2023 NFL Mock Draft: Colts Trade Up With Bears, Panthers Climb Board For Will Levis, Plus More!
By Hunter Haas
*TRADE*
Seattle Sends: No. 5
Carolina Sends: No. 9, No. 40
5. Carolina Panthers (via SEA) – Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
Another trade! Will Levis could go as high as No. 1 overall or as low as the back-end of round one; he is quite polarizing in NFL Draft circles. The selling point with Levis is his experience lining up under center, running a play-action-heavy scheme, and physical traits that no one in the class can match.
It will take some patience and a play caller who doesn’t ask Levis to play out of structure too much early on. The Panthers performed admirably under interim head coach Steve Wilks, but the quarterback position has weighed them down throughout the campaign. Hopefully, Levis is the answer after a trade to get in front of some QB-needy teams.
6. Detroit Lions (via LAR) – Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
The Lions have more pressing needs on the roster, but selecting this high in the 2023 NFL Draft should result in a “best player available” approach. Myles Murphy takes that title at No. 6 overall. Murphy is a powerful, yet explosive pass rusher from Clemson. He can be deployed in several ways and pairs well with Aidan Hutchinson off the edge.
7. Las Vegas Raiders – Peter Skoronski, OL, Northwestern
The Raiders have made it clear that Derek Carr’s tenure with the franchise is reaching its end, with a trade or release expected to come soon after the Super Bowl. While I expect Las Vegas to be active in acquiring a veteran signal-caller, it wouldn’t make sense to reach for a prospect as raw as Anthony Richardson at this point.
Instead, Las Vegas should be looking for upgrades on the offensive line. Peter Skoronski profiles as a high-end starter anywhere on the line. I have the Northwestern tactician graded as an offensive tackle, so bookending the unit with Kolton Miller is the vision. Worst case scenario, Skoronski is a Pro Bowl guard at the next level.
8. Atlanta Falcons – Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech
The Falcons have ranked toward the bottom of the league in team sacks since the start of 2021. Rookie Arnold Ebiketie has shown flashes in year one, but adding the upside of Tyree Wilson will make everyone’s life easier in the ATL. A defense consisting of AJ Terrell, Grady Jarrett, Arnold Ebiketie, and Tyree Wilson is terrifying.
9. Seattle Seahawks (via CAR) – Bryan Bresee, DL, Clemson
The Seattle Seahawks should re-sign Geno Smith to a short-term deal this offseason so they aren’t forced into taking a quarterback early in the 2023 NFL Draft. This decision would give general manager John Schneider the freedom to select the best player available or trade down for even more assets.
Rather than reaching on Will Levis or Anthony Richardson, Seattle trades down a few spots to gain the No. 40 overall selection. Bryan Bresee is a player that the Seahawks would have interest in without a trade down, so with the Clemson defender still on the board, this is a no-brainer. Bresee instantly transforms the run defense and adds pass-rushing chops from the interior.
10. Philadelphia Eagles (via NO) – Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
The Eagles end the regular season with the top seed in the NFC, and thanks to a savvy trade with New Orleans, they also sit at No. 10 overall in the NFL Draft order. Philly can take whoever is rated the highest on their board, and I suspect cornerback Cam Smith to be that guy. Smith brings the smashmouth demeanor that Eagles fans love, giving the team another shutdown cornerback opposite Darius Slay.