2023 Mock Draft: Four Teams Land New QBs in the Top 10, Bijan Robinson Takes Talents to Detroit, and More!
By Hunter Haas
4. Arizona Cardinals – Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama
JJ Watt announced his retirement from the NFL following the 2022 season, bringing to an end one of the greatest careers in the history of the sport. The Cardinals will be tasked with replacing the Hall of Fame talent this offseason, but lucky for them, a blue-chip pass rusher falls to them in this mock draft.
Will Anderson Jr. boasts quite a different frame from Watt, as he will enter the league an inch shorter and nearly 40 pounds lighter. Still, Anderson shows an ability to succeed as a hand-in-the-dirt pass rusher or as an attacking linebacker off the edge. Arizona ranks 25th in team sacks, with 9.5 of those coming from JJ Watt. Will Anderson Jr. can revitalize the pass rush and take the mantle in Watt’s stead.
5. Indianapolis Colts – CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State
To call the Colts’ 2022 season a massive failure would be the understatement of the century. After playing hot potato at quarterback since Andrew Luck’s retirement, the Indy fandom has been subject to watching Matt Ryan, Sam Ehlinger, and Nick Foles start at the game’s most important position this year. To no surprise, this is not a recipe for success. Sitting at No. 5 overall in this mock draft, the Colts finally add their own guy behind center.
Ohio State’s CJ Stroud played his college ball mere hours away from Indianapolis, and general manager Chris Ballard has never been shy to draft players from the Big Ten. Stroud’s touch and anticipation on throws are special, and he is a better processor than given credit for. His inability to handle pressure could be an issue if the Colts fail to fix the offensive line, but Stroud gives the fan base something they haven’t had in years: hope at quarterback.
6. Atlanta Falcons – Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
The Falcons have 37 sacks over their last 32 games, easily ranking as the worst in the league during that span. The next closest is the Las Vegas Raiders and Detroit Lions, who each have 60 in the same 32-game sample. Simply put, Atlanta MUST add talent to their pass-rushing corps. Enter Clemson’s Myles Murphy.
Murphy has been a steady contributor with the Tigers since joining the program, recording 36 tackles for loss and 18.5 sacks in his three-year career. Rookie Arnold Ebiketie shows signs of being an above-average player on the edge, but adding Myles Murphy should help even more by taking some attention away. Murphy is a three-down player immediately and will be a favorite for Defensive Rookie of the Year if this mock draft comes to fruition.
7. Detroit Lions (via LAR) – Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
The Lions will attempt to upgrade the quarterback position this offseason, but in this mock draft, the top three options came off the board within the first five choices. General manager Brad Holmes is not the type to force a need, especially this early in the draft. Look for Detroit to pivot and add to the secondary with the No. 7 overall selection.
Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr. brings a similar mentality to the position that 2022 rookie star Sauce Gardner does. JPJ is comfortable on an island and is continually improving as a zone defender, giving the Lions a partner-in-crime for former first-round pick Jeffrey Okudah. I would not want to play quarterback against that duo.