Analysis
2/12/23
11 min read
2023 NFL Mock Draft 3.1: Post-Super Bowl Picks; Shocking Justin Fields, Aaron Rodgers Trades
The Kansas City Chiefs are officially Super Bowl champions, and the NFL and its fans will turn their attention to the 2023 offseason. Every team will have a chance to improve its roster through the draft and free agency. This mock draft includes two rounds of predictions for what could happen this April.
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 Eagles and former player personnel assistant for the University of Maryland.
>> Full Big Board from The 33rd Team Scouting Dept.
Notes:
- 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 3.1
1. Chicago Bears: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
The Chicago Bears pull off a shocking trade sending Justin Fields to the Carolina Panthers for the ninth pick of the draft, and here they pick Young (scouting report). The Bears feel like Young is just too talented to pass up and hand the keys to the franchise to the rookie.
>> READ: Should Bears Build Around Justin Fields or Draft His Replacement?
2. Houston Texans: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
The Houston Texans stay at No. 2 and pick the quarterback they have wanted for months. Stroud (scouting report) will hit the reset button for a franchise that has a new head coach as well in former Texans linebacker DeMeco Ryans.
Projected trade
Indianapolis receives: 1-3, 3-96, 5-167
Arizona receives: 1-4, 2-35
3. Indianapolis Colts (projected trade with Arizona): Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
The Colts move up one spot to ensure that they can land a quarterback in Levis (scouting report).
4. Arizona Cardinals (Projected Trade with Indianapolis): Jalen Carter, IDL, Georgia
The Cardinals move back one spot and still get the player that they have been targeting in Carter (scouting report). He can be a difference-maker for this defense up front.
5. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver): Will Anderson, Edge, Alabama
The Seattle Seahawks stay at No. 5 and pick the top pass rusher in the draft. Anderson (scouting report) will put pressure on the NFC West quarterbacks for several years.
6. Detroit Lions (from Los Angeles Rams): Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
The Detroit Lions defense gets faster and more athletic with the top corner in the draft. Christian Gonzalez (scouting report) would pair with former top-5 pick Jeff Okudah, who had a resurgent season in 2022 with 75 tackles and only one touchdown allowed.
7. Las Vegas Raiders: Tyree Wilson, Edge, Texas Tech
The Las Vegas Raiders pick a rusher in Wilson (scouting report) to improve a defense that was near the bottom of the NFL in quarterback pressures. Jimmy Garoppolo travels east from the 49ers and will wear the silver and black.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
The Atlanta Falcons will lose Kaleb McGary in free agency, so they pick the top offensive lineman in the draft in Jones (scouting report).
Projected trade
Chicago receives: 1-9
Carolina receives: QB Justin Fields
9. Chicago Bears (Projected trade with Carolina): Paris Johnson, OT, Ohio State
The Bears have two picks in the top nine after trading Fields to the Panthers. They pick Johnson (scouting report) to protect their new rookie passer.
Projected Trade
Tampa Bay receives: 1-10
Philadelphia receives:Â 1-19, 2-50, 5-174
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from Philadelphia via New Orleans): Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers pick local product Richardson (scouting report) as their quarterback of the future.Â
11. Tennessee Titans: Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State
Jones (scouting report) fits the Tennessee Titans' DNA with his size (6-foot-8, 359 pounds), length and toughness. He will create a new line of scrimmage and move defenders off the ball to make their running game even better.
12. Houston Texans (from Cleveland): Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
The Houston Texans pick the top wide receiver to go along with their new rookie quarterback. Johnston (scouting report) and Stroud can grow together in this offense.
Projected Trade
Green Bay Receives: 1-13
New York Jets Receive: Aaron Rodgers
13. Green Bay Packers (from projected trade with the Jets): Devon Weatherspoon, CB, Illinois
Green Bay picks here after it sends send Rodgers to the New York Jets. The Packers pick the most physical, versatile corner in the draft. Weatherspoon (scouting report) can play in the slot as well as outside.
14. New England Patriots: Brian Branch, DB, Alabama
The New England Patriots pick a player that can do a lot of different things for this defense. Branch (scouting report) can play in the slot, some outside corner as well as safety.Â
15. Green Bay Packers: Jordan Addison, WR, USC
The Green Bay Packers pick the most polished wide receiver in the draft class. Addison (scouting report) brings speed and outstanding route savvy.Â
16. Washington Commanders:Â Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
The Washington Commanders land Mayer (scouting report), who should help them have success in both the run and the passing game.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern
Head coach Mike Tomlin was spotted intently watching the offensive and defensive linemen at the Senior Bowl in Mobile. Ala. Skoronski (scouting report) can play tackle, guard, and possibly even center.
18. Detroit Lions: Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson
The Lions, with their two first-round picks, took the best corner in the draft and now land the best inside linebacker in the draft in Simpson (scouting report).
19. Philadelphia Eagles (projected trade with Tampa Bay): Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
Miles Sanders moves on in free agency, and the Philadelphia Eagles pick the top player on their board in Robinson (scouting report). Philadelphia does not have many holes, and this is a luxury pick that makes its offense even more explosive.
Projected trade
New York Giants receive: 1-20
Seattle receives: 1-25, 3-100, 5-160
20. New York Giants (projected trade with Seattle): Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee
The New York Giants want to get ahead of the Chargers to pick the speedy Hyatt (scouting report).
21. Los Angeles Chargers: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
The Los Angeles Chargers pick the dynamic, fast, downfield threat in Flowers (scouting report) that they are lacking on this offense.
22. Baltimore Ravens: Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
The Baltimore Ravens improve their secondary and pick Forbes (scouting report), who possesses the hands and ball skills to be a playmaking corner.
23. Minnesota Vikings: Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
The Minnesota Vikings love the length (6-foot-2) and bloodlines of Porter (scouting report). The ball production is lacking, but he has big upside.
24. Jacksonville Jaguars: Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
The Jaguars love the explosiveness of Ringo (scouting report), and he will make this defense faster. Ringo can match up with big, fast wide receivers.
25. Seattle Seahawks (projected trade with New York Giants): Nolan Smith, Edge, Georgia
Seattle can't pass up another pass rusher in Smith (scouting report), and it will be fun to watch this defense get after quarterbacks in 2023 and beyond.
26. Dallas Cowboys: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
The athletic, playmaking Kincaid (scouting report) will become Dak Prescott's best friend and an exciting target for the Dallas Cowboys offense.
27. Buffalo Bills: Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M
A clear position of need for the Buffalo Bills, they select a safety that has length and is an outstanding athlete. Johnson (scouting report) can cover tight ends and is physical in the run game.Â
28. Cincinnati Bengals: Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
The Cincinnati Bengals need to protect their franchise passer, and Harrison (scouting report) will be a good fit for this offense.
29. New Orleans Saints (from San Francisco through Denver): Myles Murphy, Edge, Clemson
Murphy (scouting report) fits the mold of a New Orleans Saints pass rusher with his size and length.
30. Philadelphia Eagles: Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
With their second first-round pick the Eagles go defense with Smith (scouting report) to make their secondary even stronger.
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
Both of the Chiefs' offensive tackles are free agents, and Wright (scouting report) is a solid need pick to bolster their offensive line.Â
Round 2
32. Pittsburgh Steelers (from Chicago): Lukas Van Ness, Edge, Iowa
33. Houston Texans: Bryan Bresee, IDL, Clemson (scouting report)
34. Arizona Cardinals: Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
35. Arizona Cardinals (projected trade with Indianapolis): Will McDonald, Edge, Iowa State (scouting report)
36. Los Angeles Rams: Carter Warren, OT, Pittsburgh (scouting report)
37. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver): Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State (scouting report)
38. Las Vegas Raiders: Cody Mauch, OL, North Dakota State (scouting report)
39. Carolina Panthers: Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina (scouting report)
40. New Orleans Saints: Keanu Benton, IDL, Wisconsin
41. Tennessee Titans: Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU (scouting report)
42. Cleveland Browns: Siaki Ika, IDL, Baylor (scouting report)
43. New York Jets: Zion Nelson. OT. Miami (Fla)
44. Atlanta Falcons: Byron Young, Edge, Tennessee (scouting report)
45. Green Bay Packers: Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State (scouting report)
46. New England Patriots: Andre Carter, Edge, Army (scouting report)
47. Washington Commanders: Clark Phillips, CB, Utah (scouting report)
48. Detroit Lions: Jammie Robinson, S, Florida State (scouting report)
49. Pittsburgh Steelers: Zach Harrison, Edge, Ohio State (scouting report)
50. Philadelphia Eagles (from projected trade with Tampa Bay): Garrett Williams, CB, Syracuse (scouting report)
51. Miami Dolphins: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama (scouting report)
52. Seattle Seahawks: Noah Sewell, LB, Oregon (scouting report)
53. Chicago Bears (From Baltimore): Calijah Kancey, IDL, Pittsburgh (scouting report)
54. Los Angeles Chargers: Demarvion Overshown, LB, Texas (scouting report)
55. Detroit Lions (From Minnesota): Tucker Kraft, TE, South Dakota State (scouting report)
56. Jacksonville Jaguars: O'Cyrus Torrence, OG, Florida (scouting report)
57. New York Giants: Henry To'oTo'o, LB, Alabama (scouting report)
58. Dallas Cowboys: Rashee Rice, WR, SMU (scouting report)
59. Buffalo Bills: Nick Broeker, OG, Ole Miss (scouring report)
60. Cincinnati Bengals: Jakorian Bennett, CB, Maryland (scouting report)
61. San Francisco (from Carolina): John Michael Schmitz, OC, Minnesota (scouting report)
62. Philadelphia Eagles: BJ Ojulari, Edge, LSU (scouting report)
63. Kansas City Chiefs: Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Edge, Kansas State (scouting report)
