Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) – With just under a month remaining until the 2023 NFL Draft gets underway in Kansas City, it's time to look at the draft board again and conduct my second mock draft.
No trades will be taking place in my mock draft, so the only difference in order will be at No. 1 thanks to the Carolina Panthers moving up with the Chicago Bears.
The Miami Dolphins are also without a first-round pick this year after being forced to forfeit their first-round pick due to multiple violations of the league's anti-tampering policy.
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So without further ado, here is my 2023 NFL Mock Draft 2.0:
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1.) Carolina Panthers (from Chicago Bears)
Selection: C.J. Stroud - QB - Ohio State
The Carolina Panthers have made the move up to the No. 1 overall selection, and in doing so, lost draft capital and WR D.J. Moore. However, this is the kind of move one needed to see from a team who has been lost at sea when it comes to quarterback.
The Panthers have tried a number of different options under center, including Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield, and they even drafted Matt Corral out of Ole Miss last year in the third round. It's time, though, to not go discount shopping.
Stroud may not be the athletic freak like Anthony Richardson is, but his accuracy, size and ball placement puts him at the top, and having Frank Reich as a head coach should help the transition to the NFL.
2.) Houston Texans
Selection: Bryce Young - QB - Alabama
The Texans won’t get their choice of the litter with the first overall pick, but ultimately - with this class especially - I don’t see a consensus at the top.
Young offers very good arm strength, accuracy and more athleticism than Stroud, but his size will scare teams with him being just 5-foot-10.
3.) Arizona Cardinals
Selection: Will Anderson - EDGE - Alabama
If the Cardinals are going to take a quarterback in the draft, it will likely be next year when the class, at this moment, is perceived to be better. Kyler Murray won’t play much this year after tearing his ACL, so the Cardinals can take the best player available at a position of need.
If the Cardinals look to go quarterback next year at the draft, fans can begin dreaming of Caleb Williams or Drake Maye under center.
4.) Indianapolis Colts
Selection: Anthony Richardson - QB - Florida
Richardson has shown so much promise in the days leading up to the NFL Draft, it’s almost impossible to ignore him. At 6-foot-4, 245 pounds, a rocket of a right arm and some impressive traits to his overall game, there's a reason he has shot up the draft board.
I don’t know if the Colts have the infrastructure to develop the very raw Richardson, but they have to try.
5.) Seattle Seahawks (from Denver Broncos)
Selection: Tyree Wilson - EDGE - Texas Tech
The Seahawks had a fantastic draft last year, but where they need to improve is on the defensive side of the ball.
I like Geno Smith, especially in a weaker NFC, and if Seattle could add an explosive EDGE player, that would help them immensely, as they try to keep up with San Francisco.
6.) Detroit Lions (from Los Angeles Rams)
Selection: Devon Witherspoon - CB - Illinois
The Lions have a good offense, and I like them at this moment to win the NFC North. However, they need to improve their secondary and with two picks in Round 1.
They could do it at pick No. 18, but I like them taking the best cornerback in the draft and worrying about the best player available later on.
7.) Las Vegas Raiders
Selection: Lukas Van Ness - EDGE - Iowa
The temptation to have Jalen Carter go here was there, but his fall after a horrible pre-draft process is not done just yet.
The Raiders have a good EDGE rushing presence already with Maxx Crosby, but adding Van Ness will add even more, especially with Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert in the division.
8.) Atlanta Falcons
Selection: Drew Sanders - LB - Arkansas
The Falcons should be in on a quarterback, but with only Will Levis left, they’ll instead go with a fun linebacker pick in Drew Sanders, who was more of an EDGE rushing presence at Arkansas with 9.5 sacks this past season.
The Falcons just need more talent, and should be in on quarterback next year in a better projected class of signal callers.
9.) Chicago Bears (from Carolina Panthers)
Selection: Peter Skoronski - OT - Northwestern
Has a team had a better offseason than Chicago?
It all started when they secured the No. 1 overall pick at the end of the regular season, and it continued when they traded out of the first pick and landed more draft capital, as well as wide receiver D.J. Moore. In free agency, they added linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and a number of other assets to improve the overall roster.
In the draft, they could supplement their offensive line with, maybe, the best tackle in the class, as they look to give third-year quarterback Justin Fields every advantage they can.
10.) Philadelphia Eagles (from New Orleans Saints)
Selection: Jalen Carter - DT - Georgia
The pre-draft fall for Carter finally comes to an end at the No. 10 to the Eagles.
Carter pleaded no contest to charges connecting him to a car accident that killed a teammate and a Georgia staff member, and he will serve 12 months probation. Things did not get better for Carter, as he declined interviews with teams ahead of the NFL Draft, and also showed up overweight and out of shape to Georgia’s Pro Day.
The talent is certainly there with Carter, but is everything else?
11.) Tennessee Titans
Selection: Will Levis - QB - Kentucky
12.) Houston Texans (from Cleveland Browns)
Selection: Paris Johnson Jr. - OT - Ohio State
13.) New York Jets
Selection: Broderick Jones - OT - Georgia
14.) New England Patriots
Selection: Zay Flowers - WR - Boston College
15.) Green Bay Packers
Selection: Jaxon Smith Njigba - WR - Ohio State
16.) Washington Commanders
Selection: Christian Gonzalez - CB - Oregon
17.) Pittsburgh Steelers
Selection: Trenton Simpson - LB - Clemson
18.) Detroit Lions
Selection: Dalton Kincaid - TE - Utah
19.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Selection: Brian Branch - S - Alabama
20.) Seattle Seahawks
Selection: Calijah Kancey - DT - Pittsburgh
Miami Dolphins
***PICK FOREFEITED***
21.) Los Angeles Chargers
Selection: Bijan Robinson - RB - Texas
22.) Baltimore Ravens
Selection: O’Cyrus Torrence - G - Florida
23.) Minnesota Vikings
Selection: Deonte Banks - CB - Maryland
24.) Jacksonville Jaguars
Selection: Nolan Smith - EDGE - Georgia
25.) New York Giants
Selection: Myles Murphy - EDGE - Clemson
26.) Dallas Cowboys
Selection: Jordan Addison - WR - USC
27.) Buffalo Bills
Selection: Darnell Wright - OT - Tennessee
Compared to my first mock draft, the Bills go offensive tackle rather than guard, and might end up with the best right tackle in the draft.
Spencer Brown offered promise in his rookie year, but his second season offered inconsistency and injuries. The Bills will have to get better at pass blocking if they want to keep quarterback Josh Allen healthy, and as close to 100% come January as they can.
A wide receiver could have worked here, but getting an immediate upgrade on the offensive line in Wright, who stands at 6-foot-5 and 340 pounds, will continue to offer size. Unlike Brown, Wright is not nearly as raw coming out of college.
Mock 1.0: O’Cyrus Torrence - G - Florida
28.) Cincinnati Bengals
Selection: Michael Mayer - TE - Notre Dame
29.) New Orleans Saints (from Denver Broncos via San Francisco 49ers)
Selection: Jack Campbell - LB - Iowa
30.) Philadelphia Eagles
Selection: Darnell Washington - TE - Georgia
31.) Kansas City Chiefs
Selection: Mazi Smith - DL - Michigan
