NFL Mock Draft 2023: Day 2 Targets for Five Teams Without First-Round Pick
As many of you know, Twitter has a feature that asks whether you want to read the article first before retweeting it. But football fans might have forgotten because many of them have read every NFL mock draft that has flashed across their timeline in the past month.
Perhaps this doesn’t apply to fans of the Rams, Dolphins, Broncos, Browns and 49ers because those teams don’t have a first-round pick this year, and most mock drafts don’t go past the first 32 picks. Well, 31 picks this year because the Dolphins were forced to forfeit their first-round pick after tampering with Tom Brady and Sean Payton. Ironically, the Broncos relinquished the first-round pick they got from the Dolphins in the trade for Bradley Chubb to the Saints for the right to hire Payton this offseason.
The Rams don’t have a first-round pick for the seventh consecutive year, courtesy of the Matthew Stafford trade with the Lions. Cleveland traded its first-rounder to Houston for Deshaun Watson, and the Broncos sent a different first-rounder to Seattle for Russell Wilson.
The 49ers aren’t picking until No. 99 because they traded future first-round picks to Miami—one being the pick that now belongs to the Saints—to select Trey Lance at No. 3 in the 2021 draft, and traded more draft picks to acquire running back Christian McCaffrey from the Panthers in October.
So, in an effort to make all football fans feel included, here’s a mock draft of all the Day 2 picks from the five teams currently without a first-round pick April 27.
Second Round
Rams, 36thKevin Jairaj/USA TODAY Sports
Felix Anudike-Uzomah, edge, Kansas State: The Rams need help at various positions, but they’ll likely prioritize edge rusher with inexperienced undrafted free agents currently leading the depth chart at the premium position. Anudike-Uzomah doesn’t have a quick get-off at the line of scrimmage, but he makes up for that with his polished pass-rush moves and relentless motor for reaching the quarterback.
Dolphins, 51stDarnell Washington, TE, Georgia: The Dolphins allowed tight end Mike Gesicki to join the Patriots in free agency partly because he didn’t fit Mike McDaniel’s zone-blocking scheme. Washington could contribute immediately as a standout blocker and has plenty of upside as a pass catcher, especially as a 6'6", red zone target. Washington might not be available this late, but the Dolphins should strongly consider trading up if he falls outside the first round.
Third Round
Broncos, 67thBob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports
YaYa Diaby, edge, Louisville: The Broncos lack depth at edge rusher behind Randy Gregory, who had a quiet first season in Denver with only two sacks in six games played. Diaby has plenty of potential as an athletic 6'3" pass rusher, and he might not be far off from putting it all together after recording nine sacks and 14 tackles for loss last season.
Broncos, 68thChandler Zavala, OG, NC State: The Broncos need a starting-caliber center, but they shouldn’t reach in the third round just to fill the position. Payton’s squad still needs depth at the guard spots even after adding Ben Powers in free agency. Zavala’s injury history at NC State is a concern, but he has the size and power to develop into a quality starter after a year or two learning on the sidelines.
Rams, 69thDarius Rush, CB, South Carolina: Fun fact: The Rams landed star wide receiver Cooper Kupp with the 69th pick in the 2017 draft. Whoever gets selected here will likely be constantly reminded of that nugget, and it might be a defensive player after the Rams said goodbye to Jalen Ramsey, Leonard Floyd, Bobby Wagner and many other starters this offseason. Rush’s length and athleticism could complement last year’s cornerback draft picks of Cobie Durant and Derion Kendrick.
Browns, 74thSiaki Ika, DT, Baylor: The Browns addressed the defensive line in free agency with the additions of defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson and edge rusher Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, but that shouldn’t stop them from adding more help for Myles Garrett, the centerpiece of the defense. Ika is a stout run stopper and would help the Browns in that phase after they allowed 135 rushing yards per game last season.
Rams, 77thTyler Steen, OL, Alabama: The Rams would be wise to add offensive line depth after a wave of injuries across the unit quickly derailed their 2022 season. Steen, who started his college career as a defensive lineman at Vanderbilt, flashed as Alabama’s left tackle last season. With more time to grow, Steen could develop into a reliable offensive lineman with flexibility at tackle and guard.
Dolphins, 84thCameron Mitchell, CB, Northwestern: The Dolphins have one of the best cornerback tandems in the NFL with Ramsey and Xavien Howard, and have a quality third cornerback after the emergence of Kader Kohou, who filled in for the injured Byron Jones last season. But the Dolphins have Super Bowl aspirations, and the AFC is loaded with star quarterbacks, so the more cornerbacks, the better. Mitchell has scheme versatility, and he can contribute from the slot or on the outside.
Browns, 98th (compensatory)Zach Evans, RB, Ole Miss: With Kareem Hunt and D’Ernest Johnson no longer on the Browns’ roster, they’re in need of a No. 2 running back behind Nick Chubb. Evans showed at Ole Miss he’s an explosive playmaker, and capable of being a change-of-pace back in a committee.
49ers, 99th (compensatory)Nick Saldiveri, OL, Old Dominion: With a stacked roster, the 49ers could afford to wait this long to make their first draft selection, but they’re not a perfect team and have holes to address after losing a few starters in free agency, including right tackle Mike McGlinchey, who joined the Broncos. Saldiveri primarily played right tackle in college and has the versatility to play at guard or as the swing tackle.
49ers, 101st (compensatory)Byron Young, edge, Tennessee: The 49ers likely have an open competition for the No. 2 edge rusher behind Nick Bosa after Samson Ebukam departed for Indianapolis in free agency. Young needs time to improve against the run, but he flashed as a pass rusher at Tennessee and could immediately contribute as a rotational edge rusher for obvious passing situations.
49ers, 102nd (compensatory)Kyu Blu Kelly, CB, Stanford: With the final pick in the third round, the 49ers should consider Kelly to add depth at cornerback. Kelly lacks speed but makes up for it with sound footwork. But the 49ers might already be familiar with Kelly’s game as a four-year starter for the local Pac-12 university.