The Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs will meet in Super Bowl LVII on Feb 12. This contest marks the end of the 2022 NFL campaign, ushering in the offseason and NFL mock draft season.
With the Senior Bowl and Shrine Bowl in the books, front offices have an improved grasp on the 2023 NFL Draft class. Some of the top players at their respective positions attended the all-star games alongside several sleepers hoping to boost their stock.
Pre-Super Bowl Mock Draft: Texans and Raiders Trade Up for Quarterbacks of the Future
As most of the NFL and its fan bases look to the offseason, here is a fresh first-round mock draft to quench your thirst. Quarterbacks come off the board in a hurry, and multiple trades occur. Let’s get the ball rolling with the first trade of the article!
1. Houston Texans (via CHI) – Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
The Texans swap firsts and send Chicago the No. 34 overall selection to guarantee Bryce Young ends up in Houston. General manager Nick Caserio would still have No. 12 and a Cleveland first-round pick next draft at his disposal, so the added 2024 second-rounder is worth paying. Young’s leadership and arm talent will give DeMeco Ryans his centerpiece on offense.
2. Chicago Bears (via HOU) – Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
The Bears gain a near-first-round selection at No. 34 and still get the exact player they would have taken first overall, anyway. Jalen Carter fits the three-technique in Matt Eberflus’ system like a glove. A game-wrecker arrives in The Windy City.
3. Las Vegas Raiders (via ARI) – CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State
The Raiders trade up four spots to land the best pocket passer in the 2023 NFL Draft class. CJ Stroud is precise, a proven leader, and possesses the arm talent to be a high-end starter under Josh McDaniels.
Derek Carr is on the move soon; the front office can replenish at least one of the day-two picks sent to Arizona in this deal. Parlaying Carr’s trade compensation into a new signal-caller of the future is a no-brainer move for the Raiders.
4. Indianapolis Colts – Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
Seeing Young and Stroud off the board might draw the ire of the Colts fandom. However, there is reason to believe Anthony Richardson (or Will Levis) is the top quarterback on Chris Ballard’s draft board. In this mock draft, Richardson is the selection.
The Florida star is raw but checks every box in terms of physical profile. Richardson is a superb athlete with a rocket launcher attached to his right shoulder and boasts a better pocket presence than most will say. If the Colts make the correct hire at head coach, the sky is the limit for Richardson in the NFL.
5. Seattle Seahawks (via DEN) – Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama
Will Anderson is the type of prospect that should go No. 1 overall in any NFL Draft. The need at quarterback pushes him down the board in this mock draft, allowing the Seahawks to scoop him up at No. 5. Seattle adds another building block to the roster.
6. Detroit Lions (via LAR) – Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
The Lions have a steady bridge quarterback in Jared Goff, so beefing up the lackluster defense would be the best use of their stockpile of assets. Devon Witherspoon will pair nicely with Jeffrey Okudah, giving Detroit a much-needed boost to the secondary. If anyone embodies the “kneecap-eating” mentality, it is Witherspoon.
7. Arizona Cardinals (via LV) – Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech
The Cardinals will be without starting quarterback Kyler Murray to open the 2023 NFL season. The injury to Murray allows the new regime to trade down and accumulate more assets to shore up the roster in his absence.
Arizona lost JJ Watt to retirement this offseason, and Tyree Wilson is the perfect man to fill his shoes. Wilson’s arms are longer than the wait time at your local DMV, and he plays with incredible power. A high-upside pass rusher plus the extra picks is an A+ start to this mock draft for general manager Monti Ossenfort.
8. Atlanta Falcons – Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
The Falcons have shown a willingness to take the top player on their draft board over recent years, and it happens again at No. 8. Atlanta has more pressing needs than running back, but when picking in the top 10, you have to shoot for a player with elite potential.
Bijan Robinson’s ability to take any touch to the house — both as a runner and a receiver — will help Desmond Ridder’s development exponentially. The Texas superstar can be one of the best running backs in the entire NFL as a rookie; imagine Robinson in an Arthur Smith system.
9. Carolina Panthers – Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
Frank Reich is putting together an all-star cast in Carolina, and at No. 9, Will Levis becomes the benefactor of the loaded staff. Levis compares to Carson Wentz in many ways, which may sound like an insult, but that play style is Reich’s bread and butter. The Kentucky signal-caller goes to the ideal spot for a rookie.
10. Philadelphia Eagles (via NO) – Peter Skoronski, OL, Northwestern
The Eagles possess talent all over the depth chart, but the offensive line is the heartbeat of the roster. Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson have talked about retirement in past years, so how about a prospect who can play all five spots on the line?
Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski will be an All-Pro wherever he ends up on the line. With flawless technique, Skoronski can immediately step in for either veteran if they opt to ride off into the sunset. The best way to keep things clicking in Philly is to bolster the strength of the roster going forward.
11. Tennessee Titans – Paris Johnson Jr., OL, Ohio State
Starting offensive tackle Taylor Lewan will likely be released this offseason. Similar to Philly, the Titans win in the trenches. Paris Johnson Jr. is a plug-and-play left tackle who is dominant in the run game and still scratching the surface in pass protection.
12. Houston Texans (via CLE) – Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
Here is another shocker. Zay Flowers lacks the size of a typical WR1 in the NFL, but he more than makes up for it with everything else. Flowers is the best route runner in this class, a contested catch artist, and regularly snatches ankles with the ball in his hands. Young and Flowers in Houston? Oh boy.
13. New York Jets – Broderick Jones, OL, Georgia
Broderick Jones boasts prototypical size at the offensive tackle position. He is raw but will be an instant impact player in the run game as a rookie. The offense should still run through Breece Hall in 2023, no matter who the Jets start at quarterback.
14. New England Patriots – Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas
This is probably the highest you have seen Drew Sanders in a mock draft; get used to it. The former five-star Alabama recruit transferred to Arkansas for 2022 and blossomed into one of the best defenders in college football.
The Patriots’ affinity for Nick Saban-coached prospects is apparent, and the fact that Sanders checks every box athletically helps paint the picture clearer. With New England, Sanders can terrorize opposing backfields as a blitzer and run stuffer if he refines his tackling technique.
15. Green Bay Packers – Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Who knows what will happen with Aaron Rodgers, but the Packers need some help in the blocking and passing game either way. Michael Mayer is the best tight end in a class full of great tight end prospects. The Notre Dame alum is a committed blocker and is underrated with the ball in his hands.
16. Washington Commanders – Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
The Commanders most glaring hole on the roster is in the secondary. Christian Gonzalez is versatile enough to play outside, in the slot, or even deep as a safety. He would slot in next to Benjamin St-Juste as a rookie, giving Washington some promise at the cornerback position.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers – Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
The top cornerback on my 2023 NFL Draft big board makes it to No. 17 in this mock draft. And even better — Joey Porter Jr. goes to his father’s old stomping grounds. JPJ is long, rangy, and physical. His infectious energy will make the Steelers’ defensive unit even scarier.
18. Detroit Lions – Brian Branch, DB, Alabama
The Lions added Devon Witherspoon earlier in the mock draft, but that does not stop them from drafting more help in the secondary. Brian Branch played the slot primarily at Alabama and flexed the ability to play both safety spots. For Detroit, he can do a little bit of everything.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
Myles Murphy was a fixture in the top 10 of any mock draft the past 12 months, but after a deeper dive into the tape, the Clemson pass rusher is falling to the back half of round one lately. Still, at No. 19, he presents phenomenal value for the Bucs, who need a youthful presence off the edge.
20. Seattle Seahawks – Siaki Ika, DT, Baylor
The Seahawks drafted arguably the best player in the class at No. 5 in this mock draft. Now, Pete Carroll and Co. bring in a difference-maker for the run game.
Siaki Ika possesses freaky agility for a player of his size and uses it to collapse the pocket from the interior while stuffing multiple gaps in the run game. The Seattle defense would immediately become one of the best in the league.
21. Miami Dolphins – *Forfeited Pick*
22. Los Angeles Chargers – Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
I love the idea of Zay Flowers to the Chargers, but having gone earlier in the mock draft, the front office pivots to the tight end position. Dalton Kincaid holds the TE1 mantle for more than a few folks in the NFL Draft community, with his superb hands and elite body control when working downfield. Herbert needs more verticality in the offense; Kincaid brings that.
23. Baltimore Ravens – Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
Quentin Johnston and the Ravens make a picture-perfect fit in this mock draft. I expect Lamar Jackson to be back in Baltimore for 2023, but the front office can no longer neglect the skill positions regardless of who is playing quarterback. Johnston’s physical prowess and game-breaking ability will mesh well with Rashod Bateman and Mark Andrews.
24. Minnesota Vikings – Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
One of my favorite prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft is cornerback Emmanuel Forbes. The Mississippi State alum holds the FBS record for pick-6s (six) and boasts an astonishing 14 career interceptions in only three seasons on campus. The Vikings were among the worst teams in the league at defending the pass; Forbes will change that upon arrival.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars – Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
Another cornerback comes off the board at No. 25 in this mock draft. The Jaguars have built an impressive roster but lack top-end talent at cornerback opposite budding star Tyson Campbell. Cam Smith’s relentless work ethic and confident demeanor are exactly what the Jacksonville defense needs.
26. New York Giants – Jordan Addison, WR, USC
Head coach Brian Daboll won Coach of the Year after a successful rookie stint in New York. Although Daboll made the most of his receiving corps in 2022, drafting Jordan Addison would make life substantially easier for the Giants.
Addison is shiftier than given credit for and is a polished route runner who consistently creates separation. He is slender and is susceptible to getting jammed by bigger cornerbacks, but Daboll will put his new pass catcher in positions to succeed.
27. Dallas Cowboys – Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
Another Clemson player that is seeing his stock dwindle is Bryan Bresee. The injury history, accompanied by his personal tragedy in 2022, led to some less than stellar play on tape. For Bresee, it all comes down to the medicals.
The Cowboys have been willing to look past these types of red flags in the past, with it resulting in some NFL Draft steals. Bresee could be yet another.
28. Buffalo Bills – O’Cyrus Torrence, OL, Florida
Josh Allen’s ability to create off-script makes him one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. However, for the Bills to continue competing and for Allen to remain healthy, they must establish a traditional running game — now.
Rather than drafting another running back, the best approach should be improving the offensive line. O’Cyrus Torrence is the best interior lineman in the class and is a mauler in the run game. Perhaps this can spark a breakout season for second-year player James Cook.
29. Cincinnati Bengals – Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is a polarizing prospect in the NFL Draft and mock draft community. His refined route running and ability to create with the ball in his hands are traits coveted by NFL offenses. However, his lack of ideal size and top-end athleticism could push him out of round one entirely.
That is not the case in this mock draft, as the Bengals keep the Ohio State product close to his roots. Tee Higgins is a projected free agent this offseason, and Tyler Boyd is a cut candidate. Drafting JSN would allow Cincinnati to extend Higgins and lessen the blow of potentially losing Boyd.
30. New Orleans Saints (via DEN) – Keion White, DL, Georgia Tech
The Saints use the freshly-acquired first-rounder they received from Denver to add a versatile defensive lineman. Keion White is one of the fastest-rising players in the 2023 NFL Draft, thanks to his blend of physicality inside and impressive pass-rushing chops off the edge.
New Orleans drafted Marcus Davenport and Payton Turner in recent years while letting Trey Hendrickson walk and become a star in Cincinnati. White gives them a chance to right their wrongs.
31. Kansas City Chiefs – Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa
Full disclosure, Lukas Van Ness could go inside the top 10 by the time the 2023 NFL Draft gets here. He grades as a fringe first-rounder for me due to his lack of pass-rushing moves and on-field experience as a starter.
That being said, the Chiefs can mold Van Ness into a Pro Bowl-caliber player. The Iowa alum can learn from the great Chris Jones and eventually take over his position on the defensive line. Kansas City will be good forever if they keep drafting this way.
32. Philadelphia Eagles – Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh
In Mel Kiper’s latest mock draft, he shook the NFL Draft world by placing Calijah Kancey at No. 10 overall to the Eagles. While that is a bit rich for my liking, it is impossible to deny how well Kancey would slot into the Philadelphia defensive line.
He is undersized but was virtually unblockable in college. The strength that Kancey exhibits makes the Pittsburgh star look like Aaron Donald at times. The Eagles already own one of the better units in the league; it gets even better with Kancey.