2023 NFL Mock Draft

April 27, 2023 Jack Jennings 870 Views 2023 NFL Draft, Anthony Richardson, Bijan Robinson, Brian Branch, Broderick Jones, Bryan Bresee, Bryce Young, Calijah Kancey, Carolina Panthers, Christian Gonzalez, CJ Stroud, Darnell Wright, Deonte Banks, Devon Witherspoon, Jalen Carter, Jalin Hyatt, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Joey Porter Jr., Jordan Addison, Lukas Van Ness, Mazi Smith, Michael Mayer, Myles Murphy, Nolan Smith, O’Cyrus Torrence, Paris Johnson Jr, Peter Skoronski, Quentin Johnston, Trenton Simpson, Tyree Wilson, Will Anderson Jr., Will Levis

1 | Carolina Panthers

PICK: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

Small, but mighty. Young is a special player and should be a lock to go first overall.

2 | Houston Texans

PICK: CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State

Stroud has had a rough couple of weeks, but it’s nearly impossible to see him fall out of this spot. His combination of size and talent is just too much to pass up for a team desperate to land their next franchise QB.

3 | Arizona Cardinals

PICK: Will Anderson Jr, EDGE, Alabama

Hard to think of a team that had a worse offseason than the Cardinals. Landing Anderson won’t solve all of their problems, but it would go a long way towards rebuilding for 2024.

4 | Indianapolis Colts

PICK: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky

Like Richardson, Levis is raw but talented, and with Minshew as the current starter, Levis will have the opportunity to come along slowly and adjust to the game at the pro level (if Jim Irsay gives him that time).

5 | Seattle Seahawks

PICK: Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech

The Seahawks have a chance to add another piece to their collection of talented pass rushers, but this one has the potential to become the best of the bunch.

6 | Detroit Lions

PICK: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon

Signs point away from Gonzalez here, but a player with the potential to develop into a true shutdown corner deserves consideration from a team revamping its secondary with players on short contracts.

7 | Las Vegas Raiders

PICK: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida

Jimmy Garoppolo is the likely starter for the Raiders this season, but his previous squad didn’t see him as a long-term solution—even drafting his replacement twice. Still, he can be a stable starter (if healthy) while Richardson develops into a more finely-tuned passer.

8 | Atlanta Falcons

PICK: Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia

Carter may not make it this far given the recent resurgence in interest, but if he does, it’s hard to see the talented Georgia prospect falling past the Falcons. He will have to work to earn a position next to Grady Jarrett on that Falcons defensive line.

9 | Chicago Bears

PICK: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

Getting DJ Moore from the Panthers was huge for the Bears, but their receiving still needs an upgrade. Adding Smith-Njigba could shift this unit from trash to treasure.

10 | Philadelphia Eagles

PICK: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois

Witherspoon plays above his size and would help the Eagles fill the void left by Gardner-Johnson.

11 | Tennessee Titans

PICK: Paris Johnson Jr, OT, Ohio State

After missing out on the top four QBs, the Titans settle for upgrading their offensive line and could try again for a signal caller in the next round where there’s better value. That is, if they don’t trade up to third to take their quarterback of the future.

12 | Houston Texans

PICK: Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU

After taking a QB with their first selection, the Texans should look for a wide receiver to grow and develop alongside him, and there just happens to be an in-state star who could fit that role.

13 | Green Bay Packers

PICK: Jordan Addison, WR, USC

It would be poetic for the Packers to use the first round pick acquired by trading Rodgers for a wide receiver.

14 | New England Patriots

PICK: Joey Porter Jr, CB, Penn State

The Patriots secondary has seen better days, but it could improve rapidly with the addition of a player like Porter Jr.

15 | New York Jets

PICK: Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern

The Jets finally land their big fish and could have the opportunity to add Skoronski in an effort to protect him.

16 | Washington Commanders

PICK: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame

Washington has a new starting quarterback in Sam Howell and adding Mayer would give the young quarterback a reliable target and dependable blocker.

17 | Pittsburgh Steelers

PICK: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia

The best way to get the most out of Harris and Pickett is to improve their blocking and protection. Jones can do both.

18 | Detroit Lions

PICK: Calijah Kancey, DT, PITT

Adding Kancey would give the Lions an undersized, but aggressive interior pass rusher with the potential to be a dominant force in the trenches.

19 | Dallas Cowboys (Projected Trade with TB)

PICK: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas

It doesn’t take long for the Cowboys to find a replacement for Elliott and they don’t even have to look very far.

20 | Seattle Seahawks

PICK: Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland

The Seahawks continue to add to their revamped secondary with a combine standout and Maryland star.

21 | Miami Dolphins

PICK: Forfeit

Cheaters never prosper, if they get caught before they prosper.

22 | Los Angeles Chargers

PICK: Brian Branch, DB, Alabama

Given Nasir Adderley’s sudden retirement, adding the top safety prospect here would be a major boon for the Chargers defense.

23 | Baltimore Ravens

PICK: Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson

The Ravens lost two of their top pass rushers this offseason and should be in the market for a young sack artist like Murphy. Maybe even two.

24 | Minnesota Vikings

PICK: Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia

Smith is a high-level athlete and an intriguing pass rushing prospect that could provide a big boost to a defense undergoing a lot of changes this offseason.

25 | Jacksonville Jaguars

PICK: O’Cyrus Torrence, iOL, Florida

Adding the top interior offensive lineman could be a big boost for the suddenly surging Jaguars. A formidable line goes a long way.

26 | New York Giants

PICK: Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee

Hyatt can give the Giants the deep threat they never really had with Kenny Golladay.

27 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Projected Trade with DAL)

PICK: Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee

The Buccaneers need a lot of things, but a replacement for Donovan Smith is probably the most glaring.

28 | Buffalo Bills

PICK: Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson

The Bills can ease the loss of Edmunds with the addition of a top interior linebacking prospect in Simpson.

29 | Cincinnati Bengals

PICK: Lukas Van Ness, DE, Iowa

The Bengals were able to dominate the Bills with a relentless pass rush, but it could still use a little extra juice off the edge.

30 | New Orleans Saints

PICK: Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson

If Bresee can stay healthy at the NFL level, he can be a star. Especially for a team that lost two of their top tackles this offseason.

31 | Philadelphia Eagles

PICK: Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan

The prospect of pairing Smith up front with another athletic freak in Jordan Davis, is tantalizing to say the least.

32 | Kansas City Chiefs

PICK: Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma

Mahomes is one of the best to ever touch the field. Continuing to add protection for him needs to be the team’s number one priority.