With the 2023 NFL Draft coming in about over a month, we are in full mock draft season mode. The 2023 NFL Combine shed light on how athletic or not some of the top prospects are, but let’s also be mindful that running in Olympic shorts well doesn’t necessarily equate to having a successful and long NFL career, although some decision-makers may react as if when they select their players. This is my FIRST EVER (and not the last) Mock Draft I have ever written for this wonderful website, and I want to base my first edition on what I believe teams should do in the first round if the draft was today. So, here it is, and feel free to leave a comment at the end!
- CAROLINA PANTHERS: BRYCE YOUNG, QB, ALABAMA
Yes, most of the popular draft analysts and credible sources have mentioned C.J. Stroud as the favorite to go #1 since the Panthers traded up to this slot. However, my eyeballs tell me that Bryce Young is by far the most talented QB prospect in this draft, with a generational skillset that translates even better in the NFL. But are the Panthers swayed otherwise just because he is 5’10”? This would be a potential mistake if only based on that trait.
Alabama QB Bryce Young measurements at the Combine:
Height: 5-10 and 1/8th of an inch
Weight: 204 pounds
Hands: 9 and 3/4ths of an inch— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 4, 2023
2. HOUSTON TEXANS: C.J. STROUD, QB, OHIO STATE
Speaking of Stroud, I do believe he brings measurables that are #1 overall pick worthy, and at #2 overall for the Texans to still get that type of QB for DeMeco Ryans‘ debut as a Head Coach is a slam-dunk pick.
3. ARIZONA CARDINALS: WILL ANDERSON JR., EDGE, ALABAMA
By far the best Edge rusher prospect in the draft, Anderson Jr. is ideally suited to play in new Head Coach Jonathan Gannon‘s scheme, who deployed Pro Bowl LB Haason Reddick marvelously in Philadelphia. Anderson Jr. also brings a lot of power and explosiveness as a pass rusher that will definitely be helpful in the desert.
4. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: ANTHONY RICHARDSON, QB, FLORIDA
On traits alone, Richardson should be the #1 pick. But, based on where his skillset is right now as a QB, he lands in the ideal situation. First, new head coach Shane Steichen was the play designer for an Eagles offense that allowed the athletic Jalen Hurts to develop slowly from run-first QB to a tremendous playmaker from the pocket that could’ve won Super Bowl MVP had Philadelphia won the game. A similar approach to developing Richardson on a team that is not too far off from being a playoff contender could turn Richardson into the next Josh Allen in the NFL.
5. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: JALEN CARTER, DT, GEORGIA
Yes, the recent off-the-field issues are really hurting Jalen Carter’s image publically. But, how much do we know that it is really doing the same thing in draft war rooms? Especially with a #1 overall pick talent like Carter, if the Seahawks do their due diligence and are comfortable with how this situation is handled legally by Carter’s representatives, he would fill a huge need inside for them and can rapidly turn their defensive line into a major strength.
6. DETROIT LIONS: TYREE WILSON, DE, TEXAS TECH
What a fun player to have watched developed over the last two years! The gargantuan Wilson has proven to be an elite prospect and was really dominant for 3/4 of the Red Raiders season before he was lost to a season-ending injury. Pairing Wilson with the likes of Defensive Rookie of The Year Aidan Hutchinson, and fast-rising rookie edge rushers James Houston and Josh Paschal, the Detroit Lions would definitely have the makings of a truly dominant pass rush for the next four-to-five years.
Texas Tech Edge – Tyree Wilson
6'6 275lbs
35 5/8'' arm length + 86'' (both should be top edge class) wingspan allows him to consistently create leverage vs. OL.
A Physically dominant people mover, excels in both stopping the run + pass rush. pic.twitter.com/OdgoAOVkYk
— Jared Tokarz (@JaredNFLDraft) January 24, 2023
7. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: CHRISTIAN GONZALEZ, CB, OREGON
Gonzalez gives the Raiders a top-flight shutdown corner prospect to play tight-man coverage the way defensive coordinator Patrick Graham loves his corners to do. Coupled with good on-ball production this past season, Gonzalez has the speed, quick feet, and hips to match any top-notch receiver that he will be tasked to cover.
8. ATLANTA FALCONS: KEION WHITE, EDGE, GEORGIA TECH
To me, White is really underrated. How many 6’5″ 285 lbs defensive linemen can move like a 240 lb edge rusher and be strong like a 300+ lbs defensive tackle? I love White’s mix of speed, power, agility, bend, and tenacity, and I believe he can be coached to be a real difference-maker for the Falcons’ defense.
9. CHICAGO BEARS: LUKAS VAN NESS, EDGE, IOWA
Van Ness would give the Bears a potential athletic top edge rusher to build their defense around to complement the major signings of LBs Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards and a young and budding secondary.
10. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: DEVON WITHERSPOON, CB, ILLINOIS
Witherspoon is an ideal replacement for C.J. Gardner-Johnson as a CB. Although he can be a bit too grabby, his mix of ball skills and elite hitting ability for a CB will be a great fit for the Eagles.
11. TENNESSEE TITANS: DARNELL WRIGHT, RT, TENNESSEE
Wright performed better athletically for such a huge lineman than I thought and I believe his tape shows a player that is not just a prototype but can really become a dominant player as an RT in the NFL. What a pick for the Titans!
Darnell Wright said that he believes he’s a “Top-3” tackle in this year’s NFL Draft class on our recent podcast together.
Wright played 507 pass blocking snaps for the Volunteers last season.
He didn’t allow a SINGLE sack.
Can’t WAIT to see where he goes on Draft night 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Xi8My3TNFz
— Adam Breneman (@AdamBreneman81) March 18, 2023
12. HOUSTON TEXANS: MYLES MURPHY, EDGE, CLEMSON
Although I may not be as high on Murphy as some, I believe he is ideally suited to be developed in a wide-9/attacking scheme that coach DeMeco Ryans ran with the 49ers. He is really fast straight line for his size and can turn the corner in a hurry.
13. NEW YORK JETS: BRODERICK JONES, LT, GEORGIA
Big, mean, burly, and athletic people mover that can move in space and, with more development, could develop into a Trent Williams-type tackle in the Shanahan-style offense the Jets are running.
14. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: PETER SKORONSKI, OL, NORTHWESTERN
Lauded for his five-position flexibility along the offensive line, Skoronski fits the Patriots’ needs and culture thanks to his versatility. I still believe he has the adequate athletic abilities and skillset to be a full-time left tackle in the NFL, and New England is a great situation for him to test this.
15. GREEN BAY PACKERS: LUKE MUSGRAVE, TE, OREGON STATE
Uber-athletic TE prospect who is a Travis Kelce clone and would be an ideal security blanket for new starting QB Jordan Love.
16. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS: DALTON KINCAID, TE, UTAH
Another Travis Kelce-type TE, Kincaid’s play with the Utes will mesh well if new OC Eric Bieniemy implements a Chiefs-like offense that builds around the TE’s skillset to open up the field for the receivers, and Kincaid has that type of skillset to do so.
A converted basketball star, Utah TE Dalton Kincaid is generating a lot of buzz ahead of the NFL Combine. IMHO he is the best pure receiving TE in the Draft. pic.twitter.com/Em0ZfvZXFy
— Kyle Lindemann (@LuckIsMadeFF) February 27, 2023
17. PITTSBURGH STEELERS: DREW SANDERS, LB, ARKANSAS
6’4″ 235 lbs off the ball linebacker who can rush the passer in spades (as evidenced by his 9.5 sacks last season), this sounds like a typical LB in Blitzburgh! He plays with a violent nature and covers a lot of ground in coverage.
18. DETROIT LIONS: MICHAEL MAYER, TE, NOTRE DAME
Talk about biting off your kneecap! This rugged, bruising, Jason Witten-type TE will bring even more toughness to Dan Campbell‘s offense. He is a threat after the catch as well on top of being a bruising blocker.
19. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: PARIS JOHNSON Jr., OT, OHIO STATE
Arguably the best tackle prospect in this draft, Johnson Jr. falls into a situation where the Bucs can leave All-Pro Tristan Wirfs. He can be a Day-1 starter to replace free agent LT Donovan Smith, or as an eventual starter should they re-sign the latter.
20. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: HENDON HOOKER, QB, TENNESSEE
In my opinion, had Hooker not gotten hurt in early November, not only would he have been a Heisman finalist at the minimum, but he probably would be in way more mock drafts as a Top 10 pick, which can still happen (hum hum… Raiders…). If he falls to the Seahawks, what an ideal situation for Hooker to learn under an established veteran QB in Geno Smith, who happens to have a similar skillset to him. The Seahawks love throwing the ball downfield, and Hooker probably has the most beautiful and best deep ball of all the QB prospects in this draft.
21. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS: DARNELL WASHINGTON, TE, GEORGIA
Bijan Robinson is really tempting here, whether or not the Chargers end up trading Austin Ekeler, but this is a really deep RB class. However, the opportunity to land a true anomaly, a 6’7″ 264 lb TE in Washington who is really nimble and athletic for his size (he had the third-best 20-yard shuttle time of all combine participants at 4.08 seconds), he profiles as the ideal middle of the field receiving mismatch and his a whale of a blocker.
Darnell Washington and Cooper Kupp had the same time (4.08) in the 20-yard Shuttle.
Washington weighs 60 pounds more than Kupp. pic.twitter.com/yF6RThglhz
— Alfredo Brown (@ThePretendGM) March 7, 2023
22. BALTIMORE RAVENS: ZAY FLOWERS, WR, BOSTON COLLEGE
The first receiver off the board goes to a team in desperate need to finally landing a homegrown All-Pro receiver, and Flowers has that type of ability. A 5’9″ 180 lb game-changer with a game reminiscent of the likes of Antonio Brown and Steve Smith, Flowers would be a really good complement to incumbent #1 receiver Rashod Bateman to form a dynamic duo for, hopefully, former MVP QB Lamar Jackson.
23. MINNESOTA VIKINGS: JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA, WR, OHIO STATE
Pairing Smith-Njigba in the slot with Justin Jefferson and K.J. Osborn on the outside will be too good for the Vikings to pass up. This has Cooper Kupp-type vibes written all over this pick of JSN.
24. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: BRYAN BRESEE, DT, CLEMSON
Will this pick turn out to be another uber-talented but injury-prone DT prospect like Taven Bryan? Or will it turn out to be another successful Clemson 1st-round pick like QB Trevor Lawrence and RB Travis Etienne? When Bresee is healthy on the field, he is as tough to block as any interior defensive linemen in this draft, outside of Georgia’s Jalen Carter. He would be an ideal 3-tech or 5-tech in the Jaguars’ 3-4 defense.
25. NEW YORK GIANTS: JOEY PORTER Jr., CB, PENN STATE
I strongly believe that the team drafting Joey Porter Jr. should turn their defense or, at least, their coverage schemes, to a Seattle Cover 3 style defense if they are not ready to adapt to Porter Jr.’s skillset. Just let him bump and run, and crowd receivers vertically, and you most likely have the next Richard Sherman for the next 10 years in your secondary.
26. DALLAS COWBOYS: BIJAN ROBINSON, RB, TEXAS
The best RB prospect since Saquon Barkley, Robinson, skillset-wise, is a top-five player in this draft. But given NFL teams’ reluctance to invest a 1st-round pick in an RB, let’s give him to a team bold enough to buck trends. Jerry Jones‘ Cowboys find their next Ezekiel Elliott to complement Pro Bowl RB Tony Pollard and build another elite running game behind a powerful offensive line.
Now all the Cowboys have to do is draft Bijan Robinson pic.twitter.com/3GLzG1PHE6
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) March 19, 2023
27. BUFFALO BILLS: JACK CAMPBELL, LB, IOWA
How do you replace a 6’5″ 250 lb middle linebacker who roams the middle of a defense and forces QBs into unnecessary high throws? You find a younger 6’5″ 250 lb prospect that can come in and do the same things. Although Campbell isn’t at the same level of an athlete that Pro Bowl LB Tremaine Edmunds was for the Bills the past five seasons, he had a tremendous athletic workout, even testing out better than a lot of LBs that were deemed more athletic. Campbell is a no-nonsense, fill-the-lanes LB who is a really good zone dropper, and will seamlessly fit the Bills’ defense.
28. CINCINNATI BENGALS: TUCKER KRAFT, TE, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
Another Elite TE prospect from SD State! But this time, he is not missing the first round. Yes, Kraft was plagued by injuries this past season, but his athletic numbers at the combine and his tape from the past two seasons show a big athletic TE with really good YAC potential. I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up being the George Kittle out of this TE draft class.
29. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: ADETOMIWA ADEBOWARE, DL, NORTHWESTERN
Does being a combine freak equal a worthy first-round pick? I wouldn’t label Adeboware as such. Although he doesn’t boast impressive box score numbers, his play on the field on tape as well as his dominance in practice during the Senior Bowl has me really impressed by the Wildcat. With the Saints, if they end up using him as an Aaron Donald-like 3-tech, it would really help offset the loss of top DT and Canadian standout David Onyemata, who is now with the rival Atlanta Falcons.
30. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: CALIJAH KANCEY, DT, PITTSBURGH
Another team in need to replace a standout interior pass rusher, Kancey would be an ideal 3-tech replacement for Pro Bowl DT Javon Hargrave, whose 11 sacks from the middle of the defense will be tough to replace.
31. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: ANTON HARRISON, LT, OKLAHOMA
How about replacing Orlando Brown Jr. with another former Oklahoma Sooner at LT? Anton Harrison is a powerful and athletic LT prospect who may not even be available by the time the Chiefs pick, even in a strong LT class at the top. He displays tremendous balance and power as a blindside protector, which would be ideal to protect Super Bowl MVP QB Patrick Mahomes.
