2023 NFL Mock Draft: Cowboys stock up offense, Panthers reach at QB

The Dallas Cowboys bring in even more offensive firepower and the Carolina Panthers reach for a quarterback in our latest 2023 NFL Mock Draft

A shocker happened in Week 18 as the Houston Texans lost their No. 1 overall pick with a win over the Indianapolis Colts. That means the Chicago Bears get the first pick, and they shake things up in our 2023 NFL Mock Draft since they’re not in need of a new quarterback.

Let’s dive right in and see how things shake up now that the 2022 season is officially over.

2023 NFL Mock Draft

1. Chicago Bears: Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia

The Georgia defense was just mentioned and here comes their top player. At No. 1 overall, the Chicago Bears add Jalen Carter, a massive defensive tackle who can play on multiple fronts.

Carter stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 310 pounds and has more than enough power to push offensive linemen around. He’s not lacking in athleticism either as Carter can get past linemen with his explosive first step and quickness.

In three seasons with the Bulldogs, he has 81 tackles, 18.5 of which went for a loss, and six sacks. This season, he also forced two fumbles and batted down three passes.

It’s true that Chicago needs help on offense since they’re currently forcing Justin Fields to play on his own right now. However, they also need help on defense after trading away Khalil Mack, Robert Quinn, and Roquan Smith in the same year. Head coach Matt Eberflus has a defensive background as well, so he would be thrilled to add a big body on the front of the line to make everyone else’s life easier on the defense.

While this pick will help a lot, they’re going to have to get some help in the offseason for Fields because Chase Claypool isn’t going to be enough to turn them into a contender in the NFC North.

Having said all this, they likely would trade this pick to someone wanting a quarterback, since they’re not ready to give up on their own.