Chicago Bears get two stud defensive linemen in first round mock draft 1.0
By Peter Jurich
A fourth quarterback comes off of the board in this group of picks
24) TB: Isaiah Foskey, EDGE – Notre Dame
Foskey is a long, athletic, relentless pass rusher who could immediately help a Tampa Bay defense that stalled in 2022. Isaiah Foskey needs to improve against the run, but the effort is always present for the Notre Dame standout. For a defense that is not getting any younger, Foskey could enter the league as a rotational player and could eventually take over as a starting outside linebacker.
25) LAC: Antonio Johnson, S – Texas A&M
At 6’3″, Antonio Johnson is a former cornerback who could seamlessly make the transition to free safety at the next level. Playing next to Derwin James, Johnson could help out in coverage over the top of the defense and would be a great center-field player for Brandon Staley’s defense. Johnson has great zone instincts in the secondary, and with good ball skills, he should be able to cover a variety of larger pass catchers in the NFL, including some of the league’s best tight ends.
26) CIN: Christian Gonzalez, CB – Oregon
Christian Gonzalez possesses 4.32 speed with a 6’2″ frame and has the ability to stay over top basically any receiver on the outside. While sometimes playing further off of a receiver than desirable, Gonzalez has great ball skills and the inline speed to compete for every deep throw. The Bengals certainly need help at cornerback, one of the roster’s few weaknesses, and a late pick in Gonzalez could end up being a great steal that solidifies Cincinnati’s defense as one of the best in the NFL.
27) MIN: Anthony Richardson, QB – Florida
Despite Kirk Cousins playing well in his first year in Kevin O’Connell’s offense, the team may look towards the future of the position, with Cousins turning 35 at next season’s start. Anthony Richardson, who has incredible physical traits in speed and arm power, is not ready to start in the NFL immediately, but he presumably will not have to, as the Vikings will look to get as much out of Cousins as they possibly can.