2023 April - Pro Football Rumors

Vikings Take WR Jordan Addison At No. 23

April 27th, 2023 at 9:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

The fourth straight wide receiver is off the board. The Vikings have used the No. 23 pick on USC wideout Jordan Addison. A report earlier today pegged Minnesota as an Addison suitor, and the team will add its second first-round wideout in four drafts.

Three years after striking gold with Justin Jefferson, the Vikings will try out Addison as a potential long-term running mate. The team made Adam Thielen a cap casualty this offseason and has 2020 draftee K.J. Osborn going into a contract year. Given the money Jefferson will command, the Vikings may be prepared to let Osborn walk in 2024 and build around a Jefferson-Addison tandem.

Addison transferred from Pitt to USC last year, joining Lincoln Riley and the QB guru’s third Heisman winner in six years (Caleb Williams). Addison did not fare nearly as well in Los Angeles compared to his sophomore-year Pennsylvania showing, but he did not dock his stock much with diminished production. Addison played a big part in Kenny Pickett‘s fifth-year breakthrough in 2021, erupting for 100 receptions 1,593 yards and 17 touchdowns.

While Addison did not experience the 2022 swoon fellow first-round wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba did, he posted 59 receptions for 875 yards during his lone L.A. year. Still, the 5-foot-11 pass catcher has both outside and slot experience and graded as the top wideout available — by a fairly notable margin — on Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board.

Minnesota has used some major draft capital to bolster Jefferson’s supporting cast, trading a second-rounder for T.J. Hockenson and now drafting Addison. The team has some offensive uncertainty going forward, passing on a fourth Kirk Cousins contract this offseason. Instead, the Vikings restructured their QB’s deal. Cousins, who will turn 35 this year, is going into a contract campaign.

This was viewed as a possible Hendon Hooker spot, but the Tennessee prospect — along with Will Levis — remains on the board. But the Vikings have their receiver investment, who can be controlled on his rookie deal through 2027 (via the fifth-year option).

Ravens Take WR Zay Flowers At No. 22

April 27th, 2023 at 9:46pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Ravens signed Lamar Jackson to a record-setting deal earlier today, and now they’re handing him another offensive weapon. The Ravens are using the No. 22 pick on Boston College wideout Zay Flowers.

Baltimore was among several teams who were slated to pick toward the back of the first round and thus in range to add a wideout. They did extensive work on the Day 1 options, including Flowers. He put himself in the first-round conversation with a career-year in 2022.

Last season, Flowers posted a 78-1,077-12 statline. He led the team in receiving for the third consecutive year and was once again the focal point of their offense. He took advantage of his opportunities and established himself as one of many high-end slot receivers at the top of this year’s class.

The 5-9, 182-pounder is joined by several top WRs available in facing questions about his frame and ability to remain productive at the NFL level. Flowers showed a skillset including abilities at all three levels of the field, though, which should allow him to carve out at least a modest role early on in the Ravens’ new-look receiver room.

Baltimore has made a number of moves at the position this year. The team has added Odell Beckham Jr. and Nelson Agholor on one-year deals in free agency, giving them a pair of veterans to pair with an otherwise young group. The Ravens had been mentioned as a suitor for DeAndre Hopkins in a trade, but the selection of Flowers likely takes them out of that pursuit. The latter will give the team a long-term option at the position, however, allowing him to develop a rapport with Jackson for years to come.

Chargers Choose Quentin Johnston At No. 21

April 27th, 2023 at 9:38pm CST by Adam La Rose

The run on receivers has started. After no wideouts were selected through the first 19 picks, we’ve now got our second WR pick in a row. The Chargers are using pick No. 21 on TCU WR Quentin Johnston.

While Johnston is technically the 21st pick, he will actually receive the contract of the 22nd pick as a result of Miami’s forfeited selection. The Dolphins lost the true No. 21 pick following an investigation into their pursuit of Tom Brady and Sean Payton. If Johnston can live up to his potential, he will be in line for multiple deals after his rookie contract expires.

The 6-foot-2, 208-pounder flashed plenty of potential in three seasons with the Horned Frogs, and took a considerable step forward in production last season. Johnston made 60 catches for 1,069 yards and six touchdowns, helping lead the team to the national title game. His 17.8 yards per catch average came not from his skillset being built on vertical speed as much as it was on run-after-catch ability. His prowess in that regard is especially intriguing given his size.

Drops were an issue, however, which led to a variance in Johnston’s draft stock. The fact that he has become WR2 in the 2023 class shows the Chargers, at a minimum, are comfortable with banking on his upside. Johnston should have a notable role both in the short- and long-term in upon arrival in Los Angeles.

Keenan Allen came up in trade talk earlier this offseason. Although the team remains adamant that the five-time Pro Bowler will not be on the move, an addition to the Chargers’ pass-catching corps comes as no surprise. Johnston will provide a speed element to complement that of Mike Williams, and give new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore an expanded array of options to work with in the passing game. Johnston’s upside is among the highest in the class, so his development over time will be a factor worth monitoring, especially when weighed against the other top WRs selected around him.

Seahawks Select WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba At No. 20

April 27th, 2023 at 9:31pm CST by Ben Levine

The first wide receiver is finally off the board. The Seahawks have used pick No. 20 on Ohio State wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Even while playing alongside 2022 first-round picks Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, Smith-Njigba posted a huge season in 2021, hauling in 95 receptions for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns. The then-ascending Buckeye was expected to take another step in 2022 as the top receiver on the depth chart, but he was limited to only three games and five catches while dealing with a lingering hamstring injury.

Despite the injury, ESPN’s Scouts Inc. rated Smith-Njigba as one of four wide receivers with a first-round grade (alongside TCU’s Quentin Johnston, Boston College’s Zay Flowers, and USC’s Jordan Addison). The Ohio State product ended up being the first of that grouping off the board, although his selection came a bit later than anticipated.

The Seahawks were reportedly motivated to select a quarterback at some point on Thursday. However, the front office used the fifth overall pick on cornerback Devon Witherspoon, and the team is using its second first-round select on a skill player. This will bolster Geno Smith‘s chances of replicating his stunning 2022 slate, rather than introducing an eventual replacement.

Smith-Njigba generated late momentum to be the first wideout off the board, and instead of heading to a team with a clear need at the position, he will join one of the NFL’s best receiving pairs. The latest Buckeye receiver standout to be a Round 1 choice, Smith-Njigba spent much of his time as a C.J. Stroud slot target.

The one-year Big Ten wonder will join a talented wide receivers corps that also includes D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. After the Seahawks have not received much from 2021 second-round pick D’Wayne Eskridge, the team doubled down to give Smith another weapon alongside the Metcalf-Lockett duo.

Buccaneers Take DT Calijah Kancey At No. 19

April 27th, 2023 at 9:22pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Buccaneers now have same major question marks at quarterback, but the front office is using its first-round selection on the defensive side of the ball. Tampa Bay has selected Pittsburgh defensive tackle Calijah Kancey.

Kancey made headlines by not taking pre-draft visits, injecting some mystery into his potential landing spot. The Bucs swooped in with their first-round pick, passing on Will Levis and Hendon Hooker to bolster their interior defensive line. Tampa Bay is planning a Baker Mayfield–Kyle Trask competition. Although Levis remains on the board entering Round 2, the Bucs going with Kancey at No. 19 points to its two veteran quarterbacks going head-to-head for the right to replace Tom Brady.

Kancey’s measurables, 40-yard dash time (4.67 seconds) and alma mater have led to probably unfair comparisons, as Aaron Donald is also a short defensive tackle from Pitt. That comparison sets the bar extraordinarily high, but Kancey did total 14.5 sacks and 27.5 tackles for loss over the past two seasons. The 6-foot-1 interior pass rusher will be expected to contribute early for the Bucs, who used a second-round pick on Logan Hall last year.

The Bucs have not re-signed Akiem Hicks or William Gholston up front, but the team needed to work its way down from a $50MM-plus cap deficit, as Brady’s void-years bill came due. Tampa Bay still managed to find a way to bring back Lavonte David and Jamel Dean, and Kancey will fill in up front alongside Hall and Vita Vea, the latter of whom annually making things a bit easier for three-techniques.

Lions Select LB Jack Campbell At No. 18

April 27th, 2023 at 9:17pm CST by Sam Robinson

After using the No. 12 pick on an offensive player, the Lions are using their second first-round selection on a defender. Detroit is selecting Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell with the No. 18 pick.

Tossing caution to the wind regarding positional value for top-20 picks, the Lions have now taken a running back (Jahmyr Gibbs) and an off-ball linebacker. After the Gibbs pick doubled as a borderline luxury investment, the Lions addressed a more pressing need with their second selection tonight.

This pick can be seen as a bit of a reach, however. ESPN’s Scouts Inc. ranked Campbell 58th overall coming into the draft; NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah barely squeezed the Iowa product inside his top 50, slotting him 49th on his big board. Campbell finished the first round as the only off-ball linebacker selected. This was not believed to be a strong class at the off-ball positions, with neither the linebacker crop nor safety group — zero safeties went off the board in Round 1 — receiving tremendous pre-draft accolades.

Campbell brings intriguing size — at 6-foot-5, 249 pounds — and delivered bigtime production at the Big Ten program. The Cedar Falls, Iowa, native combined for 265 tackles and four interceptions over the past two seasons. The former state champion high school basketball player earned All-American acclaim; he will join a Lions team that ranked last defensively in 2022.

Although the Lions improved down the stretch, Aaron Glenn‘s unit submitted ugly statistics on the whole. The Lions ranked last in total defense and 28th in points allowed. Pro Football Focus gave the Lions’ top linebackers middle-of-the-pack grades, slotting Malcolm Rodriguez, Derrick Barnes and Alex Anzalone just outside the top 45 at the position. Campbell will join this crew, which also includes Jalen Reeves-Maybin, whom the team brought back in late March. The Lions also re-signed Anzalone. In Campbell, however, the team made a bigger investment and bucked pre-draft rankings do so. Will the move pay off?

Patriots Take Christian Gonzalez At No. 17

April 27th, 2023 at 9:09pm CST by Ben Levine

Christian Gonzalez has seen a slight drop down the draft board, but his fall has landed him in New England. After trading down three spots with the Steelers, the Patriots selected the Oregon cornerback with the No. 17 pick. The Pats picked up a 2023 fourth-rounder from the Steelers to move down.

Gonzalez spent his first two collegiate seasons at Colorado, but he firmly put himself on the first-round radar in 2022 thanks to his performance with the Ducks. He notched the only four interceptions of his college tenure at Oregon, adding a career-high seven pass breakups along the way.

That performance helped put him in the conversation to be the draft’s top corner this year. His main competition for that title, Devon Witherspoon, was selected earlier in the first round, but the Commanders surprised some by selecting Emmanuel Forbes at No. 16.

This looks to be a value add for the Pats. ESPN’s Scouts Inc. graded the Oregon product as the seventh-best prospect in this draft; NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah slotted him 11th. This is the first cornerback the Patriots have chosen in Round 1 in Bill Belichick‘s 24-draft tenure.

The Pats have managed to find gems later in the draft (Asante Samuel) or in post-draft free agency (Malcolm Butler, Jonathan Jones, J.C. Jackson). For the most part, Belichick’s recent early-round corner picks (Cyrus Jones, Duke Dawson, Joejuan Williams) have not panned out.

New England let Jackson walk in free agency last year, par for the course during Belichick’s tenure, but re-signed Jones this offseason. Jones has fared better in the slot but provided some value as a boundary defender last season as well, giving the team some flexibility. The Pats also reached a new agreement with Jalen Mills, who has corner and safety experience. Two other Joneses — Jack and Marcus — will join Gonzalez at corner.

Commanders Use No. 16 On CB Emmanuel Forbes

April 27th, 2023 at 9:07pm CST by Adam La Rose

Christian Gonzalez remains on the draft board, but the Commanders are ignoring the mock drafts and taking another cornerback. Washington has selected Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes at No. 16.

The latter had received more varied grades than the former, but he will enter the league with plenty of pedigree of his own. Forbes established himself as the class’ preeminent ballhawk during his career with the Bulldogs. He racked up six interceptions (three of which were returned for touchdowns) last season, bringing his total to 14 across three years. Forbes totaled a staggering six pick-sixes in college.

The most notable concern for Forbes is his size. With a 6-foot, 166-pound frame, he projects as one of the slightest corners to enter the league. Questions will be asked about his ability to handle NFL physicality, particularly in press coverage. If he can answer them, though, he can add a much-needed playmaking element to the Commanders’ secondary.

Washington recorded only nine interceptions last season, which ranked 28th in the league. Forbes should be able to boost that figure, while providing the team with another starting option on the backend. The Commanders still have Kendall Fuller and Benjamin St-Juste in the fold. They also signed Cameron Dantzler in free agency, and Forbes will represent another young addition to the CB room.

Forbes’ selection represents a slight disruption to the order in which many felt the cornerback class would fall on Day 1. Still, Forbes was in the conversation to hear his name called on Thursday, and his arrival will carry notable expectations in the nation’s capital.

Jets Select Edge Will McDonald At No. 15

April 27th, 2023 at 9:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Jets were believed to be looking to add an offensive lineman with the pick they acquired in the Aaron Rodgers trade. With all of their options off the board, the organization has pivoted to a defensive lineman. The Jets have used pick No. 15 on Iowa State defensive end Will McDonald.

Widely connected to tackles going into the draft, the Jets saw the Steelers hop in front of them — via a Patriots trade — to nab Broderick Jones. With a bit of a gulf between the top four O-linemen in this year’s class and the field, the Jets instead bolstered their pass rush by adding Iowa State’s all-time sack leader.

McDonald finished his Cyclones career with 34 sacks. All but one of those came over the past four seasons. The ex-Big 12 standout recorded two double-digit sacks seasons, showing impressive bend from his edge-rushing post. The Jets will be prepared to play him alongside the likes of Carl Lawson, John Franklin-Myers and 2022 first-rounder Jermaine Johnson.

This did not profile as a red-alert issue for the Jets, though Lawson’s three-year contract does expire after the 2023 season. The team’s more pressing tackle deficiency remains.

Mekhi Becton has played one game over the past two seasons, and Duane Brown is coming off surgery ahead of his age-38 season. Max Mitchell, a 2022 fourth-round pick, is coming off a season-ending blood-clot problem. While Mitchell is back in the fold, the Jets do not have surefire Rodgers protectors on either side. Three-year starter George Fant remains a free agent, and while the team could circle back to the veteran option — potentially after the May deadline for signings to count against the compensatory formula — the Jets will enter Day 2 of the draft with a glaring need.

Steelers Trade Up For OT Broderick Jones

April 27th, 2023 at 8:49pm CST by Sam Robinson

In traditional Patriots fashion, the team is moving back. The Steelers have acquired the No. 14 pick from New England. The Patriots will be acquiring No. 17 and No. 120, per ESPN’s Field Yates (on Twitter).

The Steelers are using their new selection on Georgia offensive tackle Broderick Jones. After Mike Tomlin said he was comfortable with his two-year starting tackle tandem — Dan Moore–Chukwuma Okorafor — the Steelers trading up for Jones points to a change at one of these positions.

This marks just the third Steelers first-round trade-up in the past 20 drafts. The team had previously moved up for Santonio Holmes and Devin Bush in that span, but a new GM (Omar Khan) is running the show now. The longtime Kevin Colbert lieutenant decided to pull the trigger and help protect 2022 first-rounder Kenny Pickett.

A report earlier this week connected the Steelers to a potential O-line trade-up, and unlike pre-draft smokescreens perpetrated by the Texans and Colts, Pittsburgh followed through on the effort. Jones, who met with the Steelers on a pre-draft visit, has just one full season as a starter under his belt. He succeeded Chargers 2022 draftee Jamaree Salyer as the Bulldogs’ left tackle and ended up going much higher in the draft; Salyer went to Los Angeles in Round 6 last year.

The Steelers have used Moore, a 2021 third-round pick, as their left tackle over the past two seasons. Pro Football Focus rated neither Moore nor Okorafor as a top-50 tackle last season. Given the investment the Steelers made in Pickett, it is understandable Khan and Co. made this effort to secure a potentially significant upgrade. This marks the first Steelers first-round O-lineman investment since All-Pro guard David DeCastro in 2012 and the first time the franchise has chosen a first-round tackle since 1996.