2023 NFL mock draft: College football is back with a loaded class
24. Indianapolis Colts: Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
24. player. 46. Scouting Report. CB. South Carolina. Cam Smith. Pick Analysis
The Indianapolis Colts have steadily invested quite a lot on the defensive side of the ball, most notably in the trenches and front seven. They’ve made trades for players like DeForest Buckner and Yannick Ngakoue. They signed Shaquille Leonard to a massive deal. They used a top pick in last year’s draft on Kwity Paye. The Colts now need to use some prime assets on the secondary.
Cam Smith has five interceptions over the last two years including three last season. Those three interceptions along with his 11 passes defensed, forced fumble, and 41 total tackles are just the tip of the iceberg for the type of impact play Smith is capable of. He may not be flashy, but he’s consistent.
25. Dallas Cowboys: Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M
Texas AM. player. 123. 25. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. S. Antonio Johnson
Who knows if the Dallas Cowboys will have Dan Quinn as their defensive coordinator much longer? Quinn interviewed in the 2022 cycle and was ultimately passed up on by the rest of the NFL. Not that the Cowboys mind. With Quinn back in the fold, the Cowboys should once again have a top defensive unit and they’ve uncovered an absolute star in last year’s first-round pick Micah Parsons.
The secondary may still be a bit of a work in progress, but the Cowboys have some pieces back there. Antonio Johnson has the type of flexibility and versatility that NFL teams really covet in today’s NFL. He is 6-foot-3 and can play deep safety, nickel, or pretty much wherever you need him. He’s great at attacking the line of scrimmage and showed it last year with 79 total tackles and 8.5 tackles for loss.