The Chicago Bears have made it known they will trade the No. 1 overall pick but that’s not the only blockbuster trade in this 2023 NFL Mock Draft
After landing the No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft, the Chicago Bears have made it known they plan to stick with Justin Fields. They believe Fields has done well enough to keep the starter job and will now land a major haul in the draft.
Here, in our latest 2023 NFL Mock Draft, they do just that. However, they’re not the only team making big moves as the Green Bay Packers add more draft capital by shipping off Aaron Rodgers, who seems ready for a fresh start.
2023 NFL Mock Draft
1. Houston Texans (via Chicago Bears): Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
The Houston Texans should have had the No. 1 overall pick but they found a way to let it slip through their fingers. They could stand pat at No. 2 overall and take C.J. Stroud but instead, they make the leap to the top spot in order to get their top choice.
That choice ends up being Bryce Young, who was masterful at Alabama. The only concern with Young is his size as he’s roughly 6-foot-0 and 195 pounds. Houston, or anyone who takes him at No. 1, is going to have to feel confident they can keep him safe in the pocket and avoid getting him beaten up too much.
Of course, the Texans know the consequences there. The good thing for them is that they have another first-round pick on the way thanks to the Deshaun Watson trade, plus one more in 2024. They keep those but it’s still a good bit to give up two second-round selections.
2. Indianapolis Colts (via Chicago Bears): C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
Trading down can be so nice, that the Bears do it twice.
After taking the Texans’ spot at No. 2, they again make a deal with a quarterback-needy team as the Indianapolis Colts move up from No. 4 to No. 2. Here, the Bears add an early third-round pick in this draft as well as a second and third in 2024. It’s another massive haul for them but that’s what happens when they get teams bidding against one another, which is bound to happen.
For the Colts, they bring in C.J. Stroud from Ohio State — and adding some youth is a must. They have tried veteran re-treads for the past three seasons and while Philip Rivers did a good job, Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan were both a disaster.
Stroud should be the answer as they hope to finally have this position figured out.
3. Arizona Cardinals: Will Anderson, Jr., EDGE, Alabama
At No. 3, we have our first selection that doesn’t involve a trade as the Arizona Cardinals stay put and bring in Will Anderson, Jr. from Alabama. One of the top overall players in this class, Anderson gives Arizona exactly what they need — some pass-rush off the edge.
With Chandler Jones leaving in 2022, they didn’t have much in this department and Anderson gives them someone to build their defense around.
4. Chicago Bears (via Indianapolis Colts): Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
After dropping down twice, the Chicago Bears are finally on the clock at No. 4, and as fate would have it, they land Jalen Carter who some believe is the No. 1 overall prospect in this class. Chicago fans would be thrilled to see them land a defensive playmaker while also loading up on early day two picks next season as well.
As for Carter, he’s still an ascending player who really didn’t get much of the spotlight until this season — which happens when you’re on the same roster as five first-round draft picks. The fact that he can already disrupt a game the way he does while still being so raw is exciting and Matt Eberflus could be the right coach to turn him into a star.
5. Seattle Seahawks (via Denver Broncos): Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
Another player that seems to be only scratching the surface of his talent is Bryan Bresee from Clemson. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 300 pounds, he’s shown off his athleticism and power but hasn’t really blown up just yet.
Even so, his upside is so impressive that he lands with the Seattle Seahawks in the top five. Pete Carroll loves versatile defensive linemen and will be able to move Bresee around, causing issues for the opposing offensive linemen.
6. Detroit Lions (via Los Angeles Rams): Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech
With the No. 2 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions added Aidan Hutchinson who proved to be a stud. He had 52 tackles and 9.5 sacks — while also hauling in three interceptions from the defensive end position.
Now, they add another potentially dominant defensive lineman in Tyree Wilson. Like the 6-foot-7, 265-pound Hutchinson, Wilson is a huge player at 6-foot-6 and 275 pounds. There will be those who think he has to go to a 3-4 team but Wilson could hold his own on early downs at end and then slide inside on passing downs — since he doesn’t have elite speed to threaten off the edge.
Detroit came on strong at the end of the season and could be even tougher to deal with after bolstering up their D-line with this move.
7. Las Vegas Raiders: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
Next up is the Las Vegas Raiders who will be in the market for a new quarterback with Derek Carr on the way out. Josh McDaniels is likely to add a veteran he believes can start in a pinch but won’t be afraid to swing for the fences with a rookie quarterback — hey, he did take Tim Tebow in Round 1.
Here, he adds another athletic Florida signal-caller in Anthony Richardson. There’s no denying he’s the most electric quarterback in the class but will need some refinement with his mechanics. If they can clean this up, Richardson could be a huge success.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
There’s a chance the Atlanta Falcons could try and make a move for a quarterback but with Will Levis being the final Round 1 prospect on the board right now, they would do better to go after Myles Murphy from Clemson, finally shoring up their issues on the edge.
They did add Arnold Ebiketie from Penn State last year in Round 2, and he has the talent to improve upon a 2.5 sack rookie campaign but they need that No. 1 pass rusher off the edge. That’s exactly what they land with Murphy who is an impressive 6-foot-5, 275-pounder capable of winning with speed or power.
9. Carolina Panthers: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
While I’m not sold on Will Levis, there will be those in the NFL willing to roll the dice out of sheer desperation for a quarterback. The Carolina Panthers fall into that category after spending the past two seasons using Sam Darnold, Cam Newton (when he was no longer playing like Cam Newton), Baker Mayfield, and P.J. Walker.
Levis looks the part at 6-foot-3 and 232 pounds which will be one of the reasons he climbs this high. He’s also got a strong arm but he throws far too many passes into coverage that would lead to interceptions in the NFL. He also locks onto his primary receiver far too often.
Having said all that, Carolina is desperate, so this could happen. But hey, Frank Reich is probably the right coach to help clean some of that up.
10. Philadelphia Eagles (via New Orleans Saints): Joey Porter, Jr., CB, Penn State
There’s no better general manager in the NFL than Howie Roseman right now. He completely remade his roster after things fell apart following their 2017 Super Bowl win. To start this season, only five players remained on the roster from that win, and now it’s down to four as they get ready to take on the Kansas City Chiefs for another title.
One reason he’s so successful is the fact that there’s always a succession plan. Jalen Hurts was there to take over for Carson Wentz, Jordan Mailata was there in case Andre Dillard failed, Dallas Goedert replaced Zach Ertz, and on and on it goes.
That remains the strategy here as he adds Joey Porter, Jr. from Penn State. He can start right away but after a couple of years in the league, he can take over as the No. 1 cornerback when Darius Slay is ready to move on.
11. Tennessee Titans: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
Losing seven in a row and missing the playoffs stings but the Tennessee Titans know they’re not far off from competing again. They need to get more offensive weapons, especially at wide receiver but with Taylor Lewan likely on the way out, left tackle takes precedence. That’s why Broderick Jones is the selection here.
The Georgia product can start from day one as they begin to rebuild a line that was once a strength of the roster.
12. Houston Texans (via Cleveland Browns): Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
After landing their quarterback earlier, the Houston Texans are back on the clock and they land a new No. 1 wide receiver as they bring in TCU’s Quentin Johnston. A dynamic playmaker, Johnston was integral in their win over Michigan, which put the Horned Frogs in the title game.
They still wouldn’t have beaten Georgia but it was easy to see the decline in their offense when he was hurt in that game.
Houston has a chance to make some huge improvements this season under DeMeco Ryans and landing a top-flight quarterback and wideout will be a huge help for them.
13. Green Bay Packers (via New York Jets): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
It’s been quiet for a while but there’s finally a trade again. The New York Jets started out strong in 2022 but then things fell apart. The biggest issue for them was inconsistent play under center, which is why they mortgage their future to try and win now with Aaron Rodgers.
While they won’t be able to keep Rodgers for long, since he’s already going to be 40 in 2023, they believe this is their best shot at winning a Super Bowl. That’s why they’re willing to give up this selection as well as No. 43 and their No. 1 pick in 2024.
For Green Baym, they can now start to rebuild and see if Jordan Love is their guy. They also make sure he has some trusted playmakers around him as they bring in Michael Mayer from Notre Dame. He’s easily the top player at his position and could really find some soft spots in the defense if Christian Watson continues to show improvement.
14. New England Patriots: Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern
One thing Bill Belichick likes in his players is versatility and that’s what Peter Skoronski brings to the table. He’s played all over the offensive line for Northwestern and in 2022 he replaced Rashawn Slater and held his own.
New England has a couple of needs on the offensive line and can decide to use Skoronski as a left tackle — moving Trent Brown to the right side — or just have him take over as the opposite bookend. Having said that, he can also move to guard should they feel they have decent options on the outside.
15. Green Bay Packers: Jordan Addison, WR, USC
Just two selections after they added a stud tight end, the Green Bay Packers are back at it, this time with their own pick. They again focus on the offensive side of the ball as they bring in Jordan Addison from USC.
Addison put up video game numbers while at Pitt and then with the Trojans, he proved he can still perform in the big games but overall, wasn’t as explosive. He’s still one of the more complete wideouts in this class and joining Christian Watson and Michael Mayer — who was selected at 13 — will only help him make an impact.
16. Washington Commanders: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
There’s a chance the Washington Commanders enter 2023 with Sam Howell at the helm. He played well in his lone start and helped them knock off the Dallas Cowboys. If it turns out that was a fluke, they’ll be in rebuild mode — again. If it does work, they’ll be a team to watch for since they were still competitive even with the carousel they had going on last year.
With this pick, they make sure they stay that way as they add one of the better cover corners in this class. Christian Gonzalez was solid while playing for Colorado but then transferred to Oregon, which was a great move.
He had the best season of his career and all but guaranteed he will be a day-one pick.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Paris Johnson, OT, Ohio State
Kenny Pickett was impressive as a rookie, even if the stats aren’t great. He was able to lead the offense and made minimal mistakes. He then led a couple of game-winning drives back-to-back as he showed poise in crunch time.
Having said that, he still needs help. The Steelers’ offensive line isn’t what it once was. Ben Roethlisberger masked a lot of that by throwing the ball nearly as quickly as it was snapped. But with Pickett still relatively inexperienced, they need to give him more time.
That’s why Paris Johnson from Ohio State is the choice here. Johnson can start from the first day and will be able to protect the blindside for Pickett throughout his career.
18. Detroit Lions: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
After trading away T.J. Hockenson, the Detroit Lions bring in another first-round tight end as they add Dalton Kincaid from Utah. Much like Hockenson, Kincaid is someone who has seen his stock continue to rise the farther we get into scouting the class.
He’s still very raw after spending just one season playing football in high school. However, he’s a former basketball standout that has been able to take that athleticism to the football field and thrive. He’s a nightmare to try and stop in the passing game and had 70 receptions for 890 yards and eight touchdowns in his final season.
While Kincaid will be known for his work as a receiver, he’s still no slouch when it comes to blocking. He won’t be a third tackle by any means, but he’s also not a liability — which is all you need sometimes.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
Well, Tom Brady retired. Again.
He says it’s for good this time but even if it’s not, it was highly unlikely the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were bringing him back. Instead, they’ll surely see what it would take to move up but in the end, they might be willing to allow Kyle Trask to compete with a veteran free agent signing.
With that being the case, they use the No. 19 pick on Texas running back Bijan Robinson. They did just add Rachaad White in the third round last season but Robinson is a transcendent star and can carry the offense on his back when the passing game falters.
20. Seattle Seahawks: Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
With the pick they landed in the Russell Wilson trade, the Seattle Seahawks took Bryan Bresee to bulk up their defensive line. Now back on the clock with their own pick, they add Cam Smith from South Carolina.
Smith was the No. 1 cornerback for the Gamecocks and held his own against the best talent in the SEC. He might not have racked up a ton of picks, but he’s still shown great ball skills with his six career interceptions and 18 pass defenses.
When Seattle was at its best, they had a fast and aggressive defensive line and a dominant secondary. They might not be there yet, but this draft is helping them rebuild that.
21. Los Angeles Chargers: Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
The Los Angeles Chargers went out and signed J.C. Jackson in free agency with the hopes their secondary would be vastly improved in 2022. That didn’t happen as he had just five games played on the season and their pass defense finished just 18th in the NFL.
Here, they add Kelee Ringo from Georgia as they proved last year that you can never have too many cornerbacks.
Ringo once seemed to be the top corner of the class but it feels as though he’s been surpassed by a few. Still, he should be a long-term starter in the NFL.
22. Baltimore Ravens: O’Cyrus Torrence, OG, Florida
Somehow, the Baltimore Ravens saw Tyler Huntley make it to the Pro Bowl as he replaced Lamar Jackson down the stretch, and in their lone playoff game. It’s true that he’s a pretty solid No. 2 but the All-Star nod felt like a stretch. Hopefully, the Ravens don’t think this means they can take a hard-line approach with Lamar Jackson as his contract is about to expire.
While they’re trying to figure things out with the former MVP, we look ahead to the draft and add O’Cyrus Torrence from Florida. He would replace Ben Powers at left guard as they wind up with a scary interior with Tyler Linderbaum at center and Kevin Zeitler at right guard.
23. Minnesota Vikings: Isaiah Foskey, EDGE, Notre Dame
There were two players on the Minnesota Vikings roster that recorded at least 10 sacks in 2022. However, Danielle Hunter is a free agent following the 2023 season and Za’Darius Smith has one year after that.
Hunter also missed 10 games in 2021 and all of 2020, so injuries could still be a concern. Smith will likely play out his entire deal but likely won’t get another as he’s already 30. That’s why it makes sense to bring in Isaiah Foskey from Notre Dame.
The all-time sack leader in Fighting Irish history, Foskey can play either with his hand in the dirt or in the stand-up role, which is what he would be asked to do with the Vikings.
24. Jacksonville Jaguars: Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah
Hardly anyone saw the Jacksonville Jaguars putting together the season they did. They were able to ride a second-half streak into the playoffs and even scored a huge comeback win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Now, they get to work rounding out their roster as they add Clark Phillips from Utah at No. 24.
Phillips doesn’t boast elite size (5-foot-10 and 185 pounds) but makes up for it with incredible instincts, toughness, and ball skills. He showed off all of that in 2022 with six picks and six pass defenses. In three years, he had a total of nine interceptions and brought four of them back for a touchdown.
Jacksonville has a talented front seven, and adding Phillips gives their secondary a much-needed boost.
25. New York Giants: Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson
Brian Daboll did some great work this season with the New York Giants, getting them into the postseason during his first season as head coach. Now, they have to figure out what to do with Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley who are both free agents. They surely want them both back but it will be interesting to see if the players price themselves out.
As for their move at No. 25, they use that selection to bring in Trenton Simpson from Clemson. As good as the Giants were in 2022, Jaylon Smith was their top linebacker and he finished second on the team with 88 tackles. Simpson provides a much greater athlete and could bring their defense to the next level.
26. Dallas Cowboys: Tyrique Stevenson, CB, Miami
With Anthony Brown and Jourdan Lewis going down with injuries, the Dallas Cowboys had to lean on Kelvin Joseph and Nahshon Wright, who were selected in the second and third rounds of the 2021 NFL Draft respectively. Both underwhelmed and were overshadowed by rookie DaRon Bland, who was a fifth-round pick this year.
Bland has upside and really excelled in the slot, recording five picks and seven pass defenses. However, it’s time to get another boundary corner which is what they land in Tyrique Stevenson/ A former Georgia Bulldog, Stevenson transferred to Miami and recorded three picks and seven pass defenses in the past two years.
What makes Stevenson a fit in Dan Quinn’s scheme is his length and physicality. At 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, he has no problem pressing the wideout at the line of scrimmage and is still improving as a player.
27. Buffalo Bills: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama
It seems as though Brandon Beane has said he won’t re-sign Devin Singletary while not saying he won’t re-sign Devin Singletary. It would make sense to look for an upgrade this offseason and while there will be some free agents out there, drafting a rookie is the way to go.
Ideally, they could get Bijan Robinson but he’s already off the board so Alabama’s Jahmyr Gibbs is the choice. Gibbs is no consolation prize though, as he’s a weapon both as a runner and receiver. He’s also got plenty of tread on the tires after getting just 383 carries in three seasons — which were split between Georgia Tech and ‘Bama.
28. Cincinnati Bengals: Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
Ahead of the 2022 season, the Cincinnati Bengals re-made their offensive line. If possible, it might have gotten worse.
La’el Collins looked lost for the first half of the season and Jonah Williams isn’t a top-flight left tackle. Throw in some injuries and Joe Burrow was destroyed all game in their loss to Kansas City in the AFC Championship Game.
Overall, their roster is still elite — they nearly made their second Super Bowl in a row — but they have to get this line figured out. That’s why they add Anton Harrison from Oklahoma. He’s the most experienced tackle in the class and while he might not be the most dominant, he can get the job done and can fill in either at left or right tackle.
29. New Orleans Saints: (via San Francisco 49ers through Miami Dolphins and Denver Broncos): B.J. Ojulari, EDGE, LSU
This pick has already been through the wringer. First, it went from the 49ers to the Dolphins who then traded it to the Denver Broncos in exchange for Bradley Chubb. Recently, it was part of the deal for Sean Payton to be able to join the Broncos as their head coach.
In this mock, the Saints keep the selection and bring in B.J. Ojulari from LSU — keeping him in-state. He might be best suited for a 3-4 outside linebacker but Dennis Allen is a good enough coach that he can use a talented pass rusher no matter what the “ideal” fit is.
New Orleans will need some help as well with Marcus Davenport hitting free agency and Cam Jordan on the wrong side of 30.
30. Kansas City Chiefs: Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa
In their win against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Kansas City Chiefs defense had its way with the Bengals offensive line. Burrow was sacked five times and Chris Jones was the one who was on fire.
What that win showed them, is how much easier it is to win when they make life miserable for the opposing quarterback. That’s why they use their Round 1 pick on Lukas Van Ness from Iowa.
A former hockey player, Van Ness is still figuring it out on the football field, which was the same thing said about 2022 first-round pick George Karlaftis. Van Ness should be just as good of a player as he has the strength and motor to turn into a productive defensive end.
31. Philadelphia Eagles: Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
With their first pick in this mock, the Philadelphia Eagles took Joey Porter, Jr. as the heir to Darius Slay. Now, they make another move for someone while keeping an eye on the future.
With the final pick in this mock, the Eagles grab Darnell Washington from Georgia, landing a massive tight end to work behind Dallas Goedert. At 28 years of age, Goedert isn’t going anywhere anytime soon but they give themselves options going forward by bringing in a player they can groom.
Plus, they’ve shown in the past they can succeed with two tight end sets, and this would give them an impressive pair.