Analysis
1/29/23
11 min read
2023 NFL Mock Draft 2.3: Who Lands Aaron Rodgers In Blockbuster Deal?
The NFL draft order is nearly set and the Senior Bowl is already here this week which can only mean one thing: mock draft Monday. This latest mock draft sees Aaron Rodgers traded to a new team and four other quarterbacks selected in the top 10.
Led by T.J. McCreight, The 33rd Team Scouting Department has been hard at work evaluating the top prospects in this class. A former player personnel executive for the Philadelphia Eagles and former director of college scouting for the Indianapolis Colts, McCreight has nearly 25 years of NFL scouting experience.
He is joined in the department by three scouts:
- Kevin Cohn, a former scouting assistant for the Jacksonville Jaguars and assistant director of player personnel for the University of Connecticut.
- Justin Casey, who worked for the Arizona Cardinals in football administration and then as the senior player personnel executive for the Montreal Alouettes.
- Evan Pritt, a former scouting assistant for the Philadelphia Eagles and former player personnel assistant for the University of Maryland.
>> Full Big Board from The 33rd Team Scouting Dept.
Notes:
- The draft order for picks 1-30 are set but picks 31-32 will be determined by what happens in the Super Bowl.
- This year’s first round only has 31 picks because the Miami Dolphins forfeited their selection for tampering with Tom Brady.
The 33rd Team 2023 Mock Draft 2.3
1. Chicago Bears: Jalen Carter, IDL, Georgia
No one is willing to meet the Bears' demands to move out of the top spot, and they won't want to risk missing out on an elite talent like Carter. He will make an immediate impact on the Bears' struggling defense with the ability to disrupt in the run-and-pass game.
>> Joe Banner: Bears Should Pick Difference-Making QB
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2. Houston Texans: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
Houston resists the urge to move up one spot, preserves its draft capital and still get the top quarterback on their board. Stroud showed his full potential in the semifinals against Georgia. Of the top three quarterbacks in this class, Stroud may have the best combination of arm strength, touch and ball placement.
Projected Trade
Indianapolis Receives: 1-3
Arizona Receives: 1-4, 2-35
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3. Indianapolis Colts: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky (Mock Draft Trade with Arizona)
Indianapolis gives up its second-round pick (No. 35) to swap spots with Arizona and select its quarterback of the Future. Arizona was getting other calls, and the Colts couldn't afford to sit back and hope Levis would still be there at No. 4. There is a huge drop-off after the top three quarterbacks in this class, with many evaluators having Levis as the top quarterback prospect.
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4. Arizona Cardinals: Will Anderson, Edge, Alabama (Mock Draft Trade with Indianapolis)
Arizona picks up the additional second-round pick and gets the most decorated and productive edge rusher in this draft, something its defense was sorely missing last season. Anderson will bring an immediate presence off the edge with length, instincts and motor.
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5. Seattle Seahawks (From Denver): Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
Seattle had every intention of going with Geno Smith and taking the best available defensive player at this slot or getting a bounty from a quarterback-needy team, but that was before Bryce Young slid here. He is too good for them to pass up here.
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6. Detroit Lions (From LA Rams): Tyree Wilson, Edge, Texas Tech
Detroit has established an identity on offense, but its has to improve on the defensive side of the ball. Tyree Wilson is a raw, physical freak with an almost 86-inch wingspan and outstanding bend and athleticism for his size. He is just starting to scratch the surface of his potential.
>> Read: 3 Players Who Can Rise Up Draft Boards
7. Las Vegas Raiders: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
The Raiders pick the top offensive lineman on their board. Jones has all of the tools to be an anchor for this offense for several years to come. He has the flexibility to play either the left or right side.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Paris Johnson, OT, Ohio State
The Falcons land the extremely athletic Johnson to give them a tackle for years to come. Johnson has all of the tools to be a top-level NFL starter, he just needs to get a bit stronger in the upper body.
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9. Carolina Panthers: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
Carolina takes a chance on the raw but talented quarterback that reminds some of former Panther Cam Newton.
10. Philadelphia Eagles (From New Orleans): Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
Howie Roseman and the Eagles can never have enough corners and pass rushers. They pick the top player on their board at a premium position.
11. Tennessee Titans: Jordan Addison, WR, USC
Tennessee throws a surprise into the mix by taking Addison instead of Quentin Johnston. The Titans need playmakers on the outside to take the load off Derrick Henry, and the former Biletnikoff winner will provide that.
12. Houston Texans (From Cleveland): Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
Houston takes a playmaking wide receiver to pair with its new rookie quarterback. Johnston is our highest-rated WR in the 2023 NFL Draft and a top-5 player on our board. Houston comes away with a quarterback and mismatch WR without giving up any draft capital.
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Projected Trade
Green Bay Receives: 1-13
New York Jets Receive: Aaron Rodgers
13. Green Bay Packers: Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State (Mock Draft Trade with New York Jets)
The Jets and Packers will have to work out some contract details, but the Jets give up at least this year's first-round NFL Draft pick for Aaron Rodgers. This gives the Jets a chance to make a run at a Super Bowl with their talented roster. Green Bay uses the pick to inject more youth into the offensive line and protect Jordan Love's blind side.
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14. New England Patriots: Andre Carter, Edge, Army
We have had this pick projected for some time, and Carter falls into New England's lap once again. Carter is raw but has upside, and the Patriots get a young pass rusher to mold.
15. Green Bay Packers: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
The Packers give their new starting quarterback his safety valve by selecting Mayer with the 15th pick in the NFL Draft. He is a big target who will make an inexperienced quarterback feel comfortable.
16. Washington Commanders: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
Washington needs some size in its passing game. With Logan Thomas potentially a cut candidate, Kincaid gives the Commanders a size and speed combo their offense is lacking.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson
With the potential free-agency departures of Robert Spillane and Devin Bush, the Steelers re-load the middle of their front seven. They hope Simpson can fill the shoes of a storied position in Pittsburgh.
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18. Detroit Lions: Emanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
Forbes feels like a perfect personality fit for Dan Campbell and company. The Lions are lacking a defensive player on the backend, and Forbes is a guy who plays with fire and swagger.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
Tampa Bay takes the best player available, giving them Robinson. He's a potent threat as both a runner and a receiver, pairing nicely with the Buccaneers' current skill position talent.
20. Seattle Seahawks: Bryan Bresee, IDL, Clemson
Seattle picks a top inside player that can make plays in both the pass and run game. He has had some injury history in the past, which is a bit concerning.
21. Miami Dolphins: Forfeited
The Miami Dolphins forfeit their first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
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22. Los Angeles Chargers: Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee
The Chargers need speed at receiver and Hyatt certainly provides that. With Hyatt's ability to stretch the field, Justin Herbert will have all of the weapons for the offense to take the next step.
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23. Baltimore Ravens: Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
Baltimore steals an explosive, straight-line athlete that can play both man and zone coverage.
>> Read: NFL Draft's Hardest Hitters
24. Minnesota Vikings: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
Devin Witherspoon is the most physical, hard-hitting corner in this draft. He is not afraid to mix it up in the run game and can push around wideouts.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars: Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
The Jaguars target height, weight and speed, which is what they will be in on Porter Jr. He has size (6-foot-2) and length to go along with explosive speed for the position.
26. New York Giants: Rashee Rice, WR, SMU
Rice gives the Giants an outside receiver that can stretch the field. The offense improved greatly this past season, but the Giants were lacking a taller receiver who could make chunk plays on the outside.
27. Dallas Cowboys: Peter Skoronski, OL, Northwestern
Skoronski has position flexibility and will make the Cowboys tougher and stronger up front to help in both the run and pass game. This would mark the second consecutive season Dallas selected an offensive lineman in the first round of the NFL Draft.
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28. Buffalo Bills: Brian Branch, DB, Alabama
Branch can play both safety and slot corner for the Bills. This is certainly a position the Bills need to address this offseason.
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29. Cincinnati Bengals: Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
Smith is a proven corner in the SEC who has shown that he can match up with top-level wide receivers. He will add to the team's speed with his burst and explosiveness.
30. New Orleans Saints (From San Francisco through Denver): Cody Mauch, OT, North Dakota State
Mauch played offensive tackle in college but the Saints would move him inside to offensive guard. Guard is a position of need for the Saints with Andrus Peat's injury situation. Mauch would give the Saints strength and toughness along their offensive line along with positional versatility.
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
Wright is rising up draft boards. The Chiefs take the best player on their board and fill an important position of need, protecting Patrick Mahomes, and improve their run game.
32. Philadelphia Eagles: Myles Murphy, Edge, Clemson
Murphy may be dropping a bit in this mock draft, but the Eagles feel like they get a steal at the bottom of the draft by picking the talented rusher.
