With just under a week left until the 2023 NFL draft, teams are finalizing and setting their draft boards and positions. It is about time for us at draft wire to do the same. With that spirit in mind, here is my final mock draft of the season, with a full two rounds.
1) Carolina Panthers (from Chicago) - QB Bryce Young, Alabama
The Carolina Panthers move up to one to take the best quarterback in the country, and they get just that here. Bryce Young will be a day one starter and an immediate culture changer in a building that sorely needs it.
2) Houston Texans - QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
There is a lot of noise about the Texans foregoing a quarterback with this selection in favor of a defensive player, but in this iteration, they stick around and get one of the cleanest players in the class. You cannot plan on putting yourself into a position to pick this high again; take the quarterback.
3) Indianapolis Colts (from Arizona) - QB Anthony Richardson, Florida
The Colts take zero risk in losing their potential signal caller of the future and jump up one pick to take the highest ceiling player in this entire class. Richardson and Steichen have a chance to make magic early in his career, and it’s easy to see him starting right away.
4) Arizona Cardinals (from Indianapolis) - EDGE Will Anderson, Alabama
The Cardinals move back one spot and nab the guy they have wanted all along. Anderson is a proven and productive edge rusher who will be a ten sack man early in his career.
5) Seattle Seahawks (from Denver) - EDGE Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech
The Seahawks show faith in their current starting quarterback and bypass a young signal caller here. In return they get the most talented edge defender in the class, who will help beef up their defense right away on an already competitive roster.
6) Detroit Lions (from L.A. Rams) - DT Jalen Carter, Georgia
Detroit doesn’t hesitate on reported character concerns and takes the best defensive player in the class. Carter will fit right into what is a suddenly ultra talented defensive line.
7) Las Vegas Raiders - QB Will Levis, Kentucky
Josh McDaniels finds his quarterback of the future to develop and learn behind Jimmy Garoppolo. Levis will need time, but has all the tools to become a productive quarterback in the league.
8) Atlanta Falcons - EDGE Nolan Smith, Georgia
A historically lacking defense adds an edge rusher with unlimited potential. Nolan Smith will fit right into this Ryan Nielsen defense, and could wreak havoc early in his career.
9) Chicago Bears (from Carolina) - OT Peter Skoronski, Northwestern
With the move down all the way from the number one spot, Chicago finds themselves in a favorable position to take a blindside protector for their very own franchise quarterback. Skoronski is the top tackle of the class and will fit right into the windy city.
10) Philadelphia Eagles (from New Orleans) - CB Christian Gonzalez, Oregon
The Eagles don’t have a lot of holes on the roster, but are aging at the cornerback position. They take a high ceiling and well rounded corner who can quickly develop into one of the best in the league.
11) Tennessee Titans - QB Hendon Hooker, Tennessee
The Titans have run their course with current quarterback Ryan Tannehill, and likely want to move forward with a new quarterback. Hooker improved every year in college, and will be eager to prove he can be a starter in the league.
12) Houston Texans (from Cleveland) - CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
Houston adds to it’s already young and talented secondary with a feisty corner who could be at the top of this draft class. Witherspoon will fit right into the Texan’s culture and bring bookend lockdown corners to the DeMeco Ryans’ defense.
13) New York Jets - OT Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State
The Jets have struggled to solve their tackle position for a few years, and they can begin to patch their offensive line here. Johnson can start on either side of the line, and could develop into the long term solution at left tackle with sky high talent.
14) New England Patriots - WR Jordan Addison, USC
New England must surround Mac Jones with more weapons in a compotent offense in order for him to develop. Addison is a game breaker who could be the number one receiver this team has been searching for since the departure of Randy Moss.
15) Green Bay Packers - TE Dalton Kincaid, Utah
With the departure of franchise staple Robert Tonyan, Green Bay finds a replacement and perhaps an upgrade in the twitched up and explosive Kincaid. He could quickly become their leader in yardage and touchdowns.
16) Washington Commanders - CB Joey Porter Jr, Penn State
The Commanders could go with a tackle or a corner here, and opt for a scrappy bloodline player with high upside. Porter could immediately be the teams number one corner under Ron Rivera and will have staying power for years, bringing an attitude to the Washington secondary.
17) Pittsburgh Steelers - OT Broderick Jones, Georgia
The Steelers must build around young quarterback Kenny Pickett, as well as upgrade their historically dominant running attack. Jones allows them to do both, and is a true mauler at tackle who will start day one.
18) Detroit Lions - CB Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State
There is clearly a trend in the type of players Detroit adds to their team, and Emmanuel Forbes fits the bill for what they want to do. Though light, Fobes is a feisty and wiry corner who will scrap for the football and consistently make plays.
19) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - EDGE Lukas Van Ness, Iowa
Tampa starts their rebuild process and their defensive line starts to age out and hit free agency. Van Ness can play in the interior or exterior of the defensive line, and he can develop into a serious game wrecker with time.
20) Seattle Seahawks - IOL O'Cyrus Torrence, Florida
Seattle finds a long term solution at the guard position and a player that can help establish a team that wants to run the football. Torrence is a massive human being who is ultra talented and can anchor any run game at the next level.
21) Los Angeles Chargers - WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
With rampant injuries at the receiver position over the years, the Chargers must ensure Justin Herbert has targets to throw to. Jaxon Smith-Njigba gives them a slot receiver who dominated in college, and can be become a multi use weapon for the Bolts early on.
22) Baltimore Ravens - RB Bijan Robinson, Texas
Baltimore returns to their tried and true ground and pound offense, with or without their franchise quarterback. Robinson is one of the few elite players in this class, and positional value allows Baltimore to take advantage of getting him late into the first.
23) Minnesota Vikings - WR Quentin Johnston, TCU
With the departure of Adam Thielen, the Vikings need to find Justin Jefferson a running mate. Quentin Jefferson is a big, explosive, and talented wide receiver who could quickly give teams headaches when combined with one of the best in the league.
24) Jacksonville Jaguars - OT Darnell Wright, Tennessee
Protecting Trevor Lawrence has to be the top priority for the Jaguars going into next season. Darnell Wright impressed last year, shutting down multiple top pass rushers, and proving he can be a starting right tackle in the league early in his career.
25) New York Giants - WR Zay Jones, Boston College
Finding Daniel Jones more weapons is top priority for the Giants, and Zay Flowers brings all the tools to be the ‘X’ receiver for the Big Blue. He could see a heavy target share early, and could very well be in the running for offensive rookie of the year.
26) Dallas Cowboys - LB Drew Sanders, Arkansas
Jerry Jones finds a Arkansas alumni to fill multiple positions on an already stacked defense. Sanders can start right away at linebacker, and could very easily transition to a talented pass rusher if needed.
27) Buffalo Bills - DL Calijah Kancey, Pitt
Their last game on the field proved Buffalo desperately needs more interior pressure from their defensive line. Kancey was more productive than Aaron Donald at Pitt, and will be an immediate splash pass rusher at the next level.
28) Cincinnati Bengals - TE Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
The Bengals feature weapons everywhere, and have been attempting to add onto that with a talented tight end over the last few years. They finally find one here in the reliable and consistent Mayer, who could turn into a blanket for Joe Burrow quickly.
29) New Orleans Saints - EDGE Myles Murphy, Clemson
The Saints see themselves as ready to compete right now, and adding one of the top edge rushers in the class could help push them over the to. Murphy has been a consistent producer and has the talent to be a top sack man in the league.
30) Philadelphia Eagles - EDGE Will McDonald, Iowa State
With an aging edge rusher group the Eagles find a versatile and explosive senior in Will McDonald. He can add the burst and power to create and deadly rotation right away on a dominant defensive line.
31) Kansas City Chiefs - WR Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee
The Chiefs clearly didn’t miss Tyreek Hill that much, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want their very own big play man. There is no other player in the draft that fills that role better than Hyatt, who is a true speed merchant.
