NFL Mock Draft 3.0: Picks 16-31

With the quarterbacks all off the board, let’s take a look at how the second half of round one could go. With talent available across most positions, this is set to be an incredibly interesting 16 picks.

The NFC East has become one of the most stacked divisions in football at wide receiver and as the bottom side in the division, the Commanders need someone to help combat this. Porter Jr. has great size and confidence, with NFL coaching hopefully reducing his penalty count, he could become a lockdown corner in the pros.

Van Ness is an unpolished prospect, with incredible athleticism and strength on display throughout his time in college. The Steelers already have an elite pass rusher in TJ Watt, but why not double down on strength and take the Iowa prospect here and let him learn from one of the best?

The Lions’ strength lies in their incredibly well-coached offense, so after taking a CB early, they lean into what they do best and take the best RB prospect in years. Robinson is a do-it-all back who projects well in Ben Johnson’s creative scheme.

The Bucs could find themselves in a difficult spot at 19, with all the quarterbacks and top offensive line options gone. Nolan Smith could well be the best player left on their draft board so the sensible thing is to take him. You can never have enough talented pass rushers and Smith is exactly that.

The Seahawks surprised many last year with an impressive offense leading them to the playoffs. With depth added along the defensive line early in the draft, they have a chance to take a wideout here who could be a great complement to Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf.

Speed is the need for the Chargers on offense so taking the Tennessee prospect at 21 makes perfect sense. Hyatt has 4.4 speed and has shown what he can do against elite defenses at the college level with a five-touchdown performance against Alabama in 2022. This is a pick that should get Justin Herbert excited for 2023.

This pick seems to almost make too much sense given the Ravens' love of physical edge rushers. Murphy isn’t the flashiest prospect on the board, but his fit in Baltimore is perfect. Comfortable setting the edge in the run game and rushing the passer from a two-point stance, Murphy should see the field a lot as a rookie.

The Vikings are a talented side, but probably not good enough to truly compete. In a division that could well be far more competitive in 2023, they need some help on the backside of the defense. Cam Smith is a long and rangy corner who has the potential to be a very solid player at the next level.

The Jags could go a number of ways here with the secondary or defensive line looking like good options. But ultimately it’s offense that wins you games in the NFL and the Jags are on their way to having a very good one. Adding the talented TE out of Utah gives them another target for the ever-improving Trevor Lawrence to aim for.

After losing versatile safety Julian Love in free agency, the Giants have a chance to reload by selecting Branch here. With great ball skills and experience in the slot, he could well be the extra DB who lines up all over the field on passing downs. Branch looks like an excellent prospect and this is a great landing spot for him.

The Cowboys are lacking at defensive tackle, with the position being one area of obvious weakness on an otherwise very talented roster. Bresee isn’t the biggest player, but he is an explosive disruptor from the interior and could help complete the Dallas defense.

There are holes on the Bills' defense which need filling, but after struggling to find a high-quality running back in recent years, the Bills take a big swing by drafting the explosive Gibbs. Running a 4:36 40-yard dash should tell you a lot about his speed and his production at ‘Bama was elite. This could help take some pressure off Josh Allen.

The Bengals are loaded at wideout with Tee Higgins and Jamar Chase making one of the best tandems in the league. Despite the signing of Irv Smith Jr. from the Vikings, TE still looks like an area they can improve. Mayer is someone who knows how to find holes in zone defenses and would be a great security blanket for Joe Burrow.

Mazi Smith is a huge man and the Saints like to have huge men along their defensive front. His size belies his athleticism though as he has explosive power and the ability to collapse a pocket before the opposing quarterback is set.

With just Fletcher Cox and Milton Williams as options in the Eagle's three-technique position, they need some young blood to offer an interior pass rush. This spot looks prime for trade once again, but if they are picking at 30, Kancey makes a ton of sense. Shorter and smaller than most DTs, his pass rushing is what sets him apart and is what the Eagles covet most.

The Chiefs are projected to go into 2023 with Kadarius Toney as their number one pass catching option, a risk considering his struggles to stay healthy. Johnson gives them good size and downfield playmaking ability which is where Patrick Mahomes is at his very best.