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Welcome to the first edition of the With the First Pick newsletter, the place that offers cheap hits of dopamine to satisfy your secret NFL Draft obsession. As newsletter aficionado John Breech wrote Friday, we’re rebranding the Pick Six newsletter for next month, starting today through the end of April. And I, CBS Sports NFL Draft Analyst Chris Trapasso, will be with you every step of the way.
This is a targeted launch — we’re exactly one month away from the start of the 2023 NFL Draft. I follow everything that happens in the NFL and spin it all into a draft angle. Because there is always a draft corner! This newsletter is the place for the latest news about all things concept.
Before I start, this paragraph will be your daily reminder to tell all your friends and that one uncle who always sends you fake draft links to sign up for the With the First Pick newsletter. Just click here and share this link with them.
Today’s NFL Mock Draft 🔮: Will Levis sinks in three-round mock
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CBS Sports’ NFL Draft analysts are marking NFL Draft month by delivering carefully crafted three-round mocks throughout the week, starting with Ryan Wilson’s today. Rather than spoiling the entire top 10, here are a few of the first picks with noteworthy later selections.
1. Carolina panthers – CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State
2. Houston Texans – Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
3. Arizona Cardinals – Will Anderson, EDGE, Cardinals
4. Indianapolis Foals -Anthony Richardson, QB, Foals
5. Seattle Seahawks —Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech
15. Green Bay Packers -Jordan Addison, WR, USC
18. Los Angeles Rams (via fake swap) – Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
38. Detroit Lions – Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
72. Tennessee Titans – Adetomiwa Adebawore, EDGE/DL, North West
87. Minnesota Vikings – Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee
Acting to land Levis would make sense after Rams COO Kevin Demoff recently wrote a letter to fans explaining the Super Bowl hangover, how they handled the draft, and reiterating the team’s goal of winning the division and going on a playoff run. It would boost the Rams stalwarts again.
Elsewhere, Washington in Round 2 for the Lions would be another shot of espresso for Dan Campbell’s team that is definitely on the rise. And Hyatt in Minnesota, as Justin Jefferson’s understudy, would make Kirk Cousins as jazzy as most dads when the lawnmowing and grilling returns each spring. View Wilson’s entire three-round mock here.
‘With the First Pick’ podcast 🎧: Alabama analysis galore
If this is “OMG IT’S NFL DRAFT MONTH” week, then last week was “PRO DAY” week, with Ohio State, Kentucky and Alabama — and their big quarterback prospects — taking center stage for many GMs, coaches and like 8,000,000 scouts. Wilson and Rick Spielman from the podcast “With the First Pick” also attended the Ohio State and Alabama pro days. After Crimson Tide practice, Wilson and Spielman dug deep into Bryce Young’s performance before talking about other notable Alabama prospects. Listen to the entire episode here.
Prospect of the Day 📈: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
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- Combining remarkable results: 6.57 in the three-cone, 3.93 in the short shuttle, 10-foot-5 wide jump
- To combine dimensions: 6 feet 5/8″, 196 lbs
- Current CBS Sports prospect ranking: No. 25 overall (WR4)
Smith-Njigba is the leading Catch 22 in the 2023 NFL Draft. He is both an enigma and a proven, well-known commodity. How is that possible? In 2021, on an offense that featured two future first-round receivers (Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave), it was then 19-year-old Smith-Njigba who led the Buckeyes in catches and yards by wide margins. But during the 2022 season-opening victory over Notre Dame, he was injured by a fumble tackle. He ended up playing just three games and catching five passes for 43 yards all year.
While not as fast as Wilson or Olave, Smith-Njigba wins with smooth lateral speed, deceptive post-catch burst, and excellent ball tracking skills. When healthy, he feels like a similarly impactful next-level Buckeye alum. Check out JSN’s full, football-nerdy scouting report here.
Pro Day Introduction: Best Prospects To Watch 👀
WR Josh Downs of North Carolina
- Anyone who saw Downs on film knew he was going to be short, and he stood just over five feet six and weighed in at 171 pounds. But his 1.49 second 10-yard split placed himself in the 93rd percentile among receivers, and he was able to keep up that burst en route to a 4.48 time in the 40. Will Downs this afternoon at Pro Day in North Keep a close eye on Carolina.
Notable Pro Days this week: Arkansas and Texas Tech (March 29); TCU, Florida, Tennessee and Oklahoma (March 30); State of Kansas (March 31). look at the full Pro Day schedule here.
News & Notes 📝
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- Lamar Jackson asked for a trade: In a Twitter thread sent Monday morning, the Ravens quarterback revealed that he had filed for a trade with the Baltimore Ravens on March 2. Speaking at the owners’ meetings shortly after the Jackson news came out, John Harbaugh said ironically said “If we play football next year and Lamar Jackson is the quarterback, we will all be happy.” For more information on this evolving situation, click here.
- NFL Owner Meetings In Progress: They’re in Phoenix this year, and one of countless procedural and field rules to be voted on is flexible ‘Thursday Night Football’ games from 2023.
- DeAndre Hopkins update, sort of: New Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon spoke for the first time to trade rumors from DeAndre Hopkins, in which he said, “I guess he’s a Cardinal now.” If Hopkins is moved, here are some landing spots.
- Sean Payton Stops Receiver Trading Rumors: New Broncos head coach Sean Payton, pretty much official slammed the door on the Jerry Jeudy/Courtland Sutton trade rumors. It appears that the receiver is not on the priority list in the draft for Denver.
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