Surprise pick at number one in this 2023 NFL mock draft

29. New Orleans Saints: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia

This NFL Draft is full of talented offensive line talent, considered to be one of the deeper positions in this year’s rookies.  Depending on who you ask, Broderick Jones is the third or fourth-best tackle in the draft.  Seems he and Anton Harrison flip back and forth in rankings.

Jones scored an impressive 85 athleticism score based on Next Gen Stats, the second-best score among tackles at the combine.  He’s 6’5″ and weighs 311 pounds and even at 300+, still ran a sub 5.0 forty time.

Jones didn’t play a ton at Georgia, so lacks some experience, playing in only 26 games, totaling only 1,264 snaps, over 800 of those coming last year as the full-time starting left tackle.  As a starting tackle, he gave up only eight total pressures, one quarterback hit, and no sacks.  He was also an Associated Press All-SEC First-Team selection.

With limited experience, Jones struggles a little more in run blocking than pass protection.  With more experience and coaching, he could become equally dominant and anchor a team’s left tackle position for years to come.