2023 NFL Mock Draft: Falcons Draft Will Anderson, Plus A Surprise at No. 2 Overall

3. Seattle Seahawks: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

The Bryce Young-Russell Wilson comparisons have followed the Alabama quarterback all through high school, and ramped up even more given his success at the collegiate level. I am going to throw even more fuel on the fire for those comparisons by tabbing Young as the long-term replacement for the recently traded Russell Wilson. The Seahawks have shown a willingness to look past certain physical traits when evaluating talent. Wilson being a third-round pick obviously means their initial investment was essentially risk-free, but all the winning that the Seahawks have witnessed since 2012 was largely due to the future Hall of Fame quarterback. Now, they get a chance to make a similar run with Young spearheading the offense going forward.

Young famously committed to, and then de-committed from, the USC Trojans. The former five-star recruit eventually found his way to Tuscaloosa, joining Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide. Young essentially redshirted as a freshman after losing the preseason quarterback battle to the incumbent starter, Mac Jones. In Young’s first year as “the man” at Alabama, he took the team all the way to the National Championship Game, winning the fourth Heisman Trophy in the history of the program. He enters the 2023 season as a heavy favorite to go within the first three to five picks in next years draft. This could be a seamless retool for the Seahawks.

4. Chicago Bears: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

Interestingly enough, the Bears might consider Ohio State’s CJ Stroud if they end up this high in the draft order. It will ultimately come down to what their current quarterback, and fellow Buckeye alum, Justin Fields does in 2022. The Bears have an entirely new coaching staff, which is enough to make them think about Stroud. Instead, I’m going to assume that Fields was a factor in the new regime choosing Chicago in the first place. So, if Fields is their guy, who could they go with in the first round?

The roster is largely devoid of talent at many key positions, mostly on offense. The offensive line is Swiss cheese when it comes to protecting Fields, and outside of Darnell Mooney, there is little to get excited about in the wide receiver room. Either option makes sense here, but I value the top-end pass catchers a bit more in this upcoming class. We will go ahead and stick with the Ohio State theme, and have the Bears take Jaxon Smith-Njigba at No. 4 overall in this exercise. JSN didn’t see playing time while Fields was on campus, but the duo should be able to form a strong connection quickly. The shifty wide receiver is always open, and he will go a long way towards supporting Fields the way a franchise quarterback should be supported.

5. Detroit Lions: CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State

Finally, CJ Stroud hears his name called in this mock draft. I acknowledge that Stroud could go as early as No. 1 overall, but given the way this board shakes out, he suffers a small slide down the board. The Detroit Lions, after employing a patient approach during their rebuild, will be ready to leap at the chance to take the talented quarterback from Ohio State. Jared Goff is locked into a sky-high cap hit for the upcoming season, but next off-season Detroit will be able to release Goff for a mere $10 million dead cap charge. This timeline is perfect for the franchise to grab their leader of the future in the 2023 NFL Draft.

One knock on CJ Stroud that I see people talking about is the fact that his supporting cast is so stacked with the Buckeyes. Fair criticism to an extent, but too often it overshadows how talented the kid truly is. Stroud throws with anticipation as well as any quarterback I’ve personally evaluated. He has plenty of strength in his arm to carve out a long career in the league, and he moves very well for his size. With the Lions, he would step into another stacked cast of offensive talent. Detroit drafted Jameson Williams to pair with 2021 breakout star, Amon’Ra St Brown, at wide receiver. They have TJ Hockenson sitting atop the tight end depth chart, and running D’Andre Swift will be looking to become a true feature back. Add in Penei Sewell and Frank Ragnow, among others, and the offensive line should do a great job keeping Stroud clean.

6. Jacksonville Jaguars: Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU

The Jacksonville Jaguars have finished with the worst record in the NFL two years running. Could it happen a third time in a row? Sure. Will it? I highly doubt it. Jacksonville endured a tumultuous 2021 season, mired in a head coaching controversy. Pun intended. Urban Meyer essentially tanked the season for everyone involved, and thankfully the franchise took action, even if they had to back their way into a good hire. After fumbling the opportunity to sign former Jaguar quarterback Byron Leftwich to a head coaching role, general manager Trent Baalke found a former Super Bowl winner to lead the locker room instead.

Doug Pederson accepted the position, and at long last, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel in Jacksonville. Pederson’s tenure in Philadelphia didn’t end well, but few argue against the impact that he made during the Eagles Super Bowl run. He brings the same brilliant offensive mindset with him to the Jaguars, which should benefit Trevor Lawrence more than words can describe. The weapons surrounding Lawrence don’t inspire much excitement themselves, but let’s change that by adding LSU wide receiver Kayson Boutte. Boutte will be the next in a long line of Tiger wide receiver’s to hear his name called in the opening round of the draft. He brings an NFL frame and explosiveness with him that the Jaguars currently lack on the outside. Jacksonville must support their young quarterback.