2023 NFL Draft

[beachcomber]

Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan
Smith has collected 46 tackles and one sack thus far in 2022. He is a quality run defender, but he probably will get pulled out of NFL games in passing situations. Hence, Smith might be more of a rotational nose tackle. But he is a big-bodid defender who is tough and physical at the point of attack with some ability to cause disruption. Some sources think Smith might end up being a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Charlie Jones, WR, Purdue
Jones has moved around a lot in his career. Playing for Iowa in 2021, he did not produce much (21-323-3). He played special teams in 2020 for them after sitting out 2019. He spent 2018 with Buffalo, but didn't produce much there either (18-395-3). Jones redshirted with the Bulls back in 2017. As a sixth-year senior, however, Jones broke out with Purdue, totaling 110 catches for 1,361 yards and 12 touchdowns. The 6-foot, 188-pounder is shifty route runner with solid hands. He could rise with a strong week at the Senior Bowl.

[beachcomber]

somebody higher than Nutty on the Mauch (round) one,

29. Kansas City Chiefs: OT Cody Mauch, NDSU

"Mauch is an excellent athlete who possesses ideal lateral and vertical agility to mirror defenders in pass protection or climb to the second level and pick off linebackers in the run game."

30. Minnesota Vikings: iOL Peter Skoronski, Northwestern

31. Buffalo Bills: RB Bijan Robinson, Texas

"He has very flexible hips, knees, and ankles that aid his change of direction. His impressive balance is evident through his cuts and through contact."

32. Philadelphia Eagles: iDL Bryan Bresee, Clemson

"The Maryland native boasts a thick, long frame and notable lower and upper body strength. He flashes the ability to use his length well, sometimes leading with his hands to initiate contact."

[Leslie Grossman]

So my dream of Mauch in the 3rd is already dead, bummer

1 Cam Smith CB hinges on JC/Callahan
2 Cody Mauch/Andrew Voorhies LG with possible T versatility, allows Salyer to fill in for injured starters
3 Xavier Hutchinson WR
4 Lukas VanNess/Yaya Diaby Edge
5 Alex Forsyth C
6 Keanu Benton NT put him and Otito between AJ and SJD in a 3-4/5-2
7 Aidan O'Connell/Cam Rising QB

[Formula 21]

Mock of the day

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[TexanBeerlover]

Only focus right now is a two rounder (need supplemental comp picks for whole enchilada). Both TE position (need dependable target and blocking for Herbert) & WR position (lack of speed).

Los Angeles Chargers

• 
  24.
  
  Michael Mayer
  TE Notre Dame
• 
  56.
  
  Zay Flowers
  WR Boston College
• 
  88.
• 
  124.
• 
  156.
• 
  188.
• 
  220.

[beachcomber]

1) NT Siaki Ika * recall back in the day that most anytime AJ was able to reel in a decent NT, that our D was exponentially better.... think that would be the same for our D today
2) TE Dalton Kincaid/Luke Musgrave * mocks have both of these guys going off before sixtysomething.... hopefully one of 'em will be there as think we are more solid on O w/a TE2
3) LB Noah Sewell, OG Cooper Beebe * hopin' this guy pulls a Nakobe Dean, and if not, prolly wishin' we coulda, woulda, shoulda got him earlier, as Beebe is no guarantee to be here either
4) OLB/DE YaYa Diaby * a reach by most accounts, and a questionable selection according to some draft grades, and.... ED3 is a pressing need and this guy could develop into a contributor
5) OC Eli Cox * not getting a lotta buzz/love, and.... do not want to miss on him, as think he's an ideal developmental guy behind Linsley, and someone that was an All American @guard as well
6) CB Julius Brents/Cameron Brown * this guy is regularly ranked higher as a mid round prospect, and.... like him better down here, and if not, am ok w/taking a risk on Brown's injury history here
7) OT Connor Galvin * 'nother guy who is regularly ranked much higher, and.... am sure we can find someone else if he is off the board, i.e. DT Dante Stills, RB Ulysses Bentley IV, or....

[beachcomber]

https://www.draftcountdown.com/mock-drafts/2023-7-round-mock-draft-rounds-1-3-shane-6-0/

according to this guy, would prolly need to move Julius Brents to the fourth w/Diaby, and then would still be keen on Brown round six....

he's got us getting Apu/Siaki Ika round two, and Connor Galvin round 7.

[La Costa Boy]

So what is the tiebreaker with Baltimore at 10 - 7? I know TB could slide in before us by losing tonight.....so what does that slot us at.....22nd???

[Critty]

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[Boltnut]

Current Draft Philosophy

1st: CB/NB Clark Phillips III. The CB position is so important! As evidence, we went out and spent a bundle on JC. His injury is one that will most likely make this signing a bust. There is no way to move forward depending on him as a starting CB. Bryce Callahan was a great value signing this off-season! When we didn't have him during the Rams game, it showed. JaSir Taylor is nice depth, but the Rams and Jaguars games showed that he is not ready to start. The cap situation is such that we cannot re-sign Callahan... someone will pay for his talents. We won't be able to compete with other teams that have more cap space for 2023. Clark Phillips was tied for CFB's lead in interceptions, knows how to play multiple schemes/assignments/techniques, and is often assigned to shut down the other team's best WR (see USC's Addison). Dealing with the top AFC teams passing games will be a challenge for years. Don't leave your secondary thin. Finish the job.

2nd: OT Cody Mauch. As important as defending the pass is in the AFC, protecting the QB is just as important. We have to run better, too! Some of you are sold on Pipkins and believe he should be re-signed. I don't agree. Too often, he needs help on the outside from TE's and RB's. I'm not happy with his balance. He doesn't have great knee bend and often plays too high. Good pass rushers can get under his pads and walk him back into the QB. He gets beat on inside/outside moves, and rarely is asked to get down field to the 2nd level. He's improved a lot... but that was a low bar considering where he started. Mauch already has better knee bend, balance, and technique. He is a great run-blocker and is often asked to get downfield to run-block at the 2nd level. Maybe we don't run long/mid range pass routes because we can't pass block well enough. Maybe we don't run the ball better because our talent wasn't good enough @the tackle positions this year. I know we used Slater to get downfield last year... let's have the ability to do it on both sides next year. Paying an average RT $8 million per year (when you know big contracts are coming) is foolish. Get better @RT. We've been demanding this for 15 years now. Make the investment now. Waiting for inferior talent to become average sucks! Over-paying for it sucks, too! Finish the job... part 2.

3rd: LB DeMarvion Overshown. The run defense was bad this year... it's been bad for a while. Part of that is our preference to run a 3-4... without the 3 part. Yesterday's 3-4 always featured a big, run-stopping NT... and for a while I was mocking Mazi Smith here. Alas, I don't see him being available here. He's just too good to be available here. Our 3-4 looks a lot more like a typical 4-2 front. The DT's look more like 4-2 DT's. The last DT we had here, that looked like a NT, was Linval Joseph... who wasn't brought back. Regardless, we have SJD, Austin Johnson, and Tito. I'm not so sure the problem is @DT. Maybe the problem is @LB. I've been keeping my eye on LB the last half of the season. When the LB's play their assignments correctly (read, react, and fill) the run defense does well. When they don't, it's atrocious! With Drue Tranquill being a FA, maybe this is the time to get a LB with a few more of the traits we need. DeMarvion Overshown is an athletic freak. He's very quick and decisive. He's decent in coverage and gets to a spot quickly with his athletic abilities. He's a very good blitzer... which I think was Tranquill's best attribute. The other thing that plays into this decision id K9's contract comes due at season's end. TT is always drafting with 1 or 2 years ahead in mind. This Round 3 pick has changed multiple times... and may be destined for another change in the near future.

There is a lot to absorb here, and I've written too much. I'll give you the rest really quickly and explain later...

4th: OC/OG Jarrett Patterson
5th: WR Marvin Mims Jr.
6th: TE Josh Wylie
7th RB Chris Rodriguez Jr.

[La Costa Boy]

Imagine being 13 - 3 and drafting 23rd. Ouch.......

[GetBolted]

• 
  32.
  
  Jahmyr Gibbs
  RB Alabama
  
• 
  49.
  
  Zay Flowers
  WR Boston College
  
• 
  54.
  
  Dalton Kincaid
  TE Utah
• 
  85.
  
  Tuli Tuipulotu
  EDGE USC
• 
  122.
  
  Charlie Jones
  WR Purdue
• 
  153.
  
  Connor Pay
  OC BYU
• 
  186.
  
  Jalen Green
  S Mississippi State