2023 NFL Draft Thread

[Motown Bombers]

29 minutes ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

Do we expect anything out of Levi for next year or are we chalking that up to a draft bust and allowing ourselves to potentially replace him in the draft? Also, from an edge perspective, what are we expecting out of Josh Paschal?

I have moved Levi into draft bust but I'm still going to give him every opportunity to make the roster in training camp. Paschal was injured for much of the season and showed some ability when healthy. I think he still remains an important piece of what they are doing. 

[MichiganCardinal]

1 hour ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

Do we expect anything out of Levi for next year or are we chalking that up to a draft bust and allowing ourselves to potentially replace him in the draft? Also, from an edge perspective, what are we expecting out of Josh Paschal?

I expect nothing out of Levi. If he even makes the team I would be pleasantly surprised.

I see Paschal as more of an inside guy than a strict edge rusher the way I see Hutch (or would see Anderson). I still think he could be pretty good if he stays healthy.

[Mr.TaterSalad]

Agreed with both what MB and Cardinal said about my original question regarding Levi. I don't think having Levi on the roster or IR prevents us from drafting another interior DL high in the draft. If we don't get Jalen Carter in the 1st I'd love to see Mazi Smith be available to us in the 2nd. Mazi would be just the run stuffer we need up the middle.

[MichiganCardinal]

My Mock Draft 1.2

1. Las Vegas Raiders (Trade w/ CHI): CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State

2. Houston Texans: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

3. Arizona Cardinals: Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson

4. Indianapolis Colts: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky

5. Seattle Seahawks (from DEN): Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia

6. Detroit Lions (from LAR): Will Anderson, EDGE, Alabama

7. Chicago Bears (Trade w/ LV): Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern

8. Atlanta Falcons: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon

9. Detroit Lions (Trade w/ CAR): Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas

10. Philadelphia Eagles: Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech

11. Tennessee Titans: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida

12. Houston Texans (from CLE): Paris Johnson, OT, Ohio State

13. New York Jets: Quentin Johnson, WR, TCU

14. New England Patriots: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

15. Green Bay Packers: Tyler Steen, OT, Alabama

16. Washington Commanders: Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State

17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jaelyn Duncan, OT, Maryland

18. Carolina Panthers (Trade w/ DET): Isaiah Foskey, EDGE, Notre Dame

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois

20. Seattle Seahawks: Jordan Addison, WR, USC

21. Los Angeles Chargers: Antonio Johnson, DB, Texas A&M

22. Baltimore Ravens: Max Melton, CB, Rutgers

23. Minnesota Vikings: Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan 

24. Jacksonville Jaguars: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame

25. New York Giants: Cedric Tillman, WR, Tennessee

26. Dallas Cowboys: Brian Branch, DB, Alabama

27. Cincinnati Bengals: Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina

28. Kansas City Chiefs: Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson

29. Philadelphia Eagles: Tuli Tuipuloto, EDGE, USC

30. Denver Broncos (from SF): Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia

31. Buffalo Bills: Henry To'oTo'o, LB, Alabama

 

Lions

2.18 - Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina

2.26 - Jarrett Patterson, IOL, Notre Dame

3.18 - Traded to CAR in deal above (plus 2024 2nd Round)

5.11 (from CAR) - Ji’Ayir Brown, DB, Penn State

5.18 - Keondre Coburn, DT, Texas

6.5 (from DEN) - Jake Moody, K, Michigan

6.18 - Stetson Bennett, QB, Georgia

[Motown Bombers]

I double dipped on CB. I don't watch a lot of college football so most were guesses. 

[buddha]

if the lions trade up into the top 10 for a running back i will shoot myself.

[Jason_R]

9 minutes ago, buddha said:

if the lions trade up into the top 10 for a running back i will shoot myself.

But if the lions trade up into the top 10 for a running back we can’t live without your hot takes!

[buddha]

32 minutes ago, Jason_R said:

But if the lions trade up into the top 10 for a running back we can’t live without your hot takes!

true.  i wont shoot myself.  for all of your sakes.

[Cruzer1]

2 hours ago, MichiganCardinal said:

My Mock Draft 1.2

1. Las Vegas Raiders (Trade w/ CHI): CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State

2. Houston Texans: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

3. Arizona Cardinals: Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson

4. Indianapolis Colts: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky

5. Seattle Seahawks (from DEN): Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia

6. Detroit Lions (from LAR): Will Anderson, EDGE, Alabama

7. Chicago Bears (Trade w/ LV): Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern

8. Atlanta Falcons: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon

9. Detroit Lions (Trade w/ CAR): Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas

10. Philadelphia Eagles: Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech

11. Tennessee Titans: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida

12. Houston Texans (from CLE): Paris Johnson, OT, Ohio State

13. New York Jets: Quentin Johnson, WR, TCU

14. New England Patriots: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

15. Green Bay Packers: Tyler Steen, OT, Alabama

16. Washington Commanders: Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State

17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jaelyn Duncan, OT, Maryland

18. Carolina Panthers (Trade w/ DET): Isaiah Foskey, EDGE, Notre Dame

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois

20. Seattle Seahawks: Jordan Addison, WR, USC

21. Los Angeles Chargers: Antonio Johnson, DB, Texas A&M

22. Baltimore Ravens: Max Melton, CB, Rutgers

23. Minnesota Vikings: Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan 

24. Jacksonville Jaguars: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame

25. New York Giants: Cedric Tillman, WR, Tennessee

26. Dallas Cowboys: Brian Branch, DB, Alabama

27. Cincinnati Bengals: Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina

28. Kansas City Chiefs: Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson

29. Philadelphia Eagles: Tuli Tuipuloto, EDGE, USC

30. Denver Broncos (from SF): Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia

31. Buffalo Bills: Henry To'oTo'o, LB, Alabama

 

Lions

2.18 - Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina

2.26 - Jarrett Patterson, IOL, Notre Dame

3.18 - Traded to CAR in deal above (plus 2024 2nd Round)

5.11 (from CAR) - Ji’Ayir Brown, DB, Penn State

5.18 - Keondre Coburn, DT, Texas

6.5 (from DEN) - Jake Moody, K, Michigan

6.18 - Stetson Bennett, QB, Georgia

The Bears are trading down for a guard? I would take Christian Gonzalez at 6, and I wouldn't think that Anderson would be there in a million years. I still wouldn't take him, the Lions have 55 edge players on their roster right now, a couple better than Anderson imo.

[Cruzer1]

My dream scenario for the Lions is to come out with two top corners. I would love to get Gonzalez and Witherspoon in the first. Hopefully the Lions can take care of DT, RG, and RB in free agency. I wouldn't mind drafting Bennett later, but he's going higher than anybody thinks right now. I would take him in the 3rd, he's very athletic and can get the ball deep accurately.

[Cruzer1]

Also, if Richardson slips in the first to 18, and corners I like are gone, then I would draft Richardson there. I also think that there's a slight chance Bijan would slip to 18.

[MichiganCardinal]

2 hours ago, buddha said:

if the lions trade up into the top 10 for a running back i will shoot myself.

I think there is a non-zero chance they take him at #6. What would you do for that?!

[MichiganCardinal]

57 minutes ago, Cruzer1 said:

The Bears are trading down for a guard? I would take Christian Gonzalez at 6, and I wouldn't think that Anderson would be there in a million years. I still wouldn't take him, the Lions have 55 edge players on their roster right now, a couple better than Anderson imo.

Skoronski has played nothing but OT his entire career as far as I know. He took Slater’s spot as a rookie in 2020. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen some say he *could* slide to guard in the NFL, but I hardly think that’s needed. He should be a very good OT in the NFL.

If three QBs go in the top five (as I think will happen), I think odds are good one of Carter or Anderson make it to 6. I think I have a wildly different valuation on Anderson than the majority of the board for some reason. I think he’s the type of prospect you don’t think twice about if he makes it to you. As far as the current roster goes, I think Houston is a good problem to have if you draft an edge at 1.6. But Hutch and Houston are the only two edge rushers who I would think about in planning for the future.

[Cruzer1]

 

[MichiganCardinal]

54 minutes ago, Cruzer1 said:

My dream scenario for the Lions is to come out with two top corners. I would love to get Gonzalez and Witherspoon in the first. Hopefully the Lions can take care of DT, RG, and RB in free agency. I wouldn't mind drafting Bennett later, but he's going higher than anybody thinks right now. I would take him in the 3rd, he's very athletic and can get the ball deep accurately.

I sincerely think one starting veteran corner will be acquired in free agency. I don’t think you want your starting defensive backfield to consist of two rookies and a player returning from an Achilles tear.

If Bennett is going in the 3rd I want nothing to do with him. I think he can be a very good backup quarterback but he’s very limited in what he’ll do at the next level.

[MichiganCardinal]

55 minutes ago, Cruzer1 said:

Also, if Richardson slips in the first to 18, and corners I like are gone, then I would draft Richardson there. I also think that there's a slight chance Bijan would slip to 18.

If they think Richardson is the QB1 of 2026, they shouldn’t hope he drops to 18. Go and get him.

Based on early reports, I think there is a much higher chance that Bijan goes #3 than that he slips to #18.

[Cruzer1]

Just now, MichiganCardinal said:

I sincerely think one starting veteran corner will be acquired in free agency. I don’t think you want your starting defensive backfield to consist of two rookies and a player returning from an Achilles tear.

If Bennett is going in the 3rd I want nothing to do with him. I think he can be a very good backup quarterback but he’s very limited in what he’ll do at the next level.

I'd rather not overpay for corner, especially when this draft is really deep at the position. It's really the position the Lions need to catch up with the rest of the league.

[MichiganCardinal]

2 minutes ago, Cruzer1 said:

I'd rather not overpay for corner, especially when this draft is really deep at the position. It's really the position the Lions need to catch up with the rest of the league.

I don’t want to overpay, if the price is too much then stay away. I think a veteran presence could help that entire defense quite a bit though. They’re so young and we haven’t really spent any money at all on the defense.

[MichiganCardinal]

What’s 2006 Kenny Rogers doing? I want him.

[Cruzer1]

1 minute ago, MichiganCardinal said:

If they think Richardson is the QB1 of 2026, they shouldn’t hope he drops to 18. Go and get him.

Based on early reports, I think there is a much higher chance that Bijan goes #3 than that he slips to #18.

Here's the positional tier....

1. QB

 

 

4. (Tie) Left tackle, Wide receiver, defensive end, corner

5. Defensive tackle

6. Safety

7. (Tie) Interior linemen and linebackers

8. Running back

9. Tight end

10. Special teams

[Cruzer1]

3 minutes ago, MichiganCardinal said:

I don’t want to overpay, if the price is too much then stay away. I think a veteran presence could help that entire defense quite a bit though. They’re so young and we haven’t really spent any money at all on the defense.

You're spending resources at the draft. Also remember that corner is a prime position, and it's hard to find corners in free agency without overpaying; yet the best corners are usually young and athletic. The Lions have some corners on the roster now, so they can afford to take their time behind Okudah and Jacobs. I think Gonzalez would walk in on day one and be the #1 corner for the Lions.

[Cruzer1]

10 hours ago, MichiganCardinal said:

I expect nothing out of Levi. If he even makes the team I would be pleasantly surprised.

I see Paschal as more of an inside guy than a strict edge rusher the way I see Hutch (or would see Anderson). I still think he could be pretty good if he stays healthy.

The Lions have made it clear that they want bigger linemen on run downs. Paschal and Cominsky are good fits, as is Hutch. Paschal plays inside at times. I think they are a top 10 d-line in the NFL. If they added Carter, then I think they would be elite.

[Cruzer1]

This is what happens when you have the Bears draft Quentin Johnston #1. This web-site/draft generator sucks, but the Lions end up with this imo... Battle is listed as a safety, but he can cover out of the nickel, and do other things.

• 
  6.
  Jalen Carter

  DT Georgia
   
• 
  18.
  Clark Phillips III

  CB Utah
   
• 
  48.
  Jordan Battle

  S Alabama
   
• 
  55.
  Eli Ricks

  CB Alabama
   
• 
  81.
  Jack Campbell

  LB Iowa
   
• 
  150.
  Brenton Cox Jr.

  EDGE Florida
   
• 
  170.
  Dorian Thompson-Robinson

  QB UCLA
   
• 
  191.
  Noah Ruggles

  K Ohio State
  
• 
  210.
  Ainias Smith

  WR Texas A&M
  

[Cruzer1]

If the Lions don't take a corner at 6, I think they have to take one at 18. There might be 10 corners taken in this first round. I think they could also take one at 6 and 18, then tackle other areas. There is no freaking way Jalen Carter will be available.  They could also take a couple of lb's later in the draft. I love Jack Campbell. Ruggles has a big leg.

Edited January 20, 2023 by Cruzer1

[Cruzer1]

Here's another draft. I'd love to see what Ben Johnson would do with Darnell Washington.

• 
  11.
  Bryan Bresee

  DT Clemson
  
• 
  18.
  Christian Gonzalez

  CB Oregon
   
• 
  42.
  Darnell Washington

  TE Georgia
  
• 
  48.
  John Michael Schmitz

  OC Minnesota
   
• 
  55.
  Tyrique Stevenson

  CB Miami (FL)
   
• 
  81.
  Jack Campbell

  LB Iowa
   
• 
  140.
  Tanner McKee

  QB Stanford
  
• 
  150.
  Garrett Williams

  CB Syracuse
   
• 
  170.
  Jaxson Kirkland

  OT Washington
   
• 
  181.
  Noah Ruggles

  K Ohio State
   
• 2024 TEN 1st