Boutte is an interesting prospect. He dominated in 2020, was limited to six games in 2021 due to injuries and then endured a slow start this past season. He ended up finishing relatively strong but decided to return to LSU for another season ... that is until he changed his mind and declared for the draft weeks later. Regardless of his roller coaster of a college career, Boutte flashed his potential as an after-the-catch playmaker with a penchant for finding the end zone (14 touchdowns in first 16 career games). Without a clear No. 2 wide receiver, Dallas could certainly use someone like him.
The Cowboys have a choice to make at running back in the offseason with Tony Pollard facing free agency. Pollard is due a significant raise and they're already paying Ezekiel Elliot handsomely. Something has to give. Few things are certain at this point, but I'm fairly positive the Doak Walker Award-winning Robinson will be the first running back selected in late April (he's currently No. 7 on my overall Big Board). He's an all-around threat who is light on his feet considering his size (6-foot, 215 pounds) and features home-run ability.
The transfer portal in college football provides immediate opportunities for players to proactively change their situations for the better. Sanders, who began his career at Alabama and for two years (15 games) tallied just 33 tackles and one sack, is proof of that. After transferring to Arkansas for the 2022 season, Sanders became wildly productive, registering 103 tackles including 13.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, 5 passes defended and 3 forced fumbles in only one season.
The Cowboys need to find someone to play with Trevon Diggs, and Gonzalez has the height and length that Dan Quinn likes in his cornerback prospects — assuming he's still coaching in Dallas next season.
Mediocre-at-best draft writers criticized Charlie Campbell's breaking news story about one team removing Leighton Vander Esch from their draft board because of concerns regarding his neck. As always, Charlie was proven correct, as Vander Esch has missed plenty of time with his neck problems. The Cowboys need linebacker help as a result.
Jack Campbell has the size and athleticism to be a three-down player in the NFL.
Sanders is a long and physical, off-ball/edge-rusher hybrid. He can help replace Anthony Barr and/or Leighton Vander Esch if the latter isn't re-signed.
Despite unearthing a late-round gem in rookie nickel DaRon Bland, the Cowboys should still be on the hunt for more steadiness in the secondary. Combining sticky coverage skills with a flair for making plays on the ball when tested, Witherspoon would be an intriguing running mate for Travon Diggs.
The Dallas Cowboys defense is built upon a ferocious front and an opportunistic secondary.
Because of all the big plays, Dallas' penchant to give up yards tends to be overlooked. As a whole, the unit finished outside of the top-10 defenses in each of the last two seasons under Dan Quinn's supervision. No guarantee exists that Quinn will even been back for a third year, since he's one of the league's top candidates to become a head coach.
Instead, the Cowboys should concentrate on fortifying a talented group with more consistency, particularly in the secondary. Eli Ricks present premium potential in the late first round.
"After transferring from LSU, Ricks struggled with some injuries and getting a feel for the Alabama Crimson Tide defense at the beginning of the season," Giddings mentioned. "After overcoming both issues, Ricks returned to his previously elite form. He is a top-shelf cover corner, who displays fantastic ball skills.
"With a premier ball hawk in Trevon Diggs already on the roster, Ricks' addition is a no-brainer for the Cowboys organization."
As Micah Parsons and Co. create havoc up front for opposing quarterbacks, the combination of Diggs and Ricks will be salivating at the opportunity to steal a possession or two. All the while, the rookie upgrades one cornerback spot since Anthony Brown is an upcoming free agent.
Dallas might struggle to keep Tony Pollard in free agency, and they are lucky to have Robinson fall in their lap. He is a tremendous all-around back capable of a full-time load. He accounted for 35 rushing and receiving TDs and 3,300 yards from scrimmage during the past two seasons.
If the Cowboys want to make their third-down packages unstoppable, Sanders is the guy who can bring that wish to life. At 6-foot-5 and 232 pounds, Sanders has off-ball range with edge rusher-esque pass-rushing moves. He collected 11 sacks in 2022 just as a blitzer. Pairing that with the likes of Micah Parsons, Sam Williams and Demarcus Lawrence would be scary.
Johnston is a long-strider who can eat up a cushion and consistently make plays downfield. He reminds us a little of Mike Evans in that regard, but like the Packers above, the biggest question is whether Tom Brady will call it a career after the season.
Speaking of big corners, find me someone who loves long cornerbacks more than Todd Bowles and Jason Licht. I dare you. And Joey Porter Jr. might just be the longest corner I've ever set eyes on.
Carlton Davis, Antoine Winfield Jr., and Zyon McCollum are currently the ONLY Tampa Bay secondary players under contract beyond 2022. Porter Jr. was electric in his debut for 2022 against Purdue, breaking up six passes and logging eight tackles in a thrilling win. Helping the cause on those PBUs? You guessed it: his length. I'm just saying...
Kyle Trask doesn't feel like the true successor to Tom Brady, at least not yet. Van Dyke has the arm, athleticism and accuracy assets to make a Kenny Pickett like rise into the higher first round to challenge Stroud and Young, but for now, he's worthy of joining them and Levis in the first round.
Two of Tampa Bay's top three cornerbacks in terms of snaps played—Jamel Dean (823) and Sean Murphy Bunting (524)—will be impending free agents after this season. The son of the former Steelers outside linebacker, Porter is a big and long corner who plays a physical brand of football in both a good way and bad (penalties).
The Bucs continued to revamp their defensive line with their first selection in each of the past two drafts: Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (2021) and Logan Hall (2022). Wooden is more like Hall in that he's a versatile defensive player who can move where needed, depending on the situation. If it's not an edge here, the Buccaneers could add to their defensive backs room or start looking at linebacker life beyond Lavonte David. But they're in an enviable position, as far as roster outlooks go. (Just pretend that Tom Brady will play forever.)
The number of injuries Tampa Bay's offensive line suffered this preseason is insane. Their depth will surely be tested and perhaps their backups play well this season and prove to be long-term starters. In the event they don't, it's wise they add more beef upfront.
Andrew Vorhees is a mauler inside at guard and brings that physical temperament to the game that the Buccaneers love.
Tom Brady is leaving soon, whether it's for the Dolphins, FOX, a golfing career, or to focus on his overpriced clothing brand. Either way, his departure will deflate the Buccaneers' odds of success. So they'd be wise to target his heir apparent in the 2023 NFL Draft. Tyler Van Dyke could be one such target, as the redshirt sophomore flashed as a first-year starter in 2021.
Across the Hurricanes' final six contests, Van Dyke notched 300+ passing yards and led his squad to a 5-1 record. He is only scratching the surface of his abilities, which should send shivers down the spines of ACC defenses.
It certainly has been an interesting offseason for Ricks. First, he made the surprise move from LSU to Alabama, then he was arrested on charges of speeding, driving without insurance and possession of marijuana. The marijuana charge was later dropped, and Ricks pleaded guilty to speeding. But on the field, Ricks is a turnover-creating machine. At 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, he has similar qualities to Trevon Diggs as a playmaker, but you will also have to live with some inconsistent play. He has some Jekyll and Hyde to his game as a man-to-man corner. With Jamel Dean and Sean Murphy-Bunting both scheduled to become free agents, Ricks would be a welcome addition opposite Carlton Davis III in Tampa Bay.
Sure, this might be a tad high for Gilbert, but he has the chance to be special. And if Carson Wentz does indeed prove to be the guy in Washington, he'll need as many weapons as possible.
Logan Thomas has been a productive player when he's been on the field and Washington is carrying three other tight ends: John Bates and rookies Cole Turner, and Armani Rodgers. But hear me out: Washington could transition away from Thomas for just $3.5M in dead cap this offseason and get an upgrade at the position.
Michael Mayer is a proven volume target—Thomas has caught more than 18 passes just once in his career. If Carson Wentz is going to stick, he'll need a player at tight end to lean on. Mayer can be it.
The Commanders have gotten good return from their defensive front seven when healthy but have failed to address the secondary well by going the free-agent route. Ricks is the necessary alpha cover corner to support Chase Young from the back end.
Neither Kendall Fuller nor William Jackson III are under contract past 2023, and Jackson turns 30 in October. Ringo is a former five-star recruit with an elite combination of size (6'2", 205 pounds) and speed (4.35 40-yard dash). In addition to his elite speed and closing burst, he plays physically at the line of scrimmage and in run support.
Washington needs an anchor outside defensively and Gonzalez — all 6-2, 200 of him — could be just that. A member of Bruce Feldman's Freaks List, Gonzalez is all gas and explosion around the ball and in coverage. Offensive line could also be in the cards for Washington here, but this felt like too promising a fit to pass up.
The Commanders' cornerback depth chart is just above average and can certainly use some added reinforcements. Cam Smith is my favorite corner at this stage of the process and would be a home run pick for Washington. He is a big, long, and physical corner who also has the instincts and ball skills that teams covet.
Don't call Antonio Johnson a safety or a cornerback. Simply call him a "defensive back" because pigeonholing him into one role is irresponsible. Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher said it best:
"There's not much [Johnson] can't do. He'll play nickel, safety, dime. We can move him around and match him up because he's such a tremendous football player."
6'3" and 200 pounds should not move the way Johnson does. His rapid downhill trigger eliminates big plays before they can happen, and he has the speed to click and close and recover downfield.
Cornerback sits atop the Commanders' positional needs, and Ringo is big, physical and speedy. As a 19-year-old redshirt freshman in 2021, his ability to make splash plays stood out, including a game-sealing pick-six in the national title game against Alabama. He is still developing and has to play faster this season, but Ringo has a chance to be the first cornerback off the board. Washington allowed 7.6 yards per pass attempt last season, sixth worst in the NFL.
The Cards traded for Trayvon Mullen, who joins Byron Murphy and Marco Wilson, but there's not a whole lot on the depth chart behind them. And while they're young, and you could argue that their best football is in front of them, depth at the position is key in one of the toughest divisions in football.
Arizona could go Jordan Addison here. They could go Andrew Vorhees. Heck, they could go Trenton Simpson based on recent history (I kid, I kid). But can we please address the cornerback position? Trayvon Mullen is a nice swing at the position as a trade made at the start of the season that has my intrigue, and Byron Murphy can ball, there's no question of that. But Murphy is best suited inside, which leaves Marco Wilson as the other man on the outside—and Wilson is no Cam Smith.
You play in a high-flying division with a lot of great receivers. It's time to get the stopping power needed to compete.
The Cardinals have become pretty weak at corner minus Patrick Peterson of late as neither Byron Murphy nor Marco Wilson inspire as their current outside starters. Smith's size and speed give some promise as possibly their new Peterson.
Cornerback ranks near the top of Arizona's team needs, and Byron Murphy will be a free agent next spring. Ricks, a former five-star recruit and a transfer from LSU, uses his length and physical style to excel in press-man coverage. His instincts and understanding of route concepts put himself in position to generate turnovers, and he had four interceptions as a true freshman in 2020.
I wanted to take a lineman. Or a cornerback. I just really don't think Kliff Kingsbury and GM Steve Keim will be able to help themselves here, even after trading their 2022 first-round pick for Hollywood Brown.
Smith-Nijgba would fit in nicely as a strong slot option for Kyler Murray. Though Smith-Njigba's No. 17 ranking on Dane's board might shock some because of his outstanding play in 2021, the NFL is all about traits. And despite his excellent hands and feel for coverages that project nicely into a productive NFL starter, his lack of overwhelming size and speed might hurt him in the eyes of a few teams. But pairing him with Murray would give Arizona's quarterback the type of player he trusts on every target. If Smith-Nijgba can show he can win from the outside, it'll be a bonus on top of what he's already able to do inside.
Marco Wilson and Byron Murphy are nice players but beyond that, the Cardinals' corner depth chart leaves a lot to be desired. Eli Ricks is an extremely talented player who boasts excellent length, fluidity, and ball skills. 2021 was a down year for him as he battled injury, but his 2020 film as a true freshman was outstanding. If he regains the 2020 form, he should be a very early pick.
I'd like to put Nolan Smith higher in this 2023 NFL Mock Draft, but his absence of polished pass-rush moves limits his ceiling. Regardless, the former No. 1 high school recruit in 2019 owns asinine closing speed, can set hard edges with a strong anchor, and quickly sheds blocks in run defense.
At 6'3", Smith naturally wins leverage battles but will need to add weight (listed 235 pounds) to hold up in the NFL. Although there are some glaring issues with Smith's profile, I'd bank on the defensive tone-setter reaching new heights this season.
Gonzalez was a huge addition for the Ducks after playing the previous two seasons at Colorado, and he's now generating early draft buzz. And Arizona's depth chart at corner lacks depth beyond 2022. At 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, Gonzalez is a big corner with outstanding play patience. He gets his eyes on the ball and makes plays on it, racking up 11 pass breakups over the past two seasons. But now scouts want to see him generate turnovers; he hasn't yet recorded an interception during his career.