Final Florida Gators Seven-Round 2023 NFL Mock Draft
The NFL Draft couldn't come fast enough after an exhaustive offseason featuring another dramatic quarterback carousel.
But before the event begins on Thursday, Apr. 27 at 8 p.m. ET, you have one more mock draft to get through. At least on this website.
11 members of Florida's 2022 roster are included in the draft's talent pool, highlighted by predicted top-five pick, quarterback Anthony Richardson, and a handful of prospects are expected to hear their names called in various rounds or after the draft to sign free agent contracts.
Below are my final predictions regarding how many Florida prospects will be drafted, and where they might end up, in my final seven-round, Gators-centric mock draft of the year. Linked here is my first UF mock draft from March 20.
QB Anthony Richardson: Indianapolis Colts, first round, No. 4 overall
There appeared to be a consensus projection for the quarterbacks in the year's NFL Draft between the NFL Combine and Pro Day circuit between February and March: Ohio State's C.J. Stroud to Carolina at No. 1, Alabama's Bryce Young to Houston at No. 2, and Florida's Anthony Richardson to Indianapolis at No. 4 unless a team traded up for him at No. 3. And Kentucky's Will Levis would go sometime after Richardson.
It's been smoke-screen season ever since. Any and all combinations of the draft order have been forged to spread the quarterbacks across the entire first round, with betting odds favoring Levis at No. 1 most recently.
I'm going to stick with the original belief, and my original Gators-centric mock from mid-March. The Colts and first-year head coach Shane Steichen get their franchise quarterback in Richardson without having to move up to secure his services.
The Colts sent a scout to four Florida games during the 2022 season: Utah, LSU, Texas A&M and South Carolina. Richardson completed 60 percent of his passes for 666 yards, five touchdowns and zero interceptions and added 389 yards and seven touchdowns rushing in those four games.
And of course, Richardson dazzled at the Combine with quarterback record-breaking jumps and a 4.43-second 40-yard dash. At 6-foot-4, 244 pounds, he's athletically unlike any prospect ever seen at his position.
iOL O'Cyrus Torrence: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, first round, No. 19 overall
Unless you consider Northwestern's Peter Skoronski a guard, a spot he's been projected to play after spending his college career at tackle, O'Cyrus Torrence is viewed as the consensus No. 1 interior offensive lineman in this draft. He's likely to be selected in the first round, although it's anyone's guess which team will make the first move to shore up the middle of its trenches.
Tampa Bay is a sensible fit as the Buccaneers' offensive line has been torn apart by injuries, trades and free agency departures since before the 2022 season. Torrence could reasonably upgrade either guard spot in the Bucs' offense and offer depth at numerous positions across the thin pewter front five.
The 6-foot-5, 330-pound Torrence did not allow a sack across four seasons (one at Florida, three at Louisiana) and 1,501 pass-blocking snaps, per Pro Football Focus. His PFF run-blocking grade improved each year and peaked at 89.9 out of 100 with the Gators in 2022.
The Bucs observed Torrence live four times in 2022, against Utah, Kentucky, USF and Texas A&M. He posted run-blocking grades of 81.6 or better in three of those games and allowed four quarterback pressures across 125 pass-blocking snaps in that stretch.
DL Gervon Dexter: Atlanta Falcons, second round, No. 44 overall
A big riser compared to the first Gators mock draft, Gervon Dexter jumps from the third round to mid-second thanks to his impressive performances at the NFL Combine and Florida's Pro Day. The 6-foot-6, 310-pound lineman posted a 4.88-second 40-yard dash, a 31-inch vertical and 110-inch broad, great-to-elite results for a player at his position and of his size.
At the latter event, Dexter shared that he has earned "a lot" of second-round grades with a couple of first-round evaluations.
"I spoke with a couple of coaches who believe that I've done stuff on film that others [defensive linemen] can't do, physically," Dexter said at the time.
This is why Atlanta selects Dexter in the second round in the exercise, securing a defensive end of the future for its 3-4 scheme with a physical makeup similar to that of recently signed Falcons lineman, projected starter and potential future Pro Football Hall of Famer Calais Campbell.
To begin his career, Dexter would likely contribute in a rotational role across Atlanta's front.
Atlanta personnel watched four of Dexter's games in person in 2022, versus Kentucky, LSU and Vanderbilt. He compiled 21 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one interception, one pass breakup and four quarterback pressures (per PFF) across those matchups.
LB Amari Burney: Baltimore Ravens, fifth round, No. 157 overall
Amari Burney was not included in the first Gators-centric mock but his stellar showing at Florida's Pro Day paired with a breakout fifth-year senior season warranted a surge into day three.
Burney's emergence as a pass rusher in 2022, in addition to his experience as an inside linebacker and defensive back, could lead to a draft rise similar to former UF and Jackson State linebacker James Houston IV, a sixth-round pick by Detroit a year ago. His 4.51-second 40-yard dash, 4.2-second shuttle, seven-second three-cone and 120-inch broad jump help make him a top-20 percent athlete recorded at his position since 1987, per RAS.
Although Burney's career at UF was up and down and it took until his final season for him to become a consistent contributor, his ascension couldn't have come at a better time — when he was awarded the most playing time of his career, and continually during the draft process.
As a result, I project Baltimore — a team that hosted Burney for a top-30 visit in April — to select him in the middle of day three.
Ravens scouts attended Florida's matchups with Utah, Kentucky, Georgia, Texas A&M and South Carolina in 2022. Burney accumulated 22 tackles, one sack, 2.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, two interceptions and a pass breakup in those games.
LB Ventrell Miller: Detroit Lions, sixth round, No. 194 overall
Ventrell Miller hasn't had it easy during the draft process.
He came in very undersized for an inside linebacker at the NFL Combine at 5-foot-11, 3/4. 232 pounds. and was unable to participate in any athletic testing due to a bone graft surgery to repair a Jones fracture in his right foot at the beginning of the offseason. He played through the injury in 2022.
A 24-year-old prospect who dealt with several injuries at Florida, Miller's draft profile has its share of concerns despite how productive and inspiring he was as the leader of the Gators' defense over the years. His film — including 240 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 23.5 tackles for loss, one interception, eight passes defended and two forced fumbles in 49 games — is going to do the talking on draft day.
Detroit is the type of team to buy good film and cast aside size requirements. Three of the seven linebackers on its roster are similarly undersized (5-foot-11 to 6-foot-1, 225 to 233 pounds) but have carved out roles, and two of them even played at Florida previously: Houston, mentioned above, and Alex Anzalone.
The Lions were one of Florida's most frequent observers in 2022, attending the Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt games. Miller accumulated 32 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and five quarterback pressures in those matchups while giving up nine receptions for 120 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets in coverage (per PFF).
WR Justin Shorter: Buffalo Bills, sixth round, No. 205 overall
Like Richardson, Dexter and Burney, Shorter entered the draft with underwhelming production on his résumé but enough athletic upside to make pro franchises wonder if there remains untapped potential in his game.
The 6-foot-4, 229-pound Shorter only caught 110 passes for 1,552 yards and eight touchdowns in 41 appearances between Florida and Penn State. He went out with a bang by averaging 19.9 yards per catch in 2022, however, and his above-average testing results for a big-bodied receiver have caught the eyes of NFL teams.
Buffalo reportedly hosted Shorter for a top-30 visit in April and could benefit from his services, leading to this projection.
Shorter would offer All-Pro quarterback Josh Allen a big-bodied deep threat to pair with receivers Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, after averaging a career-high 19.9 yards per reception during his 2022 season. Buffalo is widely expected to provide Allen with additional weapons over the weekend, and Shorter would fit in nicely.
The Bills witnessed Shorter in action against Utah and Kentucky in 2022. He posted four receptions for 51 yards in those games combined.
DL Brenton Cox Jr.: New England Patriots, sixth round, No. 210 overall
Despite two team dismissals in his five-year college career, Cox's five-star reputation as a high school prospect and flashes of dominance during four seasons with the Gators give him a chance to sneak into the draft.
In three seasons and 29 games with UF, Cox compiled 100 tackles, 12.5 sacks and 28.5 tackles for loss. He also produced average-to-above-average athletic testing numbers at the NFL Combine and Florida's Pro Day. If his removals from separate programs didn't raise a red flag, Cox would likely be a mid-round prospect.
New England only attended one Florida game in 2022, when the Gators faced Texas A&M. Cox had been dismissed from the team six days earlier.
The Patriots' coaching staff — including head coach Bill Belichick — worked with Cox at the East-West Shrine Bowl in February, however.
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