2023 NFL Mock draft: Raiders make leap to No. 1 overall, Cowboys trade back
By Randy Gurzi
CB. Utah. Clark Phillips III. 24. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 13
24. Los Angeles Chargers: Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah
If the Los Angeles Chargers could have just made one more stop, they would have been able to hold off the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Wild Card Round. That didn’t happen and they became the victims of some serious internet trolling — which is going to happen when you blow a 27-0 lead.
They hoped the addition of JC Jackson would have helped but his injury was one of the reasons for their defensive woes down the stretch. That highlighted the need for secondary depth in the AFC which leads to the selection of Clark Phillips III from Utah.
Phillips doesn’t have ideal size but his instincts and ball skills are top-notch. In a division where they’ll face Patrick Mahomes twice per season and have to get past Trevor Lawrence, Joe Burrow, and Josh Allen in the postseason, the ability to create turnovers is even more valuable.
player. Pick Analysis. WR. Ohio State. 25. Scouting Report. Jaxon Smith-Njigba. 16
25. Buffalo Bills (via New York Giants): Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
A little bit of positioning goes on here as the Buffalo Bills decide to move ahead of the Dallas Cowboys since both teams have a need at wide receiver. Buffalo added Cole Beasley for their playoff run, not even a full year after releasing him. Now, they decide to get a younger slot receiver in Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
The Ohio State product is arguably the most precise route runner in this class and might have gone much higher had he not missed nearly all of this past season. In all honesty, that could help him land with a better team, which is what happens here as one of the AFC juggernauts gets even stronger.