Is it ever too early for an NFL mock draft? Absolutely not. The 2023 NFL mock draft season started immediately following the 2022 NFL Draft. As a matter of fact, NFL teams had their 2022 boards set and already started working on the 2023 NFL Draft class long before the 2022 NFL Draft even began.
College football is now upon us, which means 2023 NFL Draft talk is only going to heat up as prospects start showing out across the country and NFL fans dream of their team getting the chance to see some of these stars dressed in their team colors when they swap playing on Saturdays for playing on Sundays. And Week 1 of the College Football slate is absolutely loaded with fun games for NFL fans to watch with prospects galore.
College Football Week 1 schedule is a 2023 NFL mock draft dream
- 6 Texas A&M, 8 Michigan, 13 NC State all play in the 12:00 ET window
- 11 Oregon takes on 3 Georgia in the 3:30 ET window
- 9 Oklahoma, 16 Miami, 19 Arkansas, 23 Cincinnati, 24 Houston all in 3:00 ET window
- 14 USC in the 6:00 window
- 10 Baylor and 20 Kentucky (star QB prospect Will Levis) in the 7:00 window
- 1 Alabama at 7:30 ET
- 2 Ohio State vs. 5 Notre Dame at 7:30 ET
Did I mention this is an NFL Draft fan’s dream slate of games? There’s really not much need to be leaving your couch with this kind of college football available. Attempting to predict the NFL Draft, even just a day before the event, is a borderline futile exercise. You might have a better chance at predicting the entire NCAA Bracket come March. With that being said, projecting where players could land in terms of draft slot and team fit is anything but a futile exercise. It’s a great way to get to know players and NFL team needs.
Let’s take a look at the top 31 picks in this 2023 NFL Mock Draft, starting with the Atlanta Falcons as the projected top overall team in 2022, and what kind of player-team fits we could be looking forward to in 2023. Keep in mind, the Miami Dolphins forfeited a first-round selection due to tampering with Tom Brady and Sean Payton.
1. Atlanta Falcons: CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State
Although the Falcons might have a little something interesting brewing between Marcus Mariota and Desmond Ridder, if they end up with the top overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, it would almost be a shocking upset if they went any direction besides quarterback. At this point, the distinction of QB1 for 2023 is going to come down to Stroud or Bryce Young of Alabama.
Stroud has had no shortage of great receivers around him at Ohio State, but he’s also been one of the best prospects to come out of a school that has produced recent first-round prospects Justin Fields and the late Dwayne Haskins.
Stroud would come into Atlanta with some outstanding targets in the passing game in young star tight end Kyle Pitts as well as top pick Drake London. He’s the top pick in this 2023 NFL mock draft scenario.
2. Houston Texans: Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama
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
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.
4. Chicago Bears: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
Jaxon Smith-Njigba only caught one touchdown in the 2020 season when Justin Fields was still with the Ohio State Buckeyes, but the Chicago Bears might love the idea of reuniting these two former Ohio State stars in the Windy City. Smith-Njigba may not be a Ja’Marr Chase-caliber of receiver prospect at this point, but he does have a chance to go high after what we saw from him last season, catching 95 passes for nearly 17 yards per reception with nine scores.
The Bears have Darnell Mooney and a bunch of lottery tickets at the receiver position. There’s really nothing there in terms of a building block. Despite the fact that he’s not the prototypical top-five pick at the position, Smith-Njigba could fill the Bears’ biggest offensive need and continue the Brian Hartline pipeline of stud receivers to the NFL.
5. New York Jets: Jalen Carter, DL, Georgia
The New York Jets are coming off of an absolutely monstrous 2022 offseason. At least in terms of the impact the moves could have on the roster, the Jets did more than almost any other team in the league to make significant changes to the roster. They added Duane Brown and Laken Tomlinson as proven veterans to the offensive line. They drafted former Ohio State star Garrett Wilson at receiver. They signed two big-time tight end prospects. They used first-round picks on cornerback Sauce Gardner and pass rusher Jermaine Johnson.
It would be shocking if things didn’t start turning around with the Jets sooner rather than later. Unfortunately, so much of this team’s development hinges on the development of Zach Wilson, who is now injured. In the meantime, Robert Saleh can keep doing what he does and putting together a strong defense. Adding a playmaker up front like Jalen Carter to a talented defensive front? This would be downright unfair. There are some who feel like Carter may have been the best player on that vaunted Bulldogs defense a year ago.
6. Detroit Lions: Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
Let the Georgia onslaught continue. There are going to be plenty of Bulldogs taken early on in the 2023 NFL Draft and this NFL mock draft scenario is going to reflect that. Kelee Ringo has outstanding length at the position and although he proved himself beforehand, he really put himself on the map with a huge pick-six in last year’s National Championship game.
What do we know the Detroit Lions are going to continually value in the prospects they bring in? Toughness. Ringo has that — and speed — in spades. What we saw from him in 14 games last year was merely a glimpse. There’s no question that Ringo has the talent to be an elite cornerback prospect and a quick transition to the NFL, but what could the implications of this pick be for the Detroit Lions? Would it mean bad things for Jeff Okudah? Hopefully not. The Lions are building something special and Ringo would have a chance to push this defense over the top. I would be surprised if Detroit is picking high enough to get him, though.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Bryan Bresee, DL, Clemson
It feels like the Jacksonville Jaguars are just in a perpetual state of rebuilding. They need Trevor Lawrence to take that next step in the 2022 season to finally get out of this absolute purgatory they’ve been in, cycling through players and reloading the roster year after year. The Jaguars have very few real building blocks on the roster and poor drafting along with constantly changing coaching staffs in recent years is a major reason for that.
They need to continue to build from the inside out and a player like Bryan Bresee, coming off of injury, could be exactly what this team needs. They dip into the Clemson talent pool once again and get a nasty 6-foot-5 defensive lineman with the ability to dominate from the interior defensive line on a consistent basis. The former top overall recruit will get the chance to showcase his improvements as Clemson’s defense is loaded with big-time prospects in 2022.
8. Carolina Panthers: Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia
Can anyone tell if the Carolina Panthers are building something legit at this point? I can’t help but like the moves they are all making to upgrade the roster. Baker Mayfield getting a chance to redeem himself in a new spot with DJ Moore, Christian McCaffrey, and now Laviska Shenault as some of his weapons? The Panthers under Matt Rhule have invested heavily on the defensive side of the ball. It looks like they have one stud off the edge in Brian Burns, but getting a player like Nolan Smith in the 2023 NFL Draft? That would be a huge get.
Smith was part of the loaded Georgia defense last season but still managed to stand out with nine tackles for loss and three forced fumbles. Adding his speed off the edge would give the Panthers a dynamic pass rush duo with former first-round pick and Auburn star Derrick Brown on the interior.
9. New York Giants: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
The third quarterback to come off the board in the top 10 picks goes to a team in the New York Giants that desperately needs a long-term solution at the position. The Giants have been rolling with Daniel Jones since 2019, but it’s hard to fathom how he’s still the man under center at this point. Jones is getting a shot with new head coach Brian Daboll but we’ll see how long it lasts.
It would not be surprising at all to see them make a huge change in the 2023 offseason at the position and go after a player like Will Levis, who is a social media star and a fascinating prospect at the position. His size, athleticism, and arm talent are all top-tier. The fact that he takes mayonnaise with his coffee and eats bananas with the peel still on? Maybe some work to be done there.
I’m not going to sit here and say that Levis is a clone of Josh Allen, by any means, but his size and athleticism in combination with his big arm could play well with Brian Daboll.
10. Washington Commanders: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
Something’s got to give for the Washington Commanders at some point, right? They acquired former first-round pick Carson Wentz in a trade with the Colts this past offseason, a trade that hasn’t exactly been looked upon fondly by everyone in the NFL community. Wentz and the Colts saw a 98 percent chance of making the playoffs disappear in the final weeks of the season. As unfortunate as that was, and as much blame as Wentz does deserve, he can still be a great option for the Commanders in 2022.
If they are picking 10th overall in 2023, though, heads will probably roll. The Commanders would need to target some desperately-needed help at the cornerback position and Christian Gonzalez is a fascinating prospect. He’s a big, long cornerback prospect with physicality. A former Colorado transfer, Gonzalez is still looking for his first college interception, but he’s shown off his ball skills with 10 passes broken up. He’s a tremendous athlete who is going to have a major breakout season for the Ducks in 2022.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers: Myles Murphy, EDGE/DL, Clemson
Despite having one of the best edge defenders in the NFL, the Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves looking for additional depth at the edge position on the eve of the 2022 NFL season. TJ Watt is a superstar and the team has high hopes for Alex Highsmith, but additional help is needed on the Pittsburgh defensive front.
Although Myles Murphy is not a traditional stand-up linebacker, he can float between the edge or the defensive line as an NFL defensive coordinator would see fit. He had eight sacks last year for Clemson and 14.5 tackles for loss. He’s just a flat-out playmaker on the defensive front with size and length.
12. Philadelphia Eagles: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
It’s certainly not en vogue to be taking running backs in the top 15 picks these days, but there are some prospects that are worth it. Texas running back Bijan Robinson could absolutely be one of the more coveted running back prospects to come from the college ranks in recent years. He had over 1,400 yards from scrimmage and 15 total touchdowns for the Longhorns last season. There’s no doubt he has the ideal combination of explosiveness, power, speed, and vision to excel as a “bell cow” type of back in the NFL.
So why would the Eagles take him this high? It seems like time is running out on Miles Sanders being the true RB1 in Philadelphia. Injuries have played a part in him not necessarily being as available as possible and the Eagles’ identity offensively is as a running team first and foremost.
13. Minnesota Vikings: Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson
It’s tough to pinpoint what the Minnesota Vikings might try to do in the 2023 NFL Draft at this point. New general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah emphasized the defensive side of the ball in his first year on the job in Minneapolis, making some big-time additions in free agency as well as the 2022 NFL Draft. They brought in some key veterans like Harrison Phillips, Za’Darius Smith, and Jordan Hicks. In the draft, they added Lewis Cine, Andrew Booth, and Brian Asamoah.
This Vikings team is not far off from contention if Kirk Cousins can be the guy they pay him to be, clutch in moments when they need him to be, and truly finishing off games.
Trenton Simpson is another member of a loaded Clemson defense that could go early in next year’s draft. He had 65 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks last season for the Tigers and is a true stud on all three downs. Adding a player like Simpson could allow the Vikings to go with a cheaper approach at the linebacker position without sacrificing talent.
14. Houston Texans: Siaki Ika, DL, Baylor
In the 2022 NFL Draft, the Houston Texans went after cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. with their top pick to upgrade a secondary that desperately needed it. In this 2023 NFL mock draft scenario, they had Alabama star pass rusher Will Anderson Jr. fall into their laps. Getting a couple of star prospects at key positions, the Texans look back at the trenches with this pick, acquired from the Browns in the Deshaun Watson trade.
Frankly, it’s hard to believe the Browns’ pick will be this far down the order with Watson missing the first 11 games of the season, but we’ll see. In any case, in this scenario the Texans continue to upgrade their defense with Baylor defensive lineman Siaki Ika, an LSU transfer who was a breakout player on the Baylor defense in 2021. He’s such an impressive specimen for 350 pounds and isn’t clunky with his movement skills at all.
The Texans invested a premium pick in Baylor defensive back Jalen Pitre in 2022 and there’s no doubt they saw what Ika is capable of as well.
15. Las Vegas Raiders: Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern
There’s no team in the NFL that needs to find long-term reinforcements on the offensive line worse than the Las Vegas Raiders. The Raiders just cut 2021 first-round pick Alex Leatherwood, a pick of the Jon Gruden/Mike Mayock regime, for nothing. Although Kolton Miller is a building block at left tackle, the Raiders need much, much more.
They might have the worst offensive line in the NFL in 2022, but they are going to have a chance to upgrade in the 2023 NFL Draft. Skoronski pitched a shutout at left tackle in his first outing of the 2022 season against Nebraska on nearly 40 pass-blocking snaps. He looks the part of a future NFL starter whether it’s at left tackle or somewhere else.
The Raiders would need him on the right side as a rookie. It’s a relatively thin offensive tackle class at the top but Skoronski looks like an immediate starter.
16. New England Patriots: Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU
We’re going to need to see the New England Patriots make some significant strides on the offensive side of the ball in 2022 to truly believe that they are going to be alright in the post-Josh McDaniels era. The Patriots don’t have the most intimidating selection of wide receivers in the NFL and that is a position group that desperately needs investment going forward.
Getting Kayshon Boutte at this juncture of the draft would be a huge win. Mac Jones can distribute the ball and get it out quickly, on time, and on target. The question is — do the Patriots have enough talent at receiver to truly be a balanced and dynamic offense in a loaded AFC?
Boutte is a star after the catch and has really stepped up for the LSU offense over the last two years as the team has struggled since their unreal 2019 championship run. He’s getting the coveted no. 7 jersey for LSU this year. We’ll see if he can follow in the footsteps of those before him.
17. Tennessee Titans: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Michael Mayer has been a star in his first two years at Notre Dame. He caught 71 passes for over 800 yards and seven touchdowns last year for the Fighting Irish and has continually proven himself as a receiver. Not only that, but Notre Dame has consistently churned out solid, reliable NFL tight ends almost annually at this point.
The Tennessee Titans overhauled their receiving corps in 2022, including both wide receiver and tight end. In addition to trading away AJ Brown, they upgraded at tight end by giving former big-money free agent Austin Hooper a shot. I don’t think Hooper is going to be a long-term fixture for the Titans so they will likely need to find someone who will be, or could be.
Michael Mayer could very well be that guy. At 6-foot-4, 250 pounds, he’s got great size for the position and is a weapon both after the catch and in the red zone.
18. Philadelphia Eagles: Isaiah Foskey, EDGE, Notre Dame
Already with one of the better rosters in the league, the Philadelphia Eagles have added even more intriguing talent with their duo of picks in the first round of this NFL mock draft scenario. Obviously with that top pick, the Eagles took Texas running back Bijan Robinson to boost the offense. Here, they add to the defensive front seven by getting Notre Dame’s Isaiah Foskey.
Foskey was so impressive in 2021 and he’ll have a chance to boost his stock even further in 2022 after forcing six fumbles last year on top of his 10 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss. Even after signing Haason Reddick in free agency, it was a little surprising to see the Eagles pass on the edge talent in the 2022 NFL Draft class. I don’t think we’re going to see them do the same in the 2023 NFL Draft, especially with multiple picks and so much talent.
Foskey has impressive size, length, power, and athleticism off the edge. Picturing him with Jordan Davis on the same unit or even coming off the same side of the line is bordering on unfair.
19. Baltimore Ravens: Noah Sewell, LB, Oregon
Although his big brother was an elite prospect on the offensive side of the ball (former Oregon OT Penei Sewell), little brother has become a top-flight prospect in his own right on the defensive side.
Last year, Sewell had 114 total tackles for the Ducks with 8.5 tackles for the loss, four sacks, two forced fumbles, an interception, and five passes broken up. Sewell is just an instinctive, physical football player who has great range and reactive quickness.
The Baltimore Ravens tried to sign Bobby Wagner in the 2022 NFL offseason, so perhaps they will still be interested in the 2023 offseason at making some upgrades.
20. Arizona Cardinals: Clark Phillips, CB, Utah
It’s a little difficult to keep track of what draft picks the Arizona Cardinals still have in their possession these days. General manager Steve Keim has been wheeling and dealing, and the Cardinals have officially put every egg in the Kyler Murray basket after giving him a massive contract extension in the 2022 offseason. Defensively, this team has continually been adding pieces but they need to keep adding in the secondary, and it seems they recognize that.
They made a low-risk deal for Trayvon Mullen but in the 2023 NFL Draft, they might want to look into adding even more help. Clark Phillips could be a nice upgrade for the Cardinals with 15 total passes defended last year — 13 PBU and 2 INTs. He’s smaller, but twitchy and instinctive in coverage.
21. Seattle Seahawks: Arik Gilbert, TE, Georgia
Over the last two years, we’ve seen very little from Arik Gilbert. He was part of the LSU Tigers in 2020 where he caught a pair of touchdowns, but he didn’t play at all in the 2021 season due to injury. If anything prevents Gilbert from being a top 32 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, it will be exactly that — injuries.
Although there are five-star players littered throughout the Georgia roster, it’s possible that no player is as hyped among Bulldogs fans this year as this guy. At 6-foot-5, 248 pounds, Gilbert is a physical freak with the athleticism and ball skills to be a nightmare for opposing defenses. But why would the Seattle Seahawks take him? They have Will Dissly and Noah Fant, right?
Yes, the Seahawks did pick up Fant’s fifth-year option (which is only guaranteed for injury) and they did re-sign Dissly, but Gilbert might be too tantalizing to pass on at this juncture. When you land a top-tier quarterback prospect, you’ve got to do everything in your power to surround him with top-flight talent.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Paris Johnson Jr., OL, Ohio State
One piece at a time, the Chargers are building a wall in front of superstar quarterback Justin Herbert. In 2021, they drafted Rashawn Slater out of Northwestern and despite a lot of “experts” thinking his length would prevent him from being a strong left tackle in the NFL, Slater quickly proved that one wrong and looked like one of the best players from the entire class. In 2022, they added Boston College guard Zion Johnson, who should quickly become another fixture on the offensive line.
Could they make it three years in a row with offensive linemen in round one in the 2023 NFL Draft? That’s certainly not impossible at all. The Chargers still have a rather obvious hole at the right tackle position and although Paris Johnson is expected to excel as the left tackle for the Buckeyes this season, he could flip to the right side and give the Chargers a top-flight pair of young bookend tackles.
23. Miami Dolphins: Zach Evans, RB, Ole Miss
The Miami Dolphins heavily prioritized upgrading the offensive side of the ball in 2022 and they made some bold sacrifices to do just that. The Dolphins shockingly fired Brian Flores after two winning seasons in a row didn’t result in a playoff appearance. They moved on from Flores in favor of perhaps the next offensive wunderkind in the NFL coaching ranks, Mike McDaniel. Not only that, but the Dolphins also added arguably the biggest mismatch in the NFL in wide receiver Tyreek Hill. They already had Jaylen Waddle, so if Tua Tagovailoa can improve, this offense could be lethal.
And in the 2023 NFL Draft, it could get even better. Despite not having their second first-round pick because of tampering, the Dolphins still have a pick here thanks to the Trey Lance deal in 2021. With this selection, they snag Ole Miss running back Zach Evans, a perfect fit for Mike McDaniels’ offensive scheme who has averaged 7.3 yards per carry in his first two college seasons.
24. Indianapolis Colts: Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
The Indianapolis Colts have steadily invested quite a lot on the defensive side of the ball, most notably in the trenches and front seven. They’ve made trades for players like DeForest Buckner and Yannick Ngakoue. They signed Shaquille Leonard to a massive deal. They used a top pick in last year’s draft on Kwity Paye. The Colts now need to use some prime assets on the secondary.
Cam Smith has five interceptions over the last two years including three last season. Those three interceptions along with his 11 passes defensed, forced fumble, and 41 total tackles are just the tip of the iceberg for the type of impact play Smith is capable of. He may not be flashy, but he’s consistent.
25. Dallas Cowboys: Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M
Who knows if the Dallas Cowboys will have Dan Quinn as their defensive coordinator much longer? Quinn interviewed in the 2022 cycle and was ultimately passed up on by the rest of the NFL. Not that the Cowboys mind. With Quinn back in the fold, the Cowboys should once again have a top defensive unit and they’ve uncovered an absolute star in last year’s first-round pick Micah Parsons.
The secondary may still be a bit of a work in progress, but the Cowboys have some pieces back there. Antonio Johnson has the type of flexibility and versatility that NFL teams really covet in today’s NFL. He is 6-foot-3 and can play deep safety, nickel, or pretty much wherever you need him. He’s great at attacking the line of scrimmage and showed it last year with 79 total tackles and 8.5 tackles for loss.
26. Cincinnati Bengals: Gervon Dexter, DL, Florida
During their championship run, the Cincinnati Bengals were bringing some serious heat from the defensive line in waves. Over the second half of the season, the defensive line rotation was outstanding but the Bengals will be missing a key piece of that unit in 2022. That key piece — Larry Ogunjobi — has moved on to division rival Pittsburgh. The Bengals are bringing back both DJ Reader as well as BJ Hill, and they also drafted former Florida stud Zach Carter in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Chances are if they liked what they saw from Carter, they’ll also really like his former Gators teammate, Gervon Dexter. Dexter’s length on the interior defensive line combined with his nastiness and strength make for a deadly combination.
27. Detroit Lions: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
The Detroit Lions decided to go after help on the defensive side of the ball earlier on in this mock draft with Kelee Ringo from Georgia. Here, they take a shot on the upside of Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson, perhaps the most shocking inclusion in this first-round NFL mock draft. At 6-foot-4, 236 pounds, the physical and athletic tools are all there for Richardson. At this point, it’s merely the sample size that is too small.
One year as the starter for the Gators could be all NFL teams need to see from Richardson to sell them on his upside as a future starter in the league. The Lions have been building a great group of weapons for whoever is the quarterback in the post-Jared Goff era, whenever that time comes. This pick was acquired by the Lions in the Matthew Stafford trade. Perhaps it’s only fitting that, at some point, they use one of those picks to get a QB of the future.
28. Green Bay Packers: Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
Will this be the year that Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst uses a first-round pick on a wide receiver? We’ll see how the 2022 season goes, but two of the Packers’ top receivers this year are 2023 free agent Allen Lazard and an aging Randall Cobb. Not only that, but Green Bay could be relying on journeyman receiver Sammy Watkins to play a big role in 2022.
More receiver help is needed, and Quentin Johnston can give the Packers another big receiver with a huge catch radius to give Aaron Rodgers some help in the passing game. If Lazard plays his way out of Green Bay next offseason, the Packers could have a trio of young receivers to build around in Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Quentin Johnston in this instance. Every game I saw of TCU last year, Johnston and his 6-foot-4 frame stood out on the tape. He’s averaged over 20 yards per reception in his first two college seasons.
29. Kansas City Chiefs: Tyree Wilson, DL/EDGE, Texas Tech
The Kansas City Chiefs utilized their multiple first-round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft to upgrade on the defensive side of the ball. After trading away wide receiver Tyreek Hill, many expected Kansas City to go with a receiver but they opted for much-needed help in the secondary and pass rush instead. The Chiefs used their top pick on Washington cornerback Trent McDuffie and later they stole George Karlaftis, who has been a star for them in preseason play.
Here in the later portion of round one, where you can expect the Chiefs to be picking as long as Patrick Mahomes is healthy (regardless of his receivers), they get the 6-foot-6 Tyree Wilson out of Texas Tech. With his massive frame and length, Wilson racked up 7.0 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss last year and could shoot up draft boards as the best defensive player in the Big 12. He goes to a great situation in this 2023 NFL mock draft.
30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
I’m sure Joey Porter Sr. — the former star NFL linebacker who is now an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers — is going to be banging the table for his son to join the Steelers, but Todd Bowles — who once coached Porter when he was a member of the Miami Dolphins — snags him before the end of round one instead.
The Buccaneers are a team to watch in the 2023 offseason, obviously, depending on what happens with Tom Brady. If Brady leaves and retires for good, it changes the entire complexion of the Bucs’ offseason. One way or another, this team and every NFL team for that matter needs help in the secondary and more quality cornerbacks.
Joey Porter Jr. is not an edge player like his dad, but he’s a long 6-foot-2 corner prospect with physicality and football in his blood.
31. Buffalo Bills: Brian Branch, DB, Alabama
Because the Miami Dolphins had to forfeit a first-round pick, the Buffalo Bills close this first-round NFL mock draft out at pick no. 31 overall with Alabama defensive back Brian Branch. On one of the most talented defenses in all of college football (annually), Branch is the “STAR” for Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide, meaning he can float around the formation and play nickel, dime ‘backer, or in the high safety spot.
The Buffalo Bills proved last year that their need for defensive back help is evident. They went out and used a top pick in the 2022 NFL Draft on Florida’s Kaiir Elam, and here they go after another SEC defensive back that can get onto the field even along with both Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde. That is, if they can retain Poyer, who is one of the team’s top free agents in 2023.