2023 NFL mock draft: Cowboys, Falcons make massive trades up
12. Houston Texans: Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas
Pick Analysis. LB. Drew Sanders. 12. 10. Scouting Report. Arkansas. player
The Houston Texans got themselves a quarterback for the offense early on in this 2023 NFL mock draft scenario and here they get an absolute sniper, a heat-seeking missile at the “linebacker” position for DeMeco Ryans’ defense. Ryans obviously did an amazing job with the 49ers developing the talent they have at the linebacker position whether we’re talking about a superstar like Fred Warner or other players like Dre’ Greenlaw and Azeez Al-Shaair.
Sanders is a former Alabama transfer who is listed at 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, he ran a 4.59 at the Arkansas pro day and posted a tremendous 37-inch vertical jump. Fred Warner isn’t this tall, but he’s almost 6-foot-4 and has similar speed and explosiveness.
From a variety of alignments and positions, Sanders was all over the field in 2022 for the Razorbacks, racking up 103 total tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and five passes broken up. His range, instincts, and productivity could be exactly what DeMeco Ryans is looking for.
13. New York Jets: Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
player. OT. Tennessee. 13. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Darnell Wright. 30
If the New York Jets are going to add Aaron Rodgers, Jets fans should get excited that it’s going to likely happen this month. For those who are old enough to remember the Brett Favre saga, it’s simply too rich that Rodgers’ landing spot in his post-Packers playing days is also with the Jets.
Although, at the time, it was clear that Favre was using the Jets as a means to an end. At the time, it was the Vikings that Favre wanted. Rodgers, or all his quirks, at least hasn’t gone to that level.
At any rate, the Jets have some work to be done yet on the offensive line, including adding at the tackle position and at center. Darnell Wright hasn’t received a ton of top 20 love at this point but look, tackles are in short supply, and Wright is an athletic freak at the position.
Darnell Wright is a OT prospect in the 2023 draft class. He scored a 9.78 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 28 out of 1248 OT from 1987 to 2023.
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 26, 2023
Pre-pro day, so might still get updates for agis.https://t.co/MFev2TZUGN #RAS pic.twitter.com/3IaL3k8eKN
Someone who is north of 330 pounds is simply not meant to move like that. Wright is a stud, and I think he would be a great pickup for the Jets as they look to continually upgrade and revamp their offense.