2023 NFL Mock Draft: Two Rounds

April 12, 2023

We have a big update to our 2023 NFL Mock Draft this week with the addition of a second round. The real thing is scheduled to kick off on Thursday, April 27, at 8 p.m. Rounds 2-3 will begin at 7 p.m. on Friday with the final four rounds finishing up on Saturday starting at noon.

Note that there are only 31 picks in the first round this year as the Dolphins forfeited their pick this year for tampering.

Round 2 is included on the second page.

2023 NFL Mock Draft

1 – Carolina Panthers (CHI): Alabama QB Bryce Young

There’s more and more noise linking the Panthers to Young even if the immediate reaction after Carolina traded for the No. 1 pick was that they were coming up for Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud. ESPN insiders Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter have said they believe Young was the player the Panthers had in mind when they moved up, and there have been a few other breadcrumbs linking them to Young. You can search “Bryce Young” on our site and find them.

2 – Houston Texans: Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud

The idea that the Texans might elect not to take a quarterback with the No. 2 pick has been floating around for weeks now and just will not die, even if an abundance of signs point to Houston finding its next prospective franchise passer with this pick. It’s something to watch in the coming weeks as teams nail down their plans for the draft. Right now, it seems like the Texans will take whichever passer is available between Stroud and Young, the consensus top two quarterbacks in this class.

3 – Arizona Cardinals: Alabama DE Will Anderson

If the Cardinals truly had a bidder ready to move up for a quarterback, I suspect this pick would already have been traded. It’s clearly been on the block for a while and Schefter’s report this week that six teams have inquired seemed like a strategic leak to try and get one team to pony up an offer. Arizona’s front office has employed a similar strategy while trying to trade WR DeAndre Hopkins this offseason. In lieu of a compelling trade offer, I think the Cardinals will happily take the cleanest, best prospect in the class in Anderson.

4 – Indianapolis Colts: Florida QB Anthony Richardson

This is the first major pivot point of the draft, assuming a team doesn’t end up trading ahead of the Colts here. Indianapolis needs a quarterback and there are expected to be two intriguing but risky prospects to pick from: Kentucky’s Will Levis and Richardson. Both are compelling physical talents who have rough edges to smooth out in their game. I happen to think Richardson is less of a project and has more upside than Levis, but will the Colts feel the same? It’s worth noting — even if it’s a bit six degrees of Kevin Bacon — that new Colts HC Shane Steichen called plays for QB Jalen Hurts with the Eagles last year, who was good friends with QB coach and Steichen’s replacement, OC Brian Johnson, who was Richardson’s position coach for a bit at Florida.

5 – Seattle Seahawks (DEN): Texas Tech DE Tyree Wilson

This could be where we see Georgia DT Jalen Carter come off the board but if the Seahawks aren’t comfortable with their character assessment of him, they’ll have other options. Wilson has some big fans in the NFL due to his rare length and athleticism. It’s important for the Seahawks to maximize the opportunity they have picking this high. While Wilson isn’t as rare of a talent as Carter, he’s a toolsy prospect and comes without the other baggage. He has the upside to develop into a foundational piece for their front seven as well.

6 – Detroit Lions (LAR): Ohio State OT Paris Johnson

If Wilson is here, my guess is it’d be a short conversation for the Lions. Carter could be an option, the Lions are one of the teams doing their due diligence on him. But if both defensive linemen are gone, what do the Lions do? Cornerback is an option, as even though they attacked the position in free agency there’s still a need for a long-term solution. However, tackle is a sneaky need for the Lions. Starting LT Taylor Decker is in the final year of his deal and will be turning 31 in 2024. Johnson would give them a potential replacement and he seems to have cemented himself as the top tackle in this class.

7 – Las Vegas Raiders: Illinois CB Devon Witherspoon

Quarterback is often mocked here for the Raiders as they still need a long-term solution at the position. Signing veteran QB Jimmy Garoppolo takes the edge off that need, however. They don’t need to reach for a prospect they don’t love, which in this case would be Levis. They can focus their attention on addressing their litany of other needs, including cornerback. Witherspoon isn’t as athletic as Oregon CB Christian Gonzalez, the other consensus top corner in this class. But he makes up for it with ferocious competitiveness and physicality. He’s a tone setter on defense, which you don’t often see from the cornerback position. Oh, and while the Raiders contested the report from the Athletic that Carter is off their draft board, you can probably take it to the bank that he won’t be the pick.

8 – Atlanta Falcons: Northwestern OL Peter Skoronski

The Falcons have been doing some homework on the quarterback class, so that’s at least interesting to note even if they’ve given every sign they plan to go with Desmond Ridder in 2023. The word from the beat is skeptical about Carter being on their board at this pick even though they could use help on the defensive line, so his slide continues. They have needs at edge rusher and cornerback and there are interesting players available. So far, however, the Falcons have gone offense with their past two first-round picks under HC Arthur Smith, and that could continue with Skoronski. He would immediately plug in at left guard and provide a massive upgrade over the previous revolving door. Down the road, Skoronski might even be an option to replace LT Jake Matthews. For a team that wants to run the ball as much as Atlanta, using a top-ten pick on the class’ consensus best lineman would make sense.

9 – Chicago Bears (CAR): Iowa DE Lukas Van Ness

Carter was a strong contender to go No. 1 before the Bears traded the pick and before his legal issues. He’d remain a strong option for Chicago here, as he’s absolutely perfect for their scheme. However, if the Bears aren’t comfortable with the risk they could look to address their edge rush instead, which they weren’t really able to do in free agency. Van Ness is an outstanding athlete who didn’t start for some reason at Iowa.

10 – Philadelphia Eagles (NO): Georgia DT Jalen Carter

Carter’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, knew what he was doing when he said Carter wouldn’t slip outside the top 10 picks and so wouldn’t waste time visiting with those teams. A power player like Rosenhaus has probably received some level of assurance from the teams picking in this range. The Eagles have multiple former Georgia players who could vouch for Carter and help him transition to the NFL. That won’t be an issue from a talent perspective, as Carter’s an outstanding player, but the Eagles will want to make sure he’s ready for the off-field pressures of being an NFL player.

11 – Tennessee Titans: Kentucky QB Will Levis

It’s tough to get a bead on Levis’ draft range at the moment. He could go inside the top five or slide way, way down the board in the first round. Tennessee has met extensively with Levis during the pre-draft process and at minimum is doing its homework on potentially adding a long-term heir to veteran QB Ryan Tannehill, who’s in the final year of his contract. Letting Levis work out the kinks on the bench behind Tannehill before taking over in 2024 wouldn’t be the worst thing but if Tennessee doesn’t have a first-round grade on him, there are a number of other ways they could go. The Titans’ roster is riddled with holes.

12 – Houston Texans (CLE): Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba

The general thought seems to be that Smith-Njigba is the best of a shaky class and the only consensus first-round receiver. It doesn’t mean he’ll be the first off the board, as it just takes one team to fall in love with a different player and there can be all kinds of different body types and play styles at receiver. But it likely means he’s the only first-round lock. As far as the fit with the Texans, reuniting Stroud with Smith-Njigba is tempting. I’m curious whether Smith-Njigba is physical enough to fit the mold for Texans OC Bobby Slowik coming from the Shanahan tree where receivers have to do their part in the run game.

13 – New York Jets: Georgia OT Broderick Jones

It’d be a shame to trade for QB Aaron Rodgers and not be able to protect him, which is why the Jets are so commonly mocked an offensive tackle here. It also helps that this is a sweet spot for the available talent in this class. It’d be interesting to see if the Jets were willing to consider a slight trade up the board to get ahead of some of the other tackle-needy teams.

14 – New England Patriots: Tennessee OT Darnell Wright

The Patriots also need a tackle but you can rule out a trade up with New England most of the time. This is higher than Wright is usually mocked but he’s been one of the biggest risers of this whole process. His tape in 2022 was outstanding against some of the best pass rushers in the SEC, including Alabama’s Anderson. Tackle is one of the top needs for the Patriots with veterans Trent Brown and Riley Reiff in contract years. Wright could give the Patriots a long-term solution, whether it’s on the right where he played most of his college ball or on the left if New England wants to make the switch.

15 – Green Bay Packers: Georgia TE Darnell Washington

The Packers feel like a team that would love to trade back, as their needs align more with positions that are deep in this class. However, we’re starting to hit the point in the draft where the grades flatten out and team preference takes over. If they can’t move back, they might just take their guy and not worry about playing the board. Green Bay needs a tight end and Washington is one of the most unique players in this class. He’s enormous at 6-7 and 260 pounds and blocks like a tackle. But he’s absurdly athletic and nimble for that size, running a 40-yard dash in 4.64 seconds. He needs a lot of refinement as a pass-catcher but as a pure physical mismatch, there’s no one better.

16 – Washington Commanders: Oregon CB Christian Gonzalez

Perhaps it’s nothing, but nearly all of Gonzalez’s reported interest from teams during the pre-draft process has come more from teams drafting in the teens, not the top 10. He’s someone that rose into the top 10 in mock drafts early in the process due to his athletic traits, not necessarily his film or production. So it’s possible he’s a realistic target for Washington here to fill its need at cornerback.

17 – Pittsburgh Steelers: Penn State CB Joey Porter Jr.

It’d just feel weird seeing Porter in a different jersey, although things very well might not work out this smoothly. Pittsburgh needs help at cornerback and has been doing a ton of homework on the top options in the class.

18 – Detroit Lions: Clemson DE Myles Murphy

The Lions need to keep adding to their front seven. Murphy brings a lot of size to the table as a 6-5, 270-pound edge rusher, and he ran a 4.53 40-yard dash at his personal pro day which is blazing for that size. He’s not particularly agile, however, and is still putting things together from a technique perspective.

19 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Alabama S Brian Branch

Tampa Bay was the beneficiary of Seattle’s lack of cap space and got S Ryan Neal on a basement-level deal. Neal’s been a competent starter the past two seasons once pressed into the lineup due to injuries. However, the Buccaneers could still use a player like Branch. For one, they need a long-term safety, as Neal is only under contract in 2023. Secondly, Branch’s role in college was more like a nickel defender than safety, which is a vacancy the Bucs need filling right now.

20 – Seattle Seahawks: Clemson DT Bryan Bresee

If Texas RB Bijan Robinson is still on the board here, that could generate a fascinating debate in Seattle’s war room given how much they’ve prioritized the ground game in the past. From a talent perspective, he’s the best player available here by a fair amount. However, they’re overhauling almost their entire defensive line this offseason and Bresee fills a bigger need, along with playing a more valuable position. Injuries held him back this past season but he was previously regarded as a top-shelf athletic prospect for the position. I think his background will also appeal to what Seattle looks for in prospects.

21 – Los Angeles Chargers: USC WR Jordan Addison

Both of the Chargers’ starting receivers will be on the other side of 30 and set to count massively against the cap in 2024. Los Angeles also needs an influx of speed to that position group. Addison can help on both counts, and he already moved out to the West Coast this past season when he transferred from Pittsburgh to USC.

22 – Baltimore Ravens: Boston College WR Zay Flowers

Signed WR Odell Beckham Jr. allows the Ravens to take the best player available. It doesn’t have to be a receiver but it still could be, as WR Rashod Bateman is the only notable wideout under contract beyond 2023. Flowers is a dynamic, albeit undersized, playmaker who has a few kinks to work out with his hands but does have the potential to succeed at outside receiver and in the slot, as opposed to a number of other prospects who might be slot-only players.

23 – Minnesota Vikings: Maryland CB Deonte Banks

This is a sweet spot in the draft for cornerbacks with a lot of talented players who have one or two questions to answer about their game. This works out well for the Vikings who absolutely have to get better at cornerback for the new defense DC Brian Flores is installing. Banks has all the tools physically to be an outstanding man cover corner at 6-0, about 200 pounds and with 4.35 wheels.

24 – Jacksonville Jaguars: Iowa State DE Will McDonald IV

One of the traits Jaguars GM Trent Baalke places a high value on is length, especially when it comes to front seven players as he believes it makes an impact when battling blocks. Although McDonald only measured in at 6-4 and 240 pounds, he has some of the longest arms of any edge rusher in this class at 34 7/8. He was miscast as a five-technique at Iowa State playing inline instead of on the edge where his athleticism could be maximized more. That makes him more of a traits-based projection for NFL evaluators but Baalke showed last year with No. 1 pick Travon Walker that he’s comfortable doing that.

25 – New York Giants: Arkansas LB Drew Sanders

The Giants are pounding the pavement on this receiver class but I don’t think they’d love how the board falls for them here at that position. They could pivot and address other needs. New York was horrendous at linebacker last season, and while they hit that position hard in free agency, they could stand to add more talent. Sanders might remind Giants GM Joe Schoen of Bills LB Tremaine Edmunds as a long, explosive middle linebacker. The best part of Sanders’ game right now is his pass rush aptitude, and that will be appealing to DC Wink Martindale.

26 – Dallas Cowboys: Texas RB Bijan Robinson

This is about as far as I see Robinson sliding down the board, and I actually think there’s a decent chance the Cowboys trade up to make sure they land him. He’s an outstanding, homegrown talent who plays a position they value. Just a few years ago, there would have been no question about his status as a top-ten pick. The NFL is changing how it values the running back position, however, and Robinson’s ultimate draft slot will be a fascinating litmus test for that.

27 – Buffalo Bills: Utah TE Dalton Kincaid

Bills GM Brandon Beane said something interesting when asked about Buffalo potentially adding to its receiving corps this offseason. He said they were looking to add more weapons, period, to their offense and that could include addressing a position like tight end. The team has Dawson Knox who signed an extension last year but adding someone like Kincaid would give them additional versatility to create mismatches and attack them.

28 – Cincinnati Bengals: Mississippi State CB Emmanuel Forbes

The Bengals love taking cornerbacks in the first round and while they don’t have a huge immediate need at the position, it doesn’t hurt to look ahead a little. Forbes has impressive production with 14 career interceptions and six of them returned for touchdowns in the SEC no less. That eases some concerns about his rail-thin 166-pound frame but he still needs to add size and strength for the NFL. Cincinnati could ease Forbes in as a rookie as he gets stronger and learns DC Lou Anarumo‘s complex system.

29 – New Orleans Saints (SF, via MIA & DEN): Michigan DT Mazi Smith

The Saints have historically been a very needs-based drafting team and there isn’t a bigger hole on the roster than defensive tackle. Smith is a superb athlete with limited college production but the former checks more boxes that the Saints tend to look for in defensive linemen.

30 – Philadelphia Eagles: Georgia OLB Nolan Smith

Given Georgia has convincingly won the last two national titles, drafting as many Bulldogs as possible isn’t an awful strategy if you’re the Eagles. Philadelphia needs to add some youth to its pass rush rotation and Smith has some eery similarities to current leading sack artist Hasson Reddick.

31 – Kansas City Chiefs: Alabama RB Jahmyr Gibbs

For Chiefs fans who might say the team went down this road already with RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, you have a point. The big difference between the two, however, is that Edwards-Helaire was small, slow and unfortunately hasn’t been able to stay healthy. Gibbs is an outstanding athlete and has more upside as a receiver.