With College football season coming to an end, and players declaring for the NFL Draft it is time to start looking to how things will go this coming Spring. Here is my first 2023 NFL Mock Draft predicting what I think will happen in the top 10 picks.
1. Houston Texans: QB Bryce Young, Alabama
Every team needs a franchise QB, and Bryce Young seems to be the best QB in the 2023 batch. It will be a massive surprise if the Texans pass on a QB here. There is still a chance Houston does not get the number one overall pick, but if they do, this pick is a gimme.
2. Chicago Bears: OLB Will Anderson Jr, Alabama
Chicago has many needs, but QB is not one of them. They have the chance to grab the player most see as the top talent in the draft. Jalen Carter is an option here, but Anderson should provide the biggest rookie impact if he lands in Chicago.
3. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver): QB CJ Stroud, Ohio State
Geno Smith has proven he is a top backup QB in the NFL, but for the Seahawks to compete, they need a play maker. Stroud would potentially pair with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett to lift the Seattle offense back to legitimacy. There will be defensive options here for the Seahawks, but Stroud is too good to pass on. If the Seahawks do not want a QB at three, they could easily trade down to a team like the Colts or Carolina.
4. Arizona Cardinals: DT Jalen Carter, Georgia
The Cardinals will probably have a new head coach, but whoever comes on board will be expected to work with the offensive talent in place. This is a fair spot for an Offensive Lineman, but Carter should be the pick to bolster a young defense in the desert.
5. Indianapolis Colts: OL Paris Johnson Jr, Ohio State
The Colts need a QB and will gladly take Stroud if he is there when they pick, but there is no other top 20 QB in this draft. The Colts could get the third pick, or trade up if they do not, but as it sits right now, improving the O-Line is the right thing here. They could go CB or WR if they drop down to picks seven or eight.
6. Atlanta Falcons: DE Myles Murphy, Clemson
The NFC South will be bad again next year, which gives the Falcons the opportunity to see what Desmond Ridder is made of. They have several needs including OL, CB, and WR. The choice here is between Murphy and Tyree Wilson, I will put my money on Murphy.
7. Detroit Lions (from the Rams): TE Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
I think the Lions will trade back to get more draft capitol, but for now I will put Mayer in Detroit. They traded away their playmaking TE this season, and Mayer is legit. I considered Joey Porter Jr and Lukas Van Ness here as well.
8. Carolina Panthers: OL Peter Skoronski, Northwestern
The Panthers need a QB, but they passed on Fields and Jones, they will not pick Levis. Panthers could trade up or down. They will look for a QB later, maybe Hendon Hooker, but they have a need on the O-Line, and can get a great player here at eight.
9. Las Vegas Raiders: S Brian Branch, Alabama
Vegas is a wild-card at nine. If Josh McDaniels keeps his job I have no idea where they go here. This could be a landing spot for the third QB, but no one after Bryce Young is better than Derek Carr. I will give them a Bama kid, but I admit, I have no clue on this one.
10. Philadelphia Eagles (from New Orleans): RB Bijan Robinson, Texas
I think the Eagles luck will not last and they will fall out of the top ten, but why not bolster and solidify your run game with this pick? Offensive line would be wise here as well, but the Eagles will have a hard time passing on Robinson.
I will be writing more NFL Draft articles as we approach the draft, and I will be covering the draft on The Sports Stove Podcast. Follow me on Twitter for more NFL Draft opinions.
1 Comment
Will Anderson did not come to play in the bowl game and he was a complete waste, while his teammates sold out to win? You think HE is a top five player? Not idling in place and looking smooth. No. Please. Trade down with Seattle and get Jalen Carter, too.