Why isn’t the new NFL league year a national holiday? I mean, the day after the Super Bowl should also be a national holiday, but as worn out as we all are after the two-day illegal tampering period has expired, and deals can now officially be consummated, I think we could all use a day on the couch.
In any event, after that blizzard of free-agent signings that are now finally signings at 4:00 p.m. EST, a lot has changed for most NFL teams regarding their plans for the 2023 NFL draft, which is right around the corner.
We’ll start with the Green Bay Packers and the New York Jets. We would love to say that a trade sending Aaron Rodgers from the green-and-gold to Gang Green has happened, but the financials are somewhat complicated, and Rodgers has a list of demands that may include a new pony and to be the President of Greenland, so we must merely assume that the Jets will send the 13th overall pick to the Packers as part of that deal. We will do just that for the purposes of this mock draft, because quite frankly, we are tired of waiting for Aaron Rodgers.
Also, the trade between the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears that sent the first overall pick to the Panthers and a bevy of picks, along with receiver D.J. Moore to Chicago, is official. We believed at the time that the Panthers went up to grab Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud, and we believe so now.
So, there are the Bears with the ninth overall pick, and what if Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter, the consensus best player in this class, keeps falling after he was charged with misdemeanors relating to the accident that saw teammate Devin Willock and a Georgia staffer Chandler LeCroy die in a January 15 accident? Carter’s performance at Georgia’s pro day just two weeks later didn’t help matters, and it’s tough to imagine a top prospect whose status may have fallen this far in a short space of time.
My man Jalen Carter is looking GASSED.
You had one job and that’s to be in shape for your pro day. If you can’t do that the NFL will be hard for you. You can’t physically dominate everyone. Not a good look. #DaBears #Bears #ChicagoBears pic.twitter.com/UJNNs6Mo9J
— Clay Harbor (@clayharbs82) March 15, 2023
But given Carter’s legitimately generational talent, do the Bears take the risk? In this mock draft, the Bears do just that.
So, with all that business settled, here’s one version of how the first round of the 2023 draft might look after a tumultuous couple of days.
1. Carolina Panthers (from Chicago Bears): C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
2. Houston Texans: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
3. Arizona Cardinals: Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
4. Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
5. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver Broncos): Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech
6. Detroit Lions: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
7. Las Vegas Raiders: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
8. Atlanta Falcons: Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama
9. Chicago Bears (from Indianapolis Colts): Jalen Carter, DL, Georgia
10. Philadelphia Eagles (from New Orleans Saints): Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
11. Tennessee Titans: Paris Johnson Jr. OT, Ohio State
12. Houston Texans (from Cleveland Browns): Jordan Addison, WR, USC
13. Green Bay Packers (from New York Jets): Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
14. New England Patriots: Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern
15. Green Bay Packers: Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
16. Washington Commanders: Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
18. Detroit Lions: Bryan Bresee, DL, Clemson
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
20. Seattle Seahawks: Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
21. Los Angeles Chargers: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
22. Baltimore Ravens: Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee
23. Minnesota Vikings: Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
24. Jacksonville Jaguars: Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
25. New York Giants: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
26. Dallas Cowboys: Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU
27. Buffalo Bills: Brian Branch, DB, Alabama
28. Cincinnati Bengals: Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
29. New Orleans Saints (from Denver Broncos): Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama
30. Philadelphia Eagles: Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
