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2023 NFL MOCK DRAFT V1

Updated: Apr 11, 2023

1. CAR PANTHERS:

BRYCE YOUNG, QB, ALABAMA

This guy is everything you want in your starting QB and more.. especially mentally. He comes from the Saban system, he's smart, he makes plays off schedule, and has played under the bright lights for 3 seasons. However his size has given teams pause and there wasn't exactly the same amount of winning in Tuscaloosa as in years past. All the great QBs have the ability to get a team to rally around them and I see that trait in spades here! He'll also be surrounded by an extremely talented coaching staff which features Frank Reich, Luke McCown, and Jim Caldwell.



2. HOU TEXANS:

ANTHONY RICHARDSON, QB, FLORIDA

Its going to take some smart maneuvering and some guts to make this happen but after ARs combine performance they should be able to see the talent. Richardson had the most impressive combine for a QB in quite sometime, maybe ever, and Houston should be chomping at the bit to draft this guy. DeMeco Ryans will have a leg up as he starts his Head Coaching career with Richardson and his explosiveness under center.


3. ARI CARDINALS:

WILL ANDERSON JR., EDGE, ALABAMA

Arizona has quite a few weak spots on the roster and it would be smart for them to trade this pick for multiple high end picks. They need to be drafting 3-4 times in the top 100 to hit the ground running on this rebuild. Securing Anderson Jr. is a tremendous first step and new head coach Jonathan Gannon has a defensive background so it would make sense.


4. IND COLTS:

CJ STROUD, QB, OHIO STATE

Trying to guess what Jim Irsay is going to do is not something I'm going to have success with. So the next best thing is to go with the QB prospect I like best and who's still on the board, that being CJ Stroud. Shane Steichen will be the third, "first year with team" head coach to be paired with a rookie QB. Carolina seems to have the most stable tandem, while Houston has the biggest boom or bust pairing. Where does that leave the Colts with their new HC-Rookie QB tandem?? Time will tell but Steichen's success with Jalen Hurts in Philly sure helps ease the stress in Indianapolis. He has the athleticism needed to run any quarterback motion or bootleg that is seen in today’s game.


5. SEA SEAHAWKS:

TYREE WILSON, EDGE, TEXAS TECH

Wilson is an absolute freak at 6'5 278lbs but I feel teams will be reluctant because he may not fit as an EDGE rusher or interior lineman perfectly. Pete Carroll is too smart to let a player of his size, athleticism, and motor pass him by.


6. DET LIONS:

MYLES MURPHY, EDGE, CLEMSON

Detriot keeps loading up in the trenches. They are able to pair second overall pick Aiden Hutchinson with an absolute beast in Myles Murphy. Dan Campbell is building a special roster in Detroit Rock City!!


7. LV RAIDERS:

JALEN CARTER, DT, GEORGIA

After an automobile accident that occurred the day Georgia was to be celebrating their newly won National Championship (two members of the team lost their lives). Right at the center of this incident is Jalen Carter, it will be interesting to see how far down he will slide now that his involvement and subsequent lies have surfaced. Anyone with a soul feels sorry for this kid but it has to raise red flags (red flashing lights) and how will he be able to deal with this tragedy mentally while trying to become an NFL star.


8. ATL FALCONS:

PARIS JOHNSON JR., OT, OHIO STATE

Atlanta could go a lot of different ways here, even QB. Ultimately I suspect they will jump at the chance to get a franchise Left Tackle and give Desmond Ridder a real shot to be the starting QB in Hotlanta.


9. CHI BEARS:

BIJAN ROBINSON, RB, TEXAS

This is an absolute Home Run pick for the Bears. Robinson has excellent short-area athleticism. He’s extremely fluid between cuts, very light on his feet, and carries acceleration from lateral to vertical mode extremely well. The Texas RB can cut and sink his hips with rapid quickness. This pairing with Justin Fields along with newly acquired WR DJ Moore gives Chicagos offense some real bite.


10. PHI EAGLES:

NOLAN SMITH, EDGE, GEORGIA

The Eagles are doing what they do best by getting younger while reloading their defensive line. Smith won the NFL Combine. The former five-star recruit's 4.39-second 40-yard dash was the second-fastest time of any edge rusher since 2003 and his eye-popping vertical leap was also best in show.


11. TEN TITANS:

WILL LEVIS, QB, KENTUCKY

Tennessee took a chance on Malik Willis last year after he dropped to the 3rd round. He did start some games and looked terribly lost and unprepared. Now reports out of Tennessee saying he's fallen out of favor along with the newly hired GM looking to make his mark, you'd have to think Willis is a goner. So using a mulligan in this years Draft isn't the worst thing in the world especially in the 1st round this time.


12. HOU TEXANS:

DEVON WITHERSPOON, CB, ILLINOIS

I believe Houston covets Brian Branch but those damn Eagles ruin their plans so they take the best CB in a loaded class. After getting what they hope is the franchise QB, DeMeco Ryans gets busy building a dominant defense. Pairing Witherspoon with last years 3rd overall pick Derek Stingley Jr. gives Houston a young, exciting, and extremely athletic corner tandem.


13. NY JETS:

PETER SKORONSKI, OT, NORTHWESTERN

For once Rodgers sees his team draft a player in the first round that will have an impact on him in a positive way. Green Bay really wants this pick but I don't see that happening. Instead New York adds a special rookie tackle that can start Week 1.


14. NE PATRIOTS:

QUENTIN JOHNSTON, WR, TCU

The first WR off the board being Johnston may come as a surprise. With measurables mirroring Randy Moss and the athleticism to go with it, the Patriots make a pick that can right the ship of this struggling offense. Getting Mac Jones right and surrounding him with as much talent as possible will be the deciding factor on how far they go.


15. GB PACKERS:

JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA, WR, OHIO STATE

Just a year too late for Green Bay to say they drafted a WR in the first round with Aaron Rodgers at QB. While they never did it for 12 they will do what they can to help Jordan Love hit the the ground running. Smith-Njigba is strictly a slot WR at this point but he'll fit in with Watson and Doubs.


16. WAS COMMANDERS:

CHRISTIAN GONZALEZ, CB, OREGON

I think Porter Jr is the second best CB in this draft class but it's damn close with Gonzalez. If the Commandeers hit on this pick they have the makings of a special defense at all three levels.


17. PIT STEELERS:

JOEY PORTER JR., CB, PENN STATE

The Steelers love nothing more than keeping things in the family and dealing with people they're familiar with. So they jump at the chance to draft former Linebacker and coach Joey Porters son. It just so happens they have a hole at CB to fill and Porter Jrs aggressive, press man style goes perfectly with Pittsburghs system.


18. DET LIONS:

MICHAEL MAYER, TE, NOTRE DAME

This years TE class is the best I've seen in recent history and it will be Mayer that comes of the board first. Detroit used free agency to sign some solid veteran defensive backs and they used their pick earlier in the first round to solidify the defensive line. After trading Hockenson last season they can restart the clock on a talented TE on a rookie deal.


19. TB BUCS:

DEONTE BANKS, CB, MARYLAND

Tampa Bay needs CBs badly and they'll have the pick of the litter when it comes to the second tier of them. After the top 3 are off the board it can go so many directions it will be interesting to see. For now I like Banks as the best of that second tier.


20. SEA SEAHAWKS:

JOHN MICHAEL SCHMITZ, C, MINNESOTA

Seattle knocked last years draft out of the park. They get off to a terrific start in this years draft by getting an EDGE rusher early and then using this pick to shore up the middle of their offensive line. Schmitz took a ton of snaps for Minnesota and comes in with as much of a veteran mindset for a rookie as possible.


21. LA CHARGERS

DALTON KINCAID, TE, UTAH

Everyone is waiting for the Chargers to officially breakout and announce they have arrived as contenders. I believe they have most parts in place on defense. So stacking more and more weapons on offense will give them the firepower they need to compete with the reigning champs in KC.


22. BAL RAVENS:

O'CYRUS TORRENCE, G, FLORIDA

This pick can go so many different ways and although it would be exciting for them to take Zay Flowers or a TE to pair with Andrews, thats just not Baltimores way. Torrence is the best interior offensive lineman in this draft and he will pair nicely with last years 1st round pick Tyler Linderbaum. That run game will have another top 5 season if Lamar is back.


23. MN VIKINGS:

JORDAN ADDISON, WR, USC

Minnesota sweats it out as they see WRs, CBs, and EDGEs come off the board. Addison is a tremendous talent and will do a lot to fill the shoes Theilen left empty. Jefferson, Addison, and Osborn is a terrific trio especially with an offensive minded head coach.


24. JAX JAGUARS:

KELEE RINGO, CB, GEORGIA

Jacksonville adds to their secondary with one of the bigger boom or bust players in the draft. In all phases of coverage, the Georgia CB goes to battle with aggression and a physical presence.


25. NY GIANTS:

CLARK PHILLIPS III, CB, UTAH

With the rare ability to play bigger than his actual size I really like this pick for an up and coming defense. As a former wide receiver, Phillips displays impressive ball skills, which he routinely uses to disrupt the ball at the catch point.


26. DAL COWBOYS:

BRODERICK JONES, OT, GEORGIA


27. BUF BILLS:

CALIJAH KANCEY, DL, PITTSBURGH

Calijah Kancey is a terrific athlete with huge upside, but he's raw at the moment. Buffalo needs to add as much talent as possible on the defensive side to match their potent offense.


28. CIN BENGALS:

LUKAS VAN NESS, EDGE, IOWA

Cincy has done a great job solidifying their offensive line and don't have many holes to fill on that side of the ball. So they go defense and get a guy who can come in and be a game wrecker from Day 1. He has a relentless motor, but is a bit raw. He was a great performer at the combine.


29. NO SAINTS:

BRYAN BRESEE, DI, CLEMSON

The Saints sit back and get their guy. Bresee’s burst and power, in conjunction, can obliterate run plays. The Clemson DT has elite power capacity and can leverage his explosiveness and superb length into brutal knock-back power. Other teams are scared off with injury history so we'll have to see how this pans out.


30. PHI EAGLES:

BRIAN BRANCH, DB, ALABAMA

Brian Branch has nice size and cover ability. He can play anywhere in the secondary. Philadelphia lost CJ Gardner-Johnson to Detroit in free agency so they have a hole to fill. They have to be thrilled to get Branch this late in the first round.


31. KC CHIEFS:

DAWAND JONES, OT, OHIO STATE

The Chiefs replaced Orlando Brown with Jawaan Taylor, but they suddenly have a big hole at right tackle that they will need to fill. Insert one of the top tackles in the draft that played from the right side in college. Another great plug and play for the Chiefs.



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