It’s NFL Combine week! And before this year’s cluster of NFL prospects begins their underwear olympics, we’re sneaking in another mock to see what changes after the workout dust settles. There are a few trades in this two-round rendition as well, so enjoy!
Note: Mock was constructed prior to the DT/EDGE NFL Combine drills.
Check out our 2023 Draft Guide here and also dive into these other outstanding mock drafts from our staff below:
- Matthew Freedman’s Mock Drafts (1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 4.0)
- Kent Weyrauch’s Mock Drafts (1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 4.0)
- Matthew Jones’s Mock Drafts (1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 5.0)
- Andrew Erickson’s Mock Drafts (1.0)
- Mike Fanelli’s Mock Drafts w/ Trades (1.0 | 2.0)
- John Supowitz’s Mock Drafts (1.0)
Kent Weyrauch has been a top-30 most accurate NFL Mock Drafter for each of the last two years.
Check out all of our 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Reports & Prospect Profiles
2023 NFL Mock Draft
Round 1
1. Indianapolis Colts (From Bears): Bryce Young (QB – Alabama)
Trade Alert! Colts send 4, 35, ’24 1st+2nd, ’25 3rd to the Bears for the 1st overall pick
Bryce Young has reportedly been wowing teams with his chalkboard knowledge during NFL Combine week. We’ll see if his measurements come in small, but regardless he’s still the best passer in this class. The Colts have a decent squad outside of the signal caller position, meaning this team could turn things around quickly under Young.
2. Houston Texans: CJ Stroud (QB – OSU)
A no-brainer pick here for a prospect that can at least hold a candle to Bryce Young. C.J. Stroud had two dominant seasons in the Big Ten and now he’s looking to make the next step as an NFL passer.
3. Arizona Cardinals: Will Anderson Jr. (EDGE – Alabama)
With the Jalen Carter news (below), Will Anderson Jr. is now the favorite to be the first defender off the board. He was already considered a top-three prospect in this class by most, so the Cardinals have no issues going with the savvy edge rusher from Alabama.
Defensive odds are back up on DK and FD.
Jalen Carter now below Tyree Wilson on both. pic.twitter.com/hmzXlRLXR5
— Kent Weyrauch (@KentWeyrauch) March 3, 2023
4. Chicago Bears (from Colts): Jalen Carter (DL – UGA)
Let’s address the elephant in the room — Jalen Carter was booked on two misdemeanors related to the January car crash that killed a teammate and a staff member. We’re not sure what that means leading up to the draft, so for now, I’m choosing to wait for more information before making drastic changes.
5. Seattle Seahawks: Tyree Wilson (EDGE – TTU)
Tyree Wilson showed up to the NFL Combine interviews looking very, very long. And that translates on the tape — he wraps up opponents and finished tackles with immense strength. I know Pete Carrol is clamoring for a guy like Wilson.
6. Detroit Lions: Devon Witherspoon (CB – Illinois)
I told you he would be rising up draft boards. The Illinois man/press corner showed elite traits this season. And while murmurs around the NFL Combine are that the Lions won’t go defensive back here, I’m chalking that up to silly season speak.
7. Las Vegas Raiders: Will Levis (QB – UK)
It’s seeming less and less likely that the Raiders land Aaron Rodgers. So instead Will Levis strolls into Las Vegas to save the day… hopefully. Thankfully there are some solid receiving weapons available to assist Levis in his progression.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Myles Murphy (DE – Clemson)
I feel as though there is some prospect fatigue going on with the NFL Draft community right now regarding Myles Murphy. His stock is dropping because he is waiting until his pro day to complete drills for NFL scouts, but the tape shows a first-team All-ACC monster with speed, power, and a pass-rushing toolkit.
9. Carolina Panthers: Anthony Richardson (QB – FLA)
Someone is going to love Anthony Richardson‘s traits. The Panthers take a swing on the freakiest athlete at the quarterback position in some time. He still needs to work on his passing mechanics and touch, but there is arm talent there to be harnessed.
10. Philadelphia Eagles: Bijan Robinson (RB – Texas)
The hype on Bijan Robinson is real. While there are arguments to be made about the position, Bijan Robinson possesses no such question marks. His game is strong and complete. The Eagles make a luxury pick in an effort to run it back to the Super Bowl next February.
11. Tennessee Titans: Paris Johnson Jr (OL – OSU)
12. Houston Texans: Lukas Van Ness (EDGE – Iowa)
Lukas Van Ness is a twitchy pass-rusher with excellent agility and instincts. He needs to refine some of his pass-rush moves but makes up for that with his length. Van Ness brings versatility that could greatly assist a defense that needs revamping. Van Ness would make an excellent rotational piece with the traits to become a bonafide starter down the line.
13. New York Jets: Peter Skoronski (OT – Northwestern)
Many people argue that Peter Skoronski projects as a guard at the NFL level, but I am not in that camp. That being said, there are a few question marks with the Jets’ line, so his versatility may benefit them. Skoronski allowed just six pressures on 474 pass-blocking snaps for Northwestern this season, per PFF.
14. New England Patriots: Christian Gonzalez (CB – Oregon)
This time around, Christian Gonzalez drops to 14, but that’s just how the draft shakes out sometimes. He’s still neck and neck with Witherspoon for the top corner honors. His combination of physical frame and playstyle has Bill Belichick written all over him.
15. Green Bay Packers: Dalton Kincaid (TE – Utah)
A few weeks back, Daniel Jeremiah lit the world on fire by placing Dalton Kincaid in his top 10. And frankly, after review, I can see the hype. Across his time at San Diego and Utah, Kincaid hauled in 2,484 receiving yards and 35 touchdowns.
My TE order as of JAN-26
1) Dalton Kincaid (Utah)
2) Darnell Washington (UGA)
3) Michael Mayer (ND)
4) Luke Musgrave (Oregon St)
5) Sam LaPorta (Iowa)As of today, 6 TE's in my top 50
Excellent class!— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) January 26, 2023
16. Washington Commanders: O’Cyrus Torrence (OG – FLA)
The big man out of Florida heads to the Commanders in an effort to bolster their offensive line. O’Cyrus Torrence is a four-year starter, though he transferred from Louisiana after his junior season. In his college career, he was not credited with a single sack allowed.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Broderick Jones (OT – Georgia)
The Steelers need to replace Dan Moore at left tackle. He’s allowed seven sacks in each of his first two seasons. Broderick Jones is a former five-star recruit that allowed just nine pressures (and zero sacks) this season for the Bulldogs.
18. Detroit Lions: Bryan Bresee (DT – Clemson)
This stout yet athletic defensive tackle was a five-star recruit in both 247 Sports and ESPN’s ratings. Bresee suffered an ACL injury during his sophomore season but rebounded with 330 defensive snaps and 24 pressures from the interior this year.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Michael Mayer (TE – Notre Dame)
Michael Mayer is currently ninth on Jack Lichtenstein’s aggregating big media boards. The Buccaneers are expected to release Cameron Brate, so they should pair Mayer with Cade Otton to create a nice tandem. Mayer cleared 800 receiving yards and scored at least seven touchdowns in each of his last two seasons with Notre Dame.
20. Seattle Seahawks: Calijah Kancey (DT – PITT)
Calijah Kancey has popped up on a few notable big boards recently, and it’s easy to see why. The meatball of a man simply does not allow opposing runners to continue beyond him. His power and anchor offset his lack of length to defend the inside well.
Miami Dolphins forfeited their pick.
21. Los Angeles Chargers: Quentin Johnson (WR – TCU)
The first wide receiver of the draft goes to the Chargers with the 21st-overall pick. Compared to recent draft classes, Quentin Johnston isn’t the clear-cut WR1 like in other years, but he’s still a solid prospect. His 6’4? frame and near-freak athleticism will allow him to contribute immediately to any NFL offense.
22. Baltimore Ravens: Jordan Addison (WR – USC)
If the Ravens want to keep Lamar Jackson, they need to entice him. Enter Jordan Addison, the guy who absolutely dominated the ACC for Pitt in 2021 with 1,593 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns. After transferring to USC for his junior year, he logged 875 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in 11 games before suffering an ankle injury.
23. Minnesota Vikings: Joey Porter Jr (CB – Penn State)
This would be a dream scenario for the Vikings. They desperately need help in their secondary and Joey Porter Jr. is an NFL-blood prospect that allowed just 143 receiving yards and zero touchdowns in coverage for Penn State.
24. Jacksonville Jaguars: Brian Branch (S – Alabama)
The Jaguars have a surprisingly solid squad heading into the 2023 season, but their secondary could use some assistance. Brian Branch likely starts as a slot cornerback that rotates in as a box defender, then hones his coverage skills to contribute as a versatile safety.
25. New York Giants: Zay Flowers (WR – BC)
Zay Flowers had a breakout season as a true Sophomore with 892 yards and nine touchdowns on just 56 receptions. The Boston College prospect joins a Giants team that could certainly use a culture shift at wide receiver. Flowers’ route-running and ball-tracking skills should boost their offense on day one.
26. Dallas Cowboys: Drew Sanders (EDGE – Arkansas)
I still like Drew Sanders as the top off-ball linebacker in this class. He covers the ground well and uses speed as a strength when tasked out as an edge rusher. He also garnered a 74.3 coverage grade on 27 targets.
27. Buffalo Bills: Jalin Hyatt (WR – Tennessee)
The speedy Biletnikoff award-winner Jalin Hyatt goes to a Bills team that might need to look for a Gabriel Davis replacement. Hyatt’s speed combined with Josh Allen’s arm would be a sight to behold.
28. Cincinnati Bengals: Anton Harrison (OT – Oklahoma)
Anton Harrison is a left tackle coming from the Oklahoma Sooners. With Jonah Williams struggling heavily for the Bengals this season, they may look to move on from the former first-round draft pick. Harrison is big and strong but slightly lacking in speed and agility. Still, Harrison would be a good fit for Zac Taylor’s offensive scheme.
29. Houston Texans (from Saints): Nolan Smith (DE – UGA)
Trade Alert! Texans trade 33, 104, 179, and a ’24 4th to the Saints for 29 and 260.
A four-year starter for Georgia, Nolan Smith is an athletic edge rusher with great traits. He just needs to fine-tune some of his mechanics to maintain anchor and drive through to the passer. However, his speed is undeniable and should be fun at the next level.
30. Philadelphia Eagles: Cam Smith (CB – South Carolina)
The top of this cornerback class is so good – and Cam Smith is no exception. He logged over 1,300 defensive snaps for the Gamecocks over four seasons. Over his last two seasons, Smith allowed a catch percentage of 47.1% in coverage.
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR – OSU)
BREAKING:
According to multiple sources in Indianapolis – 2023 WR Prospect, Jaxon Smith-Njigba is unlikely to take part in Saturday's 40-yard dash testing.
Ohio State holds it's Pro Day on March 22nd pic.twitter.com/MzcprMf8b3
— ᴄᴏᴅʏ ᴄᴀʀᴘᴇɴᴛɪᴇʀ (@CarpentierNFL) March 1, 2023
It was reported that Jaxon Smith-Njigba would be skipping the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. That’s not a huge deal, but it’s certainly a minor red flag considering that speed was of Smith-Njigba’s lacking traits. Luckily, the Chiefs need wide receiver help, so they take him here to close out the first round.
Round 2
32. Pittsburgh Steelers: Deonte Banks (CB – UMD)
33. New Orleans Saints (from Texans): Will McDonald (EDGE – ISU)
34. Arizona Cardinals: Mazi Smith (EDGE – MICH)
35. Chicago Bears (from Colts): B.J. Ojulari (EDGE – LSU)
36. Los Angeles Rams: Antonio Johnson (S – TAMU)
37. Seattle Seahawks: Josh Downs (WR – UNC)
38. Las Vegas Raiders: Kelee Ringo (CB – UGA)
39. Carolina Panthers: Keion White (EDGE – GT)
40. New Orleans Saints: Kayshon Boutte (WR – LSU)
41. Tennessee Titans: Isaiah Foskey (EDGE – ND)
42. Cleveland Browns: Siaki Ika (DT – BAY)
43. New York Jets: Trenton Simpson (LB – CLEM)
44. Atlanta Falcons: Andre Carter (EDGE – ARMY)
45. Green Bay Packers: Felix Anudike-Uzomah (EDGE – KSU)
46. New England Patriots: Darnell Wright (OT – TENN)
47. Washington Commanders: Cody Mauch (OG – NDSU)
48. Detroit Lions: Darnell Washington (TE – UGA)
49. Pittsburgh Steelers: Tuli Tuipulotu (DT – USC)
50. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Clark Phillips III (CB – UTAH)
51. Miami Dolphins: Jahmyr Gibbs (RB – ALA)
52. Seattle Seahawks: John Michael Schmitz (IOL – MINN)
53. Chicago Bears: Steve Avila (OG – TCU)
54. Los Angeles Chargers: Emmanuel Forbes (CB – MSST)
55. Detroit Lions: Jordan Battle (S – ALA)
56. Jacksonville Jaguars: Keeanu Benton (DT – WIS)
57. New York Giants: Noah Sewell (LB – ORE)
58. Dallas Cowboys: Gervon Dexter (DT – FLA)
59. Buffalo Bills: Tyrique Stevenson (CB – MIA)
60. Cincinnati Bengals: Zach Charbonnet (RB – UCLA)
61. Carolina Panthers: Luke Musgrave (TE – ORST)
62. Philadelphia Eagles: Zach Harrison (EDGE – OSU)
63. Kansas City Chiefs: Dawand Jones (OT – OSU)
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