The South Florida Sun Sentinel’s preliminary 2023 NFL mock draft options Dolphins columnist Chris Perkins making alternatives by way of decide No. 51, the Dolphins’ first decide. Trades, that are certain to occur, weren’t factored into this mock draft. The NFL draft is April 27-29 in Kansas City.
1. Carolina Panthers (from Chicago): Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
Tough alternative between Young and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, and it’s all the time harder to inform with Alabama quarterbacks as a result of they’re surrounded by a lot nice expertise.
Top wants: QB, Edge rusher, ILB
2. Houston Texans: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
The Texans come away with a top-notch prospect in Stroud, though he won’t be as NFL-ready as Young.
Top wants: QB, Edge, WR
3. Arizona Cardinals: Will Anderson Jr., Edge rusher, Alabama
Arizona would possibly commerce out of this spot. If not, Anderson suits the invoice as a high-quality move rusher, a necessity with J.J. Watt retiring.
Top wants: Edge, CB, OL
4. Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
The veteran route hasn’t labored for the Colts since Andrew Luck’s retirement, in order that they’ll attempt the rookie route.
Top wants: QB, OL, CB
5. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver): Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
If you consider within the best-player-available philosophy, that is the decide. If you consider in decreasing threat, this won’t be the decide.
Top wants: DT, OL, WR
6. Detroit Lions (from L.A. Rams): Tyree Wilson, Edge, Texas Tech
Detroit wants defensive assist. The huge query is whether or not you are taking an edge rusher or a cornerback akin to Illinois’ Devon Witherspoon.
Top wants: DL, LB, OL
7. Las Vegas Raiders: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
This may very well be a tricky determination between Witherspoon and Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez. The Raiders might additionally use offensive line assist.
Top wants: CB, OT, LB
8. Atlanta Falcons: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
The Falcons might take Iowa edge rusher Lukas Van Ness or Clemson edge rusher Myles Murphy, however Gonzalez gives good dimension and excellent 1-on-1 abilities.
Top wants: CB, Edge, S
9. Chicago Bears (from Carolina): Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern
Although Skoronski would possibly find yourself being moved to protect, the underside line is the Bears, who might use Van Ness contemplating they have been final in sacks (20), are getting safety for QB Justin Fields.
Top wants: OT, Edge, CB
10. Philadelphia Eagles (from New Orleans): Lukas Van Ness, Edge, Iowa
Van Ness can rush from the within or exterior, and such versatility suits completely with the Eagles, who’ve fielded a powerful protection for years.
Top wants: Edge, DT, DB
11. Tennessee Titans: Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
The Titans might go along with Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba and even Kentucky QB Will Levis, however they’ve drafted pretty excessive at each positions the previous two years.
Top wants: WR, OT, CB
12. Houston Texans (from Cleveland): Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
Smith-Njigba is a cultured, NFL-ready participant who excels at route-running and making performs, two traits any groups would love.
Top wants: WR, Edge, DT
13. New York Jets: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
QB Aaron Rodgers picks the receivers, and the group picks the OL assist. Sounds like a great deal.
Top wants: OT, S, DT
14. New England Patriots: Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
Porter’s man-to-man defensive abilities, aggression and dimension (he’s 6-foot-2) make him enticing.
Top wants: OL, CB, WR
15. Green Bay Packers: Nolan Smith, Edge, Georgia
This is likely to be a attain contemplating Smith is thought to be speedy, however undersized and never very sturdy. But the man has proven a knack for attending to the quarterback.
Top wants: Edge, TE, S
16. Washington Commanders: Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
Banks has size, athleticism and physicality. Put him within the secondary and let him go to work.
Top wants: CB, TE, G
17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
Three tackles are off the board — Skoronski, Johnson and Jones. And 4 CBs are off the board — Witherspoon, Gonzalez, Porter and Banks. By the best way, Wright is best at RT.
Top wants: OT, CB, DT
18. Detroit Lions: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
This is a significant shakeup, particularly contemplating Detroit added RB David Montgomery to affix DeAndre Swift. But the Lions bought defensive assist at decide No. 6, and Swift struggles to remain healthly, by no means having greater than 151 carries in a season.
Top wants: LB, G, TE
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
With Baker Mayfield because the beginning QB, it’s in all probability clever to plan for the long run. One of the SEC QBs, Levis or Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker, may very well be the selection right here.
Top wants: DB, QB, Edge
20. Seattle Seahawks: Jordan Addison, WR, USC
Seattle might add extra DL assist from Pitt’s Calijah Kancey, however Addison, who, curiously, transferred from Pitt, is just too tempting to withstand.
Top wants: OL, WR, Edge
21. Los Angeles Chargers: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
The Chargers will get QB Justin Herbert assist at a key place. Yes, they return their high 4 TEs however none has gotten the job accomplished.
Top wants: TE, OL, WR
22. Baltimore Ravens: Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
Boston College WR Zay Flowers would additionally make sense. And, sure, they simply took WR Rashod Bateman within the first spherical in 2021, however assist remains to be wanted.
Top wants: WR, CB, DT
23. Minnesota Vikings: Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee
Minnesota finally wants a alternative for QB Kirk Cousins and the time to seek out him is now, whereas Cousins remains to be within the fold and Hooker has time to completely get well from his knee harm.
Top wants: CB, ILB, DT
24. Jacksonville Jaguars: Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
Smith is an aggressive participant who, as a CB, doesn’t assist QB Trevor Lawrence instantly, however helps a protection that ranked twenty eighth towards the move so it is smart.
Top wants: Edge, OT, DB
25. New York Giants: John Michael Schmitz, C, Minnesota
The Giants appear set at QB (Daniel Jones), RB (Saquon Barkley), TE Darren Waller and OT (LT Andrew Thomas, RT Evan Neal). Now it’s time to get sturdy up the center.
Top wants: CB, WR, G
26. Dallas Cowboys: Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State
Musgrave fills the opening left by TE Dalton Schultz (Houston), however he’s not overly spectacular. Dallas would possibly commerce up, particularly if RB Bijan Robinson is in its sights.
Top wants: TE, G, DL
27. Buffalo Bills: Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas
Losing ILB Tremaine Edmunds (Chicago) hurts. Sanders helps soak up that vast loss although drafting a WR is tempting.
Top wants: LB, S, OT
28. Cincinnati Bengals: Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
There’s some threat right here as a result of Harrison is a LT, however the Bengals might get a alternative for RT Jonah Williams, who has requested a commerce.
Top wants: OL, RB, TE
29. New Orleans Saints: Bryan Bresee, DL, Clemson
A household state of affairs, sickness and harm have slowed Bresee the previous two seasons so he’s being drafted on potential. But there’s numerous upside right here to handle the DL losses in free company.
Top wants: WR, CB, DL
30. Philadelphia Eagles: Brian Branch, S, Alabama
The Eagles misplaced beginning safeties Marcus Epps (Las Vegas) and C.J. Gardner-Johnson (Detroit) so this helps, and it goes together with getting an edge rusher at No. 10.
Top wants: DT, DB, RB
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee
The finest method to assist QB Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs will say on this state of affairs, is getting extra playmakers. OL and DL want new blood, however WR is extra impactful for Mahomes.
Top wants: WR, Edge, OT
Round 2
32. Pittsburgh Steelers (from Chicago): Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan
Smith is robust and performs three downs. At 6-3, 335 kilos he offers the Steelers a presence inside.
Top wants: CB, DT, OT
33. Houston Texans: Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Edge, Kansas State
The Texans want move rush assist. Anudike-Uzomah had 8.0 sacks final season and 13.0 sacks in 2021.
Top wants: Edge, DT, OL
34. Arizona Cardinals: Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
Forbes had six interceptions final season and has ball-hawking abilities. He’ll want so as to add muscle to his 166-pound body, nevertheless.
Top wants: CB, OL, WR
35. Indianapolis Colts: Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State
The Colts get a QB and an OT within the first two rounds. Jones might win a beginning job on both facet however he’s finest at RT.
Top wants: OL, CB, WR
36. Los Angeles Rams: Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
This doesn’t make up for the lack of CB Jalen Ramsey (Miami) nevertheless it’s higher than doing nothing.
Top wants: TE, Edge, CB
37. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver): O’Cyrus Torrance, G, Florida
Torrance, a switch from Louisiana, is a first-class run blocker who also can assist shield QB Geno Smith.
Top wants: OL, ILB, DT
38. Las Vegas Raiders: Adetomiwa Adebawore, Edge, Northwestern
This decide is about velocity. Adebawore, at 6-2, 282 kilos, ran a blazing-fast 4.49-second 40-yard sprint. And he can play inside or exterior.
Top wants: OT, DL, CB
39. Carolina Panthers: Noah Sewell, LB, Oregon
The Panthers need assistance on the within and Sewell, youthful brother of Detroit OT Penei Sewell, can deal with the job.
Top wants: Edge, ILB, DB
40. New Orleans Saints: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama
RB Alvin Kamara has doable authorized points so a backup plan appears a good suggestion.
Top wants: WR, CB, RB
41. Tennessee Titans: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
Flowers, who attended University School highschool in Davie, is small at 5-9, 182 kilos, however he’s a great slot WR, which the Titans want.
Top wants: WR, CB, TE
42. New York Jets (from Cleveland): Cody Mauch, C-G, North Dakota State
There’s numerous place versatility right here as a result of Mauch was an OT in faculty however his quick arms recommend he’s higher fitted to inside OL.
Top wants: DT, S, LB
43. New York Jets: Keion White, DT, Georgia Tech
With DT Sheldon Rankins (Houston) departing by way of free company White affords a doable answer as a alternative.
Top wants: DT, LB, S
44. Atlanta Falcons: Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M
Johnson replaces slot CB Isaiah Oliver (San Francisco), and is a playmaker in protection in addition to on blitzes.
Top wants: Edge, S, WR
45. Green Bay Packers: Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
Green Bay misplaced TE Robert Tonyan (Chicago) and would possibly lose TE Marcedes Lewis if he goes to the New York Jets with Rodgers.
Top wants: TE, S, WR
46. New England Patriots: Matthew Bergeron, OT, Syracuse
Bergeron is a strong prospect who has the additional advantage of having the ability to play both facet.
Top wants: OL, WR, DL
47. Washington Commanders: Steve Avila, C-G, TCU
Avila is a bodily participant with place versatility, and the Commanders want inside OL assist.
Top wants: TE, OL, DL
48. Detroit Lions: Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa
Campbell is a hard-hitting, bodily presence on the within.
Top wants: LB, OL, TE
49. Pittsburgh Steelers: Tyrique Stevenson, CB, Miami
Stevenson has an aggressive type and isn’t afraid to make errors within the title of constructing performs.
Top wants: CB, DT, LB
50. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: B.J. Ojulari, Edge, LSU
Ojulari, whose older brother, Azeez, performs for the Giants, had 9.0 sacks final season.
Top wants: DB, Edge, OL
51. Miami Dolphins: Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa
The Dolphins offense favors an in-line tight finish. But after Mike Gesicki’s departure (New England) the Dolphins want a receiving TE, particularly one who can run seam routes. LaPorta (6-3, 245), who has 111 receptions for 1,327 yards and 4 touchdowns the previous two seasons, fills each roles.
Top wants: OT, G, TE
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Source: www.bostonherald.com