2023 NFL Mock Draft: 4 QBs go in top 10 picks

The 6-foot-3, 215 pound quarterback put up staggering production in his first season as the starting quarterback for Ohio State, tossing 44 touchdowns to just six interceptions. Stroud did lose both Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave in the NFL Draft, but Ohio State has become a factory for producing star wide receivers under Brian Hartline's tutelage. The Texans will give Davis Mills a chance to prove that he's worthy of being their long-term starting quarterback, but the guess here is they'll be taking a quarterback in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

New general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus weren't in Chicago when the Bears traded up to draft Justin Fields, and if they are indeed as bad as we expect in 2022, they'll have to at least consider whether they should pivot at the most important position. But the Bears are a team with so many holes that we're going to project a defensive-minded head coach gets his way and lands Anderson. One of the best defensive prospects in the last five years, Anderson had 101 total tackles, 31 tackles for a loss, 17 1/2 sacks and three pass deflections for Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide in his sophomore season.

The Falcons are another team that will have to consider taking a quarterback if they have this high of a pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. But between the possibility that Arthur Smith is comfortable having Marcus Mariota as a bridge option for a couple seasons or that third-round pick Desmond Ridder emerges as a legitimate option at the position, we don't have Terry Fontenot and company taking a quarterback right now. Instead, they'll be happy to keep Jalen Carter in the state of Georgia. With Travon Walker, Jordan Davis, Quay Walker, Devonte Wyatt, Lewis Cine and Nakobe Dean all gone, Carter should emerge as the face of Georgia's defense in 2022.

Remember how when Justin Jefferson was lighting the league up as a rookie in 2020 we kept talking about how Ja'Marr Chase was actually even more productive for LSU when the two were teammates on the 2019 National Champions? This might be a similar case. Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave were both first-round picks in 2022, and will be among the betting favorites to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. And yet, Smith-Njigba was Ohio State's most productive wide receiver this past season, catching 95 passes for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns. We expect Trevor Lawrence to take a major step forward in his second season, and the addition of Smith-Njigba would set the Jaguars up to become a legitimate contender in the AFC in the next few years.

If Young comes close to duplicating his 2021 season, chances are he won't fall to pick No. 5. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner tossed 47 touchdowns to just seven interceptions in his sophomore season, racking up over 4,800 passing yards. He unquestionably would have been the top quarterback off the board in the 2022 NFL Draft, and may very well end up taking that spot in 2023.

It's true that the Giants have done a disastrous job at setting up Daniel Jones for success in his first three seasons, and he has enough talent to be a productive NFL starting quarterback in a stable situation. But can he show enough in his first year with Brian Daboll to convince Joe Schoen and company to either place the franchise tag on him or give him a long-term deal? The Giants declined Jones' fifth-year option, leaving the door open to pursue a quarterback next offseason. If Stroud and Young are off the board, Levis impressed in his first year at Kentucky after transferring from Penn State.

It's hard to know who will be the head coach and general manager of the Panthers a year from now. We know that owner David Tepper has proven to be too desperate for his own good to find a franchise quarterback, so just because they drafted Matt Corral doesn't mean they won't take a quarterback a year from now. For the time being, we're intrigued by the possibility of the Panthers building the league's best offensive line by putting Johnson at right tackle, opposite of 2022 first-round pick Ikem Ekwonu.

Joe Douglas and company are coming off of a tremendous 2022 NFL Draft that saw them draft Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner, Garrett Wilson, Jermaine Johnson II and Breece Hall. The Jets aren't ready to be a playoff contender in 2022, but it stands to reason they could show some promise in Robert Saleh's second season, especially if quarterback Zach Wilson takes a major step forward. While the Jets' biggest need might be another stalwart on the offensive line, Bresee could be another blue chip talent to add to a young core if he re-establishes himself after a torn left ACL limited him to just four games in his sophomore season at Clemson.

The Lions were feisty in Dan Campbell's first season, and used the NFL Draft to add Aidan Hutchinson and Jameson Williams to a young core that also includes Amon-Ra St. Brown, T.J. Hockenson, D'Andre Swift and Penei Sewell. After the 2022 season, the Lions have an out in Jared Goff's contract. They also have two first-round picks again, as they continue to reap the benefits of the Matthew Stafford trade with the Los Angeles Rams. Van Dyke has excellent size -- 6-foot-4, 224 pounds -- and tossed 25 touchdowns to six interceptions in his first season in the starter at Miami. Van Dyke could play his way into being the third quarterback taken in the 2023 NFL Draft if he has a big year in his first season playing under Mario Cristobal.

Let's not sugarcoat things: as long as Daniel Synder is the owner of the Commanders, they are going to have a very difficult time attracting a veteran quarterback with options. And unless Carson Wentz revives his career in D.C., they'll probably be in the market for a quarterback again next offseason. It's just a matter of whether they will be bad enough to be in position to take one of the best options. If not, Ringo had eight pass deflections and two interceptions for Georgia this past year, and may very well be the best cornerback in the country in 2022.