2023 NT NFL Mock Draft

[raider5]

With the 8th pick of the NT NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons select...

Nolan Smith, DE, Georgia

Summary: A home grown Georgia prospect. Nolan Smith is a lower weight class edge defender with the toughness to mix it up with bigger players. Based purely upon his sleek but smallish frame, one might expect him to be more effective as a rusher than run defender but the opposite is true. Smith is hard to move off of his spot due to his technique and leverage, and he can be disruptive when firing into gaps. He can get off the mark as a rusher, but lacks the counters and contact balance to consistently assault the pocket at a high rate. Smith falls below the size standards some team might have for a 3-4 outside linebacker, but he plays team-first defense with quality technique that should help him translate to the pros. With 39 sacks total over the last 2 seasons (league worse), Smith is expected to make an immediate impact to a struggling defense.

Strength:

• Plays with a team-first mindset and plus toughness.
• Attacks pulling blocks.
• First with hands to separate and stay ready.
• Rare point of attack leverage strength for his size.
• Cuts a tight, efficient track to the ball in pursuit.
• Potential to become a bend-and-flatten rusher.
• Agility for more creative edge-to-edge attacks in the future.

Weakness:

• Slender through waist and hips, with a need for more mass.
• Unable to generate speed-to-power conversion.
• Rush plan can be monotonous and lacking counters.
• Squared up punch from tackle can derail his pass rush.
• Unable to control block and shed quickly.
• Exerts excessive strain to battle tackles at the point of attack.
• Very average pursuit speed for a smaller player.

 

[raider5]

With the 9th pick of the NT NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears select....

Peter Skoronski, Tackle, Northwestern

Summary:
Protecting Justin Fields is the objective here. Skoronski spent his college years manning the quarterback’s blindside at tackle, but the body type and skill set are begging for a move to guard, where he can play his best football as a pro. He’s broad across his upper and lower body, but he has short arms. Skoronski plays with a deft blend of technique, feel and power as a run blocker and is capable of thriving in any run-blocking scheme. His lack of length can be a problem against stab-and-charge bull rushers and edge speed, but a move inside would mitigate those concerns. If Skoronski can get his protection anchor sorted out, he has the run-blocking talent to become an instant starter and a top-flight guard.

Strength:

• Sets out with explosive kick-slide into his diagonal sets.
• Uses proactive hands to attack first.
• Excellent footwork and hand usage to counter and collect twists.
• Arches back and unlocks hips to access his rush anchor.
• Comes off the snap with low pads and explosive lift into contact.
• Races out of stance and into position for reach-block success.
• Base stays wide and balanced throughout the rep.
• Clear understanding of positioning and angles at the point of attack.
• Textbook leg drive on double teams and kick-out blocks.
• Washes down run defenders looking to shoot gaps.

Weakness:

• Throws punch a tick late and from outside angles.
• Needs to alter his pass sets and hand attacks to become less predictable.
• Beaten by long-arm rush moves and driven into the pocket.
• Average adjustments to second-level movements.
• Can be beaten by side-stepping defender at point of attack.

 

[raider5]

The Philadelphia Eagles are now on the clock af1 1982 / IATT

 

[af1 1982]

TRADE ALERT

The Philadelphia Eagles have traded:

#10
#30
#62

For Jalen Carter (selected #3) (run by IATT

We believe the compensation is fair given it is two 1st and a 2nd.

 

[raider5]

The Arizona Cardinals are byke on the clock IATT

 

[g-time]

I smell collusion

 

[af1 1982]

I smell collusion

The eagles will throw in Quez Watkins into the deal

 

[raider5]

Based off the NFL Trade value chart:

Pick #3 (Jalen Carter) is valued at 2200 points (respectively)

Pick 10, 30, and 94 is valued at 2044.

Adding Budda Baker may be a bit overkill on the trade front coming from AZ and it may be something that Arizona would not accept based off the grade values. Just cause he wants more money, doesn't mean AZ has to trade him. If we really wanted to be nitpicky, we'd need to dive deeper into the salary cap of Philly and how impacting taking on Buddah Baker would be on the financial/cap space.

 

[af1 1982]

Trade amended above based off draft pick value chart

 

[raider5]

delet, eagles will just make a pick at #10

I'm not trying to veto anything, just trying to be more of a realist. But at the end of the day, who knows...maybe AZ/PHI do agree to something along those terms.

I'm just trying to use measurables that are out there that we can utilize. I think trade #1 makes more sense now IMO.

 

[IATT]

I’m here, give me a sec

 

[IATT]

With the 10th pick in the 2023 NT nfl draft the Arizona cardinals take:

Paris Johnson Jr, tackle, Ohio state university

 

[af1 1982]

Delete

Trade amended above. Eagles to trade two firsts and a second for Jalen Carter. Arizona cardinals making the selection at #10

 

[raider5]

With the 11th pick of the NT NFL Draft, the Tennessee Titans select...

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

Summary:
Smith-Njigba is an outstanding route-runner and separator where his deceptive footwork, body control, ability to read leverage, make sight adjustments, and run to open space made him consistently available for C.J. Stroud to work him the football in 2021. He’s an extremely intelligent player with exceptional spatial awareness. He does well to continue working in scramble situations and he’s always competing to get open. Smith-Njigba has exceptional hands, ball skills, and focus at the catch point. He is decisive after the catch with excellent field vision.

Strength:

• Averaged 192 receiving yards per game in last five contests of 2021 season.
• Plays tough in the teeth of the defense as a zone-beater.
• Elevates his catch focus when contested.
• Leverages his intermediate break points.
• Softens and extends his hands to meet the throw.
• Tracks deep throws with poise and accuracy.
• Athletic and smooth catching on the move.
• Plays to his top speed throughout the route.

Weakness:

• Vast majority of his production came in one season.
• Rolls into his breaks with top-heavy momentum.
• Lacks suddenness for separation in and out of breaks.
• Below average top-end speed to win vertically.
• Likely to be viewed as a slot-only option.
• Lacks burst to elude after the catch.

 

[raider5]

Houston Texans are now on the clock aNYone

 

[dwileykyot]

We’re not gonna finish this mock before the actual draft

 

[aNYone]

And with the 12th pick of the NT NFL Mock Draft, the Houston Texans select...

Devon Witherspoon,CB, Illinois

All American corner to put opposite Stingley

Strengths

• Allowed completion rate of just 34.9% in 2022, per PFF.
• Impressive route recognition and trigger on the throw.
• Eyes are probing from off coverages.
• Well-balanced defending high/low route concepts from zone.
• Instinctive with 14 pass breakups in 2022.
• Takes ball-side angles to disrupt the catch point.
• Zeroes in on receiver’s hands on deep throws.
• Physical with a striker’s mentality in run support and as tackler versus the pass.

Weaknesses

• Can be jab-stepped off-balance by release fakes.
• Coverage is very handsy after the first five yards.
• Sluggish to transition hips and match route breaks from his backpedal.
• Top-end speed could be an issue at the next level.
• Lacks juice to make up the distance when he gets behind.
• Will bite hard on play-action and double moves.

 

[elpablo21]

How many rounds is this btw?

 

[g-time]

I’m good for two but at this pace we might not finish until next years draft lol

 

[raider5]

With the 13th pick of the NT NFL Draft, the New York Jets select...

Brian Branch, DB, Alabama

Summary:
Time to shore up the back-end of a solid defense. Plug-and-play defensive back with every ingredient necessary to become a high-performing starter early in his career. Branch has primarily handled nickel coverage at Alabama but has the range and instincts for single-high or split safety looks. He’s quick, fast and strong with the ability to match up with shifty slots, bigger possession receivers and pass-catching tight ends. He’s urgent and has a mind for the game. He takes playmaking angles into the throwing lane but does have a tendency to play it a little safe from off-man coverage. There are areas where he can improve but no real weaknesses, which could make him one of the safest picks in the draft.

Strength:

• Football intelligence is through the roof.
• Has range and instincts to play single-high safety.
• Fast, fluid and very strong for his size.
• Pedals and transitions with smooth, agile feet.
• Able to mirror and match patterns from off-man.
• Reactive quickness and burst to hound the route.
• Uses ballhawking angles and explosive burst to undercut the pass.
• Reads receiver’s eyes to cue his head turn downfield.
• Attacks blockers of all sizes with consistent tenacity.
• Diagnoses run and pursues runner with proper leverage and angles.

Weakness:

• Small delay in finding first gear at the top of his drop.
• Could use tighter route squeeze relative to down and distance.
• Becomes a drag-down tackler when coming in too high.
• Occasionally outflanked as run defender from the slot.

 

[raider5]

New England Patriots are now on the clock.

DeadsetAce

 

[raider5]

I'm hoping we finish the 1st round by the end of the weekend

 

[elpablo21]

Depending where we are at by tomorrow I'll take on some more teams on the back end to speed it up if we're only doing 2 rounds

 

[raider5]

I'm down for 2 rounds if we can make it through the weekend. If we're still on round 1 by Monday I'm tapping out

 

[DeadsetAce]

With the 14th pick of the NT NFL Draft, the New England Patriots select...

Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College

New England picks up a playmaker in the slot as they look to give Bill O'Brien and Mac Jones a much needed weapon to get the Patriot offense headed back in the right direction. Worth noting this is a significant departure from the Patriots draft strategy in past years and might be a sign that Bill Belichick is conceding some power back to the owner (and Bill O'Brien) when it comes to the offense.


Strengths:
- Sudden feet to slip press and race ahead of coverage.
- Stair-steps man coverage out of leveraged positioning.
- Routes are fast and maintain their momentum through turns.
- Lower body flexion to corner tightly at break points.
- Hands are average but overall ball skills impress.
- Tracks and catches deep balls with above average poise.
- Works back to the throw when needed.
- Very slippery as an open-field runner.

Weaknesses
- Shorter arms and smaller hands.
- In too much of a hurry at times.
- Routes need better salesmanship and attention to detail.
- Needs to do a better job of finding optimal holes in zone coverage.
- Might lack play strength to win contested catches as a pro.
- Teams might have to live with more drops than they would like to see.