2023 NFL Draft: Texans Land Bryce Young, Seahawks Stack Defensive Line In Updated Mock Draft
By Hunter Haas
14. Indianapolis Colts – Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
Hendon Hooker’s injury takes him out of range here. The raw prospects like Anthony Richardson and Cam Ward are too risky for my liking at No. 14. Instead, the Colts will roll with Matt Ryan for another season and address the hole at left tackle that has been present since Anthony Castonzo’s retirement.
Olumuyiwa Fashanu is a soon-to-be 20 year old and has a lot of room to grow in terms of technique. Fashanu is built to be an NFL left tackle and profiles as an immediate plus-blocker in the run game while he improves at setting his anchor in pass protection. At long last, the Colts bolster the blindside of the offensive line with their first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
15. Atlanta Falcons – Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
The third Ohio State player in the top 15 is wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. JSN has not been on the field much in 2022, dealing with a lingering lower-body injury that has yet to fully heal. Luckily, the injury is not expected to hamper the receiver going forward. The Falcons traded away suspended wide receiver Calvin Ridley at the deadline and currently are lacking at the position behind rookie Drake London. Smith Njigba’s elite route running and creativeness with the ball in his hands will pair perfectly with Drake London and Kyle Pitts.
16. Seattle Seahawks – Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
The Seahawks plugged up the middle of the defense with Jalen Carter at No. 4. Now, they add another pass rusher off the edge with Clemson’s Myles Murphy. Uchenna Nwosu has been a free-agent steal all year, and rookie Boye Mafe possesses starting potential. Still, neither guy has the upside that Myles Murphy does.
Murphy bends exceptionally well and sets the edge for the entire defense. Due to his sheer size, Murphy profiles as an above-average run stuffer at the next level. Consistency with his motor is the only reason Murphy falls outside the top 10 of this mock draft. Seattle thrives at getting the most out of their guys, so expect to see a locked-in Murphy.
17. Los Angeles Chargers – Jaelyn Duncan, OT, Maryland
The Los Angeles Chargers landed one of the best players in the 2022 NFL Draft at No. 17 overall when they selected Zion Johnson out of Boston College. With Johnson entrenched at right guard, Corey Linsley locked up as one of the best centers, and Rashawn Slater expected to be healthy in 2023 for left tackle, three positions are set for the next decade+. Jamaree Salyer has filled in well on the blindside for Slater, but the former Georgia Bulldog profiles best at left guard.
In this mock draft, the Chargers again use a mid-teens pick to add a decade-long starter, this time at right tackle. Jaelyn Duncan is an athletic marvel on the offensive line. Duncan moves better than many current NFL linemen and plays with an edge in the run game that the Chargers desperately need. Duncan is still improving in his technique and hand usage in pass protection, but the fandom would no longer have to worry about Justin Herbert’s injuries with a group of Slater-Salyer-Linsley-Johnson-Duncan.
18. New England Patriots – Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
The last time Bill Belichick selected a Georgia offensive lineman in the first round of the NFL Draft, the outcome was less than stellar. Isaiah Wynn is a fine player, but he is not a starting tackle in the NFL. Currently, Trent Brown is the starter at left tackle, but he only has one year remaining, so a long-term replacement should be a priority.
Georgia’s Broderick Jones can start on the right side and move over to left tackle in 2024 if Trent Brown is let go. Jones is explosive at the point of attack, showing an ability to dominate the game as a run blocker. He is strong and agile enough to become an above-average pass protector, he will just need time to develop in that regard. Jones relocates to the northeast in NFLMocks’ latest mock draft.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
Few prospects fit a defensive philosophy as perfectly as Cam Smith fits the Todd Bowles scheme. Smith wins by asserting dominance and exuding confidence every snap. He manipulates receivers as they move downfield, forcing them off their spot and disrupting the timing of the play altogether. Smith is a committed tackler, even if his wrap-up technique leaves room for improvement. The Buccaneers have Carlton Davis in tow, but adding Cam Smith in this mock draft will allow guys like Jamel Dean to be a CB3 if he is re-signed.