Every year, NFL fan sites around the country get in a tizzy about “30 visits.” It’s easy content to create from, and some teams tend to draft relatively religiously off the cast of characters they’ve brought into the facility for some one-on-one time.
Yet, which visits throughout the cycle so far have been the most eyebrow-raising, and which make so much sense that we can practically write the player’s name in Sharpie beside the team they visited, should they still be available by the time said team chooses?
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Most Interesting Top-30 Visits for All 32 Teams
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens: Quinten Johnston, WR, TCU
The Ravens also met with Anthony Richardson. However, unless Lamar Jackson signs the tender and is traded before or on the day of the draft, Richardson is not a feasible target. However, Quinten Johnston would be. The big-bodied wide receiver would be a nice downfield and manufactured touches target for Jackson and the Ravens offense as he develops as a route runner.
Cincinnati Bengals: Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State
The Cincinnati Bengals have an unknown future at right tackle. They’ve already replaced Jonah Williams on the left side with the much bigger, much more physical Orlando Brown. Could they be trying to double up on power with Dawand Jones on the right side?
Cleveland Browns: Gervon Dexter, DT, Florida
The Browns were desperate for defensive interior help a season ago. While Gervon Dexter would certainly help from a talent and upside perspective, the Browns don’t pick until the third round, which should be well after Dexter is already off the board.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
Name me a better duo than the Pittsburgh Steelers and big, athletic cornerbacks with a whole lot of technical question marks. Don’t worry, I’ll wait…
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In all seriousness, this would be a very Steelers pick to make. As good as they’ve been over the years developing WRs, they’ve been equally bad at developing CBs. Kelee Ringo would need a lot of development before becoming a consistent player.
AFC South
Houston Texans: Julius Brents, CB, Kansas State
Although DeMeco Ryans’ defense is pretty multiple from a coverage perspective, he loves his Cover 3 variants. With Julius Brents‘ athleticism and length, he’d be an ideal fit for Houston’s defensive scheme and an outstanding complement to Derek Stingley on the opposite side.
Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Richardson and Will Levis
Where else could we go with this one? If both Richardson and Will Levis remain on the board together, who will Indianapolis draft?
Jacksonville Jaguars: Will McDonald IV, EDGE, Iowa State
The one thing Jacksonville needed over anything else defensively by the end of the year was someone to consistently finish at the QB. They racked up pressures but struggled to finish. Given the opportunity to pin his ears back, Will McDonald IV could provide just that.
Tennessee Titans: Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss
A big-bodied, explosive receiver from Ole Miss? Where have we seen this story before? Jonathan Mingo is on many a team’s radar, but the Titans are an outstanding fit for Mingo, considering the offense he’s coming from and the offense he’ll be integrated into.
AFC East
Buffalo Bills: Gervon Dexter, DT, Florida
The Buffalo Bills have a decision to make regarding Ed Oliver after 2023, and that decision likely ends with him walking in free agency. Dexter is a similarly high-ceiling interior presence that needs to be molded into a player, but in a larger package.
Miami Dolphins: Kendre Miller, RB, TCU
Kendre Miller’s visit is interesting simply because he doesn’t fit the mold of the Kyle Shanahan/Mike McDaniel mold. He’s a bit larger and lacks the sort of runway speed we’re used to seeing in their wide zone-based rushing attack.
New England Patriots: All the wide receivers
Zay Flowers, Jordan Addison, Jonathan Mingo, and many other pass catchers have visited New England for official visits. It’s clear that New England has needed some juice on the outside for a few years now, but they picked an interesting year to potentially address that.
New York Jets: Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
Paris Johnson Jr. could be off the board by the time the 13th overall pick rolls around, but the Jets would luck into a franchise-level left tackle if he is not. However, Johnson is doubly interesting because the season before, he played right guard, making position flexibility a real option with him.
AFC West
Denver Broncos: DeMarvion Overshown, LB, Texas
The Broncos could use some athleticism at linebacker, and DeMarvion Overshown brings that as an undersized linebacker with experience playing safety prior to sliding into the second level.
Kansas City Chiefs: Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
If there is a more dangerous fit for Johnston to immediately contribute, I’m not sure where it’d be. Kadarius Toney is already one manufactured touch option, and Johnston would double the opportunity to give Mahomes a few more gimme throws per game, given his lateral agility at his size.
Los Angeles Chargers: Adetomiwa Adebawore, DL, Northwestern
Speaking of size and lateral agility, Adetomiwa Adebawore is exactly that package. At just under 6-foot-2 and weighing over 280 pounds (with nearly 34-inch arms), Adebawore has as much potential as anybody in this draft.
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In a league moving toward more TITE fronts, having a squatty 4i that can slide inside or outside on any given down is a luxury.
Oakland Raiders: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
The Raiders signed Jimmy Garoppolo, but he’s not the future. Anthony Richardson would be the Raiders shooting for the stars, but developing him correctly would make the franchise relevant for the first time since occupying Las Vegas.
NFC North
Chicago Bears: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
Could the Bears shock us all and go with Jaxon Smith-Njigba with the ninth pick in the 2023 NFL Draft? With Darnell Mooney, Chase Claypool, DJ Moore, and Velus Jones Jr. already rostered, this meeting was peculiar to see.
Detroit Lions: Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
Before trading Jeff Okudah, it made all the sense in the world that Detroit would draft Jalen Carter with the sixth pick. They still could, but now Christian Gonzalez will likely be staring them in the face, and their more significant need is at cornerback.
Green Bay Packers: Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
Packers fans seem to love the idea of Darnell Washington. And while he’s personally the TE I’d gamble on most, taking him with the 15th pick in the NFL Draft seems like a luxury pick for a team that doesn’t have the luxury to draft a developmental pass catcher.
Minnesota Vikings: Trey Palmer, WR, Nebraska
Trey Palmer doesn’t necessarily give the Vikings a complement to Justin Jefferson as a No. 2 receiver, but his outright speed paired with T.J. Hockenson’s threat underneath could help open up the intermediate middle of the field for Jefferson.
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
The Falcons have been steadfast in their support for Desmond Ridder. But how exactly does one pass up on the potential of Richardson if he makes it to the eighth pick in the NFL Draft?
Carolina Panthers: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
This seems like more of a reconnaissance mission than anything else. The Panthers have the top pick in the draft, and it won’t be used on a receiver. But it could be used on the receiver’s college QB.
New Orleans Saints: Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh
Even as teams move more toward odd fronts and the traditional gap-penetrating 3-technique parishes, the New Orleans Saints have avoided shifting in that direction. Calijah Kancey likely won’t be a full-time player immediately, but he should give the Saints DL immediate pass-rushing juice.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee
It’s impossible to truly know where Hendon Hooker will be drafted. Analysts everywhere are starting to share their bold opinions regarding Hooker being the third-best QB in the draft. With Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask in the building, there’s no reason why Tampa Bay wouldn’t consider the option at 19.
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys: Steve Avila, G, TCU
When there is as much smoke around a single prospect as there has been for TCU guard Steve Avila, the Cowboys usually end up with said player. With a need at guard but the versatility to move around multiple pieces because of positional flexibility, Avila fits right into the Cowboys’ front five.
New York Giants: Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee
It made a heap of sense for the Buccaneers, but the inverse is true for a visit to the Giants. They’ve just locked up Daniel Jones for the foreseeable future. Unless they believe the league values Hooker so little that he’d last deep into Day 2, this is an eyebrow-raising visit.
Philadelphia Eagles: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
Four years ago, Howie Roseman drafted Miles Sanders with the 53rd overall pick, and then let him walk this season in free agency. Could we see Roseman pull the trigger if Bijan Robinson is available with the 30th pick and follow a similar structure moving forward?
Wahsington Commanders: Offensive Linemen
It doesn’t matter if they’re a guard or tackle; the Commanders have brought them in for a visit. Dawand Jones, Darnell Wright, Antonio Mafi, O’Cyrus Torrence, and Steve Avila have all made trips to Washington. It’s safe to say the organization wants to build up the offensive trenches.
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals: Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
Unless Arizona trades back and misses out on the Will Anderson Jr. and Tyree Wilson’s of the world, this is an interesting visit. Johnson’s experience at guard fits an initial need for the team, but both offensive tackles are inching closer to retirement age.
Los Angeles Rams: Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh
The 36th pick would probably be used on the offensive line in a perfect world, but with Aaron Donald’s retirement forever looming over the organization’s shoulder, why not potentially add a similarly explosive interior rusher from the University of Pittsburgh?
San Francisco 49ers: YaYa Diaby, EDGE, Louisville
The 49ers tend to like long and athletic edge rushers, and that is certainly what YaYa Diaby brings to the table.
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He’s an older prospect that still needs to develop, which is a bit of a red flag. However, he fits the 49ers’ mold perfectly.
Seattle Seahawks: Adetomiwa Adebawore, DL, Northwestern
The Seahawks already added Dre’Mont Jones. What if they also drafted the even shorter, more explosive, but less technical version of him? Adebawore can play inside-out, given his asinine athleticism and natural power. He has the potential to be truly special if he develops his hands and pass-rush plan.