2023 NFL mock draft: College football is back with a loaded class
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Paris Johnson Jr., OL, Ohio State
13. Pick Analysis. OL. Paris Johnson Jr.. 22. player. Scouting Report. Ohio State
One piece at a time, the Chargers are building a wall in front of superstar quarterback Justin Herbert. In 2021, they drafted Rashawn Slater out of Northwestern and despite a lot of “experts” thinking his length would prevent him from being a strong left tackle in the NFL, Slater quickly proved that one wrong and looked like one of the best players from the entire class. In 2022, they added Boston College guard Zion Johnson, who should quickly become another fixture on the offensive line.
Could they make it three years in a row with offensive linemen in round one in the 2023 NFL Draft? That’s certainly not impossible at all. The Chargers still have a rather obvious hole at the right tackle position and although Paris Johnson is expected to excel as the left tackle for the Buckeyes this season, he could flip to the right side and give the Chargers a top-flight pair of young bookend tackles.
23. Miami Dolphins: Zach Evans, RB, Ole Miss
RB. 59. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 23. player. Ole Miss. Zach Evans
The Miami Dolphins heavily prioritized upgrading the offensive side of the ball in 2022 and they made some bold sacrifices to do just that. The Dolphins shockingly fired Brian Flores after two winning seasons in a row didn’t result in a playoff appearance. They moved on from Flores in favor of perhaps the next offensive wunderkind in the NFL coaching ranks, Mike McDaniel. Not only that, but the Dolphins also added arguably the biggest mismatch in the NFL in wide receiver Tyreek Hill. They already had Jaylen Waddle, so if Tua Tagovailoa can improve, this offense could be lethal.
And in the 2023 NFL Draft, it could get even better. Despite not having their second first-round pick because of tampering, the Dolphins still have a pick here thanks to the Trey Lance deal in 2021. With this selection, they snag Ole Miss running back Zach Evans, a perfect fit for Mike McDaniels’ offensive scheme who has averaged 7.3 yards per carry in his first two college seasons.