Former scout and current NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah published his second 2023 mock draft on Tuesday, featuring an unexpected choice for the first edge-rusher selected.
With the third overall pick, Jeremiah mocks Texas Tech's Tyree Wilson to the Arizona Cardinals ahead of Alabama's Will Anderson Jr., the 2022 Chuck Bednarik Award winner.
My Mock Draft 2.0 just dropped. Let’s dive in pic.twitter.com/NK8YTUmIbQ
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) February 21, 2023
As the two players chosen before Wilson, Jeremiah has Georgia DT Jalen Carter heading to Chicago at No. 1 overall and Alabama QB Bryce Young going to Houston second overall. Jeremiah mocks Anderson to Seattle at No. 5 overall.
In his first mock draft, released last month, Jeremiah had Anderson as Arizona's pick, with Seattle taking Wilson. Several teams are "very intrigued" by the Texas Tech product because of his frame and production in college, which is why he jumped in Jeremiah's latest mock.
After two seasons at Texas A&M, Wilson transferred to Texas Tech in 2020. The 6-foot-6, 275-pound long-armed defender played in 10 games this past season for the Red Raiders, recording 61 total tackles, 14 for a loss, seven sacks and eight QB hurries. His season was cut short due to a foot injury.
At the time of his injury, he was ninth in tackles for loss among FBS defenders and was 25th in sacks. He has good speed for his size, which gives him the upside to be a versatile and disruptive defensive player at the professional level.
This one rep by Texas Tech OLB Tyree Wilson tells you all you need to know about his pass rushing ability
— RC Maxfield (@RCMB323) September 26, 2022
Splits a double team, bends around the OL and has the strength to finish the sack
He was being touted as an NFL 1st round pick and has played like it for the Red Raiders pic.twitter.com/KBqTXP8zjY
If Wilson is the Cardinals' selection, he would be a significant addition as they ranked 23rd in sacks this past season and would complement new head coach Jonathan Gannon's system. Gannon served as Philadelphia's DC for the last two seasons. Throughout the regular season and playoffs in 2022, the Eagles racked up 78 sacks, the third-most in NFL history.
Despite Wilson's freakish athleticism, it'd be surprising to see him drafted ahead of Anderson, who is a more polished prospect. However, Wilson could cement his status as the consensus top edge-rusher in the class with a strong performance at the combine.
Early arrivals report to Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine on Feb. 26; the combine will conclude on March 6. The 2023 NFL Draft, hosted in Kansas City, begins on April 27.
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