Final Pre-Draft Dynasty Rookie Mock

Apr 27, 2023

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It’s Draft day, and that means it’s time to evaluate the mock draft averages one last time. Below is a composite list of mock drafts over the last week from several fantasy websites with each selection averaged out. I’ll let you know if each player has risen or fallen since the last mock I posted, and give a small critique about each selection.

If you like what you see, follow me on Twitter @MikeEHavens or read some of my other articles at Dynasty League Football. I specialize in evaluating running backs, and four of my five-part series are out now!

Round 1

1.01 Bijan Robinson, RB Texas – (Previously 1.01: Unchanged)

This is going to be the top player taken in nearly every rookie draft barring a bizarre landing spot. If you have a subscription to DLF, I posted a rather interesting take on him. Take a look before you draft, but he’s basically a lock for the top spot for everyone, myself included.

1.02 Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR Ohio State – (Previously 1.02: Unchanged)

Ohio State has produced a slew of excellent wide receivers, most recently Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave. It’s hard to argue that Jaxon Smith-Njigba aka JSN isn’t the best wide receiver in this year’s NFL Draft.

1.03 Jahmyr Gibbs, RB Alabama – (Previously 1.03: Unchanged)

I love this kid but he weighed in at 199 pounds at the Combine, and NFL history is unkind to running backs who weigh under 210. He has to be drafted to the right system to succeed, a la Austin Ekeler. If he goes to an offense that’s good at spreading out the defense and utilizes many dump-offs to the running back, then we have ourselves a winner.

1.04 Jordan Addison, WR USC – (Previously 1.04: Unchanged)

There’s a huge drop between WR1 and WR2, more than in previous seasons. Smith-Njigba is going to be a rock star, while the future success for Addison is up in the air. I think quarterback pairing will make or break the success of this kid. If you need a wide receiver, there are several that can be had, so trading back might be worth it.

1.05 Quentin Johnston, WR TCU – (Previously 1.05: Unchanged)

I like Johnston over Addison. He’s explosive off the line, he has more routes to his game, and he’s bigger, stronger, and harder to bring down. I’d be pretty happy if I had a top-five pick just for the opportunity to draft Johnston alone.

1.06 Zach Charbonnet, RB UCLA – (Previously 1.06: Unchanged)

I may prefer Charbonnet over Gibbs if the landing spot for Gibbs is a bad one. Gibbs is more talented, but Charbonnet has the ability to play in any system and could be the immediate starter for any team that drafts him.

1.07 Zay Flowers, WR Boston College – (Previously 1.07: Unchanged)

Flowers was a four-year player for Boston College, so he’s had a lot of time to refine his craft. He isn’t very big at 5’10” and 177 pounds, but he sure is quick and fast.

1.08 Josh Downs, WR North Carolina – (Previously 1.08: Unchanged)

Downs is another smallish wide receiver with good instincts and quick feet. There are several guys who fit this mold and many of them are interchangeable. The landing spot is going to move several people around.

1.09 Jalin Hyatt, WR Tennessee – (Previously 1.09: Unchanged)

His last year in Tennessee was outstanding with over 1,200 and 15 touchdowns against elite talent. He had one of the fastest 40 times at the Combine with 4.40 seconds, and his vertical and broad jumps are off the charts. When I watch this kid play, he looks like a smaller version of Terrell Owens. I am in love.

1.10 C.J. Stroud, QB Ohio State – (Previously 2.01: Rising)

A dual threat at quarterback will always rise up boards. However, of all 2023 rookie quarterbacks, he scored the lowest on the S2 cognition test (18%), an assessment that measures a person’s ability to dissect information quickly. I don’t know how this will come into play on Draft day, but I guess we’ll find out.

1.11 Anthony Richardson, QB Florida – (Previously 1.10: Falling)

A Combine performance for the ages vaulted him up into relevancy, and that’s always a red flag for me. Sure, Richardson has crazy skills and athleticism, but what about all the intangibles the Combine doesn’t measure? In my opinion, he’s the biggest boom or bust in this rookie draft.

1.12 Dalton Kincaid, TE Utah – (Previously 2.06: Rising)

I don’t know how or why this kid is flying up the charts so much. Perhaps there are more leagues that put a stronger emphasis on tight end premium? Whatever the case, this is your top dog at tight end pre-draft. However, I’m a little weary of spending so much on a tight end, regardless of league settings.

Round 2

2.01 Devon Achane, RB Texas A&M – (Previously 1.12: Falling)

Achane is super fast, but I don’t think he’s cut out to be the lead back for any NFL team for a man who measured at the Combine to be 5’8” and 188 pounds. If he can switch to wide receiver with whatever team drafts him, I’d be a lot more interested.

2.02 Bryce Young, QB Alabama – (Previously 2.03: Rising)

Remember how I said that Stroud had the lowest S2 score? Bryce Young scored the highest with a 98%. Again, nobody knows if the S2 has any real significance between success or failure, but it’s hard to argue that a 98% score is a bad thing.

2.03 Tyjae Spears, RB Tulane – (Previously 1.11: Rising)

He looks great on tape, but there still is a lot left to be desired. He’s on the smaller side, played weaker talent, and the majority of his stats are from gaping holes in the line or runs to the outside. You can outrun the lesser talent in college but can’t outrun an NFL defense anywhere near as consistently.

2.04 Cedric Tillman, WR Tennessee – (Previously Unranked: Rising)

If you want a dark horse player, this is it. Tillman has risen seemingly from nowhere to now be regarded as one of the best picks in the Draft. A five-year player for the Vols, Tillman had a stellar junior campaign before suffering what would be a season-ending injury his senior year.

With the lack of bigger bodies at the position, Tillman could be taken earlier than expected in the Draft, which would only further his value at the dynasty level.

2.05 Michael Mayer, TE Notre Dame – (Previously 2.08: Rising)

I’m not sure what to make of this. He underperformed at the Combine and isn’t nearly as talented as several players ranked below him. I’m not feeling it, even in a tight end premium.

2.06 Roschon Johnson, RB Texas – (Previously 2.07: Rising)

There aren’t many big-bodied running backs in this Draft, but Johnson is one of them. The desire to draft a guy capable of playing all three downs may mean Johnson goes earlier than expected, further vaulting his dynasty value. He’s good, not great, but worthy of a second round pick.

2.07 Marvin Mims, WR Oklahoma – (Previously 2.09: Rising)

This speedy wide receiver played all three years at Oklahoma, looks crazy fast and quick on tape, which was only confirmed via a fantastic Combine performance. I also rather love receivers who double as punt returners. Underrated, in my opinion.

2.08 Israel Abanikanda, RB Pittsburgh – (Previously Unranked: Rising)

I think teams are desperate for running backs, so we’re seeing solid builds like Abanikanda being taken earlier and earlier in mock drafts. Measuring 5’10” and 215 pounds, he has prototypical size and the ability to play all three downs in the NFL. He was one of my favorite targets several weeks ago, but the secret about how good he can be seems to be getting out. I’m not so sure I can snag a copy as easily anymore.

2.09 Kendre Miller, RB TCU – (Previously 2.02: Falling)

This is a downhill runner that will need to be drafted to a team that uses him in power sets. He’s recovering from a late-season injury, and ran a slightly slow 4.58 on his pro day. Given his running style this isn’t a huge setback in my opinion, but it doesn’t give one a lot of optimism either.

2.10 Tank Bigsby, RB Auburn – (Previously 2.12: Rising)

Bigsby is similar to Kendre Miller in build and play style. He’s a downhill guy who can push for that extra yard, but won’t be agile or quick enough to change direction. If he goes to a team that can push the defensive line, Bigsby should flourish.

2.11 Rashee Rice, WR SMU – (Previously 2.11: Falling)

He’s not one of my favorites in this draft, but he has a big body, put up great numbers during his four years at TCU, and did very well at the Combine. I can’t put my finger on it, but it feels like there is something missing in his game. I’d take a chance with a late second for sure.

2.12 Zach Evans, RB Mississippi – (Previously 2.10: Falling)

It wasn’t long ago that Evans was a first-round lock, and now he’s at the edge of falling to the third round. I think he leans into his cuts too much and doesn’t make enough people miss at the line of scrimmage, but he’s a coachable kid, so he may be able to fix that at the NFL level. If you draft him, you probably won’t see any returns on your investment until halfway into the season, if that.

It’s draft day and that has us all excited! Nobody knows what’s going to go right and wrong, but whatever happens we all know that it’ll shake up everyone’s draft boards and alter the mocks significantly. I wish everyone a Merry Draft Day, and we’ll see you next week.