The 2023 NFL draft is fast approaching, and the first round is starting to take shape with the first couple waves of free agency in the rearview mirror.
The top pick in the draft has already changed with the Panthers acquiring the No. 1 selection from the Bears for an assortment of picks while trading DJ Moore to Chicago. We could also see more trades before Carolina goes on the clock April 27 in Kansas City.
FanNation publishers conducted their first of two mock drafts, with five quarterbacks coming off the board. And the biggest surprise of the round came at No. 13, where the Jets are picking as of now.
So let’s get to the mock.
Jordan Prather/USA TODAY Sports (Will Levis); Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports (Will Anderson Jr.); Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY Network (C.J. Stroud)
(Note: There are only 31 selections because the Dolphins were stripped of their first-round pick for tampering with Tom Brady and Sean Payton.)
1
Carolina Panthers (from Chicago)Pick: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
Analysis: Bryce Young may be the better of the two quarterbacks right now, but it won’t remain that way for long. Frank Reich has assembled a quality, experienced coaching staff which should accelerate the development of Stroud, ultimately making him the better and most ideal option. By taking Stroud, the Panthers get the most accurate QB in the class. Plus, how many successful 5'10" quarterbacks have there been in the history of the NFL? — Schuyler Callihan, All Panthers
2
Houston TexansPick: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
Analysis: There have been mixed reports coming out of Houston, but anything other than a quarterback would be a surprise. With Stroud off the board, the Texans select Young, whose intelligence, accuracy and off-script playmaking could help new coach DeMeco Ryans get off to a fast start. — Daniel Flick, Texans Daily
3
Arizona CardinalsPick: Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama
Analysis: Make no mistake, the Cardinals are trading out of this pick. Yet for the sake of this mock draft, we’ll make perhaps the easiest selection of the draft with Anderson arriving to a Cardinals team without J.J. Watt and Zach Allen, who accounted for exactly half of their 36 sacks from last year. The Cardinals need help everywhere, but especially in the front seven. Anderson could be the cornerstone defensive player to help turn the tide in Arizona. — Donnie Druin, All Cardinals
4
Indianapolis ColtsPick: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
Analysis: The Colts get their guy. Richardson has soared up draft boards since the combine in Indy, where his numbers were off the chart. New coach Shane Steichen has his QB to build around. — Chad Jensen, Horseshoe Huddle
5
Seattle Seahawks (from Denver)
Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports
Pick: Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
Analysis: Despite the controversy surrounding Carter, his agent Drew Rosenhaus believes he will be a top-10 pick. He fits like a glove with the Seahawks, who allowed the third-most rushing yards in the league last season. Plugging Carter into the defensive line should provide an immediate upgrade for the Seahawks. — Jeremy Brener, All Seahawks
6
Detroit Lions (from L.A. Rams)Pick: Tyree Wilson, DL, Texas Tech
Analysis: The Lions solidify their defensive line with the selection of Wilson. The talented defensive lineman is a sheer force due to his size and strength. Detroit’s defense is seeking to rush the passer and stop the run, which became a weakness at times last season. In a critical contest against the Panthers late in the season, Detroit’s defensive line had no answers for the Panthers’ rushing attack. With an improved defense, the Lions can meet their lofty goals in 2023. — John Maakaron, All Lions
7
Las Vegas RaidersPick: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
Analysis: The Raiders are desperate for additional help in the secondary. If they are unable to make a trade, they select the best cornerback in the draft. The athletic corner has a short memory, smooth hips, and excellent hand-eye coordination. — Hondo S. Carpenter, Sr., Raider Maven
8
Atlanta FalconsPick: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
Analysis: The Falcons have built a strong foundation in their secondary with cornerback A.J. Terrell and safeties Jessie Bates III and Richie Grant. In Witherspoon, Atlanta’s getting a feisty player who fits the mold of past corners coached by the staff, helping create a young, competitive secondary to aid the pass defense. — Daniel Flick, Falcon Report
9
Chicago Bears (from Carolina)Pick: Paris Johnson Jr., T, Ohio State
Analysis: No one in the league got sacked more than Justin Fields in 2022 (55) and Johnson can help stop this. He might be the best pure tackle in the draft with 36-inch arms, about 4 inches longer than Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski. The Bears only need to figure out whether to use Johnson on the left side or the right side. — Gene Chamberlain, BearDigest
10
Philadelphia Eagles (from New Orleans)Pick: Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern
Analysis: After losing starting right guard Isaac Seumalo to Pittsburgh in free agency, the Eagles have a hole on their offensive line. Skoronski, a tackle in college, has been projected by some to kick inside and has a good chance of being a Day 1 starter on a team eager to get another crack at the Super Bowl. — Daniel Flick, Eagles Today
11
Tennessee TitansPick: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR., Ohio State
Analysis: The Titans have a lot of needs in a year of transition, but starting a wide receiver is a no-brainer. Smith-Njigba has the great Ohio State wide receiver pedigree, and we’ve already seen what Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave have done in the league. He’ll be the Titans’ WR1 from Day 1. — Tom Brew, All Titans
12
Houston Texans (from Cleveland)Pick: Lukas Van Ness, DE, Iowa
Analysis: If Smith-Njigba makes it here, Texans general manager Nick Caserio will sprint to the podium. Instead, it’s Van Ness, a high-upside edge defender who’s just scratching the surface and can be a building block as Ryans attempts to build a similar front to the one he had in San Francisco. — Daniel Flick, Texans Daily
13
New York JetsPick: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
Analysis: Eyeing a top-tier offensive tackle in this spot, the strategy shifted when Levis fell out of the top 10. Even with Aaron Rodgers coming to town, the most intriguing quarterback prospect of the 2023 draft class is too good to pass up. Levis has a howitzer for a right arm and gained experience running a pro-style offense at Kentucky. There’s no harm in letting him sit behind Rodgers for the time being. Remember, the Chiefs kept Mahomes on the sideline during his rookie season in favor of Alex Smith. — Ralph Ventre, Jets Country
14
New England PatriotsPick: Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
Analysis: The Patriots are always looking for an opportunity to get better on defense, and Porter has the potential to be the top cornerback in the class. While an offensive lineman was an option, Bill Belichick spent a first-round pick there last year, so this pick offers a little more balance for the Patriots. — Jeremy Brener, Patriot Country
15
Green Bay PackersPick: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
Analysis: The Packers have more immediate needs at tight end and outside linebacker but the depth of the draft works in their favor, especially if they get a second-rounder in sending Rodgers to the Jets. The Packers have David Bakhtiari and Yosh Nijman at tackle in 2023, but what about ’24, given Bakhtiari’s exploding cap number and Nijman’s upcoming free agency? With a bit of seasoning, Jones has all the ability in the world to be a premier blindside pass protector for Jordan Love. — Bill Huber, Packer Central
16
Washington CommandersPick: Brian Branch, DB, Alabama
Analysis: The Commanders love their Alabama prospects and this year is no different. Washington needs some safety help with Bobby McCain off to New York and Kendall Fuller facing free agency at the end of the season. Branch should team up next to Kam Curl in hopes of forming one of the best safety duos in the league. — Jeremy Brener, Commander Country
17
Pittsburgh SteelersPick: Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
Analysis: The Steelers have their sights on two positions with their first-round pick, offensive tackle and cornerback. At No. 17, with the three big offensive tackles off the board and three cornerbacks taken ahead of them, they’ll grab Banks. Pittsburgh met with the Maryland corner at the combine, attended his pro day and had him in for a pre-draft visit. Mike Tomlin is thrilled to have Patrick Peterson around to mentor a rookie, and coming off his best college season, Banks is a prime candidate to grow into a star with the Steelers. — Noah Strackbein, All Steelers
18
Detroit Lions
Jeffrey Becker/USA TODAY Sports
Pick: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
Analysis: The Lions want to control the clock and add another offensive weapon for quarterback Jared Goff. Robinson has explosiveness and is a threat to score a touchdown any time he touches the football. The combination of David Montgomery, D’Andre Swift and Robinson will make it extremely difficult for opposing defenses to stop Detroit’s offense, as offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has developed into a stellar play-caller. — John Maakaron, All Lions
19
Tampa Bay BuccaneersPick: Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia
Analysis: With Shaq Barrett working his way back from a torn achilles, and third-year pass rusher Joe Tryon-Shoyinka still developing as a player, adding another top-end edge-rushing prospect to the Buccaneers’ arsenal of pass rushers would make a ton of sense. — Collin Haalboom, BucsGameday
20
Seattle SeahawksPick: Myles Murphy, DE, Clemson
Analysis: A few months ago, you could have argued that the Seahawks should have taken Murphy with their No. 5 pick, but with Jalen Carter falling to them with their first selection, he had to be the pick. Seattle should add a pass rusher early in the draft, and if Murphy is there at No. 20, there’s a chance the Seahawks could walk away as the winners of the draft. — Jeremy Brener, All Seahawks
21
Los Angeles ChargersPick: Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh
Analysis: If the Chargers want to dethrone the Chiefs in the near future as division champions, their defense must be a priority, so taking Kancey in the first round makes a lot of sense. Kancey is coming off a season at Pittsburgh where he was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year and an All-American. In 11 outings in 2022, he had 31 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. His presence on that end is clear and he would make an immediate impact on a Chargers’ defense allowing runs to get through for years. — Noel Sanchez, Charger Report
22
Baltimore RavensPick: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
Analysis: Regardless of who is playing quarterback for the Ravens next season, he is going to need people to throw to. Flowers has been zooming up draft boards with his 4.42 speed and could fit right into the Ravens’ offense next to Rashod Bateman and Nelson Agholor as the slot receiver. — Jeremy Brener, Raven Country
23
Minnesota VikingsPick: Jordan Addison, WR, USC
Analysis: The Vikings need cornerback help, but with players such as Porter and Banks off the board, they go wide receiver at this spot. Addison is an excellent separator and big-play threat who can step into Minnesota’s No. 2 receiver role now that Adam Thielen is in Carolina. In an offense with Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson, Addison would see plenty of single coverage. — Will Ragatz, Inside the Vikings
24
Jacksonville JaguarsPick: Darnell Wright, OL, Tennessee
Analysis: The Jaguars don’t have a screaming need at right tackle despite losing Jawaan Taylor in free agency, but Darnell Wright is simply too good to pass up. Walker Little is set to start 2023 as the Jaguars’ starting right tackle and Josh Wells was signed as a swing tackle option, but this means two of Jacksonville’s top three tackles are coming off season-ending injuries in ’22. Wright gives the Jaguars flexibility because he has started at both tackle spots and guard in college, giving them a Day 1 starter at left guard who can move to tackle in the future. — John Shipley, Jaguar Report
25
New York GiantsPick: Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
Analysis: Giants general manager Joe Schoen pledged to build around quarterback Daniel Jones. So after adding big-bodied tight end Darren Waller via trade and receiver Parris Campbell in free agency, Schoen looks to go back to the big-time-weapon well by adding another tall receiver with explosiveness and the ability to slice the top off of the defense. Johnston is a playmaker, exactly what the Giants need to take their offense to the next level. — Patricia Traina, Giants Country
26
Dallas CowboysPick: Adetomiwa Adebawore, DE, Northwestern
Analysis: Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn loves versatile athletes up front, and Adebawore, who ran a 4.49 40-yard dash at 282 pounds, certainly checks both boxes. In Dallas, Adebawore adds another body who can get after the quarterback and is viewed as an ascending player. — Daniel Flick, Cowboy Country
27
Buffalo BillsPick: O’Cyrus Torrence, OL, Florida
Analysis: A wide receiver could be in the cards here for the Bills, but the run on wideouts comes right before Buffalo’s pick. There’s a good chance the Bills could trade out of this pick to acquire more assets in the later rounds, but for the sake of this exercise, they take Torrence to boost their interior offensive line. Ryan Bates is a free agent at season’s end, making guard a necessity for Buffalo at some point in the draft. — Jeremy Brener, Bills Central
28
Cincinnati BengalsPick: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
Analysis: The Bengals would be ecstatic to land Kincaid. This was a tough decision with guys such as Dawand Jones, Anton Harrison and Michael Mayer still on the board, but landing the best pass-catching tight end in the draft was too tempting to pass up. Kincaid is going to be Joe Burrow’s best friend and while he isn’t a great blocker, the Bengals are a pass-first offense. He’ll need to get stronger, but he should shine bright in Cincinnati. — James Rapien, All Bengals
29
New Orleans Saints (from San Francisco through Miami and Denver)
Saul Young/News Sentinel/USA TODAY NETWORK
Pick: Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee
Analysis: Assistant GM Jeff Ireland said the team would focus on a dual-threat quarterback in the draft, and they’ve found their man. Hooker is an excellent addition for the Saints, who will spend time grooming the young quarterback behind starter Derek Carr. He’s the first Saints QB selected in the first round of a draft since Archie Manning was the No. 2 pick in 1971. At Tennessee, Hooker completed 69.6% of his passes for 3,135 yards with 27 touchdowns and two interceptions and rushed for five scores. Hooker tore his ACL in November, and could miss most of the offseason program rehabbing but return in time for training camp in late July. — Kyle T. Mosley, Saints News Network
30
Philadelphia EaglesPick: Felix Anudike-Uzomah, DE, Kansas State
Analysis: Eagles general manager Howie Roseman never rests when it comes to adding pass rushers, and Anudike-Uzomah, the reigning Big-12 Defensive Player of the Year and second-team All-American, brings an impactful piece off the edge. — Daniel Flick, Eagles Today
31
Kansas City ChiefsPick: Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
Analysis: After letting left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. walk in free agency before signing Taylor to a four-year, $80 million deal, the Chiefs still have questions at offensive tackle. With Harrison at No. 31, the Chiefs land two young, high ceiling, versatile tackles in one offseason. Harrison could allow Taylor to remain on the right side, where he played in Jacksonville, or Kansas City could stand firm with its belief that Taylor can be a high level left tackle and introduce Harrison to the NFL from the right side. Either way, Patrick Mahomes should expect tremendous pockets behind this revamped offensive line. — Joshua Brisco, Arrowhead Report
