OFFICIAL 2023 NFL MOCK DRAFT
The NFL Draft has been around ever since 1936. It has evolved from a fly by night operation held in a hotel ballroom, to a three night television extravaganza. With so much time to fill in between the Super Bowl and the draft, we can’t help but obsess over who our favorite teams will select. This is my attempt at predicting how the first round of the draft will play out.
*There will only be 31 picks due to the Miami Dolphins being stripped of their first round pick.
1. CAROLINA PANTHERS
BRYCE YOUNG, QB | ALABAMA
While the Panthers have expressed interest in C.J. Stroud, and there has been a lot of speculation about Anthony Richardson's upside sky rocketing his stock, Young is the selection. Bryce Young is an accomplished, battle-hardened starter who blew teams away with his high football IQ. The Heisman winner is without a doubt the best quarterback in this class.
2. HOUSTON TEXANS
C.J. STROUD, QB | OHIO STATE
Houston needs a quarterback, the Davis Mills experiment has been messy to say the very least. With Young off the board, Stroud is the next best signal caller available.
3. ARIZONA CARDINALS
WILL ANDERSON JR., EDGE | ALABAMA
In the wake of J.J. Watt's retirement Arizona needs help on the edge. While it is probable that this pick gets traded to a team looking to move up for a quarterback, I believe the Cardinals stay put and land arguably the best overall player in this draft class.
4. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
ANTHONY RICHARDSON, QB | FLORIDA
The Colts said they wouldn't have to trade up to get the quarterback that they wanted, and that holds up here. Richardson's draft stock was predictably booming after AR15 broke every QB record with his unreal athleticism. As time went on it became more and more obvious that teams would happily be willing to look past his blatant flaws. Richardson has a pretty deep ball but his touch and accuracy on short and intermediate throws leaves a lot to be desired. Nevertheless it can't be denied that he has the highest ceiling of any QB in this draft class, if he receives the proper coaching.
5. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
TYREE WILSON, EDGE | TEXAS TECH
With Geno Smith locked up for the next few years it seems Seattle will not be in the market for a quarterback. This allows them to pursue some much needed help in the form of an edge rusher. Wilson is a big-bodied, long-armed defender that gives offenses fits.
6. TENNESSEE TITANS (PROJECTED TRADE WITH DETROIT)
WILL LEVIS, QB | KENTUCKY
Will Levis is an interesting case. Personally I think he is overrated. There is no denying that Levis has "a cannon", and there is no denying that he makes bad decisions and turns the ball over a lot. But with Jared Goff showcasing that he can play well outside of Sean McVey's system, and buying himself some time in Detroit, the Lions may be willing to trade this pick. Las Vegas has pitched their wagon to Jimmy G, and Atlanta may or may not still be in the market for Lamar Jackson as of me writing this. Washington may want to trade up for a QB given that all they have is Sam Howell, but Tennessee might make a better offer if they are eager enough to move on from hot-and-cold streaky starter Ryan Tannehill. Certainly they aren't going to hand the reigns to Malik Willis.
7. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
PARIS JOHNSON JR., OT | OHIO STATE
You never know what the Raiders are going to do on Draft Day. They are the biggest wildcard of all, but with Jimmy G set to replace Derek Carr, their next step should be finding him some protection.
8. ATLANTA FALCONS
JALEN CARTER, DT | GEORGIA
The Falcons need a lot of help, especially on defense. They have made some good free agent signings, including the addition of defensive end Calais Campbell. Teaming Campbell up with the monstruous Carter would make for a formidable defensive line. Some considered Carter to be possibly the best prospect in the draft, but character concerns…among other issues, have hurt his stock.
9. CHICAGO BEARS
PETER SKORONSKI, OT | NORTHWESTERN
The Bears need to protect Justin Fields, this exceeds all other needs. They have passed up the chance to take a QB with the number one pick by trading it to Carolina, showing that they are fully committed to Fields.
10. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
CHRISTIAN GONZALEZ, DB | OREGON
It's hard to imagine Christian Gonzalez falling to number 10 but the Eagles will thank their lucky stars. After their second half performance against Mahomes in the Super Bowl they will be looking to upgrade the secondary.
11. DETROIT LIONS (PROJECTED TRADE WITH TENNESSEE)
DEVON WITHERSPOON, DB | ILLINOIS
The Lions hit a homerun when they took Hutchinson in 2022. While it is tempting to take another edge rusher to pair up with Hutch, it makes more sense to go with a DB. Witherspoon is the next best option with Gonzalez going to Philly.
12. HOUSTON TEXANS
LUKAS VAN NESS, EDGE | IOWA
While it would make sense to take a receiver to compliment your new franchise QB (especially given the depleted state of Houston's receiving corps), new head coach DeMeco Ryans may look to improve the defense. It certainly isn't anywhere near the level of the group he had to work with in San Francisco. But he may find his off brand Nick Bosa substitute in the form of Van Ness.
13. NEW YORK JETS
JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA, WR | OHIO STATE
I am making this prediction operating under the assumption that a trade for Aaron Rodgers never materializes. If that is indeed the case come draft time, and New York still has their first round pick, they might as well help out the quarterback they do have. Sure they probably need an offensive lineman more than a receiver, but this receiver has more upside than the O-Line that remain on the board. Pairing the Buckeye standout with fellow Ohio State alum Garrett Wilson seems borderline unfair.
14. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
JOEY PORTER JR., DB | PENN STATE
In the wake of Devin McCourty's retirement, the Patriots are going to need to find a suitable replacement. Porter Jr has lineage, being the son of a 4-time Pro Bowler. He is a thinking man’s corner with athleticism and plays with physicality.
15. GREEN BAY PACKERS
QUENTIN JOHNSTON, WR | TCU
While it is highly probable that Green Bay selects a defensive player, lets assume they are beginning to learn from past mistakes. Whether they roll into next season with Aaron Rodgers or Jordan Love, they should be focused on helping their quarterback as much as possible.
16. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
BRODERICK JONES, OT | GEORGIA
If none of the top 4 quarterbacks fall to number 16, and Washington fails to trade up for one, then they will be stuck with Sam Howell or Jacoby Brissett. Either way, they will need help on the O-Line.
17. PITTSBURGH STEELERS
CALIJAH KANCEY, DT | PITTSBURGH
Kancey is the Anthony Richardson of defensive linemen. He is an athletic marvel that has drawn comparisons to a fellow Pitt alum Aaron Donald. He is a force as a pass rusher, but isn’t necessarily built to stop the run. He is fast and explosive, but not very big, he won’t plug up the middle playing on the line.
18. DETROIT LIONS
MYLES MURPHY, EDGE | CLEMSON
Taking Witherspoon early pays off as Detroit is still able to pair Hutch with a complementary game wrecker on the edge in the form of Clemson's Myles Murphy. Murphy at one point was considered a top 10 and even top 5 prospect.
19. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
NOLAN SMITH, EDGE | GEORGIA
Tampa has many holes to address, but how could they pass up Nolan Smith if he is still there? They seem content to move forward with Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask, and their receiving corps looks good, but the O-Line does not. So it comes down to whether they think the D-Line or O-Line is more important at this stage.
20. BUFFALO BILLS (PROJECTED TRADE WITH SEATTLE)
BIJAN ROBINSON, RB | TEXAS
There has been speculation that Bijan Robinson is such a transcending talent at running back that he could buck the trends and traditional draft logic by going in the top 10. I don't see it happening, RB stock is near an all-time low. Be that as it may, Buffalo may not take the chance of him sliding all the way to #27, prompting them to trade up with Seattle, who already got their premier prospect at #5. With the holy trinity of Josh Allen, Bijan Robinson, and Stefon Diggs, the Bills will be primed to make another compelling Super Bowl run, and maybe even finish the job. I see this happening if for no other reason then this; the Bills will get nowhere if Josh Allen continues to be their leading rusher in 50% of their games, it makes for a one dimensional offense.
21. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
JORDAN ADDISON, WR | USC
I don't care what Emmanuel Acho and the sadists say, the Chargers playoff loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars was NOT Justin Herbert's fault. Come at me. But how do they make sure something like that doesn't happen again? Well this is a team that was plagued with injuries last season, ideally they can stay healthy in the upcoming season. They brought in Kellen Moore as their new OC, I'm a fan of that move, now they just need to continue to put weapons around Herbert.
22. BALTIMORE RAVENS
ZAY FLOWERS, WR | BOSTON COLLEGE
Personally I don't think Zay Flowers is the best receiver available, but I'm not the one drafting him. Flowers is fast and has good footwork, but his size isn't ideal and his production is good not great. Baltimore will be looking for a receiver and will likely pull the trigger on Flowers who clocked in a 4.42 forty-yard dash at the combine.
23. MINNESOTA VIKINGS
BRYAN BRESEE, DL | CLEMSON
Bresee has been free falling in mock drafts as the big day draws closer and closer. He reminds me slightly of Travon Walker, in the sense that he is big and athletic but not fundamentally sound. Bresee would likely benefit from an extra year of college to marinade, but here we are. He has upside no doubt, but it is a matter of how long it will take to get him to a point where he can routinely produce against NFL linemen. He has endured a lot of adversity within his short college career, he has suffered an ACL tear, kidney infection, and the loss of his fifteen year-old sister Ella.
24. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
DEONTE BANKS, DB | MARYLAND
Jacksonville will likely go DB here, and given Trent Baalke's affinity for athleticism I'd bank on Deonte here. Banks has boom-or-bust written all over him, he has blazing speed (clocking in a 4.35 forty-yard dash) but blatant mental blocks. I think with the right support system Banks has a bright future, and the Jaguars seem to have just such a system in place.
25. NEW YORK GIANTS
O’CYRUS TORRENCE, OL | FLORIDA
Hopefully this goes better than the last time the Giants selected a Florida Gator in the first round (i.e. when they drafted and then criminally underutilized the athletic anomaly that is Kadarious Toney). The Giants just made Daniel Jones one of the highest paid quarterbacks in the NFL, now it is time to protect their investment.
26. DALLAS COWBOYS
MICHAEL MAYER, TE | NOTRE DAME
The Cowboys will need a tight end to replace Dalton Schultz. Introducing Michael Mayer, an excellent pass catcher, will standout as a Y receiver, and a determined blocker.
27. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (PROJECTED TRADE WITH BUFFALO)
DALTON KINCAID, TE | UTAH
Having just missed out on Mayer, I see Seattle taking the more athletic Dalton Kincaid.
28. CINCINNATI BENGALS
CAM SMITH, DB | SOUTH CAROLINA
The recent run of tight ends will leave the Bengals with no choice but to shift their attention to the secondary. I'm not entirely sold on Cam Smith as a day one corner, but the Bengals may just pull the trigger.
29. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
DARNELL WASHINGTON. TE | GEORGIA
While the Bengals may not want to reach for the next best option at tight end, I can see the Saints doing just that. They already have a solid cast of receivers, adding the big bodied Darnell Washington into the mix will do wonders for Jameis Winston as he desperately tries to prove himself as a viable option as a long-term starting quarterback.
30. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
BRIAN BRANCH, S | ALABAMA
Back to the secondary with this pick, Philly takes stud safety Brian Branch. I have been very high on Branch all season. He isn't the most athletic player, but he draws comparisons to Minkah Fitzpatrick, and comes from Nick Saban's NFL factory.
31. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
JALIN HYATT, WR | TENNESSEE
What do you get the man that has everything? Honestly this is a luxury pick for the defending champs. I was tempted to put a pass rusher here, but with the departure of Juju Smith-Schuster, KC will likely look to get Mahomes a new toy. Introducing one of my favorite prospects in this draft class; speed demon Jalin Hyatt. Let's not forget that he hung 200+ yards and 5 touchdowns on Alabama this year.
