It is finally here! The 2023 NFL Draft is about to kick off and when all the smoke clears, 32 teams will be Super Bowl bound. The lead-up to the draft has been busy with trades, leaks, and people dropping and rising on people’s draft boards. It is not easy to work through all the misinformation, but I have done my best. So without further ado here is the Sports Stove’s final NFL mock draft for 2023. This is a prediction of how things will go and includes trades.
1. Carolina Panthers: QB Bryce Young, Alabama
This has become increasingly clear in recent days. Young is touted as the most talented QB in the draft, but teams have concerns over his size.
2. Houston Texans: LB Will Anderson, Alabama
There has been a lot of speculation over this pick, and I for one, would have gone with the Ohio State QB. New HC Demeco Ryans has a plan, and the Texans will follow his desires at pick two.
3. Arizona Cardinals: Edge Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech
The Cardinals would love to trade down, but teams are being patient with QBs this year and do not want or need to jump up to three.
4. Indianapolis Colts: QB Will Levis, Kentucky
The strong arm and praise from Colts legend Peyton Manning outweigh the proof on the field apparently. The Colts get “their guy” at four, but could be making a huge mistake.
5. Tennesee Titans (Trade with Seattle): QB CJ Stroud, Ohio State
The Titans need a future QB after whiffing last year. Stroud is the second-best QB in this draft, and the Titans secure the QB spot for a while with this pick.
6. Detroit Lions: DT Jalen Carter, Georgia
Red flags do not bother the Lions when the best talent in the draft is available six picks in.
7. Las Vegas Raiders: CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
The Raiders are in win-now mode, so they take the physical DB out of Illinois. He will play an important role for the Raiders for years to come.
8. Atlanta Falcons: RB Bijan Robinson, Texas
Everyone agrees about Robinson’s talent, but many disagree about when he should be drafted. Atlanta fell in love with a dynamic piece to add to their young, talented offense.
9. Chicago Bears: OT Paris Johnson, Ohio State
Offensive Line is a huge need for the Bears, and they get the first O-lineman in the draft. They value Johnson over the rest.
10. Philidelphia Eagles: OT Peter Skoronski, Northwestern
I have Skoronski as the best OL in the draft. He will play Guard most likely, but has versatility and injects youth into an aging Eagles line.
11. Seattle Seahawks (trade with Tennessee): CB Christian Gonzalez, Oregon
Ranked by most as the top Corner, Seattle gets a steal at 11.
12. Houston Texans: CB Deonte Banks, Maryland
There are a whole lot of options at twelve. The Texans could take a shot at a QB, they could bolster the OL, they could add another pass rusher. Banks is being underrated by the media but is valued among NFL teams.
13. Green Bay Packers: LB Nolan Smith, Georgia
The Packers took two Georgia defenders in last year’s first round, and add another this year.
14. New England Patriots: WR Jonathan Mingo, Ole Miss
The Patriots never do what we expect. The expectation is they would take someone on the OL, therefore, I think they go with the big wideout from Mississippi.
15. New York Jets: OT Broderick Jones, Georgia
Protecting their new QB for the next year or two is the priority for the Jets.
16. Washington Commanders: QB Anthony Richardson, Florida
New owners want to make a splash, and they stop the free fall for Richardson.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers: WR Jordan Addison, USC
The Steelers reunite Addison and his former Pitt QB with this pick.
18. Detroit Lions: WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
The Lions take a gamble (see what I did there) to help their Offense, with the slot receiver from Ohio State.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: DE Lukas Van Ness, Iowa
Tampa adds to the defense to build a solid foundation for years to come.
20. Seattle Seahawks: DE Myles Murphy, Clemson
Murphy is a safe and great pick here for Seattle.
21. Las Angeles Chargers: CB Joey Porter Jr, Penn State
Running Back, Wide Receiver and Offensive Line are all potentials here, but the Chargers add a DB with NFL pedigree here.
22. Baltimore Ravens: CB Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State
Forbes has incredible talent but is very skinny. The Ravens score big at 22.
23. Minnesota Vikings: LB BJ Ojulari, LSU
The Vikings will shock people here, reaching for a guy they really like. Ojulari to the Vikings.
24. Jacksonville Jaguars: S Brian Branch, Alabama
Everyone has been calling this one for a while.
25. New York Giants: WR Zay Flowers, Boston College
Offensive Line and Linebacker is also a possibility, but Flowers is my second-rated WR in this draft, and the Giants need playmakers.
26. Dallas Cowboys: TE Dalton Kincaid, Utah
Dallas can have their pick of TEs here, but most lean toward Kincaid as the first one off the board.
27. Buffalo Bills: LB Jack Campbell, Iowa
The Bills have a major need for an Inside Linebacker, and Campbell will fill that need perfectly.
28. Cincinnati Bengals: TE Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
Mayer was the top-rated TE on every board until recently, the Bengals scoop him up at 28.
29. New Orleans Saints: OG O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida
Several feel Torrence will go in round one, and I was running out of places for him, so I will take a shot with the Saints.
30. Philidelphia Eagles: OT Darnell Wright, Tennessee
The Eagles could come out of the first round with two of the best OL in the draft. Wright would be a luxury pick at 30 for the Eagles.
31. Kansas City Chiefs: DE Adetomiwa Adebawore, Northwestern
Looking to fill a need, the lengthy edge rusher will be selected to rebuild the KC defense.
Tune into the Sports Stove Podcast every Wednesday night for more NFL draft talk. Catch all past episodes wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow Vince on Twitter to see more NFL opinions.
1 Comment
Anyone who picks Addison at 17 when the Steelers already have DJ and CA3 as lightweight Smurf targets is simply a way of telling us that the mocker doesn’t really know much about football.