MOCK NFL DRAFT 1.0: PRE COMBINE & FREE AGENCY

As the calendar turns to March, the NFL returns from a 2 week hibernation. The NFL Combine opens up on March 2nd in Indianapolis. This multiple day event of player evaluations and franchise fortune telling is the precursor to the commencement of the new league year. Two weeks after this pre draft showcase, the NFL Free Agency frenzy kicks off the 2023 season. These two events will shape the event of the NFL Draft in late April.

The wants and needs of every franchise are abundant but the salary cap can be tough to navigate. This leads to focusing on the draft to fill a roster of affordable players with extended team control. The draft can make or break a team, so it is essential for every pick to hit immediately. There will be a lot of moves in the next few weeks, but as we enter the Draft Combine and free agency, let’s look at how the Draft will play out.

**DISCLAIMER: I FULLY EXPECT THE BEARS TO TRADE THE 1ST OVERALL PICK

1.). INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (Via Chicago):

• TEAM NEEDS: QB / OL / WR / DB
• QB BRYCE YOUNG. — ALABAMA

2.). HOUSTON TEXANS:

• TEAM NEEDS: QB/ WR / CB / DL
• QB. CJ STROUD. — OHIO STATE

3.). ARIZONA CARDINALS:

• TEAM NEEDS: DL / CB / LB / OL
• DL JALEN CARTER. — GEORGIA

4.). CHICAGO BEARS (Via Indianapolis):

• TEAM NEEDS: WR/ OL / DL / LB / CB
• EDGE. WILL ANDERSON JR. — ALABAMA

5.). SEATTLE SEAHAWKS:

• TEAM NEEDS: DL / LB / CB
• DL. MYLES MURPHY. — CLEMSON

6.). DETROIT LIONS:

• TEAM NEEDS: DL / LB / CB
• CB. JOEY PORTER JR. — PENN STATE

7.). LAS VEGAS RAIDERS:

• TEAM NEEDS: QB / OL / DL / LB / CB
• QB. WILL LEVIS. — KENTUCKY

8.). ATLANTA FALCONS:

• TEAM NEEDS: QB / DL / LB / CB / OL
• CB. DEVON WITHERSPOON. — ILLINOIS

9.). CAROLINA PANTHERS:

• TEAM NEEDS: QB / WR / OL / DL / LB / TE
• QB. ANTHONY RICHARDSON. — FLORIDA

10.). PHILADELPHIA EAGLES:

• TEAM NEEDS: OT / CB / S / EDGE / DL
• OT. PETER SKORONSKI. — NORTHWESTERN

11.). TENNESSEE TITANS:

• TEAM NEEDS: OT / WR / TE / CB
• TE. MICHAEL MAYER. — NOTRE DAME

12.). HOUSTON TEXANS:

• TEAM NEEDS: QB / WR / CB / DL
• WR. QUENTIN JOHNSTON. — TCU

13.). NEW YORK JETS:

• TEAM NEEDS: QB / OL / EDGE / DL
• EDGE. TYREE WILSON. — TEXAS TECH

14.). NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS:

• TEAM NEEDS: CB / LB / DL / OL
• CB. CHRISTIAN GONZALEZ. — OREGON

15.). GREEN BAY PACKERS:

• TEAM NEEDS: OL / TE / DL / S
• TE. DARNELL WASHINGTON. — GEORGIA

16.). WASHINGTON COMMANDERS:

• TEAM NEEDS: CB / OL / TE / QB
• CB. CAM SMITH. — SOUTH CAROLINA

17.). PITTSBURGH STEELERS:

• TEAM NEEDS: OL / CB / DL
• OT. PARIS JOHNSON. — OHIO STATE

18.). DETROIT LIONS:

• TEAM NEEDS: DL / LB. / CB
• DL. CALIJAH KANCEY. — PITT

19.). TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS:

• TEAM NEEDS: QB / OL / CB / RB
• OG. O’CYRUS TORRENCE. — FLORIDA

20.). SEATTLE SEAHAWKS:

• TEAM NEEDS: DL / LB / CB
• S. BRIAN BRANCH. — ALABAMA

21.). LOS ANGELES CHARGERS:

• TEAM NEEDS: WR / OL / DL / LB / CB
• WR. JORDAN ADDISON. — USC

22.). BALTIMORE RAVENS:

• TEAM NEEDS: WR / OL / DL / CB
• WR. JAXON SMITH NJIGBA. — OHIO STATE

23.). MINNESOTA VIKINGS:

• TEAM NEEDS: OL / CB / LB / DL
• CB. KELEE RINGO. — GEORGIA

24.). JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS:

• TEAM NEEDS: TE / CB / DL
• TE. DALTON KINCAID. — UTAH

25.). NEW YORK GIANTS:

• TEAM NEEDS: WR / TE / EDGE / CB
• WR. JALIN HYATT. — TENNESSEE

26.). DALLAS COWBOYS:

• TEAM NEEDS: WR / CB
• WR. ZAY FLOWERS. — BOSTON COLLEGE

27.). CINCINNATI BENGALS:

• TEAM NEEDS: OL / CB / S
• OT. BRODERICK JONES. — GEORGIA

28.). NEW ORLEANS SAINTS:

• TEAM NEEDS: QB / OL / TE / DL / LB / CB
• DL. BRYAN BREESE. — CLEMSON

29.). BUFFALO BILLS:

• TEAM NEEDS: WR / RB / LB / CB / S / OL
• RB. BIJAN ROBINSON. — TEXAS

30.). PHILADELPHIA EAGLES:

• TEAM NEEDS: OT / CB / S / EDGE / DL
• EDGE. NOLAN SMITH. — GEORGIA

31.). KANSAS CITY CHIEFS:

• TEAM NEEDS: EDGE / DL / OL
• EDGE. KEION WHITE. — GEORGIA TECH

PRE DRAFT / FREE AGENCY MOCK DRAFT BY POSITION:

• QB’S: 4
• RB’S: 1
• WR’S: 5
• TE’S: 3
• OT’S: 3
• C/ OG: 1
• DB’S: 6
• DL: 4
• EDGE/LB: 4

OTHER PLAYERS WITH FRINGE 1ST ROUND POTENTIAL:

• EDGE. LUKAS VAN NESS — IOWA
• EDGE. BJ OJULARI. — LSU
• OT. DAWAND JONES. — OHIO STATE
• OT. DARNELL WRIGHT. — TENNESSEE
• OL. JOHN MICHAEL SCHMITZ. — MINNESOTA
• CB. DEONTE BANKS. — MARYLAND
• CB. CLARK PHILLIPS III. — UTAH
• S. ANTONIO JOHNSON. — TEXAS A&M
• LB DREW SANDERS. — ARKANSAS
• LB. TRENTON SIMPSON. — CLEMSON
• TE LUKE MUSGRAVE. — OREGON STATE
• RB. JAHMYR GIBBS. — ALABAMA

TEAMS I EXPECT TO TRADE UP OR DOWN ON DRAFT DAY:

• PANTHERS AND BUCCANEERS TRY TO MOVE UP FOR A QUARTERBACK
• TITANS MOVE DOWN TO ACQUIRE MORE PICKS
• BILLS, COWBOYS AND GIANTS TRY TO MOVE UP FOR A WIDE RECEIVER
• THE PATRIOTS NOTORIOUSLY TRADE DOWN

Can’t wait to see how free agency and the QB market unfolds in the next few weeks. Those moves will fill some holes, but the Draft will just get more interesting as a result. Can’t wait to see which players fly up draft boards after the combine.

As we approach the NFL Draft, make sure you tune into The Irrational Conference Podcast. We’ll be bringing you positional previews as well as our Annual LIVE Irrational Confidence Mock Draft. You can subscribe to our podcast on every platform as well as the Spinnable Sports YouTube Channel.