The Draft Network (Weissman) Mock - NFC East Results

[AsthmaField]

The Draft Network has a recent Mock Draft that has some interesting results for the NFC East.

10. Philadelphia Eagles (via NO)​

Devon Witherspoon CB, Illinois​

Corner is always a position you can add depth to and the Eagles would be wise to continue to add to that room. I love Devon Witherspoon’s game and he is an ultra competitor who isn’t afraid to make his presence felt in the run game.

My comment: ******* ****. The one guy from this draft that I don’t want on any other NFC East team.

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16. Washington Commanders​

Deonte Banks CB, Maryland​

Deonte Banks is a fast riser who had an outstanding NFL Combine but also has excellent film. He fills a big need for the Commanders and helps solidify this secondary.

My comment: I like the player but I’m not sure that I wouldn’t have taken Porter (who was still available) instead. Still, Banks will help them a lot.

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26. New York Giants​

Quentin Johnston WR, TCU​

The Giants have done an excellent job this offseason giving Daniel Jones a true No. 1 option in the pass game with the acquisition of star tight end Darren Waller. Waller will give this offense the jolt it desperately needed but the team still could use more ammunition in the passing game. Quentin Johnston is a height/weight/speed player who excels as a deep-ball specialist. He would fit in very well as the field stretcher to open up the middle of the field for Waller and Co.

My comment: I’m not a huge fan of Johnston but he does have some talent. Something seems to be missing from his game to me, however he will still help a WR corp. that was awful last year.

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27. Dallas Cowboys​

Nolan Smith EDGE, Georgia​

I love what Dallas has done this offseason and the addition of Brandin Cooks might be one of my favorite moves made by a team so far. By adding Cooks through trade, the team can now look to beef up the defense here with their first-round pick. Nolan Smith would give them additional pass-rush help opposite Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence.

My comment: If this happens it will be enough to make my depression about Witherspoon fade into the background. He is uber talented (4.38 40) and has yet to play in a position suited to his skills. As good off the field and in the locker room as he is talented, he would be an ideal guy to give to Dan Quinn, who will release the kraken in Smith. It would help keep some attention off of Micah Parsons and would add serious speed (and leadership) to the Dallas defense.

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31. Philadelphia Eagles​

Calijah Kancey DL, Pitt​

Howie Roseman loves to add to the trenches, so naturally at least one of his two first-round picks would have to be a trench player. I like the fit of Calijah Kancey and the Eagles as he can help fill the void that Javon Hargrave left as he signed a massive deal with the 49ers. Kancey and Jordan Davis could form a very talented duo inside.

My comment: This one doesn’t bother me very much. I don’t believe that Kancey is worth a first round pick. He certainly will be a rotational player making this the second first round in a row that Howie spent a pick on a part-time DT.

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To see the whole Mock, click the link below:

https://thedraftnetwork.com/2023-nfl-mock-draft-after-free-agency/

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

Nolan Smith is such an enigma to me.

 

[AsthmaField]

Nolan Smith is such an enigma to me.

I love the guy. I know he didn’t have huge sack production at Georgia but that was in large part because he was asked to 2-gap the entire time he was there. That is unreal. No wonder the guy tore his pec.

What is even more incredible is that he held up excellent against the run at his size. He just sticks that foot in the ground and refuses to be moved.

Smith has said he can’t wait to get to a team that will let him just get outside the tackle and just worry about 1 gap. Where he can simply go after the QB.

I personally like to see the production in college and with Smith I would have liked to see more sacks. However, in his case it is no wonder why a guy with his strength and measurables wouldn’t have a ton of sacks.

I think he’s going to be very good. Unfortunately, I also think he’ll be gone by pick 26.

 

[doomsday9084]

I don't understand the discussion about Dallas needing an edge type. Between Parsons, Armstrong, Tank and Williams its their deepest position. If there is absolutely no one else of value available there, trade down.

 

[unionjack8]

How would we use him ?

That's my biggest question.

Imo Sam Williams is gonna get way more snaps this year, he showed he's got the ability to cause issues off the edge so is this a luxury pick?

Does it allow us to trade Armstrong?
Move on from Fowler?

I know you can't have enough pass rushers but I struggle with this ....

 

[cnuball21]

If Smith falls to 26 I’m doing cartwheels and singing rainbows and butterflies.

I just don’t see it happening…honestly could see him in play as early as 10 to fill the Reddick role.

 

[cnuball21]

How would we use him ?

That's my biggest question.

Imo Sam Williams is gonna get way more snaps this year, he showed he's got the ability to cause issues off the edge so is this a luxury pick?

Does it allow us to trade Armstrong?
Move on from Fowler?

I know you can't have enough pass rushers but I struggle with this ....

He takes over Barrs role from last year and rushes on nickel / dime packages.

 

[baltcowboy]

Nolan Smith is such an enigma to me.

Yeah, I would rather take McDonald.

 

[baltcowboy]

I don't understand the discussion about Dallas needing an edge type. Between Parsons, Armstrong, Tank and Williams its their deepest position. If there is absolutely no one else of value available there, trade down.

It’s simple actually. There is only two positions that are considered more important then pass rusher (quarterback and left tackle) You just can’t have enough of them.

 

[VACowboy]

My concern with Smith is durability. We've seen how full-time EDGE work effects Micah.

 

[Cowboyny]

I would be real surprised if Nolan Smith lasted to 26, especially after his combine workout. However, if he did, you have to pick him. Just take the best player off your board and worry about the fit later, rather then reaching to fill a need.

 

[Cowboyny]

I don't understand the discussion about Dallas needing an edge type. Between Parsons, Armstrong, Tank and Williams its their deepest position. If there is absolutely no one else of value available there, trade down.

Draft isn't just about next yr, but the life of their rookie contract. This is a way to shed that DLaw contract. Also, the DL room can look very different in 2024, where both Fowler/Armstrong are fa's and DLaw is a cap casualty release, that would leave us with just Parsons, Sam Williams.

 

[unionjack8]

He takes over Barrs role from last year and rushes on nickel / dime packages.

Barr has always been more of an off theball linebacker though, coverage type, that's not really been Smiths game has it?

 

[UncleOscar]

Nolan Smith is such an enigma to me.

He's a riddle wrapped in a mystery

 

[Sydla]

Nolan Smith is such an enigma to me.

He’s kind of a red flag guy to me like the DE from Northwestern everyone was talking about last week.

How are you that skilled, with those kind of traits as a player and have no real college production?

 

[Landryhat73]

I don't understand the discussion about Dallas needing an edge type. Between Parsons, Armstrong, Tank and Williams its their deepest position. If there is absolutely no one else of value available there, trade down.

It’s a sneaky need because Armstrong, Fowler are free agents next year and Tank will be 32. But someone would really have to blow me away for edge at 26

 

[cnuball21]

Barr has always been more of an off theball linebacker though, coverage type, that's not really been Smiths game has it?

I’m just saying the position he takes. He’s be off the ball in base downs and rush in pass downs (when Barr has come off the field).

He did everything at UGA. I wouldn’t draft him just to be a full time Edge.

 

[cnuball21]

He’s kind of a red flag guy to me like the DE from Northwestern everyone was talking about last week.

How are you that skilled, with those kind of traits as a player and have no real college production?

You just have to understand how UGA rotates and plays their defenders.

He had a 25% pass rush win rate…which is absurd. Believe it’s 2nd in class only to Anderson.

 

[doomsday9084]

Draft isn't just about next yr, but the life of their rookie contract. This is a way to shed that DLaw contract. Also, the DL room can look very different in 2024, where both Fowler/Armstrong are fa's and DLaw is a cap casualty release, that would leave us with just Parsons, Sam Williams.

If there is an edge guy that blows all of the other picks away, I get it. You always take BPA if that guy is significantly better than everyone else. That said, Dallas is in a worse position now at DT, RB and maybe a few other spots than they will be next year at DE. If the value is equal, DE would be closer to the bottom of the list than the top.

 

[AsthmaField]

He’s kind of a red flag guy to me like the DE from Northwestern everyone was talking about last week.

How are you that skilled, with those kind of traits as a player and have no real college production?

I get the guy from Northwestern. He is an edge that won’t really be productive getting after the QB from the edge in the NFL. If he is going to get sacks, it will likely be from the 3-tech position, which he hasn’t played a lot of. It makes me really nervous too. Plus, I wonder about his football IQ. He doesn’t seem like a natural at the sport.

Some guys like that figure it all out and become really good players… some don’t though. I’m definitely Luke-warm on AA.

Smith though has pretty much 2-gapped his entire Georgia career. They have essentially played the game like a 34 DE, which is nuts. Smith has said that he played 2-gap almost the entire time he’s been at Georgia. His primary job was stopping the run there… and he was very good at it, holding his ground against guys much bigger than him.

Even playing like that, he has a very good pass rush win rate and the guy is just stupid athletic.

Plus, they rotate so much at Georgia that he just didn’t play a ton of snaps before he tore his pec.

And his football IQ is off the charts. He loves the game and was such a leader on that Georgia squad that, even out with injury, they still walked him out to the coin flip of every game and had him helping out the team on the sidelines during games. His teammates loved him.

Character wise, leadership wise, the guy seems rare, and he absolutely lives and breathes football. Smith has everything you could want in a hybrid defender in Dan Quinn’s system.

I like to see plenty of college production myself, but in Smith’s case there are good reasons that he didn’t have huge sack production. I would gladly bring the guy in at pick 26 and let Quinn play him in his 1-gap scheme how he wants.

However, as I said above… I don’t think there is any way in hell that Smith lasts to 26. Daniel Jeremiah said on the NFL Network the other day that one of the guys that GM’s and Scouts are talking to him about the most is Nolan Smith. He said they love him and rave about his athleticism and how much he eats and sleeps football. Jeremiah said that he is definitely one of the risers.

So all of this is probably for nothing, but I would love for Dallas to draft the guy at 26.