Ricky Dimon
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With the 2022 season over and 2023 NFL Draft a little more than 2 months away, it’s time to produce our first mock. As usual, there is a ton of intrigue at the top of the board. That is the case this year because the Chicago Bears hold the #1 overall pick but aren’t in desperate need of a quarterback. Will they keep the pick and address a position other than QB? Will they keep the pick, trade Justin Fields and bring a rookie signal-caller on board? Or will they trade out of the top spot with a team that really craves a new franchise quarterback?
Those are just some of the questions heading into April’s festivities, and we will take a look at the entire top 10 in this particular mock draft. Be sure to stay tuned to our draft coverage throughout the spring, which will include updated mocks, odds breakdowns and general predictions.
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1. Chicago Bears: Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
Right when the 2023 NFL Draft order was determined at the end of the regular season, my best bet for the #1 pick was Carter at +800. That’s not to say that I or anyone else thinks he is the best prospect on the board; the bottom line is that Chicago doesn’t need a quarterback. What the Bears do need is a defensive overhaul. Carter would mark the start of that effort. Similar to former Georgia teammate Travon Walker, who went #1 to the Jacksonville Jaguars last year, Carter’s numbers in college did not set the world on fire. But who cares? He is an absolute beast on the defensive line who can help Chicago turn things around right away. Carter is now +750 to go #1, and the value remains.
2. Houston Texans: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
There are reportedly a handful of QB-hungry teams who are high on Young. And why not? The former Alabama star won the Heisman Trophy in 2021 and over his last 2 college seasons, he threw a ridiculous 79 touchdown passes compared to just 12 interceptions. Young did damage with his feet this past year, too (185 rushing yards and 4 scores). To be clear, the Pasadena, California native is worthy of going #1. The Bears could take him and trade Fields or someone like the Texans or Indianapolis Colts could trade up. For now, though, I have Young falling into Houston’s lap at #2.
3. Arizona Cardinals: Will Anderson, LB, Alabama
If Chicago keeps the #1 pick, Anderson has a realistic chance of being the choice (he is a +900 5th favorite behind Bryce Young, CJ Stroud, Will Levis and Carter). After all, you be almost sure that the Bears are going with a defensive player if they don’t trade out. If he isn’t selected first, going 3rd to Arizona is the likely destination. The Cardinals are in complete rebuilding mode, especially with Kyler Murray set to miss all or most of the 2023 campaign, so the needs are plentiful. Defense is the biggest issue, though, and Anderson is as talented as they come in this class on that side of the ball.
4. Indianapolis Colts: CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State
The Colts are a trendy pick to trade all the way up to #1, where they would select either Young or Stroud. If they stand pat, there is a chance they could watch those 2 quarterbacks go off the board in the top 2 spots. If the Bears do spring a surprise and opt for defense, Indianapolis should be sitting pretty at #4 (unless someone trades up with Arizona for the #3 selection). And if Stroud is available, owner Jim Irsay will be performing cartwheels. The former Ohio State standout is a 2-time Heisman finalist and over the past 2 seasons racked up 85 passing TDs to only12 INTs. He ran circles around UGA’s uber-talented defense in the Peach Bowl and almost led his team to the championship game, losing 42-41.
5. Seattle Seahawks (from DEN): Tyree Wilson, DE, Texas Tech
How is the Russell Wilson trade working out for the Seahawks so far? Well, Geno Smith led them to an improbable playoff berth while the Denver Broncos were the laughingstock of the NFL and went 5-12 before firing first-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett. And, oh yeah, Seattle got a top-5 pick out of the whole thing. What will head coach Pete Carroll and company use it on? Defense is the smart play and Wilson would make sense. The 6’6’’, 275-pounder recorded 7 sacks in each of his final 2 seasons at Texas Tech.
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6. Detroit Lions: Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
The Lions’ offense cooled off during the second half of the season, but that side of the ball is still a well-oiled machine for the most part. Detroit is either going to use this pick for defense or trade down and stockpile additional draft capital. I can definitely see the latter happening, but for the purpose of mock-draft ease I will keep head coach Dan Campbell’s team locked in at #6. Cornerback is an option, but I don’t think anyone at that position is worthy of going this high. Inserting Bresee into the middle of the defensive line alongside Aidan Hutchinson is not a bad alternative.
7. Las Vegas Raiders: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
Levis going 7th to Las Vegas could be the most popular prediction in the conglomerate of online mock drafts. He isn’t as much of a slam dunk as Young or Stroud, but he has all the physical tools to be a star at the next level. Injuries and decision-making (23 interceptions over the past 2 seasons, for example) are an issue, but it’s not like Levis is alone in that respect for players making the jump from college to the pros. Someone in the top 10 will eagerly take on this project; it will probably be the raiders.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Myles Murphy, DE, Clemson
Stop me if you’ve heard this before: the Falcons need to address their pass rush. If you haven’t heard that before, you haven’t been following the NFL for…oh…at least the past decade. Atlanta continues to be the most inept franchise in the sport when it comes to bringing down opposing quarterbacks, and this year figures to be the time when owner Arthur Blank finally sees his team use a first-round pick on solving the problem. The Falcons presumably envision Desmond Ridder as their long-term QB or will acquire one via free agency or trade, so they are free to draft a defensive stopper in the #8 slot.
9. Carolina Panthers: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
Richardson is probably the most polarizing prospect that will be drafted in the first round. His sample size of work at the college level is extremely small, but his natural talent is off the charts. There are undoubtedly big boards that have him outside the top 20 but also those that rank him in the top 5. I’m not ready to jump to the latter extreme, but going 9th to Carolina seems like a reasonable spot. The Panthers want to put a jolt into their franchise and a QB of the future would do exactly that.
10. Philadelphia Eagles (from NO): Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
There are any number of directions in which the Eagles could go as they round out the top 10 with this selection acquired from the New Orleans Saints. As the defending NFC champions and coming off a 14-3 regular-season record, there are no obvious holes…for now. However, they have to make decisions on a boatload of free agents and that will determine the direction of this pick. There is a good chance that the secondary will need to be addressed, in which case Witherspoon – arguably the best cornerback on the board – would be an enticing target.
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