Post by MGB01 on May 7, 2023 13:02:12 GMT -5
It's never too early to start looking at the 2023 draft. This will change many times, in fact right on up to draft day August 1. So without further ado
1. Tampa Bay (from Columbus): Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
Without their own first round pick, traded to Kansas City last year, the Sharks will not only trade back into the first round, but we suspect a good chunk of this year's draft (including the third they picked up for D'Andre Swift) to take their successor to the erratic Drew Lock. That said, Levis has his own problems with erraticness, so this is a huge gamble.
2. Birmingham: Joe Tippmann, C, Wisconsin
The Ken Dorsey offense hasn't really gotten off the ground in 2023, and he will correctly deduce that it all starts up front, where Matt Skura, at best a 30-year old average starter, helms the interior. Like the other expansion teams they've also gotten burned depending on veteran castoffs like Julie'n Davenport, Quinton Spain, and Brandon Shell up front but they started the process last year drafting Darian Kinnard and Luke Tenuta (both have started games this year), now they'll go inside for their next piece.
3. St. Louis: Steve Avila, OG, TCU
The Stallions are stuck in a hard place (no rock in sight) with David Bakhtiari, as he's already missed two starts in what was supposed to be his for-real comeback year but the hit from releasing him would cause serious cap damage. In the meantime they'll work on other places along the line and go with another road-grader in Avila, their third straight interior lineman in the first round after Creed Humphrey and Luke Goedeke.
4. New York: Brian Branch, S, Alabama
Seems that defensive back would a little ridiculous considering the Hitmen's #1 problem, but with Levis already gone Ron Rivera looks around and sees the Monarchs' all-world secondary and decides, two years after being decimated in free agency, to rebuild one of his own. Of course Branch isn't Xavier McKinney at this point, but what he is is an upgrade over Will Parks and Cody Davis--the starters before Davis was lost to a season-ending knee injury.
5. San Diego: Joey Porter, CB, Penn State
With 2024 marked as the debut of the Malik Willis show it's either this or an interior offensive lineman like John Michael Schmitz or O'Cyrus Torrence, but with the Mission getting absolutely buried in their losses and the tandem of Brandon Facyson and Darius Phillips scaring no one the best corner on the board is the pick.
6. Kansas City (from Tampa Bay): Gervon Dexter, DT, Florida
Time for another edition of how the Monarchs have stayed on top for well over a decade. Should they lose Dre'Mont Jones in free agency they'll just do what they've done for years and replace him in the draft. Here it's a bonus as while run stuffing is his strength, a relief for fans and team officials as Jordan Elliott has been shaky at times this year he's also more of a pass rushing threat than his numbers suggest.
7. Dallas: John Michael Schmitz, C, Minnesota
Nick Harris had plenty of question marks at center even before he went on IR with a knee injury. In the Lonestars' biggest game of the season (at KC) they were down to starting UFA Xavier Newman-Johnson, more guard than center, with Adam Redmond out. So Schmitz, a makeup for just missing out on Creed Humphrey two years ago (Stallions took him the pick before), will step in on day one and will lock up the position for the next few years.
8. Seattle: Keeanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin
The Reign have both their edge rushers in David Ojabo and Micheal Clemons, now they turn inside where the 309-pound Benton, a very agile big man, is a clear upgrade on journeymen Antwaun Woods and Brandon Dunn.
9. Chicago (from San Antonio): Isaiah Foskey, LB, Notre Dame
Through 11 games the Enforcers had 25 sacks, which is already (for them) disappointing enough but all of one came from their edge rushers (Tashawn Bower). Boye Mafe hasn't been the answer so far, and since week one Bower's only had one game where he's played more than 40 snaps. Foskey is a dream "all-in-one" defender which the Enforcers, already out a third in the D'Andre Swift trade, will have no problem coughing up an extra pick for.
10. Orlando: O'Cyrus Torrance, OG, Florida
The Rage stay put and get their guy anyway. The Rage moved Kevin Dotson over to the left side in the offseason but had to watch that blow up when Jamarco Jones missed the first eight games of the season on IR. Even since there's still questions about how he can hold up as a starter, so before they entertain the notion of moving Dotson back to the right side they keep a serious meanie in-state and can go ahead and plug him in there.
11. Washington: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
While Bailey Zappe looks like the QB-in-not-waiting-anymore the Glory will look at tight end, where Irv Smith's entire career has been hampered by injuries and the Glory might let him move on in the offseason. The best tight end on the board will step in as a day one starter.
12. San Antonio (from Chicago): B.J. Ojulari, LB, LSU
While the Stampede would have loved Foskey they'll take Ojulari, who is probably more fit for the Stampede's defensive scheme anyway. They lost three edge rushers in the last offseason and were just getting into form when Joseph Ossai went on season-ending IR with a shoulder injury.
13. Los Angeles: Cody Mauch, OT, North Dakota State
The best value pick of the first round as Mauch can play anywhere on the offensive line, although the obvious first destination is at right guard, with the Xtreme then kicking Damien Lewis over to left.
14. San Francisco: Keion White, DE, Georgia Tech
The Demons cover themselves in the possibility that both Justin Houston and Zach Allen leave this summer. Much like Allen he can kick inside to tackle where needed, so this would be a great value pick for Doug Pederson as well.
15. Carolina: Jonathan Mingo, WR, Mississippi
This is a Kevin O'Connell offense after all, and on a team with Tee Higgins and Hunter Renfrow (who is a free agent) it's hard to see him letting another offensive playmaker get away. Covering Higgins is tough, that may pale in comparison to covering a big RB in a WR frame.
16. Kansas City: Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa
Gotta give it to the Monarchs, even after their victory in San Francisco in week 11 one of the first things that came to mind was that they really tried to draft Cade Otton, but San Francisco beat them to it. So they'll take LaPorta and team him with Jake Ferguson (the one they did draft) with Harrison Bryant as a third TE option.
1. Tampa Bay (from Columbus): Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
Without their own first round pick, traded to Kansas City last year, the Sharks will not only trade back into the first round, but we suspect a good chunk of this year's draft (including the third they picked up for D'Andre Swift) to take their successor to the erratic Drew Lock. That said, Levis has his own problems with erraticness, so this is a huge gamble.
2. Birmingham: Joe Tippmann, C, Wisconsin
The Ken Dorsey offense hasn't really gotten off the ground in 2023, and he will correctly deduce that it all starts up front, where Matt Skura, at best a 30-year old average starter, helms the interior. Like the other expansion teams they've also gotten burned depending on veteran castoffs like Julie'n Davenport, Quinton Spain, and Brandon Shell up front but they started the process last year drafting Darian Kinnard and Luke Tenuta (both have started games this year), now they'll go inside for their next piece.
3. St. Louis: Steve Avila, OG, TCU
The Stallions are stuck in a hard place (no rock in sight) with David Bakhtiari, as he's already missed two starts in what was supposed to be his for-real comeback year but the hit from releasing him would cause serious cap damage. In the meantime they'll work on other places along the line and go with another road-grader in Avila, their third straight interior lineman in the first round after Creed Humphrey and Luke Goedeke.
4. New York: Brian Branch, S, Alabama
Seems that defensive back would a little ridiculous considering the Hitmen's #1 problem, but with Levis already gone Ron Rivera looks around and sees the Monarchs' all-world secondary and decides, two years after being decimated in free agency, to rebuild one of his own. Of course Branch isn't Xavier McKinney at this point, but what he is is an upgrade over Will Parks and Cody Davis--the starters before Davis was lost to a season-ending knee injury.
5. San Diego: Joey Porter, CB, Penn State
With 2024 marked as the debut of the Malik Willis show it's either this or an interior offensive lineman like John Michael Schmitz or O'Cyrus Torrence, but with the Mission getting absolutely buried in their losses and the tandem of Brandon Facyson and Darius Phillips scaring no one the best corner on the board is the pick.
6. Kansas City (from Tampa Bay): Gervon Dexter, DT, Florida
Time for another edition of how the Monarchs have stayed on top for well over a decade. Should they lose Dre'Mont Jones in free agency they'll just do what they've done for years and replace him in the draft. Here it's a bonus as while run stuffing is his strength, a relief for fans and team officials as Jordan Elliott has been shaky at times this year he's also more of a pass rushing threat than his numbers suggest.
7. Dallas: John Michael Schmitz, C, Minnesota
Nick Harris had plenty of question marks at center even before he went on IR with a knee injury. In the Lonestars' biggest game of the season (at KC) they were down to starting UFA Xavier Newman-Johnson, more guard than center, with Adam Redmond out. So Schmitz, a makeup for just missing out on Creed Humphrey two years ago (Stallions took him the pick before), will step in on day one and will lock up the position for the next few years.
8. Seattle: Keeanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin
The Reign have both their edge rushers in David Ojabo and Micheal Clemons, now they turn inside where the 309-pound Benton, a very agile big man, is a clear upgrade on journeymen Antwaun Woods and Brandon Dunn.
9. Chicago (from San Antonio): Isaiah Foskey, LB, Notre Dame
Through 11 games the Enforcers had 25 sacks, which is already (for them) disappointing enough but all of one came from their edge rushers (Tashawn Bower). Boye Mafe hasn't been the answer so far, and since week one Bower's only had one game where he's played more than 40 snaps. Foskey is a dream "all-in-one" defender which the Enforcers, already out a third in the D'Andre Swift trade, will have no problem coughing up an extra pick for.
10. Orlando: O'Cyrus Torrance, OG, Florida
The Rage stay put and get their guy anyway. The Rage moved Kevin Dotson over to the left side in the offseason but had to watch that blow up when Jamarco Jones missed the first eight games of the season on IR. Even since there's still questions about how he can hold up as a starter, so before they entertain the notion of moving Dotson back to the right side they keep a serious meanie in-state and can go ahead and plug him in there.
11. Washington: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
While Bailey Zappe looks like the QB-in-not-waiting-anymore the Glory will look at tight end, where Irv Smith's entire career has been hampered by injuries and the Glory might let him move on in the offseason. The best tight end on the board will step in as a day one starter.
12. San Antonio (from Chicago): B.J. Ojulari, LB, LSU
While the Stampede would have loved Foskey they'll take Ojulari, who is probably more fit for the Stampede's defensive scheme anyway. They lost three edge rushers in the last offseason and were just getting into form when Joseph Ossai went on season-ending IR with a shoulder injury.
13. Los Angeles: Cody Mauch, OT, North Dakota State
The best value pick of the first round as Mauch can play anywhere on the offensive line, although the obvious first destination is at right guard, with the Xtreme then kicking Damien Lewis over to left.
14. San Francisco: Keion White, DE, Georgia Tech
The Demons cover themselves in the possibility that both Justin Houston and Zach Allen leave this summer. Much like Allen he can kick inside to tackle where needed, so this would be a great value pick for Doug Pederson as well.
15. Carolina: Jonathan Mingo, WR, Mississippi
This is a Kevin O'Connell offense after all, and on a team with Tee Higgins and Hunter Renfrow (who is a free agent) it's hard to see him letting another offensive playmaker get away. Covering Higgins is tough, that may pale in comparison to covering a big RB in a WR frame.
16. Kansas City: Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa
Gotta give it to the Monarchs, even after their victory in San Francisco in week 11 one of the first things that came to mind was that they really tried to draft Cade Otton, but San Francisco beat them to it. So they'll take LaPorta and team him with Jake Ferguson (the one they did draft) with Harrison Bryant as a third TE option.