Official 2023 NFL Draft Thread

[HarveyWallbangers]

It's hard to consider Joey Porter in the conversation for CB1 after watching Charlie Jones of Purdue torch him repeatedly. Porter needs to be in the right system for him to be effective. That system is press man--while zone is becoming more and more prevalent in the NFL.

[HarveyWallbangers]

He really turned things around in the second half though. Night and day--although he wasn't on Jones as much.

[run pMc]

PSU QB Sean Clifford and LSU DT Jaquelin Roy invited to GB as official 30 visits.

Roy had 4th most DT pressures in the SEC. Inconsistent but might be a Day 3 depth piece to push Wyatt. Haven't looked at Clifford or most of the QBs at all.

They're bringing in some interesting players for visits.

[Fritz]

If only there were a QB out there named Clifford Sean.

I saw an ACME piece today speculating that it might be an offensive lineman with that first pick.

That wouldn't bother me at all, unless they picked some yahoo they could've gotten in the second round.

[jklowan]

couple of trade downs, nice haul I think.... make it happen Gutes

17 - Lukas Van Ness
EDGE | Iowa

47 - Luke Musgrave
TE | Oregon State

78 - Cedric Tillman
WR | Tennessee

98 - Marvin Mims
WR | Oklahoma

111 - Ji'Ayir Brown
S | Penn State

116 - Wanya Morris
OT | Oklahoma

140 - Colby Wooden
DL | Auburn

149 - Cory Trice
CB | Purdue

150 - Josh Whyle
TE | Cincinnati

170 - Ivan Pace Jr.
LB | Cincinnati

193 - Jake Moody
K | Michigan

232 - Nick Saldiveri
OT | Old Dominion

234 - Jaxson Kirkland
IOL | Washington

235 - Jay Ward
S | LSU

241 - Davis Allen
TE | Clemson

242 - Tre Tucker
WR | Cincinnati

256 - Robert Beal Jr.
EDGE | Georgia

[run pMc]

I'm on the fence with Cedric Tillman.
Really wanted to like him and was underwhelmed when I first watched him. Watching him again and... he's not bad. If he has any specific trait that stands out it's his size and that he's not afraid of the physical play -- that should help him as a pro.
Seems like a 3rd rounder, maybe a James Jones type.

[run pMc]

If only there were a QB out there named Clifford Sean.

I saw an ACME piece today speculating that it might be an offensive lineman with that first pick.

That wouldn't bother me at all, unless they picked some yahoo they could've gotten in the second round.

How about if Clifford the Big Red Dog was an offensive lineman in the draft.

Seriously, I wouldn't be shocked if they took an OT in R1. Big fan of Paris Johnson as a LT and Darnell Wright at RT. Broderick Jones needs a year but could be good as a LT with the way GB coaches players. OT might not be an immediate need but if they can get a guy who'll be a good 10year vet that's a very good pick.

[Fritz]

I don't watch these guys so I don't know them like you or Harv, but if this Broderick Jones has that much potential, he could sit a year (unless there are injuries) and learn.

But wait, if they pick a left OT, will Bakhtieri feel slighted and angry and begin to ponder retirement, or ask for a trade?

But yes, OT would be fine. Almost anything would be fine except maybe a safety (because this class seems so poor), a corner (another one? Whuut?), an inside linebacker (you ignore the position for years but now you draft two first-rounders in a row?), running back (poor use of first-round pick) or a center/guard (bad use of draft capital methinks). But defensive line, wide receiver, tight end, OT, EDGE, all good. Hell, I'd even entertain a QB is one that you all were in love with was sitting there at 15. Wouldn't be my favorite thing, but it'd be okay.

[run pMc]

I think these are the best uses of R1 picks, in a vacuum:

QB, OT, EDGE, DL, CB
maybe WR

WRs and especially TEs have a high bust rate. C, G, RB, ILB, S can be found in later rounds too.
(CBs have high bust rates too, but you always need 3+ good ones: they get hurt often and frequently have short careers. So you have to draft them often and a shutdown CB like Jaire has real value.)

Only exceptions would be if an absolute stud falls to you. Quenton Nelson, Roquan Smith, etc. guys who are once in a decade types at their position.
There have been studies done that look at All-Pro players by position and where they are drafted. Tom Brady was a unicorn -- you're just not likely to find an All-Pro QB in R6.
There have also been studies showing which positions have most influence in the outcome of a game.

IMO you don't simply draft for position or positional need, you draft the BPA on your board -- but your board should give slight preference to players at those more premium positions.
If you have a RB and an EDGE graded equally, you're probably going with the EDGE. It's why Bijan Robinson is likely drafted after Will Anderson or Tyree Wilson.

[run pMc]

Bahktiari's cap hit is $40M next year, his dead cap is $21M, IIRC. I've heard some opine that it's not worth extending him because they've already kicked so much of his money down that it's going to be ugly either way.
My guess is that given his cap hit, age, and injuries he's gone after this year. Whether he's cut or traded remains to be seen.

I wouldn't worry about Bahktiari going full Josh Sitton on the team with his contract or if an OT is drafted.
I do wonder if he gets moved if GB is out of the playoff hunt by the trade deadline. When healthy he's still a very good player, and as Gute likes to remind us: good OT don't grow on trees.

[Joemailman]

Packers will be hosting a pre-draft visit with TE Dalton Kincaid. Kincaid has received medical clearance for his back injury he suffered last year.

Dr. Robert Watkins recently sent a letter to NFL teams, fully clearing Utah TE and expected first-round pick Dalton Kincaid from the back injury he suffered last season.

“Dalton Kincaid sustained a back injury while playing football on 11/26/2022,” said the email from Dr. Watkins. “Subsequent MRIs have shown appropriating healing and he has been asymptomatic with no pain and no limitation of function for at least 3 months. He is cleared to play football with no restrictions.”

[Deputy Nutz]

Mid round QB, Clayton Tune from Houston 6'3" 220

Eyes seem to always be down field, I love his footwork in the pocket. He has a plus arm and his footwork lends itself to accuracy. My opinion against a good pass rushing Tulane team he managed to pocket well evading rushers with his feet and not having to take his vision off his receivers. Sure he was sacked a few times but most of the time it wasn't the first guy free that got him. He has potential to be starter in the NFL

[Deputy Nutz]

Georgia TE Darnell Washington will go in the first round. I would like to see him bend a little better but his lead blocking, kick out blocks, and even his pass blocking is so damn good you don't even care what you get out of him as a pass catcher

[HarveyWallbangers]

Mid round QB, Clayton Tune from Houston 6'3" 220

Eyes seem to always be down field, I love his footwork in the pocket. He has a plus arm and his footwork lends itself to accuracy. My opinion against a good pass rushing Tulane team he managed to pocket well evading rushers with his feet and not having to take his vision off his receivers. Sure he was sacked a few times but most of the time it wasn't the first guy free that got him. He has potential to be starter in the NFL

He's one of my guys.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Not much to add to "my guys" list after watching off ball LBs. I like a guy that is projected to go undrafted, Isaiah Moore. Jeremy Banks had solid tape too, but he has HUGE character concerns. Kyle Soelle is one of the few LBs that are 6'3" 230+ in the draft with a RAS score of 9.25. I'm only adding Moore to the list though.

QB Clayton Tune
RB Roschon Johnson
FB/TE/RB Hunter Luepke
WR Jonathan Mingo
WR Grant DuBose
WR Matt Landers
TE Luke Schoonmaker
OT/OG Peter Skoronski
OT Nick Saldiveri
OT Earl Bostick
IOL Ricky Stromberg
IOL Jon Gaines
IOL Braeden Daniels
DT Mazi Smith
DT Keeanu Benton
LB Jack Campbell
LB Isaiah Moore
CB D.J. Turner
S Jason Taylor