Official 2023 NFL Draft Thread

[run pMc]

There have been reports that the reason the Jets really don't want to trade the #13 pick is that they want to go OT in 1st round. Johnson might be their guy. Now that the Bears have traded back to #9 though, some people think he might be the Bears pick. https://www.nflmockdraftdatabase.com...ris-johnson-jr

I think the Bears and Jets going OL make sense, the top guys will go fast and their lines have bigger holes than a team like GB has. Rodgers could get hurt behind the Jets OL as it is, and Fields has been a sack waiting to happen. Bears are doing what they should have done last year in actually giving Fields supporting players around him so they can figure out if he's good or not.

GB has at least serviceable players at all OL spots, it's the depth (and future OL) they could improve. Nothing personal, but I've seen enough of Jake Hanson to know I don't want him playing meaningful snaps.

I wouldn't want to trade the #13 pick if I'm the Jets either. I wouldn't even consider it unless Rodgers either agreed to redo his contract or flat out promised he'd play two years. Why give up a high pick to take on that contract for a one year rental? A contract that is cost-controlled for 5 years for a potentially good player is not nothing. I think a R2 this year and next gets it done, and some think even that might be a lot for one year of Rodgers.

Anyway, I watched Paris Johnson and Broderick Jones, and there's a big difference. Johnson looks ready to start, Jones is a good athlete but he has a way to go with his fundamentals. He probably needs a year to work on his pass pro especially and then he could be really good... so I could see GB picking him as the heir apparent to Bahktiari. I don't know how they will keep DB next year with his cap hit and a Rashan Gary extension.

https://twitter.com/KenIngalls/status/1641475267687219200?cxt=HHwWgICw4ePD2MctAAAA

I think 2025 is when GB gets back into having cap space to spend in free agency. Just in time to start working on extensions for Watson and Doubs

[jklowan]

The safeties that I think would work well in GB are Chris Smith II and Ji'Ayir Brown, hoping we can get at least one of them if not both, The DL line players I have my eye on are Colby Wooden & Karl Brooks. The TE I want is Luke Musgrave as many here have pointed out his numbers are freaky good and the OT's I'd want are Blake Freeland or Jaxson Kirkland.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Harv,

I'm a fan of Jon Gaines. Good feet, seems like a pretty good athlete. I think he'd be a good add, and feel like he's a little under the radar.
GB has a lot of OL players, but they need to sort out who is going to play where. They had problems being watertight on the IOL last year.
Bakhtiari's cap hit is $40M next year and they save 21M by cutting or trading him, so I think he's likely gone and they'll need a replacement there.

Was surprised by Matt Landers, I didn't think I'd like him. He reminds me of MVS... tall, lanky, fast. He'll be there on Day 3.
Luepke will also, he's like a Juszczyk clone to me and agree he'd be a good fit and possible upgrade from DeGuara.

I really like the OSU LT Paris Johnson, he's so smooth and looks like a franchise LT. He's gotta be going top 10 though.

I've seen some mocks where Myles Murphy winds up at 15 - Thoughts? If it comes down to Murphy, JSN, or Broderick Jones at 15, which do you prefer?

Probably Murphy--although I didn't love him. Then JSN and then Jones. Jones is a tier down from Skoronski and Johnson for me. And that's coming from a guy who loved Andrew Thomas of UGA when he came out.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

Round one I like Johnston, Mayer, Smith-Njigba in that order. I don’t think an OT is a bad idea either.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

Mock draft

1- Johnston Wr
2- Dexter De
3- LaPorta Te
4- Mingo Wr
5- Morris De/edge
5- Mallory Te
7- Brooks De/edge
7- Galvin Ot
7- Thomas V Cb

[run pMc]

Probably Murphy--although I didn't love him. Then JSN and then Jones. Jones is a tier down from Skoronski and Johnson for me. And that's coming from a guy who loved Andrew Thomas of UGA when he came out.

Yeah, when I first saw Murphy I thought he was a top 10 guy, now I'm not so sure I'd take him at 15. He's got size, length, athleticism, but he played with his hand in the dirt and always from the same side. I'm not sure about turning him into the next Preston Smith, but he supposedly is a good run defender.

Agree Jones is a tier down. I'll have to look at Dawand Jones and Darnell Wright - they might be good RT prospects and then move Tom to LT.

Current guys I'm looking at are DL Gervon Dexter and Moro Ojomo. I like Ojomo a little better but both are fun and I wouldn't be sad if GB drafted either one (after Day 1, of course). Ojomo has some violence in his hands, and Dexter is just a huge athletic dude who is already as good as Lowry was lol.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I have Ojomo higher than Dexter as well. Deep sleeper at DL is Scott Matlock. Had a good all-star Bowl season, but didn’t get invited to the combine. Reminds me a bit of Dean Lowry.

[call_me_ishmael]

Harvey how do you feel about my sleeper Hendon Henderson?

[bobblehead]

Based on where roster need meets draft depth the obvious move is to pick EDGE, TE...maybe CB (assuming we have 2 seconds).

Based on Gutes history he will take a WR, S, then finally an EDGE in a draft that is weak at WR and S.

[run pMc]

The WRs in this class don't really impress me much. JSN seems like he will just get open in soft spots of a zone, which could be valuable to GB for keeping chains moving or in the red zone. I don't see any speed.
Q.Johnson is interesting but I get "more athlete than football player" vibes. He could be useful in any offense, he might be discount AJ Green, or he might just be meh.

There are probably some WR3-4 types and while I think they need help at WR, I don't think they need to take one before R3. I think they'll boost their receiving corps via TE (which needs even more help).

I've heard they like Jalin Hyatt, but are they just playing him in the slot for go routes? Dude has real speed and could be fun, but I thought GB likes bigger dudes and IDK if they want a DeSean Jackson clone.
I saw they are bringing in Dontayvion Wicks in for one of their 30 visits. He's ok except for the drops. I realize drops are something that are usually easily correctable, receivers with the dropsies scare me after the J'Mon Moore experience. He's Day 3 guy, I'd take Mingo instead.

I think Gute will play the board and frustrate us. He almost has to draft a WR or 2, same with TE, and probably a safety as well since we don't really have anyone outside of Savage who has been a full time safety for more than a few games. My money in R1 is OL or Edge.

[run pMc]

Harvey how do you feel about my sleeper Hendon Henderson?

Never heard of him.
There's a QB named Hendon Hooker from UTenn that is 11 months older than Jordan Love. He's coming off an ACL tear, maybe you mean him?

https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2023/4/3/23668522/2023-nfl-draft-hendon-hooker-tennessee-hardest-projection-in-the-class-quarterbacks-scouting

[Joemailman]

It's going to interesting to see how early Hooker goes. A lot of people think he's as talented as any QB in the draft. How much does age and the injury cause him to slide? https://www.nflmockdraftdatabase.com.../hendon-hooker has him as a likely 2nd round pick. He tore his ACL in November. At the very least he'll miss a lot of offseason work this year. Might not be ready to really play until 2024 when he'll be 26 years old.

[red]

yay, i was waiting for someone to bring up hooker to prove my point from before

hooker will probably go in the first not because he's talented, but because he is just the next best QB in the draft, even though he should be nowhere near the first round

[run pMc]

It's going to interesting to see how early Hooker goes. A lot of people think he's as talented as any QB in the draft. How much does age and the injury cause him to slide? https://www.nflmockdraftdatabase.com.../hendon-hooker has him as a likely 2nd round pick. He tore his ACL in November. At the very least he'll miss a lot of offseason work this year. Might not be ready to really play until 2024 when he'll be 26 years old.

Yeah, and while I agree he is an interesting prospect, his age and injury history work against him. He'll need time to learn an offense, and missing offseason work will hurt his development. You're basically looking at a 26-27 year old QB before he sees the field, that's practically Brandon Wheedon territory. Reports are he was a great interview and just ditched his crutches, so he'd likely be off the PUP in September and might get some late training camp snaps, but he'll be behind everyone.

GB will draft a QB, but I'd rather they spend their early round picks on players who are likely to see the field and make contributions this year.

[run pMc]

yay, i was waiting for someone to bring up hooker to prove my point from before

hooker will probably go in the first not because he's talented, but because he is just the next best QB in the draft, even though he should be nowhere near the first round

QBs with any semblance of talent get drafted, and usually overdrafted. I doubt CJ Stroud is the best football player in the draft, but if he (or Bryce Young, etc.) pans out he provides the most value. A franchise-level QB provides a disproportionate amount of value because of NFL passing offenses and the rules.

Personally I'm not a huge fan of Hendon Hooker. Do not want him in R1 or R2 for GB - prefer a different player and at a different position. If JL stinks they can draft a QB higher next year, but this year they need to give JL a chance and that means surrounding him with players who can help him. Hendon Hooker doesn't.