Tag: Zach Charbonnet

Lions 7-round mock draft, spring break edition

The latest 2023 NFL draft projections for the Detroit Lions from Lions Wire’s Jeff Risdon

For millions of Americans, this week is spring break. It’s a time for families to get away and spend quality time together, or for college-age folks to live it up.

For some college student-athletes, it’s still time to work. The NFL draft is coming up quickly, and the prospects hoping to get selected are still doing everything they can to help their draft stock.

A select few of those prospects will become Detroit Lions. Here’s the latest projection of who those players could be when the draft takes place later this month.

2023 Lions mock draft: Post-free agent kickoff edition

Note: this is a projection of what the Lions might do with their picks, not a reflection of the choices I would make in the same situation. The “what I would do” mock draft comes closer to the draft. No trades in this one. 

One running back for the Vikings for every round of the 2023 NFL draft

Will the Minnesota Vikings take advantage of a deep running back class? If they do, they will have five picks to do so.

The running back is an interesting position for the Minnesota Vikings. They were in a position to release Dalvin Cook, but offseason shoulder surgery made that a little bit difficult.

On the roster right now, the Vikings have Cook, a re-signed Alexander Mattison, Ty Chandler and Kene Nwangwu. Even with all these players on the roster, going after a running back in this class feels like a smart move. Why? It’s incredibly deep.

As we head towards the NFL draft starting on Thursday, April 27th, here is a running back from each round that the Vikings have a draft pick.

Lions 2023 draft: A running back for every round

Identifying a running back projected from each round for consideration for the Detroit Lions in the 2023 NFL draft

The Detroit Lions are in a position to take a running back in the 2023 NFL draft. But in what slot?

Drafting running backs tends to be a polarizing prospect for NFL teams these days, especially early in a draft. Yet it’s also a position where nearly every team needs help, in part because the career shelf life is so much shorter than other positions.

The Lions have just two RBs under contract beyond 2023: starter David Montgomery and Greg Bell, who has never been active for a regular-season game.

Here is one RB prospect that fits the Lions from each round of the draft. Detroit doesn’t currently have any picks in the fourth or seventh rounds, but players from those ranges are included because trades happen all the time on draft weekend.

Lions 2023 draft: A cornerback for every round

This is not meant to be a comprehensive list, just one from each range.

Vikings 2023 NFL draft scouting report: UCLA RB Zach Charbonnet

The UCLA product Zach Charbonnet is a physical monster out of the backfield. How does he project to the NFL?

Welcome to SKOL Search!

This series will be your guide to the 2023 draft class. From scouting reports to mock drafts and exploring different scenarios, we will be covering the NFL draft and the future of the Minnesota Vikings from all angles.

The focus of the draft class in this space will be on the Vikings’ major needs at wide receiver, running back, cornerback and both interior and edge pass rusher.

The Vikings are slated to have five picks and they need to make the most out of them.

Los Angeles Chargers four-round 2023 NFL mock draft Friday 3.0

Here is the third edition of four-round Friday, laying out different scenarios on how the draft could play out for the Chargers.

The 2023 NFL draft is creeping up, so we will supply you with in-depth coverage between now and then to inform you who the Chargers could target while they’re on the clock.

With that being said, this is the third installment of the four-round mock draft Friday, where I will lay out different scenarios every week on how the first four rounds could play out for Los Angeles.

2023 NFL Draft: Zach Charbonnet scouting report

2023 NFL drat scouting report of UCLA RB Zach Charbonnet

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An incredibly productive running back for UCLA last season, Zach Charbonnet hopes his production will help boost his draft stock as he enters the 2023 NFL draft.

Here is everything you need to know about the Bruins workhorse:

2023 NFL draft: Updated RB rankings post-combine

Here’s a look at Draft Wire’s updated RB rankings following the NFL combine.

The 2023 NFL draft is over one month away, but we’ve gotten through the NFL combine, which means teams will be putting together their big boards.

The Indianapolis Colts don’t have a major need at the running back position with Jonathan Taylor returning for another season. However, he’s in a contract year, and the Colts like adding explosiveness to the backfield.

We took a look at the updated rankings at the following positions from Draft Wire:

With the combine over, we’re here to take an updated look at Draft Wire’s rankings at the running back position:

2023 NFL draft: UCLA RB Zach Charbonnet says he has met with Seahawks

One option they appear to be interested in is UCLA’s Zach Charbonnet, who told reporters at the combine that the’s met with Seattle.

The Seahawks are seemingly always in the market for fresh talent at running back. Fans should not be surprised then if they draft another one this year, even after spending a second-round pick on Ken Walker in 2022.

One option they appear to be interested in is UCLA’s Zach Charbonnet, who told reporters at the combine that the’s met with Seattle.

Charbonnet (6-foot-1, 220 pounds) spent two seasons at Michigan followed by two at UCLA. All together he put up 3,935 yards and scored 39 touchdowns from scrimmage. 641 of those yards came as a receiver, so Seattle might see him as a third-down back.

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Lions post-Combine mock draft: 3 rounds of building up Detroit

Draft projections for the first three round for the Detroit Lions after the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine

Now that the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine is complete, it’s time for the barrage of post-combine mock drafts.

8 players from the Combine who stood out as potential Detroit Lions targets

It turns out, this is also the first straight mock draft we’ve done here at Lions Wire for this draft cycle. I’ve rolled out a few mock offseasons that encompass free agency and player movement along with a mock draft. Now that I’ve had a chance to observe and report on the Lions from the combine, it’s easier to formulate an idea of what might happen come draft weekend at the end of April. This covers just the first three rounds.

The picks here are projections based on what I think the Lions might do with the given picks. They do not necessarily reflect the choices I would make. There are two specific projections here that I hope prove horribly wrong, but that’s one of the things about the draft: your favorite team is inevitably, reliably going to do some things that disappoint you–even Brad Holmes and the Lions.

Before we get to No. 6, the top five played out like this in my own mental simulation:

1. Colts trade up to land Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida

2. Texans take Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

3. Panthers trade up to land C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State

4. Bears take Will Anderson, EDGE, Alabama in the trade back with the Colts

5. Seahawks take Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia (provided he’s cleared in his criminal case)

2023 NFL Combine Results: QB, RB, WR and TE

Measurables for QB, RB, WR, and TE from the 2022 NFL Combine

The NFL combine is the first objective look at the 2023 class of rookies and a chance to see what their measurables actually are – not what the university PR department has pushed. Extreme values are always the most interesting but the bottom line to every player isn’t their weight, height, or speed.

It’s all about the yards and scores they generate when facing opposing NFL defenses. But the measurables below will impact where they are drafted and by whom, and that will define their opportunity and situation as a rookie.

Quarterbacks

First Round Prospects School HT WT Hand 40-yard
Bryce Young Alabama 5’10 204 9.75 —
C.J. Stroud Ohio State 6’3 214 10 —
Anthony Richardson Florida 6’4 244 10.5 4.43
Will Levis Kentucky 6’4 229 10.63 —
Rest of Class School HT WT Hand 40-yard
Tyson Bagent Shepherd 6’3 213 9.5 4.79
Stetson Bennett Georgia 5’11 192 10 4.67
Malik Cunningham Louisville 6’0 192 9.5 4.53
Max Duggan TCU 6’2 207 9.88 4.52
Jake Haener Fresno State 6’0 207 9.38 —
Jaren Hall BYU 6’0 207 9.5 —
Hendon Hooker Tennessee 6’3 217 10.5 —
Tanner McKee Stanford 6’6 231 9.38 —
Aidan O’Connell Purdue 6’3 213 9.75 —
Dorian Thompson-Robinson UCLA 6’2 203 9.88 4.56
Clayton Tune Houston 6’3 220 9.38 4.64

The first four quarterbacks above should all see first-round selections and a near-certainty that they’ll be given appreciable playing time as a rookie. Bryce Young is expected to be the first taken and that could be with the 1.01 pick that is currently held by the Bears but available to anyone if the price is right. He threw a ridiculous 79 touchdowns over the last two seasons in Alabama but he played with a listed height of 6-0. Seems he shrank two inches and he enters the NFL at almost exactly the same size as Kyler Murray.

Many of the prospects declined to run a 40-yard dash but should during the Pro Days at their college. Anthony Richardson enters the draft as a dual threat and his blazing 40-time suggests his success will continue when he is in the NFL. C.J. Stroud totaled 85 touchdown passes in his two seasons for Ohio State as a dangerous pocket passer. Will Levis could show up later in the first round after success in Kentucky as another quarterback with elite measurables as a passer, though with lesser college stats.

This is considered to be an average to good class of quarterbacks and should produce at least a couple of 2023 starters.

Running Backs

Early Round Prospects School HT WT Hand 40-yard
Bijan Robinson Texas 5’11 215 9.75 4.46
Jahmyr Gibbs Alabama 5’9 199 9.25 4.36
Zach Charbonnet UCLA 6’0 214 9.88 4.53
Kenny McIntosh Georgia 6’0 204 9 4.62
Zach Evans Mississippi 5’11 202 10.25 —
Devon Achane Texas A&M 5’9 188 8.5 4.32
Rest of Class School HT WT Hand 40-yard
Israel Abanikanda Pittsburgh 5’10 216 8.25 —
Tank Bigsby Auburn 6’0 210 9.5 4.56
Chase Brown Illinois 5’10 209 10 4.43
Travis Dye USC 5’10 201 9.25 —
Tiyon Evans Louisville 5’10 225 8.5 4.52
Eric Gray Oklahoma 5’10 207 9.75 —
Evan Hull Northwestern 5’11 209 9.25 4.47
Mohamed Ibrahim Minnesota 5’8 203 9 —
Roschon Johnson Texas 6’0 219 9.63 4.58
Hunter Luepke North Dakota State 6’1 230 9.63 —
DeWayne McBride UAB 5’10 209 9.5 —
Kendre Miller TCU 5’11 215 9.38 —
Keaton Mitchell East Carolina 5’8 179 9.25 4.37
Camerun Peoples Appalachian State 6’1 217 9.75 4.61
Deneric Prince Tulsa 6’0 216 9.25 4.41
Chris Rodriguez Jr. Kentucky 6’0 217 8.63 —
Tyjae Spears Tulane 5’10 201 10 —
Tavion Thomas Utah 6’0 237 9.25 4.74
SaRodorick Thompson Texas Tech 6’0 207 9 4.67
Sean Tucker Syracuse 5’9 207 9.5 —
Deuce Vaughn Kansas State 5’5 179 9.5 —

The devaluing of running backs in the NFL will be apparent in the NFL draft, with Bijan Robinson the only running back that should be a lock for the first round. The ex-Longhorn runner is fast, has prototypical size and elite rushing skills that will net him a starting gig in Week 1. He’ll be highly coveted in fantasy drafts and is expected to go in the first half of the first round, if not Top-10.

Jahmyr Gibbs is a smaller player at 5-9, 199 pounds but was a speedy dynamo for the Crimson Tide last year and brings dual-threat skills that could see him potentially sneak into the end of the first round, but more likely be taken in the second.

This could be another draft with running back quality lasting into Day 3 which means any NFL team can reach them. That handful of rookies with significant production have to land in a great offense with at least a solid shot at a complementary role.

Wide Receivers

Early Round Prospects School HT WT Hand 40-yard
Quentin Johnston TCU 6’3 208 9.63 —
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Ohio State 6’1 196 9 —
Jordan Addison USC 5’11 173 8.75 4.49
Jalin Hyatt Tennessee 6’0 176 9 4.4
Zay Flowers Boston College 5’9 182 9.25 4.42
Rashee Rice SMU 6’1 204 9.5 4.51
Cedric Tillman Tennessee 6’3 213 10 4.54
Kayshon Boutte LSU 5’11 195 9.5 4.5
Xavier Hutchinson Iowa State 6’2 203 9.38 4.53
Jonathan Mingo Mississippi 6’2 220 10.38 4.46
Josh Downs North Carolina 5’9 171 9.25 4.48
Rest of Class School HT WT Hand 40-yard
Ronnie Bell Michigan 6’0 191 9.5 4.54
Jake Bobo UCLA 6’4 206 10 —
Jalen Brooks South Carolina 6’1 201 9.5 4.69
Jason Brownlee Southern Mississippi 6’2 198 9.75 4.59
Jacob Copeland Maryland 5’11 201 8.63 4.42
Derius Davis TCU 5’8 165 8 4.36
Nathaniel Dell Houston 5’8 165 8.63 4.49
Dontay Demus Jr. Maryland 6’3 212 9.75 4.57
Demario Douglas Liberty 5’8 179 8.75 4.44
Grant DuBose Charlotte 6’2 201 9.5 4.57
Bryce Ford-Wheaton West Virginia 6’4 221 9.38 4.38
Antoine Green North Carolina 6’2 199 9 4.47
Jadon Haselwood Arkansas 6’2 215 10 4.66
Malik Heath Mississippi 6’2 213 9.13 4.64
Elijah Higgins Stanford 6’3 235 10.5 4.54
Andrei Iosivas Princeton 6’3 205 8.75 4.43
Kearis Jackson Georgia 5’11 196 9.38 4.55
Rakim Jarrett Maryland 6’0 192 9.38 4.44
Michael Jefferson Louisiana 6’4 199 9.63 4.56
Jaray Jenkins LSU 6’2 204 10 4.6
CJ Johnson East Carolina 6’2 224 10.25 —
Charlie Jones Purdue 5’11 175 9 4.43
Malik Knowles Kansas State 6’2 196 8.75 —
Matt Landers Arkansas 6’4 200 9.25 4.37
Marvin Mims Oklahoma 5’11 183 9 4.38
Jalen Moreno-Cropper Fresno State 5’11 172 8.88 4.4
Puka Nacua BYU 6’2 201 9.5 —
Joseph Ngata Clemson 6’3 217 10.25 4.54
Trey Palmer Nebraska 6’0 192 9.63 4.33
A.T. Perry Wake   Forest 6’4 198 9.25 4.47
Jayden Reed Michigan State 5’11 187 9.13 4.45
Tyler Scott Cincinnati 5’10 177 9 4.44
Justin Shorter Florida 6’4 229 10 4.55
Mitchell Tinsley Penn State 6’0 199 10 4.6
Tre Tucker Cincinnati 5’9 182 8.63 4.4
Parker Washington Penn State 5’10 204 10.13 —
Jalen Wayne South Alabama 6’2 210 9.38 4.51
Dontayvion Wicks Virginia 6’1 206 10 4.62
Michael Wilson Stanford 6’2 213 9.75 4.58

The two measurables that are most valued with wideouts are height (without losing speed) and 40-times. While there are many 6-2 wideouts, there are plenty of solid prospects that are not relying on just standing tall over the middle. And there will be fantasy value produced from this group this year, but it will be the combination of their talent and measurables plus the situation and quarterback that they are paired with on their new team.

Both Quentin Johnston (TCU) and Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Ohio State) are expected to be first-round picks. Johnston is the consensus best wideout in the draft. Jordan Addison, and Zay Flowers are also expected to be Day 1 picks by a receiver-needy team. There’s still time for receivers to jockey for better draft slots and all it takes is one team interested.

There should be up to ten wide receivers taken in the first two rounds and each will carry expectations of contributing as a rookie. There are plenty of candidates to sift through and Pro Days will also help to sort out which ones will deserve fantasy attention this season.

Tight Ends

Early Round Prospects School HT WT Hand 40-yard
Michael Mayer Notre  Dame 6’5 249 9.5 4.70
Dalton Kincaid Utah 6’4 246 10.25 —
Luke Musgrave Oregon State 6’6 253 10.38 4.61
Darnell Washington Georgia 6’7 264 11 4.64
Sam LaPorta Iowa 6’3 245 10.25 4.59
Rest of Class School HT WT Hand 40-yard
Davis Allen Clemson 6’6 245 10 4.84
Payne Durham Purdue 6’6 253 9.75 4.87
Noah Gindorff North Dakota State 6’6 263 10 —
Tucker Kraft South Dakota State 6’5 254 10 4.69
Zack Kuntz Old Dominion 6’7 255 10.25 4.55
Cameron Latu Alabama 6’4 242 9.5 —
Will Mallory Miami 6’5 239 9.38 4.54
Kyle Patterson Air   Force 6’5 260 9.25 —
Luke Schoonmaker Michigan 6’5 251 9 4.63
Brenton Strange Penn State 6’4 253 9.63 4.70
Leonard Taylor Cincinnati 6’5 250 10.13 —
Travis Vokolek Nebraska 6’6 259 9.5 —
Blake Whiteheart Wake  Forest 6’4 247 8.75 4.7
Josh Whyle Cincinnati 6’7 248 9.5 4.69
Brayden Willis Oklahoma 6’4 241 9.75 —

Historically, rookie tights do not carry enough reliability to merit any fantasy start, but one or two may emerge as a weekly option later in the season. Michael Mayer is the consensus best tight end but that’s as much as being a receiver as a blocker. Any tight end with sub-4.8 40-time has the wheels to be a receiver that tacks on yardage. Darnell Washington is not only the tallest at 6-7, but ran a 4.64 as the heaviest tight end (264 pounds).

The first tight end should be Mayer and while there’s a small chance that he’s taken at the end of the first round, he’s more likely to lead the five top tight ends that will be taken on Day 2.