The anticipation and rumors surrounding the 2023 NFL Draft are only continuing to build. Now, just one week away from the draft, even more confusion is building around the top 10 picks. Is Bryce Young already being slotted into the Panthers lineup? Will the Texans pass on a quarterback? Will Jalen Carter go in the top 10? All of these questions will be answered soon. For now, here is a look at the top 10 picks in this 2023 NFL Mock Draft.
2023 NFL Mock Draft: The Top 10 Picks
1. Carolina Panthers – QB Bryce Young, Alabama
With Bryce Young now the heavy favorite in the betting market, it seems inevitable that he will be the first overall selection. After Carolina made the trade up with Chicago, most believed the Panthers would select C.J. Stroud. However, with the change of the tides, Carolina could be setting expectations for their fan base to be prepared for Young.
Clearly, Young has concerns with his size. No matter what player you compare him to, someone of Young’s size is relatively unprecedented. He is the same height as Kyler Murray, but Murray is one of the NFL’s most explosive athletes. Young lacks that explosion, and falls shorter than Russell Wilson, Baker Mayfield, and Drew Brees.
Size concerns aside, Young possesses immense talent with his ability to extend plays, utilize multiple arm angles, and throw with elite accuracy. There is risk in this pick, but Bryce Young never let his size become a factor in college. During his time at Alabama, Young was a consistent playmaker, the best quarterback in college football, and a Heisman Trophy winner.
2. Houston Texans – QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
There is some noise around the league that the Texans are not sold on a quarterback at the second overall pick. Also, it does not help that the same agent that represents C.J. Stroud is the same agent that represented Deshaun Watson when he was on the team. Nick Caserio denies that he is leaving after the draft. However, there has been no public support from Cal McNair regarding the rumors. The dysfunction seems to continue for the Texans. With a potential franchise-changing draft, there is uncertainty within the Texans front office.
C.J. Stroud is a prototypically sized quarterback with big hands, good arm strength, elite accuracy, and the ability to transition through progressions. Stroud showed out in the college football playoff against Georgia, displaying his elite potential. Regardless of the noise, C.J. Stroud is a great option for the Texans at 2.
3. Arizona Cardinals – EDGE Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech
Tyree Wilson has the freakiest build in the entire NFL Draft. Listed at 6’6″, 271 pounds, and with 35 5/8″ arms, Wilson is truly a freak of nature. He has also had very good production over the last two seasons at Texas Tech, posting 14 sacks and 27.5 tackles for loss.
The Arizona Cardinals have many holes on their team, and edge is definitely one of them. Wilson has some rawness to his game, but with NFL coaching and his elite tools, he has the capability to become one of the top edge defenders in the NFL.
4. Indianapolis Colts – QB Anthony Richardson, Florida
Anthony Richardson is perhaps the most intriguing prospect in this year’s draft. Richardson boasts immense physical talent, posting a 99th percent athleticism score for quarterbacks at the combine. Translation, Richardson is one of one. There has never been a quarterback prospect like him before.
Richardson only started one season at Florida, and he may have benefited from staying for another year. He is a very raw prospect that lacks accuracy and timing but has all the physical tools that a team could want. With the Colts drafting Richardson, you could see them implementing a very similar offense that new Colts Head Coach Shane Steichen ran with Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia. The backfield for the Colts would be dangerous, with Richardson lining up next to Jonathan Taylor every play.
5. Seattle Seahawks – DT Jalen Carter, Georgia
Jalen Carter is the most dominant player at any position in the entire NFL mock draft. Even though there is an off-field issue with Jalen Carter, he is a blue-chip talent that will not be falling down draft boards for long. There are also reports that Carter’s meetings with teams in the top 10 have gone well.
If there are any character concerns, the future Hall of Fame coach Pete Carroll would be a great mentor for the young Carter. Carrol has managed many players, with many different personalities during his time as a coach. Within this environment, Carter could grow and thrive with the Seahawks.
6. Detroit Lions – EDGE Will Anderson, Alabama
Will Anderson was one of the most productive players in all of college football. Anderson amassed 34.5 sacks and 58.5 tackles for loss during his three seasons at Alabama. He would instantly slot in across from Aidan Hutchinson on the edge. Anderson lands with the Lions in this NFL Mock Draft.
7. Las Vegas Raiders – CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
The Raiders have multiple needs at multiple positions, and they can only address one in this NFL mock draft. Devon Witherspoon is an incredibly twitchy athlete with a nasty physical play style. Witherspoon is coming off a great season at Illinois, with three interceptions, 14 pass breakups, and only allowing a 34.9% completion rate. From Day 1, Witherspoon upgrades the Raiders defense.
8. Atlanta Falcons – EDGE Nolan Smith, Georgia
Nolan Smith absolutely broke the 2023 NFL Combine, and that performance earned him a high spot in this mock draft. While his height and weight (6’2″ 238 lbs.) are smaller than average at his edge position, he makes up for it with speed, agility, and explosion. Smith’s athleticism is off the charts, and he possesses the bend for an edge rusher that cannot be taught. Smith would fit in well in Atlanta’s 3-4 defense as an outside linebacker. He would also be able to stay in his home state of Georgia.
9. Chicago Bears – EDGE Lukas Van Ness, Iowa
Lukas Van Ness possesses the prototypical frame of a defensive end in the Chicago Bears 4-3 scheme. Van Ness is listed at 6′-5″ and 272 pounds with 34″ arms. He has great power and play strength that you look for with a defensive lineman. Van Ness also spent a lot of time kicking down to defensive tackle in the Iowa defense, displaying his positional versatility. The size, power, and versatility of Van Ness’ game would bring much-needed help to the Bears defense.
10. Philadelphia Eagles – OL Peter Skoronski, Northwestern
The Philadelphia Eagles have a luxury pick at 10 after their trade with New Orleans last year. There are many directions the Eagles can go with this pick but protecting their $255 million investment of quarterback Jalen Hurts is a solid option. The last pick of this NFL Mock Draft is offensive lineman Peter Skoronski. Skoronski has the capability to play tackle but lacks ideal arm length. If you slot in Skoronski at guard, he has All-Pro potential. He can make an impact from day one by being a road grader in the run game. Also, if either starting tackle were to miss time with injury, he has the positional versatility to slide out to tackle.
Main Photo: Gary Cosby Jr. – USA Today Sports
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