With the season now over for the 49ers, attention now turns to how the offseason landscape will work out for them, and the 2023 NFL Draft is key.
With only the Super Bowl separating us from the offseason, it’s now time to start taking a look in depth at the NFL Draft and how the landscape looks.
While there will be a rise in the salary cap for 2023, the San Francisco 49ers will have minimal cap flexibility with a lot of money needing to be tied up in signing internal free agents as well as bringing in a very big extension for EDGE Nick Bosa.
The Niners have gotten big steals late in the draft, though, so there’s no reason to think they can’t do it again.
This is the final season San Francisco won’t be picking in the first round due to the Trey Lance trade back in 2021, so the team still has to be creative in finding some later gems. The main concern for the first round is exactly which players land in the NFC (more specifically, the NFC West), especially with divisional rivals like the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks picking quite early.
I’ll be doing two mock drafts this offseason: this first one, as well as one immediately preceding the actual event. The first mock will not have the benefit of the free agency market happening yet, so teams filling needs here may very well fill them with a veteran and be looking elsewhere.
But again, that’s what the second mock draft will be for.
I will also not be doing any trades for this first mock NFL Draft, but I will for the second one. The reason for this is that trade rumors aren’t very rife yet, and I also want the first draft to be more linear without having to calculate trades.
There will be the 31 picks (the Miami Dolphins had their first-round pick forfeited for tampering) plus a special slide for the 49ers’ first pick, just to keep you interested.
So let’s dive in.
2023 NFL Draft, Pick No. 1: Chicago Bears – Will Anderson, EDGE, Alabama
In real life, the Chicago Bears will hold this pick ransom for the highest bidder to a team that will desire either Alabama quarterback Bryce Young or Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud. But there are no trades in this mock draft, so the Bears go with the best player available here that isn’t Texas running back Bijan Robinson.
Will Anderson has been the consensus top pass-rusher in the 2023 draft class and he collected 51 tackles, 10 sacks and an interception returned for a touchdown for the season. While there are some intriguing names along the defensive line whom the Bears can consider, such as Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter and Texas Tech EDGE Tyree Wilson, Anderson is still right now the favorite to go No. 1 overall if the Bears retain the pick for whatever reason.
Anderson is a safe pick to be a cornerstone EDGE in the NFL. Equally good both chasing the quarterback and defending against the run, Anderson was the crown jewel for the Crimson Tide and impressed scouts with his drive and his production.
How Anderson measures in at the NFL Combine will be interesting, as he could be below the size needed to be a traditional 4-3 EDGE. He could weigh in as low as 235 pounds and might need to add some weight to combat that.
How Anderson fits in as a 3-4 rushing linebacker is interesting given his strong run defense. It’ll be fascinating to see how he fits in at the next level.
The one knock on Anderson is he’s a jack of all trades and master of none. He isn’t the strongest or the fastest lineman out there, but he’s good enough at everything that he remains a high pick. Could Tyree Wilson supplant him as a player with a higher athletic upside like Travon Walker did against Aidan Hutchinson last season?
That aside, these are nitpicking flaws at best. Anderson still projects to be an excellent player in the NFL.
2023 NFL Draft, Pick No. 2: Houston Texans – Bryce Young, Quarterback, Alabama
The Houston Texans rather stupidly won their final game to gift Chicago the first pick, meaning that in reality, they won’t be able to select their choice of quarterback unless they trade up themselves (and look stupid in the process).
Luckily for the Texans in this mock, they still get their choice.
It’s a coin flip at the moment if Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud is the top quarterback of the class with people differing deciding on whether or not they like the improvisational ability of Young or the stronger passing of Stroud.
This season, Young completed 65 percent of his passes for 3,328 yards, 32 touchdowns and five interceptions while also picking up four touchdowns on the ground as well.
Young has drawn comparisons to Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, but he’s arguably a much better talent than Murray. Young’s ability to improvise on the fly and remain accurate is astounding, and he’s a very smart quarterback.
The knock on him is his height (only 5-foot-11) and seeing a similar quarterback in Murray struggle at Arizona after the Cardinals gave him a big contract. Stroud had an exceptional end to the season as well, which puts Young on the back foot as far as rankings go.
For now, he’s here, but don’t be surprised if Stroud supplants him. Young will need a strong combine and interviews to keep his lead.
2023 NFL Draft, Pick No. 3: Arizona Cardinals – Jalen Carter, Defensive Tackle, Georgia
The Cardinals need to improve their defense with EDGE Chandler Jones leaving the season before and defensive tackle J.J. Watt retiring at the end of this season. Luckily for the Cardinals, they can upgrade either position here, with Jalen Carter the best player available along the defensive line.
This season, Carter recorded 32 tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles and three passes defended. It’s worth remembering Carter missed some time also due to a hit sustained against Missouri.
Carter is a physical freak with exceptional strength and speed to go with a big size (6-foot-3, 310 pounds) that can cause havoc up the middle of opposing offensive lines. He had only three sacks for the 2022 season, but that’s not nearly reflective of the havoc he caused (he also missed some time after a dirty hit against Missouri).
While EDGEs get the lion’s share of the praise when it comes to rushing the quarterback, a strong interior presence arguably makes more difference, as causing pressure up the middle disrupts plays faster and makes it harder for quarterbacks to make plays since they can’t climb the pocket. Carter looks physically set to be the next big interior pass-rusher in the NFL.
There are some concerns about his makeup that he isn’t a hard worker, but that’s not an uncommon criticism for elite college talents, as they haven’t had to do much with their physical talents to be dominant.
That changes in the NFL, but teams shouldn’t be too worried about improving his work ethic in the pros.
2023 NFL Draft, Pick No. 4: Indianapolis Colts – C.J. Stroud, Quarterback, Ohio State
The Indianapolis Colts are in such an intriguing situation this season as the top two quarterbacks will almost definitely be going to the Texans and whoever trades to the Bears. The Colts likely have to trade up to get one of the top quarterbacks and have the advantage of guaranteeing the Bears one of Will Anderson or Jalen Carter.
Here, though, the Colts don’t have to worry about that. They grab C.J. Stroud and can finally stop playing musical chairs with the quarterback position.
Stroud threw for 3,688 yards, 41 touchdowns and six interceptions for the season with Ohio State as the team made it to the college playoff. Stroud is also an excellent scrambler and showed he could make plenty of plays with his legs, too.
What Stroud brings best to the table is he seems a prototypical quarterback for today’s NFL. True pocket passers are rare today, and teams want quarterbacks with a bit of mobility. Stroud brings it all to the table with his accuracy, arm strength, football IQ, speed and his field vision.
Stroud doesn’t have the ability to make things up on the fly to the extent that Bryce Young does, nor is he a natural scrambler, but he’s arguably the better quarterback of the bunch.
He has a chance to go No. 1 overall if the right team moves up to the pick and prefers him over Young.
2023 NFL Draft, Pick No. 5: Seattle Seahawks – Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech
The Seahawks will be looking to bolster their defensive line in the offseason, and luckily for them, the need for quarterbacks should push a talent like Tyree Wilson down to them at No. 5 overall. Wilson can be compared to last year’s No. 1 pick, Travon Walker, as an athletic EDGE who has the potential to bolt up to the top of the draft board.
This season, Wilson totaled 61 tackles, one forced fumble and seven sacks before injury forced him out for the rest of the year. He still impressed the scouts with his athleticism, and he should be an excellent tester at the NFL Combine and the Texas Tech pro day.
Wilson is a good size at 6-foot-6 and 275 pounds, which makes his speed and acceleration even more impressive on film. Having an excellent blend of speed and power, with the moves to back them up, the only thing stopping him is consistency.
The one blot on his tape, Wilson has disappeared in big games like against Oklahoma where the Red Raiders needed him to show up. If he had the same games as he does against lesser opposition, he would be at worst equal favorite to be No. 1 overall (if Chicago doesn’t trade the pick).
That being said, his high-ceiling/low-floor outlook stands in contrast to the safer pick in Will Anderson, and indeed, we did see a similar comparison in Walker getting picked over the long-time consensus top EDGE in Aidan Hutchinson a year ago.
2023 NFL Draft, Pick No. 6: Detroit Lions – Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
Aidan Hutchinson is coming off an excellent rookie season for the Detroit Lions but could afford to find a better player across from him as they seek to continue where they left off this season. There is a bit of risk to this selection as it can be difficult to impossible to extend two elite EDGEs, given the salary cap, but that can be a bridge to be crossed later.
Clemson EDGE Myles Murphy has all the tools to be a big-impact player in the NFL, although his tape sometimes doesn’t reflect the talent he has. He had 6.5 sacks for the Tigers this season and showed off his stunning array of moves.
If this was a weaker pass-rusher class, then Murphy would be in the running to be the first off the board come April. Unfortunately, he does have some flaws that need addressing that make him a little less desirable. He petered off after a good start to the season and might have been protecting himself for the NFL a little bit.
Most concerning is he lacks a bit of killer instinct. We all know the impression “looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane” and that applied to Murphy a few times on film. He lacks a bit of mongrel about him and plays with a bit of unwelcome finesse that he shouldn’t need with his size (6-foot-5, 275 pounds).
But if he was playing to protect himself from injury before the draft, then that shouldn’t be too much of a problem. Even then, it can be coached out of him with the excellent team Dan Campbell has put around him.
Talent wise there’s no doubting his ability both as a pass-rusher and a run defender, and Clemson has coached him well to produce from Week 1 next season.
2023 NFL Draft, Pick No. 7: Las Vegas Raiders – Quentin Johnston, Wide Receiver, TCU
The Las Vegas Raiders are by far the toughest team to figure out in the top 10 when it comes to a mock draft. Wide receiver Davante Adams is rumored to move on, but will he do so if the team trades for quarterback Aaron Rodgers? If the Raiders do trade for him, they won’t have this pick.
But if they don’t get Rodgers, then Adams probably leaves anyway.
A quarterback is a popular choice for some here since Las Vegas is moving on from Derek Carr, but given the team has the talent to win now, it’s much more likely it looks for a veteran. If Adams does move on, however, then the Raiders need a replacement, and they can’t go far with Mack Hollins and Hunter Renfrow as their top two receivers.
Quentin Johnston looks like the next big receiving talent to hit the NFL, as the 6-foot-3, 215-pound receiver has mismatch ability at the next level, which he demonstrated with 60 receptions for 1,069 yards and six touchdowns this season. He has the size advantage over most cornerbacks and also the speed to beat them over the top. His route running is good, and his size/leaping ability makes him a red-zone weapon, too.
Johnston has been dinged up a bit at TCU, however, and teams will need to look after his health a little bit.
But for any team needing a receiver, Johnston is the surefire top prospect this April.
On the clock: Pick No. 8: Atlanta Falcons – Isaiah Foskey, EDGE, Notre Dame
There’s no team that’s worse in the NFL at getting to the quarterback than the Atlanta Falcons. Upgrading the defensive line is the top priority for them, and they won’t be able to get back to the playoffs without improvements.
Isaiah Foskey carries some risk, but he has the ability to be a producer at the next level. There’s some question about whether or not the Falcons run a 3-4 or a 4-3 next season, but Foskey could fit in both schemes.
Foskey has made a collegiate career out of getting to the quarterback, with 11 sacks apiece in his previous two seasons at Notre Dame. He has great power and some underrated burst that allows him to surprise defensive linemen at the point of attack with his leverage.
There are some limitations on Foskey, however, for the NFL. He’s not especially quick or agile, which means he’ll be someone limited to beating blockers with power and then teeing up on the quarterback. This isn’t a severe problem, but it could limit his sack total in the NFL to slightly less than expected for a top-10 pick.
On the plus side, the strength serves him well in run defense since he rarely gets pushed back and he can disrupt running lanes.
Foskey isn’t a home-run hit by any stretch, but he’s someone who can carve out a satisfactory career in the pros.
On the clock: Pick No. 9: Carolina Panthers – Will Levis, Quarterback, Kentucky
We all know the drill by now: Quarterbacks get overdrafted, and they get overdrafted often.
Will Levis isn’t a top-10 talent alone, but his position and upside mean he will get top-10 consideration in the NFL Draft. The Carolina Panthers have been a team consistently linked to drafting a quarterback, and Levis fits here, as he has Cam Newton upside.
The pros are pretty obvious. Levis has an excellent arm and mobility similar to the aforementioned Newton. He has the strength to truly stretch the field and the legs to attack the space underneath it.
The drawbacks are also pretty obvious. Levis had trouble diagnosing defenses at Kentucky and threw a lot of inaccurate passes and interceptions (10 interceptions to only 19 touchdowns this season) that he shouldn’t have. Accuracy suffers as a result, and he had a poor 2022.
In defense to Levis, he had to go through a different offensive scheme that didn’t suit him and he lost his top receiver, Wan’Dale Robinson, to the NFL. So, perhaps, regression was unavoidable. Anyone who drafts Levis will have to take care to develop him slowly and craft the offense around him similar to Justin Fields in Chicago.
The Panthers are desperate for a quarterback, however, and Levis would be the best home-run swing here for them. If they take care of their project and perhaps hold off playing him until 2024, they could reap the benefits of his high upside.
2023 NFL Draft, Pick No. 10: Philadelphia Eagles – Tuli Tuipulotu, EDGE, USC
The rush (pun intended) on edge rushers continues, as the Philadelphia Eagles look to upgrade the defensive line after their close loss in the Super Bowl. The Eagles have an elite pass rush, but Brandon Graham and Robert Quinn are both aging EDGEs (35 and 33, respectively) who are out of contract.
Tuli Tuipulotu blasted into first-round consideration after a strong season with USC, notching up 13.5 sacks and two forced fumbles for the season for the Trojans. He has amazing power and speed at his disposal, and he is excellent both against the pass and the run.
Tuipulotu is a particular fit for the Eagles because he can also play inside (the Eagles have six players out of contract on the defensive line alone this offseason and will find it hard to extend them all) in a 4-3 defense.
Tuipulotu plays with a lot of violence in his game, using his physicality at the point of attack to gain leverage and then get around with his blazing speed. He has a good range of pass-rushing moves at his disposal and isn’t particularly dependent on one thing.
The downside to Tuipulotu is it’s hard to see his natural position in the NFL. He sits at 6-foot-3 and is 290 pounds, so he’s a bit of a tweener between EDGE and defensive tackle.
Luckily, the Eagles might find this an advantage, as they can move him around as they see fit.
2023 NFL Draft, Pick No. 11: Tennessee Titans – Peter Skoronski, Offensive Tackle, Northwestern
The Tennessee Titans desperately need an upgrade at tackle this offseason. Left tackle Taylor Lewan is talented but constantly injured, while right tackle is a weakness.
Peter Skoronski is the top tackle on the board and would fill an immediate need.
A talented tackle who can also kick inside to guard, Skoronski has been a star for Northwestern since filling the boots of Rashawn Slater, a former first-round pick and All-Pro for the Los Angeles Chargers.
Skoronski looks destined to be the next high draft pick from the Wildcats’ offensive line. The most important thing for any offensive lineman is hand placement combined with footwork, and this is what Skoronski excels at. His movement is smooth without any stiffness, and he uses his hands to punch into the defender at the point of attack to lock them in.
The smooth speed that Skoronski has allows him to also effectively set the edge in the ground game. He frequently beats defenders to that point to seal it and force open running lanes.
The one knock on Skoronski is he does have short arms and won’t measure well at the NFL Combine for this reason, but his technique has been shown to negate this. While some teams might prefer lengthier players and see Skoronski more as a guard, he has more than enough to compensate for this and be a good tackle for the next level.
On the clock: Pick No. 12: Houston Texans – Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Wide Receiver, Ohio State
The Texans really only have Brandin Cooks as a viable receiver, and even then, he’s been very public about wanting out of Houston. Even if he stays, the team absolutely needs to find its franchise quarterback of the future a viable receiver in front of him.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba was the third receiver behind first-round picks Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave for the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2021, and he was still able to record 95 passes for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns. Injuries killed his 2022 season, but he still remains one of the top prospects in this NFL Draft.
Read More: Breaking down complete Round 1 order of 2023 NFL Draft
What stands out is his speed. Smith-Njigba stretches the field at all levels and his pace is beyond almost every NFL cornerback.
Speed isn’t the only weapon he has, however, as Ohio State does an exceptional job of coaching its wideouts for the NFL. He runs excellent routes that nab him extra room, and those routes combined with his speed are often enough to net him more yards after the catch than you would expect.
A dynamic receiver who looks set to be the next big Buckeye talent to hit an NFL offense, he’s an obvious match for a Texans team that needs to build around a new quarterback.
2023 NFL Draft, Pick No. 13: New York Jets – Paris Johnson, Offensive Tackle, Ohio State
Offensive tackle Mekhi Becton has been a bust since being a first-round selection for the New York Jets, so they have to look for an upgrade for whoever is quarterbacking in 2023.
Paris Johnson is a talented blocker who protected quarterback C.J. Stroud well this season. While still a bit raw and still needs to add some more strength to his frame, he has a lot of talent for the next level.
A good size at 6-foot-6 and 315 pounds, Johnson is a good athlete who has the movement to battle elite EDGEs at the next level. Unlike Peter Skoronski, he has much better length with his arms, which he can use to his advantage. This height/speed/length ratio has been his bread and butter for Ohio State.
Johnson isn’t a weak player by any means, but the one area of concern is he’s a finesse blocker, relatively. He hasn’t got the power to totally blast defenders, so a bit of time in the weight room could do him wonders.
If he can develop the power to go with the rest of his skills, he could be a top left tackle in the NFL.
On the clock: Pick No. 14: New England Patriots – Tyler Steen, Offensive Tackle, Alabama
New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones regressed terribly in his second season. Some of this was due to not having enough receiving help, but atrocious blocking was also a reason. The top two receivers are off the board here, so the Pats instead look to the trenches.
Tyler Steen is a solid blocker who did a good job protecting Bryce Young this season. The Vanderbilt transfer demonstrated his skills for the next level, being functional at all levels of the game.
An experienced four-year starter at Vanderbilt and Alabama, Steen’s biggest asset is his versatility. He can play essentially any position but center in the NFL, and he is a quality run blocker. In the passing game, he possesses excellent technique to nullify pass-rushing moves and has the base to avoid being pushed back by bull rushes.
The one drawback for Steen is he’s good but not great when it comes to his skill set. He lacks the strong upside of Peter Skoronski and Paris Johnson, but he’s still a good prospect who should do well at the next level.
2023 NFL Draft, Pick No. 15: Green Bay Packers – Brian Branch, Safety, Alabama
The Aaron Rodgers saga aside, the Green Bay Packers have to do something desperately about the safety position. Darnell Savage has been a bust, while Adrian Amos had a poor year and is out of contract anyway.
Brian Branch is one of the more versatile prospects in the draft this season, being able to play either safety position, the nickel role or even as a linebacker. Branch recorded 90 tackles, three sacks, two interceptions and seven passes while playing both as a safety and nickel back.
Branch is a playmaker who’s got some incredible intelligence. He uses his eyes to make plays, diagnosing what happens before using his athleticism and ball skills to impact the play. He’s also got some chops as a blitzer, recording three sacks for the season.
As an athlete, Branch is amazing. He can run with receivers or target the ball-carrier. A proven leader at Alabama, Branch knows what it takes for the next level.
An excellent tackler, teams can also trust Branch to stack the box if they need to. He rarely misses his tackle, wrapping up ball carriers with good technique. When you add it all up, you have a potentially special safety for the next level.
Teams might be a bit down on Branch because he might be one of those tweener-type players who doesn’t have a natural fit on the field.
I believe safety is his best fit, however, given his skill set.
2023 NFL Draft, Pick No. 16: Washington Commanders – Christian Gonzalez, Cornerback, Oregon
The Washington Commanders need multiple upgrades at cornerback this offseason, as their pass defense was disastrous, and an early pick needs to be invested in an upgrade.
Christian Gonzalez transferred from Colorado to Oregon this season, and like Tyler Steen, the transfer has put him on the map as a potential first-round candidate. Gonzalez had four interceptions and seven passes broken up.
An excellent corner in man coverage, Gonzalez has the size (6-foot-2, 201 pounds) to cover bigger receivers but also the speed and twitchiness to run with more agile ones.
The ability to play on both receivers is a rare trait for a corner, and teams are always looking for potential shutdown corners to erase one-half of the field.
So, why isn’t Gonzalez touted as a higher pick?
There have been moments on tape that stand out for the wrong reasons. He’s given up touchdowns he shouldn’t against lesser teams like Arizona and Washington in the PAC-12 and sometimes doesn’t seem like he’s up for the fight. The lack of consistency is a bit concerning for scouts, who want to see Gonzalez step up with a bit more heart.
That being said, the upside is too good to ignore, and Gonzalez should go in the top 20 come draft day, and good testing could even see him be a top-10 candidate.
2023 NFL Draft, Pick No. 17: Pittsburgh Steelers – Joey Porter Jr, Cornerback, Penn State
Cameron Sutton and Levi Wallace are both free agents for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Wallace could stand to be upgraded anyway. Joey Porter Jr. is an exciting prospect with a lot of upside.
Porter is your prototypical man-cover corner. He has incredible length and his arm measurements will be interesting at the combine. He has good size at 6-foot-2 and 192 pounds, and he’s got some excellent speed to complement that size.
The defensive back thus has the physical tools to be something special for the NFL. Receivers find it exceptionally hard to match up on him given that arm length since his wingspan doesn’t let many balls get past him on tight coverage.
The issue facing Porter is he’s scheme-locked for the NFL. He doesn’t have the ability to play in the slot, and he faces problems if he’s in a zone-based scheme. He also wasn’t a big play threat despite his physical attributes at Penn State, recording zero interceptions this season and only one the year before that.
Nevertheless, a team with the right scheme will definitely be picking him up on opening night.
2023 NFL Draft, Pick No. 18: Detroit Lions – Alex Sanders, Linebacker, Arkansas
The Lions were one of the surprise packets in 2022 and continue to bolster the defense in this NFL Draft. Their linebacker corps was their big weakness this season, and one of their picks should be used to upgrade the area.
49ers fans are well aware of what good linebacking play looks like with the duo of Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw on the field every week, and Drew Sanders looks in many ways like he could be Warner’s twin. He has excellent speed and pursuit to chase down ball carriers and covers the field well, but he has an extra advantage even Warner doesn’t.
The best non-pass-rushing linebacker in the draft, that’s actually somewhat of a misnomer as Sanders is a very natural pass-rusher. Sanders had 9.5 sacks for Arkansas this season and looks like he could play in a 4-3 as a MIKE linebacker who can move to the defensive line on passing downs.
Sanders can stand to get stronger for the NFL, however, to tackle NFL-caliber offensive lines. He’s not weak by any means, but he isn’t as strong a run defender as he should be and can struggle to shed blocks.
In the NFL, Sanders looks like a good candidate to be a situational player on obvious passing downs while he gets stronger in the weight room. Once he fills out his frame, he can be a three-down linebacker who can approach double-digit sacks.
2023 NFL Draft, Pick No. 19: Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Bijan Robinson, Running Back, Texas
On value alone, this is a ridiculous steal. Regardless of position, Bijan Robinson is the best prospect in this draft class, and it’s a sign of both the needs of other teams as well as the general trend of stepping away from using high picks on running backs that pushes Robinson here.
It wouldn’t surprise me if a team decided to move up to take him.
Leonard Fournette and Rachaad White were excellent receiving backs but struggled actually running the ball for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022. Robinson can step in right away as the best runner on the Bucs, and he’d be a star player Tampa Bay can build around.
It’s hard to pin down specific praises for Robinson given how great he is at everything. He isn’t the fastest running back, but he’s fast enough to do what he did at Texas. He’s an amazing route runner and is as good as almost any receiver in recent memory. He’s twitchy but strong, elusive but rugged. He can run over the top of defenders or run rings around them.
Robinson ran for 1,580 yards and 18 touchdowns at 6.1 yards per carry this season. He also notched 19 receptions for 314 yards and two scores.
Robinson should, and very possibly could go much earlier than this. All it takes is one team to fall in love with him, and I suspect he’ll be a lot higher in my final mock draft right before the actual draft begins.
2023 NFL Draft, Pick No. 20: Seattle Seahawks: Henry To’oTo’o, Linebacker, Alabama
Cody Barton is out of contract and a liability in coverage. Seattle needs to do everything it can to take on the 49ers’ many weapons on offense, and Henry To’oTo’o has had a big season to put himself into first-round contention.
A rangy linebacker who can cover running backs and tight ends equally well, To’oTo’o recorded 94 tackles and 2.5 sacks for Alabama this season.
To’oTo’o is already an excellent run defender for the NFL. His instincts get him into position easily, and he’s a rugged competitor who can take the hit. Combined with his ability to cover in the passing game, To’oTo’o is a three-down linebacker for the next level.
An intelligent player, To’oTo’o will test well at the Alabama pro day as well as the NFL Combine. His speed allows him to go sideline to sideline, and this combined with his instincts allows him to be a weapon anywhere on the field.
Don’t be surprised if To’oTo’o is drafted much higher than expected, given the physical and mental assets at his disposal.
Linebackers sometimes don’t get drafted as highly as they should, but he could be an exception.
On the clock: Pick No. 21: Los Angeles Chargers – Mazi Smith, Defensive Tackle, Michigan
The Los Angeles Chargers finally cut Jerry Tillery, so they need someone new in the middle of the defensive line. Mazi Smith can fit right in as a nose tackle, as the Chargers definitely need to improve their run defense.
Smith can best be described as a two-down nose tackle. While he doesn’t provide much of a pass rush, recording only half a sack this season, he’s an excellent run stuffer who can anchor a 3-4 at nose tackle.
Smith is already a good size at 6-foot-3 and 326 pounds, and he is already adept at working through double teams. Tough to move at the point of attack due to his size, Smith is able to move blockers around and stuff running lanes.
While a two-down nose tackle would raise some eyebrows, Smith is so good at what he does, and this is such a big need for the Chargers, that it makes perfect sense.
Smith can do the job well on running downs, while the Bolts can then bring in a pass-rushing specialist on passing down.
2023 NFL Draft, Pick No. 22: Baltimore Ravens – Jordan Addison, Wide Receiver, USC
Rashod Bateman has proven himself to be a good wide receiver, but the Baltimore Ravens need more out of the position. There are a lot of questions about the future of quarterback Lamar Jackson, but if he’s returning for 2023, he needs some help across from Bateman.
Jordan Addison has been an incredible receiver at the collegiate level. He popped into NFL Draft considerations at Pittsburgh in 2021 with 100 receptions for 1,593 yards and 17 touchdowns before transferring to USC for 2022. While he didn’t have the eye-catching numbers of the previous year, he still had a good season with 59 receptions for 875 yards and eight touchdowns.
True, Addison isn’t a big receiver, but he’s very dynamic and able to carve out space on the field for himself with excellent speed and route running. His ability to find the end zone with his 25 combined receiving touchdowns (he also had a rushing touchdown in 2021) has also been a big consideration in making him a first-round talent.
Addison stands at 6-foot-0 and doesn’t have a lot of strength, so he could be restricted to the slot for the NFL, but he still stands as a good fit for a Baltimore team that’s crying out for some more firepower in the receiving game.
2023 NFL Draft, Pick No. 23: Minnesota Vikings – Devon Witherspoon, Cornerback, Illinois
The Minnesota Vikings are a perennial playoff team, but they desperately need some help at cornerback. The position is a mess, and their best corner in Patrick Peterson is going to be a free agent, so the Vikings could spend multiple picks at the position.
Devon Witherspoon played himself into first-round consideration after a strong season with the Fighting Illini where he had three interceptions and 14 pass breakups to showcase himself as a true impact corner.
Witherspoon hasn’t got the best size at 5-foot-11 and 183 pounds, but he played a lot bigger than that for the Illini. He’s a versatile corner able to play either man or zone coverage, and he’s also an excellent tackler.
The versatile defensive back isn’t just a feast-or-famine player when it comes to his play either. He’s able to run with receivers consistently well, preventing separation and showing a good intuition for where a receiver is going to step.
Witherspoon could stand to put some time in the weight room to maximize his strength, but he can still be a true No. 1 corner in the league.
2023 NFL Draft, Pick No. 24: Jacksonville Jaguars – Cam Smith, Cornerback, South Carolina
The Jacksonville Jaguars defense was a bit suspect in 2022, and they were especially poor against the pass in this respect. The draft has plenty of prospects at cornerback, and Cam Smith could have been a top-16 prospect in a lot of other seasons.
Cam Smith has turned into a really good corner with South Carolina and is an excellent athlete who more than holds his own in man coverage. Smith recorded 27 tackles, an interception and five passes broken up this season.
Smith is also a physical player, jamming up players and getting sticky on routes. While he has to be careful of doing this (we all saw the ticky-tack call in the Super Bowl) in the pros, his competitive ability is always on show for the Gamecocks.
Smith could stand to get a bit stronger if he wants to continue doing this in the pros, however, given the physicality of NFL wideouts. But there’s no reason why he can’t do so.
If Smith tests well leading up into the NFL Draft, he could very well be a top-20 pick come April, but he still stands as a good value pick in the latter stages of the first round regardless.
2023 NFL Draft, Pick No. 25: New York Giants – Zay Flowers, Wide Receiver, Boston College
The New York Giants need a true No. 1 receiver for quarterback Daniel Jones, provided he stays as the guy for Big Blue. Wide receivers Darius Slayton and Richie James are good complementary pieces but are both out of contract. Even if they do return, the Giants can still stand to add to the position.
Zay Flowers had an excellent season for Boston College with 78 receptions for 1,077 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Eagles. While he is a small receiver at 5-foot-10 and 172 pounds, he was productive on the outside as well as in the slot.
The true question for Flowers is whether or not his size restricts him to the slot for the NFL. He’s an excellent speedster with superb athleticism, but this understandably comes at the expense of strength and length. His catch radius isn’t the best, which comes with being so short.
When the ball is in his hands, however, Flowers is electric. He’s a threat when he’s in open space, so an offense that can scheme him open will have a real weapon on their hands.
The only other concerning problem for Flowers is drops. He has had a knack for dropping some balls with the Eagles, so he has to clean that up for the NFL.
Overall, however, his skill set is certainly enticing.
2023 NFL Draft, Pick No. 26: Dallas Cowboys – Kelee Ringo, Cornerback, Georgia
The Dallas Cowboys have one-half of their cornerback duo of the future in Trevon Diggs, but he desperately needs an upgrade next to him if the Cowboys are going to stop being cannon fodder in the playoffs and step up as a legitimate Super Bowl threat.
Kelee Ringo is a cornerback with excellent physical abilities who could go a lot earlier than this. He has excellent size at 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, and he has exceptional speed with good strength for the next level.
In 2022, Ringo recorded two interceptions and seven passes defended for Georgia as the team won a second consecutive national championship. For the NFL, Ringo is a natural press corner, using his strength to jam receivers and his speed to run with them.
Ringo would be a lot higher as a prospect, but he does have some serious issues at the next level. He’s very scheme specific and isn’t suited to a zone-based system. While he is fast, he does play a bit stiff in the hips and can struggle with changes of direction that can be exploited in zone coverage.
In the NFL, whoever drafts Ringo will need to make sure they play him to his strengths and don’t have him matched up in zone or against shiftier receivers too much.
If they do play him correctly, however, Ringo can be a strong cornerback in the NFL.
2023 NFL Draft, Pick No. 27: Buffalo Bills – Jalin Hyatt, Wide Receiver, Tennessee
The Buffalo Bills’ top need is guard, but there’s not really anyone worth reaching on this early in the draft. Here, the Bills go for a receiver to partner with Gabriel Davis and Stefon Diggs as they try to get over the hump and into the Super Bowl.
Jalin Hyatt exploded onto the scene during Tennessee’s return to footballing prominence in 2022, recording 67 receptions for 1,267 yards and 15 touchdowns for the Volunteers, earning him the Biletnikoff Award for the best collegiate wide receiver in the nation.
Hyatt is a pure athlete who’s able to use his explosive speed to gain separation. Hyatt is a little undersized for his frame at 6-foot-0 and only 175 pounds, but he uses the tools he has to make big plays.
Hyatt is a bit raw coming into the NFL, however. Tennessee used him in the slot, and he didn’t run the most expanded route tree with the Vols. He also has only one season of production, which points to a prospect that has some coaching to do.
He doesn’t have to be a No. 1 receiver off the bat for the Bills, however. Buffalo will be able to bring him along slowly while utilizing him as a home-run threat when he’s on the field.
2023 NFL Draft, Pick No. 28: Cincinnati Bengals – Michael Mayer, Tight End, Notre Dame
Hayden Hurst is a free agent and could be re-signed, but even if he is, the Cincinnati Bengals need to find someone for the future. Tight end is a strong position this year, and Michael Mayer could make the Bengals and quarterback Joe Burrow even stronger.
Mayer had a productive season for Notre Dame, with 67 receptions for 809 yards and nine touchdowns for the Fighting Irish to follow up on 71 receptions for 840 yards and seven touchdowns in 2021.
Mayer is more of a natural receiver than a blocker for the NFL, but that’s fine given how offenses are nowadays, and he’s already ready to play Week 1 in the NFL.
Mayer is not the best athlete, so he won’t make crazy plays. But he uses his 6-foot-4, 251-pound frame well in traffic to protect the ball in contested ball situations and has very safe hands.
It’s for this reason that his natural receiving ability rather than his athleticism will see him become a potential first-round pick.
2023 NFL Draft, Pick No. 29: New Orleans Saints – Anthony Richardson, Quarterback, Florida
Jameis Winston is not the answer for the New Orleans Saints. Anthony Richardson is an exceptionally raw talent with a big upside that’s especially hard to figure out. He could go higher if a team that needs a quarterback loves him and reaches, or he can fall hard as Malik Willis did as a third-round pick last year.
The rawness of Richardson is apparent from his stats alone, completing only 54 percent of his passes in 2022 for 2,549 yards, 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions while scrambling for 629 yards and nine touchdowns.
Richardson should have returned to Florida to try to develop further as a passer, but the need for quarterbacks prompted him to enter the draft.
The physical tools are all there for a quarterback. He has a cannon for an arm, he can punish defenses on the ground with his legs, and he’s undoubtedly an ideal physical prototype for a quarterback.
But the downsides are all there, too. He’s horribly inaccurate and was only a starter for one year at Florida. He throws the ball very hard, but sometimes too hard for short passes, which makes it hard to hold on. He needs to develop accuracy and touch for the next level, which is a concern because it’s way behind what an early quarterback prospect should be.
If the Saints are patient, they could get somewhere with Richards. Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen were considered exceptionally raw talents with similar flaws, which people forget about given the superstars they are today.
If Richardson proves himself coachable, he could develop into a similarly special quarterback.
2023 NFL Draft, Pick No. 30: Philadelphia Eagles – Jack Campbell, Linebacker, Iowa
As mentioned, the Eagles have a lot of free agents this offseason. Two linebackers in T.J. Edwards and Kyzir White are part of this list, and if they can’t sign one or both, then they’ll need an upgrade.
Jack Campbell is an off-ball linebacker who has all the tall to be a three-down starter in the NFL, and he could be picked a lot earlier than this.
For the Iowa Hawkeyes, Campbell had 125 tackles, one pass defended, one sack, one forced fumble and two interceptions including a phenomenal interception of C.J. Stroud against Ohio State.
Campbell projects as an NFL-ready prospect who can plug and play in either a 4-3 or a 3-4 defense. There aren’t too many wrinkles in his game, being able to excel in coverage or defending the run. He’s pretty tall for a linebacker at 6-foot-5 and 246 pounds, but he makes sure he gets low and doesn’t allow leverage underneath him
Campbell is an exceptionally smart player who can also end up being the defensive play-caller for an NFL team. He’s a very smart player who can diagnose offenses, and he has the speed and strength to be an instant impact.
2023 NFL Draft, Pick No. 31: Kansas City Chiefs – Darnell Wright, Offensive Tackle, Tennessee
Andrew Wylie is a free agent but he’s also the weak link of the Kansas City Chiefs offensive line. The Chiefs won’t want for much this offseason, but they could stand to upgrade at right tackle.
Darnell Wright is coming off an excellent season, not giving up a sack, as Hendon Hooker himself had a great season at quarterback to launch Tennessee back to prominence.
Wright’s play was a key factor in this.
Wright has good size at 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds and looked equally good as a run blocker. In the Senior Bowl, Wright had an excellent week in the drills showing he was NFL-ready.
Wright is probably capped at a right tackle for the NFL but the Chiefs don’t need him to protect the blindside, and he looks a perfect fit for a team that needs a ready-made right tackle to protect quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
2023 NFL Draft, Pick No. 99: San Francisco 49ers (bonus pick) – Joe Tippman, Center, Wisconsin
Jake Brendel had a solid season starting in lieu of the retired Alex Mack, but he’s a free agent. If the 49ers decide not to sign him then they’ll need a ready-made replacement, and they probably still should invest a pick even if he does return.
Center is the one position the Niners can probably draft a plug-and-play starter this late, given their impressive roster, and Joe Tippmann has been an impressive center for the Wisconsin Badgers with only one sack and five pressures conceded for the season.
Tippmann is scheme versatile and has had several impressive years with the Badgers. He looks like he can be a first-year starter at the next level with his impressive strength and athleticism. He’s good at the point of attack, and constantly gets the first punch in on his opponent.
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Tippmann could stand to improve his leverage a bit in the NFL so defenders can’t get under his guard so much, and that’ll show against elite defensive tackles. But all in all, he’s an excellent and safe prospect for the next level.
If the 49ers don’t think they’ll get him here, they have the picks (Nos. 99, 100 and 101) to trade up and get their man.