The day is finally here. The 2023 NFL Draft is just a few hours away and everyone is focused on who their favorite team will end up with after day one.
Every team has its own needs, and every draft analyst has their own mock draft.
But after four or five different iterations from a particular person, it’s easy to get fatigued over names and thought processes.
Lucky for you, I have the perfect solution for NFL fans. One mock to end all mocks that will expect to be extremely accurate based on the latest rumors and thoughts around the league.
1st Overall – Carolina Panthers Selection: QB, Bryce Young
Almost everyone believes that the first overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft will be Bryce Young. Carolina would not trade the haul they did for any other position, and Young is easily the best of his overall class.
2nd Overall – Houston Texans Selection: QB, Will Levis
There’s a lot of back and forth of what Houston will end up doing tonight. They could go best available player, but there’s a lot of rumors running around that they like Levis enough to take him at 2. Whiffing on the QB position in DeMeco Ryans’ first year would be a disaster.
3rd Overall – Tennessee Titans Selection: QB CJ Stroud
Over the last five seasons we have not had a draft day trade into the top-10. It’s crazy to think about that, but that record ends tonight on more than one occasion. Tennessee is desperate to move up for a quarterback and they get the Ohio State quarterback.
4th Overall – Indianapolis Colts Selection: QB, Anthony Richardson
A lot of people expect Tennessee to try and jump Indy for the quarterback of their choice. If that’s done, the Colts will pivot to the best quarterback available with the highest upside in Richardson.
5th Overall – Seattle Seahawks Selection: DE, Will Anderson
With four quarterbacks taken in the first four overall selections, the Seahawks have an opportunity to get the best defensive player in the NFL Draft. Anderson is as good as they come and could change life for Seattle’s run defense.
6th Overall -Detroit Lions Selection: CB, Devon Witherspoon
Detroit loves Jalen Carter, but the team needs help at corner after trading away Jeff Okudah. Witherspoon is the best corner in the draft and will be an immediate plug and play guy.
7th Overall – Philadelphia Eagles Selection: DT, Jalen Carter
Over the last few seasons, no general manager has moved up in the NFL Draft more than Howie Roseman. He gets arguably the second best defensive player here.
8th Overall – Atlanta Falcons Selection: RB, Bijan Robinson
A lot of Eagle fans want the team to take Bijan Robinson but with the team enforcing the trenches, the Falcons get the top running back of the NFL Draft since Peterson came out. Atlanta’s offense could be about to take off.
9th Overall – Chicago Bears Selection: LT, Peter Skoronski
Carter is off the board but protecting Fields is a massive concern for Chicago. Skoronski makes a lot of sense here. He can play both guard or be a Pro-Bowl left tackle. This pick makes too much sense here.
10th Overall – Las Vegas Raiders Selection: DE, Tyree Wilson
The Raiders will miss out on Stroud here but they get a very good edge rusher, who many believe has higher upside than Will Anderson. Vegas needs help on the defensive end.
11th Overall – Houston Texans Selection: LT, Paris Johnson
The Texans believe that they have their franchise quarterback, and now protecting him will be the main focus. Paris Johnson is arguably the best offensive lineman in the NFL Draft and would be a perfect fit at 11.
12th Overall – Arizona Cardinals Selection: LT Broderick Jones
Speaking of tackles, the Cardinals are seemingly in love with Paris Johnson but with trading down but will still get a top guy to protect their franchise quarterback. Jumping the Patriots and Jets here help also.
13th Overall – Green Bay Packers Selection: WR, Jaxon Smith-Njigba
The Packers traded Aaron Rodgers and now do the thing they refused to do with him when he was a part of their team: draft a receiver. Smith-Njigba is the best receiver in this class and will be an excellent player for Jordan Love to work with.
14th Overall – New England Patriots Selection: CB, Christian Gonzalez
The Patriots need a tackle, and receiver help but Gonzalez is the best player available at 14. Belichick knows that the team needs to have a great secondary in a loaded AFC East and he gets one of the best corners here.
15th Overall – New York Jets Selection: DE, Nolan Smith
Similar to their AFC East rivals, the Jets need offensive line help. However, you can’t have too many pass rushers and Nolan Smith makes a lot of sense as a run stopper and edge rusher.
16th Overall – Washington Commanders Selection: CB, Emmanuel Forbes
The Commanders need secondary help badly in the NFC East. Forbes may be short but he provides big play ability that the defense desperately needs.
17th Overall – Pittsburgh Steelers Selection: CB, Joey Porter Jr.
This makes too much sense. Porter’s father was a fan favorite in Pittsburgh and the Steelers need defensive help in the secondary to combat the Watons, Burrows and Jacksons in their division.
18th Overall – Detroit Lions Selections: WR, Jordan Addison
Detroit is a team that seems ready for a playoff run. After taking the best corner in the NFL Draft this year, they try and get another top receiver to pair with Amon Ra St. Brown. With Jameson Williams suspended to start the season, it’s smart to have a replacement ready.
19th Overall – Tampa Bay Buccaneers Selection: DE, Luke Van Ness
Tampa Bay has plenty of needs in this year’s NFL Draft for a team that is older and getting worse with Tom Brady retiring. Edge is always a smart pick in the NFL Draft, especially in the first round and Van Ness could provide more help in getting pressure against teams in the NFC.
20th Overall – New York Giants Selection: WR, Zay Flowers
New York wants and needs more offensive firepower to beat the Eagles and Cowwboys. In the NFL Draft, Flowers’ stock has risen each and every week. He’ll be a great pick for the G-Men who will need to trade up to get him.
21st Overall – Los Angeles Chargers Selection: TE, Michael Mayer
The top tight end goes to Justin Herbert and an offense that needs more dependable and healthy pass catchers. Mayer is a freak of nature that fits well with LA’s quarterback.
22nd Overall – Baltimore Ravens Selection: TE, Dalton Kincaid
Baltimore needs receivers. While the top ones won’t be available with the Giants hoping them for Flowers, they take a tight end that could be a matchup nightmare with Mark Andrws.
23rd Overall – Minnesota Vikings Selection: OT, Darnell Wright
Minnesota needs a right tackle desperately – taking the best one available that is left is their best bet to stay competitive in the NFC in the NFL Draft.
24th Overall – Jacksonville Jaguars Selection: S, Brian Branch
Jacksonville had a great turnaround last season with Doug Pederson and Trevor Lawrence. It’s imperative that the team solidifies their secondary to stay afloat in a loaded conference in this year’s NFL Draft.
25th Overall – Seattle Seahawks Selection: C, John Michael Schmitz
Seattle’s secondary is loaded and it makes a lot of sense to rebuild the trenches. Having Will Anderson and John Michael Schmitz would help solidify Seattle’s future in the long-run.
26th Overall – Dallas Cowboys Selection: DT, Calijah Kancey
Dallas could go receiver, tight end, or get a corner, but the Eagles remain supreme in their division because of their trenches. Getting “baby Donald” would turn the tide a little bit in that division.
27th Overall – Buffalo Bills Selection: LB, Jack Campbell
Buffalo could use some O-Line help and an additional receiver but replacing Tremaine Edmunds is going to be the focus. Campbell is a really good linebacker that could definitely get into the first round of the NFL Draft.
28th Overall – Cincinnati Bengals Selection: CB, Deonte Banks
Cincinnati needs a safety but with Branch going to Jacksonville, they’ll have to settle for a top corner in Banks. Cincy needs secondary help to compete in their conference with the Chiefs.
29th Overall – New Orleans Saints Selection: DE, Myles Muprhy
New Orleans has a lot of needs and getting the best available pass rusher because Murphy ends up falling will be a nice pickup.
30th Overall – Philadelphia Eagles Selection: RB, Jahmyr Gibbs
If the Eagles can somehow find a way to get Jalen Carter and keep the 30th overall pick, they will have already won the NFL Draft. Getting another Alvin Kamara type in Jahymyr Gibbs would help that offense reach a dominating fashion.
31st Overall – Seattle Seahawks Selection: QB, Hendon Hooker
The Seahawks want a rookie quarterback on their roster. Having Anderson, and Michael Schmitz, allows them to try and trade up with Kansas City should they want to get Hendon Hooker late in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
For more on the 2023 NFL Draft, turn to AMNY.com
