2023 NFL Mock Draft: Colts Trade Up With Bears, Panthers Climb Board For Will Levis, Plus More!
By Hunter Haas
A major trade — or two — shake up the early portion of the 2023 NFL Draft. The Colts add CJ Stroud, the Bears add Jalen Carter, and the Panthers climb the board to secure Will Levis. The first post-regular-season mock draft is here!
The 2022 NFL regular season concluded this weekend, with 14 teams still in the Super Bowl hunt and 18 others now looking toward the offseason. With over half of the 2023 NFL Draft order locked, mock draft season is ready to ramp back up.
The quarterback position has taken center stage, as always. CJ Stroud, Bryce Young, Will Levis, and Anthony Richardson have all been found in day one of most mock drafts. Stroud and Young present safer options, while Levis and Richardson carry considerable risk in comparison.
As exciting as it is to talk about quarterbacks, the real strength of this draft class is at running back, pass rusher and cornerback. Several day-one starting running backs are in the 2023 NFL Draft, including Bijan Robinson (Texas) and Jahmyr Gibbs (Alabama).
It is a great year to need an edge rusher or lockdown cornerback. The top 50 on my Big Board 1.0 consists of 14 corners and pass rushers. Both positions are THAT stacked. Joey Porter Jr. (Penn State) and Kelee Ringo (Georgia) have dominated the conversation at cornerback, but Cam Smith (South Carolina) and Christian Gonzalez (Oregon) boast first-round talent as well.
2023 NFL Mock Draft: Colts Trade Up With Bears, Panthers Climb Board For Will Levis, Plus More!
Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama) and Myles Murphy (Clemson) lead the way for the pass-rushing group. Tyree Wilson (Texas Tech), Felix Anudike-Uzomah (Kansas State), and BJ Ojulari (LSU) will find themselves in day-one talks with strong pre-draft workouts. And that is only the tip of the iceberg.
Now that we know the strong points of this NFL Draft class, it is time to dive into the first mock draft of the offseason for 18 franchises. Tankathon has the current 2023 NFL Draft order, so with that out of the way, the Chicago Bears are now on the clock… (or are they?).
*TRADE*
Bears Send: No. 1 Overall
Colts Send: No. 4 Overall, No. 36 Overall, 2024 1st
Starting a mock draft with a trade is not something I have ever committed to, but there is a first time for everything. With the Chicago Bears securing the rights to the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, they become a prime candidate to trade down for a king’s ransom. In this scenario, the Indianapolis Colts leap to the top of the draft board. Connections between Colts general manager Chris Ballard and several high-ranking officials in the Bears front office lead to an easy link.
The trade-up will not come cheap for the Colts in this mock draft. Indy is sending the No. 4 overall selection in 2023, the No. 36 selection in 2023, and a first-round selection in 2024. Chicago brings back a haul to surround quarterback Justin Fields with talent going forward, and the Colts guarantee their quarterback of choice in the 2023 NFL Draft. Win-win.
1. Indianapolis Colts (via CHI) – CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State
Following a trade with the Bears, the carousel of quarterbacks comes to a merciful end with the selection of Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud. While Bryce Young and Will Levis have an argument to go No. 1 overall, Stroud’s accuracy, touch on throws downfield, and untapped potential as an improviser makes him one of the safer options in the 2023 NFL Draft, while also giving him a sky-high ceiling if properly developed.
2. Houston Texans – Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
Full disclosure, I have Bryce Young graded as the QB1 in the 2023 NFL Draft. Stroud feels like more of a Chris Ballard pick, given his ties to the Big Ten and a tendency to draft players from that conference. This leaves the Houston Texans with a franchise signal-caller falling in its lap. Young’s size is a valid concern, but his leadership, poise under pressure, mobility, and arm talent make the risk worth the potential reward.
3. Arizona Cardinals – Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama
The Arizona Cardinals will entertain trade-back offers, but with a blue-chip pass rusher falling to them at No. 3, they would be silly to pass on Will Anderson Jr. out of Alabama. Future Hall of Famer, JJ Watt, is on the way out the door; what better way to replace a generational pass rusher with another generational pass rusher? Anderson Jr. will be the betting favorite to win Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2023.
4. Chicago Bears (via IND) – Jalen Carter, DL, Georgia
The Bears make out like a thief in the night after the trade down with Indianapolis. Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter is the rare prospect that creates consistent pressure from the interior of the defensive line. Carter is a massive human being but moves around better than those weighing a fraction of his weight. Carter fills multiple gaps as a run-stuffer and should elevate the pass-rushing corps for the Bears as a rookie. Chicago adds arguably the best player in the 2023 NFL Draft, plus extra draft capital for the future.