Mel Kiper/Todd McShay NFL Mock Draft: 1st round shored up in latest mock

We’re coming into the ultimate stretch of NFL Draft season. At this level the mocks are beginning to align with what we’re studying in regards to the groups on the high, and we needs to be reaching a reasonably protected facsimile of what is going to occur subsequent week within the first few picks.

Every thing will go off the rails. It does yearly, and 2023 may very well be wilder than most relying on how a lot of a feeding frenzy there’s for quarterbacks on the high of the draft. There’s as a lot of an opportunity we’ll see groups fall over themselves to try to get a high passer, or it develop into eerily quiet at QB till the highest defensive gamers are off the board.

The consensus proper now could be that we’ll see go rushers go earlier than a second QB, however not within the newest mock draft from Mel Kiper and Todd McShay who alternated for a full three spherical mock. Right here’s what jumped out.

Bryce Younger is the No. 1 general decide

This has rapidly develop into the lock on the high of the board. Proper now all indicators level to the Panthers vastly preferring Younger to C.J. Stroud after doing their homework, which appeared like a protracted shot a few weeks in the past. This flies within the face of what Frank Reich has historically favored in his passers, however Younger is a uncommon expertise in the case of figuring out of construction and improvising with the ball in his fingers.

Will Levis falls out of the highest 10

This actually isn’t that a lot of a shock. The Levis hype was locked in foolish season again when there have been rumors he’d go No. 1 general. Even high 5 appeared like a mammoth attain. On this mock he falls to No. 11 to the Titans. That is about as excessive as anybody needs to be comfy taking somebody who’s a lot of a threat on the subsequent degree.

Houston will get the handcuff with its second decide

We’ve seen in Cincinnati with Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase simply how robust a unit will be shaped by getting two faculty gamers in sync, and the Texans strive their hand in 2023. Taking C.J. Stroud on the No. 2 decide, after which Jaxon Smith-Njigba at No. 12 is daring, however may actually flip the group’s fortunes round in a rush.

Paris Johnson Jr. goes the place?!

Pre-draft hype has gotten ridiculous in the case of Paris Johnson Jr. As soon as a lock to be the primary OT off the board, even doubtlessly a top-five decide, this mock has him falling all the best way to the Patriots at No. 14. There’s a mock draft tendency to at all times give the Pats these genius first spherical sliders, and that is no totally different. I’ll take heed to arguments that Peter Skoronski is best (he goes No. 9 to the Bears on this mock), however Johnson Jr. going after Skoronski and Broderick Jones feels ridiculous.

The Eagles take Bijan Robinson … lol

Each single mock endlessly has had this decide locked it, and it’s not going to occur. A operating again within the top-10 won’t happen, even pretty much as good as Robinson is. Hell, McShay makes the decide and even he says this received’t occur — earlier than mocking him to Philly anyway.

Detroit’s go rush is like one thing out of a horror film

If this mock draft stays true we may see the Lions find yourself with one of many scariest go dashing items we’ve ever seen. With the No. 6 decide they take Tyree Wilson out of Texas Tech, then at No. 18 they land DT Calijah Kancey out of Pitt. Put them with Aidan Hutchinson and I’m terrified for offensive traces that need to face this group.

Hendon Hooker slides

One other pre-draft hype machine, I’m absolutely on board with Hooker touchdown on the high a part of the second spherical. On this mock he goes at No. 37 to the Seahawks, which feels a little bit iffy on touchdown spot — however I get it. Hooker wants a number of work to regulate to the NFL… a number of work. A part of me thinks the Seahawks are smarter than to speculate a high decide on a mission like this.

The tight finish class holds robust

You’re going to listen to quite a bit about how ludicrous this TE class is, and it’s true. Whereas not the sexiest place to take a look at pre-draft, that is really a bumper crop of gamers, a lot of whom would go a lot larger in another draft. Kiper and McShay have 9 TEs going within the first three rounds, in comparison with 4 in 2022 over the identical span. In case your group wants a decent finish this can be a nice class to search out worth.