Aaron - Hey guys. So this mock draft below is our first mock of leading up to the 2023 NFL draft that coming up in April. A reminder, this is written using the current rankings as of November 5th from Tankathon.com. In reality there are gonna be a few trades, but for this mock and our sanity we're going to pretend that there aren't. The odds are picked by yours truly, and the evens by Ryan Wright. That said, let's get to the picks.
1. Detroit Lions
Will Anderson Jr. (Edge - Alabama)
Aaron - Ryan’s mad about this, but oh well. With the first pick in our mock, the Lions take the best player available and give Aiden Hutchinson a terrifying partner on the edge to torture quarterbacks. Anderson's blazing speed and missile-like pass rush is going to be an addition to any defensive line in the league, which is why the Lions can’t pass this up.
2. Houston Texans
Jalen Carter (DL - Georgia)
Ryan - Texans are going to look to address their defensive line this offseason, whether it’s in the draft or in free agency. They have not had a good replacement for JJ Watt in any way, shape, or form. I project Will Anderson to still be here at number two, but in this mock draft, the Texans bolster that horrendous defense with the second-best player in the draft.
3. Carolina Panthers
CJ Stroud (QB - Ohio State)
Aaron - The only debate with this pick is between Stroud and Young, and the Panthers choose the safer pick with Stroud. The simplest way to debate between Stroud and Young is to say that Stroud has a higher floor, and Young has a higher ceiling. It's a fairly simple pick in my not-so professional opinion.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers
Kelee Ringo (CB - Georgia)
Ryan - In my own little perfect world, Jalen Carter falls to the Steelers here at number four. Ringo has shot up my board in recent games where I believe he is worthy of a pick this high. Ringo is the guy that I am lining up against those bigger receivers because he is naturally gifted and able to make big plays in man coverage.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars
Bryan Bresee (Edge - Clemson)
Aaron - The days of “Sacksonville” are in the past, and now it’s time to bolster this meager defensive line that has gotten blown away this season. Their run defense has actually been pretty sturdy so far this season; right now, they rank 12th in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game. The biggest hole they can plug with this pick is their pass rush, which has put up a meager 11 sacks on the year, which ranks 27th in the league.
6. Las Vegas Raiders
Myles Murphy (Edge - Clemson)
Ryan - The Raiders have many glaring needs on defense, but they grab the next best player available (not a quarterback) on my board. I do not think the Raiders will have a draft pick this high come draft day, but right now they sit with the sixth overall pick and get younger with a man that will set the tone for this defense line for years to come.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bryce Young (QB - Alabama)
Aaron -This pick rests solely in the hands of Tom Brady. Does he retire? Does he come out with a vengeance and devote himself to being great and drag this team with him? If it’s the latter, then they need to get him some protection with this pick. If it’s the former, it’s time to move to a new franchise-altering quarterback, this time in the form of a 5’10” gunslinger out of Alabama. Young’s size will be an issue in the league, but I don’t believe it will cause enough anxiety among NFL front offices for them to reconsider how freaking talented this kid is.
8. Philadelphia Eagles (via New Orleans Saints)
Bijan Robinson (RB - Texas)
Ryan - This is where it gets tricky. I wanted to address other positions here, but the talent is too tempting to pass up. The Eagles will likely let Miles Sanders walk in free agency because he is well overdue for a new contract. Howie Roseman grabs the best running back in this draft. Robinson is a man that has deserved his ranking this year, doing it all for the Longhorns.
9. Houston Texans (via Cleveland Browns)
Quentin Johnson (WR - TCU)
Aaron - If you listened to the podcast (which you absolutely should), you heard a debate on whether the Texans should draft a QB in this year's draft or use this year’s draft to build a team that will be a cushy landing spot for a QB from next year's class. We settled on the second option, and with that in mind with this pick, the Texans follow that philosophy by grabbing a supreme talent for their future quarterback to throw to.
10. Seattle Seahawks (via Denver Broncos)
Trenton Simpson (LB - Clemson)
Ryan - The Seahawk's defense is a joke. I think you can look at a multitude of positions here to get better (not quarterback). Trenton Simpson is a swiss-army knife, just like his predecessor, Isaiah Simmons. Simpson excels in coverage and can rush the passer when called upon and will thrive in this defense.
11. Arizona Cardinals
Cam Smith (CB - South Carolina)
Aaron - This war one of our easiest picks yet. The only debate really was which corner to take for the Cards. The difference for me was in the lack of counting stats for Smith, due to the fact that everyone refuses to throw his way. It's a similar situation to Sauce Gardner getting drafted by the Jets, but to a somewhat lesser degree.
12. Chicago Bears
Olumuyiwa Fashanu (OT - Penn State)
Ryan - Aaron tried to convince me to grab a wide receiver here and get Justin Fields some help. Justin Fields does in fact get his help, but it is not a wide receiver. Olumuyiwa Fashanu is a stud at offensive tackle. He will be 20 years old in December and is my number one ranked offensive line in the draft as of right now. The Bears offense is surrounded by its success on the ground so get a guy that can block out in space for Justin Fields and the future of the franchise, Khalil Herbert.
13. Green Bay Packers
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR - Ohio State)
Aaron - This might be the most unrealistic pick in our whole draft. The Packers took a RECEIVER. Insanity. This is assuming Rodgers doesn’t do anything insane, like retiring, but it’s time to get this man some help. Also, Ohio State receivers have a way of turning themselves into ELITE wideouts, and there is no reason at all to think that Smith-Njigba will be any different.
14. Detroit Lions (via LA Rams)
Hendon Hooker (QB - Tennessee)
Ryan - Again, in my own little perfect world, the Lions address the quarterback situation with the number one overall pick. Aaron decided to go a different direction, so quarterback is still a need. With only two more quarterbacks with a first-round grade, the Lions secure the man of their future, Hendon Hooker. Hooker will thrive in an offense with weapons *insert Jalin Hyatt film*.
15. Indianapolis Colts
Will Levis (QB - Kentucky)
Aaron - Sadly, Ryan’s perfect little world doesn’t exist, and I am thoroughly enjoying this. I ranked my quarterbacks in a slightly different order than him, and in the case of Hooker and Levis, I value what Levis does slightly more than Hooker. Emphasis on slightly. The reason I like Levis more than Hooker is less of a love for Levis and more of a wariness around Hooker. Either way, The Colt’s quarterback carousel that they’ve been on since the retirement of Andrew Luck should be coming to an end this draft.
16. Cincinnati Bengals
Antonio Johnson (S - Texas A&M)
Ryan - Jessie Bates III and Vonn Bell are set to hit the open market. The Bengals have already used the franchise tag on Bates III and will be paying extra attention to defensive backs in this draft. Antonio Johnson is my highest-ranked safety and will have no issue sliding into this Bengal's defense. Johnson brings versatility to this defense, lining up in the nickel corner spot, slot, or box safety at times.
17. New England Patriots
Jordan Addison (WR - USC)
Aaron - The Patriots drafted Tyquan Thornton for his speed, but whoever has too much speed? Addison is an amazing combination of speed and hands that can help whoever Belichick decides to play at Quarterback.
18. Washington Commanders
Michael Mayer (TE - Notre Dame)
Ryan - I am genuinely surprised Mayer fell this far in the draft, but that’s just how this one has played out so far. Commanders will now be able to stretch the field with the best tight end in the draft. Mayer is going to be a problem for teams lining up against him on a weekly basis.
19. Atlanta Falcons
Isaiah Foskey (Edge - Notre Dame)
Aaron - The Falcon's defense is really bad. Like, super duper bad. Their secondary is the main problem, but the D-Line needs a ton of help as well. Foskey is the best player available, and the Falcons shouldn’t hesitate.
20. Denver Broncos (via San Francisco)
Paris Johnson Jr. (OL - Ohio State)
Ryan - One or both of the Broncos tackle spots are not secured for the foreseeable future. That ends here. Many have Paris Johnson Jr. as their top-rated tackle, but I have him second in my power rankings. Johnson has great size and can be used on both sides of the line to protect Russell Wilson however they see fit.
21. LA Chargers
Peter Skoronski (OL - Northwestern)
Aaron - Justin Herbert’s rib are crying for his team to take a pass-blocker, and Skoronski is the best available by a long shot. Ryan is wary about his potential, but I don't agree. Skoronski is one of the highest ranked Tackles on most peoples draft-boards (including mine) for a reason. The Northwestern product should quickly help Herbert feel more comfortable standing in the pocket.
22. Seattle Seahawks
Nolan Smith (Edge - Georgia)
Ryan - The Seahawks grabbed Trenton Simpson with the tenth overall pick and now they add to that defense by getting Nolan Smith. He is out for the rest of the season with a pectoral injury, but that likely will not hurt his draft stock significantly. They address the front seven with their first two picks in this mock draft.
23. New York Jets
Broderick Jones (OT - Georgia)
Aaron - The jets have a ton of weakness, but there aren't as many as recent years. After a few quality drafts their defense, the team can shift to the other side of the ball and grab Zach Wilson (maybe?) some protection. Jones is the best pick available here with a ton of O-Linemen taking so far in the draft, but he's still a high quality pass protector and should really help the Jets.
25. Baltimore Ravens
Brian Branch (DB - Alabama)
Ryan - The Ravens secondary has been one of the worst in the NFL this year due to mounting injuries. That stops here with the Ravens grabbing a technically sound player at the defensive back position. He can contribute to multiple positions in the secondary. Mike Macdonald used to be a defensive backs coach and is now the Ravens defensive coordinator so I think he will have fun using Branch where he see fit.
26. Kansas City Chiefs
Kayshon Boutte (WR - LSU)
Aaron - The Chiefs WR room isn't what they hoped it would be after a slow start to the season. For clarity, the Chiefs didn't start slow, just their receivers did. Boutte is just another LSU receiver that's going to make a name for himself in the league, and the Chiefs need to be the team he does that for.
27. Dallas Cowboys
Darnell Washington (TE - Georgia)
Ryan - The Cowboys were unable to come to a contract agreement with Dalton Schultz and will likely let him walk in free agency. Darnell Washington sits at 6’7 and 270 lbs. and can be an extra lineman in essence. If you watch his tape, it is almost impossible to bring him down and it takes two or three guys to do so. Washington will be a great asset for this Cowboys offense in a league where an elite tight end is a luxury.
28. NY Giants
Joey Porter Jr. (CB - Penn State)
Aaron - The Giants are currently overachieving on the backs of Brian Daboll and Saquon Barkley. Or more rather, their offense is. Their defense needs some work, mainly in the secondary. The Giants rank dead last in interceptions forced this season with just one. Porter should help add some depth and talent and hopefully get that number up.
29. Tennessee Titans
O’Cyrus Torrence (IOL - Florida)
Ryan - The entire Titans offense surrounds Derrick Henry. Not Tannehill. Not Willis. Derrick Henry is a force to be reckoned with and he needs a set of guys in front of him that will play bully ball. O’Cyrus Torrence is that guy. Torrence has been excelling in the run game and will prosper in a unit that utilizes his skill set.
30. Minnesota Vikings
Clark Phillips III (CB - Utah)
Aaron - The Vikings are off to a decently hot start, and are looking like a genuine contender. But. They SUCK in their pass defense. They have allowed 1,929 yards in the air this season, which ranks 27th worst in the entire league. Let's get them some talent in the secondary shall we?
31. Buffalo Bills
Noah Sewell (LB - Oregon)
Ryan - In 2018 the Buffalo Bills drafted Tremaine Edmunds. This off-season he is set to hit the open market. I predict the Bills will let him walk and draft his replacement here in the first round. I was looking at Drew Sanders as a possible fit here, but I like Sewell a bit more in that Buffalo defense. Sewell has some missed tackles on the year and his zone coverage is lacking at times, but with the right coaching he could be the steal of the draft.
32. Philadelphia Eagles
Tyree Wilson (Edge - Texas Tech)
Aaron - In a perfect draft, which this is most certainly not, the Birds would've addressed their weakness on the Edge or Corner with their first pick in this round, and then addressed the other with this one. They did neither and took the best player available according to Ryan, so now they have to adjust to grab some depth on the defensive side of the ball.
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