The 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship is just around the corner. Many of those suiting up for TCU and Georgia hope to be playing on Sundays later this year. Let’s take a look at where our analysts are sending the top 2023 NFL Draft prospects from TCU and Georgia in their latest mock drafts.
- Matthew Jones’s 2023 NFL Mock Draft 1.0
- Matthew Jones’s 2023 NFL Mock Draft 2.0
- Kent Weyrauch’s Early 2023 NFL Mock Draft
Check out all of our 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Reports & Prospect Profiles
2023 College Football Playoff National Championship Players Mock NFL Draft
No. 2: Chicago Bears
Jalen Carter might be the best player in this draft, with positional value removed. And even when you factor that in, he’s a near lock to be drafted in the top three picks of the 2023 NFL Draft. Players that weigh 300+ pounds simply should not be able to move as quickly as Jalen Carter does. His combination of power and speed is nearly unmatched, and the Chicago Bears’ defense would immediately reap benefits from this selection.
No. 3: Seattle Seahawks (from Broncos)
I have Bryan Bresee ranked slightly higher, but as it currently stands, Carter is likely to be the first of the two interior linemen off the board.
No. 6: Detroit Lions (from Rams)
Cam Smith is my highest-ranked corner at the moment, but it’s possible Ringo’s pre-draft workouts could vault him above Smith on draft day.
No. 9: Philadelphia Eagles (from Saints)
Kelee Ringo is the top cornerback on NFLMockDraftDatabase.com’s consensus big board, but many scouts agree that he might be a boom/bust type of secondary defender. His best trait is his freak athleticism and explosiveness, but he often reverts to falling back on his inherent traits rather than making the correct technical play. The Philadelphia Eagles are one of the most complete teams in the NFL right now, so they have the luxury of picking a trait-heavy corner with their first selection.
No. 13: New York Jets
Improving the offensive line has to be a priority this offseason, so maybe taking a chance on one of the most gifted tackles in the class would make sense.
No. 16 New England Patriots
The New England Patriots desperately need an offensive tackle, as Trent Brown is the only starting caliber one under contract for next season. Broderick Jones is a former five-star recruit who absolutely dominated after taking over for Jamaree Salyer during his redshirt sophomore season. He allowed just 16 total pressures on 594 pass-blocking snaps at Georgia.
No. 8: Carolina Panthers
Expect wide receivers to go early and often in this year’s draft. The free agent pool of receivers for the NFL this offseason is atrocious, and many teams will be seeking pass-catchers in the first few rounds of the NFL Draft. Quentin Johnston is the top wideout on many boards, despite his limited production due to injuries. His route running is sharp and creates separation with purpose. The Carolina Panthers are a mixed bag right now in terms of their passing attack entering the 2023 season. Still, regardless of who starts under center, Johnston will improve their offensive situation on day one.
No. 19: Jacksonville Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence made significant strides this year but was at his best when he had a big receiver to throw to in college, so Johnston may fit best.
No. 26: Denver Broncos (from 49ers)
Here is another bursty, twitchy edge rusher that absolutely guns the quarterback. Nolan Smith was a four-year starter for Georgia that never quite translated his athleticism into outstanding production numbers. However, the Broncos will be able to integrate him into a system that has done a decent job of shutting down opposing quarterbacks but just needs that extra level of speed.
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