A new Draft comes in your homes with three days of televised NFL picks

The Kansas City Chiefs claimed the Lombardi Trophy for winning the Super Bowl in February.

Since then, Tom Brady actually did retire from the NFL this time over the off-season.

Aaron Rodgers on Monday was traded from the Green Bay Packers to the New York Jets. With this trade comes multiple draft pick swaps, including a flip-flop of picks No. 13 and No. 15 in round one.

The NFL never sleeps.

Within the upcoming hours, the 2023 NFL Draft will afford teams the chance to improve or maintain their winning status with a seven-round selection process.

And in an ironic twist this year, the draft will be held in the city of the reigning Super Bowl champs -- Kansas City.

The town assuredly will be lively.

During the preliminary process leading up to the draft, there was a possibility that four quarterbacks might go in the first four picks. Now that may not be the case.

This year’s first round will be 31 picks instead of the traditional 32 because the Miami Dolphins lost their first rounder after an investigation found the team violated league policies pertaining to the integrity of the game. They sought the aforementioned Brady and head coach Sean Payton, who both were under contract with other teams.

When it comes to the draft, predicting the first round is virtually impossible. Those good at mock drafts average correctly picking about eight of the first 32 selections. An excellent year means matching 10 teams up with the right players.

The first draft pick this year looks to be a lock, but the remaining 30 are far from a certainty. Eight teams – yes, eight – do not own a first-round pick heading into Thursday’s start of the draft.

Round 1 coverage is April 27; rounds two and three are on Friday; and rounds four through seven are on Saturday. It promises to be extremely entertaining television.

For me, I have composed mock drafts for two dozen years and for the last six years I have been honored to be included in the invitation-only competition for The Huddle Report against the best draft analysts in the nation.

My picks this year and the scores from my mock drafts can be followed at www.thehuddlereport.com.

Back in 2017 I finished third overall for my first-round mock out of the group of 100 entrants.

So here are my projections for the first round and the players – in no particular order – who will hear their names announced from No. 32 to No. 100.

 

1. Carolina Panthers (via Chicago Bears) – Bryce Young, QB, Alabama -- While Young is neither tall nor much in body mass, he certainly is a winner and his football knowledge is off the charts impressive. That is the reasoning why the Panthers are going with the 5-foot-10 and barely 200-pound Young. The former Heisman winner will be called upon to become the leader of a franchise that seeks something positive.

2. Houston Texans – Tyree Wilson, Edge, Texas Tech -- After months of speculation the Texans would snag a quarterback with the second overall pick, the Texans instead opt out in the QB bonanza. With Young already selected and questions surrounding C.J. Stroud, the Texans take another route. They go with a player who can transform Houston’s defense in the way new head coach DeMeco Ryans wants. Wilson is a good place to start. He is 6-foot-6 and 276 pounds. NFL teams love hulking, long and athletic guys who can come off the edge. He registered 14 sacks over his last two seasons with the Red Raiders. The Texans also have the 12th pick in round one.

3. Arizona Cardinals – Will Anderson Jr., Edge, Alabama -- There is a very strong possibility the Cardinals trade out of this spot, but if they stay put Anderson will be the choice. Arizona needs a great deal of help on defense. At Alabama, Anderson is second in school history in career sacks. This is a premium position for the Cardinals.

4. Indianapolis Colts – Will Levis, QB, Kentucky -- The word is the Colts really like Levis. The Colts have a serious need for a quarterback after cycling through a series of veteran signal-callers. Now Indianapolis can mold a young centerpiece to its offense. On a side-note, watch the video of Levis putting mayonnaise in his coffee. It’s kind of different.

5. Seattle Seahawks (via Denver Broncos) – Jalen Carter, DL, Georgia -- Before the Panthers traded up to the No. 1 spot, Carter was considered the odds-on player to be selected first in the draft. With the Panthers in search of a quarterback; Carter’s own misdemeanor charges in connection with the motor-vehicle deaths of two; and a lackluster pro day, the UGA star has seen his stock drop. But the Seahawks cannot pass on Carter’s talent. Seattle has another first-round selection at No. 20.

6. Detroit Lions (via Los Angeles Rams) – Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois -- Witherspoon is a complete cornerback. He has superior coverage skills and is a solid tackler. At nearly 6-foot and weighing 181, he ran 4.4 in the 40. His playmaking traits fill a team need after the Lions traded Jeff Okudah to the Atlanta Falcons. The Lions have a second first-round pick at No. 18.

7. Las Vegas Raiders – Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon  -- At 6-foot-1 and 197 pounds, Gonzalez becomes the second cornerback drafted in the first round. In his final season at Oregon, Gonzalez earned First Team All-PAC-12 honors with a career-high 11 passes broken up and four picks. He also had 50 tackles and a blocked field goal. Gonzalez is one of the smoothest athletes at any position in this draft.

8. Atlanta Falcons – Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas -- The running back position continues to be undervalued in a league as a high importance is put on yards through the air. Robinson, however, is special. He is electrifying and one of the best players in the entire draft. In his words, he’s a “difference maker.” Putting Robinson in the backfield with Tyler Allgeier will add another element to go with the Falcons’ young QB and receiving corps.

9. Chicago Bears (via Carolina Panthers) – Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State --After trading out of the top spot to get more draft ammunition, the Bears are able to nab the best offensive tackle to protect their franchise quarterback Justin Fields. At 6-foot-6 and 313 pounds, Johnson possesses the physical makeup to become a long-time starter on the offensive line. He has the versatility to play either guard or tackle.

10. Philadelphia Eagles (via New Orleans Saints) – Peter Skoronski, OT/OG, Northwestern -- With his versatility, Skoronski can start immediately at guard and then take over for Lane Johnson at right tackle for the NFC’s team in last year’s Super Bowl. Adding more components to the O-line is a must after dedicating a five-year, $255 million extension over the offseason to franchise QB Jalen Hurts.

11. Tennessee Titans – C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State -- The fall for C.J. Stroud ends here. While Bryce Young showed NFL representatives plenty of “X” and “O” wisdom, Stroud fell short in being able test well on some other tests. Like Young, Stroud had an arsenal of top-flight receivers. But, if the reports are true, Stroud did not read defenses as well. Stroud possesses a cannon for an arm and the size to hang in the pocket. That part cannot be denied. He will be able to sit behind incumbent QB Ryan Tannehill for a year.

12. Houston Texans (via Cleveland Browns) – Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee -- Hooker becomes the fifth quarterback taken in the first round. If Hooker had not gotten injured during his final season with the Volunteers, he would have been a strong contender for the Heisman. Hooker’s age of 25 is somewhat of a draft deterrent, but he has talent. The Texans are looking for a quarterback with more abilities than Davis Mills.

13. Green Bay Packers (via New York Jets) – Lukas Van Ness, Edge, Iowa -- Let’s remove one misnomer quickly for Mr. Van Ness. Yes, it is true he did not start any games for the Hawkeyes at Iowa. He was an underclassmen and Iowa -- as part of its protocol -- does not start underclassmen. When Van Ness was on the field, he produces. At 6-foot-5 and 272 pounds, he posted 13.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss over his past two seasons. The post-Aaron Rodgers era of the Packers now begins.

14. New England Patriots – Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee --Wright is one of the biggest risers on draft boards since the conclusion of the college football season. Some analysts have Wright even ranked as the top O-lineman in the draft. Wright excelled at the NFL Combine. He is a plug-and-play right tackle at 6-foot-5 and 333 pounds. Another plus for the Patriots is he is very versatile as he lined up at right tackle, left tackle and right guard during his college days at Tennessee. Over the Bill Bilichick tenure, versatility has been of utmost importance.

15. New York Jets (via Green Bay Packers) – Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia -- Another former Bulldog’s name is announced on April 27 in Kansas City. Jones has the 6-foot-5, 311-pound size to go with the excellent mobility and finishing ability of a total mauler in the run game. He climbs to the second level with the best of them. Bringing in Jones to help keep new addition Aaron Rodgers upright in a very tough AFC is imperative.

16. Washington Commanders – Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida -- Richardson is a high-risk, high-reward type player. The Commanders have  quarterbacks Sam Howell, Jacoby Brissett and Jake Fromm has options, but the upside to Richardson is too much to ignore. The speedy Richardson possesses a strong arm and is super athletic, but he will have to improve on his passing accuracy.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers – Nolan Smith, Edge, Georgia -- After not signing Bud Dupree in free agency and the release of Jamir Jones, Smith will nicely fill in a positional void for the Steelers. Reports say UGA head coach Kirby Smart challenged him to be a coach off the field. On a talented Georgia team that claimed its second consecutive national championship, Smith was a team captain.

18. Detroit Lions – Myles Murphy, Edge, Clemson -- The Lions are back on the clock after going cornerback with their first selection. This pick of Murphy adds more talent on the defensive side of the ball. Pairing up Murphy with the Lions’ first-round draft pick from last year edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson  would make one of the better young pass-rushing duos in the NFL. In his last season with Clemson, Murphy registered 6.5 sacks.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Brian Branch, DB/S, Alabama -- Lots of changes are coming to the Tampa Bay roster upon the retirement of Brady. As a Swiss army knife type player, Branch played mostly nickel and covered the slot receivers at Alabama. Also, in a pinch he can move outside to play cornerback. Branch is the easily the highest rated safety in this year’s draft.

20. Seattle Seahawks – John Michael Schmitz, C, Minnesota -- A center going in the first round is, well, unusual, but the Seahawks really like the ability that Schmitz has and this selection helps build an offensive line after adding to the D-line with their first pick in round one. At 6-foot-4 and 320 pounds, Schmitz’s technique and teamwork in the run game translate into a starter from day one.

21. Los Angeles Chargers – Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama -- With Austin Ekeler asking for a trade, the Chargers select a quality “insurance policy” in the form of Gibbs. The former Crimson Tide running back can stretch a defense and elude would-be tacklers. His versatility and pass-catching abilities give play-callers a number of extra options as he is a mismatch in the open field. Gibbs would fit well into the Chargers’ scheme, especially if the organization were to trade bell-cow Ekeler.

22. Baltimore Ravens – Joey Porter, CB, Penn State --Joey Porter Jr. going to the Ravens after his father Joey Porter Sr. played with the rival Pittsburgh Steelers makes for quite an interesting discussion at the family dinner table. When asked about the younger Porter possibly becoming a Raven, Baltimore head coach smiling John Harbaugh said he likes the idea of converting Porter Sr. to a Ravens fan. Harbaugh cited “family first” for his reasoning. “I love the way he plays, his style,” Harbaugh said of Jr. “He’s the Joey Porter Sr. version in DB form.”

23. Minnesota Vikings – Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College -- The Vikings are in line to start K.J. Osborn and Jalen Reagor after releasing Adam Thielen. That is a receiving group that could use the addition of Flowers who can play in the slot and potentially move to the outside if necessary. Flowers has moved up draft boards after a solid college season, NFL Combine, and private workouts.

24. Jacksonville Jaguars – Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland -- The Jaguars roster came together last season to win a playoff game after years of ugly seasons. Banks, at 6-foot and 197 pounds, fits the type of defensive back the Jaguars like in their secondary. He ran a 4.35 in the 40 at the NFL Combine. Banks has the potential to become a CB1 as he improves his technique and reduces his number of penalties.

25. New York Giants – Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State -- Isn’t it every year the Giants need another wide receiver? It has been rough on the Giants’ receiving corps over the recent years. Smith-Njigba becomes the third Buckeye to come off the board in round one. Even when Ohio State had other first-round talent at receiver on the field, Smith-Njigba’s ability shined. His medical history does cast a shadow on him however.

26. Dallas Cowboys – Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah -- This year’s draft is loaded with tight end prospects, but Kincaid is the best receiving TE of the group. You should expect to see six more tight ends go in the next two rounds.

27. Buffalo Bills – Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU -- Stephon Diggs has become an elite receiver for the Bills, but he needs some more help beyond Gabe Davis. Johnston can step right into that role as he becomes another target for quarterback Josh Allen. The AFC is about outscoring other high-octane offenses.

28. Cincinnati Bengals – Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame -- With the loss of Hayden Hurst and Mitchell Wilcox in free agency, the selection of Mayer fills a need. The Bengals have signed Irv Smith Jr. and brought back Drew Sample, but the TE room needs more. At nearly 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds, Mayer will be a solid blocker immediately and stands to become an upper-level receiver.

29. New Orleans Saints (via Denver Broncos via San Francisco 49ers) – Jordan Addison, WR, Southern California -- After the Saints drafted Chris Olave in the first round, New Orleans seek more weapons following Olave’s successful first year. No one in this draft class can match Addison’s route running refinement.

30. Philadelphia Eagles – Calijah Kancey, DL, Pittsburgh -- Eagles Executive Vice President Howie Roseman loves players who thrive in the trenches. Having Kancey as part of the defensive line rotation will afford him the opportunity to grow into his position. At 6-foot-1 and 281 pounds, Kancey is under-sized, but strong player who can serve as an inside pass rusher.

31. Kansas City Chiefs – Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma -- Kansas City may be inclined to trade up in an effort to select either Zay Flowers or Jahmyr Gibbs, but in this scenario, the Chiefs go with more offensive line help. The 6-foot-4 and 315-pound Harrison uses a combination of speed and strength, but what pushes him in the first round is his feet and hand usage. He will need to improve upon his run blocking, but his pass blocking consistent. He will be a welcome addition to the Super Bowl champions’ roster.

... and how selections 32-100 will go this weekend (in no particular order)

32. Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State

33. O’Cyrus Torrence, IOL, Florida

34. Jaelyn Duncan, OT, Maryland

35. Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State

36. Will McDonald IV, Edge, Iowa State

37. Bryan Bresee, DL, Clemson

38. Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State

39. Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Edge, Kansas State

40. Mazi Smith, DL, Michigan

41. Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee

42. Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas

43. Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M

44. Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia

45. Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina

46. BJ Ojulari, Edge, LSU

47. Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia

48. Steve Avila, IOL, TCU

49. Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa

50. Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa

51. Cody Mauch, OT, North Dakota State

52. Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina

53. Adetomiwa Adebawore, Edge, Northwestern

54. Nathaniel “Tank” Dell, WR, Houston

55. Tucker Kraft, TE, South Dakota State

56. Keion White, Edge, Georgia Tech

57. Tank Bigsby, RB, Auburn

58. Tyrique Stevenson, CB, Miami

59. Keeanu Benton, DL, Wisconsin

60. Luke Schoonmaker, TE, Michigan

61. DJ Turner, CB, Michigan

62. Julius Brents, CB, Kansas State

63. Cedrick Tillman, WR, Tennessee

64. Luke Wypler, IOL, Ohio State

65. Tuli Tuipulotu, Edge, USC

66. Garrett Williams, CB, Syracuse

67. Matthew Bergeron, OT, Syracuse

68. Sydney Brown, S, Illinois

69. Daiyan Henley, LB, Washington State

70. Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, CB, TCU

71. Rashee Rice, WR, SMU

72. Zacch Pickens, DL, South Carolina

73. Gervon Dexter Sr. DL, Florida

74. Carter Warren, OT, Pittsburgh

75. Marvin Mims, WR, Oklahoma

76. Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson

77. Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss

78. Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah

79. Henry To’oTo’o, LB, Alabama

80. Jordan Battle, S, Alabama

81. Brandon Joseph, S, Notre Dame

82. Zach Charbonnet, RB, UCLA

83. Blake Freeland, OT, BYU

84. Joe Tippmann, IOL, Wisconsin

85. DeMarvion Overshown, LB, Texas

86. Derick Hall, Edge, Auburn

87. Tanner McKee, QB, Stanford

88. Tyler Steen, OT, Alabama

89. Karl Brooks, Edge, Bowling Green

90. Isaiah Foskey, Edge, Notre Dame

91. Jammie Robinson, S, Florida State

92. Devon Achane, RB, Texas A&M

93. Tyjae Spears, RB, Tulane

94. Dorian Thompson-Robinson, QB, UCLA

95. Riley Moss, CB, Iowa

96. Jaquelin Roy, DL, LSU

97. Ji’Ayir Brown, S, Penn State

98. Siaki Ika, DL, Baylor

99. Byron Young, Edge, Tennessee

100. JL Skinner, LB, Boise State

 

Enoch Autry is The Clayton Tribune publisher.