2023 NFL Draft: Texans Land Bryce Young, Seahawks Stack Defensive Line In Updated Mock Draft
By Hunter Haas
9. Green Bay Packers – Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
I do not care how long it has been since the Green Bay Packers used a first-round NFL Draft pick on a wide receiver (2002). General manager Brian Gutekunst cannot continue to ignore the position on day one. Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs look like they will be contributors in Green Bay for years to come, but with their injury histories, adding a third high-potential target should be a priority for the Packers.
Quentin Johnston is the best wide receiver in the 2023 NFL Draft. The TCU standout is a big play specialist that boasts NFL size and the versatility to attack defenses on all levels. Johnston’s route tree is more expansive than others in this class, and he is such a savvy receiver that I believe Aaron Rodgers would develop a quick connection and trust with him. With the top two offensive linemen off the board, Quentin Johnston comes off at No. 9 to Green Bay.
10. Las Vegas Raiders – Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
Don’t look now, but the Raiders have won back-to-back games since Derek Carr’s impassioned speech a couple of weeks ago. Still, the roster is incredibly flawed, especially on defense. The offensive line is a major need, but the talent of Joey Porter Jr. is worth taking at No. 10 overall in the updated mock draft.
Porter Jr., the son of long-time Steeler Joey Porter, brings the same mentality to the cornerback position his father brought as a linebacker. Porter Jr. wins with physicality, using his length and strong hands to jam receivers and knock them off their route. He is a work in progress as a zone defender, but Porter Jr. can be trusted on an island in man coverage from the moment he is drafted.
11. Houston Texans (via CLE) – Bryan Bresee, DL, Clemson
The Houston Texans nabbed their quarterback of the future earlier in the mock draft, so let’s add a prospect with superstar potential on the other side of the ball. Bryan Bresee is a former No. 1 overall recruit that has been one of the best players in the country when healthy. Bresee is a wrecking ball on the inside, causing pressure and collapsing the pocket from the interior, something that EVERY NFL team could use.
The Texans will be able to lean on their run game and improved passing attack with Bryce Young, but only if the defense holds up its end of the bargain. With Derek Stingley and Jalen Pitre reshaping the secondary, Bryan Bresee will make life easier for every single player in the Texans’ front seven. General manager Nick Caserio is using the NFL Draft to lay his foundation, brick by brick.
12. Jacksonville Jaguars – Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
This may seem early for Michael Mayer — and grade-wise I would agree — but I cannot think of a better fit for the Notre Dame tight end than a Doug Pederson offense. Pederson loves to utilize his tight end, often asking them to do a little bit of everything. Mayer will hold up as a blocker both in the run game and when asked to pass protect, but the most exciting part of Mayer’s game is as a pass catcher. Mayer is a sneaky great athlete. His hands rank toward the top of the 2023 NFL Draft. Pederson lands his Zach Ertz/Dallas Goedert.
13. Detroit Lions – Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
Similar to the Texans, the Lions added what they hope to be a franchise quarterback in Will Levis earlier in the mock draft. The next thing they should do is address a defense that opened the season on a record-breaking pace for points allowed. Christian Gonzalez, a rising prospect from Oregon, makes sense. Gonzalez has four interceptions on the year and possesses ideal size for an outside cornerback (6-foot-2, 200 pounds). The emergence of Jeffrey Okudah is promising, but it should not stop the Lions from adding a partner in crime at cornerback.