2023 NFL Mock Draft – Stu’s Official 1.0

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With the NFL season now officially over it is time to welcome every NFL fan to the NFL Draft season with our second mock draft of 2023, this time from Stu!

***This mock draft does not include trades that will inevitably occur come Draft Day***

As always, we will keep you updated here at Ninety-Nine Yards right up until Draft Day. Let us know your opinions on Twitter @NinetynineYards.

You can find scouting report on 2023 NFL Draft prospects here!

1. Chicago Bears – Jalen Carter – DT – Georgia

I full expect the Bears to at least entertain trades at the top of the draft board. However, in the absences of trades, Chicago selects one of the draft’s premier talents. A chaos inducer in the middle of the defence is exactly what Chicago needs to make strides in year 2 under Matt Eberflus

2. Houston Texans – Bryce Young – QB – Alabama

If Bryce Young were of prototypical dimension, I don’t think there would be any debated around who is the top QB prospect in 2023. Young has poise, elite level processing and plenty of playmaking ability to finally give Texans fans something to smile about moving forward

3. Arizona Cardinals – Will Anderson Jr – EDGE – Alabama

The Cardinals are in rough shape, and as of writing do not even have a head coach installed. Will Anderson Jr, from Alabama, gives them a young defensive lynchpin as they begin the climb back to relevancy in the NFC West

4. Indianapolis Colts – Will Levis – QB – Kentucky

GM Chris Ballard is surely going to fall in love with the traits offered by Will Levis. Size, running ability, a huge arm are all evident. If he can fix up some accuracy and decision making issues, The Colts may finally have the successor to Andrew Luck

5. Seattle Seahawks – Tyree Wilson – EDGE – Texas Tech

This is a difficult spot for the Seahawks with limited ‘blue chippers’ in this draft. Here I have the Seahawks coveting traits and potential, adding to a defence that was not at its best in 2022

6. Detroit Lions – Devon Witherspoon – CB – Illinois

For me, the most talented CB in the draft. His aggressive attitude and physical nature make him an ideal player for Dan Campbell’s Lions and a secondary that struggled in 2022

7. Las Vegas Raiders – CJ Stroud – QB – Ohio State

Derek Carr is not for long in Sin City and the Raiders need someone to step in right away. CJ Stroud has the pocket presence and stature to be a day 1 starter in the NFL. Josh McDaniels will be hoping he can cook up the right scheme for the former Buckeye, or he may not have the chance to develop the young signal caller for long

8. Atalanta Falcons – Brian Branch – SAFETY – Alabama

The Falcons need edge help, but I don’t feel the value is here at number 8 – therefore taking a talented DB with nickel/safety flexibility made sense. Branch is of the most comfortable selections in this mock draft

9. Carolina Panthers – Anthony Richardson – QB – Florida

The Panthers simply have to come away from this draft with a QB. Richardson is the ‘last one’ on the board here, but his physical abilities and natural athleticism mean he has the potential to be better than all the guys taken above him

10. Philadelphia Eagles – Peter Skoronski – OT – Northwestern

Isasc Seumalo is a free agent, Lane Johnson is not going to go on forever. Start Skoronski at G and groom him to take over at RT eventually. Sounds simple, right?

11. Tennessee Titans – Paris Johnson Jr – OT – Ohio State

The Titans, by their own recent standards, had a poor 2022 and fell apart down the stretch. A revamp at offensive line is needed and Ohio State’s Paris Johnson Jr fits the bill. He has played on the interior and made the seemless switch to left tackle this season.

12. Houston Texans – Lukas Van Ness – EDGE – Iowa

The Texans have very little in the way of pass rush, with veteran Jerry Hughes their sack leader in 2022. New head coach DeMeco Ryans would love to get his hands on the moldable ball of clay full of traits that is Lukas Van Ness

13. New York Jets – Broderick Jones – OT – Georgia

There are question marks over the Jets O-line with George Fant hitting free agency, Duane Brown nearing retirement and Mekhi Becton’s fitness. Broderick Jones offers a hulking presence, with huge upside at the tackle position

14. New England Patriots – Bijan Robinson – RB – Texas

The New England Patriots offence is very ‘vanilla’ and I’m sure does not cause many defensive co-ordinators sleepless nights – that changes with the most explosive offensive player in the draft. This gives Patriots fans someone to be excited about for the first time in a while

15. Green Bay Packers – Jordan Addison – WR – USC

We all know that Green Bay doesn’t draft 1st round receivers – but here they do. Addison is a shifty, slippery WR who runs a diverse route tree. He should offer whoever is under centre another target to compliment Doubs and Watson

16. Washington Commanders – Christian Gonzalez – CB – Oregon

The glaring weakness (QB aside) for the Commanders is at corner back. A size and speed CB like Gonzalez, who came on leaps and bounds in 2022 at Oregon, could be just the player they are looking for. If things click, The Commanders could be dark horse next year

17. Pittsburgh Steelers – O’Cyrus Torrence – OG – Florida

The Pittsburgh Steelers, somehow, managing to go 9-8 last year to preserve Mike Tomlin’s winning season streak. They need to improve their offensive line if 2nd year QB Kenny Pickett is to live up to his potential, and Najee Harris can produce at RB. Torrence is a nasty presence on the o-line

18. Detroit Lions – Michael Mayer – TE – Notre Dame

TJ Hockenson has gone to pastures new in Minnesota, leaving Detroit short at the TE position. Mayer has one of the ‘highest floors’ in this draft and Detroit would love him. He gives Jared Goff another passing weapon to add to Amon-Ra St. Brown and the returning Jameson Williams. With an already solid o-line, The Lions could have an offence to fear in 2023

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Calijah Kancey – DT – Pitt

With Vita Vea a huge space eater in the middle of the Bucs defence, Kancey can do what he does best and get into the back field disrupting QBs and RBs alike

20. Seattle Seahwaks – Joey Porter Jr – CB – Penn State

Seattle once again go back to the defensive well, after going edge at number 5. Tariq Woolen was a revelation as a rookie. By pairing him up with another long, rangy corner Seattle look to recreate their glory days of the early 2010s in the secondary.

21. Miami Dolphins – FORFEITED

No Tom Brady. No Sean Payton. *Insert facepalm emoji here*

22. Los Angeles Chargers – Jaxson Smith-Njigba – WR – Ohio State

Justin Herbert is now enters year 4 and the Chargers need to maximise his rookie deal. Smith-Njigba is the slot receiver that he needs to compliment Mike Williams size and Keenan Allen’s route running ability.

23. Baltimore Ravens – Quentin Johnson – WR – TCU

A big bodied receiver, with a large catch radius who is deceptively quick – Johnson would certainly upgrade a WR corps that has been lacking the last few years in Baltimore

24. Minnesota Vikings – Deonte Banks – CB – Maryland

The Vikings seem to have a need at corner every year and this year is no different. Despite drafting Andrew Booth last year, they go back to the position again. Banks is poised and likes to work the outside making him ideal for Brian Flores’ scheme

25. Jacksonville Jaguars – Luke Musgrave – TE – Oregon State

I’m sure the Jags would’ve loved Michael Mayer to fall to them. However it was not to be. Loading up on weapons for Trevor Lawrence is never a bad thing. Musgrave offers high-end speed for the position as well as pass catching ability as the Jags look to kick on and dominate the AFC South

26. New York Giants – Trenton Simpson – LB – Clemson

Whilst the Giants are calling out for a receiver, they may be best served wither exploring the trade market, or looking at day 2 with this pick the way the board has fallen. Trenton Simpson is an electric player at the linebacker position and would surely thrive under Wink Martindale’s watchful eye

27. Dallas Cowboys – Miles Murphy – EDGE – Clemson

Miles Murphy, a top 10 prospect in many eyes, tumbles here with some concerns about his production in his final year at Clemson. The slide stops here at 27. By having another edge rusher, Dallas can free up Micah Parsons to do whatever he wants

28. Buffalo Bills – John-Michael Schmitz – C – Minnesota

The Draft Talk team have been saying for years that The Bills need to draft at the interior offensive line. John-Michael Schmitz is intelligent, hard working and professional as well as being a damned good football player. He should fit in well in Buffalo

29. Cincinnati Bengals – Darnell Washington – TE – Georgia

Washington gives the Bengals a ‘2 for 1’ value at the position. He can be used as an extra lineman to protect Joe Burrow, whilst offering an alternative pass catching option to the top WRs in the Bengals offence

30. New Orleans Saints – Keion White – DL – Georgia Tech

Keion White has all the tools to make a massive impact at the NFL level. His combination of size and power are what the Saints typically look for at the position – if he gets this far, they will surely be keen to snap him up.

31. Philadelphia Eagles- Brian Bresee – DT – Clemson

Philly love to load up on the trenches. After going O-line earlier, it’s now over to the Defense. Bresee has a ton of potential but a combination of factors lead to a down year in 2022. Rotating in and learning his craft, this is a good spot for him to land

32. Kansas City Chiefs – Nolan Smith – EDGE – Georgia

The Super Bowl champs are riding on the crest of a wave. Nolan Smith is a player who can drop into coverage, stuff runs and attack the passer. With the likes of Frank Clark ageing he will get plenty of opportunity to make his mark early whilst being eased into the line up

Let us know your thoughts on this mock draft over on Twitter @NinetynineYards and @stuie17