Bleacher Nation NFL 2023 Mock Draft: Commanders Add a Cornerback
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:
- Every pick in the Mock Draft gets its own post. We will do one or two picks per day.
- We will link back to previous posts with a running draft recap.
- This feature will not include trades and will cover the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
The Commanders are on the clock in the Bleacher Nation NFL Mock Draft …
The Pick Is In
CB Deonte Banks — Maryland
The Fit
The Commanders can use a cornerback in a big way, and the run on corners is on, with Deonte Banks becoming the third cornerback taken in the last eight picks. Banks is a local product, a four-star recruit out of Edgewood, Maryland (about an hour north of FedEx Field).
Scouting Report
The local kid was a four year contributor for the Terrapins and finished his career with 83 tackles, two picks, and 11 passes defensed in 30 games.
Banks has a strong, muscular build with speed. He uses his arm length (77 1/8) to slow receivers at the line of scrimmage and uses his coordinated footwork to maintain his stride with receivers downfield. Banks is physical with receivers downfield, sheds blocks to get into the play and displays solid open-field tackling.
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler says that: “Overall, Banks needs to add more discipline to his play style, but when he trusts his technique, he has the size, athleticism, and physicality of an NFL starter. He projects best as an outside, press-man cornerback with upside in zone looks.”
Final Thoughts: The fit is there, and the Commanders can snag a local kid who most believes shouldn’t make it out of the top 20 in this draft class, which is saying something for a class with some really good cornerbacks.
Bleacher Nation’s 2023 NFL Mock Draft
- Carolina Panthers (via CHI) — QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
- Houston Texans — QB Bryce Young, Alabama
- Arizona Cardinals — EDGE Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
- Indianapolis Colts — QB Anthony Richardson, Florida
- Seattle Seahawks (via DEN) — DT Jalen Carter, Georgia
- Detroit Lions (via LAR) — EDGE Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech
- Las Vegas Raiders — QB Will Levis, Kentucky
- Atlanta Falcons — EDGE Myles Murphy, Clemson
- Chicago Bears (via CAR) — CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
- Philadelphia Eagles (via NO) — DT Calijah Kancey, Pitt
- Tennessee Titans — T Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State
- Houston Texans (via CLE) — WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
- New York Jets — T Broderick Jones, Georgia
- New England Patriots — CB Christian Gonzalez, Oregon
- Green Bay Packers — TE Dalton Kincaid, Utah
- Washington Commanders — CB Deonte Banks, Maryland
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Detroit Lions
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Seattle Seahawks
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Baltimore Ravens
- Minnesota Vikings
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- New York Giants
- Dallas Cowboys
- Buffalo Bills
- Cincinnati Bengals
- New Orleans Saints (via SF)
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Kansas City Chiefs
