Post-Free Agency Mock Draft: Trades Galore, 4 QBs in Top 4!

Free agency has come and gone. How does that affect the 2023 NFL Draft? This 2023 NFL mock draft looks at the post-free agency options for each team in the first round. The Lions and Cowboys trade up to take skill position players, while the Seahawks move back and get the potential steal of the draft.

I went back and forth on who the Panthers will take with this selection. Both Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud are worthy of the pick. So what swayed my mind? Who would fit Frank Reich’s system best? The answer was C.J. Stroud. Frank Reich’s roots are founded in the West Coast offense. Stroud may have the best arm in this draft class, which should allow him to make the throws necessary for the West Coast offense to work at an elite level.

Ok, I’ll be honest 87% of the reason I wanted Bryce Young to go to the Texans was for him to be reunited with John Metchie lll. Metchie lll should be returning for the 2023 season after his battle with acute promyelocytic leukemia. Metchie lll can tell you just how electric Young is. Young has the ability to make something out of nothing better than anyone in this draft class. Ask the Chiefs how a quarterback that can improvise on an elite level has worked out for them.

After two quarterbacks go off the board first, Brad Holmes gets the future of the Detroit Lions. Anthony Richardson shows just how special he could be at the Combine. But he is still too raw of a prospect to start Week 1. Luckily, the Lions still have Jared Goff under contract. Could this move cause some tension between Goof and the Lions? Sure, but it’s the NFL. The business is brutal; Jared Goff, of all people, knows that.

Yes, you read that right, four quarterbacks off the board with the first four picks of this mock draft. I don’t think the Colts would be too upset with Levis. Levis has a great arm and underrated mobility. He is a plug-and-play day-one starter for Indy. Besides, recent history has favored the fourth quarterback taken in drafts.