2023 NFL Mock Draft: C.J. Stroud or Bryce Young Number One?
By Evan Bachman
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State
The Buccaneers are tied for second in the NFL in sacks with 32. However, they still need more consistency out of their edge rushers, so bringing in an edge rusher in the draft remains an option.
Jared Verse previously spent two seasons at Albany where he was dominant before transferring to Florida State for this season. His abilities were on display immediately for Florida State as he took over the LSU game with seven pressures, two sacks, and a block field goal.
Verse has been productive as a pass rusher this season and he still has plenty of room to grow. His ability to win in a variety of ways with quickness, power, or with his hands make him a first round caliber prospect.
20. Denver Broncos (From SF, Via Mia): Tyree Wilson, Edge, Texas Tech
This will be a tricky pick for the Denver Broncos which they acquired from the Dolphins in the Bradley Chubb trade at the deadline. Ideally, they use this pick to help out their offense which has really held them back this season.
However, the problem is the offense is adding one piece to this offense isn’t going suddenly turn the whole unit around, that is going to depend on if Russell Wilson can turn it around and get back to the level to play he produced with the Seahawks. Thus, in this 2023 NFL Mock Draft scenario they take Tyree Wilson.
The Broncos still have a pretty good group of edge rushers, but you can never have too many in the NFL. Plus, Wilson has the versatility to kick inside and play some snaps on the interior defensive line.
Tyree Wilson would be a good addition to the Broncos defensive line rotation. At 6-foot-6, 275 pounds he doesn’t have a typical edge rusher build as he’s very big, but uses that size to his advantage and that is what gives him the flexibility to kick inside and take on guards for some snaps.
Wilson has been productive and consistent rushing the passer this season as he’s recorded 3+ pressures in all of Texas Tech’s games this season. This production has solidified his case to come off the board night one.
21. New England Patriots: Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
Despite Mac Jones’ struggles this season I think he showed enough promise in his rookie season to warrant giving him another year to prove himself. They do need to give him a better supporting cast however and they address tackle by taking Penn State’s Olumuyiwa Fashanu in this 2023 NFL Mock Draft.
Olumuyiwa Fashanu fits the mold of what is wanted out of pass protectors in the NFL. He has good size to go along with quickness and mobility to mirror edge rushers, and he sets a powerful base when he gets his hands on them.
On top of that his play at Penn State backs that up as he’s allowed no sacks and just seven pressures in eight games this season.