2023 NFL mock draft: Cowboys, Falcons make massive trades up
8. Arizona Cardinals (trade): Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
Oregon. Christian Gonzalez. CB. 8. player. 32. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis
A lot of times, when you have a new head coach come into an organization, you will see that organization prioritize that particular coach’s strength early on in the NFL Draft. Here, the Cardinals live up to that trend by taking cornerback Christian Gonzalez to begin rebuilding Jonathan Gannon’s gutted defense in Arizona.
The Cardinals have the worst roster in the NFL right now. They are one of the teams that has gotten worse in NFL free agency, rumors of a DeAndre Hopkins trade persist, and Kyler Murray is not healthy.
Jonathan Gannon and his very young staff have their work cut out for them, but a player like Gonzalez could really bring a much-needed source of hope to the Arizona secondary along with Budda Baker.
9. Chicago Bears: Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
Pick Analysis. OT. 9. player. 57. Scouting Report. Ohio State. Paris Johnson Jr.
The Chicago Bears traded out of the first overall slot in the 2023 NFL Draft and dropped all the way to 9th overall. Clearly, that drop of eight spots was worth it for them to be able to get a playmaker like DJ Moore in the mix for young QB Justin Fields to finally have a true go-to target in the passing game.
Moore has proven himself to be QB-proof over the last handful of years with the Panthers, so we’ll see if that can continue with the Bears as Fields continues to hone his craft as a passer. With the receiver position effectively addressed in Chicago (DJ Moore, Darnell Mooney, Chase Claypool as the top 3 along with TE Cole Kmet), the Bears will likely fix their gaze on the offensive line, which has been pathetic for the last few years in Chicago.
Paris Johnson Jr. is as good of a tackle as anyone in this year’s class and a tremendous athlete at his position, which is important to Bears GM Ryan Poles.