The College Football regular season has come to an end, and conference championship weekend is near, so I am here to bring you the first iteration of my 2023 NFL Mock Draft Series. As in 2022, the Mock Draft Series will add one round per iteration with Mock 8.0 coming the night before the 2023 NFL Draft, Live from Kansas City. This mock is built on research done across media in an attempt to hit on the 31 players that are expected to be drafted in Round 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft. Picks will change, Some players may return to school, and Teams will trade between now and April.
Look for more Mock Drafts in the Dynasty Deluxe section under NFL Mock Draft Index. Aside from NFL Mock Draft Data, you can find 2022 Rookie Mock Draft ADP (SuperFlex and 1QB) as well as Dynasty Mock Draft ADP (SuperFlex and 1QB), a Dynasty League Trade Finder App, Rankings, Trade Analyzer, and the Brand New Dynasty Dominator Reloaded.
Round 1 (Pick 1-32)
No. 1 – Houston Texans – Bryce Young, QB – Alabama
The Texans need a lot more than a Quarterback, but starting here will sure up the offense and give them a formidable offensive attack with Dameon Pierce, book-end tackles, and Nico Collins on the outside. Bryce Young is the most talented Quarterback and Player in the 2023 Draft, this wouldn’t be a question if he was simply 10 lbs heavier, remember that.
No. 2 – Chicago Bears – Will Anderson Jr, EDGE – Alabama
The Bears have two 5th, 6th, and 7th-round picks, as well as over $100 million dollars in cap space. After moving on from Khalil Mack, Robert Quinn, and Roquan Smith over the last 10 months. The Bears if picking in the Top 3 will select a pass rusher.
No. 3 – Detroit Lions(via LAR) – Jalen Carter, DL – Georgia
In 2022, Carter’s teammate Travon Walker went No. 1 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Jordan Davis went No. 13 to the Philadelphia Eagles. Carter is a better NFL fit on the defensive line than both – Walker as an athletic specimen was elevated to No. 1 Overall, from a pure talent in the pass-and-run game, Carter takes the cake and elevates the already young and stout Lions front four.
No. 4 – Seattle Seahawks(via DEN) – Bryan Bresee, DT – Clemson
Thanks to the Russell Wilson trade, Seattle finds itself not only at Pick No. 16 but now also at Pick No. 4. On the brink of a Playoff birth, the Seahawks are missing just a few long-term pieces on the surface, the Defensive Line is aging – Shelby Harris(31) , Al Woods(35), Bruce Irvin(35), and Quinton Jefferson(29). Bringing some young life into the Defensive Interior would instantly elevate the Defense. Seattle has used Eight draft picks between Round 1 and 3, on the Defensive Line since 2012.
No. 5 – Carolina Panthers – Myles Murphy, EDGE – Clemson
C.J. Stroud will be a popular pick here over the next 4 months, but the Carolina Panthers have yet to hire a coach for 2023 and beyond. GM, Scott Fitterer has been building a strong defense over the last 4 drafts dating back to 2019 when they selected Brian Burns. NOT Trading Brian Burns at he deadline tells me that they have long-term plans to continue this build and no thought of throwing it away. Just one year ago we saw the Philadelphia Eagles add strength to strength in Round 1, with Jordan Davis. The only hole on the Panther’s defense is adding an interior pass-rusher to replace Matt Ioannidis, an aging veteran. Murphy classifies as an EDGE rusher, but moving him in and out with Yetur Gross-Matos, and next to Derrick Brown will only elevate this young and heavily underrated defensive line.
No. 6 – Philadelphia Eagles(via NO) – Cam Smith, CB – South Carolina
Back on the Clock, with two draft picks in Round 1 yet again. Howie Roseman will be very unhappy if the four picks in front of him fall this way on April 27th. After adding Linval Joseph, Ndamukong Suh, and Robert Quinn IN-Season, it’s clear where he wants to continue to bolster after having a bottom 10 run-defense so far in 2022. If Roseman can’t strike on a Defensive Lineman, he will always consider a trade down, OR grab the best Cornerback on the board to pair with the best duo in the NFL, Darius Slay(31.9), and James Bradberry(29.2). Looking down the line, Slay has void years in 2024, and 2025 that carry a cap hit of $18.015 million. The Eagles’ 2024 cap is currently slated to be well over $250 million.
No. 7 – Arizona Cardinals – Paris Johnson Jr, OT – Ohio State
The gauge from Cardinals fans is that Kliff Kingsbury will be the one on the way out, not Kyler Murray. If Murray is also on the outs, look for C.J. Stroud and Will Levis to be in contention for the No. 7 overall pick. Arizona hasn’t drafted a Tackle or Guard in the first or second rounds since 2015 when D.J. Humphries went 24th overall, and the Offensive Line is suffering because of it.
No. 8 – Green Bay Packers – Jordan Addison, WR – USC
The Packers have a clear need for weapons, after spending 12 of 17 draft picks in Rounds 1 and 2 on the Defense since 2015, the Packers attempted to trade up for Christian Watson into Round 1 of the 2022 Draft. In 2023, they finally address it and they do it early.
No. 9 – Las Vegas Raiders – C.J. Stroud, QB – Ohio State
It just hasn’t worked out for Derek Carr in Las Vegas… or Oakland. The Raiders have a $5.6 Million dollar dead cap OUT in Carr’s contract after the 2022 season that will allow Las Vegas to move on and get Josh McDaniels a quarterback of choice in C.J. Stroud.
No. 10 – Houston Texans(via CLE) – Tyree Wilson, DL – Texas Tech
After selecting Bryce Young at No. 1 overall, the Texans are back on the clock thanks to the Deshaun Watson trade of 2022. The Texans can go in any direction, from Wide Receiver to bolster the Offense and give Young another weapon, or a Cornerback to join the 2022 Top-10 Pick, Derek Stingley. Instead, Houston stays in Texas and takes Tyree Wilson, a super versatile 275lb pass rusher, similar to Trey Flowers or Chandler Jones whom Nick Caserio helped draft in New England.
No. 11 – Jacksonville Jaguars – Kelee Ringo, CB – Georgia
No. 12 – Pittsburgh Steelers – Broderick Jones, OT – Georgia
No. 13 – Detroit Lions – Will Levis, QB – Kentucky
Is there a better spot for Will Levis, than the Detroit Lions? An oddball specimen of a quarterback, with quirky off-field videos and comments. Levis would hypothetically start the season behind Jared Goff, and eventually take over in the latter part of the season or 2024. The minute Levis is draft, his arm will be ranked Top 5 in the NFL from a strength perspective.
No. 14 – Indianapolis Colts – Peter Skoronski, OT – Northwestern
No. 15 – Atlanta Falcons – Joey Porter Jr, CB – Penn State
No. 16 – Seattle Seahawks – Christian Gonzalez, CB – Oregon
No. 17 – Los Angeles Chargers – Quentin Johnston, WR – TCU
Quentin Johnston Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
No. 18 – New England Patriots – Kayshon Boutte, WR – LSU
No. 19 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jared Verse, EDGE – Florida State
No. 20 – Washington Commanders – Trenton Simpson, LB – Clemson
No. 21 – Baltimore Ravens – Andre Carter II, EDGE – Army
No. 22 – New York Jets – Isaiah Foskey, DL – Notre Dame
No. 23 – Cincinnati Bengals – Brian Branch, S – Alabama
No. 24 – New York Giants – Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR – Ohio State
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
