NFL Draft 2023 - Mock Draft 2.0

By: Greg Rector

The NFL season is heading into the playoff stretch and in the college ranks, it’s now Bowl season and the CFB playoff. For NFL teams the draft order is becoming clearer. On the college front the transfer portal (Over 1000 players!!), and a fairly large group of players deciding to remain in school have the deeper rounds of this draft with a lot of question marks. Time to have another go at what the first round next April could look like. I will use the current draft order, not doing any trades as of yet and these picks are based upon a consensus of other mock drafts and my own research.

1 – Houston Texans

Bryce Young QB – Alabama

In a QB class that had so many players who were looked at as possible draft picks before the season, many have declared they are staying or hitting the transfer portal. The clear number one prospect is the Crimson Tide quarterback. The Texans will have concerns over his size, but Young is the choice here.

2 – Jalen Carter DT – Georgia

This is where the draft could get the big trade-up by a QB-needy team. However, for this exercise, I will have the Bears keep the pick and select the Bulldogs’ interior defensive lineman who has been very good against the pass and the run. I really believe he will also test off the charts in the draft process as well.

3 – Will Anderson Jr Edge – Alabama

When the best player available after the combine and pro days is all said and done Anderson Jr will undoubtedly be right up there with Jalen Carter in my opinion. He will test off the charts. My one area of concern is the failure to improve the missed tackles from 2021 to 2022. NFL tackles and running backs may make Anderson Jr look silly at times but the rest of the package is there without a doubt.

4 – Detroit Lions – Myles Murphy Edge – Clemson

Many believe the Lions will take a QB as well. I disagree and believe they will get a tag team partner off the edge to go along with Aidan Hutchison last year’s first-round pick. Murphy checks off the boxes you want to see in an edge player.

5 – Philadelphia Eagles Kelee Ringo Corner – Georgia

With their draft capital and very few holes roster-wise yes folks they could move up for one of the top two best players available with the Bears falling to here, however, without any trades for this I have them taking the best corner in this draft class. With both starting corners over 30, this makes sense.

6 – Carolina Panthers CJ Stroud QB – Ohio State

The quarterback-needy Panthers will love the physical tools Stroud can bring to them despite the astonishing poor numbers Stroud has when under pressure and his seemingly poor ability to make things happen off-schedule.

7 – Jacksonville Jaguars Quentin Johnson WR – TCU

For the 15th time in the last 16 NFL drafts, the Jaguars will have a top-ten pick. Trevor Lawrence needs weapons and the Horned Frogs receiver fits the bill. There are plenty of slot receivers but Johnson can play both inside and outside which would give Lawrence a true vertical weapon.

8 – Arizona Cardinals Peter Skoronski OL Northwestern

As with many college tackles, there will be the debate about playing tackle at the next level or being moved to guard. Either way, one thing is clear Skoronski has been excellent and I expect him to be the first offensive lineman taken.

9 – Indianapolis Colts Will Levis QB – Kentucky

Here’s where a team likely avoids the best player available and addresses a need instead. Often that turns out poorly but the Colts haven’t been able to find a quarterback in ages and with a new coaching regime the push and pressure will be huge to do so. Levis will test off the charts, he has the physique, and arm talent that scouts drool over. The issue will be his decision-making and ability read his progressions.

10 – Las Vegas Raiders – Paris Johnson OT – Ohio State

The Raiders need help in a lot of areas but once the combine process has ended hopefully the Raiders avoid making another awful first-round reach under new GM Dave Zeigler and take the best player available who I have as Johnson currently.

11 – Atlanta Falcons Tyree Wilson Edge – Texas Tech

Wilson will be another darling of those who love seeing the testing numbers. He can back those numbers up based on his 2022 season and the Falcons’ putrid pass rush definitely needs improvement.

12 – Green Bay Packers Michael Mayer TE – Notre Dame

Mayer just checks off too many boxes for the Packers to pass up. Sure handed, blocks beautifully in the run game and has shown his ability to find those open spots. Exactly what Aaron Rodgers needs now that he has trust in Christian Watson.

13 – Houston Texans Broderick Jones OT – Georgia

Laremy Tunsil needs a bookend at the other tackle position, new QB Bryce Young will need protection so instead of adding a receiver the Texans make the better decsion and take Jones.

14 – Pittsburgh Steelers Joey Porter Jr Corner – Penn State

For the second straight draft the Steelers take another in state product. Porter Jr is going to be a problem for opposing defenses. Has the size, physicality, and ball skills you want in a modern NFL corner. This pick will turn out better than the last in state pick.

15 – Detroit Lions Christian Gonzalez Corner – Oregon

The Lions will love his measurables and they way he defends.

16 – Los Angeles Chargers Bijan Robinson RB – Texas

The positional value crowd and many others will question this one. For me Robinson (Doak Walker winner best RB in the nation) though would give the Chargers an outstanding backfield combination to go along with Ekeler. There’s other ways they could go but once you hit this part of the draft were are in best player available territory and Robinson will fit that bill. There are no vertical threats I would take this early.

17 – New England Patriots Cam Smith Corner – South Carolina

I know I am wrong, you know I am wrong. Bill will likely go so far off the board and have us scratching our heads. So I will just put Smith here as the best player available. For fun I will agree with one one mock that did predict a way off the board pick and say Rashee Rice the SMU receiver would be Belichick type of choice.

18 – Washington Commanders Darnell Wright OT – Tennessee

The obvious choice would have been TE Michael Mayer but he’s off the board. While folks were busy focusing on Hendon Hooker for the Volunteers, it was Wright who was outstanding in giving him the prtection he needed and is quite good as a run blocker as well.

19 – Tampa bay Bucaneers Anthony Richardson QB – Florida

Kyle Trask won’t be the answer in the future for the Bucs. Richardson another gators QB though has so much potential and the Bucs can be patient even having Richardson play begind Trask for a season if you know who finally retires. There’s too much potential to pass up.

20 – Seattle Seahawks Trenton Simpson LB Clemson

Simpson has the potential to become a major disruptor for any defense in the league and the Seahawks will be an excellent fit for him.

21 – Tennessee Titans Jordan Addison WR – USC

In obvious need of more receiving options why not take a guy that helped PItt in 2021 and USC in 2022 be quite dynamic offenses?

22 – New York Jets Isiah Foskey Edge – Notre Dame

We know Joe Douglas adores his to be on one of the lines in round one. I believe they get their QB via free agency. Foskey will be able a fantastic addition to the defensive line rotation. Physical enough to stop the likes of Josh Allen in his tracks as well considering they face him twice each season.

23 – New York Giants Clark Philli[ps II Corner – Utah

No Danial Jones replacement at this point of the draft. Want to know about the Utes corner? Just watch him win his battles with Jordan Addison when Utah beat USC in both games.

24 – Miami Dolphins pick is forfeited.

25 – Denver Broncos Jared Verse Edge – Florida State

Sorry Denver I don’t have any help at the OL or at WR at this spot. Just enjoy enjoy another standout for the already good Broncos defense.

26 – Baltimore Ravens Jahmyr Gibbs RB – Alabama

Either Robinson or Gibbs being added with Lamar Jackson seems unfair. Gibbs has shown he can run and catch and a dual purpose back is just what the doctor has ordered for the Ravens offense. Plus that means the Buffalo Bills don’t get him either.

27 – Ciincinnatti Bengals O’Cyris Torrence IOL – Florida

I didn’t have the Broncos making a possible “reach,” two picks earlier but I do have the Bengals making one. The one glaring weakness and need for improvement is on the offensive line still and Torrence has enough for the Bengals to take a guy I have as a second rounder. At this point its the best plan for the Bengals.

28 – Dallas Cowboys Jalin Hyatt WR – Tennessee

A corner can be had later on. The Cowboys need the vertical threat to compliment Ceedee Lamb and find that guy in the Volunteers wideout.

29 – Kansas City Chiefs Cedric Tillman WR – Tennessee

Not all of Patrick Mahomes weapons will return and we all know the Chiefs absolutely love multiple options. Tillman missed time in 2022 however he like Hiatt is a an excellent weapon.

30 – Minnesota Vikings Steve Avila G/C – TCU