Who is your favorite team taking in the 2023 NFL Draft? Most NFL mock draft scenarios and predictions don’t include all 32 teams, but this one absolutely will. Most NFL mock draft articles you will read will look at every first-round pick, but we’re going to take a look at every team by division and try to predict who the team’s top choice will (or should) be.
In this year’s draft, there are four teams already with multiple first-round picks:
- Houston Texans
- Seattle Seahawks
- Detroit Lions
- Philadelphia Eagles
For those teams with multiple first-round picks, we’ll look at what their two top picks would be. For this exercise, we’re going to start out in the NFC West…
2023 NFL mock draft: Predicting the top pick for all 32 teams
1. San Francisco 49ers (top pick: 99th overall)
Pick: Jaelyn Duncan, OT, Maryland
Alright, when’s the last mock draft you saw that started with the San Francisco 49ers? The 49ers let Mike McGlinchey go to the Denver Broncos in NFL Free Agency and they’ve got 2022 fourth-round pick Spencer Burford penciled in his slot for the time being. The signing of Matt Pryor can help fortify the depth at this position but a freaky athlete like Jaelyn Duncan at such an important position? That’s a great value for the 49ers while not picking until no. 99 overall.
2. Seattle Seahawks (top picks: 5th, 20th overall)
Picks: (5): Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech; (20): Jordan Addison, WR, USC
The Seahawks add one of the draft’s best athletes on the defensive front at pick no. 5 overall in Tyree Wilson, an absolute menace with great length, power, and quickness. At pick no. 20 overall, they land one of the draft’s best receivers to group up with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. The Seahawks have the great luxury of being able to pick twice in round one after making the playoffs last year, especially with the flexibility coming from that top-five pick overall, where the possibilities are endless.
3. Los Angeles Rams (top pick: 36th overall)
Pick: Will McDonald IV, EDGE, Iowa State
The Los Angeles Rams really had to sit on their hands throughout the majority of the 2023 offseason. Obviously, the trade to send Jalen Ramsey to the Miami Dolphins was massive news and a huge move for Miami, but it leaves the Rams without one of their star players. Aside from the hole at cornerback, the Rams have needs all over the roster. Will McDonald IV out of Iowa State could be a great pickup for a sorely lacking defensive front.
4. Arizona Cardinals (top pick: 3rd overall)
Pick: Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama
The big question right now seems to be whether or not the Arizona Cardinals will stay put in their current draft slot. If they do, I think Will Anderson Jr. is the best and safest non-QB in this year’s draft class. The Cardinals just so happen to desperately need a cornerstone building block off the edge.
1. Kansas City Chiefs (top pick: 31st overall)
Pick: Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State
Whatever the Kansas City Chiefs do, it just feels like the rich are getting richer. They let go of tackles Orlando Brown Jr. (Bengals) and Andrew Wylie (Commanders) in the 2023 offseason and, if this prediction holds up, they would have replaced them with Jawaan Taylor and Dawand Jones. It’s hard to say that’s really a downgrade…
2. Los Angeles Chargers (top pick: 21st overall)
Pick: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
With new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore coming in, there should be a heavy emphasis on 11 personnel in Los Angeles and the Chargers will need better (and cheaper) receiver depth. Getting Zay Jones would give this LA offense another scary layer with his ability to stretch the field vertically.
3. Las Vegas Raiders (top pick: 7th overall)
Pick: Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
I don’t quite know what to project for the Las Vegas Raiders with their top pick. Are they going to move up for a QB? Stay put and take a QB? Will they go offensive line? When I look at this team’s weakest position currently, I think cornerback has to be at or near the top of the list. I think Joey Porter Jr. would be a solid option for a team that had just six interceptions all of last season.
4. Denver Broncos (top pick: 67th overall)
Pick: Tucker Kraft, TE, South Dakota State
The Denver Broncos may seem to have more “pressing” matters to attend to than the tight end position but Sean Payton clearly wants to put an emphasis on running the ball. I think the Broncos will look at Greg Dulcich as a big WR moving forward and they need a true in-line option at TE to properly run Payton’s offense. Tucker Kraft would fit as a “best player available” type of selection here as well as push the Broncos’ offensive talent level into another realm.
1. Minnesota Vikings (top pick: 23rd overall)
Pick: Calijah Kancey, DL, Pittsburgh
The Minnesota Vikings were outstanding last season in close games, and in order to be that effective again in 2023 in such situations, they are going to need players defensively that can make those game-altering plays. Calijah Kancey is certainly at least a little bit reminiscent of Aaron Donald, being that they both are undersized former Pitt defensive tackles. Perhaps Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell will see those comparisons and bang the table for the Scouting Combine superstar, who can come in and get after the QB from the interior defensive line right away.
2. Detroit Lions (top picks: 6th overall, 18th overall)
Picks: (6) – Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois; (18) – Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia
The Detroit Lions really have a chance with this NFL Draft class to solidify the reload of their defense. They added guys like CJ Gardner-Johnson and Cameron Sutton in free agency. They saw the emergence of young players Aidan Hutchinson, John Cominsky, James Houston, and even Isaiah Buggs last season on the defensive front. Adding talent like Devon Witherspoon and Nolan Smith — two guys who play with this Detroit Lions’ brand of physicality and tenacity — would take this defense to another level in 2023.
3. Green Bay Packers (top pick: 15th overall)
Pick: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
Of course, the year Aaron Rodgers leaves will be the year GM Brian Gutekunst uses a first-round pick on a wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers. In all seriousness though, I think the Packers would be absolute lunatics not to make this pick if the opportunity presents itself. You’ve got a true threat on the outside in Christian Watson. You have another outside threat in Romeo Doubs. This tight end class is extremely deep, but receiver isn’t on that same level. Getting Smith-Njigba here and a tight end later on could be a great way to surround Jordan Love with young talent.
4. Chicago Bears (top pick: 9th overall)
Pick: Jalen Carter, DL, Georgia
The Bears already landed a major piece for their offense by trading down from the no. 1 slot and adding WR DJ Moore. I don’t know if enough attention is being given to the defensive side of the ball for Ryan Poles and Matt Eberflus. Jalen Carter does come with a level of risk attached, but he is the type of talent that could take the Chicago defense to another level quicker than most other prospects that would be realistically available to them.
1. Cincinnati Bengals (top pick: 28th overall)
Pick: Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
I think most people have been penciling in the tight end position for the Cincinnati Bengals here. There is no doubt that they could take advantage of one of the best and deepest positions in the draft by taking a guy like Michael Mayer or Dalton Kincaid here, but with Jonah Williams requesting a trade following the Orlando Brown Jr. signing, I think we could sooner see someone like Darnell Wright slotted to the Bengals, a plug-and-play option at right tackle.
2. Baltimore Ravens (top pick: 22nd overall)
Pick: Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
What’s going to get Lamar Jackson excited to come back to Baltimore? How about doing whatever it takes to sign Odell Beckham Jr. and then adding a big-bodied receiver like Quentin Johnston? The Ravens already have Mark Andrews and Rashod Bateman to build around, but this kind of addition on top of the OBJ move could really get the 2019 NFL MVP on board with coming back on a long-term deal. Johnston has an outstanding catch radius and he can make plays in space.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (top pick: 17th overall)
Pick: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
The Steelers fan base right now seems pretty unified in this team getting a cornerback prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft. It doesn’t seem like there’s much bias with guys like Devon Witherspoon, Joey Porter Jr., Deonte Banks, and some others. Just a cornerback in this slot, even after signing Patrick Peterson. Christian Gonzalez falling to the 17th overall pick seems far-fetched but you just never know how teams are going to prioritize guys on their boards.
4. Cleveland Browns (top pick: 74th overall)
Pick: Devon Achane, RB, Texas A&M
Not picking until the 74th overall slot, the Browns could go a wide variety of directions here at this pick. They already made a trade to add Elijah Moore to their wide receiver room which was probably a better use of their second-round pick than they could have otherwise made. Here, they add another playmaker to the offense in Devon Achane, who can be another explosive threat behind Nick Chubb in the lineup.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (top pick: 19th overall)
Pick: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
The Buccaneers are obviously going younger and cheaper at some key positions as they reload in the 2023 offseason. Tom Brady retired, Donovan Smith was cut, and replacing two of the most important positions on a football roster should be done with great care. Broderick Jones would be an excellent option at pick no. 19 overall here in the first round, giving the Bucs an athletic option with tremendous upside to pair with Tristan Wirfs for the long term.
2. New Orleans Saints (top pick: 29th overall)
Pick: Bryan Bresee, DL, Clemson
Although the Saints made some massive moves in the 2023 offseason, including signing veteran QB Derek Carr, they suffered some pretty significant losses on the defensive line. They traded Sean Payton to the Denver Broncos and picked up some desperately-needed draft capital after the very odd trade in the 2022 NFL Draft which cost them a top-10 pick in this one. Bryan Bresee could come in and start for this Saints defense from day one and would be a great value at pick no. 29 overall.
3. Carolina Panthers (top pick: 1st overall)
Pick: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
As of right now, the opinions are fluctuating all over the place, but it feels like momentum is swinging in the direction of Bryce Young to be that top pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Young doesn’t have ideal size for the position but how often did that really come up while he was dominating at Alabama? Young is extremely talented, he’s smart, and he is a playmaker. The decision the Panthers make will certainly be educated, but this is a move that GM Scott Fitterer and HC Frank Reich have to get right.
4. Atlanta Falcons (top pick: 8th overall)
Pick: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
I think a lot of people are trying to shoehorn some players into this slot for the Falcons, whether it’s a quarterback or a defensive player. The best player on the board at pick no. 8 overall is likely to be either Jalen Carter of Georgia or Bijan Robinson of Texas. I’m sure many Falcons fans would love to see the team go after Carter but I also think this team, if they are going to really commit to running the ball like they’re going to need to with Desmond Ridder or Taylor Heinicke, then a player like Robinson makes way more sense right now. Even as a running back in the top 10 picks.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars (top pick: 23rd overall)
Pick: Brian Branch, DB, Alabama
If the NFL Draft were up to fan voting, you might already be able to print up the Brian Branch jerseys for Jaguars fans. Branch was a really versatile piece for Nick Saban’s defense at Alabama, and Jaguars fans understandably see him as the missing piece for their secondary right now as things are constructed. Jacksonville has the pieces ready offensively, and they do need to add to the defense with this pick, especially after a quiet free agency period.
2. Tennessee Titans (top pick: 11th overall)
Pick: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
Are the Titans going to make a bold move up the board to land their QB of the future? We’ll see how patient of a man new GM Ran Carthon really is…Carthon was part of some very aggressive front offices with the Rams and 49ers, so it’s safe to assume that’s his brand as well. He recently got a long-term deal done for DT Jeffrey Simmons, but the Titans have long-term questions in the QB spot. Anthony Richardson is as freaky of an athlete as you will find at the position. He’s a bit of a projection to the next level and will require development, but thankfully the Titans already have Ryan Tannehill in place for another year.
3. Indianapolis Colts (top pick: 4th overall)
Pick: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
Not everyone is going to like this pick among the Colts fan base but quarterback selections are nothing if not controversial. Will Levis is one of the most highly debated prospects in this year’s draft and all jokes aside about mayonnaise in coffee and eating bananas with the peel, I think there’s a ton of physical talent here that’s too much to be ignored. Plus, if things go poorly, the Colts could reload in 2024 and try for one of that draft’s top QBs. Shane Steichen has worked wonders with Justin Herbert and Jalen Hurts in recent years, so there is reason to be confident in whoever Indy takes at QB.
4. Houston Texans (top picks: 2nd overall, 12th overall)
Pick: (2) – CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State; (12) – Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
In this scenario, the Panthers obviously used their top pick on Bryce Young, which would leave the Texans with plenty of options at no. 2 overall. I don’t know how you could possibly hate a CJ Stroud pick here, especially after watching what he did at the end of last season for Ohio State. You pair him up with the selection of a freakishly gifted athlete off the edge in Myles Murphy? I think this has the makings to be a tremendous and franchise-altering draft class for the Texans.
1. Philadelphia Eagles (top picks: 10th overall, 30th overall)
Picks: (10) – Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa; (30) – Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama
The Philadelphia Eagles and GM Howie Roseman love to build in the trenches. I think there’s almost no doubt we’re going to see that early on in this draft barring something unexpected. Maybe they would take Bijan Robinson at 10 overall if he’s still there. Here they take the big, long, athletic edge out of Iowa in Lukas Van Ness to add to an already talented defensive front. At pick no. 30 overall, they go for an offensive skill player in Jahmyr Gibbs to replace Miles Sanders in the lineup. Adding Gibbs’ sub-4.4 speed to that backfield with Jalen Hurts and newcomer Rashaad Penny? Look out.
2. Dallas Cowboys (top pick: 26th overall)
Pick: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
As much as I think the Cowboys would love to have Bijan Robinson or see one of the top wide receivers in this year’s draft class fall to their pick, this team does need to replace departed free agent tight end Dalton Schultz. Michael Mayer is one of the best tight ends in this class, a position group that is absolutely loaded. This pick might not be one that sells a ton of jerseys but Mayer would be a big-time addition to the Cowboys’ offense, certainly more dynamic in the passing game than Schultz.
3. New York Giants (top pick: 25th overall)
Pick: Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
There have been some rumors that the New York Giants could be interested in trading for wide receiver Jerry Jeudy this offseason, and with every NFL mock draft scenario I see, I can’t help but wonder why they wouldn’t or won’t do that. It looks like the best possible WR in this slot might end up being Josh Downs. At any rate, with all of the other picks made in this mock draft scenario, the Giants are left with a situation. I have them going with Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes here, a lighter cornerback prospect but one with great ball skills and playmaking instincts.
4. Washington Commanders (top pick: 16th overall)
Pick: Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
The Washington Commanders certainly have one of the most talented defensive fronts in the NFL, and they need some players to go on the back end and capitalize on all that pressure that’s being generated. Banks, coming from Maryland, would certainly be well-received by this fan base and although the 16th overall pick might feel high for him for some people, his athleticism certainly warrants this high of a pick. This might be a borderline boring pick for Commanders fans at this point, but Banks is a really great fit.
1. Buffalo Bills (top pick: 27th overall)
Pick: O’Cyrus Torrence, OG, Florida
The Buffalo Bills don’t need to go with any sort of sexy picks here unless they are really feeling an offensive skill player they don’t have a first-round grade on. The wiser investment is in the trenches and specifically, protecting Josh Allen. O’Cyrus Torrence is a plug-and-play starter at the next level and someone who has made sense for the Bills for quite some time now.
2. Miami Dolphins (top pick: 51st overall)
Pick: Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa
The Miami Dolphins said goodbye this offseason to a couple of tight ends, most notably Mike Gesicki who left in free agency for the New England Patriots. Here with their top pick at 51st overall, I think Sam LaPorta is appropriate value and Mike McDaniel will know that a former Iowa tight end can transition seamlessly into his offense. LaPorta knows he has equally important jobs in the run game and the pass game, and while he’s certainly not George Kittle athletically, LaPorta is going to be just fine at the next level as a playmaker at this position.
3. New England Patriots (top pick: 15th overall)
Pick: Peter Skoronski, OL, Northwestern
In this scenario, Peter Skoronski just so happened to still be on the board and I think he screams “Patriot” if he is sitting there. He could play left tackle, he could play right tackle, he could play guard. We know the Patriots love and highly value versatility, and I think Skoronski has one of the most wide open projections in terms of the top offensive linemen in this class.
4. New York Jets (top pick: 13th overall)
Pick: Paris Johnson, OT, Ohio State
Keeping in mind that Aaron Rodgers is likely soon to be coming to down, I think the Jets need to do whatever it takes to not only ensure the best starting five possible on the offensive line, but make sure you have your bases covered in the event there are injuries. I think Paris Johnson Jr. may have elevated his stock beyond where the Jets could get him, but not in this simulation. He could be this team’s long-term starting left tackle.