2023 NFL Draft picks and analysis: Titans take Will Levis, Lions get Hendon Hooker
The 2023 NFL Draft continued Friday with Rounds 2 and 3.
Here are the results from Night 2 of the draft, complete with analysis from FOX Sports draft expert Rob Rang's Top 100 rankings.
Round 2
32) Pittsburgh Steelers: Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
Rang: NFL scouts love athletic bloodlines almost as much as they love the length, physicality and tenacity Porter provided the Nittany Lions over his career, including the zero touchdowns allowed in 2022.
33) Tennessee Titans (trade from Arizona): Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
Rang: The traits are undeniable and so, too, is his experience in pro-style offenses at Kentucky. But necessary improvements in Levis' decision-making keep him outside the tier of elite prospects on my board.
34) Detroit Lions: Sam Laporta, TE, Iowa
Rang: Iowa struggled throwing the football in 2022. Don’t blame that on LaPorta, whose combination of soft hands, agility and toughness make him arguably the best of this year’s tight ends after the catch.
35) Las Vegas Raiders (trade from Indianapolis): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Rang: Mayer wasn't likely to be selected in the top 10, but when we look back on this draft years from now, he's expected to be a standout starter, with his true dual-threat abilities as a pass-catcher and blocker unique even in this relatively strong tight end class.
36) Los Angeles Rams: Steve Avila, OL, TCU
Rang: Among the most pro-ready interior offensive linemen in this class, Avila has extensive starting experience at both guard and center, frustrating opponents with his balance, power and tenacity.
37): Seattle Seahawks: Derick Hall, OLB, Auburn
Rang: Similarly built and gifted as former Auburn standout Carl Lawson, Hall is a compactly built rusher with a speed/power combination that will challenge NFL blockers.
38) Atlanta Falcons (trade from Indianapolis): Matthew Bergeron, OL, Syracuse
Rang: Quick and smooth out of his stance in pass protection, Bergeron starred at left tackle for the Orangemen, but his average arm length (33 5/8") might push him inside to guard in the NFL.
39) Carolina Panthers: Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss
Rang: One of the biggest risers since the end of the season, Mingo boasts an exceptional size/speed combination that has some teams wondering if he won’t continue the recent Ole Miss tradition of big receivers — like DK Metcalf and A.J. Brown — exploding in the NFL.
40) New Orleans Saints: Isaiah Foskey, EDGE, Notre Dame
Rang: Foskey comes with a bit of "buyer beware," as well as he currently lacks the power and nastiness preferred against the run, but his 20.5 sacks over the past two seasons and projectable traits could push him into the first round.
41) Arizona Cardinals: BJ Ojulari, EDGE, LSU
Rang: If he were an inch taller, Ojulari might rank as a top-20 prospect, but as is, his burst, bend and tenacity might warrant first-round consideration, regardless.
42) Green Bay Packers: Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State
Rang: In a classic case of projecting better to the NFL than he did in the college game, Musgrave offers an exceptional combination of size, speed, soft mitts and pro bloodlines — but buyer beware, this Senior Bowl standout's lack of production in Corvallis requires a closer look.
43) New York Jets: Joe Tippmann, C, Wisconsin
Rang: It isn't often that centers warrant top-50 consideration, but Tippmann is unique, offering an exceptional combination of size, athleticism and experience in a pro-style offense.
44) Indianapolis Colts: Julius Brents, CB, Kansas State
Rang: Long, lanky and physical, Brents possesses the size and tenacity of a safety — which is where he starred as a freshman for Iowa — with the balance and body control of a classic press corner.
45) Detroit Lions (trade from Green Bay): Brian Branch, S, Alabama
Rang: Like Robinson a few spots earlier, Branch stars at a position few teams can justify spending a top-10 selection to address. He is the most reliable open-field tackler in this draft, however.
46) New England Patriots: Keion White, EDGE, Georgia Tech
Rang: The Yellow Jackets have produced just two top-100 draft picks on defense over the past decade. But White, a transfer from Old Dominion who excelled in 2022, could join them. His size and athleticism suggest he could play all over an NFL defensive line.
47) Washington Commanders: Jartavius Martin, CB, Illinois
48) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Cody Mauch, OL, North Dakota State
Rang: The highest-ranked non-FBS prospect on this list, Mauch is a left tackle who plays with a guard mentality, routinely tossing opponents to the ground. He erased any concerns about his level of competition following a stellar week at the Senior Bowl and combine.
49) Pittsburgh Steelers: Keeanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin
Rang: Arguably this year's "biggest" winner from the Senior Bowl, Benton showed off surprising quickness and balance as a rusher, complementing the power he showed as a run-stuffing nose guard for the Badgers.
50) Green Bay Packers: Jayden Reed, WR, Michigan State
51) Miami Dolphins: Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
52) Seattle Seahawks: Zach Charbonnet, RB, UCLA
Rang: The latest star runner for Chip Kelly, Charbonnet’s name (Shar-bo-nay) rolls off the tongue about as smoothly as he does through contact, with the prototypically built back showing a blend of vision, burst and power to project as a future standout starter in the NFL.
53) Chicago Bears: Gervon Dexter, DT, Florida
Rang: Massive and powerful, Dexter is a virtual cinder block against the run, planting roots at the line of scrimmage and swallowing up runners attempting to slip by.
54) Los Angeles Chargers: Tuli Tuipulotu, DL, USC
Rang: A landslide winner as the most dominant defensive lineman in the PAC-12 per that league's blockers, Tuipuloto quietly led the entire country in sacks, attacking from a variety of positions. To be as good in the NFL as he was in college, Tuipuloto might need a similarly creative defensive coordinator as the Trojans' Alex Grinch.
55) Kansas City Chiefs (trade from Detroit): Rashee Rice, WR, SMU
56) Chicago Bears (trade from Jacksonville): Tyrique Stevenson, CB, Miami
57) New York Giants: John Michael Schmitz, C, Minnesota
Rang: Teams are hesitant to use early picks on interior offensive linemen, but true plug-and-play blockers like Schmitz — a four-year starter who aced evaluations at the combine and Senior Bowl — warrant the investment.
58) Dallas Cowboys: Luke Schoonmaker, TE, Michigan
59) Buffalo Bills: O'Cyrus Torrence, G, Florida
Rang: Big, physical and nasty, Torrence followed his head coach, Billy Napier, to Florida from Louisiana and starred in 2022, dominating the SEC's line of scrimmage with his girth and power, just as he did in the Sun Belt.
60) Cincinnati Bengals: DJ Turner, CB, Michigan
Rang: An elite speedster overshadowed by all of the talent in Ann Arbor, Turner is a classic (albeit undersized) cover corner with the agility, acceleration and awareness to contribute immediately.
61) Jacksonville Jaguars: Brenton Strange, TE, Penn State
62) Houston Texans: Juice Scruggs, C, Penn State
63) Denver Bronocs (trade from Detroit): Marvin Mims, WR, Oklahoma
Round 3
64) Chicago Bears: Zacch Pickens, DL, South Carolina
65) Philadelphia Eagles: Tyler Steen, G, Alabama
66) Philadelphia Eagles: Syndey Brown, S, Illinois
67) Pittsburgh Steelers: Drew Sanders, OLB, Arkansas
Rang: An Alabama transfer who immediately excelled for the Razorbacks, Sanders offers a unique blend of size, speed and athleticism, showing burst upfield as a pass rusher, as well as awareness and physicality behind the line of scrimmage.
68) Detroit Lions (trade from Denver): Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee Titans
Rang: One of the biggest risers (back) up my board after medical evaluations at the combine proved he was progressing ahead of schedule from the ACL tear that abruptly ended his college career, Hooker has the experience, production and instincts to project as a future NFL starter.
69) Houston Texans (trade from Los Angeles Rams): Tank Dell, WR, Houston
70) Las Vegas Raiders: Byron Young, DT, Alabama
71) New Orleans Saints, Kendre Miller, RB, TCU
72) Arizona Cardinals (trade from Detroit): Garrett Williams, CB, Syracuse
73) New York Giants (trade from Los Angeles Rams): Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee
Rang: In many ways the poster boy behind Tennessee's sudden ascent this season, Hyatt racked up a staggering 1,267 receiving yards and 15 touchdown grabs (both leading the SEC), showing off game-breaking speed.
74) Cleveland Browns: Cedric Tillman, WR, Tennessee
Rang: Overshadowed in 2022 due to the emergence of speedy teammate Jalin Hyatt, Tillman is actually the more polished of the two, offering a more complete combination of size, fluidity and pro-readiness than many of the smaller receivers of this class.
75) Atlanta Falcons: Zach Harrison, EDGE, Ohio State
76) New England Patriots: Marte Mapu, LB, Sacramento State
77) Los Angeles Rams: Byron Young, EDGE, Tennessee
78) Green Bay Packers: Tucker Kraft, TE, South Dakota State
Rang: Kraft is not likely to be the highest-drafted Jackrabbit ever, as former SDSU offensive guard Lynn Boden was selected 13th overall by Detroit back in 1975, but he has a good chance at joining South Dakota State tight ends Dallas Goedert (Eagles, 2018) and Steve Heiden (Chargers, 1999) as the only other top-100 selections in school history due to his rare combination of height, speed and soft mitts.
79) Indianapolis Colts: Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina
Rang: A potentially lethal slot receiver and punt returner with electric quickness and exceptional ball skills to make difficult grabs look easy, Downs is going to make some NFL team look very smart for nabbing him on Day 2.
80) Carolina Panthers (trade from Pittsburgh): DJ Johnson, LB, Oregon
81) Tennessee Titans: Tyjae Spears, RB, Tulane
82) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: YaYa Diaby, EDGE, Louisville
83) Denver Broncos (trade from Seattle): Riley Moss, DB, Iowa
84) Miami Dolphins: Devon Achane, RB, Texas A&M
85) Los Angeles Chargers: Daiyan Henley, LB, Washington State
Rang: A virtual unknown outside of the Pac-12, Henley was named one of three finalists for the Butkus Award this past season for the Cougars by demonstrating an NFL-caliber build, speed and physicality — making him one of the very few linebackers in this class to warrant early Day Two consideration.
86) Baltimore Ravens: Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson
Rang: In yet another below-average year for off-ball linebackers, Simpson's speed and production (including 23 tackles for loss and 13 sacks) over three seasons at Clemson stand out, with the former Tiger projecting best as a run-and-chase outside linebacker in a traditional 4-3 alignment.
87) San Francisco 49ers (trade from Minnesota): Ji'Ayir Brown, S, Penn State
88) Jacksonville Jaguars: Tank Bigsby, RB, Auburn
89) Los Angeles Rams: Kobie Turner, DT, Wake Forest
90) Dallas Cowboys: DeMarvion Overshown, LB, Texas
91) Buffalo Bills: Dorian Williams, LB, Tulane
92) Kansas City Chiefs (trade from Cincinnati): Wanya Morris, OT, Oklahoma
93) Pittsburgh Steelers: Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
Rang: Washington’s imposing frame and perceived upside is even more impressive than the two-time national champion’s production, projecting similarly to the NFL as longtime league standout Marcedes Lewis.
94) Arizona Cardinals: Michael Wilson, WR, Stanford
95) Cincinnati Bengals: Jordan Battle, S, Alabama
Compensatory picks
96) Detroit Lions (trade from Arizona): Brodric Martin, DT, Western Kentucky
97) Washington Commanders: Ricky Stromberg, C, Arkansas
98) Cleveland Browns: Siaki Ika, DT, Baylor
99) San Francisco 49ers: Jake Moody, K, Michigan
100) Las Vegas Raiders: Tre Tucker, WR, Cincinnati
101) San Francisco 49ers: Cameron Latu, TE, Alabama
102) Minnesota Vikings: Mekhi Blackmon, CB, USC
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