2023 NFL Mock Draft: Surprise quarterback enters Round 1

Another week of college football means another 2023 NFL Mock Draft and now, a new quarterback enters the first round thanks to a strong senior campaign

We’re in Week 6 of the 2022 season and there’s already been one coach let go as the Carolina Panthers fired Matt Rhule after a 1-4 start. Even before Rhule was out, the Panthers had become the favorites for the No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft, and that’s where they start things out in our latest 2023 NFL Mock Draft after finishing 32nd in our latest power rankings.

The good news for Carolina, as well as many other quarterback-needy teams, is that this class is much better than it was a season ago. While just one signal-caller made it into the first round in 2022, there should be several off the board this year, including a new name who has had a sensational stretch the past two seasons.

2023 NFL Mock Draft

1. Carolina Panthers: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State

With Matt Rhule now fired, it’s probably a safe bet to assume Baker Mayfield isn’t the answer for the Carolina Panthers, and Matt Corral likely won’t be either. Instead, a new coach is going to come in and want his own guy — and if the Carolina Panthers have the No. 1 pick, they’ll end up with a stud.

C.J. Stroud continues to shine for the Ohio State Buckeyes as he has 1,737 yards passing with 24 touchdowns against just three picks. He continues to prove he can push the ball downfield and makes the right decisions throughout the game.

Carolina is in need of some hope and Stroud brings them exactly that.

2. Washington Commanders: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

Ron Rivera tried to put the toothpaste back in the tube but that’s a tough thing to do. When asked about what separates the rest of his divisions from his struggling Washington Commanders, Rivera threw all of the blame on the shoulders of Carson Wentz by saying “quarterback.”

He’s now defending Wentz and saying they talked it out, but it was also just a bad take. Washington did beat the lowly Bears to get to 2-4 on Thursday night but they’re still the only team in the East without a winning record and it’s not because of quarterbacks. The New York Giants have Daniel Jones and the Dallas Cowboys have been winning with Cooper Rush while Dak Prescott is hurt.

In the end, the front office might think coaching is what’s separating them from their rivals. And then that new coach could turn things around thanks to the arrival of a new quarterback in Bryce Young. The NFL circle of life goes around.

3. Detroit Lions: Will Anderson, Jr., EDGE, Alabama

The Detroit Lions were scoring at will until they ran into the New England Patriots. Or maybe the Pats ran into them as Rhamondre Stevenson went for 161 yards on the ground in a 29-0 shutout. Even when they were scoring points during the first four games, they were still getting run out of the building since their defense is a mess.

They added Aidan Hutchinson who has been a solid addition and now they add Will Anderson from Alabama to start at the other defensive end spot. The two together could turn their line into one of the best in the league and would help the remainder of the defense improve with the ball being forced out much quicker.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers: Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern

Kenny Pickett was the only quarterback taken in the first round this past season and while he’s taken over for Mitchell Trubisky, he hasn’t looked stellar just yet. Part of the problem is the lack of time he has in the pocket. In his first start against Buffalo, he was sacked three times and now has no touchdown passes against four picks.

They believed in him enough to take him in Round 1 and now they have to surround him with the help he needs to succeed. That’s why their first pick in this mock is Peter Skoronski from Northwestern. Arguably the top offensive tackle in this class, Skoronski should help Pickett have more time to make his reads, which is key for a young signal-caller.

5. Houston Texans: Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia

The Houston Texans have holes all over their roster. It’s hard to really find anyone outside of Derek Stingley and Kenyon Green who are safe — and they haven’t been great, they were just first-round picks this past season. The good news is that they do have two picks again this year as they try and find some talent to patch all those aforementioned holes.

With a second pick still in their back pocket, they can go for the best player available here which is Jalen Carter from Georgia. The 6-foot-3, 310-pounder is strong against the run and pass and should instantly make an impact on the Texans’ defensive line.

6. Las Vegas Raiders: Paris Johnson, OT, Ohio State

Alex Leatherwood didn’t work out as the new regime for the Las Vegas Raiders released him after just one season in the league. Of course, there were plenty of moves made by Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock that were bad, but that one was the worst. And now, the Raiders have a terrible right side of the line.

They address this with Paris Johnson from Ohio State, who they can plug in as their right tackle. He also has experience at guard but they need to make sure the edge is protected, allowing Derek Carr more time to underthrow passes and get cheap yardage through pass interference.

7. Chicago Bears: Jaelyn Duncan, OT, Maryland

The Chicago Bears are just bad on offense. And they really have been for the past several decades.

It’s hard to figure out why they can’t just put it together but every year, they have an abysmal unit trying to put points on the board. In 2022, they’re looking worse than ever as Justin Fields is trying to get acclimated to the NFL without any real offensive weapons.

Chicago needs to not only get him some pass-catchers, but he needs time to throw as well. They go for the latter here by adding Jaelyn Duncan. While he won’t fix all their problems, it can help them figure out just what they have in Fields.

8. Houston Texans (via Cleveland Browns): Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee

Once again, Houston has two picks in the opening round thanks to their Deshaun Watson trade, and this time, they decide to replace their former starting quarterback. Their choice is Hendon Hooker, the Tennessee signal-caller who has taken off over the past two seasons.

After spending three seasons at Virginia Tech, Hooker transferred to Tennessee and has 4,377 yards with 41 touchdowns and just three picks. He’s also rushed for 847 yards and eight touchdowns for the Vols.

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The only downside is that he’s going to be 25 next season, but he’s still talented enough to land in the opening round and Houston can feel much better about their chances with a legit quarterback.

9. Indianapolis Colts: Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina

Stephon Gilmore signed a two-year deal with the Indianapolis Colts this offseason and has been playing at a high level. Here, they add Cam Smith — also from South Carolina like Gilmore — to play across from him. That pairing will give them a potential shutdown duo while also allowing them to have a No. 1 corner even after their current Gamecock decides to call it a career, or head elsewhere.

The Colts have put a lot of time into rebuilding their defense and the 6-foot-1, 187-pound Smith could be a real difference-maker.

10. Philadelphia Eagles (via New Orleans Saints): Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson

Brandon Graham is set to be a free agent in 2023 and at 34 years of age, it might be time for the Philadelphia Eagles to say goodbye to the long-time defensive end. If so, they could do well to add Myles Murphy from Clemson with their first of two picks in Round 1.

This one comes courtesy of the Saints, which allows the Eagles — the final undefeated team in the league — to still land a player in the top 10. Murphy is a massive 6-foot-5 and 275-pounds, giving the Eagles another powerful player capable of playing on the strong side. With him on the same line as Jordan Davis and Haason Reddick, the Philly defense should remain stout.

11. Atlanta Falcons: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

The Atlanta Falcons have actually put up more offense than expected this season — it’s just all been on the ground. After five games, they’re fourth in the NFL with 823 yards rushing and have seven touchdowns. Even with Cordarrelle Patterson getting hurt they’ve continued to move it on the ground.

Having said that, they need to be able to threaten more through the air to improve going forward. Drake London and Kyle Pitts are great additions and now they bring in Jaxon Smith-Njigba from Ohio State to round out their aerial attack.

The only question left is if they think Marcus Mariota is good enough to distribute the ball or if they need to look elsewhere.

12. Jacksonville Jaguars: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia

Jawaan Taylor hasn’t been great for the Jacksonville Jaguars, but then again neither has Cam Robinson but they committed to him with an extension this offseason. Overall, the team is better in 2022 with Trevor Lawrence looking much more like the player we saw at Clemson.

However, he needs more help still. The Jags don’t have a great set of wideouts but the issues at offensive tackle are much more pressing. That’s where they go here as they add Broderick Jones from Georgia. A 6-foot-4, 315-pounder, Jones can start from day one and would instantly improve Jacksonville’s pass protection.

13. New England Patriots: Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson

Bill Belichick loves players who can do more than one thing. During his time with the New England Patriots, he has had players who get snaps on offense and defense. He uses linebackers who can rush the passer and likes safeties that can deliver hits like a linebacker.

That’s why it makes sense for him to target Trenton Simpson from Clemson. At 6-foot-3 and 225-pounds, Simpson played some safety for the Tigers but is primarily a linebacker. He still has exceptional cover skills and knows how to rush the passer as well.

For his career, he has 129 tackles, 19 tackles for a loss, and 10.5 sacks. He’s a Swiss Army Knife and can be a stud for New England.

14. New York Jets: Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson

Robert Saleh is coming into his own in his second season as the head coach for the New York Jets. His defense is starting to show through and they’re sitting at 3-2 after five games. We still need to see them do this for a full year to believe, but they’ve been impressive.

And what’s more important for them is the fact that so many of their recent draft picks are performing well. Jermaine Johnson II and Sauce Gardner have both been great this year and they continue to add to that core with Bryan Bresee from Clemson.

Right now, Sheldon Rankins is starting next to Quinnen Williams but he’s set for free agency in 2023. Bresee could be a viable replacement and would not only save them money but would give them even more youth on defense.

15. Arizona Cardinals: Isaiah Foskey, EDGE, Notre Dame

Right now, the Arizona Cardinals have no one who can rush the passer from the EDGE other than J.J. Watt — and he’s already 33 years old and in the final year of his contract. They absolutely have to get younger in the pass-rushing department which is why Isaiah Foskey makes so much sense here.

Arizona has weapons on offense but until they can slow opponents down, they will continue to struggle.

16. Seattle Seahawks: Kelee Ring, CB, Georgia

The Seattle Seahawks have been much better on offense than expected this season. Their defense, on the other hand, has been an issue. While Geno Smith is throwing the ball well and they’ve been able to run it with either Rashaad Penny or Kenneth Walker III, they’re struggling to stop opponents.

That’s why they go after Kelee Ring with their first pick in this round. Pete Carroll has won an awful lot with Seattle and he knows his best success came when they had the ‘Legion of Boom’ slowing down opposing pass attacks. Adding Ringo won’t bring all that glory back but it’s a step in the right direction.

17. Seattle Seahawks (via Denver Broncos): O’Cyrus Torrence, OG, Florida

After improving their secondary, the Seahawks are right back on the clock with their selection obtained from the Denver Broncos in the Russell Wilson trade. Right now, Seattle looks brilliant with Wilson struggling — and they still have this pick to use.

Their selection is O’Cyrus Torrence from Florida as they aim to improve the interior of their offensive line. For the past several years, they’ve had one of the least impressive O-lines in the game. They continue to add players but including Charles Cross, who they hope can turn into a great blindside protector. They still need help on the inside and Torrence could be the answer.

18. Cincinnati Bengals: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame

The Cincinnati Bengals have quite the passing game with Joe Burrow throwing to Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd. They’ve even got a decent option at tight end with Hayden Hurst, but they could use a little more there considering he averages just 7.9 yards per catch so far.

That’s why they go with Michael Mayer from Notre Dame with their selection in this mock. Mayer is a 6-foot-4, 250-pounder that does everything well. He’s averaging 11.2 yards per catch and would be an even bigger weapon in an offense where players such as Chase and Higgins draw so much attention.

19. Detroit Lions (via Los Angeles Rams): Will Levis, QB, Kentucky

Following a solid start, Jared Goff is coming back down to earth. And while Will Levis isn’t a sure thing by any means, Dan Campbell might get desperate enough to gamble on the kid from Kentucky.

Levis looks the part and delivers a nice ball but he hasn’t truly separated himself as a sure-fire first-round pick. He has at least shown enough promise for a team needing a spark following yet another losing season could feel justified in taking a swing. For Detroit, it’s an even easier gamble since they already had a pick earlier in this round.

20. Tennessee Titans: Jordan Addison, WR, USC

The Tennessee Titans have won three games in a row after losing their first two. While they’re sitting at 3-2 now, they still don’t scare teams with their aerial attack. In a surprise to absolutely no one, Tennessee has been anemic through the air with 877 yards passing — good for 29th in the league.

Of course, any team that lets Corey Davis and A.J. Brown leave in consecutive seasons and replaces them with Robert Woods (coming off an injury) and Treylon Burks was asking for mediocrity. Here, they try and regain some semblance of a passing attack with the addition of Jordan Addison.

After two seasons at Pitt, Addison moved to USC and has been just as big of a weapon. His deep speed will bring a much-needed layer to this offense as they look to continue to be the top team in the AFC South.

21. Miami Dolphins (via San Francisco 49ers): Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas

Two losses in a row have dampened the 3-0 start for the Miami Dolphins. The main reason for the losses, however, would be health-related. Since Tua Tagovailoa was injured in Week 4, they’ve been a shell of themselves. That will likely remain the case if Sklar Thompson has to start as Teddy Bridgewater is also hurt.

Even when they are healthy, they could use a little more production in the run game. Mike McDaniel has a great background with this as a member of the 49ers coaching staff but needs a bell cow in Miami. Bijan Robinson from Texas could be that guy for them.

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He will not only churn the yards out but when safeties do cheat up to slow him down, Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill can make them pay.

22. Los Angeles Chargers: Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU

Mike Williams has been a monster since Justin Herbert joined the Los Angeles Chargers as he and Keenan Allen have formed a great passing duo. This season, Allen hasn’t been able to help much though. He was injured early and has appeared in just one game.

It would be nice to see him back at full health but now that he’s north of 30, it might be smart to plan for life after No. 13. That’s where Quentin Johnston from TCU comes in.

Much like Williams, Johnston has tremendous height at 6-foot-4 and nearly 200-pounds. He’s also shown an ability to get deep and knows how to use his height to his advantage when going after a 50-50 ball. He would fit right in with Herbert, who has no issues throwing the ball all over the field.

23. Green Bay Packers: Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina

The Green Bay Packers refuse to take a wide receiver in Round 1 but they almost have to at this point. Christian Watson has been slow to progress so far and while Romeo Doubs has been a solid find, he’s far from a legit No. 1. The same can be said for Randall Cobb, who is actually just 32 even though it feels like he’s been in the league since the late 1990s.

Here, they finally use a premium pick to address the position, bringing in Josh Downs from North Carolina. Downs is a good route runner who can be dangerous with the ball in his hands. Working with a quarterback like Aaron Rodgers, who is excellent at hitting his receivers in stride, would be a match made in heaven.

24. Baltimore Ravens: Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia

Jason Pierre-Paul and Justin Houston have both done well with the Baltimore Ravens but neither are long-term solutions across from Odafe Oweh. Here, they add Nolan Smith from Georgia who could end up being that.

Smith is on the slight side for a pass rusher at 6-foot-3 and 235-pounds but his explosiveness will be much more important in the Baltimore 3-4 defense. With powerful defensive linemen in front of him eating up blocks, Smith should be able to reach his full potential as an edge rusher.

Baltimore could also use help at wide receiver but they seem to be content with using a committee approach and allowing Lamar Jackson to be special. That works for them and allows them to continue to strengthen their defense.

25. New York Giants: Noah Sewell, LB, Oregon

Somewhere along the lines, the New York Giants became competitive. They’re 4-1 after five games and just beat the Packers in London. And what’s most impressive is that this coaching staff has turned things around with a slew of players they inherited from their predecessors — and they weren’t good under them.

Once Brian Daboll starts to rebuild the roster, they could really be a threat. They already added some talent on defense in the last draft with Kayvon Thibodeaux, and here they go for Noah Sewell a talented linebacker from Oregon who can become the quarterback of the defense.

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kingsley Eguakun, IOL, Florida

Luke Goedeke hasn’t been great yet for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Shaq Mason will have just one year left on his contract when next season begins. They shouldn’t give up on Goedeke by any means, but going for another interior lineman is never a bad idea.

Here, they grab Kingsley Eguakun who is a center by trade but can also play guard. He would give the Bucs some options on the interior while also being able to fill in should Robert Hainsey ever be forced out of action.

27. Minnesota Vikings: Felix Anudike-Uzomah, EDGE, Kansas State

At 6-foot-3 and 252-pounds, Felix Anudike-Uzomah broke out for the Kansas State Wildcats as a sophomore in 2021. He had 50 tackles with 11 sacks. He’s continued his strong play in his junior campaign as he has 21 tackles and 6.5 sacks through the first six games.

He’s done enough to get on the first-round radar and in this mock, he winds up with the Minnesota Vikings. It wasn’t that long ago that the Vikings had one of the most fearsome pass rushes in the NFL with Danielle Hunter as the young up-and-comer across from Everson Griffen.

Now, Anudike-Uzomah can take the role of the understudy to Hunter as they work to reload that defensive line.

28. Dallas Cowboys: Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia

Dalton Schultz is playing on the franchise tag this season as he and the Dallas Cowboys were unable to come to terms on a contract extension following his breakout performance over the past two seasons. Unfortunately for Schultz, he’s been dealing with a knee injury this season and has just nine catches in four games with 80 yards and no touchdowns.

Even without his production, Dallas is 4-1 and riding a four-game win streak. The offense continues to move fine without him and that could lead to his departure in the offseason. The Cowboys would likely be content with Jake Ferguson, or they could be enticed by a player such as Darnell Washington from Georgia.

Washington has come on from nowhere to suddenly be a first-round favorite. He’s described as a runaway train and can be a nightmare to bring down.

Throwing a 6-foot-7, 270-pounder with his athleticism on an offense that already has CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup could be a lot of fun.

It won’t make us forget they overpaid Ezekiel Elliott and traded Amari Cooper for a fifth-round pick, but it will still be a lot of fun.

29. Kansas City Chiefs: B.J. Ojulari, EDGE, LSU

Azeez Ojulari was a standout for Georgia and went to the New York Giants in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He had eight sacks as a rookie but has missed several games in year two. His younger brother, B.J. Ojulari, is in the family business but plays for a different SEC team in LSU.

He ends up landing in the first round as the Kansas City Chiefs bring him in to bolster their pass rush. The Chiefs have one of the best interior pass rushers in the NFL in Chris Jones but could use a little more explosion on the edge, which Ojulari brings to the table.

30. Buffalo Bills: Jordan Battle, S, Alabama

The Buffalo Bills have had the luxury of two great safeties for the past several seasons with Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer. With both going through injuries this season, the Bills got a glimpse of life without them — and with both over the age of 30, it might be a good idea to start planning for such a life.

They do this with Jordan Battle from Alabama who is capable of playing either strong or free safety. He’s an aggressive player — who sometimes gets too aggressive — and had a sensational 2021 campaign with two pick-sixes. He could have gone pro after that campaign but got another season of experience before landing at the end of Round 1 in this mock.

31. Philadelphia Eagles: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon

The Eagles have done a tremendous job rebuilding their roster in a hurry and they again wind up with two picks in Round 1 this season. With them sitting at No. 1 in our Power Rankings, they come in with the final pick — which happens to be No. 31 thanks to the Dolphins being stripped of their selection.

Philly picked up one of the better defensive ends with their first selection and now they add to their secondary with Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez. A bit of a projection pick, Gonzalez checks off every box and while he might not be ready to start from day one, the Eagles are good enough to take their time and could eventually have a lockdown corner on their hands.