POST FA Mock with trades and explanations

[Nickpeloso17]

1. Panthers: Bryce Young, QB Alabama

  You can make an argument for the top three guys here but ultimately I think Young is the guy. Proven winner and can make all the throws day one

 

2. Texans: CJ Stroud, QB Ohio State

  Stroud falls into Houston’s laps and it’s a great fit, Stroud has the highest floor and should be a star early on

 

3. Cardinals: Will Anderson Jr., DE Alabama

  The pass rush has been a mess for years and they need a force off the edge. Anderson will be an immediate impact player for them and a high sack guy

 

4. Colts: Anthony Richardson, QB Florida

  Richardson vs Levis is an interesting decision here. Ultimately Richardson has too much upside in a league that’s dominated by rushing QBs

 

5. Seahawks: Tyree Wilson, DE Texas Tech

  They could go Carter here but after signing Dre’Mont Jones they could look for help on the outside. Wilson’s physical traits should shine in Seattle’s scheme

 

6. Lions: Christian Gonzalez, CB Oregon

  Cam Sutton and CGJ were great pickups in the secondary but they still need a lockdown CB1. Gonzalez is athletic as they come and creates a solid group along with Okudah

 

7. Raiders: Jalen Carter, DT Georgia

  Giving Jimmy G a three year contract with that kind of money makes me think they’re still looking to compete now. Carter has his problems hit the talent is undeniable

 

8. Falcons: Devon Witherspoon, CB Illinois

  Atlanta did well in free agency bringing back McGary and signing Bates. Witherspoon looks like a safe prospect and would create a great duo with Terrell and help add to Atlanta’s rebuilding secondary 

 

9. Bears: Paris Johnson Jr., OT Ohio State

  An easy pick here, Fields’ former OT coming to Chicago after they failed to address the position in FA. Coming out of the first with DJ Moore, Johnson and future picks is a huge win

 

10. Eagles: Bijan Robinson, RB Texas

  They could address a lot of positions on defense with losses and aging players like Cox. Roseman might need to make an exception for Robinson, a sure fire star that will maker the biggest impact with essentially a “free” pick

 

11. Titans: Jaxon Smith-Nijigba, WR Ohio State

  Tennessee is reshuffling the roster a bit and have a big hole at WR. Treylon Burks showed flashes last year and JSN is the perfect compliment

 

12. Texans: Lukas Van Ness, DE Iowa

  Pairing JSN with Stroud would’ve been nice, luckily Van Ness is probably the smarter pick. His large frame could provide Houston with a bull rushing, high sack guy they haven’t had since Watt

 

13. *Packers: Peter Skoronski, OL NWestern

  This pick is sent to the Packers as part of the eventual Aaron Rodgers deal. Not sure what the entire trade would be but I assume it involves 13. With Jordan Love leading a new-look offense, the line could use another starting caliber player at both OG and OT now and in the future

 

14. Patriots: Joey Porter Jr., CB Penn State

  New England could go a number of directions here. The best move would be Porter, a true lockdown corner that fills arguably their biggest hole on the roster

 

15. Packers: Michael Mayer, TE Notre Dame

  Adding another piece to the offense, Mayer gives Jordan Love a big bodied security blanket. With Tonyan and Lewis gone, Mayer fills both the TE and pass catcher need

 

16. *Ravens: Zay Jones, WR Boston College

  A second trade, Baltimore moving up to secure their preferred WR. I think Lamar ends up coming back, and if that’s the case he needs more help at WR. Jones is the perfect fit

 

17. Steelers: Darnell Wright, OT Tennessee

  The OL is coming together - Daniels, Seumalo and Dan Moore are a great start. They still need a high upside, long term answer to keep Pickett protected from the tackle spot

 

18. Lions: Calijah Kancey, DT Pittsburgh

  Detroit’s fantastic offseason would be complete with a Gonzalez/Kancey duo in round one, this time adding an interior pass rush specialist to an improving defensive line

 

19. Buccaneers: Broderick Jones, OT Georgia

  Tampa Bay is under a rebuild with Brady retiring, RT being a big hole. I expect them to take their favorite of a deep pool of first round options

 

20. Seahawks: John Michael Schmitz, C Minnesota

  This fit makes almost too much sense, Schmitz is an elite center prospect and fills a massive need for Seattle. They’re known for sticking to their board even if this seems early

 

21. Chargers: Jordan Addison, WR USC

  Mike Williams is always an injury risk and Keenan Allen is getting older. If they want to compete with the elite offenses of the AFC, the Chargers would be smart to add Addison if he’s available. A perfect every down target for Herbert

 

22. Commanders: Deonte Banks, CB Maryland

 After trading down with the Ravens, Washington keeps the DMV trend going with Deonte Banks. The Commanders need corner help badly and added guys to the OL in free agency

 

23. Vikings: Brian Branch, DB Alabama

  Minnesota always picks a DB in round one, Branch is a versatile guy that can play safety or corner. He and Lewis Cine would be an intriguing duo going forward

 

24. Jaguars: Cam Smith, CB South Carolina

  Tyson Campbell broke out last season and needs a running mate. Smith is a long outside corner that fits what Jacksonville is looking for

 

25. *Broncos: Quentin Johnston, WR TCU

  Jerry Jeudy is traded to the Giants for the 25th pick similar to AJ/Marquise Brown being traded last year. New York gets Jones another target and Denver gets a cheaper option in Johnston, who fits a Russell Wilson offense

 

26. Cowboys: O’Cyrus Torrence, OG Florida

  Dallas could go a lot of directions here, with no glaring need, they continue their tradition of adding offensive lineman that can backup now and start later. In this case, Torrence is a guy who can fill in nearly anywhere while also being an eventual replacement for Martin

 

27. Bills: Drew Sanders, LB Arkansas

  Once again Buffalo has a solid roster going into the draft. Their biggest hole is MLB where they don’t currently have a replacement for Edmunds on the roster 

 

28. Bengals: Dalton Kincaid, TE Utah

  Most seem to like Washington here, but a pass catching option at TE is a lot more fun to add to an already elite passing offense

 

29. Saints: Adetomiwa Adebawore, DE NWestern

  I expect him to be a late riser and sneak into the first round. A raw, versatile option on the DL is exactly what New Orleans needs to rejuvenate their pass rush

 

30. *Raiders: Will Levis, QB Kentucky

  Much like Pickett and Willis falling further than expected last year, if LV passes at 7 I don’t see too many teams taking the risk. Now in range to move up for their future guy, the Raiders swap with the Eagles to get the 5th year option 

 

31. Chiefs: Nolan Smith, DE Georgia

  This seems like a BPA scenario as usual, Smith falling due to size/fit but finding the perfect home in KC. Pass rush has been key in their super bowl runs, and options are always needed

 

[THE DUKE]

Kincaid is a possibility, but I don't know if they take a TE that high where it's a question if he can be used in line as a blocker.

[scar988]

17 hours ago, Nickpeloso17 said:

 

8. Falcons: Devon Witherspoon, CB Illinois

  Atlanta did well in free agency bringing back McGary and signing Bates. Witherspoon looks like a safe prospect and would create a great duo with Terrell and help add to Atlanta’s rebuilding secondary 

Definitely a possibility. I like Witherspoon. I wonder if Christian Gonzalez might be a better fit for the Falcons defense, though. Either way, if the Falcons go corner, I'm ok with it.

[Louis Friend]

15 hours ago, scar988 said:

Definitely a possibility. I like Witherspoon. I wonder if Christian Gonzalez might be a better fit for the Falcons defense, though. Either way, if the Falcons go corner, I'm ok with it.

I’ll switch you. Witherspoon is better for us. I’ll throw in Kancey, he’s not a first rd pick for me. At least I can salvage this mock draft by getting the better CB for us. 

[FalconFan13]

15 hours ago, scar988 said:

Definitely a possibility. I like Witherspoon. I wonder if Christian Gonzalez might be a better fit for the Falcons defense, though. Either way, if the Falcons go corner, I'm ok with it.

He probably is but he went to the lions at 6 so we went with the best option available to us at that point. 

The 4 guys i would take over Spoon  went 3, 5, 6, and 7 all in a row before us so im fully ok with Spoon there as the best of whats left.    Although im still in the market for a trade down there if those 4 guys do all go before us and someone wants to come up for the top Qb available left or Bijan or the #1 OL in the draft they want.    I would be 100% fully ok trading down grabbing a extra mid round pick or 2 and taking someone like  Kancey, Smith, Jones, Van Ness, Addison, Johnson, or Schmitz.    Lots of good options in the late teens that imo are about as good as Spoon as a prospect and alot of 2nd and 3rd round guys i would love to have more than 1 shot at.

[FalconFan13]

Just now, Louis Friend said:

I’ll switch you. Witherspoon is better for us. I’ll throw in Kancey, he’s not a first rd pick for me. At least I can salvage this mock draft by getting the better CB for us. 

So we get Gonzo who i like better than spoon for us and Kancey for Spoon?   You got yourself a deal and i'll even give ya a 4th round pick this year and next back to give you another chance for someone else later lol.

Edited March 24, 2023 by FalconFan13

[Louis Friend]

16 minutes ago, FalconFan13 said:

So we get Gonzo who i like better than spoon for us and Kancey for Spoon?   You got yourself a deal and i'll even give ya a 4th round pick this year and next back to give you another chance for someone else later lol.

Deal. 

[THE DUKE]

22 hours ago, THE DUKE said:

Kincaid is a possibility, but I don't know if they take a TE that high where it's a question if he can be used in line as a blocker.

Kincaid didn't test at his pro day since he wasn't at 100%.  Off my board until the third round at the earliest.  Not that he didn't test so much in that he has an injury history and the Bengals track record of taking guy who didn't test is abysmal.   Couple that with him not being a blocker AND being undersized for a TE, that's a no from me.

[VikeManDan]

On 3/22/2023 at 2:49 PM, Nickpeloso17 said:

23. Vikings: Brian Branch, DB Alabama

 Minnesota always picks a DB in round one, Branch is a versatile guy that can play safety or corner. He and Lewis Cine would be an intriguing duo going forward

He would make an intriguing short term trio with Harrison Smith and Lewis Cine and a hopeful long term duo with Cine.

With that being said it sounds like Kevin O'Connell really likes Will Levis., pretty confident he'd be the pick if he were there at 1.23.