2023 Mock Draft Sims

[kingseanjohn]

Just as in previous years, if I don't start scouting early, I'll never get it done. I plan on posting one a week (sometimes two), but we'll see how that goes. I'm using Pro Football Network for my mock sims.

*My only assumption, unless noted, is that we tag Brown with intent to trade for a 2024 pick(s). This will be the case for each post I make. Yes, there will likely be other extensions or cuts. Right now, I am assuming that all other FA are gone even though that won't be the case.

My top needs: More draft picks.... This will always be the case tbh! But really (in no order) it's: WR, OT, DL.

 

28. Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT Penn State - He's a young guy who is still growing into the position. But man, he should be a LT in the NFL for a long time. If he actually declares, he would be a great addition. He won't be perfect year one or probably even year two. But he has shown a lot and he should continue to improve with NFL coaching.

60. Calijah Kancey, DL Pitt - I would love to see him learn under Jones (who we hopefully extend) before taking over Jones' role. He could be a great addition to our DL pass rush. The man can play.

92. Zion Nelson, OT Miami - I didn't plan on double dipping at OT but the board is bad. He, Fashanu, and Niang can compete for LT/RT jobs while leaving us with a quality backup.

99. Dontayvion Wicks, WR Virginia - On first viewing he reminded me a bit of Juju. He'd be a good early-mid round guy to develop and bring into the offense -- I wanted to go WR early but the board was bad. Only MVS and Skyy are under contract next year...

120. Derick Hall, DE Auburn - I liked his motor and relentlessness. On initial scouting, I don't think he's a starter in our defense. But he'd be a clear #3 assuming we cut Clark. I could see next year being a primarily interior pass rush with Jones/Kancey and Karlafitis/Hall just being relentless from the outside while we look for a true #1 starter at DE opposite Karlaftis in FA or 2024 draft.

128. Chris Rodriguez Jr., RB Kentucky - I like him as a developmental RB. Worst case, he can be a FB/RB hybrid and be a younger and cheaper option than Burton. He could definitely contribute year one though.

160. Jermaine Burton, WR Alabama - I just looked into him for the first time. My goodness. This guy doesn't get near enough targets at Alabama. Barring something that I haven't seen yet, he is going to make some team very happy. Right now, I have him as a 2nd-3rd round grade after initial viewing. I want to see more.

186. Deuce Vaughn, RB Kansas State - Darren Sproles 2.0. I don't really think we'll draft two RB. But this years class is horrid for our needs based on my early assessment and we have plenty of picks. So why not have some fun with it.

192. Connor Pay, IOL BYU - I couldn't really find much about him but OL depth never hurts. This is also assuming we lose Allegretti.

224. Nick Herbig, Edge Wisconsin - I really don't see him falling this far. I think he's a 2nd-4th round guy after initial viewing. I see some really good stuff but I need to see more before final judgement.

 

Overall, I'd be happy with this class. It isn't flashy but it fills some needs and upgrades our depth. The first four picks are probably my favorite. I don't see all of them lasting that long with the exception of Fashanu. Burton at 160 is probably my favorite considering need and value.

[onejayhawk]

I usually wait for the slack time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's time to do fantasy baseball winter meetings, start baseball draft prep and start to dabble in the NFL draft.

In general I like the focus on both lines. I would probably go for a DT early rather than late. 

[kingseanjohn]

I've tried to do this a couple times since my initial but I just can't find the motivation anymore. Here's a forced effort:

 

28. B.J. Ojulari, Edge LSU - He'd give us that speed off the edge that we've been missing for years. Should start day one opposite Karlaftis.

61. Brandon Dorlus, DL Oregon - His numbers have only gotten better since Thibodeaux left Oregon. The kid can play and would upgrade our DL. We need to get better (and cheaper) up front.

92. Warren McClendon, OL Georgia - He could potentially start at RT day one but would be best suited as the 6th man for a year imo.

123. Ronnie Hickman, S Ohio State - Thornhill is a FA. Hickman would compete with Cook for that #2 spot, with the other getting plenty of playing time as the #3.

129. Isaiah McGuire, DL Missouri - Probably too many DL this early. But our DL HAS to improve. I haven't seen much tape but I love McGuire's stat line: 95 tackles, 28 TFL, 14.5 sacks, 3 FF, and 1 PD over the past two years in the SEC.

160. Charlie Jones, WR Purdue - I need to see more but I'm already sold on him as high as the 3rd. He hand catches, runs good routes, and doesn't fall down on initial contact. Plus he actually has punt return experience (77 total returns). Sign me up.

187. Zakhari Franklin, WR UTSA - A developmental guy who could contribute as a #5 or #6. Only MVS, Moore, and Toney are under contract next year; and cutting MVS would save 4mil against the cap.

206. Deuce Vaughn, RB Kansas State - We could use RB depth. Plus it'd be fun to see Reid scheme this guy into the offense. I also wouldn't mind focusing on the run game next year with more 3 TE sets due to our WR limitations. If he was a couple inches taller he'd be in the discussion for going early imo.

224. Shaka Heyward, LB Duke - Depth player who could develop into something more.

 

I wish I could find some more/better tape on McGuire. His stat lines really intrigue me. Charlie Jones has become one of my favorite mid round prospects. He's already 24 years old though.

[RedGold]

I don't think the Wisconsin boys have been moved up in the rankings haha.

28	Anton Harrison	OT | Oklahoma
61	Tuli Tuipulotu	DL | USC
92	Matthew Bergeron	OT | Syracuse
125	Xavier Hutchinson	WR | Iowa State
131	K.J. Henry	EDGE | Clemson
164	Parker Washington	WR | Penn State
199	Quindell Johnson	S | Memphis
246	Keeanu Benton	DL | Wisconsin
250	Joe Tippmann	IOL | Wisconsin
252	Nick Herbig	LB | Wisconsin
255	J.J. Pegues	DL | Mississippi

[mayanfootball]

4 rounds

28. Josh Downs, WR, N.Carolina

61. Andre Carter II, Edge, Army

92. Mazie Smith, DT, Michigan

121. Connor Galvin, OT, Baylor

129. Trey Palmer, WR, Nebraska

[kingseanjohn]

2 hours ago, mayanfootball said:

4 rounds

28. Josh Downs, WR, N.Carolina

61. Andre Carter II, Edge, Army

92. Mazie Smith, DT, Michigan

121. Connor Galvin, OT, Baylor

129. Trey Palmer, WR, Nebraska

I'd love to give Carter a shot. But with the new Army regulations, it's looking like he won't be able to play for two years.

[mayanfootball]

4 rounds

28  Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M, 6'3", 200lbs

61  Jaelyn Duncan, OT, Maryland, 6'6", 320lbs

79  Zach Charbonnet, RB, UCLA, 6'1", 220lbs

92  Mazie Smith, DT, Michigan, 6'3", 333lbs

121 Dontayvion Wicks, WR, Virginia, 6'1", 205lbs

[onejayhawk]

25 minutes ago, mayanfootball said:

4 rounds

28  Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M, 6'3", 200lbs

61  Jaelyn Duncan, OT, Maryland, 6'6", 320lbs

79  Zach Charbonnet, RB, UCLA, 6'1", 220lbs

92  Mazie Smith, DT, Michigan, 6'3", 333lbs

121 Dontayvion Wicks, WR, Virginia, 6'1", 205lbs

I am not liking Johnson at all. We just took a SS in the second round this year.

Charbonnet is also odd. We are losing a DE not a RB. 

[onejayhawk]

What the heck. I will try out a few systems. This is mock Draft Database. Pickings were thin in round #1 but Harrison is very good in round #2 and both 4th round picks were sliding.

28 Michael Mayer TE | Notre Dame
61 Zach Harrison EDGE | Ohio State
92 Tuli Tuipulotu DL | USC 
123 Carter Warren OT | Pittsburgh 
131 Chase Brown RB | Illinois 

[mayanfootball]

13 hours ago, onejayhawk said:

I am not liking Johnson at all. We just took a SS in the second round this year.

Charbonnet is also odd. We are losing a DE not a RB. 

Read Johnson's profile. He is a play close-to-the-box, safety. He'll stuff runs. He can play sideline to sideline. He's a terrific blitzer, who can get to the QB. We need all that.

Charbonnet can move a pile. We don't have an RB like this. He's a good replacement for Ron Jones.

Edited December 22, 2022 by mayanfootball

[RedGold]

I like Johnson,  it all depends how you view Snead and if you want to resign him long term.    They both kinda fit that same skillset.   Idk that he can play outside,   Snead could but I kinda think that takes away some of Snead’s best qualities.  

[mayanfootball]

2 hours ago, RedGold said:

I like Johnson,  it all depends how you view Snead and if you want to resign him long term.    They both kinda fit that same skillset.   Idk that he can play outside,   Snead could but I kinda think that takes away some of Snead’s best qualities.  

I love Sneed. Yes, sign him longterm. I don't want Sneed having to stuff gaps. Johnson is well suited for that.  But I'd like Sneed to cover outside more. The fact that they both can blitz makes them interchangeable in that respect.

[onejayhawk]

Sneed is doing what Tyrann Mathieu did for us last year--creating. He doesn't have the leadership presence of the Landlord, but he's the guy doing the unexpected stuff. 10 QB pressures and 3.5 sacks are bizarre numbers for a CB. There has been so much turnover that the back half of the defense is still not really meshed but Sneed is central too the concept.

What do you expect? We have four rookie DB playing heavy snap counts--McDuffie, Cook, Williams, Watson. Against that you have Thornhill, Reid and Sneed. Of course there are issue, but this will be a hell of a secondary by this time next year.

[mayanfootball]

Obviously McDuffie and Sneed are keepers. Then you're left with Cook, Williams, Watson, Reid and Thornhill.  There are some weak links there. An elite player like Johnson allows us to adjust and cast off the weaker link(s). I'm sure even you could agree there's room to modify what we currently have.

Exclaiming that this is a "hell of a secondary" next year is sheer speculation.

[onejayhawk]

2 hours ago, mayanfootball said:

Obviously McDuffie and Sneed are keepers. Then you're left with Cook, Williams, Watson, Reid and Thornhill.  There are some weak links there. An elite player like Johnson allows us to adjust and cast off the weaker link(s). I'm sure even you could agree there's room to modify what we currently have.

Exclaiming that this is a "hell of a secondary" next year is sheer speculation.

Are there or are they simply not experienced? Would Johnson be an upgrade on Cook? Possibly, but how big and upgrade? With expected holes at DE and OT we have higher priorities.

Exclaiming that this will be a hell of a secondary is based on experience with how rookies improve. They are not a bad secondary right now playing rookies almost half of the snaps.