The end of the 2023 college football regular season has come. The transition to conference championships and bowl games has begun. For many eligible top prospects, that also means the process of preparing for a pro career is about to kick into high gear.
Even though the 2023 NFL Draft is nearly five months away, scouting showcases ahead of the Combine and pro days will start helping teams figure what players to target in the first round.
Here’s projecting for now, again, how the night of next April 27 in Kansas City might play out, with the draft order courtesy of Tankathon:
BIG BOARD: Ranking the top 70 players in 2023 NFL Draft
NFL Mock Draft 2023
1. Houston Texans
- Bryce Young, QB, Alabama (6-0, 194 pounds)
The Texans are fast-tracking toward the top overall selection and after seeing there’s no solution between Davis Mills and Kyle Allen, quarterback must be the choice right away. The only question is whether it will be Young or Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud.
Here’s thinking early that Young, with the pedigree that’s help Tua Tagovailoa, Jalen Hurts and Mac Jones become NFL starters, will provide the right combination of passing upside and little bust factor based on his intangibles and proven production.
2. Chicago Bears
- Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama (6-4, 235 pounds)
Should the Bears pick second like they are set to do now, they won’t need to consider QB at all with the passing and running ceiling of big-armed Justin Fields. But they do need to get familiar pop in the defense and getting this cornerstone pass rusher in give them a new Khalil Mack is a no-brainer, after also saying goodbye to Robert Quinn and Roquan Smith on the second level in the middle of the season.
3. Detroit Lions (from Rams)
- Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia (6-3, 310 pounds)
After landing Aidan Hutchinson for the edge of their front four in the 2022 draft, the Lions should keep beefing things up with the most impact defender available to create a devastating young upfield trio along with Hutchinson and Alim McNeill. Carter can do everything as an absolute disruptor.
4. Seattle Seahawks (from Broncos)
- Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson (6-5, 275 pounds)
The Seahawks shouldn’t mind going for an explosive pass-rushing bookend to pair with Uchenna Nwosu for Clint Hurtt and Pete Carroll. Murphy can take over games with his great combination of size, speed and quickness.
5. Carolina Panthers
- C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State (6-3, 215 pounds)
The Panthers need to end their quarterback carousel with a smart, accurate and confident pocket passer who can make all the throws with the right dash of mobility. Stroud hasn’t slipped that much because of his intangibles and execution.
6. Philadelphia Eagles (from Saints)
- Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson (6-3, 225 pounds)
With the Eagles sitting on two first-rounders, they should think about taking r Simpson, who plays next to the son of former Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter on the Tigers’ defense. T.J. Edwards may be too expensive to keep in free agency after a big season and Simpson is simply a playmaking stat-sheet stuff on the second level.
7. Arizona Cardinals
- Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia (6-0, 205 pounds)
Byron Murphy Jr. is a pending free agent battling through back issues and Marco Wilson has been a liability all season long as a No. 2 cover man. Ringo’s size, physicality, athleticism and technique make him the best corner in this class with true shutdown potential.
8. Green Bay Packers
- Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame (6-4, 251 pounds)
The Packers need to think about adding another impact player for Aaron Rodgers in 2023 and they have toyed with the idea of what a dominant athletic receiver at the position can bring to the passing game to help Christian Watson, Allen Lazard and Romeo Doubs. Mayer has some Gronk-like upside to go in the top 10.
9. Las Vegas Raiders
- Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina (6-0, 188 pounds)
The Raiders have been disastrous in downfield coverage and their best cover man is slot ace Nate Hobbs, just returning from a hand injury. They need to combat the big receivers of the AFC West better and Smith is another big, physical and explosive option after Ringo is off the board early.
10. Houston Texans (from Browns)
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Jordan Addison, WR, USC (6-0, 175 pounds)
The Texans could think about addressing their run defense here, but they can do that with interior defensive linemen and linebackers later in the draft and in free agency. They should think about giving their franchise QB a dynamic go-to guy with terrific athleticism and speed. Addison has taken his game from Pitt to another level operating with Caleb Williams.
11. Jacksonville Jaguars
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Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State (6-6, 310 pounds)
The Jaguars have a rock of a left tackle for Trevor Lawrence in Cam Robinson, but they should think about addressing immediate help for a right-side starter with disappointing Jawaan Taylor heading to free agency. Johnson is a natural athletic pass protector who has the frame to keep improving as a run blocker.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers
- Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern (6-4, 315 pounds)
The Steelers also need to better protect their young, strong-armed and athletic franchise passer as current left tackle Dan Moore Jr. has become an absolute turnstile in front of Kenny Pickett. Skoronski, like former Northwestern standout Rashawn Slater does for Justin Herbert, can lock down Pickett’s blindside.
13. Detroit Lions
- Isaiah Foskey, EDGE, Notre Dame (6-4, 257 pounds)
The Lions can be content tabling QB and going with Jared Goff one more season if it means assembling a dominant front. Foskey, the Fighting Irish’s all-time sack leader, is another high-energy producer to put opposite Hutchinson.
14. Indianapolis Colts
- Will Levis, QB, Kentucky (6-3, 232 pounds)
The Penn State transfer had a big year lifting the Wildcats’ passing game with sometimes limited help around him. He can be this year’s Pickett, a fast riser thanks to a nice blend of arm, athleticism and accuracy. The Colts need to end their veteran stopgap cycle after the Matt Ryan mess and take another shot at a first-round franchise passer.
15. Atlanta Falcons
- Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson (6-5, 300 pounds)
The Falcons have had pretty good success with Clemson alum Grady Jarrett helping to beef up their defensive line over the years, so they shouldn’t mind trying to get more pop for the interior in the form of a powerful run stuff with some inside pass-rush juice.
16. Seattle Seahawks
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Noah Sewell, LB, Oregon (6-3, 250 pounds)
The Seahawks have an absolute relentless tackling machine in 2020 first-round Jordyn Brooks but Cody Barton has had big all-around struggles next to him and is a pending free agent. They can look down the Pacific Northwest to get a mighty replacement inside to do a little of everything well.
17. Los Angeles Chargers
- Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M (6-3, 195 pounds)
Here’s a chance to improve the support for Derwin James over fading Nasir Adderley with this smooth coverage playmaker who can also thump against the run. The Chargers will have Simpson and Sewell on their radar, too, to boost their linebacker corps should free agency gut them a little inside with Drue Tranquill and Kyle Van Noy as pending free agents.
18. New England Patriots
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State (6-0, 197 pounds)
The Patriots haven’t had the best recent track record drafting or getting veteran receiving help, but they can change that by tapping into the pipeline that just gave the NFL Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson. DeVante Parker has had more injury issues and both Nelson Agholor and Jakobi Meyers are pending free agents. Smith-Njigba can dominate with his speed, quickness and route-running as a true No. 1.
19. Washington Commanders
- Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State (6-6, 313 pounds)
The Commanders have some interior line concerns in free agency, but right tackle needs to be addressed for the near future with Cornelius Lucas, 31, signed for only one more season. Fashanu could use some time to refine his freakish qualities of power and athleticism into more reliable all-around blocking at a higher level.
20. New York Jets
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Gervon Dexter, DT, Florida (6-6, 312 pounds)
The Jets can keep thinking defense first with Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas as the interior will need to be addressed with Sheldon Rankins and Solomon Thomas going into free agency. Dexter eats up a lot of space and is very disruptive against the run.
21. New York Giants
- Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU (6-0, 190 pounds)
The Giants need to go get Daniel Jones a reliable all-around playmaking No. 1. Boutte is a similar prospect to Smith-Njigba with his own brand of speed, quickness and route-running. He also has the fine pedigree from the program that produced Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase and Terrace Marshall Jr. of late.
22. Cincinnati Bengals
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Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State (6-2, 198 pounds)
The Bengals have a solid veteran cover man in Chidobe Awuzie when healthy but they are hurting at No. 2 with Eli Apple, a pending free agent. They could Porter’s physical frame and quick playmaking on the ball to help combat young wideouts such as George Pickens, Donovan Peoples-Jones and Rashod Batemen better in the division against a suddenly loaded QB division.
23. Dallas Cowboys
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Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas (6-0, 215 pounds)
This is the kind of pick you know Jerry Jones would make and there’s some good reason behind it. The Cowboys love Tony Pollard, but they also believe he’s most effective as an explosive back playing off a power runner. Pollard may also try to cash in elsewhere with bigger money as a free agent, while at the same time, the Cowboys may get out of Ezekiel Elliott’s contract. Robinson’s availability as an elite feature talent is tempting because he’s the complete explosive workhorse, down to high upside as a receiver.
24. Buffalo Bills
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Brian Branch, S, Alabama (6-0, 193 pounds)
The Bills may need to move on from Jordan Poyer, a pending free agent. Branch can be a fine replacement with his natural coverage skills and improving run support.
25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU (6-4, 215 pounds)
This pick is made with the thinking that Tom Brady might actually return for another season should the Bucs make a quick playoff exit. The Bucs have had an injury-riddled and disappointing mess trying to find a reliable big-play No. 3 for the outside to help Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. On top of great vertical speed, Johnston uses his body and reliable hands well on his routes.
26. Baltimore Ravens
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Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech (6-6, 275 pounds)
The Ravens are getting some key contributions from Justin Houston and Jason Pierre-Paul, both former elite pass-rushing veterans are 33-year-old pending free agents. Wilson can give them some needed young pop with Odafe Oweh and Tyus Bowser giving limited results.
27. Tennessee Titans
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Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia (6-4, 310 pounds)
The Titans need to think about the fact Taylor Lewan, at 31 and now battling recovery from a torn ACL, may retire before playing out the final year of his contract in 2023. They need to groom a replacement left tackle and Jones is appealing with his agility and light feet in pass protection.
28. Denver Broncos (from 49ers)
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Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia (6-3, 235 pounds)
The Broncos moved Bradley Chubb to the Dolphins and although they have Randy Gregory and like Baron Browning, must restock their edge pass rush with an explosive, quick-twich performer.
29. Minnesota Vikings
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Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon (6-2, 201 pounds)
The Vikings like Cameron Dantzler as one starter when healthy but also know that Patrick Peterson is 32 and a pending free agent like Chandon Sullivan. They could use a nice-framed, physical and active playmaker and Gonzalez would fit the bill.
30. Kansas City Chiefs
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Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma (6-5, 315 pounds)
The Chiefs may not retain Orlando Brown Jr. either because he’ll be too pricey to re-sign or because they just want to move on him from after a disappointing season. Harrison is starting to putting together as a pass protector with his impressive size and the team should feel comfortable tapping into the program that landed it center Creed Humphrey.
31. Philadelphia Eagles
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Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah (5-10, 183 pounds)
The Eagles have gotten a solid season out of James Bradberry, but he’s only on a one-year deal ahead of turning 30 opposite soon to be 32-year-old Darius Slay. Phillips would make sense as a big playmaker to complement “Big Play” Slay outside.
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