In just a few hours a new draft class will enter the NFL and with them bring hope to their respective new fanbases. And this is surely going to an NFL Draft to remember. Last year we saw not only one of the fastest first rounds in recent memory, but we also saw star players (Hollywood Brown, AJ Brown) get traded and we could surely see more names on the move (Derrick Henry, DeAndre Hopkins).
There’s also the great unsettled nature of the picks. Usually by draft day certain picks have solidified, but not this year. The only slam dunk is the No. 1 pick. After that – it’s anybody’s guess. So lets do just that. Here’s our totally educated yet not at all final mock draft for 2023
1.) Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
This is the only sure pick. Young ushers in a new era in Charlotte.
2.) Houston Texans: Will Anderson, DE, Alabama
There is a lot of smoke for Tyree Wilson, but I just can’t buy it. Anderson had 34.5 sacks and 58.5 tackles for loss over three years. Anderson will be a Pro Bowler. He will be around for a decade.
3.) Arizona Cardinals: Tyree Wilson, DE, Texas Tech
It’s no long wait for Wilson after Houston passes on him. Wilson is the perfect building block for new head coach Jonathan Gannon’s defense. Wilson had 14 sacks and 27.5 tackles for loss over the past two seasons. His best football is ahead of him.
4.) Indianapolis Colts: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
Indianapolis has the first big decision of the mock draft – Levis or C.J. Stroud. While Stroud certainly has the production, I think it will be Levis. Levis comes with some questions, but he would have the supporting cast to excel quickly.
5.) Seattle Seahawks: Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
A dream come true for head coach Pete Carroll and GM John Schneider. Carter, arguably the best player in the draft, does come with some red flags, but Seattle has the infrastructure and history of being able to work with a wildcard. After last year’s hyper successful draft class, Carter helps the team take another step toward building a new Legion of Boom.
6.) Detroit Lions: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
This pick remains the same from the last mock draft. As shockingly good Detroit’s offense was (4th overall) there defense was shockingly bad (32nd overall). Any addition to the defense is a plus. Witherspoon had 23 PBUs over his final two seasons in Illinois.
7.) Las Vegas Raiders: Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern
Over his career new Raiders’ QB Jimmy Garoppolo has proven fragile. It’s important for head coach Josh McDaniels and GM Dave Ziegler to protect him. Skoronski can play at tackle or guard and the Raiders need help at both. Should be a Day One starter.
8.) Atlanta Falcons: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio St.
The Falcons could do any number of ways with this pick, however, with Stroud having fallen this far I think you have to take him. It doesn’t matter what they said about Desmond Ridder, Stroud was a Heisman Trophy finalist and produced 85 passing touchdowns over the past two years.
9.) Chicago Bears: Paris Johnson, OT, Ohio St.
A positional holdover from the last mock draft. While Skoronski is now off the board, Johnson is the man now. Johnson’s ceiling is as high as No. 3 overall to Arizona, but ultimately I see Vegas and Chicago as the two to land OTs in the Top 10. They may get flipped on draft night.
10.) Philadelphia Eagles: Lukas Van Ness, DE, Iowa
I want this pick to be Texas RB, Bijan Robinson. I wanted to carryover the pick from the last mock draft, but if I’m going with my gut I’m going with Van Ness. The Eagles love addressing the trenches and drafting for the future. Last year it was Jordan Davis as a replacement for Javon Hargrave. This year it’s Van Ness for franchise legend Brandon Graham.
11.) Tennessee Titans: Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
Initial reaction was to slot in Georgia OT Broderick Jones here, but I think the Titans are still dealing with PTSD from the Isiah Wilson pick in 2020. Wright has the ability to play the right side or the left and gives the Titans new bookend tackles along with free agency signing and former first rounder Andre Dillard.
12.) Houston Texans: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
Richardson slides out of the Top 10, but not by much. Head coach DeMeco Ryans brought with him former 49ers passing game coordinator Bobby Slowik as offensive coordinator. Seeing what the Slowik did to help develop Brock Purdy last year gives hope that the Texans would be able to put Richardson in a position to thrive, weather in 2023 or 2024.
13.) Green Bay Packers: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
Kincaid is arguably the best tight end in the draft. While he is not known for his blocking, his ability as a pass catcher is tremendous. This pick stays the same from our last mock draft, only a little earlier thanks to the Aaron Rodgers trade with the Jets.
14.) New England Patriots: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
Last year Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton oddly slipped to No. 14 despite being a squeaky clean prospect, this year it’s Gonzalez falling to the No. 14 spot. Gonzalez has gotten better and better each year, proven by his 4 interceptions and 7 PBUs to cap off his final collegiate season. He brings size and a high ceiling to New England.
15.) New York Jets: Jaxson Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio St.
For a team that already has Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard, Mecole Hardman, Corey Davis, and Denzel Mims you wouldn’t exactly call WR a need, but word on the street is the Jets would like to form a reunion for former Buckeye Wilson and Smith-Njigba.
16.) Washington Commanders: Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn St.
Defense is always going to be a strength for a Ron Rivera coached team. And while the Commanders had the 3rd best pass defense, more corners are needed with the current state of NFL offenses. Porter brings size and skill to the secondary. Think Josh Norman when Rivera was coaching the Panthers to a Super Bowl appearance.
17.) Pittsburgh Steelers: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
A slight slide for Jones and the Steelers couldn’t be happier. Jones should be a Day One starter and provide last year’s first rounder, quarterback Kenny Pickett, with some protection. With Jones’ arrival, the offense will have been quickly remade with Jones, Pickett, running back Najee Harris, and receiver George Pickens ushering in a new era post-Roethlisberger.
18.) Detroit Lions: Max Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
The decision to trade TJ Hockenson to a division rival midyear was an interesting move by Detroit. Doing so with no discernable backup was more surprising. Mayer is a classic two-way tight end that should start immediately for the Lions. Mayer is cut from the same mold as head coach Dan Campbell, and should provide a solid safety blanket for quarterback Jared Goff.
19.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee
Yes, the Bucs signed Baker Mayfield, but it was only a one year deal. And yes, they have former second-rounder Kyle Trask on the roster, but he has only been active for one game over two years. Hooker, after taking a redshirt year, could be the answer in 2024.
20.) Seattle Seahawks: Nolan Smith, OLB, Georgia
Originally we had this pick happening at No. 5 overall, while that may have been overzealous, Smith still lands in Seattle. He is the freaky edge rusher that Seattle covets. In a rotation with Darrell Taylor and Uchenna Nwosu, the Seattle defense would keep opposing quarterbacks up at night.
21.) LA Chargers: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
I know the running back position is devalued, but that being said Robinson, based off pure talent, should go much higher than this. Atlanta could be in the mix at No. 8 and, in my heart, Philly at No. 10 would be perfect. But if Robinson were to shamefully fall this far, the slide ends with the Bolts. Pairing Robinson and Austin Ekeler would bring a dynamic threat.
22.) Baltimore Ravens: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
Flowers to Baltimore would round out the Ravens wide receiving corps quiet well. After having nothing in the cupboard for year, entering 2023 with OBJ, Rashod Bateman, Flowers, and Devin Duvernay is quite strong. Assuming OBJ and Bateman stay healthy. Flowers is a complete wide receiver with his only knock being size.
23.) Minnesota Vikings: Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
There is certainly a scenario where Banks goes higher, but for this mock draft he lands in Minnesota. Like the Titans, the Vikings have wound up in this never ending cycle of spending high draft capital at the corner position. The team drafted Andrew Booth in the second round last year, but was lost to injury, and signed Byron Murphy in free agency. Banks brings size and grit to the NFC North.
24.) Jacksonville Jaguars: Will McDonald IV, OLB, Iowa St.
Lats year’s top pick Travon Walker struggled all year and their top pass rusher, Josh Allen, only had seven sacks on the year. In a talent loaded AFC more pass rushers are needed. While McDonald’s numbers did dip last year he still racked up 27 sacks over his final three years at Iowa St.
25.) New York Giants: Jordan Addison, WR, USC
Head coach Brian Daboll worked with Stefon Diggs in Buffalo as the offensive coordinator. Addison has shades of Diggs to his game. Addison might be the best route runner in the draft and he will be anxious to prove his numbers in 2021 while at Pitt were no fluke. The Giants decided to pay Daniel Jones, now they have to stock his arsenal.
26.) Dallas Cowboys: Calijah Kancey, DT, Pitt
Kancey may go higher, but he is an ideal fit for Dallas. Not does he help a team who ranked 22nd in run defense, but he also helps provide an interior pass rushing threat. With Micah Parsons on the outside and Kancey coming down the middle opposing quarterbacks better get rid of the ball quick.
27.) Buffalo Bills: Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
Underutilized at Georgia, Washington has the size and athleticism to thrive in Buffalo. Not only is his blocking the caliber of an offensive linemen, he is explosive enough to threaten in the pass game. Not to mention he’s the size of an offensive lineman to boot.
28.) Cincinnati Bengals: Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi St.
When you’re in a three way battle with Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes for conference supremacy you need playmakers on defense. That’s what Forbes does. The knock on him will be size, but all he does is disrupt the passing game. Whether it’s breaking up a pass or intercepting them. Forbes is a headache on the boundary.
29.) New Orleans Saints: Myles Murphy, DE, Clemson
Murphy very well could go higher than this, but if he is still on the board he’s a perfect fit for the Saints. Murphy was a consistent disruptor for Clemson with 36 tackles for loss in his career. While he didn’t hit double digit sacks in any year that constant ability to blow up plays is valued.
30.) Philadelphia Eagles: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama
The running back position is the one spot that’s a bit thin on an otherwise stellar roster. The team did sign former first-rounder Rashaad Penny, but he hasn’t proven he can stay healthy for a full season. Gibbs, should they pass on Robinson, is a solid fit. A dual threat out of the backfield, Gibbs averaged 6.1 YPC for Alabama last year. In a rotation with Penny, Gibbs could have Alvin Kamara style production.
31.) Kansas City Chiefs: Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
The Chiefs lost both starting tackles over free agency. They addressed one spot by signing Jawaan Taylor and now they address the other spot with Harrison. Harrison, is a bit raw, but has the menace you need in the trenches. Harrison thrives in pass protection and should win out a starting role over the summer.
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