ends who are effective at rushing the interior in nickel and dime packages, and George Karlaftis, who is best attacking the edge with power. The archetype they are missing is the speed rusher. Last year, that role was played by Frank Clark, who still mostly relied on power to set up his signature spin-move. Adding Felix would give them a guy who can actually attack the edge with speed and bend, and he also possesses a fairly well-developed pass rush plan for his age. He’s not the best run defender, but that wouldn’t be his job in this rotation. And, I’m a KU fan, so if I’m advocating for my team to take a K-State guy, so you know I’m high on this prospect.

2nd Round

32. Pittsburgh Steelers (from CHI) — Julius Brents, CB, Kansas State

After losing Cam Sutton in free agency, the Steelers add another long and physical cornerback. Brents blossomed as the college season went along and put up a fantastic showing at the combine. He also has more agility than most 6’3” press cornerbacks, allowing him to better stick with quicker receivers.

33. Houston Texans — Will McDonald, EDGE, Iowa State

Taking one edge rusher should be no deterrent from taking another, especially when the two have drastically different skillsets. McDonald wins with speed and bend. While he’s already 24 and likely close to his physical ceiling, adding a dynamic edge rusher to compliment Tyree Wilson’s power and length would create matchup nightmares for opposing offensive linemen.

34. Arizona Cardinals — Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia

Sky-high expectations set up Ringo for failure, but I think he’s a better prospect than most consensus boards have him. He struggled with anticipating and reacting to breaking routes, but he’s still a phenomenal athlete and, if he can’t improve his reaction, will be an excellent safety. But I think he has plenty of chances to stick as a corner, especially in Jonathan Gannon’s system which relies heavily on press and cover 3.

35. Indianapolis Colts — Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina

The Colts are set up well on offense if they figure out quarterback position, but they could add a third receiver. Pittman is the X who wins with physicality and Pierce is the deep threat. So while Downs might be a slot-only receiver, in this case that fact is actually a benefit.

36. Los Angeles Rams — Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State

Have you seen the graphic from Ben Baldwin that shows how effective Sean McVay’s offense is against how effective his offensive lines are? That should be the entire justification for this pick alone. Even if the Rams hope to tank for a quarterback in the 2024 class, adding Jones to be the successor at either tackle position will only help either their current or future signal caller.

37. Seattle Seahawks (from DEN) — O’Cyrus Torrence, OG, Florida

With their plethora of picks, the Seahawks revamped their defensive line and now can add a first-round caliber guard where the value is a little more appropriate in the second. Torrence is an older prospect with less development left in him, but he was one of the best linemen in all of college football and will step in day one as at least a capable starter.

38. Las Vegas Raiders — Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina

Feels like the Raiders have been trying to fix their secondary for years, and they get the opportunity to start (again) here by adding a corner many think will go in the first round. Smith was one of the best pass breakup artists in college, and his combine performance went a long way to alleviate questions about his speed.

39. Carolina Panthers — Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame

Get your rookie quarterback weapons does not just mean wide receivers! Mayer is not the most dynamic athlete, but he was simply one of the best receivers of the football in college, and he has the prototypical size to be an effective in-line blocker.

40. New Orleans Saints — Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State

Musgrave might not be TE3 for every team, but I think the fit with the Saints is especially intriguing. He’s a unique prototype of a tight end as he’s most effective at vertical route running and attacking the seam, and Derek Carr has previously had great success with Darren Waller, another tight end who excelled at attacking defenses vertically.

41. Tennessee Titans — Steve Avila, OG, TCU

After passing on offensive line help in the first round, the Titans add one of the top guards here in the second to replace the departing Nate Davis. Avila has gotten a lot of praise for his technique from Duke Manyweather, whose word on linemen is essentially gospel.

42. Green Bay Packers (from CLE through NYG) — Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia

The Packers use this pick from the Rodgers trade to give their young quarterback another weapon with immense potential as a receiver. Furthermore, Washington right now fits exactly how Green Bay wants to use their tight ends in the running game. Why draft a receiver or a lineman when you can get both for the price of one?

43. New York Jets — Sydney Brown, S, Illinois

The Jets’ secondary was the bright spot last season, but they could still add a true centerfield free safety to help out their excellent cornerbacks. Besides Branch or Ringo if their teams wanted them to change positions, Brown is the only other safety in this class I believe to be starting caliber from day one.

44. Atlanta Falcons — Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee

Hyatt might be restricted to a deep threat in the NFL, but his one trick is very good. Playing with Drake London and Kyle Pitts will help him avoid some of the more physical cornerbacks, and his vertical ability will open up lanes for the aforementioned two all over the intermediate area of the field. Complimentary. Skillsets.

45. Green Bay Packers — Tuli Tuipulotu, EDGE, USC

While the Packers need a starting safety, I don’t see anyone on the board here worth the pick, so instead they add another defensive lineman who can play multiple positions across the front as they like to utilize. It’s a shame Tuipulotu did not test, because his film is some of the most advanced in his class for a player who has not yet hit is 21st birthday.

46. New England Patriots — Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa

We were all shocked that Leo Chanel did not become a Patriot last offseason, so Bill remedies that error by adding Jack Campbell here. Like Chanel, Campbell is a fantastic athlete and very effective at attacking downhill, and the Iowa product has more side-to-side ability than the second-year player out of Wisconsin.

47. Washington Commanders — Jahmyr Gibbs, HB, Alabama

Just as I had to force myself to include Bijan Robinson in the first, I should also include Gibbs, who has been getting some late day-one buzz, in at least the second round. While I am concerned about his complete lack of ability to generate yards after contact, his explosive play generation is tantalizing, and he would be an effective compliment to the bruiser that is Brian Robinson.

48. Detroit Lions — Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State

Forbes’ weight is a massive red flag, but his tape is first-round caliber and so his slide should stop here. The good news is he has the speed to add a few pounds to his frame without sacrificing any athletic ability, and the Lions still need to add to their secondary following the departure of Jeff Okudah.

49. Pittsburgh Steelers — Keanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin

Benton is a versatile tackle who is decent against the run but most effective as a pass rusher. With Cam Heyward aging but still effective, adding another interior rusher will help balance out Pittsburgh’s pass rush attack.

50. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee

As a first-round prospect, Hendon Hooker scares me. He lacks any of the composure under pressure that the top prospects in this class possess, and regardless of how the offense was structured at Tennessee, I would be weary about a 25 year old prospect coming off ACL surgery. But in the second round? I am much more scared about Baker Mayfield being my starting quarterback in 2023.

51. Miami Dolphins — Joe Tippmann, C, Wisconsin

With the top running backs off the board, Miami pivots to adding an interior offensive lineman who can slot into either guard position. Tippmann has more explosiveness and agility than the other centers available here which should help his transition to guard, as Miami’s center position is locked down by Connor Williams.

52. Seattle Seahawks — Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah

After adding two excellent rookie cornerbacks a year ago, Seattle adds a third to round out their starting trio. Phillips size could mean he’s relegated to the slot, but he played much larger than his height en route to being one of the most productive defensive backs in college. Whether Seattle prefers him or Coby Bryant to transition to the slot, alongside Tariq Woolen this would be one of the best young corner rooms in the league.

53. Chicago Bears — Keion White, EDGE, Georgia Tech

After adding a blue-chip cornerback in the first round, Matt Eberflus finally gets to add a top defensive line prospect. White is fairly raw for an older prospect, but his run-stopping ability gives him a better floor than some of the other athletic monsters in this class, and his 9.92 RAS would make any coach willing to tap into that potential as a pass rusher.

54. Los Angeles Chargers — Marvin Mims, WR, Oklahoma

With Mike Williams as the vertical field stretcher and Keenan Allen as the underneath slot guy, the Chargers add Mims, who can do a little bit of both. He’s shown vertical ability in college but also is one of the better playmakers after the catch in the class.

55. Arizona Cardinals (from MIN through DET) — Cody Mauch, OT, North Dakota State

Mauch will have to transition to the interior in the NFL, but his college tape shows a fearless blocker whose strengths will transition well to the inside. Arizona continues to bolster its pass protection for when Murray returns from injury.

56. Jacksonville Jaguars John Michael Schmitz, C, Minnesota

While the Jaguars may be inclined to give Luke Fortner another chance at center, adding another interior offensive lineman should be a top priority, and Schmitz is simply the best available. As an older prospect, Schmitz might have less development left in him, but he is one of the smartest centers at a position that heavily relies on pre-snap reads and directing the rest of the line.

57. New York Giants — Luke Wypler, C, Ohio State

The Giants also desperately need to add a center, and Wypler is the last of the top interior line prospects left on the board. That said, he is a fine consolation prize, and he utilizes leverage like many top centers who have come out with wrestling experience in past drafts. He will have to stay at center in the league, but given the Giants’ incumbent is Ben Bredeson, they will have no issues there.

58. Dallas Cowboys — Cory Trice, CB, Purdue

Trice has gotten a lot of late buzz in the draft community, and for good reason. The 6’3” backer is impressive in press, and would add a stronger presence than the Cowboys currently possess in their defensive back room. What was already a top unit last season will be even better with these additions.

59. Buffalo Bills — Parker Washington, WR, Penn State

The Bills have missed having a dedicated slot option since Cole Beasley left (and then returned, not the same caliber player). Washington is not a flashy prospect, but he does everything pretty well, and would add an additional layer to a Bills offense that struggled to create separation down the stretch.

60. Cincinnati Bengals — DJ Turner, CB, Michigan

After losing two starting defensive backs to free agency, the Bengals reuinte DJ Turner with his college teammate and 2022 first round pick Daxton Hill. Turner is a phenomenal athlete who needs a little refinement, and there are few better systems to do so than Lou Anarumo’s defense that has been historically a good place for defensive backs to develop.

61. Chicago Bears (from SF through CAR) — BJ Ojulari, EDGE, LSU — After adding one raw and versatile defensive lineman, the Bears come back and add another pass rusher. Ojulari has a more refined pass rush repertoire and is just 21, but he’s not the same level of athlete. Still, his technical prowess should still be useful to a Bears team which needs to add multiple pass rushers.

62. Philadelphia Eagles — Tyler Scott, WR, Cincinnati

Like the Bills, the Eagles have two effective boundary receivers who could use a slot-heavy compliment to unlock an additional aspect of the offense. While his strength will likely limit him to the slot, Scott still has some vertical ability and run after catch playmaking that add an additional element to his game.

63. Kansas City Chiefs — Sam Laporta, TE, Iowa

The future of football, as Andy Reid desires, is 14 personnel. The Chiefs were the most effective team in the league with multiple tight end personnel, and adding a dynamic athlete like Laporta who was one of the best run after catch weapons at the tight end position would add an additional threat to these formations for the Chiefs.