NFL Mock Draft 2023

Kansas City, Missouri (PSF) - Happy Draft Day! As we have finally reached the day so many NFL fans, scouts, general managers, and executives look forward to, here’s who I believe will hear their name called on the first night of the draft as they walk across the stage and have their childhood dream come true. No trades are involved.

1) Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

The pick will either be Young or Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud. While Stroud is the fluid, accurate pocket passer who is also very mobile, the only cons to Youngs game are his height and size. Other than that, Young has everything you look for in today’s franchise quarterback which is why the Panthers traded up from nine to one to get him.

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

With Young off the board, the Texans take the best next option in Stroud. The definition of a pocket passer who makes every throw look easy with seamless accuracy, who can also use his legs when the pocket breaks down. Stroud can make every throw on the field and put any questions to bed after his performance vs. Georgia in the college football playoff semifinal game.

3) Arizona Cardinals: Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech

This is an ideal trade down spot for the Cardinals, but in this scenario with no trades they opt to take the 6’6” 275-pound edge rusher in Wilson who fills a huge need for them at edge and has a higher ceiling than Will Anderson. Jalen Carter was a close second, but I believe that he’ll fall in the first round due to off the field and legal issues.

4) Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida

Richardson is the biggest wildcard and boom or bust prospect in this year’s draft. Owner Jim Irsay and General Manager Chris Ballard are desperate for their next franchise quarterback. With new Head Coach Shane Steichen’s quarterbacks in the past with Phillip Rivers, Justin Herbert, and Jalen Hurts, Indianapolis rolls the dice on the unicorn like prospect.

5) Seattle Seahawks: Jalen Carter, DL, Georgia

This is where the “fall” for Jalen Carter ends, as Seattle drafts the best prospect in this year’s class at 5 and find themselves with a generational defensive tackle for the foreseeable future and beyond.

6) Detroit Lions: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois

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After trading away Jeff Okudah to the Atlanta Falcons, CB1 is a huge need for Detroit. Thankfully with Witherspoon on the board, they decide to take him to fill that void and land the best cornerback in the draft.

7) Las Vegas Raiders: Christian Gonzales, CB, Oregon

Even though Will Levis is still on the board, the Raiders do not need a quarterback after signing Jimmy Garoppolo in free agency. Gonzalez is a big, athletic cover cornerback who would fit into Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham’s beautifully as a lock down defender with ball skills on the outside.

8) Atlanta Falcons: Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama

The Falcons has been searching for its next impactful edge rusher since Vic Beasley back in 2016. They’re able to take Anderson here, who thankfully did not go earlier in the top 10 where he has been projected to go all draft season. Atlanta gets great value here.

9) Chicago Bears: Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern

The Bears already have their QB1 and WR1 of the future in Justin Fields and D.J. Moore. Now they get their quarterback the versatile and best offensive line prospect in the class who is a major upgrade for Chicago and a plug and play starter at right tackle or anywhere along the line from day one.

10) Philadelphia Eagles: Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa

The Eagles love their defensive lineman who can rush and affect opposing quarterbacks. With Brandon Graham and Fletcher Cox only getting older and on one-year deals, Van Ness will eventually replace one of them with the versatility to either play inside or outside.

11) Tennessee Titans: Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State

Johnson is an extra-large edge blocker, mauler with the size, strength. and athleticism to move defenders back at the line of scrimmage. The definition of a Mike Vrabel offensive lineman.

12) Houston Texans: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

Back-to-back Buckeyes off the board here, as the Texans kick off their rebuild by pairing their QB1 of the future with one of his former weapons. Smith-Njigba is also regarded as the only WR1 in the class according to several NFL General Managers and scouts.

13) New York Jets: Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee

What better way to welcome Aaron Rodgers to New York than providing him with a hulking right tackle. Alijah Vera-Tucker can now slide back inside, and with Mekhi Becton coming back in great shape to protect Rodgers’ blindside, the Jets have one of the better offensive line units in the league.

14) New England Patriots: Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland

Bill Belichick loves his press man cornerbacks, as Banks fits that bill with his playstyle and prototypical size at the position. Banks has drawn pro style comparisons to Stephon Gilmore, who enjoyed many great seasons in New England under Belichick’s defensive scheme and vision.

15) Green Bay Packers: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah

The Packers have committed to Jordan Love as their quarterback of the future. After losing Robert Tonyan in the offseason to their divisional rival Chicago Bears, they get Love another weapon in Kincaid who is the best pass catcher, route runner, and dynamic receiving tight end threat in this year’s class.

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

Tough, gritty, physical. These are the words used to describe Porter Jr. which will make Defensive Coordinator Jack Del Rio smile from ear to ear. Porter Jr. will also remind Head Coach Ron Rivera of Josh Norman, who was also a long cover cornerback.

17) Pittsburgh Steelers: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia

The weakest position group on the Steelers roster is their offensive line. Jones would help solve this issue at one of the bookend tackle positions for the future as he falls into the Steelers lap here at 17.

18) Detroit Lions: Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh

The last great defensive tackle Lions General Manager Brad Holmes helped draft was Aaron Donald. Kancey will never reach Donald’s level, but his explosive quickness would magnificently help and complement Detroit’s young edge rushers, especially last year’s number two overall pick Aidan Hutchinson to give the Lions a ferocious pass rush and let Defensive Coordinator Aaron Glen go to work.

19) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky

This is where the slide and fall of Levis ends, as in this scenario the Buccaneers do not have to trade up for him. Levis will compete with Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask for the QB1 job from day one and will sit behind one of them if he doesn’t end up getting it.

20) Seattle Seahawks: O’Cyrus Torrence, IOL, Florida

After landing Jalen Carter at 5, Seattle keeps adding to and bolstering their line of scrimmage with Torrence who can play center or guard. Torrence also gives newly signed quarterback Geno Smith a strong and powerful presence up front to help protect him.

21) Los Angeles Chargers: Jordan Addison, WR, USC

The Chargers have big and physical wide receivers in Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. All they are missing is an explosive one who can separate and make plays down the field for their superstar quarterback Justin Herbert. That’s what they do here in selecting Addison to complete the trio of wide outs.

22) Baltimore Ravens: Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU

After signing Odell Beckham Jr. in free agency, the Ravens decide to give Lamar Jackson another weapon in Johnston who is a big, strong, and physical receiver they can put on an island outside to complement Rashod Bateman, Beckham Jr., and tight end Mark Andrews to catch go and 50/50 balls. All of a sudden Jackson finally has enough weapons at his disposal to succeed like he did in his former MVP season in 2019.

23) Minnesota Vikings: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College

After losing longtime receiver Adam Thielen in the offseason to the Carolina Panthers, the Vikings replace him with a route running specialist in Flowers. Flowers game as a technician and separator vastly helps Justin Jefferson in the passing game as his speed, quickness, and precision make him an ideal WR2 target for Kirk Cousins.

24) Jacksonville Jaguars: Brian Branch, S, Alabama

Secondary is one of, if not the weakest position group on the Jaguars roster. Branch would help in solving this issue as he is a playmaking slot defender with the instincts, IQ, and awareness to thrive as a hybrid and jack of all trade’s defender in Defensive Coordinator Mike Caldwell’s scheme.

25) New York Giants: John Michael Schmitz, C, Minnesota

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After signing quarterback Daniel Jones to a long-term contract extension, he needs the proper offensive lineman to block in front of him if he ever wants to be deemed a franchise quarterback. Michael Schmitz will help with that as he will immediately be the plug and play starting center from day one as New York will have three young pieces on the emerging line in All-Pro Andrew Thomas, second year right tackle Evan Neal, and now Michael Schmitz.

26) Dallas Cowboys: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas

After releasing longtime running back Ezekiel Elliott and placing the franchise tag on Tony Pollard, what would be more Cowboys than drafting Robinson. Not only would Robinson stay in the state where he played his college ball, but Dallas would land one of, if not the best prospects in the draft at 26. This pick has Jerry Jones and Dallas Cowboys written all over it.

27) Buffalo Bills: Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State

The Bills are in win now mode. The only real hole they currently have on their roster is cornerback. Forbes helps check off the last box as you can never have enough great cornerbacks going up against the wide receivers and quarterbacks of the AFC.

28) Cincinnati Bengals: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame

Like the Bills, the Bengals are also in win now mode. The only position group on offense they have not significantly invested in has been tight end, as Mayer provides the best mix of both blocking and receiving in this year’s tight end class.

29) New Orleans Saints: Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia

The Saints are a very hard team to draft for. While they have offensive line needs in guard and center, I elected to go with Washington who can not only block and act as your sixth offensive lineman, but also someone who can catch passes down the field and be Derek Carr’s new security blanket.

30) Philadelphia Eagles: Bryan Bresee, DL, Clemson

Another Eagles pick, another defensive lineman. This time it’s Bresee who will either replace Fletcher Cox or Brandon Graham depending on which one Van Ness replaces after one, or both retire or leave Philadelphia after their one-year contracts expire. Philadelphia does not have many holes, so landing Bresee this late in the first is great value for General Manager Howie Roseman.

31) Kansas City Chiefs: Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia

The reigning and defending Super Bowl champions let Frank Clark walk in free agency. They need more fire power from their pass rush and another edge rusher opposite last year’s rookie edge George Karlaftis to build the future of the defensive line around with Chris Jones in the middle. Smith would absolutely do that and would be a dream scenario for Kansas City this late in the first with a very palatable cap number assigned to his rookie deal.

ravens: quit playing and pay lamar jackson

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