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On the Clock: 2023 RCF Mock Draft - Pick Thread

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Houston takes Mekhi Blackmon, CB USC.

The Indianapolis Colts and @Melancholy Jaques are on the clock

With a 91.1 coverage grade, Blackmon has the skills to develop into a #1 corner in the league--and we don't need a #1 corner--we just need young talent to grow alongside Stingley and Pitre, while having Steven Nelson, Jimmie Ward and Desmond King to learn from.

Quick as a button, Blackmon can stick with anyone at the next level. Just look at that 10-yard split. That's the sort of closing burst that generates turnovers and catches QB's by surprise.

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Blackmon is also someone who tackles well and has a nose for the football. Here he is stacked up against other corners who will go in the first two days of the draft:

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Brett Kollmann's scouting report on him:

Mekhi Blackmon: Feisty, physical press corner that definitely has to play more under control in the NFL to avoid flags, but he has all the competitiveness you want from a potential CB1 at the next level. Never backs down from anyone, and has EASY gas to stay in control of a route from the top down, even against true burners. Legit 4.4 speed, and gets up to it quickly. Outstanding ball production with 17 forced incompletions and three picks on top of that last year, and held up extremely well despite being targeted often. Battle tested, aggressive, and confident. Only real hole in his game is that's not a physical tackler despite being physical in coverage, but he's at least willing to throw his body into the mix and isn't a pile sniffer. Overall, I think he's very similar to Des Trufant in terms of size and skillset, and could start early in his career
 
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With the 162nd pick, the Indianapolis Colts select Brodric Martin, DT, Western Kentucky


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NFL DRAFT PROFILE & SCOUTING REPORT​

LAST UPDATED: 03/25/2023
DRAFT YEAR: 2023
40 TIME: 5.36 SECONDS (7%*)
BOWL INVITE: SHRINE BOWL


MEASURABLES:
HEIGHT: 6-5 (91%*)WEIGHT: 337 (98%*)
HANDS: 9 1/8 (16%*)ARM: 34 3/8 (74%*)SPAN: 83 2/8 (92%*)
FORTY: 5.36 (P) (7%*)SHUTTLE: 4.94 (P) (6%*)
VERTICAL: 25 (P) (8%*)BROAD: 100 (P) (18%*)
THREE CONE: 8.16 (P) (5%*)BENCH: 20 (P) (10%*)
0%100%
(C)- NFL COMBINE (P)- PRO DAY
*Percentile calculated on how any given stat would rank at the NFL combine historically in the player's position group (Higher value represents better perfomance).
ALL WESTERN KENTUCKY DRAFT PROSPECTS

OVERALL RATING:79.9 / 100
GAME PERFORMANCE WEIGHTED RATING
TACKLING:70%
PASS RUSH:69%
RUN DEFENSE:62%
DRAFT PROJECTION: 6TH
OVERALL RANK: #184 POSITION RANK: #37
COLLEGE GAMES: 36 COLLEGE SNAPS: 1274

DRAFT PROFILE: BIO​

After high school, Martin joined North Alabama.

In 2018 as a freshman Martin saw action in just one game and played a total of 16 snaps for the Lions. He recorded only one tackle, one assist, while adding one stop.

As a sophomore for the Lions in 2019 Martin played in 4 games and took part in 213 snaps for the Lions. He recorded 12 tackles, one assist, while adding 10 stops. As a pass rusher, he chalked up 6 total pressures, and 3 QB hurries, no QB hits, and 3 sacks during the year.

In 2020 as a junior Martin played in 4 games and contributed on 176 snaps. He recorded only 5 tackles, 3 assists while making 5 stops. As a pass rusher, he produced 3 total pressures, which included 3 QB hurries, no QB hits, and no sacks on the year.

After season's end Martin transferred to Western Kentucky where as a senior for the Hilltoppers in 2021 Martin played 14 games and took part in 369 snaps for the Hilltoppers. He also added 18 tackles, 9 assists, and 15 stops. As a pass rusher, he tallied 8 total pressures, which included 7 QB hurries, no QB hits, and one sack on the season.

In 2022 as a fifth year senior Martin logged playing time in 13 games and logged a total of 500 snaps for the Hilltoppers. He also added 23 tackles, 10 assists, and 15 stops. As a pass rusher, he tallied 22 total pressures, which included 18 QB hurries, 2 QB hits, and 2 sacks on the season.


SCOUTING REPORT: STRENGTHS​

  • Big-bodied rusher with very good upper-body strength. Strong and stout at the point of attack with the measurables to occupy multiple blockers.
  • Martin has the strong core and powerful hands to shed blockers, and Martin shows excellent instincts with the ability to quickly locate the ball.
  • He’s very instinctive when it comes to countering and solid with overall hand usage.
  • He has the heavy hands and upper-body strength to win with power. Martin drops his weight and anchors well against the run, holding up at the point of attack and capable of occupying double teams.
  • Arguably his best skill due to an extraordinary burst off the snap. Explodes out of his stance, demonstrating a burst upfield to slip gaps and the lateral agility once past the line to chase down the quarterback.
  • His hand use is excellent; he’s strong in the upper body and consistently swats away blockers.


SCOUTING REPORT: WEAKNESSES​

  • He’ll typically go to a bull rush but lacks the suddenness to generate a push. Martin doesn’t show anything in the way of counters once he’s stopped in his initial rush.
  • Isn't able to consistently shed blocks and makes plays in the hole.
  • Needs to keep his pad level low; pops upright and plays too tall, struggling to maintain leverage off the snap.
 
With the 163rd pick in the 2023 RCF NFL Mock Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals select...

Israel Abanikanda, RB, University of Pittsburgh

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Rationale: The Bengals already took one RB in Round 2, but the RB room is bare especially with Joe Mixon’s imminent departure in the near future. Enter Abanikanda who is highly rated on the Bengals board and can create a nice 1-2 punch with Gibbs. Expect Gibbs to play more on passing downs, but Abanikanda can be a nice change of pace back to give the Bengals a rushing attack that they had been missing much of last season.


-scouting report per tdn.com

Israel Abanikanda competed in both track and football in high school where he was highly accomplished in both sports. Abanikanda is a two-time 100-meter Gold Medalist at the New York City Mayor’s Cup Race. A running back and defensive back on the gridiron, Abanikanda was a two-time all-state selection.

A breakout star in 2022, Abanikanda led the ACC in rushing by a significant margin. While Abanikanda has good size at 215 pounds, I’m impressed by the amount of burst and speed he offers. While he has the power expected for his frame and is successful grinding out tough yards and winning after contact, he also has the explosiveness to run off-tackle and gain chunk plays. Abanikanda does well working off his blocks and stringing together moves while setting up tacklers to make it difficult for them to get square on him. Abanikanda has demonstrated a baseline skill set as a receiver, showcasing soft hands and creativity with the ball in his hands post-catch. He is a willing pass blocker that has also been given some chances to contribute as a kick returner.

Abanikanda has good vision but I stop short of calling it a strength. He feasts when there is displacement up front and on the second level, but navigating more congested boxes hasn’t been a strength to this point. He is a willing pass blocker that scans and steps forward but his anchor isn’t overly stout when absorbing contact. While he’s mostly been reliable in the passing game, he isn’t immune to an occasional drop and his production has been modest. While he is explosive with the ball in his hands, there is some throttle and gather when working laterally. There is development needed in how he presses the line of scrimmage to manipulate the second level to make his blocks right.

Abanikanda’s size and big-play ability make him an attractive prospect, in addition to being a younger player that just turned 20 years old in October 2022. He has the makeup of a starter with development that could serve as an X-factor for his offense as he develops.

Top Reasons to Buy In:
* Combination of size and speed
* Age and low mileage
* Competitive style

Top Reasons For Concern:
* Navigating congested areas
* Elusiveness
* Need to develop passing-down skill set

Size (NFL Combine):
Height: 5’10”

Weight: 216 lbs
Arm Length: 32”

Hand Size: 8 1/4”

Athletic Testing (TBD):
40-yard Dash: 0.00s
Vertical Jump: 00”
Broad Jump: 000”
Short-Shuttle: 0.00s
Three-Cone: 0.00s
Bench Reps: 00 reps

Ideal Role: Developmental starter

Scheme Fit: Blended run scheme

Prospect Comparison: Tevin Coleman (2015 NFL Draft)

TDN Consensus Grade: 73.00/100 (Fourth-Round Value)


San Fransisco 49ers @Randolphkeys are on the clock!
 
I had Abanikanda queued up! Good pick from the Bengals.

With their likely final pick of the 2023 RCF fake draft, the San Francisco 49ers select...

Tavius Robinson, Edge, Ol' Miss

HEIGHT
6’ 6’’
WEIGHT
257 lbs
ARM
33 3/4’’
HAND
9 5/8’’


Why Niners?

The 49ers do not have a glaring need, so they take the best talent on the board. Robinson is a little light for a 4/3 defensive end, but a professional strength and conditioning program will allow him to develop into a pass rush specialist down the line. With the strength of a Bosa, Hargrave and Armstead starting, Robinson doesn't have pressure to make an impact as a rookie.

The Niners weren't afraid to trade up to add talent in this draft and I feel like they grabbed young developmental projects at critical positions for the future:

Tight end Tucker Kraft, South Dakota State
Offensive tackle Warren McClendon, Georgia
Free safety Jartavius Martin, Illinois
Edge Tavius Robinson, Ol' Miss

@Hurl Bruce and the Saints are on the clock!
 

With the 166th pick in the 2023 RCF NFL Mock Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs select…​

​

Chase Brown, Running Back, University of Illinois​

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Chase Brown NFL Draft Scouting Report​

RB, Illinois Fighting Illini​

Illinois RB Chase Brown projects as a viable high-volume runner in the right system. He’s got ample speed to burn and took important steps in 2022 to showcase himself as a high-volume runner who is capable of carrying a significant workload for periods of time if needed. He may not be a true mismatch, do-it-all type of back, but he’s a home-run hitter with track speed and good instincts as a ball carrier. That’s a pretty good foundation for outside-zone-heavy teams looking to get fresh legs in their running back stable.

Originally a three-star recruit, Brown hails from London, Ontario, Canada. Brown has a twin brother, Sydney, who is a successful safety prospect also at Illinois. The Brown twins’ father, Darren, played three seasons in the CFL, helping to build a clear eye and feel for the game. Brown’s background includes some impressive athletic feats of his own as well—he averaged nearly 16 yards per carry with 1,500 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns as a senior and anchored St. Stephen Episcopal’s 4×100 state championship relay team. Originally attending Western Michigan, Brown spent one season with the Broncos before transferring to the Illini program.

On the field, Brown is an explosive runner whose track speed is obvious when he is provided with soft edges or he’s able to quickly press through the A-level of the defense. He’s got dynamic acceleration and is quick to break angles of pursuit in the secondary, which allowed him to gouge defenses seemingly weekly en route to a career year with the Illini in 2022. Brown was handed the role of feature runner in 2022, alleviating one of his biggest questions entering the year. He responded by running decisively, processing action in the front effectively on both the first and second levels of the defense. Brown’s foot quickness allows him to set up tacklers and empowers him to remain patient on his runs pressing the line of scrimmage. He trusts his ability to get geared back up in a hurry and will force defenders to commit to gaps before breaking against their commitment and into space.

Brown also showed growth as a pass-catcher this season, logging nearly half of his career receptions and receiving yards (and all of his career receiving touchdowns) in 2022. Illinois implemented him on swing routes and rail routes out of the backfield and on more than one occasion he found a lot of grass and created a big play. He was used in the screen game as well, offering a sufficient sell of pass protection before peeling back to his quarterback and setting up blocks in space. I appreciate Brown’s feel for capturing the edge and his functional athleticism; they’re staples that will afford him opportunities. But there’s room for growth in a few areas as well.

One area for Brown that may be a limiting area of his game is between the tackles and in short-yardage situations. Brown has an impressive total of yards after contact but I wouldn’t consider him to be a consistent pile-pusher or a runner who plays through contact. Defenders can box him in and generally stifle his push. He had one exchange versus Wisconsin when he had multiple efforts inside the 5-yard line and failed to churn the pile or fall out of contact to score.

His build doesn’t offer the kind of density that will pose challenges in the box; I think he’s a hard runner but he doesn’t run with a lot of pop behind his pads. This barrier is evident in pass protection as well. I’m impressed with Brown’s palette for the role and he appears to identify pressure opportunities and assignments well but he doesn’t stifle upfield push consistently enough and will crowd his quarterback on passing downs in the backfield as a result. He needs to become a better striker in this role to command reps here consistently.

Lastly, I’d like to see Brown find more discipline to press some of his runs into traffic to play for hard yards. I did feel as though he left some opportunities out on the field by bouncing to the perimeter instead of embracing contact and fighting for tough yards through traffic.

Brown has the potential to be an impact ball carrier in the right system, but I do think he is a scheme and fit-dependent player who will not have the same kind of success in every environment. Teams that look to press to the edge and can rely on his foot quickness and vision to cut against the grain on outside concepts will reap the most benefit from Brown’s skills—especially if they’re able to pair him with a physical back to carry the load between the tackles and in short-yardage situations. Brown can continue to grow in the pros to be a more well-balanced player, but he’s an obvious role filler early on as a rookie.

Top Reasons to Buy In:

  • Elite speed to the perimeter and proven home-run hitting ability
  • Promising explosion as a bellcow back in 2022 with a significant workload
  • Light feet to create subtle cuts and bend runs with pace through the point of attack
  • Shows good appetite for pass protection
Top Reasons For Concern:

  • Does not appear to have the power to move the pile and earn tough yards between the tackles
  • Will likely get rotated out in short-yardage and goal-line situations for a heavier back
  • Currently catches too many blows in protection, conceding space that could compromise his QB
  • Passes on hard yardage to bounce to the perimeter at times
Size (NFL Combine):

Height: 5′ 9 1/2”

Weight: 205 lbs

Arm Length: 31”

Hand Size: 10”

Athletic Testing (NFL Combine):

40-yard Dash: 4.43s

Vertical Jump: 40”

Broad Jump: 10′ 7”

Short-Shuttle: TBD

Three-Cone: TBD

Bench Reps: 25 reps

Ideal Role: Rotational running back

Scheme Fit: Wide-zone-heavy scheme as a perimeter runner

Prospect Comparison: Raheem Mostert (2015 NFL Draft)

TDN Consensus Grade: 78.00/100 (Third-Round Value)

The Los Angeles Rams and @Snowblind are on the clock.
 
Rams are taking Byron Young, DT, Alabama


With Greg Gaines and A’Shawn Robinson gone in free agency, the Rams could use a defensive lineman like Young that can play in odd or even fronts. Young is lengthy with 34 3/8 inch arms and is good at using his leverage in the interior.

The Alabama product flashed more potential as a pass rusher in 2022 and he’s a formidable run defender. While Young will need time to develop in the interior, he’d be a solid rotational defender for the Rams until he’s prepared to start in the NFL.


HEIGHT
6' 3"
WEIGHT
294
CLASS
Sr.
AGE
22.4


BACKGROUND: Byron Young, who is the youngest of five children (four boys, one girl), grew up in rural Mississippi and quickly followed in his older brothers’ footsteps playing sports. He focused on football and basketball through youth leagues and into middle school, although a chipped kneecap which required surgery, took him off the football field in the eighth grade. Young attended West Jones High School where he played basketball as a freshman before returning to football as a sophomore and switching to defensive end. He had a breakout return in 2016 with 66 tackles, 10 sacks and three forced fumbles, which opened the floodgates of his recruitment. As a junior, Young recorded 55 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and 14 sacks, leading West Jones to eight wins and a playoff berth. He had his most productive season as a senior with 125 tackles, 29.5 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one interception, adding two touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving) on offense. Young led West Jones to a 12-3 record in 2018 and the school’s first state championship. He received numerous awards, including U.S. Army All-American honors.

A four-star recruit out of high school, Young was the No. 8 defensive tackle in the 2019 recruiting class and the No. 6 recruit in Mississippi. He was considered a consensus top-100 recruit nationally as Jones County produced two of the top recruits in the class with Young and Charles Cross (Laurel High School). Young received his first offer as a sophomore from Ole Miss followed by South Carolina, Florida and almost every SEC program. He officially committed to Alabama the summer before his senior year and stuck with his choice despite a few last-minute trips to LSU, Mississippi State and Ole Miss. His parents (Kenny and Melissa) raised five children and all five signed to play college sports. All three of Young’s older brothers played football at West Jones and the college level: Regrick (Jones County Junior College), Kendrick (Pearl River Community College and Southern Illinois) and Brandon (Jones County Junior College and Arkansas-Monticello). Young graduated with his degree (December 2022). He accepted his invitation to the 2023 Senior Bowl.

STRENGTHS: Large-framed lineman with long arms and massive hands … flashes first-step quickness to squeeze gaps or get into his blocks … skillfully uses his active hands to deconstruct blocks and shake free … catches and disposes of blocker’s wrists … cleverly tracks the ball in the run game … plays with the contact balance to maneuver his way through the muck … adequate take-on technique to occupy double teams … his coaches say he has the drive needed for professional football … developed his toughness as a kid playing sports with his three older brothers … experienced lining up all over the defensive front … showed up to work each day and played in all 54 games the last four seasons.

WEAKNESSES: His lateral footwork and change-of-direction ability are average at best … doesn’t have the secondary quickness to take full advantage after he sheds blocks … can get straight-legged at times and would benefit from more set up in his rush … needs to tighten up his pursuit angles for better clean-up tackle opportunities … inconsistent break down skills as a finisher, especially in the backfield … could use additional mass, especially in his lower body, to better match up in the NFL … below-average sack production.


SUMMARY: A four-year starter at Alabama, Young was a defensive end in head coach Nick Saban’s 3-4 base scheme, shifting from the edge, to inside the tackle and down to a tilted nose position. He made noticeable improvements as a senior and posted the same number of pressures (28) in 2022 as his first three seasons combined. A smart, assignment-sound run defender, Young is quick to read blocks and put himself in a leveraged position to make plays from different alignments. He has the technical know-how to free himself as a rusher, but his secondary rush and finishing skills are subpar. Young doesn’t play with desired explosiveness or mass, but he can break down the rhythm of blockers with his length, awareness and skill. He is scheme-diverse and will provide immediate depth as an NFL rotational player. GRADE: 3rd-4th Round

Via The Athletic

@DJTJ is up next I think?
 
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Edit: I had an error on the draft board, yes @DJTJ next up with Cardinals. I'll fix the big board later today.
 
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Arizona Cardinals are awarded...


Marte Mapu

LB/SAF, Sacramento State Hornets


A quarterback, wide receiver, linebacker, safety, and corner in high school, Marte Mapu has been considered a swiss army knife for as long as he’s been playing football. Now a six-year senior heading into the NFL draft, Mapu’s performance at the Senior Bowl has earned him significant buzz and has gotten him on every organization’s radar. Marte finished the season with 76 tackles, 6.5 of those coming behind the line of scrimmage, and added two interceptions, a sack, and a blocked kick to his resume in a season where he was voted the Big Sky Player of the Year as well as an AP First-Team All-American.
 
With the 169th pick, the Indianapolis Colts select Ben VanSumeren, LB, Michigan State

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Ben VanSumeren Pro Day Measurements and Results​

  • Height: 6’1″
  • Weight: 237 pounds
  • Arm Length: 31″
  • Hand Size: 9 1/4″
  • Bench Press: 29 reps
  • 40-Yard Dash: 4.40

Tony Pauline’s Scouting Report for Ben VanSumeren​

Strengths: Athletic linebacker who watched his game take off last season. Keeps the action in front of him, quickly picks up assignments, and flows well laterally. Displays smooth, quick change-of-direction skills, covers a lot of area on the field, and chases around to make plays. Slides off blocks, shows speed moving laterally, and stays with coverage assignments. Physical, sells out, and squares into ball handlers.


Weaknesses: Has just one year of big-time production. Doesn’t play like a 230-pound linebacker and is easily blocked from the action or out-positioned from plays. Doesn’t play to his 40 time or show a great closing burst.

Overall: VanSumeren was a solid linebacker at Michigan State who really didn’t jump onto the scouting radar until late in the year. He knocked it out of the park on pro day, timing as fast as 4.38 seconds in the 40, completing 29 reps on the bench press, and touching 42.5 inches in the vertical jump. Athleticism alone will be worth signing him after the draft, but VanSumeren comes with a large upside.
 
@sportscoach and Jacksonville are out of time and have been awarded their selection:

Chad Ryland, Kicker, Maryland

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Chad Ryland enjoyed an excellent season at Maryland after transferring from Eastern Michigan. Ryland set the all-time single-season record for the highest field goal percentage (.826) in program history by converting 19-of-23 field goals attempts. Ryland was extremely reliable from short distances, going a perfect 9-for-9 from under 40 yards.

Ryland needs to be more dependable from longer distances after going 10-of-14 (71.4%) on attempts from 40-yards-or-further. NFL kickers make their money by making big-time kicks from 40-plus yards. Ryland participated in this year’s Senior Bowl, which indicates NFL franchises possess a high grade on him.
 
Rams are taking Kendre Miller, RB, TCU



The size and production will check important boxes, but Miller’s lack of tempo and explosiveness between the tackles could turn him into a grinder against the speed of NFL defenses. His restricted stride length provides greater control to cut early in the run, but it works against him when he needs to hit the gas and stride past linebackers. He has the size and strength to keep runs moving though contact, although he could be an even better run finisher. His third-down value is relatively low, so he will need to sell himself as an early down backup on the next level
..
Top Reasons to Buy In:

Contact balance/body control
Natural running back instincts
Vision

Top Reasons For Concern:

Explosiveness
Elusiveness
Production in the passing game
Size (NFL Combine):

Height: 5′ 11”

Weight: 215 lbs

Arm Length: 32 3/8”

Hand Size: 9 3/8”
 
Thank you @Stark for using the PM feature to get this pick in as soon as possible!

The New York Giants select...
Brandon Hill, Safety, Pitt


From The Draft Network:
In pass coverage, Hill’s range shines. He can cover plenty of ground with the athleticism necessary to serve in man coverage. His blend of processing skills, range, and physicality positions him well to provide value in a number of roles in the secondary. Hill has a natural feel for pass coverage where his ability to read the backfield, squeeze routes, and space the field is strong. Serving as the “boundary safety” for Pitt, Hill didn’t get many chances to make plays on the ball but he flashed the ability to make well-timed breaks on the football and be disruptive at the catch point.

When it comes to concerns, Hill can be over-committed to playing downhill and create space behind him on playfakes, even when playing in deeper alignments. Hill can achieve more consistency as a tackler with a great emphasis on wrap-up technique and not just relying on his dense frame to take out the legs of ball carriers, which leads to uneven results. Given Hill’s physical style of play, it’s fair to be a touch concerned about his stature if he’s going to play in the 190s. While some of it could be a product of alignments, more ball production across his two seasons as a starter is preferred.

Hill has the makeup of an NFL starter that at a minimum should be a significant asset on special teams.

@sportscoach and Jacksonville are on the clock and have charts on charts!
 
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