Mel Kiper’s first 2023 mock draft includes two Notre Dame players
The father of the mock draft has unveiled his initial projection for this year’s first round. Two Notre Dame players are in it.
ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. released his first 2023 mock draft Wednesday, and it featured Irish tight end Michael Mayer and defensive end Isaiah Foskey. Mayer, as is the case in many mock drafts, is the first player at his position taken. Kiper slotted him as the No. 15 overall pick to the Green Bay Packers.
“Robert Tonyan and Marcedes Lewis are free agents, and this is a major hole on the roster,” Kiper wrote. “The tight end class is really good this year, with Mayer atop my board. He is a complete player who put up 809 yards and 67 catches with nine touchdowns in 2022. He can stretch the middle of the field and run past linebackers on seam routes. The only downside is that he doesn’t have super-long arms, but he’s ahead of the game as a pass-catcher.”
If picked No. 15, Mayer would be just the third tight end drafted in the top 15 since 2015. Kyle Pitts (No. 4, 2021) and TJ Hockenson (No. 8, 2019) are the others. Four have been picked in the top 20 in that span. Nine tight ends were first-round picks between 2013 and 2022. If Mayer is the top pick at the position this year, he would be the third Notre Dame tight end to claim that status since 2013, joining Tyler Eifert (2013) and Cole Kmet (2020).
Mayer set program tight end records for catches (180), yards (2,099) and touchdowns (18) in his three seasons with the Irish, and did it in 36 games. Kiper ranks him as the No. 20 overall player on his big board, which updated Wednesday.
Foskey, meanwhile, is the No. 29 pick to the Denver Broncos in Kiper’s mock. He is the No. 5 defensive end in Kiper’s position rankings, but did not make the overall top 25.
“Denver traded away prime picks to get quarterback Russell Wilson last offseason, and it got back this one after dealing Bradley Chubb to the Dolphins before the deadline at midseason,” Kiper wrote. “Suddenly, when you look at this depth chart, there’s no Chubb or Von Miller exploding off the edge, even though defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero did a great job with what he had this season.
“Because it’s a little too late in Round 1 to find a surefire offensive line starter, I like what Foskey would bring to the Broncos. He had 22 sacks and five forced fumbles over the past two seasons, and at 265 pounds, he could play in a 3-4 or 4-3 scheme at the next level.”
Foskey will play in the Senior Bowl Feb. 4. Practices for it begin Monday in Mobile, Ala.
