College Football: Replacements for every first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft

26. Michigan football replacement for Mazi Smith (Cowboys): Mason Graham

Despite all of the hype around Mazi Smith as a physical freak and force on the interior, the fact of the matter is that he didn’t consistently put it all together for Michigan, even if the flashes were indeed spectacular. His departure and joining the Cowboys by way of the draft now means that a player who has also already flashed as a rotational piece, Mason Graham, gets to step into a bigger role and be a potential star.

Even working as a backup, Graham was highly impressive as just a true freshman in 2022, registerng 2.5 sacks and 27 total tackles for the Wolverines. For a player with no college experience to show up like that as a backup speaks highly of his talent and, as the presumed starter, he could be a force for Jim Harbaugh’s team.

27. Oklahoma football replacement for Anton Harrison (Jaguars): Walter Rouse

This might be one of the simplest answers in college football for how to replace a first-round pick, it just comes with one key caveat.

Anton Harrison was a beast for Oklahoma but, now that he’s gone, Brent Vanables was able to land Walter Rouse out of Stanford in the transfer portal this offseason, giving the Sooners a highly experienced newcomer who has started for four years at left tackle with the Cardinal. That’s a huge boost to replace a player like Harrison.

The caveat, however, is that the Sooners need Rouse to be healthy. He missed the entire spring after undergoing shoulder surgery. That isn’t favorable but, as he’s expected to be recovered by fall, if that goes well, he’s the clear-cut option to slide in at left tackle with Harrison now gone.