Will Levis Expected to be Picked in Round 2
During the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, the camera repeatedly cut to Kentucky quarterback Will Levis. As three quarterbacks and most of the players in the Kansas City green room left, Levis remained. Although many did not expect Levis to fall to the second round, his wait is not expected to last much longer. NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported on Friday that teams had been calling other teams holding late first-round spots to no avail on Thursday night. Pelissero also reported that the Steelers had received multiple calls about the No. 32 pick, which opens the second round. Many of the teams calling on Thursday were believed to be interested in Levis.
Late Thursday night, NFL Network Insider Mike Garafolo reported that teams were attempting to speak with the Kansas City Chiefs about the No. 31 pick, but KC was determined to make that pick, which resulted in the selection of Kansas State edge Felix Anudike-Uzomah. Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman was also contacted about the team’s No. 30 overall pick. However, Roseman and Philly were set on a pass rusher of their own and selected Georgia’s Nolan Smith. Although the Eagles and Chiefs did not trade their late-round picks, it could pave the way for trade movement at the top of the second round on Friday.
Eagles Select Two Bulldogs in the First Round
The Philadelphia Eagles were ecstatic with their draft picks on Thursday night. The Eagles selected Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter at No. 9 overall before taking another Bulldogs D-lineman, Nolan Smith, at No. 30. According to NFL Network’s James Palmer, Roseman made multiple calls to myriad teams in the days ahead of the draft because he did not believe he’d land Carter staying put at No. 10. In the end, Roseman and the Eagles moved up one spot to No. 9 in a trade with the Chicago Bears to get Carter. As for that 10th spot, they thought they might get Smith there, Palmer added. Instead, they got him all the way at the end of the opening round and have two Bulldogs — after selecting another former Georgia defensive lineman, Jordan Davis, in last year’s first round.
Cowboys Select Mazi Smith with the 26th Pick
The Dallas Cowboys selected Michigan defensive tackle Mazi Smith at No. 26. This pick surprised some, as one area of need for the Cowboys was a tight end. The Buffalo Bills took Utah TE Dalton Kincaid with the No. 25 pick, trading up with the Jacksonville Jaguars to do so. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was tight-lipped about his team’s plans for the remainder of the draft, stating, “That is tactical with tomorrow ahead of us and the next day ahead of us, so I want to watch what we say here.” While Kincaid was the only tight end taken in the first round, there are still several talented TEs available in the draft, including Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer and Iowa’s Sam LaPorta, whom the Cowboys reportedly have high interest in.
Von Miller Excited About Bills’ Pick of Dalton Kincaid
The Buffalo Bills acquired tight end Dalton Kincaid from Utah with the No. 25 overall pick in the draft. NFL Network’s Andrew Siciliano asked Bills linebacker Von Miller for his thoughts on the pick, to which Miller replied, “I love it. He was supposed to go way higher than that. You mentioned with Dawson Knox, it’ll be crazy with Josh Allen and James Cook and, Stefon Diggs, Gabe Davis. We definitely got better. That was a great pick for us, I’m super excited.”