On the Clock: 2023 RCF Mock Draft - Pick Thread

Jack Brickman · Mar 28, 2023

The pick is in!

With the 6th pick in the 2023 RCF Mock Draft, the Detroit Lions select...

Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia

Fuck it. We're gonna ride the lightning.

Heading into the draft, one of the biggest needs for the Lions was on the defensive line, and despite his off the field dumbassery and godawful Combine performance, Jalen Carter seems like one of the more sure thing DT prospects in recent memory.

Here's what NFL.com had to say:

Overview
When assessing a player’s draft grade, we take into consideration areas like traits, toughness, explosiveness, skill level, potential for growth and positional projections. Across the board, Carter checks out in a big way. However, his maturity will need to be vetted by each team as they make their evaluations. The tape shows a defender with odd- or even-front versatility and a rare blend of first-step quickness and leverage through contact. He’s capable of finding quick wins against sloppy guard play and finishes the play once he’s in the backfield. His hand usage can be violent or subtle, but the feet are always active and searching for an opening. Based upon talent, traits and projection, Carter appears ready to step into the NFL and become a productive three-down talent with Pro Bowl potential.

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Strengths

Outstanding lean muscle mass with proportional structure.
Rockets out of stance and into premium position off the snap.
Step-and-swim move creates upper hand to bypass guards.
Accurate, compact hands keep him in ready position to handle business.
Holds the point during lateral engagements to monitor both gaps.
Widens base and rolls hips to doorjamb the double team.
Flurries with hand combinations to disorient protection.
Upper and lower body in harmony for edge-to-edge rush approach.
Batters edge and opens door to pocket with forceful club move.
Leverage makes him difficult to redirect once he finds blocker’s edge.

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Weaknesses

Could use a little more mass against NFL guards.
Loses momentum when swapping power with true heavyweights.
Neutralized by the size/strength of Florida’s O’Cyrus Torrence in 2022.
Tank ran out of gas in College Football Playoff semifinal against Ohio State.
Could use a more diversified rush approach.
Scouts say maturity has been an issue for him at times.

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Detroit Lions 2023 draft:
1.06 - Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia

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@raiders91sc is on the clock.

raiders91sc · Mar 28, 2023

With the 7th pick in the 2023 RCF Mock Draft, the LV Raiders select...

Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State

HEIGHT
6’ 6’’
WEIGHT
313 lbs
ARM
36 1/8’’
HAND
9 1/2’’

He played in five games as a reserve his true freshman season, including the national title game against Alabama. Johnson started at right guard in all 13 games of his sophomore season, garnering second-team All-Big Ten notice for his efforts. He moved to left tackle for 2022, playing well enough in 13 starts at his new spot to receive second-team Associated Press All-American and first-team All-Big Ten accolades.

daddywags · Mar 28, 2023

To move things along (I'm going to be driving), with the 8th pick the Atlanta Falcons select Christian Gonzalez, CB Oregon. Will supplement later.

Please notify next team owner.

Why Gonzalez? Well, the Falcons pretty much need talent everywhere, let's be honest. Gonzalez is big (6'1", 197), fast (4.38 combine 40), athletic (41.5" vertical, 11.3' broad jump, 9.99 RAS score), and comes to play (started every game in 2021 and 2022 seasons). He will team with A. J. Terrell (2020 first round pick) at CB for the Falcons as they continue to build a young defensive backfield (Richie Grant, S, 2021 second round pick).

I had Gonzalez and/or Carter circled for this pick and was praying that Bryce Young went ahead of me. The Falcons will have to live with Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke at QB for a year (unless I can convince Lamar to take our bag!). Anyway, with no FQB in sight, we take elite talent where we find it.

Hurl Bruce · Mar 28, 2023

Up, next, in the hole:

9. Chicago Bears (from Carolina) @AZ_
10. Philadelphia Eagles (from New Orleans) [USER=8411]@adam81king
11. Tennessee Titans @Randolphkeys

AZ_ · Mar 28, 2023

Bears open to a trade back, will give it an hour or so as I put together my selection post.

AZ_ · Mar 28, 2023

With the 9th overall pick, the Chicago Bears select:

Deonte Banks - CB - Maryland

adam81king · Mar 28, 2023

With the 10th pick in the 2023 RCF NFL Mock Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles select:

DEVON WITHERSPOON

ILLINOIS
CB

Prospect Info

COLLEGE
Illinois
HOMETOWN
CLASS
Pensacola, FL
Senior

HEIGHT
5’ 11 1/2’’
WEIGHT
181 lbs
ARM
31 1/4’’
HAND
8 7/8’’

Prospect Grade

6.43
Will Become Good Starter Within Two Years



84Good
View All Prospects

Score Breakdown
Score Breakdown

Production Score
85
2023 Combine CB Rank: 3rd
Athleticism Score *est
72
2023 Combine CB Rank: 22nd
Total Score
84
2023 Combine CB Rank: 7th
Player Bio

The 2018 Pensacola Defensive Player of the Year (intercepting seven passes as a senior) signed with Illinois out of Pine Forest High School. He started three of 13 games played, breaking up two passes and leading the Illini with 13 special teams tackles among his 33 total stops. Witherspoon started seven games in 2020 (33 tackles, two interceptions, three fumble recoveries) and 10 games in 2021, when he recorded 52 tackles (eight for loss) and topped his squad with nine pass breakups. He became one of the top defenders on the nation's top scoring defense in 2022, receiving first-team Associated Press All-American honors and being named Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year after recording 17 passes defensed, three interceptions and 41 tackles (2.5 for loss) in 12 starts. The Jim Thorpe Award finalist opted out of the team's bowl game. -- by Chad Reuter

Analysis

By Lance Zierlein
NFL Analyst
NFL Comparison
Levi Wallace
Overview
Witherspoon is a fun watch but requires evaluators to carefully consider his strengths and weaknesses relative to scheme. He plays with anticipation, route feel and a consistent sense of urgency to prevent catches, as displayed by his high number of pass breakups. He plays with ballhawking eyes and good balance from zone coverage and is very aggressive tackling both after the catch and in run support. There are snaps where he gets behind and stays behind due to a lack of premium speed and closing burst, so he might require help over the top or a more zone-oriented scheme to help him shine. The playmaking mentality and traits give him a solid chance to become a CB2 in the league.
Strengths

Allowed completion rate of just 34.9% in 2022, per PFF.
Impressive route recognition and trigger on the throw.
Eyes are probing from off coverages.
Well-balanced defending high/low route concepts from zone.
Instinctive with 14 pass breakups in 2022.
Takes ball-side angles to disrupt the catch point.
Zeroes in on receiver’s hands on deep throws.
Physical with a striker’s mentality in run support and as tackler versus the pass.

Weaknesses

Can be jab-stepped off-balance by release fakes.
Coverage is very handsy after the first five yards.
Sluggish to transition hips and match route breaks from his backpedal.
Top-end speed could be an issue at the next level.
Lacks juice to make up the distance when he gets behind.
Will bite hard on play-action and double moves.

Randolphkeys · Mar 28, 2023

With the 11th pick in the 2023 fake NFL draft, the Tennessee Titans select...

Broderick Jones, OT, Redshirt Sophomore, Georgia

Broderick Jones was the starting left tackle for the back-to-back national champion Georgia Bulldogs. Prior to enrolling, Jones was a five-star recruit and rated as a top-three offensive tackle in the nation. A two-sport athlete, Jones was a skilled post player on the hardwood. He helped lead the basketball team to 21-10 record as a junior. He has been reported to hit 19 mph on the GPS tracker.

Why Jones, Titans?

The Titans said goodbye to declining 31 year old left tackle Tylor Lewan and signed stopgap Andre Dillard. Broderick Jones is young and athletic, and could use some refinement as a first year NFL rookie. Jones can start at left guard and eventually take over tackle when he is ready.

@Out of the Rafters at the Q and the Houston Texans are on the clock!

Out of the Rafters at the Q · Mar 28, 2023

With the 12th overall selection in the 2023 RCF Mock Draft, the Houston Texans select Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Wide Receiver. The Ohio State University.

After securing the top defensive player in the draft with the #2 pick, we're lucky that the top offensive weapon in the draft also fell into our laps at #12. In real life, I'm not sure Philly takes a corner at 10. They seem happy with Slay, Bradberry and Maddox. So this probably isn't going to happen, but if it does, wow. The team with one of the worst receiving groups in the league manages to get the best receiver in the draft AND we can let his injury heal as slowly as he wants. After all, we're crashing for Caleb in 2023.

JSN put up an absurd 91.7 PFF score in 2021.

While being in a receiving room with Jameson Williams, Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Marvin Harrison Jr and Emeka Egbuka, everyone said JSN was the best of the bunch.

He might not run a 4.3 forty, but he gets open immediately, wins every route, and can YAC it up with the best of them.

But, instead of tackling his lengthy list of positives, let's go to PFF for the negatives on JSN:

What can he Improve: Very little

That pretty much says it all.

Outside of Bijan (who is a less valued position), JSN is the best offensive player in this class and we're happy to make him a Houston Texan.

Singer24 · Mar 28, 2023

With the 13th pick in the NFL mock draft... The New York Jets select Anton Harrison, OT Oklahoma.

Collegiate left tackle with good size and length, but average athletic traits. Harrison is self-aware and does a nice job of utilizing his strengths to mask his weaknesses. He has a feel for pocket depth and uses his length and an inside-out approach to get the job done, but NFL speed could have him scrambling without help. Harrison lacks the pop and drive of a plus run blocker and is better at neutralizing opponents with proper positioning. There are some limitations athletically and it won’t always look fluid, but Harrison has the demeanor and football savvy to get the job done as a starter in time. (Per NFL.com)

The Jets finally have some talent on both sides of the ball, and with Aaron Rodgers most likely coming to One Jets Drive, the jets desperately need an influx of OL talent. Anton Harrison is the best available OT in this spot

Hurl Bruce · Mar 28, 2023

14. New England Patriots @Snowblind
15. Green Bay Packers @sportscoach
16. Washington Commanders @Amherstcavsfan

Out of the Rafters at the Q · Mar 28, 2023

... Skoronski is still available, right?

AZ_ · Mar 28, 2023

Out of the Rafters at the Q said:
... Skoronski is still available, right?

Love the Harrison pick.

Damn near took him at 9, but @Singer24 didn’t get cold feet like I did.

Snowblind · Mar 28, 2023

With the 14th pick in the RCF mock draft.. the New England Patriots select..

Peter Skoronski, OT/G, Northwestern

NFL combine measurements/results

Height: 6-4 | Weight: 313 lbs | Arms: 32 1/4" | Hands: 10" | Wingspan: 79 1/2"

40-yard dash: 5.16 seconds
10-yard shuttle: 1.75 seconds
Broad jump: 9 feet, 7 inches
Vertical jump: 34.5 inches
3-cone drill: 7.80 seconds
Bench press: 30 reps

As an organization, New England has never been tied down by size limitations, so Skoronski’s shorter arms shouldn’t be a roadblock. He is the top offensive lineman in this class and could be Bill Belichick’s new Matt Light. Regardless, his position versatility would give the Patriots options as they try to field their five best blockers. Via The Athletic

Scouting report

Peter Skoronski is a pass-blocking specialist with an athletic skill set. He needs to add more weight and power to his lower half. He works hard to anchor. He's noticeably more effective as a pass-blocker than a run-blocker. He has plus recovery skill, big-time grip strength, and knows how to reset his hands in pass pro. At times, his hands are late, and that's when he loses, although he rarely lost on passing plays in college. Overall, he's a decently high-floor, high-upside tackle.

Strengths

Balance and overall pass-pro talent stand out
Awesome ability to recover when beaten
Very athletic, smooth movements in all areas
Outstanding production across multiple seasons

Weaknesses

Lacks normal franchise tackle length
Somewhat susceptible to swims
Not a dominant run blocker today

College Accolades

Honors

2022: AP first-team All-American
2022: All-Big Ten first team (coaches) and second team (media)
2021: All-Big Ten first team (media) and second team (coaches)
2020: True Freshman All-American (247Sports)
2020: All-Big Ten second team

Notable statistics

2022: Highest PFF pass block grade in FBS (93.0)
2020-22: Started all 33 games in his career

@sportscoach is up next

sportscoach · Mar 28, 2023

First off, there is a trade to announce!!!!

The Packers have traded Aaron Rodgers to the Jets @Singer24 for 2023 pick #42 (Jets pick from Cleveland), S Ashtyn Davis and a 24 pick based off of how Rodgers does in 23 and if Rodgers re-signs...

Now back to the draft!

On the Clock: 2023 RCF Mock Draft - Pick Thread

Jack Brickman

Hall-of-Famer

raiders91sc

In the Rotation

Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State

daddywags

Hall-of-Famer

Hurl Bruce

Logmaster

AZ_

Hall-of-Famer

AZ_

Hall-of-Famer

adam81king

All-Star