Analysis
1/3/23
9 min read
2023 NFL Mock Draft 1.2: C.J. Stroud Rising, How High Will He Go?
With only a week left in the NFL regular season, 13 teams have been eliminated from playoff contention and another five will be added over the weekend. Those teams should already be turning their attention to the 2023 NFL Draft, which boasts some strong talent across the board.
The Texans are closing in on the draft's first pick. Will they select their next franchise quarterback? Or will they look to add a top-end defender like Jalen Carter or Will Anderson?
Let's get into the selections, but a few notes first:
- The draft order was determined by current standings and using the league’s strength-of-schedule tiebreaker.
- Asterisk denotes underclassmen who have yet to declare their intentions to enter the draft early.
- 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 1.2
1. Houston Texans: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
With a month layoff, he played an outstanding game in his final appearance for Alabama in a game that many players in his position may have opted out of to prepare for the draft. Young officially declared for the draft on Monday.
2. Chicago Bears: Will Anderson, EDGE, Alabama
He didn't have the best 2022 season, but in the Sugar Bowl, he showed how he can impact a game even if it didn't show up on the stat sheet.
3. Seattle Seahawks (From Denver): C.J. Stroud*, QB, Ohio State
Seattle may find it hard to re-sign Geno Smith at a reasonable price. Stroud flashed some movement skills in his team's CFP loss to Georgia that we have rarely seen from him. The Seahawks can't pass an opportunity to secure their QB future.
4. Arizona Cardinals: Jalen Carter*, DT, Georgia
Arizona would be elated if the draft falls this way. They need impact players on defense, and Carter will slide in nicely with the recent retirement of J.J. Watt.
5. Indianapolis Colts: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
Once again, Levis slots into the Colts, who are looking for their next QB1 after cycling through Matt Ryan, Nick Foles and Sam Ehlinger this season.
6. Detroit Lions (From LA Rams): Brian Bresee, IDL, Clemson
They got their edge rusher last year, and they need to improve their run defense, where they rank 30th in the NFL. Bresee should help them there.
7. Atlanta Falcons: Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech
The Falcons are in a good spot to take the best edge rusher available. Wilson is a versatile player who is on the rise.
8. Las Vegas Raiders: Paris Johnson*, OT, Ohio State
Whoever is the QB in Las Vegas needs some building blocks up front, and Johnson would be a great one. He would pair nicely with right tackle Kolton Miller, giving the Raiders bookends on the outside.
9. Carolina Panthers: Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
Last year, they picked a bookend tackle. This year, they pick up another starter at a premier position. They missed the presence of Haason Reddick opposite Brian Burns this season.
10. Philadelphia Eagles (From New Orleans): Andre Carter, EDGE, Army
GM Howie Roseman can afford to look to the future. He adds a pass rusher with some rare traits who they don't have to rely on from Day 1.
11. Tennessee Titans: Quentin Johnston*, WR, TCU
Johnston can turn a game on one play, which is what he did with his long touchdown against Michigan. The Titans are missing that type of impact player without A.J. Brown.
12. Houston Texans (From Cleveland): Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
You can never have enough corners in today's game, and Houston gets the best one in this year's draft to pair with Derek Stingley Jr. on the other side.
13. New York Jets: Peter Skoronski*, OT, Northwestern
The Jets are likely to pick up a veteran QB in free agency, and they need to bolster the OL, where they relied on 37-year-old Duane Brown and journeyman George Fant this season.
14. Washington Commanders: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
The Commanders' late-season swoon not only knocked them out of playoff contention but puts them in a spot to grab some hope at QB in Richardson, who possesses all the physical skills you could want.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers: Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
We've had this slotted in for quite a while with Porter going to his Dad's old team. It's not just a good story as Porter Jr. fills a need for the Steelers.
16. Green Bay Packers: Jordan Addison, WR, USC
The Packers continue to stockpile young talent on the outside. He would pair nicely with Christian Watson and comes in as a polished player.
17. Detroit Lions: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
The Lions are giving up almost 300 yards passing per game, and Gonzalez is arguably the best corner in the draft this season.
18. Miami Dolphins: Forfeited
The Miami Dolphins forfeit the 18th pick in this year's NFL Draft.
19. Seattle Seahawks: Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson
With Jordyn Brooks going down with a torn ACL over the weekend, the need in the middle of their defense just increased. Simpson has some versatility, so he can help fill in without Brooks and play in tandem with him when he returns.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars: Broderick Jones*, OT, Georgia
They have a lot of weapons on offense surrounding Trevor Lawrence, but they have to protect him, and RT Jawaan Taylor is a pending free agent.
21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee
Hyatt would look nice opposite Mike Evans and give them a real vertical threat.
22. New England Patriots: Nolan Smith, Edge, Georgia
Smith can rush off the edge and looks natural dropping. He would provide a versatile chess piece for Bill Belichick.
23. New York Giants: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
If the Giants elect not to franchise Saquon Barkley, how fortunate would they be to replace him with Robinson?
24. Baltimore Ravens: Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
The Ravens love players with instincts and swagger, and Forbes has the ball production and attitude that they would covet.
25. Los Angeles Chargers: Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina
The Chargers continue to build around QB Justin Herbert and give him a quick explosive target in Downs.
26. Cincinnati Bengals: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
Eli Apple is a free agent, and Witherspoon is a plug-and-play corner with the instincts and intelligence to start from Day 1.
27. Minnesota Vikings: Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
The Vikings rank 31st against the pass, so they have to take the next best available corner.
28. Dallas Cowboys: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama
The Cowboys might have to let Tony Pollard walk in free agency. Gibbs can replace that big play ability in a rotation with Ezekiel Elliott.
29. Denver Broncos (from San Francisco through Miami): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Mayer gives them two solid tight ends and more inline blocking versatility than last year's third-round pick Greg Dulcich.
30. Buffalo Bills: Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M
Jordan Poyer is a free agent and Micah Hyde is 32 and has been injured. This is a need pick but also the right spot for the first safety to go in the draft.
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
Travis Kelce will be 34 years old next season. Kincaid would give the Chiefs an athletic TE who can play alongside and learn from Kelce.
32. Philadelphia Eagles: Jaylon Jones, CB, Texas A&M
The Eagles continue to reload on defense taking the sixth corner in our mock draft. The team has benefitted greatly from the play of veterans like Darius Slay and James Bradberry, but eventually they'll need some youth in that room.
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