How Crazy is This 1st Round Going to Be?

It’s Draft Day which is like Christmas for so many football fans. One of my favorite things about the NFL Draft is trying to predict and guess who teams are going to take. I take this very serious as I want to have the most accurate mock draft that I can. I’ve kept a 26 page document recording every rumor or bit of news that I think that will help me have the most accurate mock draft out there. I’ve done well over the years finishing in the Top 15 of The Huddle Mock Draft Contest while also finishing 6th last year in The NFL Mock Draft Databases final rankings. How will I do this year? We’ll see. Here’s my final 2023 NFL Mock Draft of the Season.

Final 2023 NFL Mock Draft

1. Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

2. Houston Texans: Will Anderson, DE, Alabama

3. Arizona Cardinals: Tyree Wilson, DE, Texas Tech

4. Indianapolis Colts: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky

In the video above, I stated 3 months ago that I felt that Will Levis was going to go higher than people expected. Now were are hearing that CJ Stroud could slide in the draft and that Will Levis seems to be the pick for the Colts. This is no surprise. Levis has a much higher ceiling than Stroud while also playing an NFL offense the past two seasons. There is a risk but the Colts feel they need someone to step in day one and Levis gives them that. Plus it doesn’t hurt that Levis has the approval of the Mannings.

5. Seattle Seahawks (From Broncos): Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia

6. Detroit Lions (From Rams): Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois

7. Las Vegas Raiders: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon

8. Atlanta Falcons: Lukas Van Ness, DE, Iowa

9. Chicago Bears: Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State

10. Philadelphia Eagles (From Saints): Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern

11. Tennessee Titans: CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State

At one point it looked as if we could see quarterbacks go 1, 2, 3, and 4. Now it looks like we could see guys slide down. I’m not totally convinced teams want to mortgage their future to try and trade up and that could then lead to guys like following. Stroud may be one of them. Not that I agree with it, but there is a stigma of Ohio State quarterbacks and Stroud doesn’t seem like he’s viewed to have the biggest upside. Reports are out that the Titans will do what it takes to get a quarterback and I feel they could move up a few picks to make this selection.

12. Houston Texans (From Browns): Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

13. Green Bay Packers: Nolan Smith, OLB, Georgia

14. New England Patriots: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas

15. New York Jets: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia

16. Washington Commanders: Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State

17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee

18. Detroit Lions: Myles Murphy, DE, Clemson

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland

20. Seattle Seahawks: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida

Do I think Anthony Richardson actually falls all the way to 20? Not necessarily. I do think he could easily fall out of the top 12 and then who is going to take him? That’s why I think the Seahawks make a slight move up to get Richardson. I like Richardson a lot as he has the tools to be a difference maker in the NFL. However he has only one year of starting experience and was very hit or miss during the season. Going to Seattle would be a great landing spot for him as he can sit and develop under Geno Smith.

Miami Dolphins: Forfeited

21. Los Angeles Chargers: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah

22. Baltimore Ravens: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College

23. Minnesota Vikings: Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee

24. Jacksonville Jaguars: Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson

25. New York Giants: Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State

26. Dallas Cowboys: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame

27. Buffalo Bills: Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU

28. Cincinnati Bengals: Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh

It should be interesting to see where Calijah Kancey ends up in this 2023 NFL Draft. There are reports that he’s going to be a top 20 pick, but then others have concerns about his size. Cincinnati has been one of the teams rumored to be a fan of his while looking for a game wrecking defensive tackle. Cincinnati has had success taking an undersized defensive tackle as Geno Atkins was a steal for them in the third round. Could they pull the trigger again?

29. New Orleans Saints (From 49ers/Miami/Denver): Steve Avila, G, TCU

30. Philadelphia Eagles: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama

31. Kansas City Chiefs: Jordan Addison, WR, USC