*Walt taking 2014 and 2018
Charlie Campbell, Senior Draft Analyst
Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell for updates.
Led all NFL media in draft rumor accuracy in ’15,
’16,
’17,
’18,
’20,
and ’21
Led all NFL media in correct picks for the 2017 and 2019 NFL Drafts
2nd Place in all NFL media with correct picks for 2021
2021 NFL MOCK DRAFT – WALT’S | CHARLIE’S ROUND: 1
This page was last updated Sept. 22, 2023. Follow Walter @walterfootball for updates.
Send Charlie an e-mail here: draftcampbell@gmail.com
2023 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P
2024 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P
2025 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P
Laiatu Latu, 3-4OLB/DE, UCLA
Height: 6-5. Weight: 265.
Projected 40 Time: 4.80.
Projected Round (2024): 1.
9/23/23: Latu has recorded seven tackles, four sacks, one interception and one forced fumble in 2023. After recording 10.5 sacks and three forced fumbles in 2022, Latu is proving to be a dangerous quarterback hunter. He is quick off the edge with athleticism and a strong build.
With Washington, Latu had injury issues that cost him the 2020 and 2021 seasons. A serious neck injury caused former Huskies coach Jimmy Lake to say that Latu’s career was over after consulting specialists, but he transferred to UCLA after Lake and his staff were let go. Latu then received medical clearance from UCLA before resuming his career.
Jared Verse, 3-4OLB/DE, Florida State
Height: 6-4. Weight: 251.
Projected 40 Time: 4.80.
Projected Round (2024): 1.
9/23/23: Against LSU, Verse had two tackles and came close to a strip-sack, but it was ruled incomplete. He was active in the ground game versus Boston College. In 2023, Verse has six tackles and zero sacks.
9/2/23: Verse had a great start to open 2022, showing pass-rush ability and speed around the corner in a dominant performance versus LSU while recording three sacks and seven tackles. On the year, Verse recorded 47 tackles and nine sacks.
Team sources who have seen Verse in person say he is a good-looking kid with strength and athletic ability. They note he runs well, plays hard, and has impressive tools. However, they feel Verse is raw and not naturally instinctive. Those issues are not surprising considering the huge jump in competition that Verse made for 2022. However, he still impressed last season.
Verse started out his collegiate career at Albany before transferring to the Seminoles for 2022. At Albany, Verse was very undersized and added weight while switching from tight end to defensive end. Playing in 15 games over two seasons, Verse totaled 74 tackles, 21.5 tackles for a loss, 14.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.
Dallas Turner*, 3-4OLB/OLB, Alabama
Height: 6-4. Weight: 245.
Projected 40 Time: 4.63.
Projected Round (2024): 1-2.
9/23/23: Turner has 12 tackles with 2.5 sacks and one forced fumble thus far in 2023.
8/19/23: With Will Anderson commanding attention on the other side in 2021, Turner had a phenomenal freshman debut for the Crimson Tide and showed serious pass rush potential – collecting 8.5 sacks. He also had 30 tackles and was rotating with other defenders. In 2022, Turner collected 37 tackles and four sacks, but he was far more disruptive than the numbers indicate. He has a good skill set with upside.
Bralen Trice, 3-4OLB/DE, Washington
Height: 6-4. Weight: 256.
Projected 40 Time: 4.80.
Projected Round (2024): 1-2.
9/23/23: On the year, Trice has eight tackles.
8/19/23: Trice put together an excellent sophomore season in 2022, recording 30 tackles and seven sacks. In 2021, he had 14 tackles and two sacks.
Chop Robinson, 3-4OLB/OLB/DE, Penn State
Height: 6-3. Weight: 250.
Projected 40 Time: 4.65.
Projected Round (2024): 1-2.
9/23/23: Robinson has five tackles and a pass batted at this point in 2023.
8/19/23: Robinson plays defensive end for Penn State, but for the NFL, he may have to move to outside linebacker given his size. If Robinson is any smaller than his listed numbers, he definitely will need be too small to play end on an every-down basis. In 2022, Robinson recorded 5.5 sacks, 10 tackles for a loss, two passes batted, one forced fumble and 26 tackles. Playing for Maryland in 2021, he totaled 19 tackles and two sacks.
J.T. Tuimoloau**, 3-4OLB/DE, Ohio State
Height: 6-4. Weight: 270.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2024): 1-2.
9/23/23: Tuimoloau has seven tackles thus far in 2023.
9/2/23: As a redshirt freshman in 2022, Tuimoloau turned in a good season for the Buckeyes, showing an ability to produce big plays. He recorded 28 tackles, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble, two interceptions and two passes broken up on the year. Tuimoloau could rise for the 2024 NFL Draft if his pass-rush and sack production improve in 2023.
Jack Sawyer*, 3-4OLB/DE, Ohio State
Height: 6-4. Weight: 260.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2024): 1-2.
9/23/23: On the season, Sawyer has collected 10 tackles.
9/2/23: Sawyer flashed potential for the Buckeyes as a freshman in 2021 with 13 tackles and three sacks in a backup role. In 2022, he recorded 24 tackles, one pass defended and 4.5 sacks. Sawyer has a good skill set and upside, so the former five-star recruit could break out during 2023.
Zion Tupuola-Fetui, 3-4OLB/OLB, Washington
Height: 6-3. Weight: 246.
Projected 40 Time: 4.50.
Projected Round (2024): 3-5.
9/23/23: Tupuola-Fetui has five tackles and two sacks thus far this year.
8/19/23: Tupuola-Fetui flashed pass-rush ability in the shortened 2020 season, recording seven sacks. The 2021 season was limited to only five games because of an injury from spring practice. In 2022, he returned to the field, but he was a rotational player who put up 4.5 sacks and 28 tackles. Tupuola-Fetui needs to produce more and stay on the field as a senior to rise.
Khalid Duke, 3-4OLB/OLB/DE, Kansas State
Height: 6-4. Weight: 246.
Projected 40 Time: 4.68.
Projected Round (2024): 3-5.
9/23/23: Duke is an undersized edge rusher who team sources are projecting to be a designated pass rusher in the NFL. Thus far in 2023, Duke has six tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble. In 2022, he had 44 tackles, three sacks and a pass broken up.
Chico Bennett Jr., 3-4OLB/DE, Virginia
Height: 6-3. Weight: 252.
Projected 40 Time: 4.75.
Projected Round (2024): 3-5.
9/23/23: A knee injury cost Bennett the season opener. He has five tackles across his two games this year.
9/2/23: Bennett enjoyed a breakout 2022 season that included seven sacks, 34 tackles and two forced fumbles. He showed vast improvement over his underclassmen seasons. Bennett could stand to get stronger for the NFL. He will need to at least stay consistent with, if not build on, his 2022 season in 2023 to be an early-round prospect for the 2024 NFL Draft.
Jahfari Harvey*, 3-4OLB/DE, Miami
Height: 6-4. Weight: 252.
Projected 40 Time: 4.75.
Projected Round (2024): 3-5.
9/23/23: At this point in the season, Harvey has recorded five tackles and a sack.
9/2/23: Harvey showed some pass-rush potential in 2022, suggesting the upside to improve as he gains experience. Harvey recorded 5.5 sacks and 31 tackles in 2022. He could be better in 2023.
Jordan Strachan, 3-4OLB/OLB, South Carolina
Height: 6-5. Weight: 250.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2024): 4-6.
9/23/23: Strachan has five tackles, a sack and pass batted at this point in 2023.
8/19/23: Strachan flashed intriguing ability in 2020 when he had 10.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and 41 tackles in a breakout season. He was coming off a knee injury in 2019, but in 2021, his numbers dipped to 22 tackles and three sacks. In 2022, Strachan looked like he was finding his 2020 form, but a torn ACL ended his season after two games. Strachan has to stay healthy and productive in 2023.
Praise Amaewhule, 3-4OLB/DE/OLB, UTEP
Height: 6-3. Weight: 245.
Projected 40 Time: 4.78.
Projected Round (2024): 6-FA.
9/23/23: Amaewhule has 10 tackles and one sack thus far in 2023.
8/19/23: Amaewhule totaled 23 tackles and two sacks in 2022. He played better in 2021, recording 5.5 sacks, and in 2020, when he had seven sacks. Amaewhule needs to have a big final season for the Miners.
Chantz Williams*, 3-4OLB/DE, Miami
Height: 6-4. Weight: 255.
Projected 40 Time: 4.79.
Projected Round (2024): 7-FA.
9/23/23: So far in 2023, Williams has recorded three tackles.
9/2/23: Williams flashed in 2021, recording 17 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. He looked like he had a lot of potential and upside, but Williams disappointed in 2022, recording only 13 tackles. He needs to earn more playing time and produce.
2023 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P
2024 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P
2025 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P