PRZMS Mock Draft Mayhem - 2023

The 2022 NFL draft starts tonight and many of Mississippi’s former players will hear their name called over the weekend. But what would happen in the 2023 MS class were the draft eligible products? This is how we think it would shake out. No. 1 Jacksonville Jaguars Pick: [player_tooltip player_id="106310" first="Tabias" last="Hinton"] / Defensive End / Hattiesburg High School Last years Jacksonville Jaguars struggled to generate pressure on the quarterback. Enter Hattiesburg’s [player_tooltip player_id="106310" first="Tabias" last="Hinton"]. The state’s leader of sacks in 2020 will provide the length, explosion, and pass rushing skill set that the Jags desperately need. No. 2 Detroit Lions Pick: [player_tooltip player_id="106309" first="Jamarious" last="Brown"] / Defensive End / Moss Point High School The Lions could go a lot of different ways with this pick, but similar to the Jags, the Lions struggled to create uncomfortable situations for the quarterback. Brown is a big, powerful and strong pass rusher who can also be a force against the run. No. 3 Houston Texans Pick: [player_tooltip player_id="106163" first="Malik" last="Ellis"] / Offensive Tackle / Laurel High School With a young quarterback already in hand, the Texans need to be able to protect him. [player_tooltip player_id="106163" first="Malik" last="Ellis"] is the consensus best offensive tackle in the 2023 class, so it only makes sense to pair him with former Ole Miss tackle Laremy Tunsil. Ellis has great footwork, agility, and length and can dominate in the run game as well. No. 4 New York Jets Pick: [player_tooltip player_id="106315" first="Caleb" last="Bryant"] / Defensive End / Vicksburg High School The New York Jets haven’t had a premier defensive end in what feels like forever. [player_tooltip player_id="106315" first="Caleb" last="Bryant"] can be exactly that. He has position versatility and can bump inside when needed, or provide edge pressure with 2021 free agent signing Carl Lawson. No. 5 New York Giants Pick: [player_tooltip player_id="108897" first="Zay" last="Alexander"] / Offensive Tackle / Tupelo High School With few offensive linemen on the roster, the New York Giants MUST select an offensive tackle in order to help quarterback Daniel Jones take less sacks in his final year of his contract. Alexander is a mammoth tackle who can provide protection in the pass game or bulldoze defenders and open holes for running back Saquon Barkley. No. 6 Carolina Panthers Pick: [player_tooltip player_id="108895" first="Tanner" last="Welch"] / Offensive Tackle / Northwest Rankin High School While a quarterback could be in play here, the Panthers do not have another selection until much later in the draft. Offensive tackle [player_tooltip player_id="108895" first="Tanner" last="Welch"] can provide stability at the left tackle position, where the Panthers have had a revolving door of players over the last few seasons. No. 7 New York Giants Pick: [player_tooltip player_id="107045" first="John" last="Slaughter"] / Defensive Back / Southaven High School Picking again in the top 10, the New York Giants must find a high value defensive back to accommodate a new defensive scheme this season. [player_tooltip player_id="107045" first="John" last="Slaughter"] fits the bill, as he can play corner or safety at a high level. His high football IQ, elite ball skills, and blazing fast speed will help make an impact on a defense that struggled to stop the pass last season. No. 8 Atlanta Falcons Pick: [player_tooltip player_id="106167" first="Suntarine" last="Perkins"] / Wide Receiver / Raleigh High School After losing wide receiver Calvin Ridley to suspension and Julio Jones to trade, the Falcons are currently gutted at the wide receiver position. It only makes sense for them to take the state’s most dominant athlete at that position. Perkins can come in with his elite speed, route running, and game wrecking ball carrier instincts to create a nice 1-2 tandem with tight end Kyle Pitts. No. 9 Seattle Seahawks Pick: [player_tooltip player_id="108930" first="Vic" last="Sutton"] / Quarterback / Madison Central High School Trading Russell Wilson earlier this year to the Denver Broncos, the Seattle Seahawks are left without a high value quarterback on their roster. They start fresh with Madison Central’s [player_tooltip player_id="108930" first="Vic" last="Sutton"]. Sutton is a great athlete similar to Wilson who can also zip the ball deep. This ought to pair well with former Oxford High School wide out DK Metcalf. No. 10 New York Jets Pick: [player_tooltip player_id="106165" first="Ayden" last="Williams"] / Wide Receiver / Ridgeland High School The Jets have been active in free agency and the trade scene this offseason for a wide out, shopping around for players such as Tyreek Hill. [player_tooltip player_id="106165" first="Ayden" last="Williams"] can come in and provide a dominant WR1 for quarterback Zach Wilson to throw to. Williams has great length and can go up and get the football at its highest point. No. 11 Washington Commanders Pick: [player_tooltip player_id="107295" first="Isaac" last="Smith"] / Defensive Back / Itawamba Agricultural High School Another defense that struggled in pass defense, the Washington Commanders take the best defense back on the board in [player_tooltip player_id="107295" first="Isaac" last="Smith"]. Smith has great ball skills and can cover slot receivers and tight ends well downfield, something that the Commanders struggled with last season. No. 12 Minnesota Vikings Pick: Jaylen Aborom / Defensive Back / Oak Grove High School The Minnesota Vikings have a history of taking defensive backs in the first round, and corner Jaylen Aborom would be a great fit. Aborom has great man to man technique and can shut down an entire side of the field. The young defensive back will have a great mentor in cornerback Patrick Peterson as well. No. 13 Houston Texans Pick: Joseph Head / Defensive End / Holmes County High School Edge pressure was one of the biggest needs coming into the draft for the Houston Texans. Drafting Joseph Head will certainly help with that. The explosive defensive ends is one of the fastest in the class and can provide run support as well as an edge setter. No. 14 Baltimore Ravens Pick: [player_tooltip player_id="106318" first="Malaki" last="Pegues"] / Defensive Lineman / Oxford High School The Baltimore Ravens struggled to stop the inside run last season. [player_tooltip player_id="106318" first="Malaki" last="Pegues"] provides a big body and elite run defending skill set that they desperately need to get back to true Ravens defense shape. Pegues also has value as a pass rusher in a conference stacked to the brim with quarterbacks entering the 2022 season. No. 15 Philadelphia Eagles Pick: [player_tooltip player_id="106769" first="Alex" last="Sanford"] / Linebacker / Oxford High School The Eagles linebacking group this past year struggled to defend the run and generate turnovers. [player_tooltip player_id="106769" first="Alex" last="Sanford"] is one of the state’s best run defending linebackers and can also cover well in passing situations. The Oxford product is also a stand out leader and will play well with former Yazoo City product Fletcher Cox. No. 16 New Orleans Saints Pick: Brayson Hubbard / Quarterback / Ocean Springs High School After the departure of franchise quarterback Drew Brees, the New Orleans Saints have been dying to find a guy to replace him Fortunately, they do not have to look too far from home. Brayson Hubbard is a dominant rusher and accurate passer that can stretch the field and challenge defenses in a multitude of ways. No. 17 Los Angeles Chargers Pick: Omarion Blakes / Wide Receiver / McEvans High School With Justin Herbert still on his rookie deal, the Chargers have shown that they are doing everything they can to maximize the talent surrounding him. Although Keenan Allen and [player_tooltip player_id="108978" first="Mike" last="Williams"] are already talented wide outs, the Chargers add another game breaking wide receiver to a pass happy offense. No. 18 Philadelphia Eagles Pick: [player_tooltip player_id="108971" first="Dante" last="Dowdell"] / Running Back / Picayune High School Quarterback Jalen Hurts has proven that he can play in this league, however, the Eagles will need more threats in the backfield to accommodate him. Enter [player_tooltip player_id="108971" first="Dante" last="Dowdell"]. Dowdell can provide elite speed, power, and contact balance to a running back room that was a revolving door last season. No. 19 New Orleans Saints Pick: [player_tooltip player_id="108976" first="Daniel" last="Smith"] / Wide Receiver / Provine High School After taking a new quarterback earlier, the Saints will do their best to provide their offense with plenty of new weapons. Wide out [player_tooltip player_id="108976" first="Daniel" last="Smith"] has some of the best ball skills and speed in the class. He will complement WR Michael Thomas’ skill set well. No. 20 Pittsburgh Steelers Pick: [player_tooltip player_id="106161" first="Mack" last="Howard"] / Quarterback / Oxford High School Losing former quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to retirement, the Pittsburgh Steelers are looking for their next franchise guy this year. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="106161" first="Mack" last="Howard"] has shown that he is one of the best pocket passers in the class. He is accurate downfield and can get the ball out quick to the weapons that Pittsburgh has right now. No. 21 New England Patriots Pick: [player_tooltip player_id="107036" first="Lester" last="Miller"] / Defensive Back / Brandon High School The New England Patriots have always had an eye for finding talented defensive backs. [player_tooltip player_id="107036" first="Lester" last="Miller"] meets the criteria. The long and athletic corner will enter a historic room that has recently featured the likes of JC Jackson and Stephon Gilmore. No. 22 Green Bay Packers Pick: [player_tooltip player_id="108979" first="Isaiah" last="Spencer"] / Wide Receiver / Madison Central After losing WR Davante Adams to a trade with the Raiders, quarterback Aaron Rodgers needs new wide outs to throw to. [player_tooltip player_id="108979" first="Isaiah" last="Spencer"] has the elite speed and route running that Rodgers historically loves to play with. Spencer will come in as the WR1 for a pass happy offense with one of the most talented quarterbacks of all time. No. 23 Arizona Cardinals Pick: [player_tooltip player_id="108896" first="Luke" last="Rogers"] / Offensive Guard / Brandon High School Protecting quarterback Kyler Murray must be a priority this offseason for the Arizona Cardinals. With many of his sacks coming from interior pressure this season, [player_tooltip player_id="108896" first="Luke" last="Rogers"] will come in and provide instant help. Rogers is also a powerful run blocker who can clear the path for running back James Conner. No. 24 Dallas Cowboys Pick: Eric Monte Thomas Jr / Defensive End / Starkville High School The Dallas Cowboys could take this pick a variety of different ways, but if an edge defender is available, they must go after Eric Monte Thomas Jr. Thomas has a strong skill set at stopping the run and forcing the running back inside. He also has a variety of pass rush moves to get after the quarterback. No. 25 Buffalo Bills Pick: [player_tooltip player_id="106162" first="Ty" last="Jones"] / Running Back / Bay Springs High School The Bills have no real holes on their roster, however, they must find a talented running back to provide Josh Allen another presence in the back field. Jones is a powerful runner with good hands out of the backfield. No. 26 Tennessee Titans Pick: [player_tooltip player_id="108898" first="Malachi" last="Breland"] / Offensive Tackle / Laurel High School The Tennessee Titans struggled to protect quarterback Ryan Tannehill last season. [player_tooltip player_id="108898" first="Malachi" last="Breland"] is one of the best pass protecting tackles in the class. He provides position versatility and could easily bump in at guard to help pave the way for running back Derrick Henry. No. 27 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pick: Jaleel Fleming / Defensive Back / Vicksburg High School Quarterback could be in play here, but Tom Brady continues to play football even at 44 years old. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers struggled to cover slot receivers and tight ends last season, making Jaleel Fleming an easy pick here. The rangy safety also provides great support against the run. No. 28 Green Bay Packers Pick: Ian Jeffries / Defensive Lineman / Southaven High School The Packers defense saw some of their key contributors in the front seven leave this past offseason, making Jeffries an easy pick here. He can provide a big body to take on blocks in the run game and a strong bull rush move to get after the quarterback. Practicing against former Clarksdale stand out Elgton Jenkins ought to bring out his best as well. No. 29 Kansas City Chiefs Pick: [player_tooltip player_id="108978" first="Mike" last="Williams"] / Wide Receiver / Natchez High School Trading WR Tyreek Hill this offseason, the Kansas City Chiefs are looking for a fast and quick wide out for Patrick Mahomes to continue throwing to. Williams has a similar skillset and can provide speed to the slot that the Chiefs offense is based around using. No. 30 Kansas City Chiefs Pick: Jamerious Jenkins / Defensive Lineman / Water Valley High School Although former Houston stand out Chris Jones is still on the roster, he can’t do everything by himself. Taking Jamerious Jenkins here allows the Chiefs to have more balance on their defensive line. Jenkins can provide a strong run presence run a team that struggled against running backs this past year. No. 31 Cincinnati Bengals Pick: Dante Kelly / Defensive Back / Leflore County High School The Super Bowl runner up will addressed offensive line in free agency, leaving the draft to answer their secondary issues. Dante Kelly can come in and bolster a passing defense that was great in the post season. He brings a good tackling presence and coverage ability to a secondary missing one big piece. No. 32 Detroit Lions Pick: [player_tooltip player_id="108931" first="Kaden" last="Irving"] / Quarterback / Gautier With the last pick of the first round, the Lions must address the future of their quarterback room. [player_tooltip player_id="108931" first="Kaden" last="Irving"] is an athletic runner with a big arm capable of making all throws downfield. Irving has great leadership skills as well, something that head coach Dan Campbell has been very vocal about looking for in his players.