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65. Chicago Bears – Blake Freeland, 6’8”, 302lbs, OT, BYU, Jr.
Chicago may not take an OT at No. 9, but they’re not getting out of the first two days of the draft without selecting an OT to play opposite Braxton Lewis. Freeland is an easy mover in pass protection and uses his upper body strength to be effective in the run game though he could stand to add some strength to his lower half to generate movement more effectively. He solidified his place in the 2nd Round by putting on a show at the Combine with a 4.98 40 and a record-setting 37-inch vertical leap, then Pro Football Network reported he followed that up with a short shuttle in the low 4.3’s, a three-cone drill right around 7.2 and repped out 225 25 times with nearly 34-inch arms at BYU’s pro day.
66. Houston Texans – Luke Wypler, 6’3”, 303lbs, OC, Ohio State, Jr.
Houston needs a center to compete with Scott Quessenberry for the starting spot and Wypler, a two-year starter for the Buckeyes, has good movement skills and has a good understanding of angles. Wypler can be an effective lead blocker pulling around for Dameon Pierce in the ground game.
67. Arizona Cardinals – Cedric Tillman, 6’3”, 213lbs, WR, Tennessee
The trio of DeAndre Hopkins, Marquise Brown and Rondale Moore combined for 171 receptions, 1,840 yards and just 7 TD as all three failed to play an entire season. With AJ Green retiring and Nuk Hopkins asking for a trade, you have to imagine the Cards won’t leave the draft without at least one WR. Tillman is a big, physical, a solid blocker on the perimeter and a receiver who can make plays. A high ankle sprain limited his effectiveness this past season, but in 2021 when Tillman was healthy, he was a 1,000-yard receiver averaging just under 17 yards per catch and found the end zone 12 times. Tillman isn’t a burner, but he does a great job tracking the ball deep, isn’t afraid to go over the middle and has a knack for finding ways to create late separation to haul in the pass. He has a large catch radius and has some of the best ball skills in the draft.
68. Denver Broncos (from Indianapolis) – Aidan O’Connell, 6’3”, 213lbs, QB, Purdue
After a sub-par season from Russell Wilson in his first season in Denver as the Broncos finished last in the league in points per game as Wilson threw 11 Int. to go with just 16 TD. Denver did bring in Jarrett Stidham, but Sean Payton could easily target a QB on Day 2. O’Connell ran a pro-style offense at Purdue and had command of the offense from within the pocket, showing off tremendous accuracy as a distributor on short-to-intermediate throws. This may be a round or two early for O’Connell, but I fully expect teams to overdraft some of the QBs in this year’s draft.
69. Denver Broncos – Zach Harrison. 6’5”, 274lbs, DE, Ohio State
Denver signed Zach Allen in free agency but lost Deshawn Williams after trading away Bradley Chubb, so expect the Broncos to add another DE to add to the rotation with Allen, Randy Gregory, Baron Browning and Nik Bonitto along the front seven. Harrison is coming off his breakout season with the Buckeyes, finally realizing his potential. Known for using his long levers to attack the edge with power off the ball. Harrison uses his length to not only control blockers, but to also get his hand in the passing lane.
70. Los Angeles Rams – Tyrique Stevenson, 6’0”, 198lbs, CB, Miami, Fla.
Following the Jalen Ramset trade, the Rams are slated to have Derion Kendrick and Robert Rochell starting at CB. Kendrick was targeted 59 times his rookie season and gave up a passer rating of 106.4 while Rochell was targeted just once, meaning LA should be on the market for another corner on the outside to push for plating time. Stevenson is a big, physical corner who excels in press coverage and has tremendous ball skills, showing off exceptional leaping ability to attack the ball at the point.
71. Las Vegas Raiders – Tyler Steen, 6’6”, 321lbs, OT, Alabama
The Raiders get their OT to team with Kolton Miller. Steen began his career as a DT at Vanderbilt, but the Commodores quickly moved him to LT where he played for three seasons before transferring to Alabama. Steen has good length that he uses to his advantage and has good play awareness to pick up stunts and reacts quickly to secondary moves. His foot speed is just okay, meaning I expect him to slide to the right side at the next level.
72. New Orleans Saints – Tucker Kraft, 6’5”, 254lbs, TE, South Dakota State
The trio of Juwan Johnson, Adam Trautman and Taysom Hill have been solid though unspectacular options at the TE position. Adding a weapon for Derek Carr who can also handle blocking duties should be a focus early in the draft. As a blocker, Kraft is physical at the point of attack, does a good job sealing his man and will look to bury his opponent every chance he gets. Corners should keep their head on a swivel if Kraft is split out wide or they’re bound to get lit up. As a receiver Kraft can line up all over the field, presents mismatches with his blend of size and speed and has a reliable set of hands with a large catch radius. He only saw action in nine games this past season, but in 2021, Kraft was a monster for the Jackrabbits, hauling in 65 passes for 773 yards and 6 TD.
73. Tennessee Titans – BJ Ojulari, 6’2”, 248lbs, DE/OLB, LSU, Jr.
Bud Dupree is off to Atlanta while Harold Landry is coming off an ACL tear, so the Titans have a concern at the edge rush position, so much so that they signed Arden Key thus off season. Ojulari is an extremely flexible edge rusher who explodes off the ball and is able to turn the corner in a hurry. He uses his hands well, can dip his inside shoulder to turn the corner in a hurry and relentless chasing down the QB. Not only did Ojulari rack up career 16.5 sacks, but also a total of 25.5 TFL which showed he’s capable of being disruptive behind the line against the run as a pursuit defender.
74. Houston Texans (from Cleveland) – DeMarvion Overshown, 6’3”, 229lbs, LB, Texas
The Texans need an off-ball LB to push for playing time. Overshown, a converted safety, has tremendous range covering the field sideline to sideline and is a force coming downhill. He’s equally adept in space making plays in coverage. Houston may have signed Denzel Perryman and Cory Littleton in free agency, but I think Overshown could be the future of the position for the Texans.
75. Cleveland Browns (from NY Jets) – Derick Hall, 6’3”, 254lbs, DE, Auburn
The Browns need to get help for Myles Garrett and Hall is quick off the ball and uses his 34 ½-inch arms to create separation firing off the snap. From there, you’ll see violent hands that provide a jolt that sends the OT backward and then converts speed to power to drive his man into the backfield. Hall still needs to refine his rush moves as a speed rusher but has a nonstop motor working to the QB. Hall ran a 4.55 40, but his 1.59 10-yard split was third fastest among edge rushers, so he’s quite capable of getting the edge in a hurry. He’s also very physical at the point of attack against the run, using length and leverage strength to get into the OT and set a hard edge.
76. Atlanta Falcons – Zacch Pickens, 6’4”, 291lbs, DT, South Carolina, Jr.
Atlanta upgraded their defensive front with the signings of Calais Campbell and David Onyemata to team with Grady Jarrett, but Campbell isn’t a long-term solution, so I expect the Falcons to target another DL early in the draft. Pickens has the length to hold the line of scrimmage and plug gaps, but his quick first step and active hands also allow him to get up the field in a hurry, having racked up 7.5 sacks in his career. Pickens will be a nice rotational piece right away, but can push for a starting spot early in his career.
77. New England Patriots (from Carolina) – Darius Rush, 6’2”, 198lbs, CB, South Carolina
The Pats re-signed Jonathan Jones and Jack Jones was a fifth-round steal from last year’s draft, but both are lacking in size and at 6’2” and nearly 33.5-inch arms, Rush brings much-needed length to the CB position. Rush moved to CB from WR as a redshirt freshman and the instincts show up in his ability to read routes and put himself in position to make a play on the ball. You see him force the WR wide to the outside, does a tremendous job in trail technique covering ground and has a knack for undercutting routes to get a hand in and knock the pass away. Just put on film of the Senior Bowl and you’ll see Rush’s ability to drive on the football and affect the catch point.
78. Los Angeles Rams (from New England) – Trey Palmer, 6’0”, 192lbs, WR, Nebraska
Allen Robinson was brought in to be a legit No. 2 target to Cooper Kupp in the Rams’ passing attack, but after an underwhelming season, he was traded to the Steelers. You can expect LA won’t get out of Day 2 without looking for another wideout to take his spot and Palmer has the speed to put stress on defenses vertically. We knew Palmer was fast, but his 4.33 40 was the fastest among WR’s at the Combine.
79. Green Bay Packers – Byron Young, 6’2”, 250lbs, DE/OLB, Tennessee
Green Bay may be without Rashan Gary to start the season as he continues to rehab his ACL injury. Preston Smith and JJ Enagbare need help getting after the QB and I can see the Packers going with the lightning quick Young who ran a 4.43 40 and posted a 38-inch vertical at the Combine. He has a quick get-off and can bend coming off the edge in a hurry. Young will not only provide much-needed depth, but has the skill to challenge for a starting spot.
80. Indianapolis Colts (from Washington) – Jammie Robinson, 5’11”, 191lbs, S, Florida State
Julian Blackmon is entrenched as a starter at one safety spot, but 32-year old Rodney McLeod is a free agent and may not be back. Robinson is a highly productive safety who led the Seminoles in tackles this past season. He’s at his best coming downhill, showing a burst to close on the RB behind the line, having racked up 15.5 career TFL, and is able to close quickly on the pass to make a play on the football. His ball skills are clear with 7 Int. and 16 PBU.
81. Pittsburgh Steelers – Andre Carter II, 6’7”, 256lbs, OLB, Army
The Steelers have an explosive duo coming off the edge in TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith, but it’s clear there is little depth behind the two. Carter II has incredible length with a frame he can continue to develop and add muscle. He also has a tremendous burst off the ball, bends well and can flip his hips in a hurry to turn the corner. Carter II saw his production take a hit in 2022, but as a junior, he set the Army single-season sack record with 15.5.
82. Detroit Lions – Devon Achane, 5’8”, 188lbs, RB, Texas A&M, Jr.
The Lions lost 1,000-yard rusher Jamaal Williams to free agency and while D’Andre Swift is back, he had an up-and-down season. Detroit signed David Montgomery to provide depth to the running game, but he’s not the dynamic weapon in the backfield the Lions need. Achane has an explosive burst and sprinter speed to be a threat every time he touches the ball. Despite his small size, he runs hard between the tackles and uses his low pad level to churn out yards. A 1,000-yard rusher for the Aggies in 2023, Achane also proved to be a solid receiving option, giving the Lions a versatile weapon they can line up in a variety of positions.
83. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jartavius “Quan” Martin, 5’11”, 194lbs, S, Illinois
Tampa is on the market for a safety to pair with Antoine Winfield Jr. especially now that both Mike Edwards and Keanu Neal left in free agency. Plus, also losing Sean Murphy-Bunting means they’ll need a corner to man the nickel. The versatile Jartavius Martin can handle both roles. Martin has the range deep to handle duties over the top, but also has the fluid hips for quick changes of direction in coverage. Martin shows tremendous ball skills with 7 Int. and 22 PBU in his career. His incredible 44-inch vertical leap allows him to play much bigger than his size and can really challenge for the ball in the air. Martin can also come downhill in a hurry, navigate through traffic and wreak havoc behind the line of scrimmage, having also racked up 10.5 TFL while at Illinois.
84. Seattle Seahawks – Olu Oluwatimi, 6’2”, 309lbs, OC, Michigan
Seattle has a question mark at center following the surprising retirement of Austin Blythe. The Hawks brought in Evan Brown to provide depth up front, but adding a center through the draft is a must. Oluwatimi was a three year starter at Virginia before transferring to Michigan for his final season. He anchored the Joe Moore Award-winning OL while also winning both the Rimington and Outland Trophies. Oluwatimi lacks ideal lateral agility, but he has good technique, plays with good hand placement and can drive his man off the ball.
85. Miami Dolphins – Luke Schoonmaker, 6’5”, 251lbs, TE, Michigan, Jr.
The Dolphins lost Mike Gesicki in free agency, so you can expect Miami to take advantage of a deep TE class to pick up his replacement on Day 2. Schoonmaker is already a solid blocker for the Dallas ground game, showing good hands and feet to sustain his blocks. However, Schoonmaker is an underrated receiving option with the ability to be a weapon up the seam and having a knack of finding the soft spot in the zone. However, it was his 4.63 40 at the Combine that had to catch the eye of teams around the league as he showed he’s a much better athlete then he was able to show in Michigan’s run-first offense.
86. Los Angeles Chargers – Siaki Ika, 6’3”, 335lbs, NT, Baylor, Jr.
The Charger run defense was absolutely abysmal, finishing the season 28th in rush yards given up and dead last in yards per carry against. The Bolts lack a presence in the middle of the defense. Enter Siaki Ika, the mammoth NT out of Baylor who is known for holding the point of attack with impressive strength. Ika’s ability to occupy multiple blockers without giving ground will be music to the ears of the likes of Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack and Kenneth Murray. While Apu Ika isn’t going to put up big testing numbers, he does have a short area burst that allows him to get penetration into the backfield.
87. Baltimore Ravens – Nathaniel “Tank” Dell, 5’8”, 165lbs, WR, Houston
The Ravens signed Odell Beckham Jr. but that doesn’t completely fill the need at WR. Rashod Bateman and Devin Duvernay battled injuries last year while OBJ sat out the 2022 season due to an ACL tear. Plus, Beckham Jr., Duvernay and James Proche II are in the final year of their contracts while Bateman hasn’t earned his fifth-year option. Baltimore needs an insurance policy at the WR and I think that can be Tank Dell, who racked up 199 catches for 2,727 yards and 29 TD in his final two seasons with the Cougars. Dell may have a small frame, but his explosiveness makes him a big play threat any time he’s targeted. He’s quicker than he is fast with incredible start-stop ability and bring a suddenness to his route running. If you watched Dell work at the Senior Bowl, you saw this on display on every rep as he was so quick to get in and out of his breaks after getting the corner turned around creating an enormous amount of separation.
88. Minnesota Vikings – AT Perry, 6’3”, 198lbs, WR, Wake Forest, Jr.
With Adam Theilen gone in free agency, Minnesota should be targeting his replacement on Day 2 to team with Justin Jefferson and KJ Osborn and targeting a vertical option with size like AT Perry fits the bill. Perry finished his career in Winston Salem with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and 26 TD in his final two seasons. He has good length, runs a sub-4.5 40 and can separate with quick cuts. He does have a history of drops that you’ll have to deal with, but his ability to be a threat to all three levels of the field will be enticing enough to pull the trigger in Round 3.
89. Jacksonville Jaguars – Brenton Strange, 6’4”, 253lbs, TE, Penn State
The Jaguars used their franchise tag on Evan Engram and even with him back in 2023, adding another weapon in the passing game is a must for Trevor Lawrence. Plus, keep in mind Doug Pederson had two TEs during his time in Philly with Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert. Strange has been steadily climbing up draft boards because he’s been able to show off his athleticism in the passing game. He’s a solid blocker who can line up all over the field including at HB. He provides a good punch at the point of attack and can be a lead blocker in the running game. Strange wasn’t the target in the passing game that some of the other TE’s in this class, but he shows an ability to get vertical up the seam with good speed , has really soft hands and is able to gain yards after the catch.
90. New York Giants – Riley Moss, 6’1”, 193lbs, CB, Iowa
Expect the Giants to target a corner to challenge for the starting spot opposite Adoree’ Jackson. Moss is an instinctive corner with good size and 4.45 speed and has a knack for making big plays. He’s a tremendous ballhawk, having hauled in 11 career Int. and 3 pick-sixes. Moss can handle both press and off coverage, has very quick feet and accelerates quickly. Moss also isn’t afraid to mix it up against the run.
91. Dallas Cowboys – Tyjae Spears, 5’10”, 201lbs, RB, Tulane
The Ezekiel Elliott era is over in Dallas and while Ronald Jones was brought in to back up Tony Pollard, adding another versatile back is a must. Spears was dynamic for Tulane, finishing the season with 1,581 yards on 6.9 ypc an 19 this past season. He’s patient, has excellent vision, can plant and cut on a dime and gets downhill in a hurry. Spears is elusive in the open field and has the speed to take it to the house on any play. His performance against USC in the Cotton Bowl, leading the Green Wave to an improbable 46-45 win over the Trojans, was spectacular, finishing with 205 yards on 12.1 ypc and 3 TD. His contact balance was on display, showing an ability to stay upright despite repeated hits from defenders. Spears is also smooth as a receiver running crisp routes and displaying soft hands. He further proved his worth as a three-down back as a solid pass protector at the Senior Bowl.
92. Buffalo Bills – Tyler Scott, 5’10”, 177lbs, WR, Cincinnati, Jr.
Expect Buffalo to draft a speedy slot WR to team with Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis. Scott, a former sprinter in the Junior Olympics, is quick to accelerate to full speed and maintains that speed when handling deep routes. PFF also noted that 10 of his 14 career TDs went for over 30 yards, meaning he has a flair for the big play. Scott not only ran a 4.44 40 at the Combine, but also posted a 39.5-inch vertical leap, which expands his catch radius quite a bit despite only being 5’10”.
93. Cincinnati Bengals – Zach Evans, 5’11”, 202lbs, RB, Mississippi, Jr.
Joe Mixon was a bit overworked in 2022 and was rumored to be a potential cap casualty, but with him back as the starter, the Bengals must find a replacement for the departed Samaje Perine who can take some pressure off. Evans has battled injuries during his time with TCU and Mississippi, but when healthy, Evans has shown a tremendous burst, quick acceleration down the field, excellent contact balance and is just so smooth as a runner. He can be physical when you need him to be and is tough to bring down once he gets his shoulders square. Evans is also solid as a receiver, which just adds to his appeal. As long as Cincy is satisfied with the injury history, I think he’d be a nice fit as a complement for Mixon.
94. Carolina Panthers (from San Francisco) – Isaiah McGuire, 6’4”, 268lbs, DE, Missouri
Carolina needs to be looking for an edge rusher to complement Brian Burns and McGuire could be that guy. McGuire was a weapon off the edge for Mizzou, having tallied 14.0 TFL in each of the last two seasons with the Tigers to go along with 14.0 sacks during that time frame. McGuire offers a good burst off the ball, a decent bend turning the corner and uses an effective rip move to attack and clear the OT’s hands. He’ll also use his length to create separation then offer a quick arm over to beat double teams.
95. Philadelphia Eagles – JL Skinner, 6’4”, 209lbs, S, Boise State
Both Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and Marcus Epps are gone and while Terrell Edmunds was signed to team with Reed Blankenship along the back end of the Eagle defense, I am expecting Philly to target another safety who has the versatility to play all over the field. JL Skinner has impressive size for the safety position and brings a physical presence to the back end of the defense. He is a force in the box coming downhill making plays behind the line of scrimmage having racked up 9.5 TFL in his career. Skinner also showed a knack for locating the ball in coverage, hauling in 7 Int. and knocking away another 12 PBU In his career with the Broncos. He did tear a pectoral muscle while he was training for the Combine, but I expect him to make an impact when healthy.
96. Kansas City Chiefs – Keeanu Benton, 6’4”, 309lbs, NT, Wisconsin
The Chiefs need to target a NT to challenge Derrick Nnadi for the starting spot next to Chris Jones and Benton has shown quickness off the ball to get early penetration in addition to being able to take on multiple blockers, making him effective against both the run and the pass.
97. Arizona Cardinals (compensatory selection) – Ji’Ayir Brown, 5’11”, 203lbs, S, Penn State
Budda Baker demanded a trade after not being made he highest-paid safety, so you have to imagine the Cards will be looking for a depth piece at safety who could be Baker’s replacement should he be traded. Brown is a versatile chess piece in the secondary having played in the slot, in the box and as a deep safety for the Nittany Lions. Brown isn’t afraid to mix it up behind the line having racked up 9.0 TFL, can put pressure on the QB, as evidenced by his 4.5 career sacks, and is an absolute ballhawk in coverage, having picked off 10 Int. from the safety position.
98. Washington Commanders (compensatory selection) – Dorian Williams, 6’1”, 228lbs, LB, Tulane
Washington brought in Cody Barton to replace Cole Holcomb next to Jamin Davis, but they could use depth at the position and Williams developed into the Green Wave’s defensive leader, showing an ability to make plays all over the field. Williams finished the 2022 season filling the stat sheet with 132 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 5.0 sacks, 2 Int., 7 PBU and 2 forced fumbles. Williams has tremendous length with nearly 34-inch arms and ran a 4.49 40 at the Combine, proving he has the straight-line speed to make plays not only coming downhill, but also when chasing down ball carriers.
99. Cleveland Browns (compensatory selection) – Desjuan Johnson, 6’2”, 285lbs, DT, Toledo
The Browns need to add depth all along the DL. Myles Garrett was again at his dominant self off the edge racking up 16.0 sacks in 2022, but no other player was able to manage more than 3.0 sacks. While Ogbo Okoronkwo was brought in to get the first crack at starting opposite Garrett, adding depth to the position is a must. Along the interior, Dalvin Tomlinson was signed to start next to Jordan Elliott and Trysten Hill and Maurice Hurst were brought in to add depth and push Perrion Winfrey for playing time. However, there isn’t much of an interior pass rush presence. Enter Desjuan Johnson, an undersized DT who played at 6’2” and 270 pounds while at Toledo, but was incredibly productive in his four seasons with the Rockets. Johnson has a tremendously explosive first step which allows him to beat interior OL off the snap. He uses his hands well, offers an effective push-pull and will use plenty of counter moves when his initial rush is stifled. Johnson finished his career with 45.5 TFL and 14.5 sacks. The question is where he’ll play up front given he’s undersized, but his explosiveness allows him to be effective either on the outside or shooting gaps along the interior.
100. San Francisco 49ers (compensatory selection) – Clark Phillips III, 5’9”, 184lbs, CB, Utah, Jr.
The 49ers will be on the market for a nickel to battle Myles Hartsfield for playing time. I expect the focus will be on the West Coast and more specifically the Pac-12 to snag Phillips III who proved to be a playmaker for the Utes as 2 of his 6 picks this past season and four of his 9 career Int. were pick sixes.
101. Las Vegas Raiders (from Kansas City) (compensatory selection) – Karl Brooks, 6’4”, 303lbs, DT, Bowling Green
The Raiders need a presence along the interior of the D-line and Brooks could push for playing time early. Karl Brooks was impressive wreaking havoc in opposing backfield while at Bowling Green. He finished with 27.5 career sacks and 46 TFL and proved he could get to the QB in a multitude of ways. Brooks lined up as a stand-up rusher on one play, then moved inside to provide an interior rush the next, then lines up in wide-nine technique before finally getting his hand in the dirt as a traditional 4-3 DE. He shows good power in his hands to get defenders of balance and can generate exceptional speed to power to drive the OT back. Brooks has a wide array of pass rush moves with his hands, using a slap and rip followed by a club and swim to free himself and get penetration. Brooks added weight and is now over 300 pounds and will be a valuable interior presence.
102. San Francisco 49ers (compensatory selection) – Jaelyn Duncan, 6’6”, 306lbs, OT, Maryland
Mike McGlinchey is gone in free agency and while Colton McKivitz is slotted as the starter at RT, I fully expect the Niners to draft an OT prospect to push for playing time. Duncan, who started 39 games for the Terps at LT, is very athletic with impressive lateral agility to slide in pass protection and quick feet to easily seal the edge in the ground game.
103. San Francisco 49ers (compensatory selection) – Christopher Smith, 5’11”, 192lbs, S, Georgia
The 49ers need to address the safety position early in the draft to find a replacement for Jimmie Ward and while Tashaun Gipson was signed to a one-year deal, I don’t expect the 32-year old to be a long-term answer. Smith was a leader on the back end of the Georgia defense and his instincts seemed to put him in the right position to make a play. He displays solid cover skills and can play over the top against the pass and is willing in run support, often coming downhill and running the alley to make a sure open field tackle on the ball carrier.
2023 NFL Draft: Third Round
Mock Draft and Analysis By: Gregg Schutze
as of April 26, 2023