Mock Draft 1.0
Taking a look at what April could look like
Happy Friday everyone, and welcome back to another edition of Three Up, Three Down. Though the Final Four is happening, and the Lakers are winning, I’d like to switch it up for the week. Here’s my first go at a mock draft for 2023.
Disclaimer: I won’t be attempting to predict trades, as spotlighting the player on the given team is more important right now. There’ll be a 2.0 coming soon, and that one might be more exhaustive.
1. Carolina Panthers: QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
It’s the easiest pick of the draft for me. Bryce Young may have some qualities over Stroud and he deserves an argument, but it’s too risky at #1. Take the bigger, more accurate player to build your franchise around. Take a few weapons later in the draft to add to an already improving line, and things are looking up immediately for Carolina.
2. Houston Texans: QB Bryce Young, Alabama
A no-brainer for Houston at #2 as well. Young has showcased elite playmaking ability that makes him a great selection. The Texans iare building something with DeMeco Ryans, and Young will be another piece for his staff to work with. John Metchie is returning, so reuniting Young and him is also fun.
3. Arizona Cardinals: EDGE Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
Quite possibly the best player in the draft and the Cardinals have good odds to snag him at #3. He would be one of the best players on Arizona’s defense on day 1. At the most premium positions in football, finding talented (and cheap) talent is difficult. Anderson Jr. can be that, and hopefully he can help them stop anybody.
4. Indianapolis Colts: QB Anthony Richardson, Florida
The Colts have tried old, unathletic quarterback after old, unathletic quarterback for the past couple seasons now, with Philip Rivers and Matt Ryan. It’s time for a new plan: freak athlete. Let Richardson sit for a year to figure out the ins and outs of playing offense and reading defense, but then give him the keys. He’s the football version of a 5-tool player. Take a chance.
5. Seattle Seahawks: DL Jalen Carter, Georgia
Up to the rise of the star quarterbacks in this class, it was widely considered a 2-way race for best player between Will Anderson Jr. and Jalen Carter. Finding a dominant interior defensive lineman who can fill run lanes and provide pass rush is rare. No need to overthink this one, Seattle.
6. Detroit Lions: CB Christian Gonzalez, Oregon
Track size plus track speed = Christian Gonzalez. Gonzalez compliments his size with unusually fluid hips and an ability to play the football in the air. The Lions are in need of secondary help, especially on the boundary, and the Oregon star can give it to them. Plus, his willingness to compete in the run game seems like a trait Dan Campbell would fall in love with.
7. Las Vegas Raiders: QB Will Levis, Kentucky
The tape wasn’t always sunshines and rainbows for Levis, as some of his turnovers and misses looked rough. However, he has prototypical size to play modern day QB and a cannon on top of it. He has some of the highest highs at his position in the class, but he doesn’t have the natural awareness you’d wish to see from a #7 overall pick. Either way, the Raiders need a QB, and why not take one of the most gifted?
8. Atlanta Falcons: EDGE Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech
Long, tall, and explosive. He has an array of moves that he can go to to reach the quarterback, and the final gear to finish the play. The Falcons are blessed to see a top 5 talent at #8, plus they’re in a position to take the best player available. It’s probably Wilson at this point.
9. Chicago Bears: OT Peter Skoronski, Northwestern
The Bears are in desperate need of an offensive lineman who can block someone on most dropbacks. Peter Skoronski doesn’t have the arm length or athleticism, which reduces some of his upside. However, his technique makes up for it. A huge get for the Bears as they reach for the always unattainable NFC North Champs banner.
10. Philadelphia Eagles: EDGE Lukas Van Ness, Iowa
Howie Roseman always finds a way to take a lineman with his early selections. Van Ness has a fun versatility to his game, with the athleticism to play on the outside combined with the power to play on the inside. The rich get richer with a top 10 pick, and an edge rusher to give opposing lineman hell.
11. Tennessee Titans: OT Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State
The Titans are another team that desperately needs tackle. Paris Johnson Jr. is a pretty fantastic athlete who happens to be really good at blocking people. His ability to maul should be exacerbated in this offense with King Henry running behind it. I like this fit for the player and for the team.
12. Houston Texans: EDGE Myles Murphy, Clemson
Upside, upside, upside. That’s what you’re drafting Myles Murphy for. Opposite of your franchise quarterback you get a potential top-tier defensive lineman? Seems like a sound plan. He’s already a pretty good run defender, and his timeline matches up with the rebuilding timeline already set in Houston.
13. New York Jets: OT Broderick Jones, Georgia
More SEC talent goes off the board to New York. This Georgia player is a left tackle who might be able to patch up some of the injury problems that former top selection Mekhi Becton has had. He has power to take over defenders, and I think the Jets are looking for more consistent play next to their new franchise QB.
14. New England Patriots: RB Bijan Robinson, Texas
The Patriots taking Bijan would be one of the more surprising picks of the first round, but I don’t think it’s impossible. Robinson has all the tools to be a positive impact player the second he signs his contract. For the Pats who are in constant need of weapons and sideline to sideline speed, Robinson solves a big problem.
15. Green Bay Packers: WR Jordan Addison, USC
How would that be? The draft after 12 leaves, the Packers draft a receiver. It’s only right. Addison is the best separator at receiver in the draft, and I think tight end/edge value can be found in the second round and beyond. Take a proven and productive guy who can operate in the slot inside of Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs.
16. Washington Commanders: TE Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
Michael Mayer is a complete package at the tight end position. It’s hard to find big, fast, explosive guys at this position who can also block in the run game. He would be big on 3rd downs and has an underrated ability to run after the catch.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Joey Porter Jr., Penn State
Oh, this would be one of the all-time Mike Tomlin picks. Obviously, we have the storyline of Porter following his father to play in the black and gold, but the fit works great here as well. He stays in Pennsylvania to use his extremely long arms and blanketing man coverage skills to lock up AFC North receivers.
18. Detroit Lions: TE Dalton Kincaid, Utah
I think the Lions like a lot of the talent they have on both sides of the football. But Brock Wright being your TE1 going into draft day is not encouraging, so Dalton Kincaid fixes it. Kincaid, if anyone is going to be Travis Kelce, reminds me of Kelce. Everything is NFL-ready and the Lions still need weapons.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: OT Darnell Wright, Tennessee
After cutting longtime starter Donovan Smith, the Bucs reload with Darnell Wright. Wright didn’t give up one sack last year when blocking in an extremely pass heavy offense. He looked pretty good against Will Anderson Jr., and the other games back that one up. Size and power is just what teams are looking for.
20. Seattle Seahawks: CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
The most willing tackler at the cornerback position goes off the board. Witherspoon fears no man when it comes to hitting, and his corner skills aren’t bad either. Some have said he could go in the top 10, so finding him at 20 would be a steal for Seattle. They continue to give MVP-Geno a defense to keep them in games.
21. Los Angeles Chargers: WR Zay Flowers, Boston College
Understandably, the Chargers are on the list of teams who don’t like drafting undersized players. Flowers may be shorter, but has shown endless ability to play big and fast. I like his playmaking ability next to the possession style of Keenan Allen and the jump ball style of Mike Williams. If LA wants to add another layer to their offense with Herbert, no receiver would be better than Flowers (maybe Smith-Njigba).
22. Baltimore Ravens: WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
Though Lamar Jackson is on his way out of Baltimore, the Ravens should still be on the search for talent at receiver. A core of Demarcus Robinson, Nelson Agholor, and Rashod Bateman is simply not going to cut in in their division, but Smith-Njigba creates verticality in their offense. When healthy, everything is working from the hands to the route running to the 50/50 balls.
23. Minnesota Vikings: CB Deonte Banks, Maryland
Everyone knows what the Vikings need: help in the secondary. Banks is another corner with the perfect size to defend longer receives, and his rough style of play takes receivers out of rhythm. I don’t think his hips are anywhere near as fluid as Christian Gonzalez, which concerns me a little bit, but he plays hard. And the Vikings need corner.
24. Jacksonville Jaguars: S Brian Branch, Alabama
It’s hard not to love Brian Branch. He played slot corner for Nick Saban, and did a great job covering in the pass game while feasting in the run game. He’s capable of blitzing and making plays on the quarterback, and consistently plays good coverage. I like Branch’s value because he can do a couple of different things, and whatever team takes him in round 1 will be happy.
25. New York Giants: CB Kelee Ringo, Georgia
The Giants combination of corners outside of Adoree’ Jackson is not encouraging. Ringo may look like a reach here at 25, but he’s one of the fastest corners in the draft and also one of the longest. Sometimes, he struggles to find the football in the air, but he has plenty of speed to make up for mistakes. My philosophy for Ringo is that all of the unteachables are there: speed, length, athleticism. Hopefully his coaches can teach the teachables (technique).
26. Dallas Cowboys: DL Bryan Bresee, Clemson
Bresee is one of the biggest prospects at the DL position. He has shown flashes when he’s been able to mix his technique and athleticism, but it’s not happening consistency yet. The Cowboys don’t have someone that has Bresee’s skillset, so I like his opportunity to develop there.
27. Buffalo Bills: RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama
Gibbs has drawn Alvin Kamara comparisons, for good reason. I doubt 2 running backs go in the first round, but I like fun. Gibbs shouldered a lot of the offensive load for the Tide, and excelled doing so. He has one of the quicker bursts in the country, and his Kamara-esque skillset should match perfectly with the talent that Buffalo has on offense.
28. Cincinatti Bengals: TE Darnell Washington, Georgia
The Bengals are fortunate enough to have a small number of holes on their football team. The value at defensive back isn’t there as they’d hope I’m sure, but Washington is a pretty good consolation prize. He’s a tight end the size of LeBron James who can catch passes one handed and serve as an honorary lineman. Who doesn’t want that on their team?
29. New Orleans Saints: EDGE Nolan Smith, Georgia
The Saints keep another Bulldog in the South, as one of the members of the phenomenal 2021 Georgia linebacker group goes off the board. Smith is uber-athletic and pretty bendy on the edge, so I like his upside a lot. Who knows, maybe his athleticism lets him play a number of different roles for the Saints.
30. Philadelphia Eagles: IOL O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida
Each of the last 7 players has been from the SEC, wow. O’Cyrus Torrence played IOL at Florida in front of Anthony Richardson, and was a big part of his success. He is extremely strong, and possesses the talent to play either center or guard at the next level. No better IOL to learn from than Jason Kelce, and Howie Roseman gets another man in the trenches.
31. Kansas City Chiefs: WR Quentin Johnston, TCU
The Chiefs have never had a problem loading up on talent, regardless of who is on their roster. Johnston has some flaws when it comes to attacking the football, but you have to like most of the other parts of his game. Next to someone like Mahomes, those flaws tend to evaporate quickly. Without a dominant reciver, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Chiefs took QJ to play the position by committee.
Well, that does it for this edition of the Mock Draft, as the Dolphins had one of their picks forfeited. With that being said, let me know if you agree/disagree or any of your thoughts. Thanks for checking in this week, and I’ll see you in the next. Take it easy.
So far with your predictions, I see the Lions improving in free agency and if they get these two, maybe a repeat of 1959- possible!
Ummmmm...... where are all the Michigan players? I see Big Ten players galore in here.