Lincoln Heimbach’s Mock Draft 1.0

As the NFL Draft approaches, here is my first mock draft. Something to note — there were no trades allowed in this mock draft.

Pick 1 – CHI – Jalen Carter, DL, Georgia

Pick Breakdown – May be the best defensive player in the draft, A big, pure power, IDL and game wrecker.

Pick 2 – HOU –  Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

Pick Breakdown – This pick could either be Bryce Young or Will Levis. It seemed to me that Young would completely flip the culture in Houston and has all the intangibles to be one of the leagues best QB’s early in his career.

Pick 3 – ARI – Will Anderson Jr., ED, Alabama

Pick Breakdown – The only reason Jalen Carter isn’t definitively the best defensive player in the class. Anderson Jr. is the best talent at the edge position; Mixing speed with power, his technique is polished. he’s a proven edge threat and the type of player teams have to gameplan for. Anderson will automatically make a huge difference on a Cardinals team that loses JJ Watt this offseason to retirement.

Pick 4 – IND – Will Levis, QB, Kentucky

Pick Breakdown –  Levis has shown on film that he has all of the tools to make big plays in the game. Rocket of an arm, and a capable dual threat. Super athletic and a great leader. The only reason he misses out on the first QB taken is his lock of  anticipation and processing speed. Known as the “Mayor of Kentucky”

Pick 5 – SEA – Tyree Wilson, ED, Texas Tech

Pick Breakdown – Wilson is super lanky, super smart and super quick. Offers a ton of speed and strength in pass rush and poses solid speed off the edge. Will automatically make a difference in a Seahawk defense that needs some semblance of a pass rush and could use his elite run stoppage.

Pick 6 – DET – Devon Witherspoon, CB, Ilinois (Via LAR)

Pick Breakdown – Witherspoon is exactly the kind of guy that Dan Campbell is looking for. Great instincts, hip fluidity, footwork, super physical, and very efficient in run support. Some might make the argument that he played for Illinois which equates to not-so-heavy competition…but you can’t refute plays like this:

If you haven’t already.
Let me properly introduce you to 6’180lb #Illinois CB Devon Witherspoon. By far the most grittiest/physical cb in this draft.

Great in man coverage with solid ball skills.

Not sure I’ve ever seen a CB make a hit like this 👇

pic.twitter.com/vtWUfNOdBv

— Jared Tokarz (@JaredNFLDraft) January 20, 2023

Pick 7 – LV – CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State

Pick Breakdown – Had some hiccups over the season. NFL teams would have like to see him “use the mobility he has” in game. The CFP showed glimpses of why Stroud Is deserving of a higher pick but for right now, I see Vegas is as low as he falls. Next few months will prove pivotal for the Buckeye

Pick 8 – ATL – Myles Murphy, ED, Clemson

Pick Breakdown -Really powerful and explosive. Made a ton of big plays for the Tigers defense and stirred up a lot of disruption in pass rush. Great shoulder dip and strong long-arm.

Pick 9 – CAR – Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida

Pick Breakdown – Panthers in dire need of a solution at the quarterback positon. Richardson is not as polished of a passer as some teams would like. There was some talk about the Florida Gator staying back a year, but I can see the Panthers taking the high risk, for the possibility of a high reward.

Pick 10 – PHI – Brian Branch, S/CB, Alabama (Via NO)

Pick Breakdown – EDGE is a need, with increasing ages on the d-line, but Brian Branch will assist in a variety of ways in the secondary. With James Bradberry possibly leaving and lack of depth at the safety position. Branch can be effective at slot-corner and FS. versatile.

Pick 11 – TEN – Paris Johnson Jr., T, Ohio State

Pick Breakdown – Best pure OT in the draft, major team need.

Pick 12 – HOU – Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State (Via CLE)

Pick Breakdown – Expecting players to surround the quarterback, the Texans see a ton of talent down the board. At 12 they can grab Porter Jr. for a defense that needs his long arms and stellar talent.

Pick 13 – NYJ – Broderick Jones, T, Georgia

Pick Breakdown – Some really impressive movement in space from Jones. Great athleticism and strength.

Pick 14 – NE – Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson

Pick Breakdown – Can play off the edge or in the middle. Will make a lot happen for the Pats Defense that needs the help.

Pick 15 – GB – Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame

Pick Breakdown – Packers need more receiving weapons and who better than the best TE prospect in the class.

Pick 16 – WAS – Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon

Pick Breakdown – Ideal pick for Commanders. Major team need. Gonzalez was one of the best in the nation this past year at his position.

Pick 17 – PIT – Peter Skoronski, T, Northwestern

Pick Breakdown – Will be a surprise to see him drop this far. Mauler in run game and tends to play as an interior OL more-so that tackle. Will open a ton of lanes for struggling Najee Harris.

Pick 18 – DET – Lukas Van Ness, ED, Iowa

Pick Breakdown – A beyond powerful, young, smart player with a ton of effort. Offers so much pressure and forces the quarterback to get the ball out quick — poses a threat on the edge standing at 6-5 276. Another Dan Campbell type.

Pick 19 – TB – Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina

Pick Breakdown – Seen going in a vareity of places. Really talented with good size out wide. Will make a ton of plays for the Bucs that need them defensively.

Pick 20 – SEA – Calijah Kancey, DL, Pitt

Pick Breakdown –  A bit undersized to mix in on the IDL, but a very underrated prospect up to this point. This completes a completely revamped pass rush in Seattle.

Calijah Kancey from Pitt is not being talked about enough.

Yea he’s undersized for a DL/DE…but film doesn’t lie. Mixes speed and strength and eats up a ton of space on the LOS while being “undersized.”

He plays inside a LOT. But for good reason. Best swim move I’ve seen yet. pic.twitter.com/OTRrqrGsYA

— Lincoln Heimbach (@LincHeimbachTSP) January 23, 2023

Pick 21 – MIA – Forfeited

Pick 22 – LAC – Darnell Wright, T, Tennessee

Pick Breakdown – TE needs to be addressed but there is a ton of talent at that position down the board. Wright is in my top-3 when it comes to pass blocking and will offer a lot of protection in a pass-heavy offense.

Pick 23 – BAL – Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas

Pick Breakdown – Assuming that QB Lamar Jackson stays, the Ravens will need to give him someone help in the backfield. Robinson is the best running back in the class, waiting to say the word “generational” until after the combine, however. 

Pick 24 – MIN – Bryan Bresee, DL, Clemson

Pick Breakdown – DL is a big need for the Vikes and Bresee is the best on the board. Injury history in concerning but they’re in desperation mode in the run-game.

Pick 25 – JAX – Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State

Pick Breakdown – Interceptions galore here with Forbes and super helpful in the run game. Jags grab a guy that will make a ton of plays for them on the defensive side of the ball.

Pick 26 – NYG – Jordan Addison, WR, USC

Pick Breakdown – Addison is the one of the best route runners in the class and Daniel Jones could use a guy that knows how to get open. His speed will fi in nicely in the Giants offense alongside Wandale Robinson.

Pick 27 – DAL – Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

Pick Breakdown – The idea here is that the Cowboys retain Tony Pollard and Ezekiel Elliot. Dak Prescott needs another target and not having to force the ball to Ceedee Lamb (who makes the catches) every other play. Smith-Njigba’s explosiveness will compliment Lamb’s size nicely.

Pick 28 – CIN – Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State

Pick Breakdown – #1 team need is tight end and they address it with their first pick. Musgrave has proven to be one of the better pass-catching tight ends and will most likely test very well at Combine.

Pick 29 – DEN – Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas (Via SF thru MIA)

Pick Breakdown – Sanders was able to make a ton of plays for the Razorbacks and will prove to do the same for a Broncos’ defense that needs the help at the LB position.

Pick 30 – BUF – O’Cyrus Torrence, G, Florida

Pick Breakdown – The Bills would love to address the running back positon but that position has dropped in value when it comes in the first round. So, with a deep RB class and the best pure IOL in the class, the Bills bolster OL.

Pick 31 – KC – Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College

Pick Breakdown – The Cheifs opt for Zay Flowers here over Quentin Johnston just because of how Flowers will fit in that offense. Smith-Schuster has proved to be a solid WR1 and Flowers smart route running will allow Mahomes to not have to make as many spectacular plays as he does now.

Pick 32 – PHI – Nolan Smith, ED, Georgia

Pick Breakdown – With an aging Brandon Graham who the Eagles may get one more year out of if they’re lucky. Smith has had some injury concerns as he did miss out on a very large majority of the 2022 season but still could find himself worthy of a first round pick.