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The NFL Draft countdown begins as April ticks by and the NFL Scouting Combine is already in the books. The combine results, pro days, and individual meetings with teams are sure to shake up big boards around the league as they always do, so I tried to projectthose results into this first go-around at a mock.
Blockbuster trades are destined to rattle the first round, as last year we saw draft capital movement along with massive deals including A.J. Brown and Marquise Brown on draft night. I included the blockbuster Chicago-Carolina trade involving the overall number-one pick, but tried to stay away from projected trades for now in later picks.
While the offseason goes on and things start to shake out through free agency and trades, we will start to see a clearer picture of how the NFL landscape will look heading into 2023 and it will become easier to see what needs certain teams will be trying to address on draft night. For now, everything is a mere projection as to how teams may manage their assets. Let's dive in:
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2023 NFL Mock Draft - Round 1
1. Carolina Panthers
Anthony Richardson - QB, Florida
The Panthers fall in love with athletic freak Anthony Richardson after a mouthwatering combine and see flashes of Josh Allen in his game. They orchestrate a blockbuster deal with the Chicago Bears and trade up to select their quarterback of the future that they feel will be the true heir to Cam Newton. This decision splits the Panthers’ fanbase, with more proven QBs like Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud available.
2. Houston Texans
C.J. Stroud - QB, Ohio State
Houston goes quarterback at pick number 2, bringing in Ohio State prospect C.J. Stroud as the quarterback of the future. Following a gutsy performance in the semifinal playoff game against eventual champion Georgia, Stroud silenced any doubts that scouts had about his toughness and mentality towards the game. His 6-3 frame leads Houston to opt for him over Bryce Young.
3. Indianapolis Colts
Projected trade with Arizona Cardinals - IND receives 2023 first-round pick (3) - ARI receives 2023 first-round pick (4), 2024 first-round pick
Bryce Young - QB, Alabama
Indianapolis sees their guy fall to pick three and they don’t want to risk another team trading up into the spot, so they offer up their first-rounder for next season to move up just one spot in the pecking order and select Alabama QB Bryce Young. While Young has a small frame, new coach Shane Steichen is enamored with his athleticism and ability to improvise. He sees flashes of his former quarterback Jalen Hurts and convinces Jim Irsay to go all-in.
4. Arizona Cardinals
Projected trade with Indianapolis Colts - IND receives 2023 first-round pick (3) - ARI receives 2023 first-round pick (4), 2024 first-round pick
Will Anderson Jr. - EDGE, Alabama
Arizona makes the deal of the draft, moving down just one slot and acquiring an extra first-rounder while still getting their guy at pick 4. Alabama prospect Will Anderson Jr. is the menacing type of talent that any franchise would love to add to their pass-rushing corps, and Jonathan Gannon’s vision for the Arizona defense starts to shape up around freak athletes Isaiah Simmons, Budda Baker, and Will Anderson.
5. Seattle Seahawks
Tyree Wilson - EDGE, Texas Tech
Seattle is happy to add Tyree Wilson at pick 5, with the Texas Tech’s measurables popping off the charts. Seattle’s retooling defense could use a burst of youth in the pass-rushing department and Wilson brings just that to the table.
6. Detroit Lions
Brian Branch - S, Alabama
The third Alabama player off the board in the top 6 picks, Brian Branch joins a Detroit defense that started to come into form over the latter part of the season. The pass defense was susceptible to getting burnt early on in the season, but pairing second-year stud Kerby Joseph with Branch creates a dangerous safety duo.
7. Las Vegas Raiders
Quentin Johnston - WR, TCU
TCU receiver Quentin Johnston gives newly-signed Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo another big-bodied but athletic target who should quickly slot in beside Davante Adams. Johnston never recorded eye-popping statistics in college, but he had a number of jaw-dropping plays and his size and skillset should translate to being a top-flight WR in the league.
8. Atlanta Falcons
Will Levis - QB, Kentucky
Atlanta lucks out by staying at pick 8 and grabs a top QB prospect in Will Levis. The Desmond Ridder experiment falls short and the Falcons are left searching for their new franchise guy. Levis has all the measurables and could be eased into the league in Arthur Smith’s run-first offense.
9. Chicago Bears
Jaxon Smith-Njigba - WR, Ohio State
After acquiring this pick (and many more), as well as D.J. Moore from the Carolina Panthers, the Chicago Bears will continue to solidify their receiving corps by selecting WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who immediately fills in as another weapon for Justin Fields in the passing game. Smith-Njigba has all of the tools from crisp route running to speed and separation that should make him a special receiver in this league.
10. Philadelphia Eagles
Lukas Van Ness - EDGE, Iowa
What a luxury pick for the Eagles! Having the number 10 pick fresh off of a Super Bowl appearance is a product of great management, and Philly adds another piece to their stacked pass rushing unit in Iowa EDGE Lukas Van Ness. The mix of size and college production gets Eagles’ fans excited for their new mainstay on the defensive line.
11. Tennessee Titans
Paris Johnson Jr. - OT, Ohio State
The Titans released Taylor Lewan as a cap casualty, and draft his replacement in Ohio State offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. Johnson had tremendous success at Ohio State in both pass blocking and run blocking and fills in nicely from Day 1 on the Tennessee line.
12. Houston Texans
Jordan Addison - WR, USC
Fresh off adding their next face-of-the-franchise in C.J. Stroud, Houston goes and gets him a buddy in former Biletnikoff winner Jordan Addison. Addison has drawn comparisons to Stefon Diggs and should build a rapport with Stroud immediately, while Houston ships off incumbent WR Brandin Cooks to a contending team.
13. New York Jets
Jalen Carter - DL, Georgia
New York swings for the fences and drafts Georgia standout Jalen Carter. An arrest warrant was issued for Carter just this morning for reckless driving and racing and left the combine to go home to Georgia. Carter put a statement out, saying that “there is no question in [his] mind that when all of the facts are known that [he] will be fully exonerated of any criminal wrongdoing.” New York does its due diligence and opts to select Carter with hopes that the legal situation works itself out. If so, they nab a player at pick 13 who otherwise would have been a surefire top 5 selection.
14. New England Patriots
Peter Skoronski - OT, Northwestern
New England is far from a complete team, and they opt to build from the trenches with Northwestern tackle Peter Skoronski. Skoronski was a stud in pass protection in college and slots in as an immediate replacement for Isaiah Wynn, who departs via free agency.
15. Green Bay Packers
Devon Witherspoon - CB, Illinois
Green Bay is likely a rebuilding team with rumblings of a Packers-Rodgers divorce growing louder. They nab Illinois standout Devon Witherspoon here, who can form an elite defensive backfield comboed with Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes. Witherspoon draws comparisons to Sauce Gardner, who just had a historically great rookie season, and if he can come anywhere close to that Green Bay fans will be ecstatic.
16. Washington Commanders
Calijah Kancey - DL, Pittsburgh
Washington already has a loaded defensive line, but sees a potential game-wrecker fall down the board and cannot resist selecting Pittsburgh defensive lineman Calijah Kancey. Ron Rivera follows the mold of other NFC powerhouses such as San Francisco and Philadelphia in building a deep, effective pass rushing unit with this selection.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers
Christian Gonzalez - CB, Oregon
Pittsburgh’s pass defense was horrendous a season ago, but adding Oregon standout Christian Gonzalez should provide immediate production. Gonzalez immediately becomes the most physically talented player in the Steelers’ secondary and fans question how the 6-2 athletic freak fell to them at pick 17.
18. Detroit Lions
Dalton Kincaid - TE, Utah
“But it’ll be different this time, right?” - Lions fans after selecting yet another tight end in Round 1. Dalton Kincaid truly could be different, however. The Utah tight end was a superstar on the field and was by far the most dependable target in his offense. After trading T.J. Hockenson a year ago, Detroit doesn’t have much to work with at the position. Kincaid immediately steps in and becomes a security blanket for Jared Goff in a highly-efficient Detroit offense. Picture him in a Dallas Goedert type of role.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Broderick Jones - OT, Georgia
Tampa Bay was banged up all year long and ultimately is entering a new era with the retirement of Tom Brady. Broderick Jones is a safe pick who should shore up what was an inefficient although injured offensive line in 2022. The Georgia product possesses loads of athleticism and should be ready to pave the way for whoever is under center in Tampa in 2023.
20. Seattle Seahawks
Bryan Bresee - DL, Clemson
Seattle goes defensive line again with their second first rounder, picking Clemson product Bryan Bresee. Bresee’s size and physicality should translate to NFL success and in Seattle he can learn from a physical specimen in Al Woods.
21. Los Angeles Chargers
Jalin Hyatt - WR, Tennessee
This is a pick that will excite fantasy football managers everywhere. The 2022 Biletnikoff Award winner became a household name when he torched Alabama for four touchdowns, and dazzled all season long with his playmaking ability. Justin Herbert is in need of a vertical threat and here, he gets his guy.
22. Baltimore Ravens
Joey Porter Jr. - CB, Penn State
Baltimore has always built through defense. With Marcus Peters heading to free agency, the Ravens replace him effectively with Joey Porter Jr. Porter offers the size and football IQ to be a top corner in the league and Baltimore is pumped to pair him with Marlon Humphrey and Kyle Hamilton in the defensive backfield.
23. Minnesota Vikings
Cam Smith - CB, South Carolina
Minnesota had one of the worst defenses in the league in 2022 and they shoot for a player that they hope can evolve into a shutdown corner in South Carolina prospect Cam Smith. Smith played with physicality while covering top SEC receivers successfully. Minnesota hopes by instilling his aggression into their defense they can start to build something defensively.
24. Jacksonville Jaguars
Michael Mayer - TE, Notre Dame
Evan Engram is set to walk out the door in free agency. Enter Michael Mayer. The Notre Dame prospect played at a high level since his freshman season and while he doesn’t possess elite athleticism or blocking, he does possess elite football IQ and is a guy that can become Trevor Lawrence’s version of Rob Gronkowski.
25. New York Giants
Mazi Smith - DL, Michigan
Brian Daboll took a patched-together New York roster and made the Divisional Round in his first year as a head coach. Here, the Giants grab an elite interior defensive lineman and athlete in Mazi Smith who should absolutely wreck opposing interior lines while paired with Dexter Lawrence.
26. Dallas Cowboys
Bijan Robinson - RB, Texas
This is the pairing we can all see coming. While there have been rumblings of Dallas bringing back both Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard, the smarter move financially might be to move on from both and turn to the draft to bring a replacement in. Bijan Robinson is the best running back prospect we have seen since Saquon Barkley and he would excel in a Dallas uniform.
27. Buffalo Bills
Nathaniel Dell - WR, Houston
Buffalo hopes to score their version of Tyreek Hill in Houston receiver Nathaniel Dell. Every year a player rises up the board with a fast 40 time at the combine, and this year it could be Dell. He offers a similar build to Hill along with strong college production. Buffalo would love to add another playmaker to the offense and elects for Dell with this luxury pick.
28. Cincinnati Bengals
Nolan Smith - EDGE, Georgia
Cincinnati has a lot of expiring contracts to deal with defensively, mostly in the defensive backfield, but elects to add Georgia product Nolan Smith with this pick. Smith is unique in the sense that he can play both EDGE and linebacker, although his NFL skillset projects him as more of an edge rusher, and he could add versatility in the Bengals’ defense with his ability to drop back into coverage.
29. New Orleans Saints
Myles Murphy - EDGE, Clemson
The Saints are back in the first round after trading away former head coach Sean Payton to Denver, and here they go with Clemson product Myles Murphy. New Orleans has needs all over the field on both sides of the ball before they are again a contending club, so they opt for the best-on-the-board approach. Murphy was once viewed as a top-10 prospect for this draft class and the talent is still there. He can learn from one of the best in Cameron Jordan.
30. Philadelphia Eagles
O'Cyrus Torrence - OG, Florida
Philadelphia grabs a plug-and-play guard in O’Cyrus Torrence and can slot him in on the line in place of Isaac Seumalo immediately, saving some cap room for free agency. Torrence has the size and ability to make an immediate impact, especially on a loaded offensive front like that of the Eagles’.
31. Kansas City Chiefs
Dawand Jones - OT, Ohio State
Kansas City has had strong offensive line play the past few seasons, but Andrew Wylie is an impending free agent. Here, they add the physically gifted freak out of Ohio State in Dawand Jones. Jones’ 6-8, 350-pound frame will allow him to dominate on a gifted line while protecting for Patrick Mahomes.
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