2023 NFL Mock Draft With Analysis – Wild Card Weekend

The top 18 picks are set, including a shocker number one overall, with Lovie Smith gifting the first pick to his old team, the Chicago Bears.

Pick	Team	Player	Stats	Commentary
1	Chicago Bears	EDGE Will Anderson Jr., Alabama – 6’4, 243 lbs	51 tackles, 10 sacks, 1 INT	The Bears are in a great spot. They are the rare team with the top pick that has their quarterback in place. Chicago should be able to get a nice haul for this pick if they choose to trade down. They could also stay pat and choose to select the best player in this class, Will Anderson Jr. More than just a pass rusher, he is a complete defender who should excel in any scheme. The Bears traded Robert Quinn, Roquan Smith and Khalil Mack away and do not have much in the way of impact defenders.
2	Houston Texans	QB Bryce Young, Alabama – 6’0, 194 lbs	245-380, 3328 yards, 32 TD, 5 INT	Losing out on the top pick is a tough blow for Houston, but they are still in position to take either the top quarterback or the most dynamic defender in this class. Since I do not project trades in my mocks, Bryce Young is still available here. With quite a bit of draft ammunition from the Browns coming up, this may be the time to go after a quarterback. The only knock on Bryce Young is his size, but he is a true franchise type signal caller. He has a great arm, is quite accurate and a natural leader. He would give the Texans fans something to cheer about.
3	Arizona Cardinals	DT Jalen Carter, Georgia – 6’3, 300 lbs	30 tackles, 3 sacks	Not surprisingly, the terrible Arizona Cardinals have holes all over the roster, so the best non quarterback available would be the way to go here. Jalen Carter’s numbers do not jump out at you, but it cannot be understated how much of an impact he has for the entire Georgia defense. He is the most talented interior lineman to come along since Quinnen Williams and would fit the opening that JJ Watt created perfectly.
4	Indianapolis Colts	QB CJ Stroud, Ohio State – 6’3, 218 lbs	258-389, 3688 yards, 41 TD, 6 INT	It is absolutely laughable that Will Levis is often ranked above CJ Stroud (let along Bryce Young) amongst so called experts. Why so low on Stroud? Sure, he plays with a ton of NFL talent, but all he has done in two years as a starter is produce at an extremely high level, including carving up an all world Georgia defense. I think he will be a very solid pro. The Colts put on one of the most impressive mid-to-late season tanking jobs in NFL history, and it looks like it will pay off with a chance to draft a new quarterback.
5	Seattle Seahawks	CB Kelee Ringo, Georgia – 6’2, 210 lbs	42 tackles, 2 INT	From LAR The Seahawks offense has been surprisingly effective, and is the main and perhaps only reason they are in the playoffs. Seattle needs to go defense early and often during the 2023 draft. Kelee Ringo has great size, is a very solid tackler and is hardly tested by opposing offenses. He is fresh off helping Georgia hold future first round pick Quentin Johnston to one reception.
6	Detroit Lions	DE Myles Murphy, Clemson – 6’5, 275 lbs	40 tackles, 6.5 sacks	The 9-8 Lions finished the season with a flurry, and even though it did not result in a playoff berth, things are looking bright. The offense is in good hands with Jared Goff and company, meaning they can continue to devote resources to the defense. Myles Murphy is not the athletic freak that a Chase Young or Nick Bosa is, but he is a very reliable run defender and pass rusher with a high floor. He, along with Aidan Hutchinson and James Houston, could make pass rushing a real plus.
7	Las Vegas Raiders	DE Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech – 6’6, 275 lbs	61 tackles, 7 sacks	Will Levis is a possibility here, but I think the Raiders will try to go after someone like Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady. The defense, especially pass rush, needs serious upgrades. Tyree Wilson has been a late bloomer who really started to produce as a redshirt junior and has carried that over as a fifth year senior. He is a good pass rusher and is also built strong enough to hold up against a run.
8	Atlanta Falcons	DT Bryan Bresee, Clemson – 6’5, 305 lbs	15 tackles, 3.5 sacks	I have come to the conclusion that this will be one of those drafts that may only produce one or two Pro Bowlers, so you could see some surprises in the top ten. Bryan Bresee was a monster as a freshman at Clemson, but has struggled with a variety of issues his past two years, and his stock as suffered as a result. Still, there was a reason he was formerly the top overall prospect in the country, as he offers rare pass rushing ability from the interior, with the speed to play on the outside in Atlanta’s hybrid defense.
9	Carolina Panthers	QB Will Levis, Kentucky – 6’3, 232 lbs	185-283, 2406 yards, 19 TD, 10 INT	Sports Illustrated’s latest mock draft has Will Levis and Anthony Davis as QB1 and QB2. Woah. I am not a Will Levis fan.  He is already 23, has not shown up in big games this year and is undisciplined. But you cannot underestimate the desperation of some NFL teams, with the Panthers at the very top of the list. Scouts will hope they unearth the next Josh Allen with Levis, though it is more likely he ends up as the next Blaine Gabbert or Blake Bortles.
10	Philadelphia Eagles	HB Bijan Robinson, Texas – 6’0, 220 lbs	258 rushes, 1580 yards, 18 TD	From NO Miles Sanders is an upcoming free agent, and this pick is basically house money for Philadelphia, so why not make this offense absolutely complete? Bijan Robinson is the most talented running back college football has seen since Saquon Barkley. It is hard to find a fit for running backs in mocks, however, especially one who has handled the rock 258 times already this season. Still, he has carried that often because he is damn good at it, averaging over 6 yards per carry. He is a great receiver as well, making him a true three down back, and those guys are still picked in the early-to-mid first round.
11	Tennessee Titans	OT Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State – 6’6, 310 lbs	N/A	I am a huge Paris Johnson Jr. fan. He is a former top recruit who worked his way into the starting lineup as a sophomore, not an easy task on a team full of NFL prospects. He has anchored one of the top passing attacks in college as a junior. Team needs is the only reason he falls down this far, and the Titans should scoop him up quickly. Their offensive line is a mess.
12	Houston Texans	TE Michael Mayer, Notre Dame – 6’4, 265 lbs	67 rec, 809 yards, 9 TD	From CLE The Texans need to go best player available for every pick in this draft. Drafting tight ends in the first round is always risky, but Michael Mayer would be a great fit. He is not a supreme athlete like Kyle Pitts or TJ Hockenson, but represents solid value here. He is a reception hog who would be a great safety net for new quarterback Bryce Young.
13	New York Jets	OT Peter Skoronski, Northwestern – 6’4, 315 lbs	N/A	Yes, I have seen Anthony Richardson mocked to the Jets. It is hilarious to think that the coaching staff, who could not be bothered to develop Zach Wilson, would want an even bigger project. Not going to happen. Expect someone like Derek Carr. Moving on from that nonsense. Northwestern had an absolutely miserable 2022 season, but that was not Peter Skoronski’s fault. He earned spectacular offensive line grades from all analysts. There are questions as to whether he is a tackle or guard long term, but either way, he is a beast, especially in the run game. The Jets need several new offensive linemen.
14	New England Patriots	CB Christian Gonzalez, Oregon – 6’2, 201 lbs	51 tackles, 4 INT	It is impossible to predict what direction the Patriots will go come draft time, but on paper, secondary is the biggest weak spot. Christian Gonzalez escaped college football purgatory by leaving pre-Prime Time Colorado for Oregon, and has worked himself squarely into the first round. He is a solid tackler with great size and a real knack for the ball.
15	Green Bay Packers	WR Quentin Johnston, TCU – 6’4, 215 lbs	60 rec, 1069 yards, 6 TD	Christian Watson showed flashes during his rookie season, but receiver still remains the biggest need for the Packers. Quentin Johnston has tremendous size and skills and completely dominated Michigan in the Fiesta Bowl. Sure, he put up a dud against Georgia, but so did every player on TCU’s roster. Johnston has great size and hands and would be a good target for whoever ends up leading Green Bay in 2023.
16	Washington Commanders	QB Anthony Richardson, Florida – 6’4, 232 lbs	176-327, 2549 yards, 17 TD, 9 INT	Based on pure talent, Anthony Richardson may be at the top of this class. He is built like Cam Newton and is a true dual threat. He also greatly improved his accuracy and decision making as the year went on. An ultimate wild card to be sure, and a multi-year project, but some team will most likely trade up to draft him in the 20’s if he makes it past a needy team like the Commanders.
17	Pittsburgh Steelers	OT Broderick Jones, Georgia – 6’4, 310 lbs	N/A	Mike Tomlin catches a lot of flack, but I would love to go to war with that guy. No matter how much the Steelers struggle, they just do not have losing seasons. Offensive line is probably the biggest need on the roster. Broderick Jones is a bit undersized, but is agile, athletic and should be a very solid right tackle.
18	Detroit Lions	CB Joey Porter Jr., Penn State – 6’2, 198 lbs	27 tackles	Joey Porter Jr. only has one career interception on his resume, but that does not always tell the full story. He is big, strong, tackles like a safety and is hardly tested. Jeff Okudah has finally started to show promise in the Detroit secondary, and adding Porter Jr. could make the cornerback position a strength.
19	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	SS Brian Branch, Alabama – 6’0, 193 lbs	90 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 INT	Tampa Bay has a ton of upcoming free agents in the secondary, and Brian Branch could fill one or two holes. He is a safety in name, but could easily slide over to cornerback if need be. An agressive tackler and solid cover man, he would fill a big need for the Buccaneers.
20	Seattle Seahawks	EDGE Felix Anduike-Uzomah – 6’4, 255 lbs	46 tackles, 8.5 sacks	Felix Anduike-Uzomah is a bit one dimensional right now, and might be a slight reach in the top fifteen, but he is athletic and can really get after the quarterback. Like I mentioned before, Seattle needs a defense heavy approach during the 2023 draft.
21	Jacksonville Jaguars	OG O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida – 6’5, 347 lbs	N/A	What a difference not having Urban Mayer around makes. The Jaguars used a five game winning streak to make it back to the playoffs. This is a team that only won a couple games in 2021, so there are still holes all about the roster. This is a best player available situation. O’Cyrus Torrence is a guard only, so he will not solve the tackle issues, but he is a beast in the run game and a real plug-and-play option.
22	New York Giants	WR Jordan Addison, USC – 6’0, 175 lbs	59 rec, 875 yards, 8 TD	It is no secret that the Giants passing offense is being held together by duct tape this year. This team needs several new receivers. Jordan Addison is undersized, but a true playmaker in every sense of the word. His deep threat abilities would be a nice contrast to what Burks provides.
23	Baltimore Ravens	WR Rashee Rice, SMU – 6’2, 203 lbs	96 rec, 1355 yards, 10 TD	Rashee Rice might have been the most productive receiver in college football. He played in a pro-style offense, has great size and enough speed to get the job done. The Ravens receiving group is an absolute embarrasment. They need to give Lamar Jackson more to work with.
24	Los Angeles Chargers	DT Gervon Dexter Sr., Florida – 6’6, 312 lbs	55 tackles, 2 sacks	Gervon Dexter Sr. looks the part of a stud tackle, but has struggled with consistency during his three years at Florida. Still, I love his size and ability to be a three down defensive tackle at the next level. Jerry Tillery did not work out for the Chargers, and they have a couple big holes to fill along the defensive line.
25	Dallas Cowboys	WR Josh Downs, North Carolina – 5’10, 175 lbs	94 rec, 1029 yards, 11 TD	CeeDee Lamb was a Pro Bowl level receiver for the Cowboys, but they lacked any real production at the position outside of him. Josh Downs is a bit undersized, but has the looks of a classic slot receiver at the next level. He would give the Dallas passing game another dimension.
26	Cincinnati Bengals	OT Jaelyn Duncan, Maryland – 6’6, 320 lbs	N/A	The La’el Collins signing has not worked out very well for the Bengals, and they could be on the lookout for a long term option at right tackle. Jaelyn Duncan is not flashy, but he is experienced and solid, and could be a plug and play type for a playoff team needing an extra boost at tackle.
27	Minnesota Vikings	CB Clark Phillips III, Utah – 5’10, 183 lbs	24 tackles, 6 INT, 1 sack	The Vikings have seemingly needed cornerback help for years. Clark Phillips III may have been the most productive cornerback in the country as a redshirt sophomore. He is a bit undersized but is a real ball hawk and plays tougher than he looks.
28	Denver Broncos	EDGE Isaiah Foskey, Notre Dame – 6’5, 265 lbs	45 tackles, 11 sacks	From DEN The Broncos cut or traded most of the pass rushers on the roster the past two seasons. Isaiah Foskey gets by more on effort than talent, but he can rack up the sacks in a hurry. He actually reminds me a bit of ex-Bronco pass rusher Bradley Chubb.
29	Buffalo Bills	HB Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama – 5’11, 200 lbs	151 rushes, 926 yards, 7 TD	If there is one team picking in the 20’s that I think should go all in on running back, it is the Bills. The offense is a dynamic threat in the backfield away from being truly special. Jahmyr Gibbs is like another receiver on the field, but has the ability to run between the tackles as well.
30	Kansas City Chiefs	OT Blake Freeland, BYU – 6’8, 305 lbs	N/A	Kansas City chose to completely revamp their offensive line a couple of years ago, and are trying to get by with Andrew Wylie at right tackle. Blake Freeland is a very good athlete and could be a long term option on the right side.
31	Philadelphia Eagles	DT Tuli Tuipulotu, USC – 6’4, 290 lbs	46 tackles, 13.5 sacks	Philadelphia likes to rotate defensive lineman in and out of the lineup, and they double up on the position in the first round. Tuli Tuipulotu led all of college football with 13.5 sacks. He has the versatility to back up all positions along the Eagles defensive line.

Round 2