NFL Mock Draft 3.0

Story posted April 22, 2023 in CommRadio, Sports by Commradio Staff

1. Logan - Carolina Panthers (via CHI): Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
This pick could change a lot these last few days before the draft. With Young already coming in as the top option, he could be seen as the safer choice for Carolina to select.

2. Ethan - Houston Texans: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
Stroud has proved time and time again that he is one of if not the best quarterbacks in this draft. The Texans have a huge hole to fill at quarterback as Davis Mills just isn’t cutting it anymore. Stroud brings what the Texans need in a possible future franchise quarterback.

3. Jakob - Arizona Cardinals: Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama
The Cardinals are a prime trade-back candidate, but in this scenario, value lines up with need as Arizona selects the best player on their board who will immediately become the best player in their front seven.

4. Sam - Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Richardson, QB Florida
Richardson has more upside than Will Levis does. Shane Steichen can grow with young inexperienced talent like Richardson. The Colts’ chances of being very good next season are slim to none. They should swing for the fences with the prospect from Florida.

5. Sam - Seattle Seahawks (via DEN): Jalen Carter, DL, Georgia
The only nack on Carter’s game comes with off-the-field issues. Pete Carroll has done well with big personalities in the past. Don’t expect him to look past this talent which will bolster a young talented Seattle defense.

6. Jakob - Detroit Lions (via LAR): Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech
While this pick could very well be one of the top corners still available, Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell opt to stick to their identity and select a powerful force in the trenches with freaky length and athleticism.

7. Ethan- Las Vegas Raiders: Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa
With the addition of Jimmy Garoppolo, the Raiders are no longer in need of taking a QB with their high first-round pick. Lukas Van Ness will be a perfect addition to the lineup next to Maxx Crosby and reinforce that defensive line.

8. Logan- Atlanta Falcons: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
The Falcons could go with several positions here but following the release of veteran cornerback Casey Hayward, this could be a fun pairing alongside A.J. Terrell.

9. Logan- Chicago Bears (via CAR): Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern
Chicago arguably had one of the best offseasons in the league this year and what better way to add to it than by protecting quarterback Justin Fields?

10. Ethan- Philadelphia Eagles (via NO): Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
The Eagles lost a lot of weapons on defense and will need to replace them with their picks. Witherspoon will fill a big hole left by C.J. Garner-Johnson.

11. Jakob - Tennessee Titans: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
The Titans’ interest in the top of the quarterback class has been no secret and in Ran Carthon’s first draft as general manager, he adds who he believes will be the face of the franchise for years to come. Levis is raw, but extremely talented, so allowing him to sit behind Tannehill for a year is a perfect situation for both himself and the team

12. Sam- Houston Texans (via CLE): Jaxson Smith Njiba, WR, Ohio State
Smith-Njiba is coming from a pro-NFL wide receiver room at Ohio State. It will take very little time for this prospect to get accumulated with NFL defenses. He’s the best wide receiver on the board and will be someone Bryce Young or another young star to grow with.

13. Sam: New York Jets: Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
Another buckeye comes off the board here where the Jets are desperate for offensive line help. They get a 300-pound monster in Johnson Jr. who can protect Aaron Rodgers or Zach Wilson for the next few seasons.

14. Jakob - New England Patriots: Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
Four of the five spots on New England’s offensive line are solidified, but they currently have a massive hole at right tackle.  Slot in Darnell Wright who’s a pro-ready, powerful and technically sound true right tackle who can start on day one and for years to come.

15. Ethan- Green Bay Packers: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
While we still don’t know who will be the starting quarterback for the Packers in Week One, we do know that they’ll need more protection. This will be especially true if they start Jordan Love, whose NFL experience is somewhat limited. Lots of offensive tackles have already been taken by this point as they’re always in high demand. I think that Jones is still a viable pick at this stage in the draft.

16. Logan- Washington Commanders: Brian Branch, S, Alabama
With all the top quarterbacks already gone, the Commanders could choose to go best available on the defensive side of the ball. That’s where Branch comes in.

17. Logan- Pittsburgh Steelers: Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
This is a pairing that Steelers fans have dreamt of for the past few months. Porter Jr. wouldn’t have to travel too far, potentially joining a fellow Penn Stater just acquired by the Steelers in Allen Robinson.

18. Ethan- Detroit Lions: Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
Yes, this pick is a reach, but the Lions need some help in the secondary. The Lions play in a division with some high-powered and speedy Wrs (i.e. Justin Jefferson) so they’ll need all the help they can get and this is the best they’ll get with what’s left now.

19. Jakob - Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
It’s a bit of a transition period for the Bucs as Tom Brady has retired and many of the players who came along with him are starting to age or leave. With that leaving a hole at tight end, they decide to benefit from a historically talented class and select the most dynamic receiving threat of the group in Kincaid.

20. Sam- Seattle Seahawks: Myles Murphy, DE, Clemson
If Seattle was able to pair Jalen Carter with a talent like Murphy the entire NFC would immediately have something to worry about. If Seattle wants any chance to be championship-level good they are going to need to get back to their old ways of domination on the defensive side of the football.

21. Sam- Los Angeles Chargers: Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia
Adding Smith to a group that already has Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack sounds like something that could potentially stop Patrick Mahomes. This would give the Chargers the best pass rush in the league. Passing on a player of this caliber with an already capable roster seems like a mistake.

22. Jakob - Baltimore Ravens: Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
The Ravens duo of Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters in the secondary has been one of the best for the past few years, but with Peters still on the free agent market, they could use another ball-hawking corner. Forbes fits the bill, posting 14 interceptions in his three years as Bulldog.

23. Ethan- Minnesota Vikings: Jordan Addison, WR, USC
With the loss of Adam Thielen this offseason, the Vikings will need to fill in a gap at wide receiver. Addison is a steal this high in the first round and will develop nicely next to Justin Jefferson. In a few years, this duo could become one of the deadliest in the NFL.

24. Logan- Jacksonville Jaguars: Bryan Bresee, DL, Clemson
The Jaguars are another team that had a strong offseason and with a good amount of the offense already set up, Jacksonville looks to bolster the defensive line.

25. Logan- New York Giants: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
So the Kenny Golladay thing didn’t really work out. Now having paid Daniel Jones, the Giants look for the best available wide receiver to help him out.

26. Ethan- Dallas Cowboys: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
The Cowboys are down a running back with the loss of Ezekiel Elliott to free agency. While it is possible that he comes back to the team, it would be easier and cheaper to draft Robinson. Robinson was arguably the best running back in all of college football this past season and has the potential to recreate the two-headed monster backfield we saw with Elliott and Tony Pollard.

27. Jakob - Buffalo Bills: O’Cyrus Torrence, IOL, Florida
Buffalo could use reinforcements at both guard spots. Torrence will slot in at right guard and bring some nastiness to the trenches, keeping Josh Allen upright and improving a run game that has struggled to produce in recent years.

28. Sam: Cincinnati Bengals: Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
The Bengals have played too many important games without a talented enough secondary. Adding Smith to an already stellar roster will help Cincinnati compete with the best of the league. Smith will be ready day one to play cornerback two for Cincinnati.

29. Sam: New Orleans Saints: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Many seem to be underestimating what the Saints can do next season. If they add a weapon and a tight end like Mayer their offense will surprise teams next season. Adding a reliable weapon like Mayer will help this Saints team grow in a very weary situation.

30. Jakob - Philadelphia Eagles: Keion White, EDGE, Georgia Tech
One of the most consistent trends in the draft over the past handful of years has been Howie Roseman reinforcing the trenches in Philly.  White is a Swiss army knife that can play just about any spot on the defensive line and would fit nicely next to Jordan Davis and Haason Reddick for the foreseeable future

31. Ethan- Kansas City Chiefs: Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
The Chiefs are without any weaponry when it comes to targets for Patrick Mahomes, with the exception of Travis Kelce. Now that Juju Smith-Schuster has left for New England, the Chiefs will almost have to take Johnston with this pick. He was one of the most dangerous wide receivers last season and I expect him to do the same in the NFL with mentoring from Mahomes. The TCU receiver going this late is a steal and the Chiefs will make others pay during the season.

Logan Bourandas is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email lxb5412@psu.edu.

Jakob Schnur is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jks6463@psu.edu.

Sam Kirk is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email sjk6325@psu.edu.

Ethan Ellis is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email ece5133@psu.edu.