With the NFL Draft approaching, OddsShopper has poured over every detail, scrutinized every prospect and evaluated every team’s needs to bring a comprehensive 2023 NFL mock draft . Join us as we take a look at the top picks and sleeper candidates that are poised to make a splash in the 2023 NFL Draft.
2023 NFL Mock Draft Picks & Predictions
1. Carolina Panthers – Bryce Young – Alabama – QB
Now a -1000 favorite or more across sportsbooks, Bryce Young’s draft odds peg him as the overwhelming favorite to go first. He brings an elite blend of production and athleticism, having thrown for 4,872 yards and 3,328 yards in his two seasons as a starter with Alabama. After acing the S2 cognitive test, Young’s only area of concern is his 5-foot-10, 204-pound frame.
2. Houston Texans – Will Levis – Kentucky – QB
Will Levis’ draft odds have him as the favorite to go second, at -140 on DraftKings. This comes after C.J. Stroud tanked the S2 cognitive tests and multiple reports indicating the Texans have soured on Stroud. With that said, it would still be negligent for the Texans to skip quarterback at No. 2, with no guarantee to get one with their second first-round pick at No. 12. Levis aced the S2 test and provides good size and athleticism at 6-foot-3, 222 pounds. The concerns include an early-career benching in favor of Sean Clifford at Penn State and a failure to produce elite numbers at any point in college. Still, he provides an immediate upgrade to Davis Mills.
3. Arizona Cardinals – Will Anderson – Alabama – Edge
The Cardinals have been the subject of trade rumors, but this mock draft won’t dabble in the unpredictable. Instead, they take the best available defender in Will Anderson from Alabama. Anderson is +380 to go third, with Stroud at +230 and Tyree Wilson at +250. According to GrindingtheMocks, Anderson is second in expected draft position. Anderson checks every box, including production, size and athleticism. The only things potentially contributing to a fall would be the positional value of quarterback or a team simply preferring another elite defender.
4. Indianapolis Colts – C.J. Stroud – Ohio State – QB
The Stroud slide ends here, with Indianapolis finding its future quarterback. While many have questioned his intelligence and commitment to the game, Stroud’s game speaks for itself. He threw for 4,435 and 3,688 yards in his two years as the starter, and while Ohio State didn’t ask him to run much, he also showed strong mobility on occasion. Detractors will point to Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka as reasons for his success. At the end of the day, he still succeeded and plays the most important position on the field.
5. Seattle Seahawks – Tyree Wilson – Texas Tech – Edge
Todd McShay recently said that it would surprise him to see Seattle leave the first round without a quarterback. The question becomes, do they select one at No. 5, No. 20 or make some sort of trade? These rumors fly all the time, and Seattle has also shown a willingness to take a patient approach at quarterback. With that said, the Seahawks have also been aggressive to get their guys in previous NFL Drafts. In this case, they take a shot on two-year starter Tyree Wilson out of Texas Tech. Unable to test due to an off-season procedure, Wilson will stand on his one year of elite production, including back-to-back seasons with seven sacks. This pick bolsters a Seattle defensive line in need of some juice.
6. Detroit Lions – Anthony Richardson – Florida – QB
After fasting in previous NFL Drafts, the Lions finally take a shot on a quarterback with the polarizing Anthony Richardson out of Florida. At 6-foot-4, 244 pounds, Richardson quite literally put up some of the best testing numbers of all time. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds while hitting 40.5 inches in the vertical jump. Richardson only started for one year and only has 393 career pass attempts in college. However, contrary to popular belief, his mobility gives him a higher floor than most quarterbacks in this class. Every quarterback can throw, but he can also run. With Jared Goff in place in case of emergency, Richardson makes more sense for the Lions than many other teams.
7. Las Vegas Raiders – Jalen Carter – Georgia – DT
Another player on a mini slide, Jalen Carter finally comes off the board to the Las Vegas Raiders. The Raiders could use a quarterback, but unless they trade up, they will find themselves boxed out here. They also signed Jimmy Garoppolo as a stop gap, at least giving them a competent option. Instead of quarterback, they attack the interior of their defensive line and bolster a pass rush already including Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones. Carter is 6-foot-3, 314 pounds, with elite production across various alignments for the Georgia Bulldogs.
8. Atlanta Falcons – Devon Witherspoon – Illinois- CB
Atlanta is another team that could potentially trade up for a quarterback, but they also miss out here. They will be forced into the regular season with Desmond Ridder as their starter. With that said, intriguing mid-round options like Hendon Hooker, Tanner McKee and Clayton Tune also exist. In this mock draft, they double-down on corner after trading for Jeff Okudah this offseason. While the team has already invested in A.J. Terrell and Mike Hughes, they clearly desire a little more juice at the position. Okudah hasn’t lived up to expectations after getting drafted third by the Lions. To bolster the position, they select 5-foot-11, 181-pound Witherspoon, who ran a 4.42 40-yard dash at his pro day to complement his elite 2022 production.
9. Chicago Bears – Darnell Wright – Tennessee – OT
While the Chicago Bears have needs across their roster, most reports seem to indicate they will select an offensive tackle. Tennessee’s Darnell Wright continues to receive late steam throughout the NFL Draft process. Wright is 6-foot-5, 333 pounds and only allowed eight total pressures last season. He immediately bolsters one of the weakest offensive lines in football.
10. Philadelphia Eagles – Peter Skoronski – Northwestern – OT
The second offensive lineman selected, Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski comes off the board to Philadelphia. The Eagles don’t have any glaring holes on their roster and have drafted important positions for depth before. They did just that in 2019 with Andre Dillard at the same position as Skoronski. Coming into the NFL, Skoronski is 6-foot-4, 313 pounds. Some think his best fit would be on the interior, but Skoronski still only allowed six pressures all year from the tackle position. Regardless, Philadelphia will use him wherever they see fit and improve an already strong position group.
11. Tennessee Titans – Jaxon Smith-Njigba – Ohio State – WR
The Titans have a lot of roster needs, including receiver and offensive line. Here they select the consensus top receiver in Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He barely played in 2022, but he put up 1,606 yards on 95 catches as a sophomore in 2021. He ran a suitable 4.48 40-yard dash at his pro day, giving him enough athleticism to take this high. Some have pointed out his slot-only role as a concern, but most scouts don’t seem to think that will be an issue. For the second straight year, Tennessee takes a receiver in the first round.
12. Houston Texans – Paris Johnson – Ohio State – OT
Already taking their quarterback of the future, Houston solidifies their offensive tackle position with Paris Johnson. At tackle, Laremy Tunsil has been one of the best in the NFL, but Tytus Howard has been up and down. This is also the final year of Howard’s deal. Johnson comes out of Ohio State at 6-foot-6, 313 pounds, and allowed just 12 pressures last season. Houston could desperately need a pass catcher, but the receiver position provides more depth than offensive tackle in this draft class.
13. Green Bay Packers – Lukas Van Ness – Iowa – Edge
This may not be a popular selection for Packer’s fans, who desperately want more pass-catching juice. With Smith-Njibga off the board and it still being a little early for the tight ends, the Packers value draft like they have many times before, with Iowa edge Lukas Van Ness. The Packers have a decent edge group; however, Rashan Gary has a torn ACL. Preston Smith turns 31 this year, and the rest of the group offers nothing more than rotational snaps. This edge group ranked third in the NFC North in quarterback pressures last year, making Van Ness a solid pick at a high-value position. Van Ness put up a 4.58 40-yard dash at 272 pounds and generated 46 quarterback pressures last year.
14 New England Patriots – Christian Gonzalez – Oregon – CB
Oregon corner Christian Gonzalez finally comes off the board after falling a little bit. Gonzalez provides an elite size/speed combination at 6-foot-1, 197 pounds, with a 4.38 40-yard dash. However, some teams still view Gonzalez as a work in progress after he failed to put up some of the elite numbers of other defensive backs in this class. Specifically, he allowed a 61% catch rate for 495 yards in his coverage. While still solid, he will require more development than some other players. With that said, New England values size and athleticism at corner, which Gonzalez has.
15. New York Jets – Broderick Jones – Georgia- OT
Following the Aaron Rodgers trade, the New York Jets have a sneaky roster on offense. While the defense could be bolstered, the Jets still have a need along the offensive line. Mekhi Becton hasn’t been able to stay healthy, and Alijah Vera-Tucker has also failed to live up to expectations. Broderick Jones comes out of Georgia at 6-foot-5, 311 pounds, and allowed just nine pressures last season on the Bulldogs National Championship offense.
16. Washington Commanders – Bijan Robinson – Texas – RB
The Washington Commanders have the fourth-highest odds to select Bijan Robinson, behind the Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Texans. All of those teams have other glaring needs or a general manager with a track record of utilizing positional value. The Commanders’ biggest need is quarterback, but they’re priced out of the elite options here. Instead, they get a generational talent at the running back position and again kick the quarterback position to the curb.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers – Joey Porter Jr. – Penn State – CB
Pittsburgh recently signed Patrick Peterson to stop the bleeding at the corner position. However, Peterson is now 32 years old, and Pittsburgh lost Cam Sutton this offseason. Penn State’s Joey Porter Jr. is 6-foot-2, 193 pounds, with a 4.46 40-yard dash. Porter only allowed 15 catches in his coverage for 143 receiving yards in 10 games last year. He immediately provides an upgrade on this defense.
18. Detroit Lions – Dalton Kincaid – Utah – TE
Detroit has done a sneaky job rebuilding their roster this offseason and already addressed the defensive line in this mock draft. After trading away T.J. Hockenson last year, their biggest offensive need comes at tight end. The need at pass catcher has also been exacerbated by Detroit’s wide receiver room gambling at the team’s facility. After transferring to Utah from the FCS level, Kincaid caught 70 passes for 890 yards and eight touchdowns last year.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Brian Branch – Alabama – S/CB
Tampa Bay lost Sean Murphy-Bunting and could use help at corner, with Dee Delaney set to start in the slot. Safety/corner hybrid Brian Branch fills an immediate need and provides the versatility to play multiple positions on this defense. Branch is 6-foot-0, 190 pounds, and ran a 4.58 40-yard dash and only allowed 240 yards in his coverage last year.
20. Seattle Seahawks – Myles Murphy – Georgia – Edge
Seattle desperately needs help along the defensive line after ranking 28th in PFF pass rush grade in 2022. Clemson’s Myles Murphy generated 34 pressures last year and 42 the year prior. Murphy didn’t test at the NFL Combine, but he ran a 4.52 40-yard dash at his pro day and he is 6-foot-5, 268 pounds.
21. Los Angeles Chargers – Jordan Addison – USC – WR
With Keenan Allen only getting older, it is time for the Chargers to invest in another receiving option opposite Mike Williams. Here they take former Biletnikoff winner Jordan Addison out of USC. Addison is only 5-foot-11, 173 pounds, with a 4.49 40-yard dash. However, he recorded 1,593 yards receiving with Pittsburgh in 2021 before following that up with another 875 yards in an injury-shortened 2022 season.
22. Baltimore Ravens – Deonte Banks – Maryland – CB
After previously possessing one of the elite secondaries in football, Baltimore has slowly lost corner talent over the last few seasons. With Marcus Peters moving on, Baltimore will move on with younger talent in Maryland’s Deonte Banks. Banks only allowed 258 yards in his coverage last year, but more importantly, he ran a 4.35 40-yard dash at 6-foot-0, 197 pounds.
23. Minnesota Vikings – Emmanuel Forbes – Mississippi State – CB
Another team looking for corner help, Minnesota lost Patrick Peterson this offseason. The Vikings did land Byron Murphy, but they still could use additional help. Mississippi State’s Emmanuel Forbes is only 6-foot-1, 166 pounds, but he ran a 4.35 40-yard dash. He also only allowed 284 yards in his coverage in the SEC last year.
24. Jacksonville Jaguars – Calijah Kancey – Pittsburgh – DT
The Jaguars previously selected Travon Walker and Josh Allen along the defensive line, but now they address their interior with Pittsburgh’s Calijah Kancey. Kancey is 6-foot-1, 281 pounds and ran a 4.67 40-yard dash. He generated 47 pressures in 11 games last year.
25. New York Giants – Quentin Johnston – TCU
Even after signing Parris Campbell in free agency, the Giants desperately need wide receiver help. Sterling Shepard and Wan’Dale Robinson both suffered injuries last year and have a redundant skillset anyway. Campbell also functions better in the slot as a gadget guy, leaving a void on the perimeter. TCU’s Quentin Johnston is 6-foot-3, 208 pounds and ran a 4.49 40-yard dash at TCU’s pro day. Last year he recorded 60 receptions for 1,069 yards and six touchdowns in 14 games with TCU.
26. Dallas Cowboys – Michael Mayer – Notre Dame – TE
The second of the elite tight ends comes off the board in Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer as Dallas looks to replace Dalton Schultz. Mayer is 6-foot-4, 249 pounds, with a 4.70 40-yard dash. While Mayer lacks elite athleticism, he makes up for it with elite production. A three-year starter with the Irish, Mayer exceeded 800 yards receiving in both of his final two seasons.
27. Buffalo Bills – Zay Flowers – Boston College – WR
The Buffalo Bills finally start treating the receiver position like a priority. Stefon Diggs has been elite, but the Bills have lacked a secondary presence for multiple seasons. Boston College’s Zay Flowers is 5-foot-9, 182 pounds, with a 4.42 40-yard dash. Highly productive in college, Flowers caught 78 passes for 1,077 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior. He recorded at least 746 yards in three of his four seasons with Boston College.
28. Cincinnati Bengals – Darnell Washington – Georgia – TE
The Bengals have done a solid job addressing their roster issues over the last few seasons, and now they do not have any glaring weaknesses. They could use a corner or a tight end, but they find themselves boxed out of the elite options at both positions. Still, Cincinnati gets an athletic freak at the tight end position in Darnell Washington from Georgia. Perhaps the most versatile player in this draft, Washington has the size to act as a sixth offensive lineman if necessary. He is 6-foot-7, 264 pounds, while running a 4.64 40-yard dash. Georgia also lined him up in the slot, giving him the ability to handle all tight end responsibilities for the Bengals.
29. New Orleans Saints – Bryan Bresee – Clemson – DT
The Saints have done an excellent job on the edges with Cameron Jordan, Carl Granderson, Zack Baun and Payton Turner over the years. Now they draft the interior, which has lagged behind the edge group for some time now. Here they select Clemson’s Bryan Bresee, who is 6-foot-5, 298 pounds. Bresee ran a 4.86 40-yard dash at the combine, making him plenty athletic for the position. He also logged 24 pressures in 10 games from the interior with Clemson last year.
30. Philadelphia Eagles – Nolan Smith – Georgia – Edge
An in-between player, Georgia’s Nolan Smith is just 6-foot-2, 238 pounds. However, he is extremely athletic, posting a 4.39 40-yard dash and a 41.5 vertical jump. While it may be unlikely that he will fall this far, the Eagles will certainly be a suitor in this case. The Eagles have a history of drafting “toolsy” players that might not fit the traditional mold; last year they selected Jordan Davis and Nakobe Dean. They also turned the career of Haason Reddick around, who played out of position for several years with Arizona. Smith logged 19 pressures in eight games with Georgia last year, but his versatile, athletic presence should be coveted by this defense.
31. Kansas City Chiefs – Jalin Hyatt – Tennessee – WR
Following the departure of Tyreek Hill, the Kansas City wide receiver room has been brutally stitched together. With JuJu Smith-Schuster also out of the picture, oft-injured Kadarius Toney projects to lead a group comprised of deep threat-only Marquez Valdes-Scantling and second-year disappointment Skyy Moore. Even undrafted free agent Justyn Ross has been getting some buzz, which shows that Kansas City needs more help at wide receiver. At this point in the draft, all of the studs are gone, but Jalin Hyatt still makes sense. Hyatt is 6-foot-0, 176 pounds, and ran a 4.40 40-yard dash. He caught 67 passes for 1,267 yards and 15 touchdowns in his final year with Tennessee. He finally becomes what offenses thought Valdes-Scantling could be in the NFL.
