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After six trades on Day 1 of the 2023 NFL draft, there was some movement at the top of Round 2. The Cardinals and Lions each added early selections to try to improve their rosters. The Steelers own the first selection of the day, and they could stay put to target a cornerback or solicit trade offers to acquire more capital and move down the board.

There are several noteworthy prospects still available, starting with Kentucky quarterback Will Levis, who tumbled out of Round 1. Could he find an early landing spot Friday? The other highest-regarded remaining players include Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer, Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr., Alabama defensive back Brian Branch and Oregon State tight end Luke Musgrave. Each was thought to have a chance to go in the first round.

Below is my prediction of how all of Round 2 will play out, Nos. 32 through 63. There are plenty of really solid prospects on the board. I'm doing this projection based purely on fit and need and how every team could fill holes. Trades undoubtedly will happen, but I'm not going to try to predict them. Let's start with Pittsburgh:

coverage:
Kiper picks Round 1 winners
Draft experts debate Round 1
Consensus position rankings

32. Pittsburgh Steelers (from CHI)

Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State

Pittsburgh addresses a need here and gets the 23rd-ranked player on our board, adding the son of former Steelers linebacker Joey Porter Sr.

33. Arizona Cardinals (from HOU)

Keeanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin

During the 2022 season, only the Chicago Bears allowed more points than Arizona. The Cardinals need to address the defensive line and will do so with Benton.

34. Detroit Lions (from ARI)

Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame

Getting Mayer at No. 34 is an excellent value. He is a potential replacement for TE T.J. Hockenson, traded by the Lions last year.

35. Indianapolis Colts

Steve Avila, G, TCU

The Colts add one of the best interior linemen in the draft to their offensive line that ranked 32nd in pass block win rate and 23rd in run block win rate last season, according to ESPN Analytics data.

36. Los Angeles Rams

Will Levis, QB, Kentucky

The slide for Levis stops here. Matthew Stafford is 35 years old and coming off a season-ending injury, and there's no insurance policy. Levis gives the Rams depth at QB.

Why Will Levis fell out of the 1st round of the NFL draft

Todd McShay explains the factors that led to former Kentucky QB Will Levis going undrafted in the first round of the NFL draft.

37. Seattle Seahawks (from DEN)

Joe Tippmann, C, Wisconsin

The Seahawks' center, Austin Blythe, retired in February after seven years in the NFL. The team fills the need with Tippmann, the best center in the draft.

38. Las Vegas Raiders

Tyrique Stevenson, CB, Miami

The Raiders address their most pressing need and add a cornerback with the skill set to push for a starting job as a rookie.

39. Carolina Panthers

Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss

The Panthers signed receivers Adam Thielen and DJ Chark already this offseason after trading DJ Moore to the Bears in the deal for the No. 1 pick, but they need to surround new quarterback Bryce Young with as many options as they can.

40. New Orleans Saints

Brian Branch, S/CB, Alabama

Branch represents an upgrade over current nickelback Bradley Roby. The Saints should be ecstatic to draft him if he falls to them here.

Brian Branch's NFL draft profile

Check out the best highlights that contributed to a great college career for Alabama safety Brian Branch.

41. Tennessee Titans

Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State

The Titans need to improve a passing offense that ranked 30th in the league last season. In addition to 2022 fourth-round pick Chigoziem Okonkwo, who flashed last season, adding Musgrave gives them a young and talented tandem at tight end.

42. Green Bay Packers (from CLE/NYJ)

Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia

This pick fills a need for the Packers, with Robert Tonyan having signed with the Bears this offseason and Marcedes Lewis a 38-year-old free agent. Picking up Washington at No. 42 is a good value.

43. New York Jets

Matthew Bergeron, OT, Syracuse

Former first-round pick Mekhi Becton enters the last year on his rookie contract -- and he has missed 33 of the past 34 games. Free agent signing Duane Brown turns 38 years old this year. Bergeron gives the Jets a young, talented option in an uncertain tackle group.

44. Atlanta Falcons

Keion White, DE, Georgia Tech

The Falcons have signed veteran Calais Campbell and Bud Dupree this offseason, but they need to continue to address the defensive front after finishing last in sacks in 2021 and second to last in 2022. The defensive line will look different in 2023.

45. Green Bay Packers

Jayden Reed, WR, Michigan State

The Packers saw rookie receiver Christian Watson break out over the second half of the 2022 season and Romeo Doubs flashed last year, but Allen Lazard signed with the Jets, so the Packers need to add depth to their receiving group and give QB Jordan Love multiple targets.

46. New England Patriots

Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee

The Patriots added WR JuJu Smith-Schuster in free agency but lost receivers Jakobi Meyers and Nelson Agholor. Selecting Hyatt would give the Patriots an infusion of youth and depth at the position.

47. Washington Commanders

Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee

Sam Howell (2022 fifth-round pick) and 30-year old journeyman Jacoby Brissett are expected to compete for the starting QB job, but it might be that neither will be the long-term answer for the Commanders. Getting Hooker here is an excellent value, and he is capable of competing for the job as soon as he recovers from the ACL injury to his left knee he suffered in November.

Hendon Hooker's NFL draft profile

Check out the best highlights that contributed to a stellar college career for Tennessee's Hendon Hooker.

48. Detroit Lions

Adetomiwa Adebawore, DE, Northwestern

The Lions need another pass-rusher to complement 2022 No. 2 pick Aidan Hutchinson -- who was the most double-teamed edge rusher in the NFL last season, according to ESPN Stats & Information data -- and promising second-year linebacker James Houston.

49. Pittsburgh Steelers

Trenton Simpson, ILB, Clemson

The Steelers have signed Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts in free agency but have lost Myles Jack, Devin Bush and Robert Spillane. Pittsburgh adds depth to the position here.

50. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

O'Cyrus Torrence, G, Florida

The Buccaneers traded Shaq Mason to the Texans in March, making guard one of their most pressing needs at the draft. Torrence grades out as a Day 1 starter and fills the need.

51. Miami Dolphins

Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa

The Dolphins lost tight end Mike Gesicki to New England in free agency and their other TE, Durham Smythe, caught just 15 passes last season. Picking up LaPorta at this point is an excellent value for the Dolphins.

52. Seattle Seahawks

Cody Mauch, OT, North Dakota State

While the Seahawks drafted both of their starting offensive tackles just last year, Mauch would kick inside to guard, where they have a need and where he arguably has a higher upside.

53. Chicago Bears (from BAL)

Julius Brents, CB, Kansas State

Ideally the Bears would address the defensive front with this pick, but the value isn't there in this scenario. Meanwhile, corner is also a need and Brents is the best available player on our board.

Julius Brents' NFL draft profile

Check out the highlights that contributed to Julius Brents' career at Kansas State.

54. Los Angeles Chargers

BJ Ojulari, OLB, LSU

Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa ideally could give the Chargers the dangerous pass-rush tandem they envisioned when they traded for Mack last year, but a groin injury limited Bosa to five games and, although Mack is still playing at a high level, he is 32 years old. Drafting depth at the position doesn't sound like a bad idea.

55. Detroit Lions (from MIN)

Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia

The Lions signed Cam Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley in an effort to improve a passing defense that finished 30th in the league last season, but Moseley is coming off an ACL injury and signed a one-year deal. This pick provides depth and options for the future.

56. Jacksonville Jaguars

DJ Turner, CB, Michigan

The Jaguars ranked 28th in passing defense last season, and cornerback is one of their most pressing needs. Getting Turner at this point in the draft is a good value.

57. New York Giants

John Michael Schmitz, OC, Minnesota

The Giants have a pressing need at center, and Schmitz, who is the second-best center on our board, is a potential steal this late in the draft.

58. Dallas Cowboys

Tucker Kraft, TE, South Dakota State

This is a deep tight end class and Kraft would have come off the board earlier in most years. He has the talent to fill the substantial void created by Dalton Schultz signing with the Texans.

Tucker Kraft's NFL draft profile

Check out the highlights from South Dakota State's tight end Tucker Kraft.

59. Buffalo Bills

Daiyan Henley, ILB, Washington State

We have a third-round grade on Henley and Arkansas' Drew Sanders is still on the board, but I think that picking up Henley here is a good value and that he would fill a need for the Bills.

60. Cincinnati Bengals

Zach Charbonnet, RB, UCLA

Running back Joe Mixon had his lowest rushing yards per game since his rookie year and ranked 33rd among running backs in yards per carry last season. The Bengals would save over $7 million if they cut or traded him before June 1 and $10 million if they did it after June 1. Picking up a running back here would give them that option.

61. Chicago Bears (from SF/CAR)

Drew Sanders, ILB, Arkansas

Adding Sanders here gives the Bears a versatile defender who can push for a starting outside linebacker job and contribute as a pass-rusher.

62. Philadelphia Eagles

Sydney Brown, S, Illinois

The Eagles signed Justin Evans and Terrell Edmunds in free agency, but C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Marcus Epps have gone elsewhere, exposing a need for depth.

63. Kansas City Chiefs

Cedric Tillman, WR, Tennessee

The Chiefs adding a receiver after losing Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman Jr. in free agency makes sense, and getting Tillman here is a good-value pick to finish off the second round.

Round 2 nfl mock draft 2023 best available prospects team predictions

2023-04-29 07:01:49