NFL Mock Draft 2023, Final Picks
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Well, we’re finally here. The first round of the NFL Draft takes place tonight live from Kansas City.
Let’s dive into our final and predictive mock draft. This is what we think will happen.
Carolina Panthers - Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
It’s going to be Young. Regardless of his size, he’s the best quarterback in the draft.
Houston Texans - Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech
Again, this is a mock draft of what we think will happen. First-year head coach DeMeco Ryans gets his Nick Bosa/long-lengthed defensive lineman, that he had in San Francisco. Wilson needs to continue to develop, but you can’t teach an 86-inch wingspan.
TRADE: Tennessee Titans - C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
The Titans are reportedly out on 2022 third-round pick Malik Willis, and Ryan Tannehill will be turning 35 years old. There’s a connection between head coach Mike Vrabel and Ohio State. However, first-year general manager Ran Carthon did play at Florida, so Anthony Richardson is certainly possible. The Titans can also offload Willis in a trade with the Cardinals. He could start while Murray is out and be a great backup.
Indianapolis Colts - Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
Either this is the biggest smokescreen ever, or it’s just that obvious. The Colts have been linked to Levis for months now, and with veteran quarterback Gardner Minshew on the roster, he doesn’t need to start right away, and he shouldn’t.
Seattle Seahawks - Will Anderson, EDGE, Alabama
There are concerns over the ceiling of Anderson. However, even if he’s maxed out developmentally, the Seahawks are still getting a double-digit sack player at a position they need to continue to throw talent at. He’s a no-brainer decision here.
Detroit Lions - Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
The Lions aren’t out on the quarterback market necessarily, but the team is so close to competing in a weakened NFC North. Witherspoon will be their immediate No. 1 cornerback option in a post-Jeff Okudah secondary. Jalen Carter is still on the board, but it’s hard to see a scenario where he “fits” as a Dan Campbell kind of guy with the off-the-field issues.
TRADE: Philadelphia Eagles - Jalen Carter, DL, Georgia
Moving up from No. 10, the Eagles won’t need to surrender much capital to secure their Javon Hargrave replacement. Considering the Eagles the perennial Super Bowl arch for the foreseeable future, this is a scary selection for the rest of the league if Carter lives up to his potential.
Atlanta Falcons - Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
We went between Robinson and Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez here, but with the team trading for Okudah, we settled on the best running back in the draft to go to a team that will undoubtedly get the most use out of him as possible while seeing if quarterback Desmond Ridder is the future.
Chicago Bears - Peter Skoronski, OL, Northwestern
Paris Johnson Jr. has the better prototypical size to play offensive tackle, but with how bad this Bears offensive line is, they need a plug-and-play player. Skoronski could still play tackle, though his arm length is better suited for guard.
TRADE: Las Vegas Raiders - Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
After trading down three spots with the Eagles, the Raiders still get one of the top cornerbacks in the draft. Gonzalez is a fantastic athlete who lacks some aggression at the position, but the Raiders need more resources in the secondary, especially in the AFC West.
TRADE: Arizona Cardinals - Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
Quarterback Kyler Murray loves Johnson Jr., and he’d likely be their pick if they can’t trade down from No. 3. This is a beautiful scenario for the Cardinals and first-year general manager Monti Ossenfort who gets additional capital and pleases his young star quarterback.
Houston Texans - Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
Richardson is our QB2 in the draft, but it’s easy to see how he falls, especially with so many teams after the top four not necessarily needing a quarterback. This is a perfect scenario for the Texans, who get the edge rusher for Ryans to mold and the quarterback of the future who could step in Day 1, if needed, and provide a high rushing attack offensive floor with running back Dameon Pierce.
Green Bay Packers - Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
After getting the pick swap in the Aaron Rodgers trade, the Packers finally pull the trigger on an offensive player. Kincaid is the TE1 in the draft, but Mayer, despite his lacking athleticism compared to Kincaid, is a reliable security blanket who can also play inline and block. If anyone is interested in providing quarterback Jordan Love with the weapons to allow him to succeed, it’s general manager Brian Gutekunst.
TRADE: Pittsburgh Steelers - Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
The Steelers are reportedly trying to move up to snag Johnson Jr. In this scenario, that didn’t happen, but they do move up three spots here, ahead of the New York Jets and Washington Commanders, to take a punishing offensive lineman in Jones, who could play tackle or guard as needed.
New York Jets - Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
We started down Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba for quite some time, but let’s face it, the Jets have needs at offensive tackle. Wright is a powerful and experienced tackle who can play in Week 1.
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Washington Commanders - Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
Another potential JSN landing spot, the Commanders opt for a Travis Kelce-like tight end to replace Logan Thomas. He, alongside Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel, and Jahan Dotson, makes for a fantastic cast of weapons for new starting quarterback Sam Howell.
TRADE: New England Patriots - Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
Knowing the Patriots and head coach Bill Belichick, they’ll draft a box safety or pure center out of a school no one has ever heard of, but with Bill O’Brien now as the offensive coordinator, he should be able to recognize that the team needs weapons. Smith-Njigba seems like a pure slot player considering that’s where he played in college, but it’s said he wants to play outside. He’ll get a chance here with JuJu Smith-Schuster in the slot. He’s a no-brainer upgrade over Kendrick Bourne and DeVante Parker.
Detroit Lions - Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
Whenever a team has two first-round picks, getting one guy on each side of the ball makes sense. In this case, the Lions, who will be without wide receiver Jameson Williams for the first six games of the season for violating the NFL’s betting policy, could target a receiver.
That said, Campbell is a former tight end and gets a guy in Washinton who’s six-foot-seven and 270 pounds. Add in his 4.64 40-yard dash speed, and it’s unclear how a human of his stature exists.
He’d be an immediate starter who can also block. These are all traits Campbell would seemingly value.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
With Matt Feiler on the roster, Harrison doesn’t necessarily need to play that much right away, which is likely for the best. If he can get a bit stronger, he could see the field more, but it’s hard to imagine him as a guard. Either way, the Buccaneers aren’t going to compete this year, so Harrison could be the franchise right tackle after 2023.
Seattle Seahawks - Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee
Hooker is more of a second-round pick, but the Seahawks are in on the 25-year-old signal-caller. He may need to redshirt the majority of his rookie season, but the Seahawks can get out of the Geno Smith contract after 2023, which would allow Hooker to step right in.
Los Angeles Chargers - Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
While Flowers may not have the prototypical outside receiver size, he played there plenty in college. He’s a weapon that the Chargers don’t have with Mike Williams and Keenan Allen. As former NFL Steve Smith put it, Flowers is a “moveable weapon.”
Baltimore Ravens - Jordan Addison, WR, USC
The Ravens continue to throw resources at the receiver position for quarterback Lamar Jackson with the Addison selection. If you want a guy who can run any route with ease and play both inside and outside, Addison is the guy. A trio of Addison, Odell Beckham Jr., and Rashod Bateman is phenomenal. OBJ and Bateman also have injury concerns. If that happens, Addison can go outside, and the team still has Nelson Agholor in the slot.
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Minnesota Vikings - Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
While not the most athletic cornerback in the class, Porter is a lengthy and bigger cornerback who should excel in press coverage. The Vikings need secondary and cornerback help, and Porter fills that need as an outside guy.
Jacksonville Jaguars - Deonte Bank, CB, Maryland
Brian Branch is often linked to the Jaguars, but Banks brings versatility to play outside or as a big slot should they need it. Banks’ speed will allow him not to lose many battles. If he can improve in press coverage, look out.
New York Giants - Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
Johnston has plenty in his game that he needs to improve on, such as not catching with his body so much and using his size to out-rebound cornerbacks, but the Giants don’t have a guy on the roster with his size and speed. Jones is under contract, and he needs more weapons. That said, we could see them go with someone like Minnesota center John Michael Schmitz to secure the offensive line,
Dallas Cowboys - Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama
After missing out on Robinson, the Cowboys stay put and draft the speedy, Alvin Kamara-like running back in Gibbs. He would be a great compliment to Tony Pollard.
Buffalo Bills - Calijah Kancey, DL, Pittsburgh
Kacey is tough to peg. He could go much higher simply because of his Aaron Donald-like profile with his dominant first step and ability to rush the passer, but here, he falls to the Bills, who should rush the card in.
Cincinnati Bengals - Brian Branch, DB, Alabama
The Bengals need secondary help, and Branch brings that, even if he plays purely in the slot. He’s a knowledgeable player who can play the run, which is needed in the AFC North.
New Orleans Saints - Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
Murphy is another player who could go No. 13 to the Packers, No. 20 to the Seahawks, or even higher. However, after No. 20, there’s somewhat of a dead zone for him, especially with the cornerback and receiver depth. Murphy is an explosive athlete who, heading into the 2022-23 college campaign, was thought of as a top-five pick. However, he may not have been the best edge rusher on his team.
The Saints and head coach Dennis Allen will do wonders with him as he can also be utilized in the interior.
Philadelphia Eagles - Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia
Could the Eagles have to package No. 30 to move from No. 10 to No. 7? Maybe, but not likely. In this case, they stay at 30 and get an intriguing edge prospect in Smith, who may be undersized for the position but has incredible speed. Also, he’s Carter’s teammate, which could help better integrate both prospects into the league.
Kansas City Chiefs - Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State
After losing Orlando Brown Jr. this offseason, the Chiefs could use more depth at the offensive tackle position, with Jawaan Taylor and Lucas Niang slated to start. Jones is massive at six-foot-eight and around 360 pounds. Niang has a long history of injury concerns which could catapult Jones into starting sooner rather than later.
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