Bleacher Nation NFL 2023 Mock Draft: Saints Land an Interior D-Lineman

The Bleacher Nation NFL 2023 Mock Draft will be a running mock draft that spans between now and round one of the NFL Draft. Each of the 31 picks (Miami forfeited their first-round pick due to tampering) will get a dedicated post. Here’s how it’ll work:

The Saints are on the clock in the Bleacher Nation NFL Mock Draft …

The Pick Is In

DT Mazi Smith — Michigan

The Fit

Almost every mock draft has the New Orleans Saints taking a defensive lineman with the 29th pick in the NFL Draft on Thursday. So, we’re going with the wide-bodied Mazi Smith for New Orleans. Smith boosts the Saints on the interior defensive line and the run defense.

Scouting Report

Mazi Smith is a wide-bodied interior defensive lineman with an anchor for a lower half who can move across the defensive line but spent most of his time at Michigan at nose tackle.

The Ringer’s Danny Kelly calls Smith a run-stopping plug up the middle with powerful hands that can violently knock offensive lineman around when he has leverage:

“He plays with active, attacking hands and brings a lot of power in his punch; when he lands a jab, he can knock an offensive lineman back off his spot. [Smith] loves to use a long-arm stab move to get opponents onto their heels. He locks out his arm and runs his feet to lift them up and push them back into the pocket. He’s always swiping or clubbing away at linemen to try to keep himself clean and uses good swim and push-pull moves that leave both overaggressive guards and centers lunging.”

Here’s a look at what the Saints would be getting:

Final Thoughts: The Saints need some help up front, and with four top- edge rushers already off the board, Mazi Smith is a solid pick for Mickey Loomis and the Saints with the 29th pick.

Bleacher Nation’s 2023 NFL Mock Draft

1. Carolina Panthers (via CHI) — QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
2. Houston Texans — QB Bryce Young, Alabama
3. Arizona Cardinals — EDGE Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
4. Indianapolis Colts — QB Anthony Richardson, Florida
5. Seattle Seahawks (via DEN) — DT Jalen Carter, Georgia
6. Detroit Lions (via LAR) — EDGE Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech
7. Las Vegas Raiders — QB Will Levis, Kentucky
8. Atlanta Falcons — EDGE Myles Murphy, Clemson
9. Chicago Bears (via CAR) — CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
10. Philadelphia Eagles (via NO) — DT Calijah Kancey, Pitt
11. Tennessee Titans — T Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State
12. Houston Texans (via CLE) — WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
13. New York Jets — T Broderick Jones, Georgia
14. New England Patriots — CB Christian Gonzalez, Oregon
15. Green Bay Packers — TE Dalton Kincaid, Utah
16. Washington Commanders — CB Deonte Banks, Maryland
17. Pittsburgh Steelers — CB Joey Porter Jr., Penn State
18. Detroit Lions — CB Kelee Ringo, Georgia
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — S Brian Branch, Alabama
20. Seattle Seahawks — EDGE Lukas Van Ness, Iowa
21. Los Angeles Chargers — WR Jordan Addison, USC
22. Baltimore Ravens — WR Zay Flowers, Boston College
23. Minnesota Vikings — QB Hendon Hooker, Tennessee
24. Jacksonville Jaguars — T/G Peter Skoronski, Northwestern
25. New York Giants — WR Quentin Johnston, TCU
26. Dallas Cowboys — RB Bijan Robinson, Texas
27. Buffalo Bills — WR Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee
28. Cincinnati Bengals — TE Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
29. New Orleans Saints (via SF) — DT Mazi Smith, Michigan
30. Philadelphia Eagles
31. Kansas City Chiefs