2023 NFL mock draft: College football is back with a loaded class
2. Houston Texans: Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama
Will Anderson Jr.. 10. Scouting Report. Alabama. 2. player. Pick Analysis. EDGE
It’s tough to project the Houston Texans this low. I could see a scenario where they do finish with one of the two worst records in the NFL in 2022, I just have a hard time doing so. No, the Texans are not a contender. They’re not a complete team or a complete roster, by any means, but I do like Davis Mills and I like GM Nick Caserio’s direction. Hopefully, Mills is able to do a good enough job to convince the Texans that he can be the guy going forward, and they can afford to pass on QBs here so they can take Will Anderson Jr.
Anderson might be the consensus top overall player in the class of 2023 after a Heisman-worthy 2021 season in which he racked up 101 total tackles, an astounding 31.0 tackles for loss, and 17.5 sacks. Pairing up Anderson with Jonathan Greenard would be huge for the Texans, and that’s exactly what they do in this 2023 NFL mock draft projection.
3. Seattle Seahawks: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
Alabama. 36. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. QB. Bryce Young. 3. player
The Seattle Seahawks struck one of the biggest trades of the entire 2022 NFL offseason when they traded star quarterback Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos for a bounty of picks and three players. That trade could ultimately result in the Seahawks picking higher than they have in a really long time in the NFL Draft, even higher than picking 9th overall like they did last year with the first pick they acquired from the Broncos in the Wilson trade (used on OT Charles Cross).
Seattle needs a plan at the quarterback position. Drew Lock isn’t an option after losing the competition for the starting job with Geno Smith. At least, barring anything miraculous happening throughout the season, I think you can count either of these guys out for the job in 2023 but someone like Bryce Young could absolutely step in and start for Seattle right away. Young has the potential to ascend to the QB1 position in this class after throwing for nearly 5,000 yards with 47 touchdowns and seven interceptions last year.