Tag: NFL Draft 2022

2023 NFL Draft: First Round Mock Draft First Look 1-31

2023 NFL Draft: The first 27 picks are set with the last four to be determined after the playoffs are over with three games to go. Here’s our first look mock draft for the entire first round.

2023 NFL Draft: The first 27 picks are set with the last four to be determined after the playoffs are over with three games to go. Here’s our first look mock draft for the entire first round.

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2023 NFL Draft: First Look Mock Draft First Round

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2023 NFL Draft Underclassmen. Early Entrants
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | OTs | OG/Cs
Edge | DEs/DTs | LBs | CBs | Safeties
Top 100 2023 NFL Draft Early Entrants
2023 NFL Draft Early Entrants By College

Now that we know what the first 28 picks are in the 2023 NFL Draft – the order of the last four doesn’t matter that much considering the teams involved and their respective needs – here’s our first look what the whole first round might be.

As always, the mock drafts will change many, many times over before this gets going on April 27th. Until it actually happens and Chicago trades away the No. 1 overall pick – if it trades down to a quarterback-starved team – we’re going to play it straight.

The last four – 28 through 31 – are in alphabetical order.

29-31 Cincinnati Bengals

2023 Mock Draft First Call: OT Jaelyn Duncan, Maryland

28-31 Denver Broncos (from San Francisco)

2023 Mock Draft First Call: OT Anton Harrison, Oklahoma

28-31 Kansas City Chiefs

2023 Mock Draft First Call: EDGE Isaiah Foskey, Notre Dame

28-31 Philadelphia Eagles

2023 Mock Draft First Call: EDGE Andre Carter, Army

27 Buffalo Bills

2023 Mock Draft First Call: OG O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida

26 Dallas Cowboys

2023 Mock Draft First Call: WR Kayshon Boutte, LSU

25 New York Giants

2023 Mock Draft First Call: WR Jordan Addison, USC

24 Jacksonville Jaguars

2023 Mock Draft First Call: DE Lukas Van Ness, Iowa

23 Minnesota Vikings

2023 Mock Draft First Call: CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois

22 Baltimore Ravens

2023 Mock Draft First Call: WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State

21 Los Angeles Chargers

2023 Mock Draft First Call: OT Broderick Jones, Georgia

Miami forfeited the pick that would’ve been the 21

20 Seattle Seahawks

2023 Mock Draft First Call: DT Siaki Ika, Baylor

19 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2023 Mock Draft First Call: RB Bijan Robinson, Texas

18 Detroit Lions

2023 Mock Draft First Call: S Brian Branch, Alabama

17 Pittsburgh Steelers

2023 Mock Draft First Call: DT Bryan Bresee, Clemson

16 Washington Commanders

2023 Mock Draft First Call: CB Kelee Ringo, Georgia

15 Green Bay Packers

2023 Mock Draft First Call: TE Michael Mayer, Notre Dame

14 New England Patriots

2023 Mock Draft First Call: CB Cam Smith, South Carolina

13 New York Jets

2023 Mock Draft First Call: OT Paris Johnson, Ohio State

12 Houston Texans (from Cleveland)

2023 Mock Draft First Call: WR Quentin Johnston, TCU

11 Tennessee Titans

2023 Mock Draft First Call: OT Peter Skoronski, Northwestern

10 Philadelphia Eagles (from New Orleans)

2023 Mock Draft First Call: CB Christian Gonzalez, Oregon

9 Carolina Panthers

2023 Mock Draft First Call: QB Anthony Richardson, Florida

8 Atlanta Falcons

2023 Mock Draft First Call: EDGE Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech

7 Las Vegas Raiders

2023 Mock Draft First Call: QB CJ Stroud, Ohio State

6 Detroit Lions (from Los Angeles Rams)

2023 Mock Draft First Call: CB Joey Porter Jr., Penn State

5 Seattle Seahawks (from Denver)

2023 Mock Draft First Call: EDGE Myles Murphy, Clemson

4 Indianapolis Colts

2023 Mock Draft First Call: QB Will Levis, Kentucky

3 Arizona Cardinals

2023 Mock Draft First Call: EDGE Will Anderson, Alabama

2 Houston Texans

2023 Mock Draft First Call: QB Bryce Young, Alabama

1 Chicago Bears

2023 Mock Draft First Call: DT Jalen Carter, Georgia

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2023 NFL Draft Underclassmen. Early Entrants
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | OTs | OG/Cs
Edge | DEs/DTs | LBs | CBs | Safeties
Top 100 2023 NFL Draft Early Entrants
2023 NFL Draft Early Entrants By College

Electric Ja’Sir Taylor brings athleticism, versatility to Chargers’ defensive back room

Find out what new cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor brings to the Los Angeles Chargers.

Chargers head coach Brandon Staley doesn’t draft players to fill roster holes and check boxes on his defense.

Staley wants players that will check multiple boxes, contribute in a variety of areas, and possess several countermeasures in order to blanket any evolving look the offense throws at his unit.

Versatility isn’t just a premium for the Chargers under Staley. It’s a requirement.

When examining these criteria, the dots connect regarding the team’s selection of Wake Forest defensive back Ja’Sir Taylor in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL draft. Taylor played in 62 games (a school record) during his five-year career, notching 184 tackles, six interceptions, and 24 pass breakups over that span. Taylor also demonstrated a formidable presence on special teams as a kick returner – he averaged 26.3 yards per return in 2021 and took a 99-yard kickoff to the house against Old Dominion.

He escaped widespread national recognition in a stacked class for his position, but steady improvement of his stats throughout his time with the Demon Deacons, strong pre-draft showcases, and solid testing (most notably a 4.39 40-yard dash) caught the eye of the Bolts. 

Before draft night, the Bolts were all-in on getting to know Taylor. They held a private workout for him, flew him out for a visit, and were in constant communication with him over the last few months. The interest was mutual, so much so that before he had even received the phone call, Taylor already felt like he was in power and blue.

“I envisioned myself there after my visit,” Taylor said in an interview with The Chargers Wire. “I started looking at what picks they have on their roster, just watching videos on the team and their culture. I felt like going into the draft, I was already a Charger. When they gave me the call, it was all full circle.”

With the contract signed, minicamp complete, and OTAs underway, Taylor’s integration into the defense has begun. The Chargers’ defensive back room should be in stark contention with the league’s best, with cornerbacks J.C. Jackson and Asante Samuel Jr. joining forces to erase outside threats while punishing safety Derwin James keeps the vertical passing game honest over the top. That leaves an opportunity for Taylor to support at the nickel back position, a spot he confirmed will be his primary focus for the team.

“I won’t hinder myself by saying I’m only a nickel,” Taylor said. “I have to learn both and whatever opportunity opens itself up first, I’ll do it.”

Taylor’s game is naturally opportunistic and several of his interceptions display an uncanny knack for being in the right place at the right time to make a play on the ball. Taylor is able to read offensive structures, traverse the field for key position in his coverage, and track the ball to its final destination for the takeaway. He gets his eyes on the quarterback and fluidly multitasks between his assignment and the developments in the pocket to get a jump on the play.

It’s all a testament to preparation and observation of the details that repeat themselves on the field and on tape.

“A lot of that comes from film study to be honest,” Taylor said. “Just recognizing sets, formations, little things about the receivers. Playing football is all just a child’s game. It’s something I’ve been playing since I was little and it’s all about just going out there having fun, trusting your preparation and technique, and plays will happen.”

Life on the gridiron has taught Taylor that even the most subtle nuances of football can give away an offense’s game plan. He looks for those and identifies which behavior can give him a slight edge.

“Some receivers will lift their foot up and change their stance or mechanics based on if it’s a run play or a pass play,” Taylor said. “Whether it’s tightening up their gloves, spitting on their gloves, jogging off the ball, their approach to the down-and-distance. You don’t want to think too much, but some of those clues and hints pop up if you’re right on it.”

It helps when a player is as sure-handed as Taylor, who played the other side of the ball all the way up until the moment he arrived at Wake Forest. Taylor ran track in high school, so naturally, his skill set suited the slot receiver and running back roles where the offense could get the ball in his hands and let him separate from defenders. Taylor said the knowledge gained from his offensive background and overall athleticism has translated immensely to his defensive coverage.

“I really wasn’t picturing myself as a defensive player until I got to Wake Forest,” Taylor said. “Knowing that division from both sides and what the offense is going to do contributed to my learning for sure.”

Taylor also expects to contribute heavily on special teams, which he views not only as a way to make an early impact for the team but also consistently create good field position for quarterback Justin Herbert and the Chargers offense.

“Flipping field position with punts, electric returns, just setting up momentum,” Taylor explained, “It is a big game-changer throughout the flow of the game that a lot of people don’t realize.”

With a boatload of receiving talent in the AFC West to match up against, Taylor is most excited to take on one of its newest albeit prestigious members in Davante Adams of the Las Vegas Raiders. However, his reps against Hunter Renfrow in college have also left an impression and hunger to compete.

“He has a green light to just get open,” Taylor said. “His routes are unorthodox. He finds small spaces to sit down. He turns it back up. He’s just all over the place. And it’s a great challenge because he has that flexibility and freedom to just go out there, get open, and find spots in zones and man coverage. I feel like that’s a great challenge to go up against.”

Adjusting to the NFL is a challenge for any incoming rookie, but Taylor’s strong work ethic, electric athleticism, and a sharp-eyed perspective on football suggest he will adjust quickly to Staley’s expectations and be a positive presence for the Chargers when his number is called.

Zachary Carter signs first NFL contract with Cincinnati Bengals

Former Florida defensive lineman Zachary Carter got paid! Carter and the Bengals have agreed to terms for his rookie contract.

Former Florida defensive lineman [autotag]Zachary Carter[/autotag] is officially a member of the NFL after signing his rookie contract with the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Bengals took Carter with the 95th overall pick in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft and both parties agreed to a maximum compensation deal, according to Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network. Spotrac.com values the deal at $5,079,938 over four years, averaging 1,269,985 per year. Carter will also pick up an $874,500  signing bonus — the only guaranteed money in the deal.

Although Florida’s defense underperformed over the last two seasons, Carter was a major player on the Gators’ defensive line. He played both inside and on the edge and projects as a 4-3 defensive end in the League. He has a shot to break into the b rotation as a rookie behind starters Sam Hubbard and Trey Hendrickson. Cam Sample and Joseph Ossai are the backups likely to compete most with Carter.

In four seasons with Florida, Carter totaled 107 tackles (39 solo), 28.5 tackles for a loss, 17.5 sacks, eight pass deflections, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He was the leader up front on defense in 2022 and started the season off with a career-high three sacks against Florida Atlantic in the season opener.

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Cameras captured Bailey Zappe’s emotional reaction when he learned the Patriots drafted him

I’m not crying, YOU’RE CRYING.

Entering the 2022 NFL Draft, quarterback wasn’t a significant need for the Patriots. A year prior, New England used a first-round pick on Mac Jones. While Jones is far from an untouchable veteran star, Bill Belichick definitely wasn’t looking to replace a second-year player.

But that didn’t mean the Patriots couldn’t still take a passer — albeit someone who’d likely project more as a backup. Enter Bailey Zappe, who quickly learned it’s best never to say never.

On Day 3 of the Draft, Zappe had yet to hear his name called. Like many prospects, the former Western Kentucky standout waited for a phone call while hanging out with loved ones. His time was coming; he just didn’t think it’d ever happen with the Patriots.

And boy — when they picked Zappe at No. 137 overall in the fourth round, it made for a heartwarming moment.

Wow, what a powerful scene.

It’s not necessarily unique in itself that someone like Zappe has an emotional reaction to his dream coming true. But when you package that emotion with a healthy dose of surprise, when that dream comes true when you least expect it: That pulls at the heartstrings.

We’ll see what Zappe can achieve with the Patriots soon enough. For now, I’m sure he and his family are still basking in that moment of celebratory shock.

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Giants CB James Bradberry a possible intriguing option for the Cardinals

The Cardinals would be wise to consider adding former Pro Bowl cornerback James Bradberry from the Giants.

Arizona Cardinals general manager Steve Keim has made some excellent free agent acquisitions after the initial wave of free agency many times in the past. Look no further than Pro Bowler James Conner, whom the team added last April.

The Cardinals entered the NFL draft with needs at cornerback, wide receiver and edge rusher. These positions of need were confirmed by Keim during his pre-draft press conference a few days prior to the first round.

The team added Marquise Brown in exchange for their first round pick and drafted back-to-back edge rushers in the third round. The team did not address cornerback until the seventh round.

Many thought the Cardinals were content with their cornerback room, but perhaps they are looking for more based on Keim’s comments and how the draft played out.

One intriguing option could be cornerback James Bradberry from the New York Giants. Bradberry earned his Pro Bowl honors in 2020 after a stellar campaign. His play declined a bit last year but so did the team as a whole.

The Giants have been actively looking to trade Bradberry due to their rebuilding situation and a massive cap hit due for this season. His cap hit is approximately $22 million for this season, so it makes sense for the team to look for a way to move on given their current state.

After failing to find a trade partner, it appears the Giants are set to release their Pro Bowl corner. General manager Joe Schoen spoke to the media earlier this week with some clarifying news.

“We should have some resolution hopefully by the end of the week,” he said. “It’s unfortunate because he’s a great kid.”

For the Cardinals, adding a player like Bradberry late in the offseason, particularly without having to give up draft capital would be a major boost to their defense. The cornerback room, in its current state, is young and athletic but without established Pro-Bowlers like Bradberry.

The 29-year-old pro would join a position room that already features Byron Murphy and Marco Wilson, the latter of whom the Cards expect a big jump from. The team also added Jeff Gladney in the offseason, but adding Bradberry only makes the team better.

Cornerback was an area of weakness late in the season for the Cardinals. Following injuries to Marco Wilson and Robert Alford, they were unable to stop most of the passing offenses they came across. Bradberry would have helped tremendously in that area last year.

Spotrac estimates Bradberry’s market value to be $12.5 million per season. That is a much more manageable number than the cap hit on his current deal. Perhaps that number shrinks, particularly given the later point in the offseason that we’re at.

The Cardinals have maintained that they did right by not overspending or overreacting to the first wave of free agency and that they’ll stay aggressive the rest of the way. Let’s see if adding a Pro-Bowl caliber player at a position of need is on their radar in the coming days.

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2022 NFL Rookie of the Year: Kenny Pickett, Aiden Hutchinson lead early favorites

There’s plenty of value on the offensive side while the defensive odds look a lot like the draft order.

With the 2022 NFL Draft officially in the books, it’s time for bettors to take all the knowledge gained over the last few weeks and attempt to pick a Rookie of the Year winner on both offense and defense.

One is already looking like a more difficult challenge than the other.

On the defensive side of the ball, top picks Aiden Hutchinson and Kayvon Thibodeaux lead the way with +450 odds at Tipico. Offensively, quarterback Kenny Pickett (+500) and wideout Drake London (+700) lead the class. It’s certainly looking like oddsmakers care more about draft position when it comes to defense.

Here’s a look at the rest of the incredibly early odds for offensive and defensive Rookie of the Year.

All odds via Tipico

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Following NFL draft, Cardinals’ offensive ceiling has exponentially increased

Following the recent acquisitions of Trey McBride and Hollywood Brown, the Cardinals offense features a ridiculous group of playmakers.

Following a quiet free agency, many Arizona Cardinals fans were growing frustrated with the team’s lack of signings and additions. While they were able to re-sign most of their core free agents, they let two key players from last season go without replacing them, those being Chandler Jones and Christian Kirk.

In the past week, however, those sentiments have quickly changed for many. The Cardinals made a shocking trade Thursday night when they sent the 23rd overall pick for Ravens star receiver Hollywood Brown.

Perhaps an equally surprising move was their second round selection of Trey McBride, the consensus top tight end prospect from this year’s class. In a tight end room that already features Zach Ertz and Maxx Williams, it was initially shocking to see the Cardinals technically spend their first draft pick on a tight end.

Following the surprise and discontent from some fans, however, the McBride’s potential was very obviously too good to pass up. Many are comparing his game to that of 49ers’ star George Kittle.

The addition of two standout receiving threats gives the Cardinals a better group of offensive skill position players than they had in 2021, which is saying a ton considering they were the No. 1 statistical offense in the league prior to injuries to both Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins.

The wide receiver room now features Hopkins, Hollywood Brown, Rondale Moore and A.J. Green. Having Green, who had over 800 yards receiving last year (with some missed time) as WR4 illustrates the surplus of firepower general manager Steve Keim is providing the offense. Antoine Wesley, who flashed towards the end of last season, is also a notable name there.

The running back group took a hit with the loss of Chase Edmonds to Miami, but the lead man is still Pro Bowler James Conner. Third-year pro Eno Benjamin figures today to be the No. 2 back, though the team has recently looked at free agent RB Darrell Williams.

The tight end room is arguably as impressive as the receiving room, with 3x Pro-Bowler Zach Ertz leading the charge. Maxx Williams, who was playing great football prior to injury is an excellent complement in both the passing attack and run game. Both of those two should be great help to the newest member of the room in Trey McBride.

The group of skill position players is, as of right now, absurdly talented. Defenses will still focus primarily on containing Hopkins, but the plethora of other playmakers makes that so difficult to do. And if they do shift coverage away from Hop, leaving him one-on-one, that’s where the ball is going.

If the group can maintain relative health through next season, the Cardinals offense has the potential to be even better than they were prior to injuries last season.

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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2022 NFL Draft Team Rankings, 1 to 32 From The College Perspective

2022 NFL Draft: Ranking all 32 NFL teams from best to worst. Who had the strongest drafts, and who struggled?

The 2022 NFL Draft team rankings of all 32 teams, from the college perspective. Which NFL teams had the best and worst drafts?

2022 NFL Draft Team Rankings, 1 to 32 From The College Perspective

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– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews | @PeteFiutak

As the line goes, you’ll never know how good a draft class was until several years from now.

But that’s not quite fair, and it’s not quite right. We actually do know.

We know that almost all of the late picks won’t work – no matter how good they seemed to be – and we know most of the first round picks will be fine starters, especially in a year with just one quarterback selected early.

So how do you do this? How do you rank who had the best 2022 NFL Draft weekend before any of these guys step on the field?

1. Again, assume every pick after the fourth round was a waste of time, because historically and statistically, it almost certainly was. More credit is given to teams who had a ton of picks – more picks, more chances to get a starter. And, to be fair, kickers, punters, and occasionally running backs are the best late value gets.

2. Is the guy good, and does he have the tools? If that sounds totally obvious it’s because it is. Leave the hoo-ha analysis out of it – was he a good football player in college, and does he have NFL measurables?

3. Value. That’s all relative – your worth is what the NFL draft says it is – but in general, everyone is working from the same set of beliefs and rankings. There are fluctuations, but it’s rare when the collective scouting world isn’t close to agreement on most of the prospects.

Whether or not a pick works is usually up to random dumb luck, especially when it comes to the all-timers and All-Pros – otherwise, Aaron Donald, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers would’ve been drafted a whole lot earlier. The skill is getting a prospect at a relatively cheap draft slot.

And finally …

4. Were the needs filled? Did teams address their problems and get good parts to help the cause?

And with that, the 2022 NFL Draft Rankings from 1 to 32.

Cardinals get an A for Hollywood Brown trade

CBS Sports had plenty of praise for the Cardinals after they acquired Hollywood Brown from the Ravens.

The Arizona Cardinals made all the breaking news headlines Thursday night with a surprising trade for wide receiver Hollywood Brown. The trade was completely out of nowhere as the Cards had to operate with total secrecy as to not put Baltimore at a disadvantage in the draft.

There are some who believe the Cardinals gave up too much draft capital for Brown, but the general consensus is the offense is significantly better after the trade.

One of those is CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin, who gave the Cardinals an A for their overall draft haul.

With Christian Kirk departing via free agency, Brown’s arrival allows the aging A.J. Green to slide back into more of a rotational role behind DeAndre Hopkins and takes pressure off Rondale Moore as the presumptive No. 3. It’s a truly sensible gamble, potentially solving a slew of issues at once. Not only are the Cards potentially placating their star QB, who’s angling for his own payday and will benefit from an additional deep threat, but they’re getting a possible long-term playmaker at a premium position.

Benjamin and others have given props to the Cards for addressing a number of issues with this trade. They filled one of the biggest needs on the team, as they were without a WR2 and lost Christian Kirk to the Jaguars. They also needed elite speed on the outside to pair with Hopkins. Very few players in the league offer the same sort of speed as Hollywood Brown.

The Cardinals also made a long term commitment to their franchise quarterback in Kyler Murray, pairing him with a strong offensive weapon who also happens to be one of his best friends.

Most media outlets have given the Cardinals a respectable grade in the B grade range, but it’s refreshing to see CBS Sports give the team high praise for their acquisition of Brown.

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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Florida football’s 2022 NFL draft and free agent tracker

Didn’t watch the draft or catch all of the undrafted free agent signings that relate to UF? Gators Wire has got you covered.

The 2022 NFL draft has come and gone and another crop of talent is headed to the pros from Gainesville. Three players heard their names called over as many days of the draft, but several more former Gators are finding deals as undrafted free agents.

There’s no guarantee that any of the recent signees make it on an opening day roster or even a practice squad for that matter, but it’s the opportunity most of these players have been working toward for most of their lives. Squandering this chance to fulfill the dream of being an NFL athlete is something they aim to avoid.

There could be more to come too. While names like linebacker [autotag]Jeremiah Moon[/autotag] and running back [autotag]Malik Davis[/autotag] are already locked up, players such as offensive lineman [autotag]Stewart Reese[/autotag] and wide receiver [autotag]Rick Wells[/autotag] are still available.

With that said, let’s take a look at each member of the 2021 Florida Gators football team that currently finds himself with an NFL team.