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

Round 5

Tony Mario Last Updated: April 26, 2023.

136. Chicago Bears: Darius Rush, CB, South Carolina
     
     
     Chicago gets a cornerback with 2020 draft picks Jaylon Johnson and Kindle Vildor in contract years. Darius Rush is better in man and zone coverage than Vildor. His press coverage is good, but not great.
     
     
     
     Chicago can develop Darius Rush's press coverage for a year in 2023. He might be capable of of complimenting Kyler Gordon as a number two cornerback in 2024 if Chicago lets Jaylon Johnson walk. It's also possible that Rush becomes Chicago's number one cornerback in 2024 if Kyler Gordon struggles again after struggling some during his rookie season. Ryan Poles didn't want to pay Roquan Smith, and when Roquan got traded, Johnson felt more pressure on himself to be the leader of Chicago's defense. Jaylon Johnson was effective in 2022, but not as dominant as he was during his second season in 2021 after transitioning from number two to number one cornerback.
     
     
     
     
     
137. Buffalo Bills: Isaiah Land, LOLB, Florida A&M
     
     
     
     Buffalo may run more of a 4-3 defense rather than a nickel defense in 2023. The reason I say that is because Sean McDermott ran a 4-3 defense in Carolina while Leslie Frazier ran a combination of 4-3 and nickel plays. Frazier stepped away from Buffalo in 2023.
     
     
     
     Isaiah Land would compete with Terrell Bernard for a 4-3 left outside linebacker job right out of the gate if Buffalo reverts to a 4-3 defense. If Buffalo goes with a nickel defense once again, these guys are competing to be Matt Milano's backup. Either way, Buffalo improves their depth at outside linebacker in the fifth round.
     
     
     
138. Indianapolis Colts: Kendre Miller, RB, TCU
     
     
     Indianapolis gets another running back for depth. Jonathan Taylor and Zack Moss enter contract years. Kendre Miller is a great replacement to Nyheim Hines. Miller can be a third string running back for Indianapolis as well as a special teams ace right out of the gate for the Colts.
     
     
     
     
     
139. Denver Broncos: Carrington Valentine, CB, Kentucky
     
     
     Denver gets a nickel cornerback here to replace Ronald Darby. Patrick Surtain II and Damari Mathis are a good duo. Carrington Valentine would make a solid nickel cornerback here.
     
     
     
140. Cleveland Browns: Kei'Trel Clark, CB, Louisville
     
     
     Cleveland drafts another cornerback for depth to replace Greedy Williams. Kei'Trel Clark could go as early as the third round and as late as the seventh if he gets drafted. He's great at moving his hips and pinpointing the football with his eyes. Despite having the basic fundamentals down, he still needs to improve his man, zone, and press if he wants to be an NFL starter. Kei'Trel Clark's coverage is neither a strength or weakness at this point despite having the football IQ, vision, and athleticism you want an NFL corner to have. Kei'Trel Clark led Louisville in interceptions in 2021 with 3. He also played in the 2023 East West Shrine Bowl.
     
     
     
     
     
141. Las Vegas Raiders: Byron Young, ROLB, Tennessee
     
     
     The Las Vegas Raiders draft Byron Young here. He's got the body of an outside linebacker, but lined up as a defensive end and 3-4 outside linebacker for Tennessee. Las Vegas can use Byron Young as a depth player at both 4-3 right end behind Chandler Jones and 4-3 right outside linebacker behind Divine Deablo.
     
     
     
142. Cleveland Browns: Rashad Torrence, SS, Florida
     
     
     Cleveland drafts a strong safety for depth here. Rashad Torrence played strong safety at Florida. With Grant Delpit at strong safety and Juan Thornhill at free safety, Torrence can learn under Delpit for a year before taking over in 2024.
     
     
     
     
     
143. New York Jets: Nathaniel Dell, WR, Houston
     
     
     New York drafts another wide receiver for depth for their quarterback to throw to. New York already has Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard, Corey Davis, and Denzel Mims. Davis and Mims enter contract years. Dell can play special teams as a rookie and then become the New York Jets slot receiver in 2024.
     
     
     
     Some have Nathaniel Dell going in day 2. That's crazy because he still needs to add some muscle while filling out his frame.
     
     
     
144. Las Vegas Raiders: Bryce-Ford Wheaton, WR, West Virginia
     
     
     Las Vegas has four quality receivers with Davante Adams, Hunter Renfrow, Jakobi Meyers, and Phillip Dorsett. Deandre Carter is an okay number five guy when healthy, but he suffered a season ending injury in 2022. Bryce-Ford Wheaton is a big receiver with a good 40 time that dropped a lot of balls on tape. He's raw, but has enough upside to develop into a number two next to Davante Adams if you can eliminate the drops. He's also a two year project and won't be ready until 2025 which is why a team like the Las Vegas Raiders is a perfect fit for Bryce-Ford Wheaton in the fifth round.
     
     
     
     
     
145. Carolina Panthers: Ja'von Hicks, FS, Cincinnati
     
     
     Carolina has free safety Xavier Woods and Jeremy Chinn, their 2020 second round pick in contract years next to strong safety Von Bell. Carolina will reload and add another free safety for depth with Cincinnati free safety Ja'von Hicks.
     
     
     
146. New Orleans Saints: Ronnie Hickman, SS, Ohio State
     
     
     New Orleans gets a strong safety for depth to replace Daniel Sorensen at strong safety with both Tyrann Mathieu and Marcus Maye under contract for two more years. This is where Ohio State safety Ronnie Hickman comes into play.
     
     
     
     
     
147. Tennessee Titans: Cameron Mitchell, CB, Northwestern
     
     
     Tennessee needs to continue to reload at cornerback. Kristian Fulton started out at as a number two cornerback as a rookie beforfe a strong 2021 season where he emerged as a number one corner. Fulton missed six games in 2022 before returning in week 18 finishing the season ranked 63/118 cornerbacks on Pro Football Focus. Caleb Farley, Tennessee's 2021 first round pick dealt with a season ending injury for the second year in a row. Tennessee's 2022 second round pick Roger McCreary ranked 69/118 cornerbacks on Pro Football Focus. You can honestly argue that Tennessee's cornerbacks are just as big of a liability as their offensive line with their offensive line needing four new starters. This along with the fact that Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry enter contract years is why the Titans should start their rebuild now so Tennessee is in a position to contend when their new indoor stadium opens in 2027.
     
     
     
148. Chicago Bears: Trey Dean III, FS, Florida
     
     
     Chicago gets a backup free safety for Eddie Jackson. Chicago's 2017 fourth round pick out of Alabama is currently 29 and will be 30-years-old when the 2024 season rolls around. Also, Chicago can release Eddie Jackson and save $12,560,000 in cap space next year in 2024.
     
     
     
     Eddie Jackson ranked 13 out of 88 safeties on Pro Football Focus in 2022. The downside is he suffered a season ending injury against the New York Jets. Once Eddie Jackson went down, Chicago's secondary suffered with no depth behind Jackson.
     
     
     
     If Eddie Jackson stays healthy and plays that well in 2023, you obviously want to consider extending him while keeping Trey Dean III as your backup. If Jackson gets injured again or regresses, then Chicago can focus on extending players like Darnell Mooney, Cole Kmet, or Jaylon Johnson from the 2020 NFL Draft instead of Eddie Jackson. Among that group of players, the only guys of those four to rank in the top twenty on Pro Football Focus were tight end Cole Kmet and free safety Eddie Jackson.
     
     
     
     
     
149. Green Bay Packers: Zack Kuntz, TE, Old Dominon
     
     
     Green Bay gets a the tight end with the highest relative athletic score of All Time dating back to 1987 as a replacement to Robert Tonyan Jr. at tight end. Zack Kuntz is a guy most project as a tight end with backup potential. Kuntz dealt with injuries in 2022, but was effective when healthy in 2021.
     
     
     
     Zack Kuntz looked like his old self from 2021 in Mobile. I can see Zack Kuntz being an instant impact player and a day 3 draft steal for a team like the Green Bay Packers if they wait to draft a tight end until day three.
     
     
     
150. Washington Commanders: Dorian Williams, MLB, Tulane
     
     
     Washington has Jamin Davis at 4-3 right outside linebacker. Dorian Williams would replace Cole Holcolmb at 4-3 middle linebacker giving Washington a potential day 1 starter in the fifth round.
     
     
     
     
     
151. Seattle Seahawks: Chase Brown, RB, Illinois
     
     The Seattle Seahawks get Rashaad Penny's replacement here as well as a quality change of pace running back behind Kenneth Walker III. Illinois running back Chase Brown would make a superb addition for Seattle. With him, Seattle can run the ball at will while mixing things up for quarterback Geno Smith as long as both Kenneth Walker III and Chase Brown are healthy.
     
     
     
152. Detroit Lions: Tank Bigsby, RB, Auburn
     
     
     The Detroit Lions can redshirt Tank Bigsby this year while teaching him how to improve his ball carrier vision and pass blocking. If Detroit moves on from D'Andre Swift, he could be a change of pace running back to David Montgomery down the road.
     
     
     
     
     
153. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Chandler Zavala, LG, North Carolina State
     
     
     Tampa Bay has Tristan Wirfs at left tackle, Matt Feiler at left guard, Ryan Jensen at center, Aaron Stinnie back from injured reserve replacing Shaq Mason at right guard, and Darnell Wright at right tackle. Luke Goedeke cannot start again next year after having a 2.4 pass blocking rating on Pro Football Focus. Chandler Zavala is a guy who can push Goedeke for the backup left guard job. Chandler Zavala had the highest relative athletic score among guards in the 2023 NFL Draft.
     
     
     
154. Seattle Seahawks: Ryan Hayes, LT, Michigan
     
     
     The Seattle Seahawks get a swing tackle to Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas. Both tackles from the 2022 NFL Draft were great as rookies. Now Seattle gets a third offensive tackle for depth in case one of those two gets injured.
     
     
     
     
     
155. San Francisco 49ers: Michael Wilson, WR, Stanford
     
     
     San Francisco uses this pick from Miami in the Trey Lance trade to get a slot receiver. Jauan Jennings regressed to the point where he needs to be replaced unless he can win out the slot receiver job over second year wide receiver Danny Gay and Stanford wide receiver Michael Wilson. San Francisco 49ers GM John Lynch is due to draft someone from his alma matter at some point.
     
     
     
156. Los Angeles Chargers: DeMarcco Hellams, FS, Alabama
     
     
     The Los Angeles Chargers bring in competiton for 2022 third round pick J.T. Woods with Nasir Adderley's unexpected retirement. DeMarco Hellams would provide competiton for J.T. Woods as well as a really good backup safety to both Derwin James and J.T. Woods if he can't beat out Woods for the free safety job in training camp since Hellams played both strong safety and free safety at Alabama.
     
     
     
     
     
157. Baltimore Ravens: SirVocea Dennis, 3-4 MLB, Pittsburgh
     
     
     The Baltimore Ravens draft a 3-4 middle linebacker for depth. Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen should remain the starters for the next two seasons. Baltimore got rid of Josh Bynes and Malik Harrison, Baltimore's 2020 second round pick enters a contract year. Drafting someone like SirVocea Dennis as a backup to Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen could pay off for the Baltimore Ravens.
     
     
     
158. Minnesota Vikings: Luke Wypler, C, Ohio State
     
     
     Minnesota drafts a center for depth here behind Garrett Bradbury. There is no dead cap on Garrett Bradbury's contract in 2024 because Minnesota's GM transferred the dead cap in the contract to the 2023 and 2025 years when giving Bradbury a three year extension as the former Browns understudy to Andrew Berry created a dead cap sandwich. Some have Luke Wypler in the top 100 ad if he gets to the fifth round, Minnesota has to pull the trigger despite how raw sophomore redshirt Luke Wypler is on film.
     
     
     
     
     
159. Detroit Lions: Jay Ward, FS, LSU
     
     
     Detroit got this pick from Atlanta and this pick originally belonged to Jacksonville before Jacksonville traded this pick to Atlanta for Calvin Ridley. Atlanta didn't want this pick either, so they moved this pick from the Ridley trade to Detroit for Jeffrey Okudah. Detroit adds a defensive back that can play both cornerback and safety for depth on the secondary. Jay Ward is a good value pick for Detroit.
     
     
     
160. New York Giants: Mike Morris, 3-4 LE, Michigan
     
     
     New York has everyone on their defensive line back with Leonard Williams at 3-4 right end, Dexter Lawrence at 3-4 nose tackle, and Jihad Ward at 3-4 left end. Kayvon Thibodeaux and Azeez Ojulari are the 3-4 outside linebackers. Bobby Okerke compliments Jarrad Davis at 3-4 middle linebacker. Mike Morris gives New York a second five technique for depth along with Rakeem Nunez-Roches with Rakeem Nunez-Roches as the backup 3-4 right end and Mike Morris as the backup 3-4 left end.
     
     
     
     
     
161. Houston Texans: Olusegun Oluwaitimi, C, Michigan
     
     
     Houston gets their starting center in the fifth round by selecting this years Rimington Award Winner out of Michigan. Houston's offensive line now has Laremy Tunsil at left tackle, Kenyon Green at left guard, Olusegun Oluwaitimi at center, Shaq Mason at right guard, and Tytus Howard at right tackle. Houston drafted Braeden Daniels as a swing guard in the third round as someone to develop behind Mason before taking Olusegun Oluwaitimi securing a starting center in the fifth round.
     
     
     
162. Indianapolis Colts: Brandon Hill, SS, Pittsburgh
     
     
     Indianapolis has Nick Cross and Rodney Thomas the two safeties from the 2022 NFL Draft competing for the right to play strong safety next to free safety Julian Blackmon. Julian Blackmon enters a contract year and Brandon Hill lined up at both safety roles against West Virginia giving the Colts a third safety to compete with Cross and Thomas for the starting safety job across from Blackmon.
     
     
     
     
     
163. Cincinnati Bengals: Karl Brooks, DT, Bowling Green
     
     
     Cincinnati might draft a defensive tackle for depth. D.J. Reader is in a contract year. Cincinnati can release B.J. Hill to save $7.5-million and use that money to extend Reader, Tee Higgins, Logan Wilson, or Akeem Davis-Gaither since their rookie deals expire next season in 2023. Zachary Carter is a good backup defensive tackle still on a rookie deal. However, Karl Brooks is a sack artist that can line up at edge rusher or defensive tackle. Cincinnati drafts Karl Brooks who had 10 sacks at Bowling Green as a defensive tackle since he's 6-3 300.
     
     
     
164. San Francisco 49ers: Ricky Stromberg, C, Arkansas
     
     
     San Francisco drafts a center here. Jake Brendel go a four year extension, but his contract is team friendly. San Francisco can release Brendel after the 2023 season and save $1,464,000 in cap space in 2024. Also backup center Jon Feliciano is on a one year deal. San Francisco can develop Ricky Stromberg for a year as a third string center and then give him a bigger role as the backup center or starting center if Jake Brendel regresses immensely. The most realistic scenario is Stromberg gets a year to develop, gets promoted to second string in year two and starts by year three once 2025 approaches.
     
     
     
     
     
165. New Orleans Saints: Sean Tucker, RB, Syracuse
     
     
     The New Orleans Saints have Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams under contract for the next three years. New Orleans can get out of Alvin Kamara's contract in 2024 if he's found guilty during his trial and gets suspended for the entire 2023 season. New Orleans can also get out of Jamaal Williams contract in 2025. Sean Tucker would be a third string running back his first two years barring a suspension to Kamara or an injury. Drafting Tucker on a rookie deal is worth it since he's good enough to check off every box right now in terms of rushing, pass catching, ball carrier vision, and pass blocking. The biggest drawback with Sean Tucker is he may have a heart condition similar to the one Maurice Hurst had in 2018 which dropped Hurst from a second round prospect to a fifth round prospect.
     
     
     
166. Kansas City Chiefs: Andrew Vorhees, LG, USC
     
     
     Kansas City drafts Andrew Vorhees here. Vorhees is a guy with Pro Bowl upside, but he tore his ACL at the 2023 NFL Combine. He can redshirt this year and recover from his torn ACL while Joe Thuney remains the starting left guard with Nick Allegretti playing out the final year of his contract as the backup left guard.
     
     
     
     Kansas City gave Joe Thuney a five year deal when the Chiefs signed him in Free Agency after losing Super Bowl 55 to Tampa Bay. Kansas City can get out of that contract as early as 2024, but won't with how good Joe Thuney has played. If Vorhees ends up reaching his potential by dominating in 2024 which only happens if Thuney gets injured. Which seems like a big if, he'll be on a rookie deal similar to the one Kansas City got for Trey Smith when landing Tennesee's right guard in the sixth round who many had a second round grade on. Vorhees had a second round grade before his injury too.
     
     
     
     Creed Humprhey, Nick Bolton, Noah Gray, and Trey Smith will all be unrestricted Free Agents in 2025 when Thuney enters the final year of his contract. Travis Kelce will also be entering the final year of his contract with Kansas City and he will warrant another extension in Kansas City if he stays healthy between now and 2025 because if Kansas City waits until 2025 to move Joe Thuney, they would save $16-million in cap space. Kansas City would be able to use that $16-million to extend Kelce or one of the younger players whether it be Humphrey, Bolton, Smith, or Gray if Kelce begins to get up there in age.
     
     
     
     
     
167. Los Angeles Rams: Dorian Thompson-Robinson, QB, UCLA
     
     
     Los Angeles gets Baker Mayfield's replacement here. Dorian Thompson-Robinson would be getting less on his rookie deal than Dak Prescott received. If Dorian Thompson-Robinson pans out, then the Rams can be aggressive in Free Agency again once the team opts to move on from Stafford. At the very worst, the Rams receive a high end backup quarterback to Matthew Stafford with the Rams having to pay Matthw Stafford until 2025. If Stafford stays healthy the next two seasons, you got a backup with two years of experience learning Sean McVay's playbook on the bench.
     
     
     
168. Arizona Cardinals: Tyjae Spears, RB, Tulane
     
     
     Arizona saves $5.49-million in cap space in 2024 if they move on from James Conner after this season. The reality is Arizona can get a running back just as effective as Conner on a rookie deal in the 2023 NFL Draft. Tyjae Spears is good enough to go in the first two rounds, but his injury history and medical concerns are why he slipped to round 5.
     
     
     
     
     
169. Dallas Cowboys: McClendon Curtis, RG, Chattanooga
     
     Dallas has Tyler Smith at left tackle, O'Cyrus Torrence at left guard, Tyler Biadasz at center, Zack Martin at right guard, plus the combo of either Terence Steele or Tyron Smith at right tackle. Dallas can cut Zack Martin to save $4,020,000 in cap space in 2024. That just seems dumb given how consistent Martin has been. Instead, Dallas drafts McClendon Curtis as the backup right guard to Zack Martin and grooms him to be Martin's successor.
     
     
170. New York Jets: Jermayne Lole, DT, Louisville
     
     
     New York drafts the best defensive tackle on the board here. The Jets currently Quinnen Williams, last years backup Solomon Thomas, Quinton Jefferson a defensive lineman on Seattle as a backup, Isaiah Mack on a one year deal, and Tanzel Smart who spent the 2022 season on the Jets practice squad. There's not a defensive tackle at this point in round five that's an upgrade over Solomon Thomas or Quinton Jefferson, so the Jets draft Jermayne Lole to compete for a roster spot.
     
     
     
     
     
171. Los Angeles Rams: Isreal Abanikanda, RB, Pittsburgh
     
     
     Los Angeles drafts the first player from the Pittsburgh Panthers since picking Aaron Donald in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Isreal Abanikanda is a faster version of last years fifth round pick Kyren Williams. Cam Akers will be a Free Agent after this season. Abanikanda would be a great dynasty pick on a team like the Los Angeles Rams, especially if the Rams can fix their offensive line in this draft with everyone on the offensive line staying healthy.
     
     
     
172. New York Giants: Jakorian Bennett, CB, Maryland
     
     
     New York adds a cornerback for depth. Maryland cornerback Jakorian Bennett ran a 4.3 40 time and is a beast in press coverage. His man and zone needs development, but New York has a pretty deep cornerback room and Bennett is someone who will be able to improve his man and zone coverage by learning under the guys that New York has. Aaron Robinson, Adoree Jackson, Darnay Holmes, and Cordale Flott are all guys that can mentor Bennett during his first two seasons. Bennett is a guy who can develop into a starting cornerback by 2025 if he fixes his coverage.
     
     
     
     
     
173. San Francisco 49ers: Habakkuk Baldonado, LE, Pittsburgh
     
     
     San Francisco gets a 4-3 left end for depth. San Francisco has Nick Bosa and Drake Jackson as their starting defensive ends in 2023. Clellin Ferrell is the backup 4-3 right end behind Nick Bosa replacing Charles Omenihu.
     
     
     
174. Las Vegas Raiders: Jalen Green, SS, Mississippi State
     
     
     Jalen Green is a guy who played on Texas as a backup safety while also playing on special teams. Once he transferred to Mississippi State in 2021, he became the starting strong safety on a secondary that featured Martin Emerson Jr. and Emmanuel Forbes complimenting him at cornerback. Las Vegas drafts another Mississippi State hoping for a better version of Jonathan Abram in the fifth round.
     
     
     
     
     
175. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Roschon Johnson, RB, Texas
     
     
     The Tampa Bay Buccaneers get a change of pace running back to compliment Rachaad White. You can make an argument for Roschon Johnson being a better pass blocker than White. With Leonard Fournette gone, I expect White to be Tampa Bay's bell cow, but the addition of Roschon Johnson is worthy of being pointed out.
     
     
     
176. Indianapolis Colts: John Ojukwu, RG, Boise State
     
     
     John Ojukwu is versatile enough to play left tackle, left guard, right guard, or right tackle. He played both offensive tackle roles at Boise State, but has the body of an NFL guard.
     
     
     
     Indianapolis can use John Ojukwu as a swing tackle and swing guard. Once Danny Pinter's rookie contract expires at right guard in 2024, Indianapolis can let John Ojukwu and Will Fries compete for the starting right guard job. I think John Ojukwu would win that competition for two reasons. The first reason being Ojukwu is a better prospect coming out of college than Fries was. The second reason is that Ojukwu is versatile enough to play offensive tackle or guard.
     
     
     
177. Los Angeles Rams: Brenton Cox Jr., 3-4 LOLB, Florida
     
     
     Los Angeles gets a second day 1 starter at 3-4 outside linebacker on a rookie deal. Brenton Cox Jr. is one of the better value picks in the 2023 NFL Draft to wrap up the fifth round.