In this 2023 NFL Mock Draft, Bijan Robinson goes first in a wave of RBs in the first round. Tanner Mckee goes before Bryce Young, Jaxon Smith Njigba falls out of the 1st round, and Adetomiwa Adebawore goes to a Super Bowl contender (according to Adam Thielen).
The era of the workhouse running back is making a comeback! After trading away superstar runner and receiver Christian McCaffery last season, the Panthers get his replacement in this 2023 NFL Mock Draft. Bijan Robinson is far and away the best back in this draft class and should immediately impact Frank Reich’s new offense.
The two-time National Champion and Heisman finalist goes second overall in this 2023 NFL Mock Draft. Bennett’s rise to glory has been exceptional, from a walk-on to the number two pick in the NFL draft. What a story.
Kyler Murray was running for his life in the 2022-2023 season, partly leading to his season-ending injury. Blake Freeland is an elite OT prospect who gave up 0 sacks this past season protecting Jaren Hall.
2023 NFL Mock Draft: Colts Land Bryce Young, Raiders Address Secondary
Happy April Fool’s day!
While I love the talent of all the athletes I listed above, I’m not insane enough to believe they will go in the top 3. So who does? Let’s do this for real, and because it’s a holiday, two rounds it is for this 2023 NFL Mock Draft.
The Panthers somehow have the hardest and the easiest pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Decision between C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young is a difficult one to make. Both are elite talents that would be easy 1st overall picks in most drafts. What makes this pick so easy is that I don’t think you can go wrong with either. Both could be wearing gold jackets by the time their careers are over.
With size concerns surrounding Bryce Young, the Texans go in a different direction in this 2023 NFL Mock Draft. Anthony Richardson has the boom or bust label, and Houston feels comfortable with the swing here early.
At this point, Arizona would get bombarded with trade offers by teams drooling at the mouth for Bryce Young. I fully expect one of the insane offers to be accepted and the Cardinals to move down in the draft. However, no trades, So instead, the Cardinals sure up their secondary with the addition of Devon Witherspoon.
Bryce Young’s height concerns drop him to the fourth pick, and the Indianapolis Colts pounce. Despite this, Young lands in an extraordinary situation. He will be a second the coming of Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck to Indianapolis, with a bit of a chip on his shoulder.
Will Anderson Jr. It is the consensus top-edge rusher in a draft class stacked with them. Adding an elite edge rusher from an elite program in this 2023 NFL Mock Draft will significantly benefit the Seahawks defense.
All character issues aside, Jalen Carter is far and away the best defensive player in this draft. The Lions are trying to build a genuinely elite roster. To do that, you take the best players at positions of need, and that’s the Lions here in this 2023 NFL Mock Draft. Dan Campbell will keep a close eye on Carter and help him develop into the best interior D-lineman in the NFL.
Josh McDaniels knows the value of having an elite safety on defense. Brian Branch is a do-it-all slot defender and safety. When he’s on the field, good things tend to happen. Branch was the best player on Alabama’s defense this past season. Yes, ahead of Will Anderson Jr.
The Falcons are drinking all the Nolan Smith combine cool aid. But, to be fair, how could you not? If he plays with the athleticism he displayed at the combine, he will be practically impossible to stop.
If the Bears and Ryan Poles pass on the Illinois-born Peter Skoronski, then Justin Fields should ask for a trade. With trading back, they affirmed Justin Fields as the face of the franchise. Now, go protect that face and get a versatile offensive lineman.
While he may not be first overall, Bijan Robinson still finds his way into the top 10 of this 2023 NFL Mock Draft. Robinson would make the Eagles offense genuinely elite. Jalen Hurts would have more opportunities to make big plays, as everyone would stack the box. That’s the only way you can stop Bijan Robinson.
At this point, I’m going to will this pick into existence. There are only two ways I don’t see this pick happening. The first is if the Eagles or Bears love Paris Johnson Jr. or The Titans are in love with Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
CONTROVERSIAL! After this offseason, it is clear how important it is to find a premier DT in the NFL. The Texans make a bold choice in this 2023 NFL Mock Draft in Mazi Smith when Calijah Kancey and Bryan Bresee are still on the board. But this is the NFL Draft, and if you like a guy, you go get him.
The New York Jets take the best available player in this 2023 NFL Mock Draft with Christian Gonzalez. Sure, they just took Sauce Gardner, and D.J. Reed is coming off a career season. But can you ever have enough lockdown corners?
Iowa’s defensive scheme limited Van Ness to only 478 defensive snaps this past season. Despite this, Van Ness still put up solid numbers. With the elite QBs in the AFC East, the Patriots desperately need someone who can bring them down, and Van Ness has the upside to do so.
The Packers get Jordan Love some help in the form of Michael Mayer. Mayer is the most rock-solid TE in this draft. Love will love the addition of Mayer, and it only helps his confidence in his first year taking over from Aaron Rodgers.
We have back-to-back TEs in the first round of this 2023 NFL Mock Draft! Eric Bieneimy will be looking for his Travis Kelce in this Commanders offense. While Dalton Kincaid didn’t participate in the combine, his tape shows his ability. He could follow in Kelce’s footprints and be an all-pro talent in a Bieniemy-lead offense.
The Steelers signed Patrick Peterson in free agency to be their lockdown corner. However, Peterson is turning 33 this season, so while he may still have some juice left in the tank, it’s essential to start considering the future at the position. Deonte Banks is well worth the pick at 17 in this 2023 NFL Mock Draft.
While Jared Goff is coming off a great year, it’s safe to say you know his ceiling. The Lions are a young team on the rise. So why not risk one of your two first-round picks on a QB that would benefit from learning behind Jared Goff? Will Levis has a great arm and could quickly be in the top 10. Here, however, he falls into a great situation in Detroit.
While analyzing the current depth chart of the Buccaneers, they desperately are in need of a starting left tackle. Broderick Jones should be able to step right in opposite Tristan Wirfs and give Baker Mayfield all day to find his targets.
The Seahawks fill a position of desperate need with the best guard in the 2023 NFL Draft. This may not be the last interior offensive lineman they select in the first two rounds of this 2023 NFL Mock Draft.
Like Young, concerns about Calijah Kancey’s size result in him falling into the early twenties. The Chargers get an elite talent that some have compared to Aaron Donald. AFC West quarterback better beware of the pass rush in Los Angeles.
What’s one way to make your disgruntled superstar QB happy? Get him an exciting skill position player! In the past, the Ravens have selected wide receivers based on their ability to make explosive plays. Quentin Johnston is the most explosive receiver in this draft class and is a strong selection in this 2023 NFL Mock Draft.
The Vikings select Jaxon Smith-Njigba in hopes he can rekindle the magic from his 2021-2022 college season. If it weren’t for his injury, Smith-Njigba would likely be in drafted in the top 10. All signs indicate the Vikings are moving on from Kirk Cousins after this season. This gives a potential first-year quarterback Smith-Njigba, Justin Jefferson, and T.J. Hockenson, a top flight unit.
Tyree Wilson is slated by most draft gurus to be taken in the top 10. However, in this 2023 NFL Mock Draft, he falls to pick 24 and lands with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars take the best available player and put some pressure on Travon Walker. The two could be an elite duo moving forward.
According to Jordan Addison, the New York Giants have shown him the most interest up to this point, which makes sense. While Addison has not been helping his stock as of late, he is still a top-25 pick and goes to a team desperate for an elite wide receiver.
After seeing Howie Roseman and the Eagles take an elite Texas running back, Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys decide they still want an elite first-round runner; Jahmyr Gibbs is just that. Gibbs is talented and coming out of arguably the best program in the country. This gives the Cowboys another option if they can’t get a long-term deal done with Tony Pollard.
Instead of reaching for interior O-line help, the Buffalo Bills select a high-value pick in Joey Porter Jr. Porter Jr. could make a solid contribution for the Bills in 2023, depending on how Kaiir Elam has developed.
After losing Hayden Hurst, the Cincinnati Bengals brought in Irv Smith Jr. to bolster the tight end position. It isn’t quite enough, so the Bengals get Smith’s foil in Darnell Washington, who can be a force multiplier in the red zone and in the running game.
The New Orleans Saints could go in a lot of directions here at pick 29. The defensive line could use some upgrades, as could the skill positions. Instead, they get great value in this 2023 NFL Mock Draft, landing corner Cam Smith to join Marshon Lattimore and Alontae Taylor.
Myles Murphy is a raw, freakish athlete. If the Philadelphia Eagles can work their magic on Murphy and give him time to develop his game, he could be the best pass rusher to come out of this draft class.
The Chiefs end the first round of this 2023 NFL Mock Draft with the best available player. Bryan Bresee is going to an extraordinary situation where he should be competing for a Super Bowl in his first season. It should be a great environment to grow as a player, especially next to Chris Jones.
2023 NFL Mock Draft: Second Round Selections
32. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State
33. Houston Texans: Will McDonald IV, EDGE, Iowa State
34. Arizona Cardinals: Luke Wypler, C, Ohio State
35. Indianapolis Colts: Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa
36. Los Angeles Rams: Cody Mauch, OL, North Dakota State
37. Seattle Seahawks: Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah
38. Las Vegas Raiders: Tanner McKee, QB, Stanford
39. Carolina Panthers: Adetomiwa Adebawore, DL/EDGE, Northwestern
40. New Orleans Saints: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
41. Tennessee Titans: Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina
42. New York Jets: Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
43. New York Jets: Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson
44. Atlanta Falcons: Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
45. Green Bay Packers: Sydney Brown, SAF, Illinois
46. New England Patriots: Blake Freeland, OT, BYU
47. Washington Commanders: Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee
48. Detroit Lions: Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa
49. Pittsburgh Steelers: DeMarvion Overshown, LB, Texas
50. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tyjae Spears, RB, Tulane
51. Miami Dolphins: Tyrique Stevenson, CB, Miami
52. Seattle Seahawks: Joe Tippman, C, Wisconsin
53. Chicago Bears: Felix Anudike-Uzomah, EDGE, Kansas State
54. Los Angeles Chargers: Antonio Johnson, SAF, Texas A&M
55. Detroit Lions: Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
56. Jacksonville Jaguars: Steve Avila, OL, TCU
57. New York Giants: John Michael Schmitz, C, Minnesota
58. Dallas Cowboys: Andre Carter, EDGE, Army
59. Buffalo Bills: Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee
60. Cincinnati Bengals: Zach Charbonnet, RB, UCLA
61. Chicago Bears: Julius Brents, CB, Kansas State
62. Philadelphia Eagles: Eli Ricks, CB, Alabama
63. Kansas City Chiefs: Jordan Battle, SAF, Alabama