NFL Mock Draft 2023
1 Carolina Panthers
Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
Carolina didn’t trade up to make a mistake here. Young has all the tools to be a franchise quarterback and is the clear selection to make here.
2 Houston Texans
Will Anderson Jr., Edge, Alabama
Lovie Smith may have cost the Texans Bryce Young, but Anderson Jr. is a solid consolation prize. C.J. Stroud or Will Levis could have been the pick here, but the Texans have one more first-round pick (12) to address that.
3 Arizona Cardinals (potential trade down pick)
Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
The NFL Draft officially starts with this pick. The ball is in the Cardinals’ court to trade down for a team looking to make a jump for a quarterback. In the event they stay here, they get a swing tackle to protect Kyler Murray.
4 Indianapolis Colts
Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
If nobody jumps the Colts, this pick seems like a lock. Levis has been linked to the Colts throughout the pre-draft process. While I’m not high on Levis, the Colts need a quarterback, and Levis fits the bill for what they’re looking for.
5 Seattle Seahawks
Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
Carter offers a high upside but is also risky with his work ethic and legal issues. Multiple teams will try and trade up to grab him. The Seahawks need defensive line help, and Carter will help with that. But, don’t be shocked if Anthony Richardson is also in play here.
6 Detroit Lions
Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
The Lions are looking to take the next step to being contenders in the NFC North and the NFC itself. Grabbing a playmaker in Witherspoon on the outside can help accomplish that, especially with the talent at wide receiver in their division.
7 Oakland Raiders
Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
The Raiders seem committed to Jimmy Garoppolo, so they’ll pass on a quarterback in favor of Gonzalez.
8 Atlanta Falcons
Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
The Falcons spent a lot of money to fix up their defense, so Arthur Smith gets his version of Derrick Henry to carry the run game and help Desmond Ridder.
9 Chicago Bears
Tyree Wilson, DE, Texas Tech
The Bears are committed to Justin Fields and need a pass rusher to lead their defense. Wilson is a freak who could easily go top 5 in this draft. The value is too hard to pass up here for the Bears.
10 Philadelphia Eagles
Nolan Smith, DE, Georgia
With all their free-agent losses on defense, the Eagles will be looking for help. They’ll be involved in trade talks but if they can’t move up to get Jalen Carter Smith is a fine consolation prize.
11 Titans
C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
The Titans are rumored to be trading up for a quarterback. Stroud may still fall to them if they cannot move up. With Ryan Tannehill on an expiring deal getting their franchise quarterback is a priority.
12 Texans,
Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
The Texans are rewarded for staying patient. Richardson is the rawest quarterback in this draft class but offers the most upside. Because the Texans are in a rebuild with a new coaching staff, they can wait for Richardson to develop behind a veteran.
13 Packers
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
If Njigba weren’t injured last season, we’d be talking about a potential top-five selection. In the post Aaron Rodgers era the Packers finally draft a wideout in round one for Jordan Love.
14 Patriots
Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
The AFC East is loaded at the wideout position. The Patriots need to load up at corner and Banks will fit nicely in a Bill Belichick defense.
15 Jets
Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
A simple pick here the Jets will need some offensive line depth to protect their new franchise quarterback.
16 Commanders
(potential trade-down pick)
Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
The Commanders need a playmaker in the secondary and Forbes fits the bill as a ballhawk corner. He will pair nicely with a talented defensive group but don’t be shocked if this pick is traded away.
17 Steelers
Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
The Steelers need offensive line help badly and have done their homework at the tackle position this year.
18 Lions
Lukas Van Ness, DE, Iowa
It never hurts to take another pass rusher and the Lions keep beefing up their defensive line with this pick.
19 Bucs
Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern
They won’t draft a quarterback but the offensive line was a disaster last season and is a big need.
20 Seahawks
Miles Murphy, DE, Clemson
The Seahawks keep beefing up their dline with their second pick in the first round.
21 Chargers
Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Mayer is a freak athlete and the Chargers need more weapons for Justin Herbert. The pick only makes sense here.
22 Ravens
Jordan Addison, WR, USC
Lamar Jackson is back in Baltimore and they need more weapons for him. Addison is a solid wideout to pair in a suddenly surging offense.
23 Vikings
Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
The Vikings are overhauling their defense and they need speed and playmaking at the corner position. Porter Jr. could be a top 15 pick and is a good value here for an awful defense.
24 Jags
O’ Cyrus Torrence, G, Florida
I could see the Jags taking secondary help here as well but protecting Trevor Lawrence is priority one.
25 Giants
Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
The Giants really need wideouts to help out Daniel Jones. Flowers is an intriguing prospect and is too hard to pass up here.
26 Cowboys
Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
The Cowboys need to replace Dalton Schultz and Kincaid despite his injury issues is a talented prospect that can make an impact right away.
27 Bills
Brian Branch, S, Alabama
Branch’s hybrid ability can be an asset to the Bills in need of some depth in the backend of their defense.
28 Bengals
Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh
Kancey can be a Geno Atkins-type player for a Bengals defense that lost some pieces in the offseason.
29 Saints
Will McDonald, DE, Iowa State
There is nothing sexy about this pick but it fits a need for the Saints.
30 Eagles
Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama,
Gibbs replaces Miles Sanders and can be the bell-cow alongside Jalen Hurts.
31 Chiefs
Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
With Orlando Brown Jr. gone, Harrison will be a good addition to the offensive line.
