NFL Mock Draft 2023, Botch Job: Every team screws up its first-round pick
NFL Mock Draft 2023: Every team screws up its first-round pick
RB. 9. player. 57. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Texas. Bijan Robinson
The closer we get to the draft and the more we hear about the Bears trade with the Panthers involving the No. 1 overall picks, specifically Chicago’s insistence on getting D.J. Moore, the more I’m convinced that this team is going to make it a priority to get Justin Fields more weapons to help him succeed.
If that is true, then I would love Jaxon Smith-Njigba in this spot. Instead, it feels more likely that the team would get enamored with running back Bijan Robinson and use a Top 10 pick on a running back.
Make no mistake, the combination of Fields and Robinson could be special to watch. However, this is a team still with massive needs on the offensive line and who has serviceable veterans in D’Onta Foreman and Khalil Herbert at running back. It’s impossible to not love Robinson, but this isn’t the pick to use on him.
Nolan Smith. 54. 10. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. EDGE. Georgia
Finding a pick that the Eagles could truly botch at No. 10 is, frankly, pretty damn difficult. This is a team that, after finding ways to keep several more of the key free agents this offseason than expected, doesn’t have many roster holes to truly speak of. As such, there are a lot of different ways that they could go with this selection.
However, I do believe that Nolan Smith at this spot could be a bit too much of a luxury pick for the reigning NFC champs.
Let’s be very clear, I’m high on Smith as a prospect. Despite being undersized, his physical tools and athleticism are overall freakish and should translate to him having success as a pass rusher. The bar for players this size to clear to be that, though, is hard to clear. There are surer players to use this selection on at this spot, even if Philly is in an advantageous overall position to draft.