2023 NFL Mock Draft: Steelers land new EDGE in top 10, Raiders play it safe

Our latest 2023 NFL Mock Draft continues to see quarterbacks taken quickly but there’s a new pass rusher on the board, and he cracked the top 10

With eight weeks in the books, we are approaching the midway point of the 2022 NFL Season. Many teams already know that they’re not making a run this season and are now trying to figure out where they need to make improvements in order to contend in the future.

The first couple of picks in this 2023 NFL Mock Draft are especially aimed at changing the fortunes of a couple of franchises as two quarterbacks come off the board in a hurry. There’s also a focus on pass rushers, including a new name finding his way into the top 10.

As is always the case, we use our most current NFL Power Rankings to determine the order, which means the Detroit Lions are on the clock.

2023 NFL Mock Draft at Week 9

1. Detroit Lions: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State

He started the season strong but over the past couple of weeks, Jared Goff has struggled for the Detroit Lions. He’s thrown one touchdown and three picks in his past three games and while it was always clear the Lions needed a new quarterback, he’s proving they have to make that move in 2023.

Fortunately for them, there’s a great option available in C.J. Stroud from Ohio State. One of the best passers in the nation, Stroud has 73 career touchdowns and just 10 interceptions. He’s going to be a great pro but the only question is whether or not his career would be wasted in Detroit like so many other talented players.

2. Houston Texans: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

Every now and then, the Houston Texans and Davis Mills will make you believe they’re not that bad. They started out Week 9 in a Thursday Night Football showdown with the Philadelphia Eagles and hung with the lone undefeated team for the first 30 minutes.

Then in the second half, Mills threw a couple of picks and the offense faltered time and again. Just like with the Lions, it’s clear another signal caller is needed and the choice here is Bryce Young.

The Alabama signal-caller might be the No. 1 pick in most years but with Stroud performing as well as he has, Young lands at No. 2.

Houston does have the draft capital to build around him, but time will tell if they can make the right moves.

3. Chicago Bears: Will Anderson, EDGE, Alabama

The Chicago Bears were sellers, and buyers at the deadline. Working toward the Nov. 1 stopping point, they made a couple of trades as they sent Robert Quinn to the Eagles and Roquan Smith to the Ravens. Quinn’s departure cleared up plenty of cap space whereas Smith was traded to avoid having to pay a linebacker.

They then traded for Chase Claypool, finally giving Justin Fields a decent wideout. With those moves done, they now add Will Anderson from Alabama, which gives them the best pass-rusher in this class.

4. Houston Texans (via Cleveland Browns): Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia

The Houston Texans are back on the clock with one of the many picks they got from the Cleveland Browns in the Deshaun Watson deal. They need a wide receiver more than anything and it would probably be wise to trade down here, take a wideout, and add more capital. However, we aren’t predicting trades here, so the choice is Jalen Carter from Georgia.

One thing that was evident in their loss to Philly was that they could stay in the game when Jerry Hughes and the defensive line were breaking through. Adding Carter gives them the best interior defensive lineman in this class as he will not only make an impact with his ability to push the pocket, but the attention he commands will free up others as well.

5. Carolina Panthers: Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee

Baker Mayfield proved he wasn’t the answer and while P.J. Walker has been better, he’s nothing more than an improvement over Mayfield. That means the Carolina Panthers still need to find their starter for the future and they use the No. 5 pick in this mock in an effort to do just that.

Hendon Hooker has been sensational this season and led Tennessee to a win over Alabama and a spot as No. 1 in the nation.

He’s a strong leader who makes all the throws and could quickly improve Carolina’s offense — which is a must for this team.

6. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State

A transfer from Albany, Jared Verse has been better than expected for the Florida State Seminoles. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 248-pounds, he has the makeup to be a pass-rushing outside linebacker, and the Pittsburgh Steelers could be in the market for more help in that department.

They currently have Alex Highsmith across from T.J. Watt and he’s recorded 6.5 sacks this season as Watt has been injured. The problem is, he’s going to be entering the final year of his contract in 2023 and with Watt’s deal, it would be wise to have a younger, more affordable player ready to roll.

As a rookie, Verse can provide depth and learn behind two solid pros while preparing to step into the starting role the following season.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern

Jawaan Taylor is going to be a free agent in the offseason and rather than pay him, the Jacksonville Jaguars — who just gave Cam Robinson a big contract — could let him walk in favor of a younger player such as Peter Skoronski from Northwestern.

Not only would Skoronski save them money, allowing them to add more talent around Trevor Lawrence, but he could be an upgrade as well. Those are the types of moves winning teams make, and it would be beneficial to put a young bulldozer on the line to help keep Lawrence comfortable in the pocket.

8. Las Vegas Raiders: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia

When the new staff took over for the Las Vegas Raiders, they quickly gave up on offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood despite him being a Round 1 pick the season before. The expectation when he was added was that he would be the starting right tackle across from Kolton Miller, but he wasn’t working out. This season, Jermaine Eluemunor has been starting in that spot and hasn’t been great to this point.

That’s why they grab Broderick Jones with the eighth pick in this mock. Jones is a 6-foot-4, 315-pounder that’s gone up against the best in the business in the SEC. He should help the Raiders keep Derek Carr clean in the pocket, which will help him return to the form we saw in 2021.

9. Detroit Lions (via Los Angeles Rams): Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson

Aidan Hutchinson has been as advertised for the Detroit Lions and they already added their quarterback in this mock. They’ll also have Jameson Williams, so they’re hopeful they will be set at wideout with him and Amon Ra-St. Brown.

So they decide to use this pick to add another starter across from Hutchinson in Myles Murphy. Adding him will help free up Hutchinson as opponents that focus on him and forget about Murphy will struggle to keep their quarterbacks upright.

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

The Arizona Cardinals have plenty of weapons on offense for Kyler Murray and that’s how they’ve been able to put together some decent campaigns. The problem is that their defense has been trending in the wrong direction, especially when it comes to rushing the passer.

J.J. Watt has been the top edge rusher for them this season but he’s a free agent at the end of the year, plus he’s approaching his mid-30s and already has injury concerns. In an effort to rebuild their defense, they add Isaiah Foskey out of Notre Dame here.

Foskey is capable of playing in the 3-4 as an outside linebacker which is exactly where the Cards will need him. They’ll still need more help but this is a solid start.

11. Seattle Seahawks (via Denver Broncos): Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson

Not many expected the Denver Broncos selection in this draft to come before the Seattle Seahawks but the two teams have gone in opposite directions since the Russell Wilson trade. Seattle is winning with Geno Smith whereas the Broncos are struggling.

That ends up being a huge win for Seattle as they land the No. 11 pick here thanks to Denver’s struggles. They use that to grab one of the more versatile players in this class in Trenton Simpson. The Clemson linebacker can cover the pass and get after the runner, making him an ideal weapon in Pete Carroll’s defense.

12. Washington Commanders: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky

The Washington Commanders are possibly going to be sold by Dan Snyder. Such a move would be the best thing to happen to this franchise as it would instantly improve its likability. It would also mean Jerry Jones is again the worst owner when it comes to fielding a legit competitive team in the NFC East.

Of course, they’ll still have to get better on the field and the first step will be to land a starting quarterback. Carson Wentz and Taylor Heinicke aren’t the answer, although Heinicke is a better option than Wentz. That’s why they roll the dice on Will Levis, even though he puts mayo in his coffee which should be punishable by prison time.

Levis is far from a sure thing and will be on a rebuilding franchise should he be selected here but the Commanders have to try and improve anyway they can under center.

13. Philadelphia Eagles (via New Orleans Saints): Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina

Already one of the better teams in the NFL, the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles have two picks in this coming draft and one could be a very high selection thanks to a deal they made last year with the New Orleans Saints.

Here, they wind up with the 13th overall selection thanks to New Orleans and use that to bring in Cam Smith from South Carolina. A potential shutdown corner, Smith improves an already strong defense which will help them remain contenders for several more years.

14. Indianapolis Colts: Kelee Ring, CB, Georgia

It’s hard to find any defense as strong as the Georgia Bulldogs are right now and after filling the 2022 NFL Draft with talent in Round 1, they should again have multiple members of their defense hear their names called in this upcoming draft.

At No. 14, the latest name is Kelee Ringo — a 6-foot-2, 210-pound cornerback that excels as a press corner. He disrupts the timing of his opponent and has given up a reception on just around 44 percent of the passes thrown his way. Indy can stand to get younger and more athletic at cornerback and the best part for Ringo will be the ability to work alongside Stephon Gilmore who is one of the best to ever play the position.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson

This season has been weird for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They’re struggling to find wins and Tom Brady hasn’t looked like himself in recent weeks. There could be some temptation to go for a new quarterback but they’ve been grooming Kyle Trask and might feel like he deserves a shot to prove himself should this be it for Brady in Tampa.

That frees them up to grab Bryan Bresee from Clemson as they start to get younger and more athletic along the interior of their defensive line.

16. Green Bay Packers: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

With Davante Adams now in Las Vegas, it’s easy to see how much he meant to the Green Bay Packers. Allen Lazard, Christian Watson, Randall Cobb, and Romeo Doubs haven’t done nearly enough to strike fear into defenses and the result is one of the worst starts in recent memory for Green Bay.

Perhaps that will finally be enough to convince them to use a Round 1 pick on a wideout, which is what they do here by adding Jaxon Smith-Njigba from Ohio State.

He’s a precise route-runner that catches contested passes — and is a great fit for this Green Bay offense. Smith-Njigba outgained Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson when all three were on the field and that’s no easy task.

17. New England Patriots: Jordan Addison, WR, USC

Bailey Zappe could and Mac Jones could have quite the battle on their hands to become the future starter for the New England Patriots. Whoever winds up earning the spot will need some help though since the receiving corps is still suspect in New England.

That’s why they add USC’s Jordan Addison. A transfer from Pitt, Addison has 585 yards and seven touchdowns in seven games for the Trojans. He’s done enough to secure his spot in Round 1 and the Pats just have to hope he can finally be the guy to break their cycle of whiffing on wideouts early in the draft.

18. Atlanta Falcons: Felix Anudike-Uzomah, EDGE, Kansas State

Grady Jarrett is currently the only member of the Atlanta Falcons defense that can really get after the quarterback. They’ve tried in recent years to fix their rush off the edge but it hasn’t worked out. Vic Beasley had one great season before flaming out, Takk McKinley never developed as they hoped, and Dante Fowler wasn’t the answer either.

Here, it’s back to the drawing board as they pick up Felix Anudike-Uzomah from Kansas State. In the past 20 games, the 6-foot-3, 252-pound Anudike-Uzomah has 18.5 sacks for the Wildcats. A former Big 12 Co-Defensive Player of the Year, Anudike-Uzomah explodes off the snap and could be exactly what this defense needs to take their next step.

19. Denver Broncos: (via San Francisco 49ers through Miami Dolphins): Paris Johnson, OT, Ohio State

This pick has moved through a couple of hands now as the Miami Dolphins originally landed the selection in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers. Their own pick was forfeited, so the Dolphins were set to make a pick in Round 1 despite the league punishment. That changed when they sent their rights to the Niners selection to the Denver Broncos for Bradley Chubb.

It’s tempting for the Broncos to go with a defensive end here but they also need to improve their offensive line. For that reason, they add Paris Johnson from Ohio State to help keep Russell Wilson clean in the pocket so he can get to cooking.

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

The Los Angeles Chargers don’t have much time left with Justin Herbert on his rookie deal — and that’s when they need to stockpile talent in an effort to win. They’ve tried this approach as they added Khalil Mack, J.C. Jackson, and paid Mike Williams.

Injuries have slowed them down as Jackson is out and Keenan Allen has appeared in just two games at wideout. That means they might need to look to 2023 as the year to make a huge run and they add Quentin Johnston from TCU in an effort to do just that.

Like Williams, Johnston is a huge target at 6-foot-4 and can high-point the ball. He’s also gifted with incredible speed and can wind up being a difference-maker.

21. New York Jets: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon

The New York Jets have been hitting one home run after another in the NFL Draft lately. At cornerback, Sauce Gardner has been the real deal and the rest of their secondary has been string as well. Despite it not being a major need, they grab the best player available at No. 21 in Christian Gonzalez from Oregon.

Adding him gives the Jets arguably the best one-two combination at corner, and each would be incredibly young. Head coach Robert Saleh is a defensive-minded guy and would be thrilled to have such a secondary to work with.

22. Seattle Seahawks: Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia

They already added Trenton Simpson to give themselves a major weapon in the linebacking corps. Now on the clock with their own selection, the Seahawks continue to build up their defense by adding Nolan Smith from Georgia.

He’s not a traditional defensive end but Pete Carroll has shown a willingness to utilize such players, as he did with Bruce Irvin. The Seahawks offense is playing well with Geno Smith and Kenneth Walker and they can continue to contend in the NFC West by stockpiling defensive talent.

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

The Cincinnati Bengals came out of nowhere to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl last season but have taken a step back this year. One issue they had in their most recent loss was an inability to move the ball with Ja’Marr Chase out. This led to a lopsided loss to the Browns, but their divisional rivals have won five in a row against them, so it might be more of a poor matchup than a major issue.

Still, they can stand to get better at tight end, which they do by selecting Michael Mayer from Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish tight end isn’t a sensational athlete but he’s easily the best at his position in this class.

He’s solid as a blocker and pass catcher and will simply always do his job.

24. Tennessee Titans: Jaelyn Duncan, OT, Maryland

Ever since Jack Conklin left in free agency, the Tennessee Titans have been trying to shore up the right side of their offensive line. They thought they had their guy in Isaiah Wilson but he was gone as quickly as he showed up. Now, they add Jaelyn Duncan from Maryland who is a left tackle by trade but can man the right side until Taylor Lewan hangs it up.

25. New York Giants: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida

Daniel Jones didn’t have his fifth-year option picked up, so the New York Giants seem to have already made up their minds about him. Sure, they’re 6-2 but a lot of that is due to the work Brian Daboll is doing with his play-calling. The truth is, they need to get better under center.

The problem is that unless they make a trade, they’re going to be too far back to land someone who feels like an instant starter. Instead, they land Anthony Richardson who is insanely talented but very raw.

They might be able to insert him from the start but it could be a better idea to help him hone his skills and plan for him to start in 2024.

If this is the route they go, they can try and bring Jones back for one more season or maybe even go after someone such as Jacoby Brissett as a one-year bridge player. Either way, they need to look for another youngster to groom as the face of their franchise.

26. Baltimore Ravens: Joey Porter, Jr., CB, Penn State

Joey Porter was a star in the NFL for 13 seasons and spent eight of those years with the Pittsburgh Steelers. His son, Joey Porter, Jr., is slated to hit the NFL in 2023 and the defensive back is one of the better prospects at corner. Here, he ends up landing in the AFC North where he will be a rival to his father’s old team as a member of the Baltimore Ravens.

Porter is a 6-foot-2, 195-pounder that plays with a physical presence. He has just one career pick, so he needs to work on his ball skills but he checks off all the boxes and can be a long-time starter at the next level.

27. Dallas Cowboys: Noah Sewell, LB, Oregon

Micah Parsons has been everything the Dallas Cowboys expected and more. In fact, the Penn State product has been so good that he’s the team’s leader in sacks with eight through the first eight games. He spends more time rushing the passer than he does serving as a traditional linebacker, which is brilliant since taking out the quarterback is what he does best.

The presence of Leighton Vander Esch and Anthony Barr has allowed him to do this but each of them will be a free agent in 2023. Damone Clark recently made his debut and Jabril Cox is still developing as well. However, the Cowboys might decide it’s best to bring in someone such as Noah Sewell to ensure Parsons can keep doing his thing.

Listed at 6-foot-3 and 250-pounds, Sewell is a bruiser that had 114 tackles and four sacks in 2021. The younger brother of Peni Sewell, he should have no problem adapting to the speed of the pro game and will be another huge weapon for Dan Quinn.

28. Minnesota Vikings: Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina

With the Packers struggling, the Minnesota Vikings have taken full advantage. They already have a win over their biggest rival and put a nice cushion between the two. They’re trending in the right direction and can continue to stay on top of the division if they keep drafting well and adding the right weapons.

Here, they go with Josh Downs from North Carolina to groom as the replacement for Adam Thielen. He’s undersized at 5-foot-10 and 180-pounds but Downs is a savvy route runner that has had 15 touchdowns over his past 19 games. As the No. 2 option across from Justin Jefferson, he should continue to put up some highlight reel plays.

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

The younger brother of Azeez Ojulari, B.J. Ojulari ends up in the first round — whereas his brother slid into Round 2. B.J. ends up in a better situation as well in this mock, landing with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Ojulari has 15 sacks in three seasons but is much better than the stats show. In addition to the sacks, he has 31 pressures as he uses his speed to get past the tackles and cause problems for the opposing signal-caller. He continues to improve as an overall player and can be a major weapon for the Chiefs as offenses focus on stopping Chris Jones.

30. Philadelphia Eagles: Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia

The Philadelphia Eagles are back on the clock with pick No. 31 and after adding a new starting cornerback with the pick they got from New Orleans, they use their own selection to splurge with Darnell Washington. Clearly, tight end isn’t a need for them with Dallas Goedert playing very well — and getting even better since Zach Ertz was traded away.

However, they could be even more dangerous with a two tight end offense, especially if the second guy is a bulldozer of a player. That’s exactly what they get in the 265-pound Washington who is a project player but can make an impact in spurts even as he works on his overall game.

31. Buffalo Bills: O’Cyrus Torrence, OG, Florida

There will be calls for the Buffalo Bills to add a running back here and it would make sense given the fact that they don’t have a guy who will be a perennial 1,000-yard back. Having said that, they aren’t exactly built for this.

Buffalo added Nyheim Hines at the trade deadline and moved on from Zach Moss. They now have Hines and Devin Singletary who can each be dangerous as receivers out of the backfield. They seem content with that philosophy and instead use this pick on O’Cyrus Torrence.

The Florida offensive lineman will be a plug-and-play guard that can help improve the Bills’ offensive line, and will be a weapon on screen passes to those shifty backs as a pulling guard as well.