2023 NFL Draft Day 2 mock draft: Projecting Picks No. 40-47 (Round 2)
Many Saints fans weren’t happy with Bryan Bresee at No. 29, even if he’s a good, high-upside player for the defensive line. But now they need to help out Derek Carr, which Steve Avila can do. The TCU product is a butt-kicker on the interior of the line who can start immediately in New Orleans.
Kudos to the Titans, who have relatively limited capital in this year’s draft, on not overreacting and trading up to take a quarterback. They are building infrastructure and they need more weaponry on offense. They keep Jalin Hyatt in Tennessee and add a pure deep, speed threat to the offense who can take the lid off of defenses routinely.
Even with Aaron Rodgers gone, the Packers cheeseheads still have holes in it and they took Lukas Van Ness in the first round. But now they work to get Jordan Love help on offense and Josh Downs is a phenomenal fit. He’s a better version of Randall Cobb as a smaller slot receiver who isn’t a speed demon but is crafty, sure-handed, tough, and always making plays on the ball and after the catch.
Some people were murmuring about Bergeron going in the first round but that didn’t happen. That’s something the Jets can be thankful for after the Steelers traded up and sniped them in the first round for Broderick Jones. Bergeron might be a guard at the NFL level but he’s worth a look at tackle. In any case, that versatility potential will work in his favor as he should see the field early.
The Bijan Robinson pick, while exciting, doesn’t exactly fill a need for the Falcons. BJ Ojulari, on the other hand, does. Atlanta has needed pass rush help for what feels like an eternity and the LSU product has all the tools to be a highly effective player in that capacity. He’s not an elite athlete, but he’s well above average and couples that with a nicely developed set of rush moves.
Really trying to win favor with Jordan Love, the Packers come back on the clock and take another weapon, this time adding Sam Laporta to a basically-bare tight end room. The Iowa product is a great pass-catching threat who, while he doesn’t offer much in the way of blocking, can be a safety valve who has the ability to also stretch the field when needed.
Cody Mauch with his mane of red hair and toothless smile just feels like a guy the Patriots would love, right? The North Dakota State product might be a guard at the NFL level but New England needs help at multiple spots on the O-line and Mauch has proven with his adjustment from being a tight end to tackle at the FCS level that he’s highly skilled, intelligent and ready for the challenge in the pros.
Especially after losing Cole Holcomb in free agency, Washington badly needs some help at linebacker. Drew Sanders is a former 5-star prospect who really started to shine after transferring from Alabama to Arkansas. As a former EDGE, he has pass-rush versatility but has already made strides as a stand-up linebacker who can help the Commanders.
Round 2, Picks 32-39 | Round 2, Picks 56-63 | Round 3, Picks 64-71 | Round 3, Picks 72-81 | Round 3, Picks 82-91 | Round 3, Picks 92-102