Illinois Football 2023 final Mock Draft

Quan Martin

One of the biggest risers in the 2023 NFL Draft has to be Quan Martin. He came into the draft process as a potential 6th or 7th round pick, but now he is someone who could go pretty high.

Martin is coming into the draft with a grade of 6.22 by the NFL. He is the second-highest Illinois player grade-wise.

Entering the NFL, Martin is looked at as a versatile player. He can play safety, cornerback, or in the nickel defense. I think that is what makes him so valuable in the NFL Draft. You are getting a player who can do various things on the defensive side of the ball.

Last season, Martin finished the year at Illinois with 64 tackles, 11 pass deflections, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, and one sack. He is truly a Swiss Army Knife of defensive backs.

Quan Martin’s landing spot in the 2023 NFL Draft

Most mock drafts have Martin going either in the late second round or somewhere in the third round. He is going to be a second-day selection, and that is a near-lock.

With Martin being so talented in the secondary, I think you have to look at teams with a big need for pass coverage. I would think a team who struggled in pass defense is going to look at defensive back help in the early rounds.

There are a handful of teams I could see taking Martin in the late second round. I would include the Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, and Buffalo Bills on this list. But there is one team that keeps coming to mind.

Late in the second round, the Jacksonville Jaguars have a selection. They have a lot of good pieces on the offensive side of the ball, and now it is time for them to start thinking about the defense. Jacksonville finished fifth-worst in pass defense in 2022. The owner of the Jaguars, Shad Khan, also graduate from Illinois.

Pick #56 (2nd Round) – Jacksonville Jaguars