Category: 2023 NFL draft

Saints linked to an exciting draft prospect at Wisconsin pro day

The Saints must improve their pass rush, and one small-school draft prospect is hot on their radar. Get to know Justin Blazek:

The 2024 NFL draft is just five weeks away, and the New Orleans saints are busy sending personnel out to college pro day workouts around the nation. These aren’t just opportunities for the future pros who attended those universities to shine — locals from smaller schools are sometimes invited, too, giving them a chance to show how they compare to their peers in front of NFL scouts and coaches.

One of the first pro days on this year’s schedule was held at Wisconsin, where a clan of Badgers met with 31 of the 32 teams (everyone except the Los Angeles Rams). And while the New Orleans Saints were there scouting everyone, there’s one small-school prospect hot on their radar. The big names were running back Braelon Allen and offensive lineman Tanor Bortolini, but we’re focusing on one of those local invites.

Meet Justin Blazek, from Wisconsin-Platteville. If the school sounds familiar, it’s the same program that the Saints plucked tight end Dan Arnold from back in 2017 as an undrafted free agent. And Blazek figures to take the same path to the NFL. But if he can continue doing well in the pre-draft process, there’s a good chance he’ll hear his name called as one of 256 draft picks in April.

Blazek wasn’t invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, but his athletic testing numbers suggest he should have gotten in. After weighing in at 6-foot-3 and 252 pounds, he hit a 6.91-second time in the three cone drill and a 4.25-second pace in the short shuttle. He jumped 36.5 inches vertically and 9-foot-11 broad. His 40-yard dash time was 4.85 seconds. Those are all very impressive numbers, and they gave him an 8.29 Relative Athletic Score, which is a metric that’s lined up very closely with the Saints’ in-house preferences.

And here’s where the Saints come in: Blazek met with their scouts at the College Gridiron Showcase all-star event in January, per the Draft Network’s Justin Melo. Blazek was credited with 8.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss last season, which is the kind of production New Orleans badly needs along the defensive line. Even if he’s going to be picked in the final rounds on the last day of the draft, Blazek could be a good get. He might offer more at the bottom of the Saints’ pass-rush rotation than guys like Kyle Phillips did last year.

So he’s a name to keep in mind as we look over mock drafts and evaluate the Saints’ offseason strategy as it takes shape. Spending, say, a sixth-round pick on Blazek and giving him five or six snaps per game won’t fix the team’s problems. Adding him as competition for Payton Turner while leaning hard on Chase Young or an early-round prospect like Laiatu Latu to push Cameron Jordan into a two-down role opposite Carl Granderson, with Isaiah Foskey and Tanoh Kpassagnon still in the mix, just might work. The Saints were so poor rushing the quarterback last season that they must consider all options at getting better.

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Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort can’t hide enthusiasm for one prospect

Ossenfort was caught by a camera awed by Alabama pass rusher Dallas Turner’s 40 time.

The Arizona Cardinals have the fourth pick in the 2024 NFL and could go a number of directions with the selection. They could take a top receiver, a top tackle or top edge defender.

One of the best pass-rushing prospects in the draft is Alabama’s Dallas Turner. Turner caught the attention of Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort.

Turner, who measured 6-foot-3 and weighed in at 247 pounds with 34 3/8-inch arms, blew Ossenfort away with his time in the 40-yard dash.

The unofficial time was 4.49 seconds and Ossenfort, caught by NFL Network cameras watching from a suite, reacted as if he got the chills. He smiled and laughed. Some say it was a little dance. It was a reaction in awe for sure.

Here is the clip:

The Cardinals passed on another extremely talented Alabama pass rusher last year in Will Anderson, electing to trade back from the third pick before trading back up to get tackle Paris Johnson. Anderson went on to be the Defensive Rookie of the Year for the Houston Texans, while Johnson played every snap on offense at right tackle for the Cardinals.

Turner’s official 40 time was 4.46 seconds.

An athletic performance like that will make the Cardinals think about whether he is worth the fourth overall pick, especially since Turner also had on-field production, getting 10 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss in 2023 for the Crimson Tide.

Regardless of whether Turner ends up going to the Cardinals, the Internet now has a clip of Ossenfort that is sure to be a meme for years to come.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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Cardinals get Will Anderson in redraft of 2023 1st round

Instead of two trades and multiple picks for the No. 3 pick in 2023, this redraft has the Cardinals making the easy pick of Will Anderson.

The Arizona Cardinals had the third overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft and could have had pass rusher Will Anderson. Instead, they traded the pick to the Houston Texans, moving down to the 12th pick and then trading up to No. 6 overall to select tackle Paris Johnson.

With the trade, they landed Johnson and picks in 2024.

In a redraft of last year’s first round by Draft Wire’s Curt Popejoy, the Cardinals do not make the trades. Instead, they go with Anderson.

The Cardinals originally got offensive tackle Paris Johnson but instead opted for edge defender Will Anderson Jr. who took the league by storm.

Taking Anderson wouldn’t have been a mistake by any means. He would have led the Cardinals in sacks. They desperately need edge rushing. He would have provided that.

However, is it better to have Anderson or to have Johnson protecting Kyler Murray and multiple other picks?

Johnson had a very solid rookie season, playing every snap at right tackle. He appears to be on track to be a cornerstone at tackle.

If the Cardinals turn that pick into Johnson and multiple impact players, going that route instead of Anderson will have made sense.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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Titans’ 2023 draft class ranked top 10 by CBS Sports

The Titans’ 2023 draft class was ranked as a top-10 group after a solid first season.

The Tennessee Titans had a rough season that ended with a 6-11 record and no playoffs, but the team did get some encouraging performances from its 2023 draft picks.

Tennessee’s first three picks in last year’s draft, left guard Peter Skoronski, quarterback Will Levis and running back Tyjae Spears, all made an impact, which was a far cry from some recent draft classes.

As a result of their performances, CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso ranked the Titans’ most recent draft class as the 10th-best in the NFL during the 2023 campaign.

Trapasso named Skoronski, Spears and Levis as the Year 1 hits from the group.

Skoronski lived up to the expectations as a reliable interior blocker making the switch from tackle to guard in the NFL. Levis’ flashes were outstanding just few and far between and Spears proved to be the running back of the future as a versatile, elusive weapon out of the backfield. 

Skoronski had his growing pains, especially after having to overcome an appendectomy, but he was solid overall and finished the season strong. He’s the only O-line starter from 2023 who is locked into a starting job in 2024.

Because of the importance of his position, Levis has ignited excitement for the future of the franchise after showing he’s capable of making all of the throws.

He’s definitely got work to do to take that next step, but some of his issues can be attributed to the lackluster situation around him with a terrible O-line and a receiving corps. that struggled to get open. We’ll have a much better idea of where he stands once those issues are shored up.

Last but not least, Spears was the most consistent of the trio and has the goods to be an electric playmaker. He also checked the pass protection box, which is important for him in order to see third-down snaps. Spears should lead Tennessee’s backfield in 2024.

Tennessee didn’t get much out of their last three picks, but two of them did play sparingly, making it tough to properly evaluate, so there is hope for them yet.

Offensive tackle Jaelyn Duncan got the most run and struggled but was also thrown into a role he wasn’t ready for. Tight end Josh Whyle showed some flashes as a pass-catcher and blocker but didn’t get much playing time, and Colton Dowell only saw 51 snaps on offense, with the majority of his playing time coming on special teams. He also suffered a season-ending injury.

The Titans are facing a rebuild this offseason but have a great foundation to get going with Skoronski, Levis and Spears in the mix.

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CBS Sports ranks Giants’ 2023 rookie class in bottom half of NFL

The New York Giants’ 2023 NFL draft class was ranked in the bottom half of the league by CBS Sports, but they were credited with two hits.

The New York Giants made seven picks in the 2023 NFL draft and most felt confident that general manager Joe Schoen had made the right calls.

In need of talent at multiple positions, the Giants fared well with their limited stock, adding cornerback Deonte Banks, center John Michael Schmitz, and wide receiver Jalin Hyatt with their first three selections.

They rounded things out with running back Eric Gray, cornerback Tre Hawkins III, defensive lineman Jordon Riley, and safety Gervarrius Owens.

All seven of those players saw time on the field this past season but the results weren’t quite what the Giants had hoped. Injuries derailed the development of several rookies while others were stunted due to misuse (see: Gray as a punt returner).

Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports recently ranked all 32 draft classes from 2023 and the Giants landed in the bottom half of the league. However, he did credit them with two hits: Banks and Hyatt.

Hyatt didn’t exactly rekindle all of the magic he had at Tennessee winning down the field on a regular basis. But averaging over 16 yards per snag as a rookie demonstrated there’s a bright future for him if the development as a route runner continues. Sixth-round pick Tre Hawkins was respectable as a rotational cornerback. Second-round pick John Michael Schmitz really struggled with power before his injury. Banks had some hiccups in coverage but mostly dealt with No. 1 receivers in man coverage and snagged two picks while knocking away 11 passes.

Banks has the makings of a solid, long-term CB1 and although he struggled at times, Schmitz still has plenty of upside. Hyatt also performed better than his stats would indicate. He suffered due to poor offensive line and quarterback play.

The Giants remain hopeful that Hawkins can develop into a starter and that Riley eventually becomes a dominant interior defender.

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Let’s get it right this time: Re-drafting the 1st round of the 2023 NFL draft

Here’s how the 1st round of the 2023 NFL draft would have gone after the season.

Now that the 2023 NFL season is in the books, we can look back and see which teams got it right and which ones got it wrong with their first-round picks in the 2023 NFL draft. We decided to use the 2023 draft order, removing all trades for his re-draft. Now let’s get to fixing all the mistakes the NFL made last spring.

Giants land a Saquon Barkley replacement in CBS Sports’ 2023 re-draft

In a 2023 NFL re-draft courtesy of CBS Sports, the New York Giants pass on CB Deonte Banks and select a Saquon Barkley replacement instead.

The New York Giants traded up one spot to select cornerback Deonte Banks with the No. 24 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. However, if they had to do it all over again, Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports believes they’d take a different route.

That’s not a knock on Banks, who had a solid rookie season, but more a reflection of lingering issues elsewhere on the roster.

In his 2023 NFL re-draft, Trapasso has the Giants staying put at No. 25 overall and selecting running back Jahmyr Gibbs.

With the future of Saquon Barkley uncertain, the Giants add a rocket to the backfield in Gibbs, who was sensational as a rookie.

Gibbs was selected 14th overall by the Detroit Lions, who took wide receiver Rashee Rice at No. 6 overall in this re-draft. Banks was not selected in the first round.

As a rookie, Gibbs rushed for 945 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. He added 316 yards and one additional score through the air en route to a Pro Bowl appearance.

With uncertainty surrounding Saquon Barkley and his future, the selection of Gibbs would have provided a solid replacement. However, it would have also left the Giants hurting at cornerback, where they’re already thin.

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Cardinals nab OT, CB in new mock draft

The Cardinals can’t get Marvin Harrison Jr. in this new mock draft from Touchdown Wire.

It is Senior Bowl week, which means the 2024 NFL draft is on everyone’s mind. Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar has a new mock draft and, for the Arizona Cardinals, it is not ideal.

The Chicago Bears take Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. with the first overall pick.

Who do the Cardinals get in these projections with their two first-round selections?

 

Saints pass on Bryan Bresee in this 2023 re-draft

The New Orleans Saints passed on Bryan Bresee for Tuli Tuipulotu in this 2023 re-draft, which would solve one problem but create another:

With NFL draft season in full swing comes more people going back to old drafts and considering how things could have been different. That’s what Bleacher Report’s David Kenyon did in his redraft of the 2023 event. In this alternate reality, he has the New Orleans Saints passing on Bryan Bresee and instead going with USC defensive end Tuli Tuipulotu. So they still take a defensive lineman, but go after an edge rusher instead of an interior player.

Here is Kenyon’s reasoning behind the decision:

The reality is New Orleans would face a Catch-22 here. If the Saints don’t select Bresee, their need at defensive tackle rises. But, whew, did this defense lack pass-rushing danger. A second-round pick of the Chargers, Tuli Tuipulotu generated 22 pressures, which would’ve only trailed Carl Granderson in New Orleans.

I think that given a second go at things, the Saints still take Bresee. He was not drafted for his year-one success, instead for having a very high athletic ceiling they can coach him up to reach over his career. Even then, Bresee still broke the franchise record for sacks by a rookie defensive tackle. Switching out Bresee for Tuipulotu doesn’t fix the Saints’ pass-rush issues, as it would have left the interior even weaker.

And it’s not like they reached on Bresee. In this re-draft, Kenyon has Bresee going to the Philadelphia Eagles immediately after the Saints picked Tuipulotu. New Orleans got a good one. Let’s see where his career goes next.

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The much criticized Detroit Lions draft class could take them to the Super Bowl

Back in April, the Detroit Lions were ridiculed for their draft class. Now those rookies are key players in the Lions playing in the NFC Championship

It is very common for media and fans to want to jump to conclusions immediately after the draft process to find out who “won” the draft (we are certainly guilty of it), but sometimes that is a fool’s errand given the seemingly random outcomes of players coming out of college.

The common theme after the 2023 Draft was that the Detroit Lions reached on players like running back Jahmyr Gibbs, linebacker Jack Campbell, and tight end Sam LaPorta. The narrative on this class has shifted more than just about any class in recent memory as this group of rookies have helped carry this team all the way to the NFC Championship game.

With Gibbs and LaPorta playing major roles in helping Detroit seal their game last weekend against Tampa Bay it becomes clear that the Lions nailed this draft class and could be the driving force to guide them to the Super Bowl. With a talented San Francisco team standing in their way it’s imperative that this rookie class all come up big, and Detroit could lean on the likes of LaPorta and Gibbs yet again to help punch their ticket to their first Super Bowl appearance.