NFL

NFL Mock Draft 2023 – Full First Round Projected Draft

April 27, 2023 6:42 pm

Alabama quarterback Bryce Young

The 2023 NFL Draft is finally here. After zillions of mock drafts, this final mock sets the stage for the first 31 picks in this year’s draft.

2023 NFL Mock Draft – Our Predictions

Contents

This mock has a couple of trades that might be a part of the 2023 NFL draft, but there could be many more transactions before Thursday night’s festivities come to an end. Now, let’s get to the picks!

1. Carolina Panthers: QB Bryce Young, Alabama

Don’t be fooled by all the rumors. The Panthers traded for the top pick to select Bryce Young, and nothing has changed. The former Crimson Tide signal-caller has elite talent and is the best quarterback in this year’s class. Despite his size (5-foot-10, 205 pounds), Young is a proven leader and a big-time playmaker at the game’s most crucial position.

2. Houston Texans: QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State

Will the Texans opt for a defensive playmaker over a potential franchise quarterback? I don’t think so. Stroud possesses the type of upside that can change the fortunes of the franchise and is a significant upgrade over Davis Mills. New head coach DeMeco Ryans will be tempted to choose Will Anderson or Tyree Wilson, but Houston needs a quarterback, and C.J. Stroud is the best one available.

3. Arizona Cardinals: Edge Will Anderson Jr., Alabama

The Cardinals are shopping this pick to quarterback-needy teams and are a good bet to move down in the first round in exchange for an additional second or third-rounder. However, if Arizona stays put at No. 3, selecting Will Anderson will instantly upgrade the Cardinals’ pass rush. The former Alabama standout is a future Pro Bowl player who will have an immediate impact as a rookie.

4. Indianapolis Colts: QB Will Levis, Kentucky

The Colts need a quarterback and will choose Will Levis over Anthony Richardson. The Kentucky product has the size (6-foot-4, 229 pounds) and physicality that will remind Indy fans of Andrew Luck. Levis’s stock has skyrocketed in the final week before the draft, and rookie head coach Shane Steichen gets a young gunslinger to build the offense around.

5. Seattle Seahawks: DI Jalen Carter, Georgia

The Seahawks roll the dice on the biggest question mark of the draft by nabbing the ultra-talented Carter. The talented defensive tackle might be the best player in this year’s draft, a game-changing interior lineman who can create havoc in opposing backfields. But concerns about his work ethic and maturity are genuine after he showed up at Georgia’s pro day overweight.

6. Detroit Lions: Edge Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech

The Lions add Wilson to a young and talented defensive front that includes last year’s No. 2 overall pick Aidan Hutchinson (9.5 sacks), and sixth-round pick James Houston (8 sacks). The Texas native posted 61 tackles (36 solo), 14 tackles for a loss, and seven sacks in 10 games for the Red Raiders before a season-ending injury ended his 2022 season prematurely.

7. Las Vegas Raiders: CB Christian Gonzalez, Oregon

The Raiders upgrade the league’s 29th-ranked pass defense with the top cornerback in the draft. A former four-star recruit, Gonzalez earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2022 after tallying a team-high four interceptions and seven pass breakups in 12 games. He will join last year’s top draft, Derek Stingley, to form one of the league’s top cornerback duos.

8. Atlanta Falcons: OT Peter Skoronski, Northwestern

The Falcons resist the urge to take Bijan Robinson and nab the top offensive tackle in this year’s draft. A versatile lineman who can play guard or tackle, Skoronski was the Big Ten’s top offensive lineman and a first-team all-conference selection in 2022. He will be a key addition to the blocking unit in front of Desmond Ridder.

9. Chicago Bears: OT Paris Johnson, Ohio State

The Bears continue the process of surrounding Justin Fields with an elite supporting cast. Johnson played guard and tackle for the Buckeyes, receiving second-team Associated Press All-American and first-team All-Big Ten honors last season. He is a future Pro Bowl player that is blessed with great size (6-foot-6, 313 pounds) and athleticism.

10. Philadelphia Eagles: CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois

The Eagles grab a lockdown cornerback to fortify one of the league’s top defensive units. The Florida native is an in-your-face cornerback with the skills to contribute immediately. Witherspoon tallied 17 passes defensed, three interceptions, and 41 tackles last season to garner Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year and first-team Associated Press All-American honors.

11. Tennessee Titans: WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State

The Titans draft a pass catcher for the second straight year in the first round. Smith-Njigba played in just three games last year due to a hamstring injury and will join Treylon Burks and Kyle Philips to form a solid receiving group. The Texas native was a five-star recruit who caught 95 balls for 1,606 yards as a sophomore to earn third-team Associated Press All-American accolades.

12. Detriot Lions(via Hou): QB Anthony Richardson, Florida

The Lions send Pick Nos. 18 and 55 to the Texans to draft the ultra-talented Anthony Richardson. He is a project who will have the luxury of learning from the sidelines for a few seasons before taking the reigns of Detroit’s high-scoring offense. The heir apparent to Jared Goff, the Florida product threw for 2,549 yards, 17 touchdowns, and nine interceptions last season and added 654 yards and nine scores.

13. Green Bay Packers: TE Dalton Kincaid, Utah

There is a good chance the Packers will trade this pick if the price is right. But if Green Bay stays put, general manager Brian Gutekunst will gift Jordan Love with a big-play tight end. Kincaid caught 70 passes for 890 yards and eight touchdowns for the Utes in 2022 and joins a youthful receiving corps that includes Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs.

14. New England Patriots: WR Quentin Johnston, TCU

The Patriots land a playmaking wideout to add firepower to an underwhelming offensive unit. Johnson will join tight end Mike Gesicki and wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster in New England’s revamped passing attack. The 6-foot-3 Texas native caught 60 passes for 1,069 yards and six touchdowns for the Horned Frogs last season and earned first-team All-Big 12 honors for the second consecutive season.

15. New York Jets: OT Broderick Jones, Georgia

The Jets have issues in the trenches, and Jones will provide an infusion of youth and durability. The former SEC All-Freshman performer started all 15 games at left tackle for the title-clinching Bulldogs. Although Jones is a raw prospect with only 19 collegiate starts, he has massive upside for a New York squad that saw all four veteran tackles spent time on IR last season.

16. Washington Commanders: CB Joey Porter Jr., Penn State

The Commanders need more depth at cornerback, and Porter is the perfect fit. The Commanders opt to take Porter instead of offensive tackle Darnell Wright. The son of former Steelers standout Joey Porter, the California native, is the best press corner in this year’s draft. The second-team Associated Press All-American recorded 27 tackles and 11 pass breakups last season for the Nittany Lions.

17. Dallas Cowboys (via Pit): RB Bijan Robinson, Texas

The Cowboys send Pick Nos. 26 and 90 to the Steelers to move up and draft Bijan Robinson. Owner/GM Jerry Jones traded up to the 17th spot in 1990 to draft Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith and might do so again to nab the top running back in this year’s class. Robinson is an elite offensive weapon who posted 6.1 yards per carry for the Longhorns in 2022 while rushing for 1,580 yards and 18 touchdowns.

18. Houston Texans (via Det): WR Zay Flowers, Boston College

The Texan’s new-look offense adds another offensive weapon for Stroud. Flowers is an explosive and dynamic playmaker who registered 78 receptions for 1,077 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns last season. The Florida native will join a group of pass catchers, including Nico Collins and veterans Robert Woods and Noah Brown.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: OT Darnell Wright, Tennesee

Tampa Bay fills its most significant need with a massive prospect with a huge upside. The Buccaneers replace Donovan Smith with one of the top tackles in this year’s draft. Wright is a physically gifted lineman who can play both guard and tackle. He also plays with a physicality that most young pass blockers lack.

20. Seattle Seahawks: Edge Nolan Smith, Georgia

The Seahawks continue to upgrade their defensive unit with an outside linebacker with All-Pro upside. Smith collected seven tackles for loss and three sacks in eight games for the Bulldogs last year before suffering a season-ending injury.

21. Los Angeles Chargers: Edge Lukas Van Ness, Iowa

The Chargers strike gold with another talented pass rusher to incorporate into their defensive front. Van Ness tallied 13.5 career sacks in two college seasons and blocked two kicks in 2022. The 6-foot-5 edge rusher has tremendous athleticism and should quickly find a spot in the rotation.

22. Baltimore Ravens: CB Deonte Banks, Maryland

The Ravens find the answer to their biggest need with the addition of the ultra-athletic playmaker. Banks posted 38 tackles, eight pass breakups, and one interception in 12 games for the Terrapins last season. He is a speedy corner who ran the 40 in 4.35 and is also a hard-nosed tackler.

23. Minnesota Vikings: WR Jordan Addison, USC

The Vikings find their WR2 with the addition of Addison. The former All-American receiver can have an immediate impact by starting in the slot or moving to the outside. The first-team All-Pac-12 Conference selection caught 59 passes for 875 yards and eight touchdowns despite missing three games.

24. Jacksonville Jaguars: OT Anton Harrison, Oklahoma

The Jaguars snag a young offensive lineman that fills a major need. Left tackle Cam Robinson is not expected back in 2024 and is coming off a significant knee injury. Harrison was a first-team All-Big 12 Conference selection in 2022 and started 11 games at left tackle and one contest on the right side.

25. New York Giants: DB Brian Branch, Alabama

The Giants desperately need playmakers in their defensive secondary, and Branch is the perfect fit. Branch had a stellar junior campaign with 90 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, three sacks, two interceptions, and seven pass breakups. He is an excellent tackler with a knack for being in the right spot.

26. Pittsburgh Steelers (via Dal): CB Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State

With all the top offensive tackles off the board, the Steelers add a playmaking defensive back. Forbes recorded 46 tackles and 10 pass breakups en route to earning first-team SEC honors. The tall, smooth cover man is not an in-your-face cornerback but has solid ball hawk skills.

27. Buffalo Bills: DI Calijah Kancey, Pittsburgh

The Bills add depth at defensive tackle with the best pure pass-rusher in the draft. Kancey is a disruptive force as a run-stopper and is an explosive pass-rusher. Buffalo has no interior lineman signed beyond 2023 and will rely on the first-team All-American and ACC Defensive Player of the Year for significant repetitions in his rookie season.

28. Cincinnati Bengals: TE Michael Mayer, Notre Dame

The Bengals fill a significant need with the addition of the draft’s top-rated tight end. Mayer caught 67 passes for 809 yards and nine scores in 2022 and was a first-team Associated Press All-American. His upside is massive with Joe Burrow’s history of utilizing his tight ends in the passing game.

29. New Orleans Saints: OG O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida

The Saints grab a talented offensive guard who finished his collegiate career without giving up a sack. Torrence earned first-team Associated Press All-American and first-team All-SEC honors in 2022 and can have an early impact for New Orleans.

30. Philadelphia Eagles: Edge Myles Murphy, Clemson

The rich get richer as the Eagles add another productive pass rusher to one of the league’s top defensive fronts. The first-team All-ACC performer is a massive, athletic lineman who plays with high physicality. Myles posted 6.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, and two pass breakups in 13 games for the Tigers.

31. Kansas City Chiefs: Edge Will McDonald IV, Iowa State

The Chiefs need help on the edge, and McDonald is the perfect fit. The first-team All-Big 12 standout started 12 games last season with 36 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, a team-high five sacks, and four pass breakups. McDonald has the speed and length to be highly productive at the NFL level.

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