Jason Bantle's 2023 NFL Mock Draft: Final Mock 2 Rounds

Round 2

Jason Bantle Last Updated: April 27, 2023.

32. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mazi Smith, DT, Pittsburgh
    
    
    Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin met with Mazi Smith multiple times. Pittsburgh drafts Mazi Smith as their new nose tackle. This gives Pittsburgh a defensive line with Cameron Heyward at 3-4 right end, Mazi Smith at 3-4 nose tackle, and DeMarvin Leal at 3-4 left end. Pittsburgh's interior can take pressure off of Alex Highsmith and T.J. Watt with this trio up front. Pittsburgh still needs an inside linebacker, left tackle, and strong safety.
    
    
    
33. Houston Texans: Brian Branch, CB, Alabama
    
    
    The Houston Texans get Brian Branch as a nickel cornerback in round 2. Houston would have Derek Stingley Jr., Steven Nelson, and Alabama nickel cornerback Brian Branch as their top three cornerbacks. It would extremely difficult for teams to throw on Houston with this trio of cornerbacks.
    
    
    
    
    
34. Arizona Cardinals: Tuli Tuipulotu, DE, USC
    
    
    Arizona already has Tyree Wilson, but they get an edge to compliment him. Tuli Tuipulotu would be a nice pickup here.
    
    
    
35. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Vorhees, G, USC
    
    
    Indianapolis gets Andrew Vorhees here. He has the highest upside among guards outside of O'Cyrus Torrence. Indianapolis can start him across from Quentin Nelson at right guard once he recovers from his ACL injury at the 2023 NFL Combine.
    
    
    
    
    
36. Los Angeles Rams: Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State
    
    
    The Los Angeles Rams draft Rob Havenstein's replacement at right tackle here. The Rams would actually save more by getting out of Havenstein's contract in 2024 with $2.5-million as compared to 2025 where the Rams would only save $2.3-million.
    
    
    
37. Seattle Seahawks: B.J. Ojulari, EDGE, LSU
    
    
    Seattle drafts LSU defensive end/outside linebacker B.J. Ojulari here. He might end up moving to inside linebacker because he has the body and size of a linebacker.
    
    
    
    
    
38. Las Vegas Raiders: Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
    
    
    The Las Vegas Raiders can trade up for a quarterback and still potentially get a number one cornerback in Deonte Banks here. Banks is my top cornerback on the board heading into the second round.
    
    
    
39. Carolina Panthers: Will McDonald IV, EDGE, Iowa State
    
    
    Carolina is moving from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense. Iowa State's defensive end Will McDonald IV may have the size of an outside linebacker despite playing defensive end in a 3-3-5 scheme.
    
    
    
    Will McDonald IV will be a day 1 starter for Carolina at one of two positions on the teams new defensive scheme. Will McDonald IV can play either 3-4 left end next to Derrick Brown at 3-4 right end and Shy Tuttle at nose tackle. The other option involves making Will McDonald IV a 3-4 left outside linebacker next to Brian Burns.
    
    
    
    
    
40. New Orleans Saints: Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss
    
    
    New Orleans could end up getting a number two target to Chris Olave. Jonathan Mingo is a guy that I'm expecting to go pretty high.
    
    
    
41. Tennessee Titans: Keeanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin
    
    
    Tennessee drafts Keeanu Benton as a 3-4 nose tackle. This gives the Titans Jeffrey Simmons at 3-4 right end, Keeanu Benton at nose tackle, and Denico Autry at 3-4 left end for this season.
    
    
    
    
    
42. Green Bay Packers: Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee
    
    
    Cleveland trading this pick for Elijah Moore led to the Jets moving this pick to Green Bay in the Aaron Rodgers trade. Cleveland is gonna feel really stupid when Jalin Hyatt ends up dropping to this pick. Meanwhile Green Bay will have Christian Watson, Jalin Hyatt, and Romeo Doubs moving to the slot as wide receiver targets for Jordan Love.
    
    
    
43. New York Jets: Joe Tippmann, C, Wisconsin
    
    
    Wisconsin center Joe Tippmann is my top center in the 2023 NFL Draft. New York now has Broderick Jones at left tackle, Laken Tomlinson at left guard, Joe Tippmann at center, Alijah Vera-Tucker at right guard, and Duane Brown at right tackle. With New York's offensive line finally taken care of, New York will have one of the leagues best offenses in 2023.
    
    
    
    
    
44. Atlanta Falcons: Jammie Robinson, S, Florida State
    
    
    This is a really weak safety class, but Atlanta gets someone to pair with Jessie Bates III. I got Brian Branch getting drafted as a corner, so the top safety off the board in this mock will be Florida State safety Jammie Robinson.
    
    
    
45. Green Bay Packers: Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa
    
    
    Green Bay grabs their starting tight end here. Sam LaPorta is the best tight end after the three first round prospects. With Robert Tonyan and Marcedes Lewis gone, Sam LaPorta would be a day 1 starter in Green Bay to take pressure off of the wide receiver trio of Christian Watson, Jalin Hyatt, and Romeo Doubs.
    
    
    
    
    
46. New England Patriots: Devon Achane, RB, Texas A&M
    
    
    New England lost Damien Harris. This would be a great opportunity for New England to reload their backfield here. Rhamondre Stevenson has his moments, but he's been New England's backup. Devon Achane feels like a potential upgrade here.
    
    
    
47. Washington Commanders: Matthew Bergeron, G, Syracuse
    
    
    Washington needs a starter at right guard. I have Syracuse offensive tackle Matthew Bergeron kicking inside to guard to compete with Sam Cosmi for Washington's right guard spot.
    
    
    
    
    
48. Detroit Lions: Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas
    
    
    Detroit can develop Drew Sanders for a few years while Alex Anzalone plays out his contract. Drew Sanders will be Detroit's starting middle linebacker the second Anzalone gets injured. Once Sanders starts, I got a feeling he becomes Detroit's new 4-3 middle linebacker.
    
    
    
49. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa
    
    
    Pittsburgh drafts a 3-4 middle linebacker here that can start right out of the gate. Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell is a guy who would help the Pittsburgh Steelers out after Pittsburgh moved on from Myles Jack, Robert Spillane, and Devin Bush.
    
    
    
    
    
50. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh
    
    
    After Jalen Carter, my second best defensive tackle is Calijah Kancey. He's got the body and size of a 3-4 defensive end. Tampa Bay would have Logan Hall at 3-4 right end, Vita Vea at 3-4 nose tackle, and Calijah Kancey at 3-4 left end. That's a great defensive line that takes pressure off of Tampa Bay's veteran linebackers.
    
    
    
51. Miami Dolphins: Tyrique Stevenson, CB, Miami FL
    
    
    Miami gets Tyrique Stevenson as a nickel cornerback to pair with Xavien Howard and Jalen Ramsey. It would be tough for every quarterback in the AFC East to throw against that trio of cornerbacks.
    
    
    
    
    
52. Seattle Seahawks: Braeden Daniels, G, Utah
    
    
    The Seattle Seahawks need a replacement to Gabe Jackson at right guard. Braden Daniels is my top guard on the board..
    
    
    li> Chicago Bears: Bryan Bresse, DT, Clemson
    
    
    Chicago gets a 4-3 defensive tackle here. Bryan Bresse is a great value pick at this point in the second round.
    
    
    
    
    
53. Los Angeles Chargers: Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, CB, TCU
    
    
    The Los Angeles Chargers blew a 27-0 lead to Jacksonville. Once J.C. Jackson was ruled out for the season, Los Angeles didn't have a third cornerback to go with Michael Davis and Asante Samuel Jr. Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson gives the Chargers a cornerback for insurance to make sure the Chargers no longer Charger in playoff games.
    
    
    
54. Detroit Lions: Cedric Tillman, WR, Tennessee
    
    
    Cedric Tillman is one of two second round wide receivers that is a great value pick here. With Jameson Williams missing the first six games of 2023 due to gambling, I'm beginning to think he won't get a fifth year tender unless he breaks out in year three. Detroit might draft a guy on day 2 and if he pans out, it makes Williams expendable once Detroit decides to pay Amon-Ra St. Brown.
    
    
    
    
    
55. Jacksonville Jaguars: Marvin Mims Jr., WR, Oklahoma
    
    
    Jacksonville gets a wide receiver to replace Marvin Jones. Oklahoma wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. could be Jacksonville's eventual slot receiver down the road in a similar role to former Oklahoma wide receiver Sterling Shepard whose now on the New York Giants.
    
    
    
56. New York Giants: John Michael Schmitz, C, Minnesota
    
    
    New York needs multiple centers. John Michael Schmitz is the consensus top center in the 2023 NFL Draft on most boards, so New York gets him late in the second round.
    
    
    
    
    
57. Dallas Cowboys: Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson
    
    
    Dallas gets Trenton Simpson in round two. Some have a first round grade on him, and he could be an eventual replacement at 4-3 middle linebacker to Leighton Vander Esch, whose effective when healthy, but also extremely injury prone. Dallas gave Leighton Vander Esch a two year extension following his rookie deal with Dallas.
    
    
    
58. Buffalo Bills: Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina
    
    
    Buffalo is rumored to be interested in North Carolina wide receiver Josh Downs. Once Gabriel Davis walks after next season, Buffalo will move Khalil Shakir into a number two receiver role while Josh Downs takes over at slot receiver. Josh Allen and Stephon Diggs would still be the faces of the Buffalo Bills offense. There wouldn't be any drop off in play as the inconsistent Gabriel Davis will no longer be a Buffalo Bills wide receiver at the end of his rookie deal.
    
    
    
    
    
59. Cincinnati Bengals: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama
    
    
    Jahmyr Gibbs could pick up right where Joe Mixon left off if the Bengals move on from Mixon to save cap space. At the very worst, Gibbs is an excellent replacement for Samaje Perine this late in the second round.
    
    
    
60. Chicago Bears: Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State
    
    
    Chicago may not want to pay tight end Cole Kmet once his rookie deal is up. Chicago reloads and takes the best tight end on the board late in the second round.
    
    
    
    
    
61. Philadelphia Eagles: Adetomiwa Adebawore, DT, Northwestern
    
    
    Philadelphia can develop Adetomiwa Adebawore as a successor to Fletcher Cox. He will eventually start next to Jordan Davis, but he'll bulk up and be the understudy to Fletcher Cox for a year or two before starting in 2024 or 2025.
    
    
    
62. Kansas City Chiefs: Jaelyn Duncan, OT, Maryland
    
    
    Kansas City will miss Orlando Brown Jr. Jaelyn Duncan had second round tape despite whiffing on blocks during practice at the 2023 Reese's Senior Bowl. There's a possibility signing Jawaan Taylor to a four year deal doesn't work out. Jaelyn Duncan would be the insurance plan if Taylor doesn't work out at left tackle.