The 2023 Mock Draft Thread

[chevss454]

This is the place to put all your own mock drafts and the mocks of the "experts".
Nice and organized for quick reference.

Here's the Patriots' mock draft tracker.

2023 Patriots Mock Draft Tracker

Our staff has compiled what the top 'experts' are predicting the New England Patriots will do in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

www.patriots.com

I have Lazar's 1st mock as the first entry. No trades on purpose. It's a solid, sensible draft.

Lazar's Patriots Mock Draft 1.0: Pats Upgrade the Offensive Line With Multiple Selections

The Patriots select their left tackle of the future and address their three biggest needs in this seven-round mock draft.

www.patriots.com

1st pick. OT Peter Skoronski, Northwestern
14th Overall | Height: 6-4, Weight: 316

 

[spacecrime]

How great is it to have Lazar? He was my favorite analyst before he came to patriots.com with his detailed play breakdowns.

 

[rivshark86]

I’d be very happy with that draft.

 

[Hawg73]

How great is it to have Lazar? He was my favorite analyst before he came to patriots.com with his detailed play breakdowns.

It's been very great. He actually got better this year.

As good as he was on that awful CLNS media site, I feared he might go corporate working for
Patriots.com, but, he doesn't show any sign of that and gives, I believe, his honest, insightful opinions even
when they are less than complimentary towards the organization. And he sounded really pissed
at times this year, proving he actually loves the Patriots like a fan. He's not going to come right
out and say that, but he doesn't have to. He's one of us.

Peter Skoronski can flat-out play tackle football. I like him a lot. If we spent the one on him I'd be happy
and the rest of that mock was pure Draft porn. Easily the best, most logical I've seen so far.

 

[Flagg the Wanderer]

I'd be very happy with Johnson, Jones, or Skoronski (I think in that order) at 14. If we can't get them, trade down a bit, add a 2 or 3, get one of the CBs who are 6'0" or better, and get Steen, Wright, or Dawand Jones (not necessarily in that order - I think I'd rather have a dominant RT than an uncertain or meh LT with this pick).
I'm not a big fan of Harrison or Duncan, (though I prefer Duncan of the two), who I think are the only other real round-1-or-first-half-of-round-2 type of guys.

I would be very happy to get 2 OTs and 2 CBs (or at least 2 DBs) out of this draft. I don't think I'd argue if 3 of those 4 were in the first 3 rounds (where we have 4 picks total).

The "1st rounder" CBs this year are very deep. I don't see any that I think are top 5 overall types, but still probably 7 that in a given year would be rated as 1st rounders. Of those top 7, there are 3 that are consistently ranked higher than the others - Gonzalez, Porter, and Witherspoon. Then Ringo is a wildcard, could go as early as 2nd or fall to 7th or 8th, and the other 3 are jumbled. Of those 7, I really like Forbes & Smith, and also Witherspoon and Porter for the Patriots this year. I expect at least 1 to fall out of the first round.

What's even more incredible, I'd estimate that there are between 17 and 21 CBs I suspect would be rated as Day 1 or 2 guys in an average year. That's nearly 1 CB out of every 6 picks if they actually all went before Sunday! Of these guys, I really like Rush and Brents, and also Ricks, both of the kids from LSU, and I'll have to trust the interviewers for Jones from A&M, who sometimes looks like a world-beater but is inconsistent and reportedly character issues. There are a couple players that I love, but are too small to add to our current group.

If DMac and/or Jon Jones is coming back, I'll add Quan Martin and Antonio Johnson to this list. Both could certainly play boundary corner - and would benefit from doing so while learning from McCourty - but probably project to a cover/range safety in the longer term, where they could be elite. I really like Martin's game especially, and I could see him falling.

 

[rivshark86]

I’ve read that this class is on the weak side for high end WRs. Does that have anything to do with all the quality CBs? I guess that’s a Chicken or Egg question.

 

[chevss454]

I’ve read that this class is on the weak side for high end WRs. Does that have anything to do with all the quality CBs? I guess that’s a Chicken or Egg question.

There's plenty of athletic ability but the way college football is these days I'm not seeing the number of accomplished route runners I saw even just 5 years ago.
Most of these WRs will have to be taught to be great route runners. I'm studying them and hope to have more in depth reports before the draft.
For this reason, if the Pats want a plug-and-play WR1, a trade is the best way to do it.

 

[BigKen]

Every year the draft id dependent on who drafts who.

Right now, 60% of the Mockers believe that Broderick Jones OT Georgia will fall to the Patriots at #14.
He's been om my radar since last October.

Several things to consider. Trent Brown is still here and he's making $12M. If BB cut him, that would put that money into going after Chiefs LOT Orlando
Brown. He's going to cost north of $20M and year for 5 years. If Brown stays, then I'd go after McGlincey the ROT of the 49ers. Then the OL would be pretty solid with Brown, Strange, Andrews, Owenue, McGlincey. Then look for OT's in the 3rd and 4th Rounds and grab CB or Safety or both in the first two rounds.
As far as WR go, offer Odell Beckham $4M and incentives for 2023 if he can make it out of camp. Offer the Bengals a first round pick switch and a fifth round pick for Tee Higgins.

Worry about free agency first and then set the board for the draft. Bill's got $40M to fix some holes.

 

[rivshark86]

Hey if the Bengals will let Higgens go for swapping firsts and a 5th you can count me in!!!!!

 

[foobahl]

 

[chevss454]

Alex Barth's mock with trades. He's friends with Lazar. I like Lazar's a little better.

Patriots Mock Draft 1.0: What we've learned so far

Alex Barth releases his annual post-Super Bowl New England Patriots seven round mock draft for the 2023 season.

985thesportshub.com

Round 1, Pick 14:
LT Broderick Jones, Georgia

 

[Muse]

Alex Barth's mock with trades. He's friends with Lazar. I like Lazar's a little better.

Patriots Mock Draft 1.0: What we've learned so far

Alex Barth releases his annual post-Super Bowl New England Patriots seven round mock draft for the 2023 season.

985thesportshub.com

Round 1, Pick 14:
LT Broderick Jones, Georgia

That would be great, Jones. Another Jones woot. Wouldn't mind Latu either

 

[Flagg the Wanderer]

Alex Barth's mock with trades. He's friends with Lazar. I like Lazar's a little better.

Patriots Mock Draft 1.0: What we've learned so far

Alex Barth releases his annual post-Super Bowl New England Patriots seven round mock draft for the 2023 season.

985thesportshub.com

Round 1, Pick 14:
LT Broderick Jones, Georgia

I kinda liked his draft, but I'd prefer to come away with another OL and CB.

After trades, he comes away with:
2023 3rd
2023 4th
2025 6th
1.14 LT Jones, UGA - Love it.
2.60 CB Brents, KSU - Big, athletic, toolsy, and instinctive. I like him overall. I suspect he'll be a riser, especially if he tests well in Indy. I've seen him ranked as low as the #22 CB and as high as the #12.
3.76 WR Dell, Houston - Dude is twitchy, but so tiny! If the staff is in love with him for some reason, I've gotta believe he's gonna fall beyond this early-mid 3rd.
4.107 S Trey Dean, Florida - Steady
4.134 TE Latu, Alabama - Nice pick here in this deep TE class. Good upside as a balanced TE who can keep a D guessing how you're going to use him.
5.156 LB Diabate, Utah - don't know much about him.
5.165 K Moody, Michigan - Might as well make sure you get him.
6.182 DE Wheat, Miss St - several people glowed about his practices in Vegas. A quality edge setter who still has some pass rush chops.
6.185 DT Moro Ojomo, Texas - would he really last this long? Possible, I guess. I love Ojomo. I think his game will translate beautifully to the NFL, and further, that he's a great fit in NE's system as a big 3-4 DE (Wise's position) or possibly a pass rushing IDL like Barmore. He's twitchy/explosive for his size/build, and while he's not a 100% motor guy, he'd be dangerous to bring in to give guys a breather. He's strong against the run, but much more so when attacking vs reacting.
6.208 IOL TJ Bass, Oregon - I can't claim any knowledge, but with Klemm on board I'd be wildly unsurprised to see him bring one of his guys aboard. He's played all the IOL positions, then LT this year, but I don't think he's an NFL LT except in an emergency situation. I didn't consider Oregon's OL particularly talented, but they produced. Why not?
UDFAs:
QB DTR, UCLA - No! But as a UDFA, whatever I guess.
RB Tavion Thomas, Utah - seemed powerful at the Shrine Bowl, no real opinion on him except that he seems pretty redundant to Kevin Harris
LB Isaiah Moore, NC State - maybe you heard, the Pats' staff couldn't stop talking about him! That's definitely not misinformation, because the Patriots are super loose-lipped.

 

[chevss454]

I figure to pick up an OT in FA or in waivers then

I like this a lot. Besides it's best I've done in over 15 mocks.

 

[aloyouis]

I figure to pick up an OT in FA or in waivers then

I like this a lot. Besides it's best I've done in over 15 mocks.

You must.

 

[Hawg73]

I'm not ready for doing my own mocks or judging how plausible others are (except Lazar's which I like), but wanted to make a
few general comments based on the two best teams in the league who most of us just watched.

First, both teams feature outstanding OLs, obviously, so the value of investing there for us should be front and center. That's not news,
but there is a reason why we saw long drive after long drive all night. Chris Jones just destroyed Cincy's OL a few weeks ago, because
Max Scharping isn't ready for prime time yet, but he didn't look much like the same monster versus the Eagles' monsters. On the other
side of the ball I don't think I heard Fletcher Cox's name once.

Now, we need to be willing to part with a prime choice or two to change things for the better. Bear in mind, two years ago the Chiefs changed 4 of
their 5 starting OLs by paying Thuney and Orlando Brown and drafting Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith and we don't even
have to do something that radical. I hate to say it, but the Chiefs are a smart organization. I want two good tackles and I no longer
trust Trent Brown - the most maddening, inconsistent player Foxboro has seen in a long time. We're talking about keeping him due
to the numbers, but, if we do, we better have a way better backup plan than last season. All I know is that if we put Dawand Jones next
to Mike Onwenu then we'd cave in that side of the D on a regular basis.

The other thing that impressed me is how KC was able to spread the ball around to all their skill guys who can all produce and
just make plays. Who loses maybe the top WR in the league and gets better? And they didn't have to break the bank. They reminded me
of a team that has a couple of James Whites to deploy in creative ways. Fast guys who can get open and make people miss in space.

It's occurred to me that we have such a guy on the roster now in Marcus Jones and finding a top DB to replace him would allow
us to limit his snaps on D and utilize him in much the same way that KC used Toney and Moore. You could see team's really worrying
about where he was after one big play and.....we haven't seen that in a while. We need him more on Offense, arguably.

There are always undersized fast guys to be had in day three, so we should shake those trees hard as well and land another guy
that the other guys have to account for.

 

[chevss454]

Joey Porter, Jr., CB Penn St.

Patriots take son of longtime rival in Todd McShay’s latest mock draft

Todd McShay believes the Patriots may lose Jonathan Jones and address it in the first round.

www.masslive.com

 

[TommyD420]

Joey Porter, Jr., CB Penn St.

Patriots take son of longtime rival in Todd McShay’s latest mock draft

Todd McShay believes the Patriots may lose Jonathan Jones and address it in the first round.

www.masslive.com

No shot. Kraft would overrule that pick because he wouldn't want Joey Porter Sr. around the franchise.

 

[Flagg the Wanderer]

I noticed the CBS Sports app added a mock draft section, so I go take a look, and it's depressing.

4 mocks. Zero show a trade from 14. And they show the Patriots taking:
1) WR Quentin Johnson
2) WR Quentin Johnson
3) CB Devon Witherspoon, and
4) WR Quentin Johnson

I don't like the idea of a round 1 WR generally, and while I don't particularly dislike Johnson the player, I don't like him as a fit for this offense/personnel at all.

 

[TommyD420]

I noticed the CBS Sports app added a mock draft section, so I go take a look, and it's depressing.

4 mocks. Zero show a trade from 14. And they show the Patriots taking:
1) WR Quentin Johnson
2) WR Quentin Johnson
3) CB Devon Witherspoon, and
4) WR Quentin Johnson

I don't like the idea of a round 1 WR generally, and while I don't particularly dislike Johnson the player, I don't like him as a fit for this offense/personnel at all.

I don't think WR is a first-round need.