The annual scouting combine is a perfectly timed piece of business for the NFL. Any earlier and it might be lost in a Super Bowl hangover. Any later and it steps on the toes of free agency announcements and the breathless roster makeovers across the league.
Instead, the tail end of February and beginning of March belong to a week of college stars, clad in spandex and working out to a crowd of millions watching from home. The NFL stokes its own headlines through 40-yard dash times, sound bites from interviews and the vortex of rumors and back-channel chatter that pervades hotel bars in Indianapolis over the course of five nights.
This, balanced against the void of no-football, creates space for speculation and overreaction. Anthony Richardson, for example, vaulted up draft boards and into top overall pick territory thanks to the best combine any quarterback has ever had in the history of the NFL. Will Anderson, the uber-productive pass rusher who had 27.5 sacks the last two seasons at Alabama, has become an afterthought after testing out as merely “pretty good” in Indy.
So here’s an exercise. Let’s make a mock draft where a player’s performance in last week’s drills thoroughly outweighs the previous three to five years of college performance that preceded it. The result is a draft that won’t reflect what’s about to happen in April, but does reflect the current hype cycle as less proven prospects rise wildly and college stars who either turned in OK combines or didn’t work out at all watch their stock fall.
In that case, what would the 2023 NFL Draft look like?
1
Carolina Panthers (via projected trade with the Chicago Bears): QB Anthony Richardson, Florida
Team needs: QB, RB, OL, EDGE, LB
Trade details:
- Panthers trade their 2023 first round pick (ninth overall), 2023 second round pick (39th overall), 2024 first round pick, 2024 third round pick, 2025 first round pick and 2025 third round pick
- Bears trade their first overall pick, 2023 fourth round pick (projected to be 132nd overall) and 2024 fourth round pick
Team owner David Tepper is not known for his timidity. He built a financial empire on buying distressed assets he knew had potential to return to blue chip status. That’s roughly where his Panthers have landed after three seasons with retread quarterbacks behind center.
The cost of moving up from No. 9 isn’t cheap, but Carolina is stocked with draft assets after dealing Christian McCaffrey last fall. The time to push those chips to the middle of the table is now, and the guy who keeps a bronzed pair of bull testicles on his desk seems like he’d be interested in a big swing after beginning his tenure with five straight losing seasons. The NFC South is a mess, and even a flawed quarterback could guide the Panthers to a division title.
Richardson isn’t the best man for that job in 2023, but his raw tools belie the kind of superstar potential too tempting for our theoretical version of Tepper (and GM Scott Fitterer) to pass up. The Florida quarterback has the traits of a souped-up Josh Allen along with all the accuracy concerns the Bills’ QB brought to the NFL.
He’ll need plenty of refinement to make a true impact on Sundays, just like Allen. So in this case, the Panthers snag a stopgap QB like, say, Jimmy Garoppolo to pair with Richardson. Then, they look forward to the kind of payoff that made their owner a billionaire.
2
Indianapolis Colts (via projected trade with the Houston Texans): QB CJ Stroud, Ohio State
Team needs: QB, CB, S, OL
Trade details:
- Colts trade their 2023 first round pick (fourth overall), 2023 second round pick (35th overall) and 2024 second round pick
- Texans trade their second overall pick and 2023 fourth round pick (projected to be 103rd overall)
Carolina jumped the queue to snag Richardson. That’s fine — club owner Jim Irsay likes Stroud better anyway.
The Ohio State quarterback wasn’t as dynamic in Indianapolis as Richardson (no QB ever has been), but his performance in throwing drills showcased a passer with crisp, pinpoint accuracy on throws deep downfield. The Colts have been lost in the wilderness since Andrew Luck’s retirement, churning out mediocrity behind a string of retread veterans. Stroud can contribute immediately and, more importantly, provide a stable presence for years to come.
3
Arizona Cardinals: EDGE Nolan Smith, Georgia
Team needs: EDGE, CB, DT, OL, WR
If we’re acting reasonably, Will Anderson Jr. is the pick for a Cardinals team in dire need of an edge rusher. But that’s not what this mock draft is for. We’re here to overreact to the Combine and, hoooo buddy, did Smith give us something to overreact to.
The Georgia linebacker absolutely torched the field in Indianapolis, clocking an absurd 4.39 second 40 time at 238 pounds and uncorking a 41.5-inch vertical leap. While his numbers as a Bulldog were modest thanks to the level of talent around him, he proved he can be an absolute problem for opposing tackles with his speed rush. He also has the burst to slice inside and win when blockers cheat too far toward the edge.
Smith won’t be a top three pick, but his Combine performance bumped him from “potential Day 1 pick” to a first round lock. But if we’re drafting on athleticism and build alone, Smith is your huckleberry.
4
Houston Texans (via projected trade with the Colts): QB Will Levis, Kentucky
Team needs: QB, WR, EDGE, LB, OL
Levis had a mostly fine combine. His competition at this pick, Alabama’s Bryce Young, weighed in historically light for a starting quarterback and didn’t work out. Thus, two passers who lost to Vanderbilt last season jump the former Heisman Trophy winner as Houston’s rebuild trundles onward.
Levis’ efficiency improved last season despite a dearth of targets, showcasing his ability to spin hay into … well, not quite gold, but at the very least more valuable hay. He completed more than 65 percent of his passes at Kentucky despite facing SEC defenses and showcased a willingness to throw passes into tight windows downfield to varying effect.
He’s not perfect and he’s likely slid down to fourth place in the QB pecking order this spring. But he worked out in Indianapolis and Young didn’t, so he gets the edge in the combine hype mock draft.
5
Las Vegas Raiders (via projected trade with the Seattle Seahawks): QB Bryce Young, Alabama
Team needs: QB, OL, DB, LB, DT
Trade details:
- Raiders trade their 2023 first round pick (seventh overall), 2023 third round pick (70th overall) and 2024 fourth round pick
- Seahawks trade their fifth overall pick and 2024 fifth round pick
Seattle is in position to auction this pick off — it’s house money after the broken Russ Wilson trade anyway. In this case, the Raiders’ need at quarterback and Young’s sudden slide creates an opportunity too good for Mark Davis to pass up.
Young will be one of the lightest starting quarterbacks in NFL history, but his size rarely affected his elite playmaking at the University of Alabama. The 5-foot-10, 206 pound passer wasn’t just empty numbers. He stepped up in big moments and showcased the kind of clutch decision making and passing touch that can’t be quantified. Now he gets a soft landing spot in the pros, where he’ll get to throw to Davante Adams, Hunter Renfrow and Darren Waller.
6
Detroit Lions: CB Christian Gonzalez, Oregon
Team needs: CB, S, LB, DT, QB
Devon Witherspoon didn’t participate at the Combine due to a hamstring injury. That makes Gonzalez, who crushed his drills, CB1 … for now (Witherspoon will work out at Illinois’ pro day later this month. It’ll be great).
Gonzalez has solid length at 6-foot-1 along with elite speed and explosion after clocking a 4.38 second 40 and top-of-his-class vertical and broad jumps. He’s not just empty numbers, either. He had four interceptions and seven passes defensed last season in his first year at Oregon, allowing only 39 receptions in more than 600 coverage snaps.
The Lions badly need to upgrade a once-stout secondary that saw terrible management run off great players (Darius Slay, Quandre Diggs). Gonzalez would pair with Jeff Okudah to give Detroit a pair of intimidating young cornerbacks capable of shutting down some of the NFL’s best wide receivers.
7
Seattle Seahawks (via Denver Broncos, following projected trade with the Raiders): EDGE Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
Team needs: EDGE, LB, IOL, DT, CB
Anderson’s just-OK combine creates an opportunity for the Seahawks to select 2023’s top pass rusher after trading back to No. 7. Not bad. — The Crimson Tide edge attacker had 10 sacks and 17 tackles for loss last fall and that still qualified as a disappointment compared to his ludicrous 2021 (31 TFLs, 17.5 sacks). His 4.6 second 40 time in Indianapolis was more or less average, leaving room for improvement at Bama’s pro day this spring.
Numbers alone won’t tell the story of Anderson’s impact. He’s a singular force along the edge, a Chase Young type capable of having an outsized presence from the moment he steps on the field. Seattle’s 20.1 percent pressure rate last season ranked 19th among all NFL teams. Anderson is good enough to improve that number significantly in 2023.
8
Atlanta Falcons: CB Deonte Banks, Maryland
Team needs: QB, OT, EDGE, LB, DB
The Falcons’ 95.7 passer rating allowed was fourth-worst in the NFL and their pass defense ranked 29th in total DVOA. There are a ton of holes to fill, and Banks could lock down one cornerback spot for years to come.
The Terrapin product didn’t rack up counting stats in college (only two career interceptions) but he allowed just 4.7 yards per target in coverage and never gave up a completion rate higher than 50 percent, per PFF. He absolutely showed out at the combine, running a 4.35 second 40 and turning in top two marks among cornerbacks in both the broad and long jumps.
He’s big and explosive and capable of being an upper crust shutdown CB in the league. His peformance in Indy vaults him ahead of Devon Witherspoon and Joey Porter Jr. … for now.
9
Chicago Bears: OT Paris Johnson Jr, Ohio State
Team needs: OL, WR, EDGE, DT, LB
Chicago picked up a king’s ransom to drop back to No. 9 and still gets its pick of the litter when it comes to offensive linemen. While Johnson didn’t participate in every drill at the combine he still managed to inflate his stock by looking every bit a franchise left tackle. He measured out at 6-foot-6 and 313 pounds with the long arms necessary to keep edge rushers at bay. More importantly, his natural footwork on the field helped prove he can mirror anyone who tests him along the corners.
quick feet ⚡️ @ParisJohnsonJr
📺: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/SEJGk9ox24
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) March 5, 2023
Now he gets to protect Justin Fields, who badly needs protection. The Bears’ quarterback has been sacked on an untenable 13 percent of his dropbacks as a pro. Johnson would be an immediate balm to a crackled offensive line — and a common sense pick for a team with so, so many needs.
10
Philadelphia Eagles (via New Orleans Saints): DL Jalen Carter, Georgia
Team needs: EDGE, LB, RB, CB, DL
Carter’s combine was interrupted by his arrest following two misdemeanor charges related to street racing in a fatal crash that killed a UGA teammate and a staffer. How this affects his draft stock remains to be seen.
He has the talent of a top overall pick and some heavy off-field baggage with which he needs to deal. 10 seems like a safe enough hedge for a Philadelphia team tasked with replacing multiple veterans on the defensive side of the ball.
11
Tennessee Titans: EDGE Myles Murphy, Clemson
Team needs: EDGE, CB, LB, OL, TE, WR
Bud Dupree’s release heightens the Titans’ need for another edge rusher alongside Harold Landry. Murphy’s combine performance was limited to the bench press, but his athleticism isn’t in question — his strength and quickness were on full display at Clemson.
Murphy, a former five-star recruit, has been a constant presence in opposing backfields since arriving in South Carolina, recording at least 10.5 tackles for loss in each of his seasons as a Tiger. He’s a twitchy, explosive defensive end/linebacker who moves faster than his 270 pounds suggests. His stock here is dented thanks to his limited performance at the combine, but just wait until he lights up Clemson’s pro day.
12
Houston Texans (via Cleveland Browns): DL Bryan Bresee, Clemson
Team needs: QB, WR, EDGE, LB, OL
DeMeco Ryans’ defenses in San Francisco were anchored by a deep, dominant defensive line that could bring pressure from seemingly everywhere. Adding the ultra-athletic Bresee to his growing stockpile of prospective stars in Houston will help replicate that as a head coach.
Bresee isn’t the kind of player who’ll generate eye-opening stats, but he’s big and fast and powerful enough to take up blockers on run plays and flush quarterbacks from the pocket against the pass. He’s a rising tide that makes his entire defense better, which is the exact kind of presence the Texans need. And since we’re talking combine hype, let’s dwell for a bit on the fact he runs a 4.8 second 40 at nearly 300 pounds.
13
New York Jets: OT Peter Skoronski, Northwestern
Team needs: OL, EDGE, S, LB
Duane Brown will return for 2023, and while he’s a tough, useful veteran he’s also 37 years old. Mekhi Becton is great but carries legitimate health concerns and George Fant is a free agent. New York needs fresh blood up front, whether that’s protecting Aaron Rodgers or … sigh, Zach Wilson.
Skoronski had a bit of a mixed bag at the combine. His arm length measured in at less-than-ideal for an offensive tackle, which could necessitate a move inside. On the other hand, he inspired breathless praise from none other than Joe Thomas for his work in drills, who is a pretty good identifier of o-line talent. He’s got the highest floor of any blocker in his class, but his solid footwork suggests his ceiling is pretty far up there, too.
Peter Skoronski: Flawless
Darnell Wright: 📈Our guy @joethomas73 checks in from the #NFL Combine with offensive linemen that impressed him in today's workouts 💪 pic.twitter.com/Mph2ZePhaa
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) March 5, 2023
14
Green Bay Packers (via projected trade with the New England Patriots): WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
Team needs: WR, OL, EDGE, S, TE
Trade details:
- Packers trade their 2023 first round pick (15th overall) and 2023 third round pick (78th overall)
- Patriots trade their 14th overall pick and 2023 fourth round pick (projected to be 116th overall)
The Packers know New England is in the market for a wideout. They also know Bill Belichick loves a good trade-down. So a minor deal allows Green Bay to take the first wideout off the board and stack Jordan Love’s receiving corps (or, fine, Aaron Rodgers’) with young, high-potential playmakers.
Smith-Njigba didn’t need to run the 40 in Indianapolis to leave his mark on the combine. His performance in the agility drills and route skills proved he remains an elite WR talent despite a short, but impressive, college resume. He can play in the slot or outside and, importantly, thrive in the intermediate range while Christian Watson flies downfield on deep routes.
15
Detroit Lions (via projected trade with the Patriots): DL Calijah Kancey, Pittsburgh
Team needs: CB, S, LB, DT, QB
Trade details:
- Lions trade their 2023 first round pick (18th overall) and 2024 third round pick
- Patriots trade their 15th overall pick
Kancey was one of the combine’s brightest stars, so a defense-needy Lions team moves up three spots here to grab him, possibly fearing a run on tackles after Carter and Bresee were selected. While the Aaron Donald comps being foisted upon him after destroying the combine may be unfair, they’re also easy to see. He’s an undersized defensive tackle who was steadily productive as a Panther and has some truly impressive physical traits — he’s the fastest 280-plus pound player in at least two decades.
UPDATED: Fastest 40-yard dash times by a DT at #NFLCombine since 2000.
1. Calijah Kancey – 4.67 ⏱
2. Aaron Donald – 4.68 ⏱#H2P » @NFL » @NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/HjBKdMw3Vc— Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) March 2, 2023
Now he gets to slide into the heart of a defense that has definite need up front next to Alim McNeill. That pairing would help flush quarterbacks right into the waiting arms of Aidan Hutchinson and James Houston, providing a significant upgrade for the league’s 23rd-ranked passing defense.
16
Washington Commanders: CB Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State
Team needs: QB, OL, CB, S, LB
Several great cornerback prospects remain on the board, but none who raised their stock in Indianapolis as much as Forbes. The Bulldog defensive back crushed the 40 with a 4.35 second time. He’ll need to prove to teams he can maintain that as he adds bulk, because his 166 pound frame is almost certainly going to be a problem on Sundays.
Weight concern aside, Forbes is fluid and capable of punishing passers for testing him. He had 14 interceptions and 18 passes defensed in three years at Mississippi State. His resume and speed are both top-of-class traits. He’s just gotta put on some weight to stick with the league’s bigger wideouts.
17
Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Joey Porter Jr., Penn State
Team needs: OL, CB, DT, LB
If the draft board actually shook out this way, the Steelers would be extremely tempted to land on Georgia tackle Broderick Jones here. But while Jones tested well, he couldn’t match Porter’s performance in Indy — or Porter’s family ties to Pittsburgh.
Porter is a strong 6-foot-2 cornerback capable of pressing wideouts at the line of scrimmage and uprooting their route trees. He doesn’t have the elite straight line speed of some of the other members of his class, but he explodes toward the ball and stays tight to his targets to make his side of the field a no-fly zone. The Steelers will have a need at cornerback should Cameron Sutton depart in free agency. Porter would immediately fill that hole.
18
New England Patriots (via projected trade downs with the Packers, Lions): OT Broderick Jones, Georgia
Team needs: OT, LB, WR, S
A Patriot trade-down makes too much sense. One of the team’s biggest needs, offensive tackle, is a position with solid depth but few rock stars at the top of the class. Sure, Bill Belichick could have stayed pat and taken the draft’s first wideout but … uh, history suggests that’s basically throwing the 14th pick away.
Instead, he replaces one first round Georgia left tackle (Isaiah Wynn) with another. The UGA bookend kept Stetson Bennett upright through back-to-back runs through the College Football Playoff and at 6-foot-5 and 311 pounds looks every bit an NFL left tackle. While he may not be the most seasoned lineman in his class, he’s long-armed, powerful and, as last week’s drills showed, an elite athlete at his position.
19
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
Team needs: IOL, QB, CB, S, EDGE
Witherspoon didn’t work out in Indianapolis, but he’s too talented to slide further. The All-American was a force in college, recording three interceptions and 14 passes defensed in 12 games as a senior. His passer rating allowed last year? A minuscule 24.6.
Devon Witherspoon: 24.6 Passer Rating Allowed
1st among Power 5 CBs🔒 pic.twitter.com/4v3AFOmA7Y
— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 1, 2022
Drafting the Illini product gives Tampa a low-cost replacement for Jamel Dean — a big deal for a team that came into March with one of the league’s ugliest salary cap situations. That alone won’t be enough to fix the Bucs’ many flaws, but it’s a solid place to begin the rebuild.
20
Baltimore Ravens (via projected trade with the Seahawks): EDGE Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech
Team needs: WR, EDGE, DL, CB
Trade details:
- Ravens trade their 2023 first round pick (22nd overall) and 2024 third round pick
- Seahawks trade their 20th overall pick and 2024 fifth round pick
There’s no way Wilson slides this far in the real draft. But there is a chance he winds up with Baltimore should the Ravens recoup some first round picks in a potential Lamar Jackson trade. No matter how it happens, adding a top 10 — maybe even top five? — talent like Wilson to the lineup would be unfair to the rest of the AFC.
That wouldn’t fix their wideout problem, especially with Quentin Johnston, Jordan Addison and Zay Flowers still on the board, but it would play to the franchise’s historical strength. Wilson has hockey stick-long arms and a muscled 6-foot-6, 281 pound frame. Bringing him to Baltimore would give him a chance to learn from another gigantic, long-armed pass rushing beast, Calais Campbell, in order to keep the chain of dominant Raven defenses intact.
21
Miami Dolphins: Pick forfeited
Team needs: EDGE, TE, RB, LB, S
The NFL docked Miami this pick and a 2023 third rounder and fined team owner $1.5 million for violating “the integrity of the game” as it pertained to tampering with then-Saints head coach Sean Payton and Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady.
22
Los Angeles Chargers: S Sydney Brown, Illinois
Team needs: OL, S, CB, LB, DL
Both of Illinois’ safeties increased their draft stock significantly in Indianapolis. While Quan Martin was arguably the position’s most impressive athlete, it’s Brown who gets the bump up a round or two in order to play alongside Derwin James in Los Angeles.
Brown’s biggest concern is a lack of height at 5-foot-9, but he was productive against Big Ten offenses — six interceptions, a forced fumble and two defensive touchdowns last year alone — and has the speed and explosiveness to compete with bigger deep threats downfield.
Brown is a densely built hard hitter who’ll make AFC West wideouts think twice before their crossing routes. He’s not a perfect fit — and he might not even with the first Illini safety selected — but he gets the call here for the Chargers and their 16th-ranked defense.
23
Seattle Seahawks (via projected trade with Ravens): LB Jack Campbell, Iowa
Team needs: EDGE, LB, IOL, DT, CB
Campbell’s college production was never in question. He was a badly needed catalyst for a defense that pushed Iowa to bowl eligibility despite the continued presence of Brian Ferentz at offensive coordinator. For his efforts, he won the Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker.
Even so, he languished on the second tier of off-ball linebackers behind Trenton Simpson and Drew Sanders this winter … until now. Campbell was electric in Indianapolis.
Iowa's Jack Campbell is the only linebacker since 2003 to measure in over 6'4, jump more than 37" in the vertical, 10'8" in the broad jump, and run a sub-4.70 40.
Campbell holds the top NGS athleticism score (89) among LBs at this year's combine.@HawkeyeFootball | #NFLCombine pic.twitter.com/aLgHWndsKj
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 3, 2023
He’s historically athletic for his size and has proven his worth as a leader and sure-handed tackler in the middle of a defense. Even if this mock wasn’t all about overreacting to the combine he’d still likely work his way into the first round.
24
Buffalo Bills (via projected trade with the Minnesota Vikings): CB Julius Brents, Kansas State
Team needs: DL, S, OG, CB
Trade details:
- Bills trade their 2023 first round pick (27th overall) and restricted free agent CB Dane Jackson
- Vikings trade their 23rd overall pick and 2023 fourth round pick (projected to be 118th overall)
Brents’ big combine pushes him past Cam Smith, Kelee Ringo and Clark Phillips III and convinces the Bills to take a first round corner for the second straight season. The All-Big-12 defensive back measured out at a shade under 6-foot-3 while showcasing solid speed (a 4.5 second 40) and big numbers in the explosion drills (a 41-inch vertical leap and the combine’s top broad jump) as well as the agility drills.
Julius Brents read, backpedal, flip, drop weight, and then finish pic.twitter.com/a0SigeD0RQ
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) March 3, 2023
He looks every bit a sticky, shutdown corner who can handle life on an island. That gives Buffalo extra help against the AFC’s top passing offenses, insurance in case Kaiir Elam fails to live up to his potential or Tre’Davious White can’t round back into his pre-injury form and allows the team to maximize its return for restricted free agent Dane Jackson while shipping his cost-controlled 2023 salary to another team with salary cap concerns.
25
Jacksonville Jaguars: CB Cam Smith, South Carolina
Team needs: DL, CB, S, OL
Smith had a very good combine. The problem was many of his fellow corners were great. As a result, the dominant cover corner slides a bit, behind workout kings like Brents and Banks.
That’s not a true reflection of his talent, however.
Cam Smith's passer rating allowed in 2021: 36.5
Passer rating when throwing the ball into the ground every play: 39.6pic.twitter.com/uEr98vuFUa
— PFF College (@PFF_College) May 23, 2022
Smith’s performance backslid in 2022 but he remained a powerful deterrent who allowed fewer than half his targets to be caught. He’d join a Jags team recently released disappointing former free agent pickup Shaquill Griffin and hasn’t gotten the production it expected from Darious Williams. Jacksonville needs a shutdown cornerback; Smith can be that guy.
26
New York Giants: WR Quentin Johnston, TCU
Team needs: WR, CB, LB, QB, S
Johnston measured out shorter than his listed 6-foot-4 and didn’t run the 40 or any agility drills. Still, his 40.5-inch vertical leap and 11-foot-2 broad jump showcased the explosiveness that was on display each time TCU took the field last year. He’s capable of hauling in deep balls or taking a short target 60-plus yards after the catch, which is exactly what newly extended QB Daniel Jones needs after playing with the league’s worst receiving corps last fall.
The Giants currently have three wideouts under contract: Isaiah Hodgins, Wan’Dale Robinson and Collin Johnson. There’s a limited market for WR help in free agency and adding talent will be a priority in the draft. Johnston may not have impressed at the combine compared to some of his peers, but his stock was high enough to stick around on Day 1 in this overreaction exercise anyway.
27
Dallas Cowboys: RB Bijan Robinson, Texas
Team needs: OL, LB, S, CB
Robinson put together a predictably strong combine and has generated top 10 buzz. Maybe the Eagles would pull the trigger on him, but given the glaring need most teams toward the top of the draft have elsewhere and a strong market for young free agent tailbacks I can’t really find a place for him as high as his talent demands. Instead he slides to Dallas, where he’ll be Jerry Jones’ new star playmaker and successor to the team’s RB1 role after Tony Pollard plays out his franchise tag.
Robinson is a perfect candidate to continue the revival of every-down running backs in the NFL. He averaged more than six yards per carry at Texas. He also averaged more than 13 yards per catch — 16.5 YPC in 2022! — which is absolutely bonkers for a tailback. He absolutely looks like a star on Sundays, which is why he gets a big blue one on his helmet here.
28
Minnesota Vikings (via projected trade with Bills): EDGE Adetomiwa Adebawore, Northwestern
Team needs: EDGE, CB, S, LB, TE
OK, the Vikings’ trade back backfired and some of the cornerback prospects who would have been extremely helpful are now off the board. Nevertheless!
Za’Darius Smith and Danielle Hunter were a fearsome pass rushing combination in 2022, but both are aging veterans and Hunter (along with DJ Wonnum) will be a free agent next spring. Adebawore would infuse the Vikings’ edge rush with young blood as a 282-pound powerhouse capable of running a sub-4.5 second 40.
Northwestern EDGE Adetomiwa Adebawore put up an elite combine performance for his weight (282 lbs), earning a 97 athleticism score pending shuttle drills.
Combine Ranks since 2003 (275+ lbs):
🔹 4.49 40-yard dash (1st)
🔹 10' 5" broad jump (T-2nd)
🔹 37.5" vertical (3rd) pic.twitter.com/oDHpgHxDHS— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 2, 2023
That’s a big deal for a prospect who, on paper, looked too small to play on the line and too slow to handle linebacker duties. The Vikings would be taking a risk here, but they’d pick up a player whose profile suggests positional versatility — someone who could add bulk and fill in up front while Smith and Hunter thrive or man the edge in a rotational role before taking over in 2024. With a new era seemingly on the horizon in Minnesota — this is Kirk Cousins’ final year under contract — there’s some logic to taking an uber-athletic defender and giving him time to figure things out.
29
Cincinnati Bengals: TE Luke Musgrave, Oregon State
Team needs: OL, DB, DT, TE
Michael Mayer has been the clubhouse leader to be the first tight end selected throughout the offseason. He probably still is, but a new challenger emerged in Indianapolis.
Musgrave had his senior season cut short after only two games due to injury, but his production in those two games — 11 catches, 169 yards and a touchdown — were enough to tantalize scouts. Then he lit up the combine with the kind of performance that suggests he can be a capital-p Problem for NFL defensive coordinators.
The Bengals have gotten reasonable production from CJ Uzomah and Hayden Hurst at tight end with Joe Burrow under center. Now Joe Shiesty would get a true weapon at the position, making Cincinnati’s offense even more dangerous.
30
New Orleans Saints (via Denver Broncos in trade for Sean Payton, via Miami Dolphins, via San Francisco 49ers): TE Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
Team needs: WR, IOL, RB, DT
New quarterback Derek Carr needs to throw to someone, and Mayer is a potent addition whose testing numbers fail to capture the playmaker underneath. The 6-foot-4, 250 pound tight end finds ways to rise up in big moments, hauling in 16 touchdowns over the last two seasons (24 games). He reads coverage well and finds holes downfield despite often being the focus of the Notre Dame passing game and he uses his size to box out defenders and make contested catches.
He’s not the athlete Musgrave or Old Dominion combine standout Zack Kuntz are, but he’s a productive tight end who can have an immediate impact. That’s exactly what the Saints need in an eminently winnable NFC South. He’d team with Chris Olave to give New Orleans a potent 1-2 punch of young targets in the passing game.
31
Philadelphia Eagles: EDGE Lukas Van Ness, Iowa
Team needs: EDGE, LB, RB, CB, DL
Knowing what we know about general manager Howie Roseman, it’d be no surprise to see him trade down at either this pick or No. 10 in order to secure more draft assets. He’s got plenty of holes to fill given the number of veterans set to hit free agency and the draft would provide low-cost replacements for a team that will have to back up the Brinks truck for a Jalen Hurts extension soon.
Van Ness edges out in-state rival Will McDonald IV as the Eagles’ pick here thanks to his straight line speed and agility — McDonald didn’t participate in those drills in Indianapolis. The Iowa defensive end didn’t start for the Hawkeyes but still managed seven sacks in each of the last two seasons, setting the tone for a program whose offense was as watchable as a community college improv troupe. He’ll step into a key role for a team that may lose Brandon Graham, Javon Hargrave and Fletcher Cox to free agency this spring.
32
Kansas City Chiefs: OT Jaelyn Duncan, Maryland
Team needs: OL, CB, DT, LB, S
Duncan has fluctuated on draft boards throughout the offseason, but a strong combine showing is enough to sneak him into the tail end of Day 1 for a Chiefs team that could lose both its starting tackles in free agency. His arm length is a little less than what scouts were hoping for on the edge, but’s a nimble 6-foot-6 pocket protector who mirrors rushers effectively.
The question is whether Kansas City can unlock the meanness that could make him great in the NFL. Duncan is a versatile blocker who makes the right reads, but his athleticism and size doesn’t produce the kind of pancakes you’d expect. That makes him a high potential prize in the pros, but on draft day teams may prefer the more polished finishes of Anton Harrison or the sheer wrecking ball size of Dawand Jones instead.
