On the Clock: 2023 RCF Mock Draft - Pick Thread

[sportscoach]

Alright! Not finding a trade I really liked...

The Packers with the 15th pick in the NFL draft @sportscoach

The Packers select...

DE Myles Murphy Clemson

Myles Murphy Defensive End - EDGE Clemson | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

Rating: 90.7 Rank: #2 Forty: 4.57 With almost unrivaled mobility and pass-rushing skills, Murphy is set to make an immediate impact in the NFL. With the freakish speed, power, and agility t...

www.nfldraftbuzz.com

DRAFT PROFILE: BIO​

Myles Murphy from Dudley High School was rated a 5-star recruit by ESPN and handed a 4-star grade by 247 Sports. After high school, Murphy joined Clemson after being heavily recruited.

In 2020 as a freshman Murphy saw action in 12 games and played a total of 423 snaps for the Tigers. He recorded 20 tackles, 11 assists, while adding 21 stops. As a pass rusher, he added 20 total pressures, which included 12 QB hurries, 3 QB hits, and a decent a decent 5 sacks on the season.

As a sophomore for the Tigers in 2021 Murphy played in 13 games and took part in 552 snaps for the Tigers. He recorded 21 tackles, 9 assists, while adding 22 stops. As a pass rusher, he chalked up 42 total pressures, and 33 QB hurries, no QB hits, and an impressive 9 sacks during the year.

In 2022 as a junior Murphy played in 13 games and contributed on 586 snaps. He recorded 23 tackles, 10 assists while making 22 stops. As a pass rusher, he produced 34 total pressures, which included 21 QB hurries, 7 QB hits, and a decent 6 sacks on the year.

HONORS & AWARDS​

2022

• First-team All-ACC selection
• Second-team All-ACC honoree by the AP
• Third-team All-ACC selection by Phil Steele
• Credited with 45 tackles (11.0 for loss), a team-high-tying 6.5 sacks, three pass breakups and a forced fumble in 580 defensive snaps over 13 games (11 starts)
• Named ESPN’s 33rd-best player in college football for 2022
• Credited with four tackles, including 1.5 sacks, vs. No. 10 NC State, sharing team defensive player of the game honors

2021

• Second-Team All-ACC Selection
• Collected First-Team All-Conference Honors from the PFF and Phil Steele and Second-Team Honors from the AP
• Fourth-Team All-American According to Phil Steele
• Credited with 43 Tackles, a Team-High 14.0 Tackles for Loss, Team-Best 7.0 Sacks, Two Forced Fumbles and Two Pass Breakups in 549 Snaps Over 13 Games (10 Starts)

SCOUTING REPORT: STRENGTHS​

• Murphy can also win going speed-to-power, with the leg drive to push blockers back.
• A savvy, versatile and instinctive edge rusher who did a little bit of everything, Murphy was especially effective getting to the quarterback.
• He has a lethal spin move and the pure speed to close quickly.
• Impressive athletic skills -- Made Bruce Feldman's 'Freaks List' at number 3. He wrote: "The 6-5, 275-pound junior is viewed by NFL scouts as a “significantly better player” than former Tiger Clelin Ferrell, who went fourth overall in the 2019 draft. Murphy bench-presses 405 pounds, power-cleans 335, and deadlifts 505. He also has vertical-jumped 35 inches, broad-jumped 10 feet and consistently clocked in the high 4.5s in the 40"
• Murphy has long arms and displays good power in his hands, which gives him the ability to slip off blocks. As a run defender, he has the speed to chase down ball carriers in pursuit.
• His spin move is already NFL-caliber, and he displays a very good motor.
• His hand use is excellent; he’s strong in the upper body and consistently swats away blockers.
• Possesses the length and power to ward off offensive tackles.

SCOUTING REPORT: WEAKNESSES​

• Plays tall and gets upright off the snap. Wins with upper-body strength and needs to focus on leverage.
• Murphy struggles to shed blockers and doesn’t show ideal lateral movement skills. He also needs to make better use of his length and hands in the pass rush.
• He remains a bit raw, as Murphy is inconsistent with his hand use and lacks violence in his hands
• Tightness in the hips when needing to corner or redirect with speed at steeper angles
• Difficult to gear down and redirect with a lot of mass
• Doesn't showcase as much explosion when attack is slowed

PLAYER COMPARISON​

Travon Walker

SCOUTING REPORT: SUMMARY​

With almost unrivaled mobility and pass-rushing skills, Murphy is set to make an immediate impact in the NFL. With the freakish speed, power, and agility to play multiple positions, he should be a game-changer in the NFL. With the right coaching, Murphy could be an impact starter by the end of his rookie season and is sure to make a real difference to his team's defensive line. A no-brainer top-ten pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

 

[sportscoach]

@Amherstcavsfan with the Commanders is up
@AZ_ with the Steelers is on deck
@Jack Brickman with the Lions is in the hole!

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

*Dan Snyder walks into the building*

Do you hear the people sing?
Singing the song of angry men?
It is the music of the people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!
Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Beyond the barricade
Is there a world you long to see?
Then join in the fight
That will give you the right to be free!
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing the song of angry men?
It is the music of the people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!
Will you give all you can give
So that our banner may advance?
Some will fall and some will live
Will you stand up and take your chance?
The blood of the martyrs
Will water the meadows of France!
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing the song of angry men?
It is the music of the people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes

The COMMIES HAVE OVERTHROWN WASHINGTON! THE COMMIES HAVE OVER THROWN WASHINGTON!

New ownership has authorized new GM AmherstCavsFan to do whatever necessary to make Washington a winner. And so.

We have a trade to announce:

The Washington Commanders send

2023 1st (16), 2nd (47), 3rd (97) 2024 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 2025 1st, 2nd and 3rd, 2026 2nd.

to

The Baltimore Ravens for

Lamar Jackson.

The Baltimore Ravens and @Rookie are on the clock.

 

[Rookie]

With the 16th pick in the 2023 RCF NFL Mock Draft, The Baltimore Ravens select.....

Will Levis, QB, Kentucky​

With the botched handling of Lamar Jackson, The Ravens look to add a cannon to the AFC North. We haven't learned our lesson and we probably wont be retooling this offence with valuable WRs either.

Scouting report​

Will Levis is a tall quarterback with good mass to take on contact. The Penn State transfer has good mobility and does not shy away from contact. Levis has elite arm strength but often gets stuck on his first read and does not complete full-field progressions. Talent evaluators will have to determine how much of his struggles were related to a weak supporting cast, injury, etc., and what is fixable. He is an intelligent player who will compete through injury.

Strengths

• Great mobility relative to his size
• Elite arm strength
• Great size for the position
• Exposure to a pro-style offense
• Tough, will play through injury

Weaknesses

• Battled injury through the 2022 season
• Gets stuck on his first read occasionally
• Subpar production as a senior, did not elevate his team
• Needs to get through full-field reads quicker

Will Levis NFL Draft 2023 scouting report: Prospect profile, NFL Combine results, pro comparison, more

Everything you need to know about Kentucky QB and 2023 NFL Draft prospect Will Levis

www.cbssports.com

@AZ_ Steelers is on the clock.

 

[AZ_]

With the 17th overall pick, the Pittsburgh Steelers select:

Brian Branch - DB - Alabama


Outlook: With the top four tackles already off the board, the Steelers take the best player left on the board in Branch. He's an outstanding nickle, he can come into the box as a safety, he will make plays all over the field like current Steeler and former Crimson Tide standout Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Branch can immediately step into the nickel role for Pittsburgh and provide them with more turnover potential and big play ability.

@Jack Brickman & the Lions up

 

[Jack Brickman]

With the 18th pick in the first round of the 2023 RCF NFL Mock Draft, the Detroit Lions select...

Joey Porter, Jr., CB, Penn State​

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After solidifying their defensive interior with the sixth overall pick, Detroit now looks to address its other biggest need heading into the draft...the defensive secondary. The Lions put some emphasis on this already in free agency with the signings of Cameron Sutton and CJ Gardner-Johnson, and adding in Porter Jr. will help to turn around a defense that allowed the third most passing yards last season.

​

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Here's what NFL.com has to say:

Overview
Ascending cornerback combining traits and above average play strength that create a clear definition of who he is as a player. He can reroute the release and has the frame to close catch windows against big receivers in press-man or Cover 2 looks. Delayed transitions and sluggish change of direction put him in conflict in off coverages, so teams must pay attention to matchups and scheme in order to avoid a field full of yellow laundry. There is work to be done to improve tackle consistency in the run game, but he finishes tackles after a catch. Porter has scheme limitations, but he also has CB1 potential with more work and if utilized properly.

---

Strengths

• Father is a former Pro Bowler and was an undisputed alpha during his playing career.
• The most physical reroutes in this year’s draft.
• Smart hand usage helps cover when feet are late.
• Recovery and length to swat away would-be catches underneath.
• Closes the catch space when he’s in position.
• Can win high-point challenges even from trail position.
• Matchup potential against pass-catching tight ends.
• Spins sticky tackle web when he gets his hands on receivers.

---

Weaknesses

• Noticeable delay in transitions from press.
• Struggles to slide and match release quickness.
• Not twitchy enough to match a complex route.
• Too grabby at the top of the route.
• Needs extra steps to plant and drive from top of his drop.
• Lacking change-of-direction quickness as open-field tackler.

---

Detroit Lions draft thus far:
1.06 - Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
1.18 - Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State

@SuperSurge and the Bucs are on the clock!

 

[Surge]

The Tampa Bay Baker-neers select:

Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee

6'5"
330 lbs.

With longtime left tackle Donovan Smith no longer on the team, the Bucs will need to make some changes. They hope to play Wright at his natural right tackle spot while sliding their All-Pro offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs over to left tackle. Wright was a top-10 overall recruit in the 2019 class and a first-team USA Today All-American as a senior at Huntington High school in West Virginia. He was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team in 2019, starting in seven games (five at right tackle, two at right guard) while playing in 11 contests. Wright started nine of 10 appearances at right tackle as a sophomore and then switched to left tackle for 2021, starting all 13 games.

He does his homework on rushers:


Here he is stonewalling an Alabama player, so he must be good. Oh wait, that's #2 overall pick Will Anderson.


The Bucs hope to have their tackles set for years to come with Wirfs and Wright.

Seattle and @Amherstcavsfan is back on the clock!

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

The Seattle Seahawks are back up and they will select:

LUKAS VAN NESS, ED, IOWA

By Lance Zierlein
NFL Analyst
Overview
Nicknamed “Hercules” by teammates, Van Ness is a well-developed defensive end with excellent lean mass and additional growth still to come. He’s a power-centric prospect with force as his modus operandi as both a run defender and pass rusher. Van Ness needs to work on hand attacks for quicker block shedding and to diversify his rush beyond bull-rush challenges. He’s taken snaps inside at Iowa but might need to keep filling out his frame before he’s ready to succeed as a run stuffer and pass rusher as a 4i in a 3-4 front. Van Ness is more of a splash player than consistent force on tape, but he possesses projectable traits that should allow for continued ascension as a pro.
Strengths

• Prototypical frame with outstanding lean muscle mass.
• Fires out of stance, capturing neutral zone quickly.
• Play strength to anchor and press blocker as two-gapper.
• Power in hips to battle through angle blocks.
• Sees runner and disengages to tackle with timing.
• Wide alignment allows creation of bull-rush momentum.
• Long-arm rush move generates good pocket push.
• Keeps pushing forward with secondary rush effort.
• Agility helps to corral mobile quarterbacks.

Weaknesses

• Forward lean can be countered by blockers.
• Inconsistent use of hands to control and shed quickly.
• Needs more work schooling up hands as a rusher.
• Hasn’t learned to transition from bull rusher into closer.
• Very average foot quickness for inside rush moves.
• Takes too long activating change of direction as twister.
• Lacked effectiveness as interior rusher.

Next on the Clock:

21. Los Angeles Chargers @Out of the Rafters at the Q

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

With the 21st pick in the 2023 RCF Mock Draft, the San Diego Super Chargers (yeah, we moved the team back. Deal with it) select Zay Flowers, WR Boston College

(Write up to come later. Figured I'd get the pick in to keep things moving.)

@Rookie and the Baltimore Ravens are on the clock!

The Chargers had WR as their #1 need coming into the draft and we're thrilled that Zay Flowers, the #2 receiver on our board behind JSN, is still available.

Flowers brings a level of speed, athleticism and quickness that can only be defined as electric. Combining that electric talent with an unquestioned work ethic is what makes Flowers so special in our eyes.

There are lots of talented players in this draft--but the guys who are both mega talented AND mega dedicated usually go in the top 5. Put Flowers at Ohio State or Alabama and he's off the board well before we have the chance to put some powder blue and lightning yellow on this man.

He trained with Antonio Brown, and it shows in this man's footwork (luckily, not in his head). He has made college DB's look silly and we look forward to him making the AFC West DB's look silly for the foreseeable future.

Flowers also has an amount of polish that is just absurd for a player who isn't in the NFL yet. He runs a full route tree and wins ON EVERY ROUTE.

But don't take my word for it. Listen to the man himself:


Strengths:

Route running
Quickness
YAC ability

Weaknesses:

He could be taller

Welcome to San Diego (fuck LA).

 

[Rookie]

With the 22nd pick in the 2023 RCF NFL Mock Draft, The Baltimore Ravens select.....

Quentin Johnston, WR TCU


OVERALL

Quentin Johnston has the prototypical physical traits to be a strong No. 1 wide receiver in the NFL.
Johnston sports exceptionally long arms. He is built and plays like a true X receiver who can post up on the boundary and outmuscle corners, both at the line of scrimmage and when the ball is in the air.
Johnston is a complete athlete, too. He has A-grade speed, especially the longer he gets to build up and stride out down the field on vertical routes. He has surprising flexibility and stop and start ability for a player his size, showing the athletic traits to win all over the field with different kinds of routes.

POSITIVES

— Great size. Tall, fairly thick frame. Elite arm length as well.
— Very good build-up speed. Threatening on deep routes.
— Great contested catch ability in the air. Has the frame to outmuscle defensive backs and tracks the ball well.
— Good, smooth route running and mobility for a player his size.
— Very good YAC ability. Explosive and smooth with a strong frame.
— Alignment flexibility. He is a true outside X but can play the slot and motion around.

NEGATIVES

— Slow off the line at times. Sometimes takes too many steps setting something up.
— Struggled with drops in uncontested situations down the stretch in 2022.

-Via bleacherreport

@JDailey23 and the Vikings are on the clock.

 

[Hurl Bruce]

With the 22nd pick the Minnesota Vikings select:

Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina Gamecocks​

Cam Smith developed into an impact starter for South Carolina, where he routinely matched up with top competition and conceded very little in coverage.

Smith is a highly-competitive defender that plays the game with confidence and physicality. He’s a twitchy athlete with good speed, loose hips, and quick feet that lead to sticky reps in man coverage. Smith is patient and balanced at the line of scrimmage and he’s more than willing to crowd and leverage releases to create early disruption on routes. I love the way he competes to get off blocks and tackle. He’s an enthusiastic tackler that is never passive. Smith features dynamic click-and-close ability when driving back down the stem to invade the catch point. He is a poised defender that never panics. Smith showcases outstanding ball skills where his body control ability to locate the football leads to exciting plays on the ball in the air. Overall, Smith is a sharp processor with excellent play recognition skills.

While it’s easy to love his aggressiveness as a tackler, there are times that Smith doesn’t do a good enough job wrapping up and looks to take out the feet of the ball carrier, which leads to an occasional whiff. For his physical style of play, ideally, he’d have a touch more weight on his frame. I find Smith to be mostly patient and balanced at the line of scrimmage, but he does have some over-eager moments when looking to create jams where he fires his hands with dead feet and it causes him to fold at the waist and get off-balance. Smith fell victim to frequent penalty flags in 2022, mainly due to some grabbiness in coverage that will need to be corrected.

Smith has the makings of a quality starting cornerback in the NFL and it’s not unreasonable to think he can start early in his career.

Top Reasons to Buy In:

• Quick feet and fluid hips
• Coverage instincts and ball skills
• Physicality and competitive toughness

Top Reasons For Concern:

• Tackling consistency
• Over-aggressiveness in coverage
• A touch lean

Size (NFL Combine):

Height: 6′ 1”

Weight: 180 lbs

Arm Length: 31 5/8”

Hand Size: 9 1/8”

Athletic Testing (NFL Combine):

40-yard Dash: 4.43s

Vertical Jump: 38”

Broad Jump: 11′ 2”

Short-Shuttle: TBD

Three-Cone: TBD

Bench Reps: TBD

Ideal Role: Starting outside corner

Scheme Fit: Man coverage

Prospect Comparison: A.J. Terrell (2020 NFL Draft)

TDN Consensus Grade: 85.50/100 (First-Round Value)

Houston and @Out of the Rafters at the Q are up.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

With the 24th pick in the 2023 RCF Mock Draft, the Houston Texans select...

Calijah Kancey, DT Pittsburgh

After starting off with the best edge in the class and following it up with the #1 receiver, we're going back to the defensive line and giving Demeco Ryans another tool to obliterate the QB with.

Kancey is the best penetrating 3-tech in the draft and he gives us something that no offense can plan around--pressure up the middle. The Aaron Donald comps will only pick up steam after Kancey broke Donald's record in the 40-yard dash with a 4.67. He may be undersized (6-foot-1, 281 pounds) with sub-31-inch arms, but my lord is he difficult to block.

PFF BIG BOARD RANK
13
HEIGHT
6' 1"
WEIGHT
281
CLASS
RS Jr.
AGE
22.0

Where he wins: Twitch

Kancey is a wound-up defensive tackle who does everything with urgency. His hands are just as quick as his feet, and he knows how to use both.

What’s his role: Penetrating three-technique DT

If you’re asking him to play inside, you better allow Kancey the freedom to get upfield. He simply can’t be a hold-the-point DT. His skill set is also intriguing for some rotational reps on the edge.

THE BOTTOM LINE

FIRST ROUND
He may have to start off as a designated pass-rusher, but he can truly excel in that role. There's little doubt he's going to impact QBs at the next level.

Calijah Kancey NFL Draft Scouting Report​

IDL, Pitt Panthers​

A Miami, Florida native, Calijah Kancey took his talents to Pittsburgh and developed into one of the most dynamic defensive linemen in college football. After emerging as a starter late in 2020, Kancey was a first-team All-ACC selection in 2021 before earning consensus All-American honors in 2022 while also being named ACC Defensive Player of the Year.

Kancey is a spark plug on the interior of the defensive line. He plays with incredible urgency and fires into the neutral zone with quickness and intent. He’s extremely physical and tough, willing to exchange power with blockers that have 30-plus pounds on him on a weekly basis. He does well to take advantage of his quickness and built-in leverage to win with first contact, shoot gaps, and work to the edges of blocks. Kancey is slippery working off contact and he’s pretty flexible. Overall, his contact balance is very impressive given his size.

His style of play lends itself well to gap penetration, which gives him chances to make plays behind the line of scrimmage against the run and pass. His motor always runs hot and he battles to be around the football. Kancey keeps his hands engaged and showcases the ability to string together moves and get off blocks.


Top Reasons to Buy In:

• Penetration Skills
• Flexibility and variety of ways to beat blocks
• Motor and competitive toughness

Top Reasons For Concern:

• Mass and length
• Translatability
• Scheme and role specificity

Size (NFL Combine):

Height: 6′ 1”

Weight: 281 lbs

Arm Length: 30 5/8”

Hand Size: 9 1/8”

Athletic Testing (NFL Combine):

40-yard Dash: 4.67s

Vertical Jump: 00”

Broad Jump: 000”

Short-Shuttle: 0.00s

Three-Cone: 0.00s

Bench Reps: 00 reps

Ideal Role: Penetration-style interior defensive linemen

Scheme Fit: Even front, attack-style


@Stark and the New York Football Giants are on the clock!

 

[Stark]

The Football Giants will take WR Jordan Addison from USC. At work so I don’t have time for a lengthy write up right now.

@Melancholy Jaques is up.

 

[Melancholy Jaques]

[We pause a moment to shake our fists at division rival NYG for taking our #1 prospect off the board.]

With the 26th pick, the Dallas Cowboys select Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame



In truth, I kept going back & forth between Addison & Mayer, with Addison slightly ahead. The goal is to get more pass catchers for Dak Prescott.

The following is from Walter Football & I can't say it better.

Mayer is a dangerous receiving tight end who is a good athlete with quickness, size, and natural instincts as a pure football player. As a receiver, Mayer has the potential to be a dangerous tight end who contributes well to an NFL passing attack. He has a well-rounded set of tools as a receiver to beat defenses in a variety of ways. Mayer has mismatch size and is very adept at going up to make contested catches over defenders. Mayer high points the ball well, and he has strong hands to control the ball while getting hit.

Mayer displays a nose for the end zone and should be an asset in the red zone, where he was very good at producing touchdowns in college. On top of good hands, Mayer has good feel as a route runner and knows how to separate. He gets open running down the seam, on crossing routes, and underneath. While Mayer does not have elite speed or athleticism, he is effective and is a pure football player.

 

[adam81king]

The goal is to get more pass catchers for Dak Prescott.

If this is the goal, you should make sure the Eagles, Giants and Commanders get DBs and LBs... #CauseHeThrowsLotsOfINTs