We went with a pretty simple approach to our Mocks this year. Vince and I each split the teams available and drafted as if we were the GM of that franchise. We also decided to wait to release 1.0 until after the bulk of free agency chaos was done with, sadly nobody ever out-waits Aaron Rodgers. As always we had some guys slipping past their consensus draft spot and a couple big time trades sprinkled in. With just 3 weeks until draft day, here is the Upside Play’s Mock 1.0.
Photo by: Tim Warner/Getty Images
1st Overall Pick - Carolina Panthers
C.J. Stroud || QB || Ohio St.
The Panthers traded the farm to move up to select their QB of the future and in this mock it’s Ohio State’s CJ Stroud. The Panthers spent a lot of money on their offense this offseason so Stroud walks in as QB1 right away. Stroud has the arm to make it in the NFL, it just comes down to how the Panthers develop him.
2nd Overall Pick - Houston Texans
Bryce Young || QB || Alabama
Demeco Ryans brings one of the best young defensive minds over to his former team in Houston, naturally there will be some buzz about a potential defensive standout to start his first year draft. In this scenario they run to the board to grab their future QB1 instead. Bryce Young has been touted as the highest IQ QB in the class who proved his natural poise and ability to facilitate a high level offense at Alabama. He might not be the “right height” but he is a polished prospect worthy of a top pick.
3rd Overall Pick - Indianapolis Colts (Trade)
Anthony Richardson || QB || Florida
The Colts finally get their QB of the future in the form of Anthony Richardson. The draft's true lottery ticket goes to a spot where he can learn from Gardner Minshew and new head coach Shane Steichen. Anthony Richardson’s athletic profile is off the charts but it’s his ability to be a Quarterback that is his biggest question mark.
4th Overall Pick - Arizona Cardinals (Trade)
Will Anderson Jr. || EDGE || Alabama
The first defensive domino to fall is Alabama’s sack leader in 2021 & 2022. Will Anderson Jr. is going to affect every aspect of an opposing team's game plan. He’s an elite pass rusher who has proven his scheme versatility and can make an impact against the run. Arizona has a lot of needs to fill, this pick just happens to fill a need and give instant production.
5th Overall Pick - Seattle Seahawks
Jalen Carter || DL || Georgia
Jalen Carter is exactly what the Seahawks love in a prospect, high college production and an athletic freak. Carter is arguably the drafts pest player but off the field concerns are what will most likely cause a fall on draft night.
6th Overall Pick - Detroit Lions
Devon Witherspoon || CB || Illinois
The Lions heavily upgraded the CB position this offseason and very well may be in a “Best Player Available” attitude. Sutton and Mosley are wonderful pieces but something tells me Dan Campbell wants a true alpha on the outside. Witherspoon is a physical ballhawk with a slightly smaller 6'0 / 180 frame. We fully expect him to be a plug and play man coverage corner at the next level.
7th Overall Pick - Las Vegas Raiders
Tyree Wilson || EDGE || Texas Tech
The Raiders need a player who plays defense so Wilson fits that need already. This could have easily been a corner here but with a talent like Wilson who can play opposite Maxx Crosby it’s a no brainer.
8th Overall Pick - Atlanta Falcons
Lukas Van Ness || EDGE || Iowa
Here we have the first guy we’re a little higher on than most publications in Lukas Van Ness to Atlanta. Over the last TWO seasons the Falcons have had a total of 39 sacks. 17 teams had more than that total last year alone. They need to find pass rush production if they want to contend in the dangerous NFC South (it’s a joke, relax). Drafting a guy who looks like Hercules with a high motor is a great start. Van Ness will need time to expand and develop technique but the potential is overflowing here.
9th Overall Pick - Chicago Bears
Paris Johnson Jr. || OT || Ohio St.
The Bears have a lot of needs but trading back and getting DJ Moore and your Left Tackle of the future is a big win for them. Paris Johnson comes in and is tasked with keeping their Franchise QB Justin Fields healthy.
10th Overall Pick - Philadelphia Eagles
Peter Skoronski || OT? || Northwestern
The Eagles make it back to back offensive tackles off the board and it’s okay to slightly scratch your head at this one for the Birds. Despite three straight years at LT for Northwestern, Peter Skoronski has the versatility to produce all over the offensive line. Philly needs to plug and play someone at the guard position, and Skoronski’s build slightly limits him as a prospect at LT. They get an immediate starter here with phenomenal technique and the ability to provide relief on the outside when needed.
11th Overall Pick - Tennessee Titans
Broderick Jones || OT || Georgia
The Titans need to replace Taylor Lewan and Broderick Jones has been quickly rising up draft boards as a potential top 15 pick. This might not be the sexiest pick but Jones is a big mauler who can easily start day 1 for a rebuilding squad,
12th Overall Pick - Houston Texans
Nolan Smith || EDGE || Georgia
Scream reach all you want, Nolan Smith’s potential is through the roof and I know Demeco wants a DAWG down there in the trenches. Myles Murphy could also be the play here but the Georgia product gets the nod here due to his +physical traits and ability to run stuff as well as pass rush. Most importantly if you ask anyone from Georgia (pretty good program) about his character you will always find the buzzword “Leader”. I hope it continues for Demeco.
13th Overall Pick - New York Jets
Darnell Wright || OT || Tenn.
In this Mock the Jets get Aaron Rodgers but keep their first round pick and select Darnell Wright from Tennessee. Wright will be a day 1 starter at RT and can help keep their new 4 time MVP upright and healthy in 2023.
14th Overall Pick - New England Patriots
Will Levis || QB || Kentucky
Mac Jones truthers look away! We’ve heard the trade rumors all offseason after a lackluster 2022 and the Patriots decide to stop the slide here and go Will Levis at #14. Levis has been getting a lot of hate within the draft media, apparently bombing interviews left and right. The fact of the matter is he was viewed as a top prospect heading into the 2022 seasons and has an absolute cannon for an arm. He’s a project at age 23 that needs to develop the ability to read a defense and prevent turnovers, but his arm talent is worth a first round pick regardless.
15th Overall Pick - Green Bay Packers
Christian Gonzalez || CB || Oregon
Gonzalez slides a little bit in this mock but lands with the Packers who can now enjoy a very big upgrade to their secondary that was already pretty good. A top CB can help the rebuilding Packers on defense and gives them a legit option alongside Jaire Alexander.
16th Overall Pick - Washington Commanders
Joey Porter Jr. || CB || Penn St.
Commanders are in an interesting scenario, I very well could see them snagging Lamar this offseason and this being Baltimore on the clock at #16. Instead they roll with Sam Howell here and look to improve their secondary. Joey Porter Jr. is the ideal size for a corner in the NFL, and his arms are egregiously long. He’s an instant impact corner for an ascending defensive unit.
17th Overall Pick - Dallas Cowboys (Trade)
Bijan Robinson || RB || Texas
This one’s a fun one. The Cowboys let Zeke go and would love to add another back to work with Tony Pollard. Jerry Jones trading up for Bijan Robinson is something that would surprise no one. The jersey sales might crack the top 10 if Jerry pulls this one off.
18th Overall Pick - Detroit Lions
Calijah Kancey || DL || Pitt.
You are going to be flooded by the unfair Aaron Donald comparisons when this young man gets drafted later this month. He’s slightly undersized for his position but uses impeccable strength and craftiness to blow by blockers. If that high motor + IQ can translate to the next level he’s a name you’ll see often in the tackle for loss column.
19th Overall Pick - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
O’Cyrus Torrence || OG || Florida
The Bucs could definitely trade up to select one of the top QB’s but in this mock we went with Florida’s O’Cyrus Torrence. The Bucs traded away Shaq Mason this offseason so the need for a guard is there. Torrence is a very sound lineman who can open holes for Rachaad White in the run game
20th Overall Pick - Seattle Seahawks
Jaxon Smith-Njigba || WR || Ohio St.
The Seattle Seahawks are going to need to replace Tyler Lockett at some point and Jaxon Smith-Njigba is our consensus #1 receiver in the class. He lined up in the slot a ton last year but has the route tree and release to compete on the outside. I have a hard time believing no WR’s go within the first 19, that being said the Hawks get a steal at pick #20.
21st Overall Pick - Los Angeles Chargers
Deonte Banks || CB || Maryland
The Chargers have done a lot to bolster the secondary as of late but nothing has seemed to work. Deonte Banks is a good coverage corner and can run with the talented WR’s in the AFC West.
22nd Overall Pick - Baltimore Ravens
Myles Murphy || EDGE || Clemson
Myles Murphy is the guy we can see going as high as #6 and as low as #30. He has had a great draft process crushing interviews and is scheme-versatile. He had 76 total pressures over the last two years at Clemson according to PFF and is NFL ready at 6’5 / 275.
23rd Overall Pick - Minnesota Vikings
Bryan Bresee || DL || Clemson
It's hard not to go with Johnston or Addison here but their defense was historically bad last year and Bresee can help bring a much needed upgrade to the middle of the defensive line.
24th Overall Pick - Houston Texans (Trade)
Quentin Johnston || WR || TCU
Remember last year when the Jets traded back into the first round because the guy they were considering at #10 was still on the board at #26? The Texans create a trend here unloading some picks for one of the classes top wideouts. TCU’s Quentin Johnston has a massive 6’4 / 224 frame and can hurt you at every level of the field. He’s a problem after the catch with home run speed and sharp lateral quickness. He might have trouble separating early, but the Texans love the potential yet again.
25th Overall Pick - New York Giants
John Michael Schmitz || C || Minnesota
It's time the NFL evaluators need to respect the elite product in front of them despite position, cc: Creed Humphrey. The Giants offensive line was inconsistent last year and John Michael Schmitz is a fluid mover at the center position and will help in the run game right away. It's not a flashy pick but it’s one we will look back on and applaud the front office for making.
26th Overall Pick - Pittsburgh Steelers
Dawand Jones || OT || Ohio St.
This guy is a mountain and can seriously boogie for his size. As offenses begin to utilize more motion Jones might be viewed as “Stiff” but he moves bodies with ease and lets be honest, Pittsburgh needs to address both sides of this position. Jones didn’t allow a single sack in 2022, giving up just 5 pressures last year in all 12 games. Please protect that young offensive core, Pittsburgh.
27th Overall Pick - Buffalo Bills
Jordan Addison || WR || USC
The Bills are set up for a deep playoff run once again so they can honestly take the best player still available and for them it's former Trojan Jordan Addison. Addison is one of the best receivers in this class who gives Buffalo another option in the slot or outside. Adding a route runner like Addison to a receiver room with Stefon Diggs is a nightmare for opposing secondaries.
28th Overall Pick - Cincinnati Bengals
Dalton Kincaid || TE || Utah
This seems too good to be true, but I still had to give Cincinatti the top pass catching TE in the draft here at #28. Kincaid is a fluid playmaker who had 35 college TD’s and piled up 246 yards against BIG 10 powerhouse USC. He has an outstanding catch radius paired with +body control and can hurt you after the catch. Burrow to Kincaid in the AFC Championship game feels like fate.
29th Overall Pick - New Orleans Saints
Clark Phillips III || CB || Utah
Phillips is a true ballhawking corner that would mesh well opposite Marshon Lattimore. He’s not the biggest corner but finished his college career with 9 INTs and returned 4 of them for TD’s. This might seem high for Phillips but when the Saints fall in love with a player they usually pull the trigger quick, and with a defensive minded head coach like Dennis Allen there’s a lot to like about Clark Phillips.
30th Overall Pick - Philadelphia Eagles
Brian Branch || S || Alabama
Brian Branch has the potential to be a top 15 pick, and very well could be. Instead he becomes an instant fit with one of the best secondaries of 2022 that just lost a big time safety. The Eagles always seem to capitalize on being in a best player available scenario and this late 1st is just the same. Brian Branch can be a free willing playmaker here and has the IQ to instantly put up numbers in this defense.
31st Overall Pick - Kansas City Chiefs
Zay Flowers || WR || Boston College
Death, Taxes and mocking a first round wide receiver to the Chiefs. Zay Flowers is a shifty wideout who can play inside and out and would give Mahomes yet another weapon in the middle of the field. Flowers would step in immediately and fill the void left by Juju Smith-Schuster.
- Vincenzo Sciacqua & Ryan Mobley
Upside Play
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