2023 NFL Draft Official Game Thread (This is the thread WITH SPOILERS)

[bsj]

Anyone who wants a spoiler free thread, feel free to create their own. But I want breaking news in real time, I am a middle aged dude, I do not have any desire to be teased around stupid commercial breaks. If you see something on the Twittersphere....pick, trade, rumor...post it here. No need to wait for the talking heads on TV.

EDIT- Ok. So in full disclosure I complete goofed and I thought the draft was this week. I messaged @Dogman and told him to feel free to take it down, but he felt it was close enough to leave so...there you go. I am an a moron, but it's staying....

 

[luckiestman]

Anyone who wants a spoiler free thread, feel free to create their own. But I want breaking news in real time, I am a middle aged dude, I do not have any desire to be teased around stupid commercial breaks. If you see something on the Twittersphere....pick, trade, rumor...post it here. No need to wait for the talking heads on TV.

Is this sort of like how Orthodox Easter is a week after Catholic Easter? Is the Catholic NFL draft today because I’ve got 4/27

 

[E5 Yaz]

Is this sort of like how Orthodox Easter is a week after Catholic Easter? Is the Catholic NFL draft today because I’ve got 4/27

The Panthers are on the calendar

 

[Shelterdog]

Nicene Creed is an amazing name for a special teams/back up linebacker. "Plays witha lot of energy but we're not sure if that spirit comes from just his father, another all time great, or if its from the father and the son both".

 

[Ferm Sheller]

Maybe we could compromise and have one thread with those spoiling picks actually using the spoiler feature? Doesn't seem to be too much to ask (although I know some people will refuse to use them anyway, presumably in an effort to show how dialed in and superior they are to the rest of us).

 

[bsj]

Ok. So in full disclosure I complete goofed and I thought the draft was this week. I messaged @Dogman and told him to feel free to take it down, but he felt it was close enough to leave so...there you go. I am an a moron, but it's staying....

 

[bsj]

Maybe we could compromise and have one thread with those spoiling picks actually using the spoiler feature? Doesn't seem to be too much to ask (although I know some people will refuse to use them anyway, presumably in an effort to show how dialed in and superior they are to the rest of us).

a nice thought, but I don't see how that could work. People are going to want to comment on the picks as they come in.

 

[Ferm Sheller]

I don't see how that works. People are going to want to comment on the picks as they come in.

Sure, but the comments could be spoilered, too. Small hassle. Just keep [the spoiler brackets] copied on your clipboard and paste them whenever you want to make a spoiler comment. There's generally only about 30 seconds or so between a spoiled pick and the pick actually being aired on ESPN/NFLN, so it would only apply to a fraction of all posts. (And I think that many people here only care about Pats picks not being spoiled.)

Having said all of this, I've never really been able to grasp why I even care whether picks are spoiled, but for some reason I do (at least a little).

 

[Cabin Mirror]

Ok. So in full disclosure I complete goofed and I thought the draft was this week. I messaged @Dogman and told him to feel free to take it down, but he felt it was close enough to leave so...there you go. I am an a moron, but it's staying....

I keep thinking it is this week too.

 

[bsj]

I keep thinking it is this week too.

i feel like chatter ramped up a TON this week which led me to think it was imminent

 

[Ferm Sheller]

Ok. So in full disclosure I complete goofed and I thought the draft was this week. I messaged @Dogman and told him to feel free to take it down, but he felt it was close enough to leave so...there you go. I am an a moron, but it's staying....

Damn, you should have spoilered this. I was looking forward to the draft tomorrow night.

 

[Mugsy's Jock]

Everyone knows the draft run-up doesn't really being until @mwonow gets the draft contest fired up.

 

[Pandemonium67]

I've got the first breaking news of the 2023 draft. Please promise not to tell the Globe or anyone else.

My exterminator, Joey, just came by for the annual spring nuking of the local ant population. He told me his son is now finishing his second semester at the New Mexico Military Institute, where he was the starting LONG SNAPPER. The kid (first name unknown, last name Sierra) was also the CAPTAIN of his Albuquerque high school WRESTLING team.

We've got a long snapper from a military academy with a wrestling background who was a team captain. Kid's only 19 and a freshman, but I think BB grabs him in the 3rd.

 

[j-man]

my mock draft
1 Car QB Bryce young
2 Hou QB C J Stoud
3 Trade Vegas QB A Rich
4 indy will levis QB
5 SEA Tyree wilson Edge
6 Det CB D Witherspoon
7 zona will anderson edge
8 ATL Nolan smith Edge DL
9 chi Peter skoronski OT
10 PHILLY Jalen carter DL
11 tenn jaxon smith ngijba wr
12 hou paris johnson jr ot
13 nyj trade with gb at 15 GB CHRISTIAN GONZALEZ CB
14 NE Trade down to 16 Wash WR Q Johnson tcu
15 nyj michaer mayer te
16 ne trade down again to 20 Sea bryan bresee
17 pitt joey porter jr cb
18 det lukas van ness edge
19 tb anton harrison ot
20 ne the reason ne trade down was to get wash and sea 1sts next year ne broderick jones ot
21 lac Darnell wright ot
22 balt deonte banks cb
23 minn hendon hooker qb
24 jax emmanuel forbes cb
25 nyg jordan addison wr
26 dal julius brents cb
27 buf trades with zona here for d hop zona brian branch s
28 ciny datlton kincaid te
29 no trade with zona for b baker zona dawad jones ot
30 philly bijan robinson rb
31 kc trades with zona for no 1st rounder next year zona mazi smith DL

 

[Over Guapo Grande]

my mock draft
1 Car QB Bryce young
2 Hou QB C J Stoud
3 Trade Vegas QB A Rich
4 indy will levis QB
5 SEA Tyree wilson Edge
6 Det CB D Witherspoon
7 zona will anderson edge
8 ATL Nolan smith Edge DL
9 chi Peter skoronski OT
10 PHILLY Jalen carter DL
11 tenn jaxon smith ngijba wr
12 hou paris johnson jr ot
13 nyj trade with gb at 15 GB CHRISTIAN GONZALEZ CB
14 NE Trade down to 16 Wash WR Q Johnson tcu
15 nyj michaer mayer te
16 ne trade down again to 20 Sea bryan bresee
17 pitt joey porter jr cb
18 det lukas van ness edge
19 tb anton harrison ot
20 ne the reason ne trade down was to get wash and sea 1sts next year ne broderick jones ot
21 lac Darnell wright ot
22 balt deonte banks cb
23 minn hendon hooker qb
24 jax emmanuel forbes cb
25 nyg jordan addison wr
26 dal julius brents cb
27 buf trades with zona here for d hop zona brian branch s
28 ciny datlton kincaid te
29 no trade with zona for b baker zona dawad jones ot
30 philly bijan robinson rb
31 kc trades with zona for no 1st rounder next year zona mazi smith DL

Spoiler that!!

 

[axx]

Bill hates this draft!!!

 

[Oil Can Dan]

Are you saying NE will get Washington’s 1st next year to move down two spots? Then get Seattles 1st next year to move down five spots? Isn’t that pretty unrealistic?

 

[Mugsy’s Walk-Off Bunt]

Are you saying NE will get Washington’s 1st next year to move down two spots? Then get Seattles 1st next year to move down five spots? Isn’t that pretty unrealistic?

Quiet. Let’s “The Secret” this into reality.

 

[Ferm Sheller]

Are you saying NE will get Washington’s 1st next year to move down two spots? Then get Seattles 1st next year to move down five spots? Isn’t that pretty unrealistic?

No, he's saying moving from 14 to WASH 16 this year and then from 16 to this year's SEA 20. (At least that's how I read it, but maybe I'm wrong?)

 

[67YAZ]

my mock draft
1 Car QB Bryce young
2 Hou QB C J Stoud
3 Trade Vegas QB A Rich
4 indy will levis QB
5 SEA Tyree wilson Edge
6 Det CB D Witherspoon
7 zona will anderson edge
8 ATL Nolan smith Edge DL
9 chi Peter skoronski OT
10 PHILLY Jalen carter DL
11 tenn jaxon smith ngijba wr
12 hou paris johnson jr ot
13 nyj trade with gb at 15 GB CHRISTIAN GONZALEZ CB
14 NE Trade down to 16 Wash WR Q Johnson tcu
15 nyj michaer mayer te
16 ne trade down again to 20 Sea bryan bresee
17 pitt joey porter jr cb
18 det lukas van ness edge
19 tb anton harrison ot
20 ne the reason ne trade down was to get wash and sea 1sts next year ne broderick jones ot
21 lac Darnell wright ot
22 balt deonte banks cb
23 minn hendon hooker qb
24 jax emmanuel forbes cb
25 nyg jordan addison wr
26 dal julius brents cb
27 buf trades with zona here for d hop zona brian branch s
28 ciny datlton kincaid te
29 no trade with zona for b baker zona dawad jones ot
30 philly bijan robinson rb
31 kc trades with zona for no 1st rounder next year zona mazi smith DL

I don’t know if Seattle would double dip on the defensive line, but Wilson & Bresee would be a helluva pair.

I know it’s hard to mock for pick 67 & 68, but who are some names you like back there, JMan?

 

[j-man]

I don’t know if Seattle would double dip on the defensive line, but Wilson & Bresee would be a helluva pair.

I know it’s hard to mock for pick 67 & 68, but who are some names you like back there, JMan?

good q i like DL WR or a C

 

[j-man]

Are you saying NE will get Washington’s 1st next year to move down two spots? Then get Seattles 1st next year to move down five spots? Isn’t that pretty unrealistic?

sure but i couild snyder doing that to hurt the new ownship

but if ne satys at 14 i see a OT or that te from ND

 

[Brand Name]

I've got the first breaking news of the 2023 draft. Please promise not to tell the Globe or anyone else.

My exterminator, Joey, just came by for the annual spring nuking of the local ant population. He told me his son is now finishing his second semester at the New Mexico Military Institute, where he was the starting LONG SNAPPER. The kid (first name unknown, last name Sierra) was also the CAPTAIN of his Albuquerque high school WRESTLING team.

We've got a long snapper from a military academy with a wrestling background who was a team captain. Kid's only 19 and a freshman, but I think BB grabs him in the 3rd.

 

[Pandemonium67]

Fantastic, Brand Name!

Joey, the dad, is about 5'4" and at least 250 lbs. His wife is shorter and heavier. Both are happy and smiley all the time, while their kid looks like a stone-cold killer -- which somewhat aligns with BB's draft history.

 

[E5 Yaz]

I have no insider information, no sources and no links to provide ... but I've had this nagging feeling for a couple of weeks that the Patriots do something Thursday night that will turn heads.
Just going on record ... so you can mock me when it turns out that I'm wrong

 

[SMU_Sox]

I have no insider information, no sources and no links to provide ... but I've had this nagging feeling for a couple of weeks that the Patriots do something Thursday night that will turn heads.
Just going on record ... so you can mock me when it turns out that I'm wrong

I do too. In particular I think they take an edge in the first round. The 2nd time they take an edge top 50 ever with BB.

 

[edoug]

Fantastic, Brand Name!

Joey, the dad, is about 5'4" and at least 250 lbs. His wife is shorter and heavier. Both are happy and smiley all the time, while their kid looks like a stone-cold killer -- which somewhat aligns with BB's draft history.

@Brand Name has incredible sources.

 

[rodderick]

I think the only "turn heads" move would be a QB or Bijan, everything else fills a need to some degree.

 

[BigSoxFan]

Honestly, I could be talked into Bijan at #14, if he's there. There's obviously Stephenson but I feel like this offense does best when it has 2 really good RBs and the rest of the guys (Robinson, Harris, Strong, etc.) are all jags to me. All depends on who's around but there is a decent chance he'd be the "best player available", if he's still there at 14. But, honestly, it is pretty hard for BB to screw up this pick given all the needs of this team as long as scouting department has done their work.

 

[ManicCompression]

Honestly, I could be talked into Bijan at #14, if he's there.

I would be pretty annoyed by this. BB has found really good mid-round RBs for a decade plus and the Pats already have a young, dynamic back. I don't really see the marginal value of a slightly better back in the short term, and it's a position that you don't want to sign long-term - even if you hit a home run with an RB pick, it bites you in the ass later.

This roster has so many other holes to fill. Bijan would be like painting your house while the foundation is crumbling.

 

[67YAZ]

Just a gut feeling, but I think it’s going to be Branch and a lot of folks are going to be disappointed.

I also think trading back is going to be tough unless one of the top 4 QBs is falling. Or at least, it will be tough to get good value to move down.

There appears to be a solid top 10 - 4 QBs, 3 def front seven, 2 cb, and 1 rb. Then there’s the gaggle of 4 OT (or 3 plus 1 OG depending on your take on Skoronski), each with some concern floating around him. And then there’s a large pool of players that will get 1st or 2nd round grades depending on the team’s assessment.

By pick 14, a number of teams will already see all their 1st round graded players off the board. And others might try to ride the uncertainty to see if their preferred player drops because of the varying assessments.

 

[Jed Zeppelin]

I have been befuddled many times before but Bijan, given other needs, would be a real stunner even if he is the closest to a sure thing you can get in the draft. They've had so much success drafting and developing Day 2+ RBs, have a very good one currently, and two more behind him who looked usable in a small sample. The value doesn't really track for me.

 

[pappymojo]

Just a gut feeling, but I think it’s going to be Branch and a lot of folks are going to be disappointed.

I also think trading back is going to be tough unless one of the top 4 QBs is falling. Or at least, it will be tough to get good value to move down.

There appears to be a solid top 10 - 4 QBs, 3 def front seven, 2 cab, and 1 rb. Then there’s the gaggle of 4 OT (or 3 plus 1 OG depending on your take on Skoronski), each with some concern floating around him. And then there’s a large pool of players that will get 1st or 2nd round grades depending on the team’s assessment.

By pick 14, a number of teams will already see all their 1st round graded player off the board. And others might try to ride the uncertainty to see if their preferred player drops because of the varying assessments.

I agree with this. It really all depends on how the top of the draft shakes out. Does someone great fall to 10ish? If so, they might trade up to at least come out with one player with a first round grade. In fact, that is one reason that I could see them taking Bijan. He might be the only player with a first round grade left when they get to pick. Failing that, they may want to trade back but might not be able to find any trade partners.

What’s a better move? Taking a player with a first round grade who plays a low value position (such as running back) or taking a player with a second round grade who plays at a high value position (such as OT).

 

[rodderick]

Branch would be an awful pick for them at 14 in my estimation, just a very similar profile of player to the safeties/corners they already have. Unless it's a "we're not bringing Dugger back and so the replacement is already in place" kind of pick, but that to me is something they could do in, say, 2014, not in the position they are in now.

 

[j44thor]

Branch would be an awful pick for them at 14 in my estimation, just a very similar profile of player to the safeties/corners they already have. Unless it's a "we're not bringing Dugger back and so the replacement is already in place" kind of pick, but that to me is something they could do in, say, 2014, not in the position they are in now.

Agree a S at 14 just isn't good financial value either. I get it if a transcended talent is available at that pick but the salaries of top S just don't compare to the salaries of top WR/Edge/OT/CB and obviously QB. I'd much rather find surplus value at one of those premium positions in the 1st rd assuming there are players in a similar ranking group.

 

[rodderick]

Agree a S at 14 just isn't good financial value either. I get it if a transcended talent is available at that pick but the salaries of top S just don't compare to the salaries of top WR/Edge/OT/CB and obviously QB. I'd much rather find surplus value at one of those premium positions in the 1st rd assuming there are players in a similar ranking group.

100% in agreement there, I don't think teams should draft outside of those positions you listed unless they're absolutely stacked and can afford to put some cherries on top of the sundae. Drafting guards, safeties, running backs and TEs in the first round is just bad value in general and honestly, non pass rushing linebackers are going that way as well.

 

[67YAZ]

100% in agreement there, I don't think teams should draft outside of those positions you listed unless they're absolutely stacked and can afford to put some cherries on top od the sundae.

Oh, hard agree. But everything so read about Branch screams “Patriot Way”…and he’s a Saban coached DB…and he could fill McCourtey’s role with even more versatility…I just get the feeling that Branch is up near the top of Belichick’s board. And a lot of folks are going to express exactly what you said here in reaction.

 

[BigSoxFan]

I would be pretty annoyed by this. BB has found really good mid-round RBs for a decade plus and the Pats already have a young, dynamic back. I don't really see the marginal value of a slightly better back in the short term, and it's a position that you don't want to sign long-term - even if you hit a home run with an RB pick, it bites you in the ass later.

This roster has so many other holes to fill. Bijan would be like painting your house while the foundation is crumbling.

All true but I also think the offense is one Stevenson sprained knee away from completely collapsing but, yeah, no value with RB that early. If I had to guess, it's OT/Edge. Just so many possible guys there.

 

[E5 Yaz]

I think the only "turn heads" move would be a QB or Bijan, everything else fills a need to some degree.

Or a trade up into the Top 10

 

[Ed Hillel]

I think Mac is gone today. However, if he isn’t, for the love of God don’t draft a Running Back in the first round. Build up the OL.

 

[Rico Guapo]

I think Mac is gone today. However, if he isn’t, for the love of God don’t draft a Running Back in the first round. Build up the OL.

They should be building up the OL regardless, both tackles sucked out loud last year.

 

[Dr. Gonzo]

I think Mac is gone today. However, if he isn’t, for the love of God don’t draft a Running Back in the first round. Build up the OL.

Who is the QB in Week 1?

 

[Cellar-Door]

So I am a big proponent of not drafting RBs early at all.
However, I will make the Devil's argument case that Bijan is an interesting pick.

The Patriots generally have used multiple RBs, each with different skillsets. One more of an early down and short yardage pounder, one who is more of the passcatching back.
However this does sometime hurt in that it gives defenses some insight into what you're trying to do, and if you try to trick them by going against that you're using a subpar skillset (ie trying to run power with James White or throw to Sony Michel). When White got hurt, and later Montgomery, the Patriots started trying to use Rham as a true do-everything back.... he isn't that guy.

Bijan would (hypothetically) be that guy... he's got the skillset and physical traits to be a better early down back than Rham, he's also got the traits to not only be a better passcatcher than Rham, but an actual real weapon in that role. That makes the offense a lot more versatile without subbing. Line up on 1st down getting the opponent in base and then be able to flex TEs and RB into a wide formation with mismatches.

The idea behind Bijan would basically be..... RBs are interchangeable.... except for elite dual threat guys (McCaffrey, Saquon, etc.) those guys add something to your offense and really help a young QB as a safety net.

Still wouldn't draft him high (especially not 14) but I do get the thought process that RB are semi-fungible, EXCEPT elite backs who can do everything at a very high level.

 

[rodderick]

Oh, hard agree. But everything so read about Branch screams “Patriot Way”…and he’s a Saban coached DB…and he could fill McCourtey’s role with even more versatility…I just get the feeling that Branch is up near the top of Belichick’s board. And a lot of folks are going to express exactly what you said here in reaction.

I don't think he could fill the McCourty role, if he did, I'd be more okay with that pick. To me he's another one of those tweeners who's better near the line of scrimmage or in the slot, but could play split safety but not really center field.

 

[Ed Hillel]

Who is the QB in Week 1?

Zappe or whomever they draft. If he’s gone, it’s either part of or secondary to a trade up for a QB.

They should be building up the OL regardless, both tackles sucked out loud last year.

Along those lines, I just mean if Mac is gone, the pick will almost certainly be used on a QB. Then they’d have to build up the OL in later rounds.

 

[Steve Dillard]

I read that the draft has few first round talents. If so, will BB do his usual trade down for volume in 2-4 rounds, or will there be less of a market to trade up to his picks, so we'll be stuck making those?

 

[OnWisc]

He’ll trade back into the end of the first round and then we’ll all stick around and watch him trade out of it completely a couple hours later.

 

[BaseballJones]

He’ll trade back into the end of the first round and then we’ll all stick around and watch him trade out of it completely a couple hours later.

Usually that's what BB does. But they have 11 picks right now. This seems like the time to trade UP, not trade back. But it's BB so......who knows. You're probably right. LOL

 

[Shelterdog]

He’ll trade back into the end of the first round and then we’ll all stick around and watch him trade out of it completely a couple hours later.

I don’t think he’s ever traded way back from a top sixteen pick. What’s tricky is the top of this draft looks thin so you could imagine him thinking there are only seven really good fits and they’re all gone at 14

 

[SoxFanInPdx]

Ah yes, Draft Day. Where my F5 button gets used a ton, but ends up with us reading back. Don’t see a way that changes today.