The NFL season is not even a quarter of the way over yet, but that doesn’t mean it’s too early to do a mock draft! Some fans are already looking ahead to April, so here is my 1.0 2023 NFL Mock Draft.
*Note: Draft order is determined by PFF’s NFL standings as of 09/26/2022, and the Miami Dolphins do not possess their own first-round draft pick as a result of the NFL’s discipline due to the actions of owner Stephen Ross
1. Falcons – QB Bryce Young, Alabama
The Falcons are in full rebuild mode, and what better way to jumpstart a rebuild than by drafting Bryce Young? The Falcons will most certainly be looking for a QB in this year’s draft, and I have them going with the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner in Young, who has all the tools to be an NFL star.
2. Texans – EDGE Will Anderson, Alabama
In this universe, the Texans keep Davis Mills as their starting QB and draft the best overall pass rusher prospect since Chase Young in 2020. Anderson is a beast off the edge, and after 29 sacks through 22 career games thus far, Anderson projects to be the next star NFL pass rusher.
3. Lions – QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
If the Lions do end up picking 3rd in the 2023, I expect them to go after one of the remaining premier pass throwers. Some expect Stroud to be the #1 overall selection for the draft this year, and it’s not hard to see why. Jared Goff isn’t the answer forever, and Stroud could be just what this Lions team needs to boost it to the next level.
4. Seahawks – QB Will Levis, Kentucky
Three quarterbacks in the first four picks? I think it’s absolutely possible, as I am almost 100% sure that Geno Smith is not the answer at QB going forward. Kentucky is having its best football season it’s had in a long time, in huge part due to Levis’ fantastic play at QB. Expect Levis to have number #1 overall hype going into the draft.
5. Jets – DT Jalen Carter, Georgia
After drafting Quinnen Williams 3rd overall in the 2019 draft, the Jets once again go DT in Jalen Carter. The Jets could form probably the best interior defensive line in the NFL with the selection of Carter here, giving the Jets a stout run defense and the ability to generate pass rush from the interior d-line. Snagging the best player available here makes a lot of sense for New York.
6. Jaguars – OT Paris Johnson, Ohio State
Jawaan Taylor has not been the dominant tackle the Jaguars thought he would be, and nobody wants Trevor Lawrence to end up with a line like Joe Burrow has played with since he was drafted. Paris Johnson is the best overall tackle in this class and would be a huge boost to the Jacksonville offensive line if they do indeed end up at #6 and are able to snag Johnson.
7. Panthers – WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
I think that Carolina will give Baker Mayfield one more year in Carolina, and who better to give Mayfield than Smith-Njigba? Smith-Njigba is the cleanest route runner in this entire draft, and could be a fantastic down field receiver for the Panthers. With a receiving core of DJ Moore, Smith-Njigba, and Robbie Anderson, Carolina could really take the top of off defenses and be a prolific passing offense.
8. Bears – WR Jordan Addison, USC
The 2021 Biletnikoff Award winner has dazzled with Caleb Williams at USC so far this season, and the Bears are in desperate need to give Justin Fields Weapons. The potential QB-WR of Fields and Addison should get people excited, and would also open up great opportunities for WR Darnell Mooney as well.
9. Giants – WR Kayshon Boutte, LSU
I’m going bold here with the third receiver in a row. If the Giants do stick with Daniel Jones, they need a big time weapon to compliment Saquan Barkley, and Boutte could be the perfect weapon for Jones and the New York passing attack.
10. Commanders – CB Kelee Ringo, Georgia
The Commanders defense has been one of the worst defenses in football dating back to last season, and CBs Kendall Fuller and William Jackson have been very underwhelming. Ringo is the best corner in this draft class, and if the Ron Rivera era does come to an end after this season in Washington, Ringo might be the perfect pick to jumpstart a brand new defense.
11. Steelers – OT Peter Skoronski, Northwestern
Some people have Skoronski as the best offensive tackle in the draft, and I don’t blame them. Following in the footsteps of Rashawn Slater, Skoronski is a beast of a man, measuring at 6’4 and 315 lbs. Skoronski is exactly the type of corner stone tackle that the Steelers can use to protect QB Kenny Pickett.
12. Vikings – DE Bryan Bresee, Clemson
The second best pure pass rusher in this class, Breese would be a fantastic addition to the Vikings defensive line. The Vikings have always been the best when they have had a dominant pass rush, and Bresee could help them get back to that level of dominance.
13. Eagles (via NO) – RB Bijan Robinson, Texas
The Eagles get the Saints pick from the trade made during the 2021 draft, and this is the perfect opportunity to make an already loaded offense potentially even more lethal with the selection of Robinson. Robinson is the best RB prospect since Saquan Barkley, and would make this Eagles offense into probably the best offense in the NFC, and the 2nd best in the NFL behind Buffalo.
14. Raiders – DE Myles Murphy, Clemson
Bryan Bresee’s partner in crime, Myles Murphy is one of those pass rushers that is super physically gifted and explosive that you just have to take him. The Raiders had probably the NFL’s most disappointing team, starting 0-3, and the defense also struggled at times. Adding Murphy is slightly risky since he doesn’t have super high production, but putting him along side Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones if he is still there would make the Raiders 2023 pass rush one of the most feared pass rushes on paper in the league.
15. Patriots – WR Quentin Johnston
The last two times a speedy WR from TCU was drafted it didn’t really pan out well, but Johnston looks as though he could be what Jalen Reagor and Josh Doctson was never able to be. Johnston is a big-play receiver, averaging 18 yards a completion so far for his college career, and is exactly the type of downfield threat the lackluster Patriots offense needs. While Johnston has had a slower than expected start to his 2023 campaign, I expect him to get on track soon, and maybe he can right the wrongs of the former TCU receiver busts.
16. Titans – EDGE Andre Carter, Army
It’s rare to see an Army prospect getting first-round hype, but meet Andre Carter. Carter is a strong, athletic outside linebacker that the Titans would most likely use as an edge rusher. The Titans could very well go offense here, but I think that Malik Willis takes over from Ryan Tannehill in 2023, and the Titans are just going to role with they got on offense. Carter would be a huge boost to a defense that has been less than stellar so far in 2023.
17. Texans (via CLE) – TE Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
The Texans get the Browns first round pick from the Deshaun Watson trade, and since I have them sticking with Davis Mills, Houston needs to get Mills some help. Enter Michael Mayer. Mayer is a 6’4, 265 lbs athletic freak of nature, and is exactly the type of security blanket that Mills could really use. Mayer is on pace for a really great junior season at Notre Dame this year, and if he does indeed declare, expect many teams to have their eyes on him in the first round.
18. Eagles – CB Cam Smith, South Carolina
I don’t expect the Eagles to pick this low in the draft, but if they somehow do, then I think they would go best player available and select smith. Like other great South Carolina corners Jaycee Horn and Israel Mukuamu, Smith is very physical corner, and would fit great alongside current Eagles CBs Darius Slay and James Bradberry. He is undersized, but makes up for it with his physicality. The Eagles don’t have that many glaring wholes on their roster, but there is no such thing as too many great corners.
19. Ravens – WR A.T. Perry, Wake Forest
Bold pick alert! I have seen almost no mock drafts give any sort of thought to Wake Forest WR A.T. Perry, so I’m here to do that. Perry had a fantastic 2021 season, with 1,293 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns. So far in this 2022 college football season, Perry is averaging 17 yards a completion and on pace for another great season. I think that Perry will be one of the biggest draft risers this season, and would be a perfect fit alongside Rashod Bateman.
20. Cardinals – DE Tuli Tuipulotu, USC
Tuipulotu was a bit of an underrated defensive prospect, only putting up 5.5 sacks last season. However, Tuipulotu is rising up draft boards fast, and with three sacks on the season so far, and I think Tuipulotu will continue to rise up draft boards and land somewhere in the 20s come draft day. The Cardinals could use some pass rush after loosing Chandler Jones, and Tuipulotu would absolutely fill that need.
21. Seahawks (via DEN) – CB Eli Ricks, Alabama
In this mock draft, the Seahawks have already drafted Will Levis, and upgrading at the other offensive positions outside of offensive line isn’t that pressing right now. What could use a boost is the defense. The Legion of Boom seems like a distant memory now, but CB Eli Ricks could inject some boom into this Seattle defense. Ricks has decent size, measuring around 6’2, 190 lbs, and could be that lockdown coverage corner that the Seahawks so dearly miss.
22. Chargers – OT Broderick Jones, Georgia
Justin Herbert’s ribs would greatly appreciate some added protection, and Jones would provide just that. Jones is 6’4, 310lbs and is exactly the type of tackle you could pair along side Rashawn Slater when he comes back healthy. I said it earlier and I’ll say it again: You do not want your young, promising QB to end up with a line like Joe Burrow has had to deal with, and Jones is exactly the type of player that can help to avoid that.
23. Dolphins (via SF) – CB/S Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M
The Dolphins lost their actual first round pick due to the NFL’s discipline regarding the actions of owner Stephen Ross, but do still own the 49ers first round pick. I have them going with Antonio Johnson here, and I think Johnson could play either corner or safety for the Dolphins. Pairing him alongside Jevon Holland or Xaiven Howard, whichever direction they could choose to go, would be a fantastic addition to the NFL’s most surprising team of 2023 thus far.
24. Colts – WR Josh Downs, North Carolina
A receiver filled first round! Downs filled the role that former Tar Heels’ receiver Dyami Brown held, and with four touchdowns on the year thus far, I expect Downs to be another big draft riser. The Colts need another weapon along side Michael Pittman, and Downs could be the type of deep threat that the Colts need. Downs is pretty versatile, and could be used underneath as well.
25. Cowboys – RB Zach Evans, Ole Miss
What? Two running backs in the first round? And one to the Cowboys at that? That’s crazy, right? In good ol’ fashioned Lee Corso mode, I’m gonna say “not so fast!” to that. This pick is definitely pretty bold, but I think this could happen for a few reasons. For starters, I expect that the former TCU running back Evans is going to have a fantastic SEC schedule, and is going to run wild on some teams. Evans has only rushed for 1,428 yards total in his career thus far, so to project him to make the leap that would get him drafted in the first round is bold, but I’m predicting that it will happen. I expect Dallas to move on from Ezekiel Elliot after this season, and Evans is the guy that I think will replace Elliot as the main running back in Dallas.
26. Bengals – S Jordan Battle, Alabama
The Bengals future at the safety position is unclear with Jessie Bates still not committed to a long-term deal, and I do think there is a good chance that Bates walks after this season. Battle would be a great replacement, and while he still needs to improve his coverage ability, Battle is already a great tackler and the Bengals could have a field day using him in the box.
27. Lions (via LA Rams) – DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State
The Lions have already got Stroud in this mock draft, and with a variety of weapons on the offensive side of the ball, I think the Lions are going to go defense with their second selection. Felix Anudike-Uzomah would be a great compliment to Aidan Hutchinson, and would give the Lions a pretty darn good pass rush. Anudike-Uzomah recorded 11 sacks in 2021, and with the bulk of their schedule still remaining in 2022, I expect him to get slightly more sacks than last year this season.
28. Packers – WR Rakim Jarrett, Maryland
At this point, predicting the Packers to draft a receiver in the first round is like predicting that the Cowboys are going to make the super bowl: It’s probably not going to happen (sorry Cowboys fans). Even though history says it most likely won’t happen, I’m gonna predict it anyway. Rakim Jarrett is an undersized but athletic WR, and I’m predicting that Jarrett has a good rest of his season and performs well at the combine. Maybe this year is finally the year the Packers go bold and get Rodgers (if he’s still there) the help he deserves in the first round.
29. Chiefs – DE Isaiah Foskey, Notre Dame
Even though the Chiefs drafted George Karlaftis out of Purdue with the 30th pick of the draft last year, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Chiefs went pass rusher again here at this range. Frank Clark won’t be around forever, and Isaiah Foskey would make a great 1-2 punch with him and Karlaftis. Foskey put up 11 sacks last year and looks like he might be on pace to top that number, and I expect him to get some serious late first-round buzz.
30. Buccaneers – QB Tyler Van Dyke, Miami
Tom Brady will most likely hang up the cleats for good at the end of this season, and I don’t expect the Bucs to trot out Kyle Trask as the starter, although that would be pretty cool. I think they like Trask as a backup, and that’s why I think the Bucs swing on Van Dyke. Van Dyke getting benched while Miami was getting destroyed by Middle Tennessee certainly is not a good look, and that’s one of the reasons he’s a lot lower in this mock draft than some others. I think Van Dyke will bounce back though, and I still think he sneaks into the back of the first round.
31. Bills – OT Zion Nelson, Miami
Back to back Miami Hurricanes here to end the first round of the 2023 draft. I think the Bills are going to be super bowl champs this year, and so there aren’t very many wholes they need to fill. I can see the Bills grabbing some extra offensive line help here with Zion Nelson. Miami is reeling right now, but Nelson still looks like he’ll be a solid NFL offensive lineman. Nelson has good size, as he measures around 6’5, 316lbs, and I think he could even take over one of the starting tackle positions right out of the gate for the Bills.
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