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

Round 7

Tony Mario Last Updated: April 26, 2023.

218. Chicago Bears: Warren Ericson, C, Georgia
     
     
     Chicago gets a day 1 starter in round 7. Warren Ericson is 6-4 305.
     
     
     
     Chicago would have Braxton Miller at left tackle, Cody Whitehair at left guard, Warren Ericson at center, Teven Jenkins at right guard, and Cody Mauch at right tackle. The additions of Ericson and Mauch improve Chicago's offensive line.
     
     
     
219. Philadelphia Eagles: Kenny McIntosh, RB, Georgia
     
     
     The Philadelphia Eagles have Kenneth Gainwell, Rashaad Penny, and Boston Scott at running back. Boston Scott was a 2019 seventh round pick out of Louisiana Tech. Kenny McIntosh offers similar value this late in the seventh round.
     
     
     
     
     
220. Las Vegas Raiders: Ventrell Miller, MLB, Florida
     
     
     
     Las Vegas gets a middle linebacker to learn under Robert Spillane. Ventrell Miller showed some flashes to be a solid linebacker on tape.
     
     
     
221. Indianapolis Colts: Jake Moody, K, Michigan
     
     
     Indianapolis gets the top kicker in the 2023 NFL Draft. Indianapolis has needed a new kicker ever since waiving Rodrigo Blankenship during the middle of the season last year. Jake Moody can make a 70 yard field goal and won the 2021 Lou Groza Award. Moody was a Lou Groza Award finalist in 2022. Had Moody won, he would have been the first kicker to repeat as Lou Groza Award winner since Sebastian Janikowski. After the Roberto Aguayo disaster teams have learned not to draft kickers before the fourth round of the NFL Draft.
     
     
     
     
     
222. San Francisco 49ers: Matt Landers, WR, Arkansas
     
     
     San Francisco gets a big body wide receiver that can develop into a replacement for Brandon Aiyuk. Matt Landers is big and he ran a good 40 time at the 2023 NFL Combine.
     
     
     
223. Los Angeles Rams: Ronnie Bell, WR, Michigan
     
     
     The Los Angeles Rams get a replacement to Allen Robinson. Michigan wide receiver Ronnie Bell is the top receiver on the board this late in the seventh round.
     
     
     
     
     
224. Atlanta Falcons: Gervarrius Owens, FS, Houston
     
     
     The Atlanta Falcons get a safety for depth behind strong safety Richie Grant and free safety Jessie Bates III. Gervarrius Owens is versatile enough to play both strong safety and free safety. Owens is an effective run stuffer who also excels in zone coverage.
     
     
     
225. Atlanta Falcons: Byron Young, 3-4 LE, Alabama
     
     
     Atlanta gets a player they can groom for a year under Calias Campbell. Byron Young out of Alabama would be the perfect player to groom under Calias Campbell. Then Atlanta would have Grady Jarrett and Byron Young in 2024 as their two starting 3-4 defensive ends.
     
     
     
     
     
226. Jacksonville Jaguars: Yaya Diaby, 3-4 LE, Louisville
     
     
     Jacksonville drafts Yaya Diaby here. He would be an upgrade over what Jacksonville has at 3-4 left end.
     
     
     
227. New Orleans Saints: Cam Jones, LOLB, Indiana
     
     
     New Orleans gets a 4-3 left outside linebacker to replace Kaden Elliss. Cam Jones is versatile enough to play all three linebacker spots in a 4-3 defense.
     
     
     
     
     
228. Tennessee Titans: Robert Beal Jr., 3-4 ROLB, Georgia
     
     
     Tennessee has Rashad Weaver and Harold Landry. With Bud Dupree on the roster, Tennessee gets a pass rusher for depth in case Weaver or Landry gets injured in 2023.
     
     
     
229. Cleveland Browns: Chris Rodriguez Jr., RB, Kentucky
     
     
     The Cleveland Browns lost their backup and third string running back. It's possible that Cleveland drafts a third running back to compliment Nick Chubb and second year running back Jerome Ford, a running back from Cincinnati that Cleveland drafted in 2022. Chris Rodriguez Jr. checks off a lot of boxes if you can look past his four game suspension at Kentucky.
     
     
     
     
     
230. Houston Texans: Mekhi Blackmon, CB, USC
     
     
     Houston gets a third cornerback in the 2023 NFL Draft. Mekhi Blackmon is an absolute steal this late which is the only reason I mocked a third cornerback to the Houston Texans. Blackmon is easily the best player on the board at this point.
     
     
     
231. Las Vegas Raiders: D'Shawn Jamison, CB, Texas
     
     
     Las Vegas finally drafts a cornerback in the seventh round. D'Shawn Jamison is the Texas cornerback that made a one-handed Odell Beckham Jr. like interception against West Virginia three yeras ago. His man coverage, jumping ability, and athleticism stands out in a big way. He's got the spectacular catching and hands of a wide receiver when he high points the football.
     
     
     
     
     
232. Green Bay Packers: Jalen Graham, 3-4 MLB, Purdue
     
     
     Green Bay gets another 3-4 middle linebacker for depth. This gives Green Bay D'Vondre Campbell and Quay Walker as starters. Drew Sanders and Jalen Grhaam would be the backups for the next two years. Green Bay can replace Campbell with Sanders in 2025 and keep Graham as a high end backup at 3-4 middle linebacker through his entire rookie deal.
     
     
     
233. Washington Commanders: Camren McDonald, TE, Florida State
     
     
     Washington still has Logan Thomas, John Bates their Boise State tight end from the 2021 NFL Draft, and Cole Turner from the 2022 NFL Draft. Washington can cut Logan Thomas right now, but opted to keep him.
     
     
     
     Florida State tight end Camren McDonald would have to beat out Ohio tight end Armani Rodgers who went undrafted and made Washington's final roster for a fourth string tight end job and a roster spot in training camp. He'd probably spend his rookie season on the practice squad. There would be an opportunity for McDonald to secure the third string tight end spot in year two or three depending on how long Washington keeps Logan Thomas.
     
     
     
     
     
234. Los Angeles Rams: Noah Ruggles, K, Ohio State
     
     
     At one point, Noah Ruggles was considered the top kicker in the Big 10 and the top kicker in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Rams need a day 1 starter at kicker, so the Rams take Noah Ruggles here.
     
     
     
235. Green Bay Packers: Isaiah McGuire, 3-4 ROLB, Missouri
     
     
     The Green Bay Packers get Isaiah McGuire as a third string pass rusher. I have Preston Smith and Rashan Gary remaining starters. Felix Anudike-Uzomah and Nick Hampton will be the backup edges. Kingsley Engabare gets demoted to the third string pass rusher and Isaiah McGuire joins him giving Green Bay six different edge rushers to compete for playing time.
     
     
     
     
     
236. Indianapolis Colts: Payton Wilgar, ROLB, BYU
     
     
     Indianapolis replaces Bobby Okerke with Payton Wilgar. He's exactly the type of high character guy Chris Ballard will fall in love with.
     
     
     
237. Seattle Seahawks: Arquon Bush, CB, Cincinnati
     
     
     The Seattle Seahawks draft a nickel cornerback to compliment Tariq Woolen and Coby Bryant now that Michael Jackson is gone. Arquon Bush is my top cornerback left. Bush dominated at nickel cornerback when he was with Gardner and Coby Bryant, but sucked as a number one cornerback. Arquon Bush would do well as a nickel cornerback re-united with Coby Bryant and having a leader to look up to in that cornerback room with Tariq Woolen being a finalist for defnesive rookie of the year in 2022.
     
     
     
     At 6-2 202, Lance Boykin lined up at nickel cornerback at Coastal Carolina. He's a great blitzer with solid man and press coverage making him an ideal scheme fit for Seattle.
     
     
     
     
     
238. Miami Dolphins: Keaton Mitchell, RB, East Carolina
     
     
     Miami re-signed all of their mediocre running backs to cheap team friendly deals rather than upgrading in Free Agency. This tells me Miami is more likely to draft a running back late than early. Mitchell may be a third to fourth round prospect in some mocks, but he's projected anywhere from the sixth round to an undrafted Free Agent making him ideal in the seventh round.
     
     
     
239. Los Angeles Chargers: Asim Richards, LT, North Carolina
     
     
     The Los Angeles Chargers get a backup left tackle to Rashawn Slater with Jamaree Salyer moving inside to left guard. Asim Richards was a three year starter at left tackle for North Carolina. Some are projecting Richards to play guard, but he's played left tackle for his entirety in college.
     
     
     
     
     
240. New York Giants: Kayvon Merriweather, SS, Iowa
     
     
     The New York Giants draft a safety to groom behind Xavier McKinney for a year. McKinney enters a contract year, and I'm not sure the Giants re-sign him after his rookie deal.
     
     
     
241. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dontae Bull, RT, Fresno State
     
     
     Dontae Bull is a big man at 6-7 320. Pittsburgh can save $8.75-million in 2024 if they release right tackle Chukwuma Okorafor before his contract is up in 2025. Some Steelers fans thought left tackle Dan Moore Jr. did better than Okorafor despite the fact that Dan Moore Jr. was the biggest liability on this offensive line. That's why I'm not putting it past Pittsburgh to draft a second offensive tackle in the 2023 NFL Draft.
     
     
     
     Dontae Bull played both left tackle and right tackle starting at left tackle in 2021 and moving to right tackle in 2022. Dontae Bull was once Jake Haener's blindside. He's a better run blocker than a pass blocker and he really showcased his competitive nature by playing with nastiness. He's like a tough dog on the grid iron with both bark and bite. Coaches will love that about Dontae Bull, plus his name sounds like the name of an All Pro offensive lineman.
     
     
     
     
     
242. Green Bay Packers: Stetson Bennett, QB, Georgia
     
     
     Chris Ransom mocked Stetson Bennett to Green Bay in round 5 prior to the Aaron Rodgers trade. I'm taking a page from Ransom's playbook and mocking Bennett to Green Bay as a backup to Jordan Love now that Rodgers is gone.
     
     
     
     Stetson Bennett won back-to-back National Titles at Georgia. Worst case scenario Stetson Bennett is the most overhyped Packers quarterback since Brian Brohm. Best case scenario, Stetson Bennett ends up being a Brock Purdy value pick if Jordan Love screws up. Bennett might remind old school Packers fans of Bart Starr since both quarterbacks won back-to-back championships. Only difference is Bennett won back-to-back Championships in the FBS while Starr won Super Bowl 1 and Super Bowl 2.
     
     
     
243. New York Giants: Jon Gaines II, C, UCLA
     
     
     New York drafts a backup center. I mocked Maryland left tackle Jaylen Duncan as a center in round two since he used to play center. Jaylen Duncan replaces Jon Feliciano while Jon Gaines II replaces Nick Gates since Jon Gaines II played left guard, center, right guard, and right tackle during his time at UCLA.
     
     
     
     
     
244. Dallas Cowboys: Christopher Dunn, K, North Carolina State
     
     
     Dallas drafts a kicker here after the Brett Maher disaster. Christopher Dunn won the 2022 Lou Groza Award winner and is money when it comes to kicking field goals.
     
     
     
245. New England Patriots: Duece Watts, WR, Tulane
     
     
     New England drafts a wide receiver here. One gem at wide receiver that nobody is talking about is Tulane wide receiver Duece Watts.
     
     
     
     Duece Watts has ideal size for a wide receiver at 6-2 195. Duece Watts had 33 receptions, 657 receiving yards, 8 receiving touchdowns, and averaged 19.9 yards per catch. Deuce Watts had 19.9 yards per catch tying Florida wide receiver Justin Shorter for the second most yards per catch among FBS wide receivers in 2022. Only Marvin Mims Jr. had more yards per catch than Watts.
     
     
     
     Duece Watts has speed, athleticism, and agility you cannot teach. He makes defenders miss. He is a project wide receiver though as he only ran 5 or 6 routes on the route tree.
     
     
     
     He also dropped a few balls on tape in the 2023 AAC Championship Game. There's more good than bad with Watts despite being a project.
     
     
     
     Duece Watts has also shown the ability to catch it in traffic as Duece Watts caught a ball in traffic versus South Florida at Raymond James Stadium in a College Football game I went to as a season ticket holder to Buccaneers games. Watts caught a one-handed touchdown on a streak route against East Carolina. He also caught a touchdown running deep torching Cincinnati cornerback Arquon Bush, who had to transition from nickel cornerback to Cincinnati's number one corner in 2022 once Gardner and Bryant left. Watts also won a one on one against Davonte Brown, Central Florida's best cornerback in the red zone. Duece Watts torched USC's strong safety on his first reception in the 2023 Cotton Bowl and Watts would have had a touchdown had it not been for a key tackle by USC's free safety, number 14. Duece Watts biggest play of the season was a first down where he got by USC cornerback Mekhi Blackmon in coverage to make it first and goal for Tulane with 17 seconds left in the 2023 Cotton Bowl after Pratt threw a completion to Watts on second and ten with USC ahead 45-39 before Tulane defeated USC 46-45 to win the 2023 Cotton Bowl. That's every play on Duece Watts highlight reel where he made an impact.
     
     
     
     If you love a fast receiver that can only run 6/30 routes and drops balls from time to time, this might be a guy you gamble on this late in the draft. Streak routes, slants, post routes, and drag routes where he runs a short to medium route before turning right were his best routes executed. He may only have mastered those routes, but Duece Watts will high point the football with precision if you put those routes your offensive playbook and have Watts run those four routes.
     
     
     
     Duece Watts had a 37.5 inch vertical and caught every target thrown his way at Tulane's 2023 Pro Day despite a 4.59 40 time. Watts even expressed that he's open to playing on special teams if that's the only role available to him. If you look past his 40 time, he really stood out at Tulane's Pro Day. I would argue he stood out more than Tulane teammate Nick Anderson who was denied an invite to the 2023 NFL Combine just like Duece Watts. It's pretty clear Tyjae Spears and Dorian Williams will get drafted. I think a third player from Tulane gets picked, but it won't be Nick Anderson, the guy most people think it will be. The third player that will be drafted by Tulane will be wide receiver Duece Watts.
     
     
     
     Duece Watts ended his NCAA career with a bang. Duece Watts had 3 reeptions, 134 receiving yards, and 1 receiving touchdown while averaging 44.7 yards per catch in the 2022 AAC Championship against Central Florida. Duece Watts had 2 receptions, 83 receiving yards, and averaged 41.5 yards per catch against USC.
     
     
     
     
     
246. Cincinnati Bengals: Mohamed Ibrahim, RB, Minnesota
     
     
     Cincinnati replaces Samaje Perine with Mohamed Ibrahim. Mohamed Ibrahim had 100 rushing yards in each of the Minnesota Golden Gophers first ten games in 2022. Cincinnati can stash him for depth behind Joe Mixon and have Ibrahim take over for Perine.
     
     
     
247. San Francisco 49ers: Deuce Vaughn, RB, Kansas State
     
     
     San Francisco gets a running back for depth here in what is arguably the NFL's deepest running back room. San Francisco already has Christian McCaffrey as their starting running back, Elijah Mitchell as their backup running back, Tyrion Davis-Price as their third string running back, and Jordan Mason as their fourth string running back with all of those running backs under contract until 2025.
     
     
     
     Deuce Vaughn is kind of small, but he's too damn talented to go undrafted. The guy pass blocks like an All Pro at running back despite being 5-5. San Francisco can use Deuce Vaughn as a return specialist for kick returns and punt returns. In my honest opinion, Deuce Vaughn would be an upgrade over Ray-Ray McCloud as San Francisco's return specialist.
     
     
     
     San Francisco can save over $1 million in cap space if they release the injury prone Elijah Mitchell in 2024 one year before his rookie deal is up. San Francisco can also save $985,000 in cap space if they released fourth string running back Jordan Mason. That would leave Christian McCaffrey, Tyrion Davis-Price being promoted to a backup role if the 49ers cut Mitchell to save cap space, and Deuce Vaughn as the third string running back in 2024 if San Francisco cuts Elijah Mitchell in 2024.
     
     
     
     The worst case scenario is Deuce Vaughn would go to San Francisco as a return specialist. The best case scenario is Deuce Vaughn transitions to third string running back by 2024 or 2025 and impresses San Francisco enough in limited action to get an opportunity to be San Francisco's starting running back by 2026 when Christian McCaffrey and Tyrion Davis-Price's contracts expire.
     
     
     
     There might be an opportunity for Deuce Vaughn to secure a top three running back spot on this depth chart down the road, but he will be a kick returner and punt returner. If Ray-Ray McCloud ended up keeping his job as return specialist it's possible Vaughn gets demoted to the practice squad. It's also possible another team picks up Deuce Vaughn off of waivers considering how talented and reliable he was during his past two seasons at Kansas State.
     
     
     
     
     
248. Philadelphia Eagles: Jaylon Thomas, C, SMU
     
     
     Philadelphia currently has Jordan Mailata at left tackle, Landon Dickerson at left guard, Jason Kelce at center, Cam Jurgens is expected to transition from backup center to starting right guard to replace Seumalo, and Lane Johnson is back at right tackle. I mocked Oregon State right guard Brandon Kipper in the third round to replace Seumalo as the backup right guard. Jack Driscoll is a good backup right tackle. Sua Opeta, Philadelphia's backup left guard signed with the Eagles as an undrafted Free Agent in 2019 and never got cut by the Eagles. This means I can mock SMU offensive lineman Jaylon Thomas to Philadelphia as either a backup left tackle to replace Andre Dillard or to Philadelphia as a backup center that gets groomed behind Jason Kelce.
     
     
     
     Jaylon Thomas played right tackle in 2018 before spending the next three years at left tackle. What's even more impressive is that the SMU offensive lineman played all five spots on the offensive line throughout his career at SMU. Jaylon Thomas is versatile enough to play left tackle, left guard, center, right guard, and right tackle. He's the only other player outside of Cody Mauch versatile enough to play all five spots on the offensive line, so the Philadelphia Eagles draft him for depth late in the seventh round.
     
     
     
     Jaylon Thomas dominated regardless of where you played him on the offensive line in allowing 6 quarterback pressures, 0 quarterback hits, 0 sacks, and only committed 4 penalties in 2022. Jaylon Thomas started 52 games playing 2,080 pass blocking snaps only allowing 9 career sacks in those 52 career starts.
     
     
     
     Jaylon Thomas weighed 6-5 313 at SMU's Pro Day wbefore dominating with a 4.93 40 yard dash, a 31 inch vertical, a 9 foot broad jump, and a 4.89 shuttle time. He only has 32 inch arms which is why many NFL teams are projecting Jaylon Thomas to move inside as an interior player at LG, C, or RG. His tape speaks for itself and Philadelphia can groom this young man to succeed Jason Kelce if th Eagles want to keep both Landon Dickerson and Cam Jurgens as their starting guards.
     
     
     
249. Kansas City Chiefs: Jeremie Karngbaye, TE, West Texas A&M
     
     
     Kansas City has had Travis Kelce, Blake Bell as their number two tight end and Noah Gray as the number three tight end, with Jody Forston on Kansas City's pratice squad for the third year in a row in 2021. Gray took the number two tight end job from him when the Chiefs opened their 2022 Training Camp while Forston impressed enough to earn a roster spot on Kansas City with Blake Bell after being a practice squad guy on the Chiefs for three years. Kendall Blanton took over for Jody Forston at tight end on the Chiefs practice squad and he did enough to earn a raise which pays him more than either Jody Forston or Blake Bell.
     
     
     
     Travis Kelce and Noah Gray's jobs are safe. Blake Bell, Jody Forston, and Kendall Blanton are all competing for the third string tight end job on the defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs. I'm mocking a sixth tight end to Kansas City.
     
     
     
     Jeremie Karnagbaye is a big guy at 6-4 250. He's also a three sport athlete that played football, basketball, and track. Jeremie Karnagbaye dominated at West Texas A&M's Pro Day running a 4.35 and 4.39 40 yard dash in his two attempts of running the 40 yard dash. He broke Kyle Pitts previous record for fastest 40 yard dash by a tight end. He's also the first tight end in the NFL Draft to run a sub 4.4 40 yard dash time.
     
     
     
     Worst case scenario, Jeremie Karnagbaye is on Kansas City's practice squad with all this competition and depth the Chiefs have at tight end. Best case scenario, Jeremie Karnagbaye ends up beating out Blake Bell, Jody Forston, and Kendall Blanton for the third string tight end job. Drafting Jeremie Karnagbaye allows the Chiefs to rest Travis Kelce and Noah Gray until the regular season while Blake Bell, Jody Forston, Kendall Blanton, and Jeremie Karnagbaye play a quarter in each of Kansas City's preseason games.
     
     
     
     
     
250. Kansas City Chiefs: Drake Thomas, ROLB, North Carolina State
     
     
     Kansas City drafts an outside linebacker for depth with Willie Gay Jr entering a contract year. Drake Thomas was North Carolina State's 4-3 right outside linebacker. Drake Thomas played 4-3 right outside linebacker, 4-3 middle linebacker, and 4-3 left outside linebacker on a stacked linebacker room at North Carolina State that featured Drake Thomas, Payton Wilson, and Isaiah Moore. All three of those linebackers feel like plug in play guys from the North Carolina State games I've seen this year.
     
     
     
251. Pittsburgh Steelers: Tiwan Mullen, CB, Indiana
     
     
     Pittsburgh might draft a second cornerback even if they draft Joey Porter Jr. at 17. Joey Porter Jr. and Patrick Peterson would be the top two cornerbacks, but a nickel cornerback will be needed by 2024. Levi Wallace, Ahkello Witherspoon, Arthur Mallett, James Pierre, and Elijah Riley are all unrestricted Free Agents in 2024. Also, Pittsburgh can cut Patrick Peterson which would save $6.85-million in cap space in 2024 if he struggles after his first year in Pittsburgh.
     
     
     
     Let's say Joey Porter Jr. and Patrick Peterson are both on this roster after the 2023 NFL Season and Pittsburgh opted not to bring anyone else at cornerback back. That means Tre Norwood would be Pittsburgh's nickel cornerback unless the Pittsburgh Steelers draft someone else.
     
     
     
     Tiwan Mullen played cornerback, outside linebacker, and middle linebacker at Indiana. Tiwan Mullen is a superb run stuffer, and ne could argue he's the best run stuffing cornerback in the 2023 NFL Draft that nobody is talking about. Pittsburgh is a blue collar team that loves to defend against the run. Tiwan Mullen was a dominant cornerback in terms of man coverage and zone coverage back in 2020 before an injury caused a setback season in 2021.
     
     
     
     Tiwan Mullen is 5-10 181. He will struggle against bigger receivers and still needs to improve his press coverage in the NFL.
     
     
     
     Tiwan Mullen started all 12 games in 2022 showing that the durability concerns about Mullen are overblown. Mullen had 8 deflections from pass breakups and 2 interceptions in 2022. He's a guy that can stop the run, dominate in man coverage, dominate in zone coverage, and hit hard when wrapping up tackles. Getting stronger and improving his press coverage are really the only two things Tiwan Mullen has to improve in. Realistically, this is a guy that Pittsburgh can take in the seventh round and develop into a future starter at nickel cornerback. He's a far better prospect than Tre Norwood was coming out of Oklahoma when Pittsburgh took Norwood at 245 two years ago back in 2021.
     
     
     
     
     
252. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Christian Young, SS, Arizona
     
     
     Christian Young is a big defensive back at 6-3 215. He played the Viper at Arizona, but is versatile enough to play cornerback, strong safety, or free safety. He's a plug in play guy on the secondary which is a defensive backs coaches dream.
     
     
     
     Tampa Bay can make Christian Young the backup strong safety to Ryan Neal. It's also possible that Young plays a backup free safety role to Antonie Winfield Jr. He would also be able to be a number five cornerback behind Carlton Davis, Jamel Dean, Zyon McCollum, and Julius Brents. Christian Young gives Tampa Bay more depth on the secondary at cornerback, strong safety, and free safety addressing three different needs for Tampa Bay with one last draft pick in the 2023 NFL Draft making him an excellent seventh round pick.
     
     
     
     Christian Young had a 47 solo tackles, 29 assisted tackles, 76 total tackles, and 6.5 tackles for a loss in 2022 all of which were career highs for the Arizona defensive back that started over 65 games for the Arizona Wildcats.
     
     
     
253. San Francisco 49ers: Davis Allen, TE, Clemson
     
     
     San Francisco gets a viable backup tight end to George Kittle. Davis Allen ran a 4.84 40 time despite weighing 6-5 246.
     
     
     
     
     
254. New York Giants: Adrian Martinez, QB, Kansas State
     
     
     New York drafts a quarterback to compete with Tyrod Taylor for the backup gig. Adrian Martinez might warrant a flyer here this late in the draft. He looked much better at Kansas State compared to when he played at Nebraska.
     
     
     
255. San Francisco 49ers: Derek Parrish, RE, Houston
     
     
     San Francisco gets a defensive end to compete with Clellin Ferrell for the backup 4-3 right end job next to Nick Bosa. Derek Parrish is part of Sack Avenue. That's the nickname Houston's defensive line coach gave the Houston Cougars defensive line back in 2018. Ed Oliver and Payton Turner were both first round picks on Sack Avenue. Derek Parrish has a chance t be the next defensive lineman drafted out of Houston.
     
     
     
     
     
256. Green Bay Packers: Lance Boykin, CB, Coastal Carolina
     
     
     The Green Bay Packers finally draft a cornerback for depth behind Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, and nickel cornerback Rasul Douglas. Lance Boykin could win the number four cornerback job in Green Bay and would get more playing time if one of Green Bay's top three cornerbacks got injured.
     
     
     
     At 6-2 202, Lance Boykin lined up at nickel cornerback at Coastal Carolina. He's a great blitzer with solid man and press coverage making him an ideal scheme fit for Green Bay.
     
     
     
257. New Orleans Saints: Jerrod Clark, DT, Coastal Carolina
     
     
     New Orleans added Nathan Shepherd and Khalen Saunders in Free Agency. Both guys had starter potential coming out of college, but have been backups their entire careers due to how durable the starters ahead of them have been on depth charts. Shepherd saw limited playing time as a rookie before the Jets drafted Quinnen Williams. Saunders got more playing time in his contract year for Kansas City before signing with New Orleans. New Orleans needs depth behind Shepherd and Saunders.
     
     
     
     Jerrod Clark stood out in 2022 Spring practices after Coastal Carolina lost 9 deensive starters following their 2021 season. Josaiah Stewart had 12.5 sacks as a true freshman defensive end in 2021. Jerrod Clark commanded double teams and Coastal Carolina's coaching staff called Clark a stalwart. He's worth gambling on this late in the seventh round.
     
     
     
     
     
258. Chicago Bears: Thomas Incoom, LE, Central Michigan
     
     
     Chicago drafts a 4-3 left end for depth late in this years draft. Thomas Incoom at 6-2 275 lbs might be good enough to push for a roster spot. Tyree Wilson and Demarcus Walker will start. Dominique Robinson from Miami Ohio enters year two as the backup 4-3 right end. Trevis Gipson started out as a backup, but got playing time in 2021 when Khalil Mack suffered a season ending injury. Gipson got a full season and a half to start, but that didn't keep Chicago from adding Demarcus Walker. Chicago could trade Gipson or let him walk after his rookie deal if they drafted Thomas Incoom here.
     
     
     
259. Houston Texans: Kemari Averett, TE, Bethune-Cookman
     
     
     Houston has Dalton Schultz, Brevin Jordan, and Teagan Quitoriano as the top three tight ends on their depth chart. Houston adds one more tight end with the Mr. Irrelevant pick here.
     
     
     
     Kemari Averett transferred from Louisville to Bethune-Cookman after failing to beat out Marshon Ford for the starting tight end job. Chris put Ford in his draft rankings while I didn't, but that's because I like Averett more.
     
     
     
     Kemari Averett is a big man at 6-6 260. Kemari Averett had 39 receptions, 445 receiving yards, and 7 receiving touchdowns with Bethune-Cookman in 2022. You may look at those numbers and not be that impressed. What stood out to me with Kemari Averett is hs he had 6 of his 7 receiving touchdowns in Bethune-Cookman's final six games getting hot for his team near the end of the season down the stretch. If you want a tight end that will gain momentum down the stretch, look no further than Bethune-Cookman's Kemari Averett.
     
     
     
     Two years ago, I correctly predicted Grant Stuard to Tampa Bay with the Mr. Irrelevant pick in 2021. Last years Mr. Irrelevant Brock Purdy took San Francisco to the NFC Championship game after a 7-0 start. This years Mr. Irrelevant in my 2023 NFL Mock Draft will be Kemari Averett.