Tony Mario's 2023 NFL Mock Draft: Final Mock 7 Rounds

Round 2

Tony Mario Last Updated: April 26, 2023.

32. Pittsburgh Steelers: Anton Harrison, LT, Oklahoma
    
    
    Pittsburgh grabs their blindside with Chicago's pick. Anton Harrison gives quarterback Kenny Pickett and running back Najee Harris a left tackle those two first round picks can depend on. In most years thirty two is a first round pick, but the NFL stripped Miami of their first round pick. That means only thirty one NFL teams pick in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
    
    
    
    Pittsburgh's offensive line now has Anton Harrison at left tackle, Isaac Seumalo at left guard, Mason Cole at center, James Daniels at right guard, and Chukwuma Okorafor at right tackle. Kenny Pickett will have much better pass protection while this group will do a much better job run blocking for Najee Harris with Anton Harrison joining Pittsburgh.
    
    
    
33. Houston Texans: Isaiah Foskey, LE, Notre Dame
    
    
    The Houston Texans have Jerry Hughes at 4-3 right end, Jonathan Greenard at 4-3 left end, and signed Chase Winovich to a one year deal to replace Mario Addison. All three of those edge rushers are in contract years. Isaiah Foskey can start out as a backup to Jonathan Greenard and potentially start at 4-3 left end as early as 2024. Isaiah Foskey and Caleb Murphy were the only players outside of Will Anderson Jr. to have 10 sacks in each of the last two seasons.
    
    
    
    
    
34. Arizona Cardinals: Gervon Dexter, DT, Florida
    
    
    Arizona gets a new 4-3 defensive tackle here. Both of Arizona's current starters at 4-3 defensive tackle, Rashard Lawrence and Leki Fotu, who are from the 2020 NFL Draft enter contract years.
    
    
    
    Gervon Dexter has warrants being picked this early in the second round. Getting another chess piece on the defensive line with Will Anderson Jr. will only elevate this defensive line. I believe Dexter is skilled and talented enough to beat out both Lawrence and Fotu for the top defensive tackle spot on Arizona's depth chart.
    
    
    
35. Indianapolis Colts: Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah
    
    
    Indianapolis has one top 5 cornerback on Pro Football Focus in Isaiah Rodgers. Kenny Moore, the Colts nickel cornerback, stunk last year and Stephon Gilmore got traded to Dallas. Indianapolis has to use this second round pick on a cornerback, otherwise Trevor Lawrence, Ryan Tannehill, and the rookie quarterback Houston drafts at 2 whether it ends up being C.J. Stroud or Bryce Young will tear this Indianapolis Colts cornerback room a new asshole. The only way the Colts would dodge any bullets in the AFC South is if Houston took Will Anderson Jr. second overall.
    
    
    
    Clark Phillips III is elite in man coverage. He will be able to lock down wide receivers when playing man coverage. His zone and press needs work, but Indianapolis can mask this by starting Clark Phillips III out in a nickel role while developing his zone and press coverage. Clark Phillips III can be special if he gets his zone and press coverage up there with his man coverage.
    
    
    
    
    
36. Los Angeles Rams: Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
    
    
    The Los Angeles Rams cornerback room was dreadful last year. The biggest cap casualty Jalen Ramsey is gone.
    
    
    
    One cornerback who may creep into the first round is Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks. Banks is elite with man, zone, and press coverage. Banks could come in and supplant Robert Rochelle, Derrion Kendrick, and Decobie Durant to be the Los Angeles Rams number one cornerback right out of the gate.
    
    
    
    The Rams ended up losing Jalen Ramsey, David Long Jr., Troy Hill, and Grant Haley. With the amount of cornerbacks, the Rams lost, spending this second round pick on the best player available even if happens to be a cornerback is paramount.
    
    
    
37. Seattle Seahawks: Keion White, 3-4 LE, Georgia Tech
    
    
    Seattle signed Dre'Mont Jones to a 3-year deal at 3-4 right end and Jarran Reed to a 2-year deal at 3-4 left end. Seattle can save $3.47-million in 2024 by cutting Jarran Reed. Seattle can develop Keion White for a year before he takes over for Jarran Reed in 2024.
    
    
    
    
    
38. Las Vegas Raiders: Antonio Johnson, SS, Texas A&M
    
    
    The Las Vegas Raiders draft a nickel cornerback/safety for depth here. Las Vegas has Nate Hobbs as their number one cornerback, Brandon Facyson as their number two cornerback, Amik Robertson at nickel cornerback, Marcus Epps at strong safety, and Trevon Moehrig at free safety. Antonio Johnson gives the Raiders depth to their secondary at cornerback, strong safety, and free safety.
    
    
    
39. Carolina Panthers: John Michael Schmitz, C, Minnesota
    
    
    Carolina let starting center Pat Elflein walk while extending backup center Bradley Bozeman who started following Elflein's season ending injury. Minnesota center John Michael Schmitz is the best center in the 2023 NFL Draft.
    
    
    
    Carolina's offensive line would have Ikem Ekwonu at left tackle, Brady Christensen recovered from his week 18 injury at left guard, John Michael Schmitz at center, Bradley Bozeman could play right guard while Austin Corbett recovers from his torn ACL in 2023, and Taylor Moton would play right tackle.
    
    
    
    
    
40. New Orleans Saints: B.J. Ojulari, LOLB, LSU
    
    
    New Orleans bring in B.J. Ojulari. He can replace Kaden Elliss as the New Orleans Saints 4-3 left outside linebacker. He could play 4-3 defensive end too, but New Orleans has first round picks Payton Turner and Cameron Jordan. B.J. Ojuarli weighs around 235 lbs and while LSU's edge rusher may have the skill set to play 4-3 defensive end, he certainly lacks the size making him a better fit for a 4-3 left outside linebacker role.
    
    
    
41. Tennessee Titans: Cedric Tillman, WR, Tennessee
    
    
    Tennessee drafts a wide receiver to pair with Treylon Burks. Cedric Tillman would be a good number two wide receiver for Tennessee. This also allows last years rookie wide receiver Kyle Phillips to play in the slot.
    
    
    
    
    
42. Green Bay Packers: Calijah Kancey, 3-4 LE, Pittsburgh
    
    
    The Green Bay Packers lost Dean Lowry and Jarran Reed. However, they now have Devonte Wyatt at 3-4 right end, Kenny Clark at nose tackle, and Calijah Kancey who some have a first round grade on as a 3-4 left end. This fixes Green Bay's 3-4 defensive line.
    
    
    
43. New York Jets: Drew Sanders, MLB, Arkansas
    
    
    Drew Sanders will sit behind C.J. Mosley for a year or two. Drew Sanders can take over in 2024 if C.J. Moseley gets injured in 2023.
    
    
    
    
    
44. Atlanta Falcons: Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee
    
    
    I'm not completely sold on Desmond Ridder or Taylor Heinicke despite the fact that Arthur Blank and Arthur Smith are. Hendon Hooker has better deep ball accuracy than both quarterbacks despite being 25-years-old.
    
    
    
45. Green Bay Packers: Felix Anudike-Uzomah, 3-4 ROLB, Kansas State
    
    
    Green Bay Packers 3-4 right outside linebacker Preston Smith turns 31-years-old in November. Green Bay Packers 3-4 left outside linebacker Rashan Gary is an unrestricted Free Agent in 2024. Kingsley Engabare Green Bay's 2022 draft pick out of South Carolina started a few games in relief of Gary, but one more edge rusher to push Engabare for playing time is needed. The bottom line is Green Bay will likely either have to cut Preston Jones in 2024 to save cap space or let Rashan Gary walk. Cutting Preston Smith in 2024 will save $2,519,000 in cap space. Essentially Green Bay can draft Felix Anudike-Uzomah and groom him for a year or two before replacing Preston Smith with Felix Anudike-Uzomah since moving on from Smith saves cap space.
    
    
    
    
    
46. New England Patriots: Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU
    
    
    New England has JuJu Smith-Schuster and Tyquan Thornton under contract for the next three years. Every other wide receiver enters a contract year. None of New England's receivers in contract years impressed me enough to warrant an extension.
    
    
    
    DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne, Ty Montgomery, and Matthew Slater are all unrestricted Free Agents in 2024. New England can draft Kayshon Boutte here and either develop him or stash him as a potential slot receiver for 2024 after redshirting him in 2023.
    
    
    
47. Washington Commanders: Dawand Jones, RT, Ohio State
    
    
    Washington currently has Charles Leno Jr. at left tackle, Andrew Norwell at left guard, Chase Roullier coming back from a season ending injury at center, Washington Commanders right tackle Sam Cosmi moving inside to right guard, and Andrew Wylie joining offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy in the nations capital at right tackle. Wylie is an effective right tackle, but he feels like a stop gap compared to someone like Ohio State right tackle Dawand Jones.
    
    
    
    Dawand Jones is the best player on my board midway through the second round. Jones held his own against edge rushers in Mobile despite his massive 375 lb frame. Part of that is due to his 36 inch arms which are the longest among offensive linemen in the 2023 NFL Draft. His foot speed is exceptional for someone over 370 lbs and he has very light feet rather than heavy feet.
    
    
    
    Washington can patiently develop Ohio State right tackle Dawand Jones. Jones is good enough to start on day 1, but Washington can have Dawand Jones lose some weight while Andrew Wylie starts at right tackle in 2023. The very second Wylie suffers a season ending injury, Dawand Jones will get a chance to play at right tackle and he won't give the right tackle job back to Andrew Wylie.
    
    
    
    Washington can save $1,313,331 in 2024 if they cut Andrew Wylie after the first year of his three year contract. Washington can save $7,480,000 if they cut Andrew Wylie after the second year of his three year contract in 2025.
    
    
    
    Drafting a sure fire second round talent at right tackle like Dawand Jones is smart. What's even smarter is letting the 6-8 375 lb right tackle get settled in by having him lose some weight rather than rushing him out by starting him in week 1. Dawand Jones is good enough to start right out of the gate. He could develop into a Pro Bowl caliber right tackle he goes to a team where he can develop for a year or two and get down to 330 or 335 lbs rather than staying at 375 and starting in week 1. The Washington Commanders are a team that can really get the most out of Dawand Jones which is the biggest reason I mocked him here.
    
    
    
    
    
48. Detroit Lions: Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State
    
    
    Detroit gets a day 1 starter at tight end. Luke Musgrave would be a perfect replacement to T.J. Hockenson. He's a great pass catching tight end that's improved tremendously as a blocker. Training with Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid before the 2023 NFL Draft has really helped him. Brock Wright and James Mitchell are okay, but Luke Musgrave gives you a pass catching tight end that could end up being a big star in the NFL down the road.
    
    
    
49. Pittsburgh Steelers: JL Skinner, SS, Boise State
    
    
    Pittsburgh drafts a strong safety here. Keanu Neal is a journeyman and he didn't even start on my favorite NFL team last year when being on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. JL Skinner would beat out Keanu Neal for the strong safety job next to Minkah Fitzpatrick.
    
    
    
    
    
50. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tuli Tuipulotu, 3-4 LE, USC
    
    
    Logan Hall is Tampa Bay's long-term starter at 3-4 right end for the remainder of his rookie deal, Vita Vea got extended at 3-4 nose tackle after being Tampa Bay's 2018 first round pick out of Washington. Tampa Bay signed 3-4 nose tackle Greg Gaines who played at Washington with Vita Vea as a backup to Vea and re-signed backup 3-4 left end Deadrin Senat.
    
    
    
    Tuli Tuipulotu provides competition for Deadrin Senat. Tuli Tuipulotu could start in week 1 and would start by 2024 at the very freaking latest.
    
    
    
51. Miami Dolphins: Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
    
    
    Miami lost their starting tight end Mike Gesicki. Even though backup tight end Durham Smythe is under contract for three more years, Miami can upgrade at that position. Darnell Washington would be the day 1 starter for the Miami Dolphins at tight end.
    
    
    
    
    
52. Seattle Seahawks: Sydney Brown, SS, Illinois
    
    
    The Seattle Seahawks get their replacement to Ryan Neal, the backup strong safety that came in for Jamal Agnew. Sydney Brown will be able to ease his way into Seattle. Jamal Adams, Quandre Diggs, and Julian Love all have two years left on their contract and Seattle can cut any of those three in 2024 to save cap space. Brown will enter this year as Ryan Neal's replacement, but could be starting at either strong safety or free safety in 2024.
    
    
    li> Chicago Bears: Cody Mauch, RT, North Dakota State
    
    
    Chicago gets their bookend to left tackle Braxton Miller. North Dakota State offensive tackle Cody Mauch is a safe bet to be a day 1 starter at right tackle.
    
    
    
    
    
53. Los Angeles Chargers: Warren McClendon, RT, Georgia
    
    
    The Los Angeles Chargers can develop Warren McClendon for a few years. Rashawn Slater will play left tackle, Jamaree Salyer will move inside to left guard replacing Matt Feiler, Cory Linsley will play center, Zion Johnson enters year two at right guard, and Trey Pipkins at right tackle. By the time the Chargers need Warren McClendon to start in 2025, he will have gained enough muscle and improved his footwork enough to be a bookend to Rashawn Slater by the time that Slater needs to be extended.
    
    
    
54. Detroit Lions: Joe Tippmann, C, Wisconsin
    
    
    Wisconsin center Joe Tippmann played left tackle in High School before converting to center at Wisconsin. This tells me that Tippmann can play multiple positions on the offensive line in the NFL whether it be left tackle, left guard, or center. Detroit will draft an offensive lineman at some point and Joe Tippmann is the best offensive lineman on the board.
    
    
    
    Detroit Lions left tackle Taylor Decker is under contract until 2025, Detroit Lions right tackle Penei Sewell is on his rookie deal until 2026, and Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow is under contract until 2027 with the option to opt out of that contract as early as 2025. My best educated guess is that Detroit will cut Ragnow to keep both Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell after both offensive tackles stayed healthy in 2022.
    
    
    
    Detroit can keep Frank Ragnow under contract until 2025. This means Detroit would have two years to develop Wisconsin center Joe Tippmann. It's also possible that the Wisconsin center slides inside to left guard when Jonah Jackson's rookie deal is up since he played left tackle in High School before converting to center. That's what Landon Dickerson did when the Alabama center got drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round two years ago in 2021.
    
    
    
    
    
55. Jacksonville Jaguars: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
    
    
    Jacksonville gets a tight end to groom behind Evan Engram for a year. If Dalton Kincaid falls to the second round, Jacksonville has to pick him and groom him for the future.
    
    
    
56. New York Giants: Jaelyn Duncan, C, Maryland
    
    
    Maryland left tackle Jaelyn Duncan played left tackle, center, and right tackle at Maryland. With New York losing their starting center Jon Feliciano and their backup center Nick Gates, New York drafts Maryland's offensive tackle and converts him to center. Duncan in the first two rounds is a reach if you draft him as an offensive tackle since he whiffed on his blocks in one-on-ones in Mobile. In Duncan's defense, if he went to a team like the New York Giants that needed a day 1 starter at center, he'd be an instant success there.
    
    
    
    
    
57. Dallas Cowboys: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama
    
    
    Dallas gets a running back to compliment Tony Pollard. Jahmyr Gibbs has enough upside to start over Pollard, but he will start out as the number two running back. If Tony Pollard gets injured once, Gibbs will claim the starting running back job in Dallas and won't give it back.
    
    
    
58. Buffalo Bills: Steve Avila, LG, TCU
    
    
    Buffalo signed Connor McGovern from Dallas and David Edwards from the Los Angeles Rams. Buffalo is gonna take Steve Avila can play both left guard and center.
    
    
    
    
    
59. Cincinnati Bengals: Brandon Joseph, SS, Notre Dame
    
    
    Cincinnati gave Los Angeles Rams strong safety Nick Scott a three year deal while Cincinnati Bengals 2022 first round pick Daxton Hill is set to take over for Jessie Bates III at free safety for the next three years. It's possible Daxton Hill is on Cincinnati for four years if he gets extended.
    
    
    
    Brandon Joseph is the best zone coverage safety on film. He needs to work on everything else. Going to Cincinnati allows Joseph to learn on the Cincinnati Bengals playbook for a year or two and then take over for Nick Scott.
    
    
    
    Cincinnati can release Nick Scott after one year of his three year deal in 2024 and save $2.3-million. Cincinnati can release Nick Scott after two years of his three year deal and save $4.3-million in cap space.
    
    
    
60. Chicago Bears: Noah Sewell, MLB, Oregon
    
    
    Chicago gave Tremaine Edmunds a four year contract. However Chicago can get out of Edmunds contract as early as 2024 saving $225,000 in cap space if Chicago moves on from Edmunds after one year. For this reason, Chicago drafts Oregon middle linebacker Noah Sewell and develops him behind Noah Sewell for the future.
    
    
    
    If Justin Fields puts everything together he will get extended. Chicago negotiated Edmunds contract, so they can move him after 2024, 2025, or 2026.
    
    
    
    This is a great situation for Noah Sewell, the younger brother of Detroit Lions right tackle Penei Sewell. Sewell can come in and learn the Chicago Bears playbook for a year or two. He will be Chicago's replacement for Tremaine Edmunds as early as 2024 and as late as 2026 with a realistic projection to start by 2025.
    
    
    
    
    
61. Philadelphia Eagles: Henry To'Oto'O, MLB, Alabama
    
    
    Philadelphia drafts a 4-3 middle linebacker to compete with Nakobe Dean for the 4-3 middle linebacker job. Henry To'Oto'O is arguably the most intelligent middle linebacker in this draft in terms of football IQ. If Nakobe Dean's medicals from the 2022 NFL Combine are serious, Henry To'Oto'O is a nice insurance plan.
    
    
    
62. Kansas City Chiefs: Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
    
    
    Kansas City should draft a cornerback in the first two rounds if a good one falls to 31 or 63. The reason I say that is because L'Jarius Sneed is in the final year of his rookie deal. Joshua Williams and Jaylen Watson can compete for the nickel cornerback job with Nazeeh Johnson playing quarter cornerback as the number five cornerback in quarters packages, with the cornerback that Kansas City drafts complimenting Trent McDuffie for the next three years at cornerback as early as 2024.
    
    
    
    Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes is the best player on the board. Next season Kansas City will have Trent McDuffie covering number one wide receivers, L'Jarius Sneed covering number two wide receivers, Emmanuel Forbes covering slot receivers at nickel cornerback, Joshua Williams covering number four receivers in a four wide receiver set at dime cornerback, Jaylen Watson as a number five cornerback in prevent packages to combat hail mary passes, and Nazeeh Johnson as the backup nickel cornerback. Kansas City would have even more depth at cornerback in 2023 than they did in 2022 when the Chiefs won Super Bowl 57 if they drafted a cornerback.
    
    
    
    Emmanuel Forbes is amazing in both man and zone coverage. By 2024, Kansas City will have Trent McDuffie covering number one wide receivers, Emmanuel Forbes covering number two wide receivers as the replacement to L'Jarius Sneed, Joshua Williams at nickel cornerback covering slot receivers, Jaylen Watson covering number four wide receivers as a dime cornerback in four wide receiver sets, and Nazeeh Johnson will be playing in prevent packages as the quarter cornerback against number five wide receivers on hail mary plays. Nazeeh Johnson might be an ERFA in 2024, but he'll also be an RFA in 2025 before he's a UFA in 2026.