2023 NFL Mock Draft - Austin's 1.0

Written by: Austin Thomas

We are just under a month away from the NFL draft starting on April 27th. We'll see many young men experience life-changing moments over that weekend and fulfill life-long dreams of becoming professional athletes in the NFL. Everyone's path is different which makes each journey unique in itself. Becoming a first-round draft selection doesn't guarantee instant success and an undrafted rookie isn't dead in the water just yet. That's the beauty of this time of year. The buildup of NFL prospects transitioning their journey from the collegiate level to the pros is one of the more magical sights of the season. With so many names to familiarize yourself with, let's see who should hear their name the first night of the draft.

Pick #1: Carolina Panthers (via Chicago Bears):

Everyone knows the Panthers will choose a Quarterback with the first pick after giving up several picks and wide receiver DJ Moore, but the question is: Which one do they fancy the most? Of course, any of the fine prospects could be the selection here, but realistically we're looking at three quarterbacks; Anthony Richardson, Bryce Young, and CJ Stroud. Each one has its positives, as well as its negatives, but the guy who I truly believe will be the inevitable first pick is none other than CJ Stroud. Stroud is the most polished passer in this draft class and looking at a couple of coaching staff hires Carolina brought in this offseason (Frank Reich and Josh McCown more specifically) it looks like they're prepared to groom and develop more of a pocket passer type for their future face of the franchise. If Ohio State's pro-day was any indication, this combination will hit it off quickly.

THE PICK: QB - CJ STROUD - OHIO STATE

Pick #2: Houston Texans:

This particular pick and situation give me serious 2020 Miami Dolphins vibes. Remember the phrase "Tank for Tua"? Well, the Dolphins ended up being the fifth overall pick of that draft class, yet still ended up with their guy, Tua Tagovailoa. Similar to the Dolphins and their management team, it was noted last year that Houston's higher-ups were enamored with Bryce Young; enough to where some around the league thought they were "tanking" this season to secure the number one overall pick to lock him in as THE pick, but a miracle week 18 victory at Indianapolis pushed them down to second and allowing the Chicago Bears to capitalize off it. If Bryce Young doesn't get selected by Carolina, I'd be SHOCKED if he wasn't the pick here - it's almost inevitable he'll be a Houston Texan.

THE PICK: QB - BRYCE YOUNG - ALABAMA

Pick #3: Arizona Cardinals:

The Cardinals have announced they're open for business when it comes to their pick - hoping a quarterback-needy team is willing to move up and jump the Indianapolis Colts to take the third passer off the board. The only issue is it takes two parties to agree on such a deal and I won't speculate many are going to be willing to pay a premium here. New head coach Jonathan Gannon, former defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles, has many holes to fill on his defense, so trading back and collecting picks to help patch them up make sense, but I think Arizona will stand pat and take the consensus best defender off the board, Will Anderson, to give the defense a much-needed pass rusher. Step one to building any championship-level defense is solidifying a great pass rush and Anderson will do just that.

THE PICK: EDGE RUSHER - WILL ANDERSON - ALABAMA

Pick #4: Indianapolis Colts:

Unfortunately, the new coaching regime is at the mercy of a tired and impatient fan base watching their organization put a bandaid on the quarterback position since Andrew Luck's surprising retirement back in 2019. After one-year experiments including Jacoby Brissett, Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, and Matt Ryan, among other spot starters sprinkled in, the Colts are in a prime position to select a quarterback with their top 5 selection and groom them to be the next star in town. I'm sure the Colts won't be getting their top quarterback choice, even though they would never admit that, but they do have a coaching staff that's perfectly equipped to blossom one of the more exhilarating prospects in the draft, Anthony Richardson. The Colts hired former Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen to be their next head coach. Also brought in was Cam Turner, who worked for the Arizona Cardinals as a quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator over the last few seasons. These two alone should inspire the fans and sell them on Anthony Richardson's development. Both of these two coaches were huge in the progression of Jalen Hurts and Kyler Murray, now imagine what they can do with a bigger, faster, and more athletic version of those two. If that doesn't get you excited as a fan, I don't know what will. Be patient, Colts nation, your time is coming again.

THE PICK: QB - ANTHONY RICHARDSON - FLORIDA

Pick #5: Seattle Seahawks (via Denver Broncos):

If you would have said that the Seattle Seahawks would end up having a top 5 pick in this draft after trading Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos and committing to either Geno Smith or Drew Lock for the 2022 season, many wouldn't have questioned it. However, the Seahawks made it to the playoffs, unlike the Denver Broncos, and look like a team that can rival the 49ers for the NFC West title. The Russell Wilson era in Denver started rocky, and a little cringy, while even getting first-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett fired before the season ended - that's a summary of how bad it was in Broncos country last year and awarded the Seahawks with a top 5 premium selection. Could they go back to the Legion of Boom days and grab one of the top corners to pair with rookie standout Tariq Woolen or will they add a pass rusher that rivals Will Anderson as the class's best? Whomever the official pick is here I foresee it being on the defensive side of the ball and I think they add some pass rusher help to disrupt opposing offenses. How poetic would it be to trade away one Wilson to add another with the pick you gained?

THE PICK: EDGE RUSHER - TYREE WILSON - TEXAS TECH

Pick #6: Detroit Lions (via Los Angeles Rams):

Before the 2002 season, the NFC Central was converted into the NFC North when the NFL split the AFC and NFC into eight divisions. Why is this important you may be asking yourself? Well, because the Detroit Lions have NEVER won the NFC North title - the last time they won any sort of division title you'll have to go back to 1993 when they won the aforementioned NFC Central. Is this the year the Detroit Lions finally break through and capture the North for their own? After the way the Lions finished the season knocking the Green Bay Packers out of playoff contention while finishing with a 9-8 record themselves, the fans haven't been able to contain their excitement for the upcoming season. Detroit had a respectable offense finishing in the top 5 in both yards per game (380) and points per game (26.6) in 2022, while their defense finished dead last in yards per game (392.4) and bottom three in points per game (25.1). Despite adding some talent on defense through free agency, I fully anticipate the pick will be geared toward loading up on young defensive talent. The Lions added notable secondary pieces highlighted by Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Cameron Sutton, and Emmanuel Moseley, but I would still expect them to add a rookie at some point to add youth in this deep corner class. One glaring need Detroit didn't address was its rush defense and thanks to some off-field drama one of the more talented prospects may slide perfectly into Lion's den. Jalen Carter once was talked about as the potential number-one overall pick before some unfortunate circumstances came up. Regardless, the Lions are in the market to add talent and Jalen Carter is arguably the most talented prospect in this draft class. He could be the foundation for this defense for years to come and immediately helps in the run game.

THE PICK: DT - JALEN CARTER - GEORGIA

Pick #7: Las Vegas Raiders:

The Derek Carr era is officially over with the Raiders. However, Josh McDaniels is reunited with Jimmy Garoppolo, the quarterback that he was supposed to be grooming to be the New England Patriots' answer post-Tom Brady. A 2017 trade deadline blockbuster sending JimmyG to San Francisco spoiled those plans and we never got a full glimpse of what could have been with the McDaniels-Garoppolo connection. Now here we are in 2023 and things come full circle as the Las Vegas Raiders will go into the season with Jimmy Garoppolo as the QB1 and we'll finally get a taste of what could have been. Jimmy Garoppolo, Josh McDaniels, and the Raiders have the unfortunate task of going head to head with Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, and the offensive mastermind of Sean Payton within the division. How do you slow these guys down? Well, it starts on the defensive side of the ball and trying to improve upon that bottom-five pass defense. With all the top cornerbacks still on the board the Raiders will get their picking of whom they believe is the best in class.

THE PICK: CB - CHRISTIAN GONZALEZ - OREGON

Pick #8: Atlanta Falcons:

I firmly believe the Atlanta Falcons are telling the truth when they say they're excited to see what Desmond Ridder has and expect him to make a jump this upcoming season. Falcons head coach Arthur Smith is building a culture similar to his time in Tennessee; running the football. He's got the mobile quarterback, stud passes catchers and a stable of running backs all with their unique gifts and talents. Although, the key to success for a good running game is upfront in the trenches and Atlanta is given their choice of the top offensive lineman to boost their offensive prowess. Peter Skoronski is arguably the most versatile lineman in the draft and a great run blocker. He'd be a tremendous addition to the offense.

THE PICK: OL - PETER SKORONSKI - NORTHWESTERN

Pick #9: Chicago Bears (via Carolina Panthers):

The Chicago Bears gave up the number one overall pick for DJ Moore and a wealth of draft picks from the Panthers - the future's looking bright in Chicago. Despite your feelings for Justin Fields, he is the quarterback and he'll have an upgraded supporting cast around him to continue silencing the haters this upcoming season. The last step to improving the offense is remodeling the offensive line and who better than selecting former teammate and close friend Paris Johnson? He's an athletic lineman that can help out when Fields keeps the play alive and more importantly, they already have some chemistry. Protecting Justin Fields is the number one priority for the Bears in 2023 and this pick does just that.

THE PICK: OL - PARIS JOHNSON - OHIO STATE

Pick #10: Philadelphia Eagles (via New Orleans Saints):

It's almost unheard of that a team that was just in the Super Bowl has a top-ten selection, yet thanks to a previous trade with the New Orleans Saints the Eagles are primed to add a premier talent to their championship-level roster. There aren't many holes to fill and the Eagles have the luxury to take the best player available here. Many of the fans are petitioning for top running back Bijan Robinson to add to this already explosive offense, but that's just not a position that the Eagles have prioritized in the first round historically and Howie Roseman has built this team through the trenches and I think he'll continue that trend. The rich get richer by adding another pass rusher to the mix. I also would not be surprised if the Eagles trade down to acquire more draft capital here either.

THE PICK: EDGE RUSHER - NOLAN SMITH - GEORGIA

Pick #11: Tennessee Titans:

After back-to-back division titles in 2020 and 2021, while being a powerhouse within the AFC, the Titans came up short losing to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the final week to clinch a three-peat for the division crown. That was mainly due to an injury to quarterback Ryan Tannehill who failed to get anything out of the position in the second half of the season. Some of the offseason moves and rumors have the Titans slated for an impending rebuild and that all starts under center. Ryan Tannehill has been terrific during his time in Nashville, but he'll be 35 years old when the season starts and is coming off an ankle injury that ended his season in 2022. Fans had high hopes for Malik Willis but looked lost during his starting stint in Tannehill's absence along with getting replaced by journeyman Joshua Dobbs. I believe the writing is on the wall that Willis isn't the answer and Tennessee will look to address the future signal caller as the rebuild starts.

THE PICK: QB - WILL LEVIS - KENTUCKY

Pick #12: Houston Texans (via Cleveland Browns):

The Texans got their franchise quarterback with their first pick, now it's time to pair them up with a playmaker. They have a solid duo at running back with Dameon Pierce and Devin Singletary, signed a good veteran tight end Dalton Schultz, added receiver Robert Woods to Nico Collins, and hope they can get John Metchie back this season. The Houston Texans are trying to surround their future leader with viable options and they'll continue that here by acquiring arguably the draft's best receiver. Jaxon Smith-Njigba possesses some elite route running and will help Bryce Young, or whomever the pick is, develop into a star at the next level.

THE PICK: WR - JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA - OHIO STATE

Pick #13: New York Jets:

The New York Jets have a pretty good well-rounded roster, they're just missing that quarterback which is why Aaron Rodgers has been their top priority all offseason long. Hopefully, by draft night we all know the status of the situation and Rogers will be a New York Jet. Regardless of the inevitable, I think the Jets will focus on bulking up their defense adding some pass-rushing help for Carl Lawson and Quinnen Williams to get after the quarterback. They already have one of the best secondaries in the league, now it's time to get a lethal pass rush going and make a statement as a top-tier defense in the league.

THE PICK: EDGE RUSHER - LUKAS VAN NESS - IOWA

Pick #14: New England Patriots:

The New England Patriots were a bottom-ten offensive-ranked team in the 2022 season and the only thing they did to add some firepower was bringing in JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mike Gesicki. I don't know if these two will be enough to get the Patriot's offense out of mediocrity, but it's a start. Still, the Mac Jones-led offense lacks a true star in the passing game, which is why they've been linked as a potential trade candidate for DeAndre Hopkins recently. I think they miss out on Hopkins and wind up selecting the most prolific "tall" receiver in the draft. Johnston is an electric player who can score from anywhere on the field with his yards-after-the-catch (YAC) ability. Of course, Bill Belichick could always add to his already strong defense, but I think he needs to figure out if Mac Jones is truly the guy moving forward, and giving him playmakers will certainly answer those questions. Regardless of who's under center, Johnston is the offensive spark the Patriots need to contend with the offensive powerhouses of the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, and soon-to-be Aaron Rodgers-led New York Jets within the division.

THE PICK: WR - QUENTIN JOHNSTON - TCU

Pick #15: Green Bay Packers:

At this point, Aaron Rodgers is still a member of the Green Bay Packers, but I firmly believe by the time the NFL draft rolls around he'll be a member of the New York Jets and the Jordan Love era will officially begin. The Packers could do what they never did for Rodgers the last couple of years and that adds some premier talent in the first round, but the last draft class added two projected starters Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs, so I don't envision them drafting a receiver in the first round this year either. I know they let Robert Tonyan walk in free agency and need to address the tight end position, but this tight end class is so talented they can circle back in the later rounds and still get a starting caliber player, so I don't think they'll grab Dalton Kincaid nor Michael Mayer here either. The most logical thing they should do is bulk up their rush defense, which has been their Achilles heel the last couple of seasons defensively. Adding one of the better run stuffers to solidify the middle of their front seven just makes sense to me.

THE PICK: DT - BRYAN BRESEE - CLEMSON

Pick #16: Washington Commanders:

The Washington Commanders went out and got former Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, which is a major upgrade for the offense. In this scenario, the top four quarterbacks are off the board and anyone else would be a major stretch to pick at number sixteen, so as of now Sam Howell remains safe and the rest of the offense has talent at every level. Defensively the Commanders have a stout defensive line but have lacked in the backend giving up huge chunk plays. Fortunately, one of the top cornerbacks in the deep class has "slid" a little way and Washington would be ecstatic to see this guy still on the board to lockdown opposing number-one receivers.

THE PICK: CB - DEVON WITHERSPOON - ILLINOIS

Pick #17: Pittsburgh Steelers:

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a very young offensive core and drafted Kenny Pickett with inspirations he'll mold into their next great franchise quarterback. He's got the weapons around him to make a jump this season, but he's got to have better protection up front. The Steelers need to utilize the youth on offense while they can whilst seeing if Kenny Pickett is the future. Getting an anchor at the tackle position will only assist the offense to reach new heights. The defense is already competitive, but the offense has to keep up with Joe Burrow and the Bengals, Deshaun Watson and the Browns along with an always ferocious running game of the Ravens.

THE PICK: OT - BRODERICK JONES - GEORGIA

Pick #18: Detroit Lions:

The Lions could have taken a corner at pick number six and would've been happy, but pivoted toward arguably the best prospect in the draft. Detroit stands firm and still ends up getting one of the top three corners in the draft here at pick 18. The Lions rehauled their secondary this offseason adding Cameron Sutton, Emmanuel Moseley, and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, but adding another tough physical corner to this group will make life easier when going up against Justin Jefferson twice a season.

THE PICK: CB - JOEY PORTER JR - PENN STATE

Pick #19: Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost a lot of talent this offseason, most importantly Tom Brady. While adding Baker Mayfield and touting Kyle Trask as the front runner as the starter, this team is not equipped to pass the ball as much as they did with Brady. This team has more of the making of a run-first offense while playing good defense. However, if they want to be successful running the ball they need to improve their interior offensive line. O'Cyrus Torrence is arguably the best interior lineman in the draft and is a great run blocker and will fit the new era of Buccaneers football.

THE PICK: OG - O'CYRUS TORRENCE - FLORIDA

Pick #20: Seattle Seahawks:

The Seahawks had major issues in their front seven and did almost nothing to address them during free agency. Well, with their first pick, they grab one of the premier pass rushers and now they're gifted a trending player moving up draft boards to continue adding talent to the defensive line.

THE PICK: DT - CALIJAH KANCEY - PITTSBURGH

Pick #21: Los Angeles Chargers:

Most Los Angeles Charger fans I see are hoping for a receiver to give Justin Herbert another weapon. This might not be exactly what they were expecting, but drafting the best playmaking tight end in the class is just as good. Gerald Everett was good last season, but he's not a difference-maker. Adding a talent like Kincaid to the group of Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Joshua Palmer, and Austin Ekeler among others would give opposing defense fits. Justin Herbert would be a very happy man if they add another playmaker to the offense.

THE PICK: TE - DALTON KINCAID - UTAH

Pick #22: Baltimore Ravens:

We'll see the direction of the Ravens here soon pending what happens with Lamar Jackson. Will a rebuild happen, or will they try to glue together a roster to attempt playoffs? However, it plays out, if the Ravens are truly serious about keeping Lamar Jackson in town it'll start by giving him what he's wanted all along; more receiving weapons! Zay Flowers was a one-man wrecking crew at Boston College last year and would give Jackson a receiver with a good route tree that can beat you in many different ways. Flowers would compliment Rashod Bateman and Mark Andrews nicely.

THE PICKS: WR - ZAY FLOWERS - BOSTON COLLEGE

Pick #23: Minnesota Vikings:

Rumor has it that the Minnesota Vikings could deal with current running back Dalvin Cook before or during the NFL draft. Sometimes these are just draft chatter amongst the league and sometimes there is smoke to the fire. I'm on the side of there being truth to the rumors and the Vikings wanting to exchange one elite talented running back, while offloading his salary, to a younger generational runner. The Vikings are in a win-now mode so they're gambling on if Bijan Robinson's game will translate right away, but this move makes sense for the long run too! Can you imagine an offense with Justin Jefferson and Bijan Robinson in it? Sign me up!

THE PICK: RB - BIJAN ROBINSON - TEXAS

Pick #24: Jacksonville Jaguars:

The Jacksonville Jaguars are trending in the right direction and will be a powerhouse within the AFC here soon if they keep it up. Offensively, they're stacked top to bottom and can score with anyone, but the defense is what held them back in the most important games last year. When you have to compete with Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Joe Burrow in the playoffs you better have a solid secondary. With this selection, Jacksonville identifies they need to improve the backend of their defense if they want to compete for a championship soon.

THE PICK: CB - DEONTE BANKS - MARYLAND

Pick #25: New York Giants:

Brian Daboll had an excellent first year as head coach - his Coach of the Year award would back that up. Daboll did wonders with the offense, especially after he seemingly had to replace his receivers week after week. I believe the Giants will be adding another receiver at some point in the draft, even after signing three in free agency and bringing back Darius Slayton too - Although most of the guys in this range are smaller "slot" type receivers and the Giants already have a plethora of those. I'd bet they'll add an outside guy in the next couple of rounds, but as far as the first round goes I think they'll add to their stingy defense and add the best available secondary player. That just so happens to be the versatile Brian Branch.

THE PICK: S - BRIAN BRANCH - ALABAMA

Pick #26: Dallas Cowboys:

The Cowboys let tight-end Dalton Schultz walk in free agency to the Houston Texans, so they're in the market to add talent to the tight-end room. Jake Ferguson was solid at times last season, but he never really made an impression that he'd be the de facto starter moving forward. Most scouts have Mayer as the number one tight-end prospect and can help an offense in so many different ways. He's a solid pass catcher and it doesn't stop there either as he can play on the inside and help block defenders as well. The Dallas Cowboys seemingly always have a great tight end and Mayer could be the next!

THE PICK: TE - MICHAEL MAYER - NOTRE DAME

Pick #27: Buffalo Bills:

It's been repeated multiple times during this writing, but when you have to compete with the other high-powered offenses in the AFC it's important to try and slow them down. Last year down the stretch after Von Miller suffered a season-ending injury the Bills lost their best pass rusher and it severely crippled them on the defensive side of the ball. Adding some more talent on the edge will be crucial for Buffalo to get over the hump and represent in the Super Bowl.

THE PICK: EDGE RUSHER - MYLES MURPHY - CLEMSON

Pick #28:Cincinnati Bengals:

The Cincinnati Bengals' secondary got hammered in free agency losing Vonn Bell and Jessie Bates III. It'll be hard to replace them, but grabbing this physical hard-hitting safety will certainly help fill the void a little bit. Johnson can work around the line of scrimmage and defend against pass-catching tight ends as well. He's not afraid to make a tackle, so he'll fit right into the toughness that is the AFC North.

THE PICK: S - ANTONIO JOHNSON - TEXAS A&M

Pick #29: New Orleans Saints (via San Francisco 49ers through Miami & Denver):

The New Orleans Saints made a big splash by signing quarterback Derek Carr to be their new signal caller this offseason and he has a quadrant of weapons to utilize. Rookie sensation Chris Olave and Micheal Thomas form a tremendous duo for Carr. Add in big red-zone threat tight end Juwan Johnson and star running back Alvin Kamara to the mix and you have yourself a great foundation for Carr to make some fireworks his first year in the Big Easy.

THE PICK: OT - ANTON HARRISON - OKLAHOMA

Pick #30: Philadelphia Eagles:

I'll echo what I said for their first pick earlier, the Eagles like to build through the trenches. Philadelphia just lost guard Isaac Seumalo in free agency and plans to start Cam Jurgens in his place. Getting one of the top guards and molding him into starter material before Cam Jurgens makes the inevitable switch back to center after Jason Kelce retires is the best possible option for the future.

THE PICK: OG - STEVE AVILA - TCU

Pick #31:Kansas City Chiefs:

Let's make one of the most explosive offenses even more exciting! The defending champions haven't had a prolific running back since Jamaal Charles and now have the chance to add an "Alvin Kamara" type player to pair up with Patrick Mahomes is a scary thought. The Chiefs didn't re-sign running back Jerick McKinnon and they could get a younger much better version of McKinnon with Gibbs while making the offense that much better! Not to mention the Chiefs don't have much star power at the receiver position and adding the draft's best pass-catching back could help open things up for them.

THE PICK: RB - JAHMYR GIBBS - ALABAMA