2023 NFL Mock Draft: Chiefs add playmaker on offense, Eagles beef up D-line
By Randy Gurzi
Pick Analysis. QB. 2. Scouting Report. Ohio State. C.J. Stroud. player. 36
2. Seattle Seahawks (via Denver Broncos): C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
Geno Smith has been very good this season and deserves a lot of praise for his work as the starter for the Seattle Seahawks. After 12 games, he’s completed 72.7 percent of his attempts for 3,169 yards with 22 touchdowns. All of those statistics are career-highs for Smith and he has just six picks.
That could make it tempting for Seattle to skip on a quarterback this season but that doesn’t mean they should. As good as Smith has been in 2022, this is the anomaly in his career. On top of that, he’s going to be 33 next season, so passing on C.J. Stroud for another couple of years of Geno Smith could wind up being a colossal mistake.
With all that being said, Stroud makes his way to the Seahawks in this mock draft. He might not start over Smith right away, assuming Smith re-signs, but he will be the franchise quarterback for the next decade-plus.
Scouting Report. Alabama. player. 50. Pick Analysis. EDGE. Will Anderson. 3
3. Detroit Lions (via Los Angeles Rams): Will Anderson, EDGE, Alabama
Aidan Hutchinson has been a good addition to the Detroit Lions defense. The Michigan product has 33 tackles and six sacks and has helped them turn things around in recent weeks.
Now, he ends up with a great pass-rushing partner as Will Anderson, Jr. from Alabama is the pick in this mock. Anderson is arguably the No. 1 player in this class and would give Detroit a pair of bookends that could each record 10-plus sacks every season.