2023 NFL Mock Draft 4.0 (Post-Combine Edition)! Returning from being on the road for three weeks out of four is brutal. I’m sleep deprived, full of booze, but surprisingly still below my average body weight. So, at least I’m doing better than Bryce Young.
Indianapolis was a great time, but an even better information source… with interviews on Tuesday through Saturday at 8 am each day, sometimes spanning to 6 pm in the evening. My notepad is extremely over-packed, and with that, I will drop some notes in this 4-Round Mock Draft, but I will also save some for the 2023 NFL Draft Rookie Guide as well as the D.A.W.G. Rating Article that will come out around the same time as the Rookie Guide. Since Mock Draft 3.0, over the next few weeks, preliminary and official Breakout Finder Ratings will be released, the NFL Draft Rookie Guide v.1 will be formulated, and Mock Draft 4.0 is here now, among other things.
Mock Draft 4.0 is back to the basics of research and conversation. These mocks include data on the 31 players that are expected to be drafted in Round 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft. Mock Draft 3.0 was who I, Cody Carpentier, would draft if I was General Manager for EACH NFL team with no trades involved. However, Mock Draft 4.0 is a culmination of communication with some folks in Indianapolis and research I have done since my return. If you enjoy it, feel free to share and leave a comment on Twitter @CarpentierNFL.
Be sure to subscribe to patreon.com/CarpentierNFL for dynasty and draft questions, exclusive opportunities to mock draft with me, and unfiltered backstage episodes!
Round 1 (Pick 1-32)
No. 1 – Las Vegas Raiders – C.J. Stroud, QB – Ohio State
Rumored to be “out” on Aaron Rodgers, I do not see Josh McDaniels actually trading for Mac Jones, or starting Jarrett Stidham while McDaniel’s head coaching career lies on the chopping block. I have the Raiders moving up, making Al Davis proud, and taking the quarterback that is good enough.
No. 2 – Houston Texans – Bryce Young, QB – Alabama
The Texans have two first rounds of picks in the 2023 and 2024 NFL Drafts. In Mock 3.0, I placed Will Anderson here at pick No. 2 because I felt grabbing a quarterback or offensive lineman at No. 12 was ideal. All conversation points toward DeMeco Ryans taking over the defense, while Bryce Young catapults the offense.
No. 3 – Arizona Cardinals – Will Anderson, EDGE – Alabama
The one thing Arizona “should” do…. trade back. Instead, they take the biggest need, EDGE Rusher.
No. 4 – Indianapolis Colts – Will Levis, QB – Kentucky
I have the Colts standing pat, and taking the best quarterback available. This has to be the motto for Indianapolis and is what everyone left the Combine saying last week.
No. 5 – Carolina Panthers – Anthony Richardson, QB – Florida
Frank Reich needs a quarterback, and Scott Fitterer needs to save his job – take the project at quarterback and HOPE he is the second coming of Cam Newton.
No. 6 – Detroit Lions(via LAR) – Christian Gonzalez, CB – Oregon
On paper, this pick may garner a ton of flack. Gonzalez is a phenomenal athlete, and Detroit needs help on the back end. I wouldn’t be against any of the following four edge rushers, however.
No. 7 – Chicago Bears – Jalen Carter, DL – Georgia
The Bears move back from No.1 and still get the best player in the draft and the player they covet. Many think this is a La’el Collins situation. However, there are still six weeks for the NFL and teams to investigate, and there is no current thought that Carter “could” be indicted on murder, similar to what Collins was dealing with.
No. 8 – Atlanta Falcons – Myles Murphy, EDGE – Clemson
No. 9 – Seattle Seahawks(via DEN) – Tyree Wilson, EDGE – Texas Tech
Seattle moves down… shocker! And Schneider grabs the long, rangy inefficient edge rusher out of Texas Tech to fill a big void on defense.
No. 10 – Philadelphia Eagles(via NO) – Lukas Van Ness, EDGE – Iowa
With Fletcher Cox, Javon Hargrave, Ndamukong Suh, and Linval Joseph all entering free agency, they need to add talent to the interior. The Eagles are currently over the cap with other areas to focus on. After drafting Jordan Davis in Round 1 of 2022 and Milton Williams in Round 3 of 2021, the Eagles need to continue to add to the defensive line. Van Ness never started a game at Iowa, but he is “bout that action” on the defensive line and would fit the Philly mold well!
No. 11 –Tennessee Titans – Paris Johnson Jr. OT – Ohio State
The pick stays the same, this is The Taylor Lewan replacement.
No. 12 – Houston Texans(via CLE) – Peter Skoronski, OT – Northwestern
Time to start protecting the smaller quarterback in NFL history, since Doug Flutie. Skoronski can start at Guard on Day 1, and move outside if Laremy Tunsil departs.
No. 13 – New York Jets – Nolan Smith, EDGE – Georgia
Robert Salah grabs his Fred Warner-type in New York. Smith has the ability to move off of the EDGE and play outside in space.
No. 14 – New England Patriots – Broderick Jones, OT – Georgia
No. 15 – Green Bay Packers – Darnell Wright, OT – Tennessee
No. 16 – Washington Commanders – Joey Porter Jr, CB – Penn State
Washington needs cornerback and offensive line help, Joey Porter Jr. is all but a Pittsburgh Steeler already… *Lee Corso Voice* “not so fast my friend”, as Washington swoops in to snipe the Steelers.
No. 17 – Pittsburgh Steelers – Jordan Addison, WR – USC
No. 18 – Detroit Lions – Quentin Johnston, WR – TCU
Quentin Johnston Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
No. 19 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Devon Witherspoon, CB – Illinois
No. 20 – Seattle Seahawks – Kelee Ringo, CB – Georgia
The trio of Kelee Ringo and Tariq Woolen, with Coby Bryant inside.. the NFC West is a shoo-in to stay near the top of the NFL in competitiveness for the next decade.
No. 21 – Los Angeles Chargers – Zay Flowers, WR – Boston College
Zay Flowers is a lock of all locks to be a 1st round pick and Top 25 at that. There are thoughts, and rumors that Top-15 is in his range of outcomes, but I’m not confident enough at this point with the depth at Quarterback, Offensive Line, and Defensive Line to put him in that conversation.
No. 22 – Baltimore Ravens – Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR – Ohio State
General Manager Eric DeCosta didn’t mince words last week at the podium while talking about the “struggles” of finding an All-Pro Wide Receiver, explaining that they were just going to continue” refining their processes and learning”.
No. 23 – Minnesota Vikings – Bryan Bresee, DL – Clemson
No. 24 – Jacksonville Jaguars – Cam Smith, CB – South Carolina
The Jacksonville Jaguars moved on from C.J. Henderson, and have recently released Shaquill Griffin. They need bodies, but not only bodies, they need Talent at the Cornerback position.
No. 25 – New York Giants – O’Cyrus Torrence, OL – Florida
No. 26 – Dallas Cowboys – Bijan Robinson, RB – Texas
If you thought Jerry Jones had money, how about the Texas Longhorn boosters… they want Bijan to stay in Texas, as much as anyone. Ezekiel Elliott has taken his last snaps in a Dallas uniform, Tony Pollard is franchise tagged for the 2023 season. Pollard and Robinson will run the show in 2023 before Bijan takes over the throwback Ezekiel Elliott role in 2024.
No. 27 – Buffalo Bills – Drew Sanders, LB – Arkansas
No. 28 – Cincinnati Bengals – Deonte Banks, CB – Maryland
No. 29 – New Orleans Saints(via DEN via SF) – Adetomiwa Adebawore, DL – Northwestern
Multiple sources inside organizations, prefer Adebawore to Calijah Kancey… take that for what you will.
No. 30 – Philadelphia Eagles – Cody Mauch, OL – North Dakota State
The toughest prospect to place in Round 1, but he is a borderline lock as well. Mauch can play all 5 positions, and landing in Philadelphia would be a dream for both parties as he can learn from legends, play in year one and potentially move to Right Tackle in the coming years.
No. 31 – Kansas City Chiefs – Anton Harrison, OT – Oklahoma
Orlando Brown and Andrew Wylie are Free Agents. Time to Reload and protect the half-billion-dollar man.
Round 2 (Pick 32-63)
No. 32 – Pittsburgh Steelers(via CHI) – Keion White, EDGE – Georgia Tech
No. 33 – Houston Texans – Jalin Hyatt, WR – Tennessee
Running a 4.40-forty yard dash did Hyatt no favors, however, he was still tied for 1st in over MPH during the 40. Multiple NFL evaluators had Hyatt ranked no.1, entering the week.
No. 34 – Arizona Cardinals – John Michael Schmitz, OC – Minnesota
No. 35 – Indianapolis Colts – Josh Downs, WR – North Carolina
No. 36 – Los Angeles Rams – Calijah Kancey, DT – Pittsburgh
No. 37 – Seattle Seahawks(via DEN) – Hendon Hooker, QB – Tennessee
No. 38 – Las Vegas Raiders – Jaelyn Duncan, OT – Maryland
No. 39 – Carolina Panthers – Felix Anudike-Uzomah, EDGE – Kansas State
We asked four Big-12 Offensive Lineman, WHO was the most difficult player to play against this year? 4 said Felix Anudike-Uzomah, and 0 said Tyree Wilson.
No. 40 – New Orleans Saints – Kayshon Boutte, WR – LSU
No. 41 – Tennessee Titans – Jack Campbell, LB – Iowa
No. 42 – Cleveland Browns – Will McDonald, EDGE – Iowa State
No. 43 – New York Jets – Brian Branch, S – Alabama
No. 44 – Atlanta Falcons – Rashee Rice, WR – SMU
No. 45 – Green Bay Packers – Michael Mayer, TE – Notre Dame
The first Tight End comes off the board at 45. Not because I think 45 is the spot, or that nobody will go inside the Top 25/35, but because teams are not sure how to value Tight End at this point, the last 9 years have been a doozy. “I would not be surprised if Mayer is available at pick 27,” said one evaluator.
"I would not be surprised if Mayer is available at 27"
Last 9 years of 1st Round Tight Ends 💎
2022 – N/A
2021 – 4th – Kyle Pitts
2020 – N/A
2019 – 8th – TJ Hockenson
2019 – 20th – Noah Fant
2018 – 25th – Hayden Hurst
2017 – 19th – OJ Howard
2017 – 23rd – Evan Engram
2017 -… pic.twitter.com/cOlat6mseO— ᴄᴏᴅʏ ᴄᴀʀᴘᴇɴᴛɪᴇʀ (@CodyCarpentier) March 7, 2023
No. 46 – New England Patriots – Dalton Kincaid, TE – Utah
No. 47 – Washington Commanders – Dawand Jones, OT – Ohio State
No. 48 – Detroit Lions – Derick Hall, EDGE – Auburn
No. 49 – Pittsburgh Steelers – Trenton Simpson, LB – Clemson
No. 50 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Antonio Johnson, S – Texas A&M
No. 51 – Miami Dolphins – Darnell Washington, TE – Georgia
No. 52 – Seattle Seahawks – Daiyan Henley, LB – Washington State
No. 53 – Chicago Bears(via BAL) – Jahmyr Gibbs, RB – Alabama
No. 54 – Los Angeles Chargers – Emmanuel Forbes, CB – Mississippi State
No. 55 – Detroit Lions(via MIN) – Chris Smith, S – Georgia
No. 56 – Jacksonville Jaguars – Cedric Tillman, WR – Tennessee
No. 57 – New York Giants – Zach Charbonnet, RB – UCLA
Spending a second-round pick on a running back is a good idea if you have no intentions of Saquon Barkley sticking around past 2023.
No. 58 – Dallas Cowboys – Darius Rush, CB – South Carolina
No. 59 – Buffalo Bills – Luke Musgrave, TE – Oregon State
No. 60 – Cincinnati Bengals – Sydney Brown, S – Illinois
No. 61 – Carolina Panthers(via SF) – Joe Tippmann, OL – Wisconsin
No. 62 – Philadelphia Eagles – Tyrique Stevenson, CB – Miami (FL)
No. 63 – Kansas City Chiefs – Mazi Smith, DT – Michigan
Round 3 (Pick 64-102)
No. 64 – Chicago Bears – Matthew Bergeron, OL – Syracuse
No. 65 – Houston Texans – Devon Achane, RB – Texas A&M
Devon Achane Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
No. 66 – Arizona Cardinals – Blake Freeland, OT – BYU
No. 67 – Denver Broncos (via IND) – Steve Avila, OL – TCU
No. 68 – Denver Broncos – B.J. Ojuari, EDGE – LSU
No. 69 – Los Angeles Rams – Clark Phillips, CB – Utah
No. 70 – Las Vegas Raiders – Tyler Scott, WR – Cincinnati
No. 71 – New Orleans Saints – D.J. Turner, CB – Michigan
No. 72 – Tennessee Titans – Parker Washington, WR – Penn State
No. 73 – Houston Texans (via CLE) – Isaiah Foskey, EDGE – Notre Dame
No. 74 – New York Jets – Olusegun Oluwatimi, C – Michigan
No. 75 – Atlanta Falcons – Nathanial “Tank” Dell, WR – Houston
Damiere Byrd, Olamide Zaccheaus…. meet Tank Dell. Pulling Safeties deep, will allow Drake London and Kyle Pitts a little more separation underneath, giddy up!
No. 76 – New England Patriots (via CAR) – Eli Ricks, CB – Alabama
No. 77 – Miami Dolphins (via NE) – Tyjae Spears, RB – Tulane
No. 78 – Green Bay Packers – Marvin Mims, WR – Oklahoma
No. 79 – Indianapolis Colts (via WAS) – Byron Young, EDGE – Tennessee
No. 80 – Pittsburgh Steelers – J.L. Skinner, S – Boise State
No. 81 – Detroit Lions – Keeanu Benton, DL – Wisconsin
No. 82 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Siaki Ika, DL – Baylor
No. 83 – Seattle Seahawks – Jayden Reed, WR – Michigan State
Jayden Reed Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
No. 84 – Miami Dolphins – Kyu Blu Kelly, CB – Stanford
No. 85 – Los Angeles Chargers – Jordan Battle, S – Alabama
No. 86 – Baltimore Ravens – Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, CB – TCU
No. 87 – Minnesota Vikings – Julius Brents, CB – Kansas State
No. 88 – Jacksonville Jaguars – Ryan Hayes, OT – Michigan
No. 89 – New York Giants – Jonathan Mingo, WR – Ole Miss
No. 90 – Dallas Cowboys – Luke Wypler, OL – Ohio State
No. 91 – Buffalo Bills – Gervon Dexter, DL – Florida
No. 92 – Cincinnati Bengals – Sam LaPorta, TE – Iowa
No. 93 – Carolina Panthers(via SF) – Riley Moss, CB – Iowa
No. 94 – Philadelphia Eagles – Trey Palmer, WR – Nebraska
The D.A.W.G. of the 2023 Draft Class, replacing Quez Watkins in Philadelphia?
No. 95 – Kansas City Chiefs – Wanya Morris, OT – Oklahoma
No. 96 – *Arizona Cardinals – Michael Wilson, WR – Stanford
No. 97 – *Washington Commanders – Andrei Iosivas, WR – Princeton
No. 98 – *Cleveland Browns – Charlie Jones, WR – Purdue
Charlie Jones was the best route runner in Indianapolis, despite being 25 years old, I think we have something in “Charlie-Football” – Alex Dunlap
No. 99 – *San Francisco 49ers – Andre Carter, EDGE – Army
No. 100 – *New York Giants – Tuli Tuipulotu, DL – USC
No. 101 – *San Francisco 49ers – Jartavius Martin, S – Illinois
No. 102 – *San Francisco 49ers – Mekhi Blackmon, CB – USC
Round 4 (Pick 103-135)
No. 103 – Chicago Bears – Xavier Hutchinson, WR – Iowa State
No. 104 – Houston Texans – Jaylon Jones, CB – Texas A&M
No. 105 – Arizona Cardinals – Roschon Johnson, RB – Texas
No. 106 – Indianapolis Colts – Jaxson Kirkland, OT – Washington
No. 107 – New England Patriots – Tre Tucker, WR – Cincinnati
No. 108 – Denver Broncos – Bryce Ford-Wheaton, WR – West Virginia
Bryce Ford-Wheaton Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
No. 109 – Las Vegas Raiders – Emil Ekiyor, OL – Alabama
No. 110 – Atlanta Falcons – Tank Bigsby, RB – Auburn
No. 111 – Cleveland Browns – Mike Morris, DL – Michigan
No. 112 – New York Jets – Tucker Kraft, TE – South Dakota State
No. 113 – Atlanta Falcons – Owen Pappoe, LB – Auburn
No. 114 – Carolina Panthers – Ivan Pace, LB – Cincinnati
No. 115 – New Orleans Saints – Zach Evans, RB – Ole Miss
No. 116 – Green Bay Packers – Zach Harrison, EDGE – Ohio State
No. 117 – New England Patriots – Chase Brown, RB – Illinois
No. 118 – Washington Commanders – DeMarvion Overshown, LB – Texas
No. 119 – Minnesota Vikings – Kendre Miller, RB – TCU
No. 120 – Pittsburgh Steelers – Zacch Pickens, DL – South Carolina
No. 121 – Jacksonville Jaguars – Isaiah McGuire, DL – Missouri
No. 122 – Kansas City Chiefs – Dontayvion Wicks, WR – Virginia
No. 123 – Seatle Seahawks – Jarrett Patterson, OL – Notre Dame
No. 124 – Baltimore Ravens – Eric Gray, RB – Oklahoma
No. 125 – Los Angeles Chargers – K.J. Henry, EDGE – Clemson
No. 126 – Cleveland Browns – Dee Winters, LB – TCU
No. 127 – Jacksonville Jaguars – Jammie Robinson, S – Florida State
No. 128 – New York Giants – Zack Kuntz, TE – Old Dominion
No. 129 – Dallas Cowboys – Elijah Higgins, WR/TE – Stanford
No. 130 – Buffalo Bills – Israel Abanikanda, RB – Pittsburgh
No. 131 – Cincinnati Bengals – Evan Hull, RB – Northwestern
No. 132 – Carolina Panthers – Jacob Copeland, WR – Maryland
No. 133 – Chicago Bears – Andrew Vorhees, OL – USC
No. 134 – Kansas City Chiefs – Deuce Vaughn, RB – Kansas State
No. 135 – New England Patriots – Brandon Joseph, S – Notre Dame
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