RPO Football’s 2023 NFL Mock Draft – Day 2 – Round 2 & 3
On Monday we released NFL mock draft for Day 1, Round 1.
Today we mock Day 2, which includes Rounds 2 and 3. Some of these picks rose up our draft boards either after an impressive NFL combine or Pro Day. Like Round 1, I will give some insight on a few picks.
NFL Mock Draft Round 2
33- Pittsburgh – OT Anton Harrison – Oklahoma
34- Houston – CB Deonte Banks – Maryland – The Texans addressed the offensive side in round one. Now they get a speedy corner to play opposite of Derek Stingley.
35- Arizona – OT Dawand Jones – Ohio State
36- Indianapolis – Edge Luka Van Ness – Iowa
37- Los Angeles Rams – CB Clark Phillips III – Utah
38- Seattle – QB Hendon Hooker – Tennessee – Yes, we know Quarterback Geno Smith was re-signed to 3 years, $105 million. Smith has only had two healthy seasons in his 10-year career. Hooker is better insurance than current back up Drew Lock.
39- Las Vegas – TE Darnell Washington – Georgia – After trading Tight End Darren Waller and losing Tight End Foster Moreau due to illness, the Raiders signed Tight Ends Austin Hooper and O.J. Howard. To us, Georgia Tight End Darnell Washington has more upside in pass-catching and blocking down field. He becomes a younger reliable option for Jimmy Garoppolo down the stretch.
40- Carolina – TE Luke Musgrave- Oregon St
41- New Orleans – CB Eli Ricks – Alabama
42- Tennessee – RB Jahmyr Gibbs – Alabama – The second Running Back off the board. A nice compliment to the work horse back Derrick Henry. Gibbs can run the ball well, but he excels in the passing game. An area in which Henry has struggled during his career.
43- New York Jets – EDGE Isaiah Foskey – ND
44- New York Jets – LB Trenton Simpson – Clemson – Linebacker C.J. Mosley is coming off his second-best year of his career. But with two years left on his contract, the Jets get a nice replica to learn behind Mosley. In the case they do not resign Mosley, they do not miss a beat having Simpson take over when the time comes.
45- Atlanta – LB Drew Sanders – Arkansas
46- Green Bay – WR Marvin Mims – Oklahoma – Green Bay does not draft a Wide Receiver in the first round. But after an impressive second half of the season from second round draft pick Christian Watson the Packers go Wide Receiver again. This time they get the compliment to Watson in playmaking Wide Receiver Marvin Mims.
47- New England – Edge Will McDonald IV – Iowa St
48- Washington – C John Michael Schmitz – Minnesota
49- Detroit – LB Owen Pappoe – Auburn – After Linebacker Alex Anzalone‘s career best the Lions resigned him to 3 years $18.75 million. Pappoe is a solid depth piece that can eventually become a starter. He showcased his speed and strength at the combine moving him up our boards.
50- Pittsburgh – CB Emmanuel Forbes – Mississippi State
51- Tampa Bay – G Steve Avila – TCU
52- Miami – RB Israel Abanikanda – Pittsburgh – Probably our biggest day two surprise, but after a dominating pro day he moved up our boards. Miami is all about speed, and Abanikanda fits that mold. Plugging him into the committee of Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson, and Salvon Ahmed adds fresh legs to bring speed and force once again into the backfield.
53- Seattle – C Luke Wypler – Ohio State
54- Chicago – RB Zach Charbonnet – UCLA – After signing Running Back D’Onta Foreman to a one-year deal the Bears draft the best Running Back on the board. One that can become an every-down back. A versatile weapon that can run between the tackles or catch the ball out the backfield.
55-Los Angeles Chargers – DT Mazi Smith – Michigan
56- Detroit – CB DJ Turner – Michigan – After trading Cornerback Jeff Okudah the Lions add a speedy Cornerback that can match up against Wide Receivers. In our eyes this is a solid replacement for former Top 3 draft pick Okudah.
57- Jacksonville – S Antonio Johnson – A&M
58- New York Giants – LB Jack Campbell – Iowa
59- Dallas – DT Siaki Ika – Baylor
60- Buffalo – C Joe Tippman – Wisconsin
61- Cincinnati – OL Cody Mauch – NDSU
62- Chicago – G Andrew Vorhees – USC
63- Philadelphia – OL Darnell Wright – TENN
64- Kansas City – EDGE Derick Hall – Auburn
NFL Mock Draft Round 3
65- Chicago – Edge Andre Carter – Army
66- Houston – LB Noah Sewell – Oregon
67- Arizona – WR Xavier Hutchinson – Iowa St – After talks of Wide Receiver DeAndre Hopkins leaving Arizona, the Cardinals will need help. Hutchinson can line up anywhere on the field. Nothing flashy, but gets the job done. He could be valuable opposite Marquise Brown, or out of the slot.
68- Denver – T Matthew Bergeron – Syracuse
69- Denver – DT Keeanu Benton – Wisconsin
70- Los Angeles Rams – QB Tanner McKee – Stanford – Quarterback Matthew Stafford has fought through injuries his entire career. He is tough. McKee is also tough, and in the right situation he could thrive. Learning behind a Quarterback with similar traits could be that right situation.
71- Las Vegas – CB Garrett Williams – Syracuse
72- New Orleans – WR Kayshon Boutte – LSU
73- Tennessee – WR Tank Dell – Houston
74- Houston – OG Jaxson Kirkland – Washington
75- Cleveland – RB Devon Achane – A&M – We all loved Running Back Jerome Ford last year, and after losing running mates D’Ernest Johnson and possibly Kareem Hunt. Ford just is not enough. Achane could become the change of pace back that Cleveland could utilize behind starter Nick Chubb.
76- Atlanta – WR Tyler Scott – Cincinnati – The Falcons finally address a much-needed position. Scott is speed deep threat Wide Receiver that already has some chemistry with Quarterback Desmond Ridder. Add him alongside Wide Receiver Drake London, and watch Ridder begin shine.
77- New England – WR A T Perry – Wake Forest – A comp I have seen for Perry is Wide Receiver DeVante Parker who has only been healthy once all season in his 8-year career. Get Perry, let him learn, and watch him thrive when the opportunity presents itself.
78- Los Angeles Rams – RB Tyjae Spears – Tulane – After an impressive Senior Bowl, Spears moved up our draft boards. He becomes a depth piece, but solid weapon out the backfield if Cam Akers shows any signs of slowing down.
79- Green Bay – DB Jaylon Jones – A&M
80- Indianapolis – CB Julius Brents – Kansas St – A much needed piece to the defensive puzzle for the Colts. Brents add size and aggression to battle against any Wide Receiver. His ability to drop into coverage or act as a run supporter will work well in the Indianapolis secondary.
81- Pittsburgh – DT Jaquelin Roy – LSU
82- Detroit – WR Cedric Tillman – Tennessee
83- Tampa Bay – TE Sam Laporta – Iowa
84- Seattle – OLB Nick Herbig – Wisconsin
85- Miami – LB Henry To’oTo’o – Alabama
86- Los Angeles Chargers – TE Zack Kuntz – Old Dominion – This Tight End class is deep, one of the deepest we have seen. The Chargers add a solid weapon that when healthy is a match up nightmare to any defender. This is what they wanted Donald Parham to be.
87- Baltimore – CB Tyrique Stevenson – Miami
88- Minnesota – Edge Zach Harrison – Ohio St
89- Jacksonville – Edge Felix Anudike-Uzomah – Kansas St
90- New York Giants – S Jammie Robinson – Florida St – The Giants did sign Safety Bobby Mccain from Washington, but Free Safety Xavier McKinney battled another injury riddled season. Robinson adds much needed depth at the position.
91- Dallas – OT Blake Freeland – BYU
92- Buffalo – OLB Daiyan Henley – Wash St
93- Cincinnati – RB Kendre Miller – TCU
94- Carolina – S Christopher Smith II – Georgia
95- Philadelphia – RB Roschon Johnson – UT – We like Kenneth Gainwell, and when Rashaad Penny is healthy, he can be a top Running Back in the NFL. Johnson becomes a third down back that can pick up that extra yard or score. He lacks the explosiveness the other backs have. But he would be one of the strongest backs in this Running Back room.
96- Kansas City – S Ronnie Hickman – Ohio St
97- *Arizona – S Jordan Battle – Alabama
98- *Washington – LB DeMarvion Overshown – UT – After losing Linebacker Cole Holcomb to the Steelers, the Commanders need depth at the position. Not a day one starter, but one that can become the field general on defense. A Linebacker that can drop back into coverage, or attack on the blitz. It helps that he is a former safety.
99- *Cleveland – LB Dorian Williams – Tulane
100- *San Francisco – CB Kyu Blu Kelly – Stanford
101- *Las Vegas – OG Jarrett Patterson – Norte Dame
102- *San Francisco – WR Jonathan Mingo – Ole Miss – A Wide Receiver that has gotten comp to former 49ers Wide Receiver Anquan Boldin. He is a strong slot Wide Receiver that could become a big threat alongside Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel. One thing the team has been missing is a trust worthy WR3.
103- *San Francisco – DT Tui Tuipulotu – USC
This wraps up day two of the NFL mock draft. Stay tuned, later this week, as we mock Day 3 of the NFL Draft.
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