We’re 10 days away from Day 1 of the NFL draft, so it’s time to publish another mock.
Here are my previous 2023 mocks.
- Version 1 (May 2022): Way-Too-Early Lookahead
- Version 2 (January 2023): Pre-Super Bowl
- Version 3 (February 2023): Post-Super Bowl
- Version 4 (February 2023): Pre-Combine
- Version 5 (March 2023): Post-Free Agency
- Version 6 (March 2023): One Month Away
- Version 7 (April 2023): Early April
- Version 8 (April 2023): Mid April
Over the past three years, I’m the No. 1 mocker in the FantasyPros Accuracy Contest. Over the past four years, I’m No. 2. For obvious and selfish reasons, I prefer the three-year window.
Historically, I’ve done well betting on the draft.
- 2019: 54-29 (+17.7 units)
- 2020: 124-88 (+26.2 units)
- 2021: 158-140 (+32.0 units)
- 2022: 70-50 (+29.3 units)
Check out my 2023 NFL draft prop card to see all the bets I’ve made to date. As I make more bets, I will post them first in the NFL draft channel in our FREE BettingPros Discord and then write up my bets for publication. To get my draft bets as quickly as possible, join Discord.
In determining team needs, I’ve consulted Andrew Erickson’s excellent free agency and draft breakdown. For player insight, I’ve perused Matthew Jones’ unrivaled scouting reports.
A note: My early mocks include lots of analysis, but I no longer have time to editorialize the way I’d want, so this piece is pretty much picks plus assorted notes. If you want something with more substance, check out all our other mock drafts.
Note: The Dolphins forfeited the No. 21 pick because of the team’s “impermissible contact” with QB Tom Brady and HC Sean Payton when they were respectively under contract with the Patriots and Saints. Rather than list that missing pick below, I have moved what would have been Picks 22-32 to Picks 21-31.
2023 NFL Mock Draft
1. Carolina Panthers: C.J. Stroud (QB – Ohio State)
QB Bryce Young is now -450 to go No. 1 overall (at DraftKings), but I’ll wait a little longer before installing him as my personal favorite.
When the Panthers traded up for the No. 1 pick, sharp bettors quickly backed Stroud and made him a favorite in the market. And then word got out that the Panthers might try to convince (or trick) the Texans — who have been heavily linked to Young for months — to trade up one spot to No. 1 in order to get him. Everything we’ve seen since then has been consistent with that idea. Until we get national reporters saying that they have sources in the Panthers organization saying that Young is the pick — or until a supermajority of sharp mocks pivot to Young at No. 1 — I’m sticking with Stroud.
2. Houston Texans: Bryce Young (QB – Alabama)
If C.J. Stroud goes No. 1, then Young at No. 2 feels like a foregone conclusion. I’ve had Young slated to the Texans for months.
3. Arizona Cardinals: Will Anderson (EDGE – Alabama)
I’m betting that the Cardinals ultimately trade this pick.
Will Anderson Over 3.5 (-140 at DraftKings).
This is basically a bet that the Cardinals trade the No. 3 pick.
-140 = 58.3% implied odds: I think the chances of the Cardinals trading out of No. 3 are higher than that.
Also, I just want to get down some action.
— Matthew Freedman (@MattFtheOracle) March 29, 2023
But if the Cardinals stay at this spot then Anderson is a natural pick, and he’s the biggest non-quarterback favorite in the market at No. 3 at +300 (at FanDuel).
4. Indianapolis Colts: Will Levis (QB – Kentucky)
Levis is now favored ahead of QB Anthony Richardson in the head-to-head market (-135 vs. +105 at DraftKings) as reports have circulated that the Colts prefer Levis and see him as more of a pre-ready prospect.
5. Seattle Seahawks: Anthony Richardson (QB – Florida)
Even with the re-signing of QB Geno Smith, the Seahawks could draft their quarterback of the future this year, and Richardson (a raw prospect) could benefit from some developmental time on the bench to open his career.
6. Detroit Lions: Christian Gonzalez (CB – Oregon)
The Lions could use some muscle on the interior of their defensive line, given that they ranked No. 28 in defensive rush success rate last year (44.8%, per RBs Don’t Matter). And in my last mock I gave them DT Jalen Carter.
But I’ve thought about this more, and Carter’s off-field issues and work ethic concerns I think will rub HC Dan Campbell the wrong way, so I’m passing on him here.
Instead, I’m going with corner, which is more of a need now that the Lions have traded away CB Jeff Okudah.
After his pro day, CB Devon Witherspoon is now a -190 favorite to be the No. 1 corner (at Caesars), but in my opinion Gonzalez should be the first corner selected given his experience (three years starting), 2022 production (four interceptions), size (6-1, 197 pounds), athleticism (4.38-second 40-yard dash), age (turns 21 in June) and recruitment pedigree (four stars).
7. Las Vegas Raiders: Devon Witherspoon (CB – Illinois)
HC Josh McDaniels indicated at the annual NFL meetings that the Raiders are likely to “take the best football player” (per NFL Media), and they also need all sorts of help at corner, so Witherspoon is a natural fit.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Bijan Robinson (RB – Texas)
I increasingly believe that Robinson — universally regarded as one of the true top-tier talents in this class — will go higher than he’s commonly mocked. He’s comparable as a prospect to the running backs who have gone in the top 10 over the past decade, and Falcons HC Arthur Smith feels like the kind of guy who would prioritize the position given the success he had as the Titans offensive coordinator with RB Derrick Henry.
Plus, after acquiring CB Jeff Okudah from the Lions, the Falcons seem less likely to take CB Devon Witherspoon.
9. Chicago Bears: Jalen Carter (DT – Georgia)
The Bears get lucky. Carter is a top-three talent, and the Bears are able to get him despite trading outside the top eight.
10. Philadelphia Eagles: Tyree Wilson (EDGE – Texas Tech)
11. Tennessee Titans: Paris Johnson (OT – Ohio State)
If the Titans aren’t able to get a quarterback, I expect them to go with an offensive tackle, and Johnson is more of a traditional choice relative to the short-armed Peter Skoronksi.
12. Houston Texans: Lukas Van Ness (EDGE – Iowa)
It’s common to see WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba mocked here, but in recent podcasts Lance Zierlein has made a convincing case for why the Texans might not draft a pass catcher in Round 1: They have added WRs Robert Woods and Noah Brown and TE Dalton Schultz in free agency, and second-round WR John Metchie (leukemia) is ready to return to action after missing his rookie season last year.
So I’m giving them Van Ness, given that they passed on edge at No. 2.
13. New York Jets: Peter Skoronski (OT – Northwestern)
The Jets need offensive line help: LT Duane Brown turns 38 years old this year, OTs George Fant and Cedric Ogbuehi are free agents and OLs Mekhi Becton (knee) and Alijah Vera-Tucker (triceps) suffered season-ending injuries in 2022.
A lunch pail player with a hardhat name, Skoronski has the versatility to play tackle and guard and the nastiness to be an above-average starter.
14. New England Patriots: Broderick Jones (OT – Georgia)
Jones entered college with five stars and was widely regarded as a top-two offensive tackle in his recruitment class. After redshirting his first year and opening his second season as a rotational player, Jones closed out his freshman campaign with four starts at left tackle, and then as a sophomore he made 15 more starts on the blindside — and didn’t allow a single sack all season.
The Patriots could desperately use help on the offensive line, given that OTs Isaiah Wynn and Marcus Cannon are free agents in 2023, as is LT Trent Brown in 2024.
15. Green Bay Packers: Nolan Smith (EDGE – Georgia)
16. Washington Commanders: Joey Porter Jr. (CB – Penn State)
17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Deonte Banks (CB – Maryland)
18. Detroit Lions: Calijah Kancey (DT – Pittsburgh)
The Lions pass on DT Jalen Carter at No. 6 but still get a potential difference maker at the position. A physical marvel, Kancey might be Aaron Donald 2.0.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Darnell Wright (OT – Tennessee)
20. Seattle Seahawks: Myles Murphy (EDGE – Clemson)
21. Los Angeles Chargers: Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR – Ohio State)
After his excellent combine, Smith-Njigba is -265 to be the No. 1 wide receiver selected (at BetRivers).
22. Baltimore Ravens: Quentin Johnston (WR – TCU)
Even with the recent signing of Odell Beckham, the Ravens need help at the position.
23. Minnesota Vikings: Zay Flowers (WR – Boston College)
For now, I’m moving Flowers ahead of WR Jordan Addison, but they are still close.
24. Jacksonville Jaguars: Brian Branch (S – Alabama)
The Jaguars are a hard team to project, but they could use help in the secondary, Branch has some positional versatility and he’s likely to go in Round 1.
25. New York Giants: Jordan Addison (WR – USC)
26. Dallas Cowboys: Michael Mayer (TE – Notre Dame)
27. Buffalo Bills: O’Cyrus Torrence (OL – Florida)
28. Cincinnati Bengals: Dalton Kincaid (TE – Utah)
29. New Orleans: Will McDonald (EDGE – Iowa State)
30. Philadelphia Eagles: Bryan Bresee (DT – Clemson)
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Anton Harrison (OT – Oklahoma)
Players on the Borderline of Rounds 1-2
Here are players I considered for inclusion in my mock draft. I expect this list to get shorter the closer we get to the draft.
- Dawand Jones (OT – Ohio State)
- Mazi Smith (DT – Michigan)
- Keion White (DT – Georgia Tech)
- Adetomiwa Adebawore (EDGE – Northwestern)
- Felix Anudike-Uzomah (EDGE – Kansas State)
- Jalin Hyatt (WR – Tennessee)
- Darnell Washington (TE – Georgia)
- Kelee Ringo (CB – Georgia)
- Emmanuel Forbes (CB – Mississippi State)
- Hendon Hooker (QB – Tennessee)
- John Michael Schmitz (C – Minnesota)
- Jahmyr Gibbs (RB – Alabama)
More NFL Mock Drafts
- Thor Nystrom’s Mock Drafts (1.0 | 2.0)
- Matthew Freedman’s Mock Drafts (1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 8.0)
- Kent Weyrauch’s Mock Drafts (1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 8.0)
- Matthew Jones’s Mock Drafts (1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 8.0)
- Andrew Erickson’s Mock Drafts (1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 4.0)
- Mike Fanelli’s Mock Drafts w/ Trades (1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 5.0)
- John Supowitz’s Mock Drafts (1.0 | 2.0)
- Russell Brown (1.0 | 2.0)
- Ken Zalis (1.0)
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