Mocking the Mock: 3 Head-Scratchers from Latest Mel Kiper Jr. Mock Draft
By Hunter Haas
Mocking the Mock: 3 Head-Scratchers from Latest Mel Kiper Jr. Mock Draft
We are still early in the NFL Draft cycle, but ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. dropped a new mock draft Wednesday morning. The mock featured M. Night Shyamalan-level twists, with a few head-scratchers that stood above the rest. You can check it out here.
Mock drafts tend to fluctuate from January-April, so I will not hold this against Kiper. That being said, the three selections highlighted in this article are very unlikely to occur.
Philadelphia Eagles Select Pittsburgh DT Calijah Kancey at No. 10 Overall
To be clear, I have nothing against Calijah Kancey as a person or prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft. However, this is the first time Kancey has appeared in the top ten of any mock draft.
It is not to say Kancey won’t be a productive NFL player or even a first-round pick. But the Eagles selecting an undersized defensive tackle does not make sense at No. 10.
Kancey is disruptive and creates pressure at an impressive rate from the interior. These traits fit Philly on paper, but there are more pressing needs on the roster. If Kancey is still around later on day one, the Eagles could secure him the ‘other’ first-round pick.
Seattle Seahawks Select Tennessee EDGE Byron Young at No. 20 Overall
The Seahawks attacking the defense in the 2023 NFL Draft would not come as a surprise. However, opting to go with Byron Young in the first round would be quite a shocker. Young is an underrated pass rusher in a class full of talented pass rushers.
Still, a top-20 selection is a bit rich for my taste. Young’s tenacity and mean streak would blend in well with the Seattle defense, but there will be higher upside options available at No. 20.
The Seahawks own two second-round picks (No. 38 and No. 53). With Brian Branch and Bryan Bresee still available at this point of the mock draft, general manager John Schneider could afford to wait until the top of round two for Young.
Los Angeles Chargers Select USC DL Tuli Tuipulotu at No. 21 Overall
It looks like beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder with the defensive line group this year. All three players listed in this Mel Kiper Jr. mock draft hold a day two grade on my big board, but I would not feel comfortable selecting any of them inside the first 21 picks.
Tuli Tuipulotu is as talented as any lineman in the 2023 NFL Draft, but there is real concern about his status as a ‘tweener’. The USC pass rushers tape is impressive, but the lows provide a glimpse at what NFL-caliber offensive linemen could do to him.
Tuipulotu displays stiffness when coming off the edge. From the interior, he can be pushed off his spot and see his progress stifled by stronger offensive linemen. To his credit, the former Trojan has an impressive array of pass-rushing moves.
His success at the next level will come down to how well he leverages his strengths. Tuipulotu is worth a selection in the middle of day two, but the middle of day one is far too much of an investment, even for a team that needs help stopping the run.