Draft Order 2023 NFL Draft Order: Round 1: 1. Carolina Panthers (from Chicago Bears): 3-14-0, 2. Houston Texans: 3-13-1, 3. Arizona Cardinals: 4-13-0, 4. Indianapolis Colts: 4-12-1, 5. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver Broncos): 5-12-0, 6. Detroit Lions (from Los Angeles Rams): 5-12-0, 7. Las Vegas Raiders: 6-11-0, 8. Atlanta Falcons: 7-10-0, 9. Chicago Bears (from Carolina Panthers): 7-10-0, 10. Philadelphia Eagles (from New Orleans Saints): 7-10-0, 11. Tennessee Titans: 7-10-0, 12. Houston Texans (from Cleveland Browns): 7-10-0, 13. Green Bay Packers (from New York Jets): 7-10-0, 14. New England Patriots: 8-9-0, 15. New York Jets (from Green Bay Packers): 8-9-0, 16. Washington Commanders: 8-8-1, 17. Pittsburgh Steelers: 9-8-0, 18. Detroit Lions: 9-8-0, 19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 8-9-0, 20. Seattle Seahawks: 9-8-0, 21. Los Angeles Chargers: 10-7-0, 22. Baltimore Ravens: 10-7-0, 23. Minnesota Vikings: 13-4-0, 24. Jacksonville Jaguars: 9-8-0, 25. New York Giants: 9-7-1, 26. Dallas Cowboys: 12-5-0, 27. Buffalo Bills: 13-3-0, 28. Cincinnati Bengals 12-4-0, 29. New Orleans Saints (from San Francisco 49ers): 13-4-0, 30. Philadelphia Eagles: 14-3-0, 31. Kansas City Chiefs: 14-3-0















Jason Bantle's 2023 NFL Mock Draft: Final Mock 2 Rounds




Round 1 Picks 1-16



Find out why Alabama quarterback Bryce Young is the front runner to go first overall to the Carolina Panthers.



Jason Bantle Last Updated: April 27, 2023.


  1. Chicago Bears: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

    Carolina gave up a lot to move up to the first overall pick. That means they must be picking a quarterback. Alabama quarterback Bryce Young is the only former Heisman Trophy winner in this draft class. Alabama went 11-2 this year. In those two losses Alabama lost to Tennessee 52-49 and to LSU 32-31 on the road. Bryce Young wasn't the problem. He had a huge impact offensively. He goes to a Carolina team that has a good offensive line so he will have time in the pocket. Carolina was extremely active in Free Agency too getting their future number one pick playmakers like running back Miles Sanders, wide receiver Adam Theilen, and tight end Hayden Hurst to pair with third year wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. It is pretty evident that Carolina is banking their future on Bryce Young panning out. If Carolina ends up hitting on this pick, the Carolina Panthers could become a force in the NFC South down the road.


  2. Houston Texans: Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama

    Houston passes on a quarterback and takes the best pass rusher on the board in Alabama sack artist Will Anderson Jr. With Will Anderson Jr. at 4-3 right end and Jerry Hughes moving over to 4-3 left end, Houston will have two viable starters at edge rusher on their defensive line that can get to the quarterback. Houston would also have Chase Winovich and Jonathan Greenard for depth. Will Anderson Jr. is the best defensive player in the 2023 NFL Draft as well as the one sure first blue chip player in this draft class. Adding Will Anderson Jr. to Houston's defense gives the Houston Texans the best asset at edge rusher in the next two NFL Drafts. Will Anderson Jr. and Derek Stingley are two blue chip players at premium positions and those two players would become the back bone for the Houston Texans defense.



  3. Las Vegas Raiders: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State

    Arizona's third overall pick is worth 2,200 points on the trade value chart. Las Vegas will offer 7 and 70. That will only be worth 1,740 on the trade value chart. Throwing in a 2024 second round pick that could be worth up to 500 points on the trade value chart isn't something the Raiders should be opposed to if they want to secure a long-term starting quarterback. However, I'm not certain the Raiders would be willing to give up that much to move up for a quarterback with Jimmy Garoppolo there. In this mock, the Raiders do whatever it takes to move up to three and get their quarterback of the future.


    Jimmy Garoppolo is a stop gap. C.J. Stroud could be the long-term face of the franchise for a Las Vegas Raiders team that has a strong running game led by running back Josh Jacobs as well as a variety of weapons at wide receiver. Las Vegas returns four of their five starters with left tackle Kolton Miller, the Raiders 2018 first round pick to protect Stroud's blindside. C.J. Stroud would thrive with the Las Vegas Raiders long-term if the Raiders draft him. Finding a way to get Stroud at three will be the Raiders biggest challenge. If the Raiders pull this off, Las Vegas might finally have their new franchise quarterback.


  4. Indianapolis Colts: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky

    Will Levis has gained a lot of traction as of late. He is currently the odds on favorite to be the second quarterback drafted. Indianapolis drafts him out of desperation for a franchise quaterback.



  5. Seattle Seahawks: Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia

    Seattle cut their nose tackle Al Woods. Drafting Jalen Carter whose the consensus best defensive player not named Will Anderson Jr. despite his character concerns makes the most sense for the Seattle Seahawks.


  6. Detroit Lions: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois

    The Detroit Lions traded Jeffrey Okudah to Atlanta because they plan on drafting a cornerback at 6. Devon Witherspoon has the best game film in this draft class while Christian Gonzalez is the most consistent cornerback. Both guys are my top two cornerbacks, and I believe both guys could end up being number one cornerbacks. Cameron Sutton and Emmanuel Moselely are nice additions for a team that wants a number two and nickel corner, but neither guy is a number one cornerback.


    Devon Witherspoon is the one cornerback in the 2023 NFL Draft that can limit how much damage Justin Jefferson does to Detroit twice a year. Basically, when one of the NFL's best wide receivers plays in your division twice a year, you have to take a cornerback until you have your guy who can blanket him in coverage.



  7. Arizona Cardinals: Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech

    Arizona is switching to a 4-3 defense. I see Arizona trading down for more picks and taking either Texas Tech edge rusher Tyree Wilson as a 4-3 right end or taking cornerback Christian Gonzalez. It depends largely on who is there when Arizona trades down for more draft capital. Wilson is the player that Arizona would probably take here with both still available.


  8. Atlanta Falcons: Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern

    Atlanta gets the top offensive tackle in the 2023 NFL Draft here. Peter Skoronski had the top pass blocking grade for offensive tackles on Pro Football Focus, but questions about his arm length make him a viable candidate for Atlanta to draft as their new left guard. This gives Atlanta an offensive line with Jake Matthews at left tackle, Peter Skoronski at left guard, Drew Dahlman at center, Chris Lindstrom at right guard, and Kaleb McGary at right tackle. Four of Atlanta's five starters on the offensive line would be players drafted in the first round, if Atlanta surprises with Peter Skoronski here.



  9. Chicago Bears: Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State

    Chicago needs a bookend right tackle next to Braxton Miller for quarterback Justin Fields who took 58 sacks. Not only is Paris Johnson Jr. an immediate upgrade at right tackle, he could also potentially end up beating out Chicago's 2022 fifth round pick Braxton Miller out for the left tackle job in Training Camp. Paris Johnson Jr. has to be Chicago's pick if the top two edges are off the board.


  10. Philadelphia Eagles: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas

    Philadelphia has a running back trio of Kenneth Gainwell, Rashaad Penny, and Boston Scott at the moment. It's nice, but nothing special. Replacing Miles Sanders with Bijan Robinson would elevate the Philadelphia Eagles backfield overnight making Philadelphia's running game potentially more lethal than last season. Philadelphia has four of their five starters back on the offensive line and is moving Cam Jurgens, last years second round pick to right guard to replace Isaac Seumalo.



  11. Tennessee Titans: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida

    Tennessee drafts their quarterback of the future. Reports are surfacing that Tennessee has no faith in Malik Willis. Tennessee may need to retool their offensive line, but they can do that in next years draft class since the 2024 NFL Draft could be potentially better than this years draft. Ryan Tannehill would play out the final year of his contract while Richardson learns under Tannehill for a year before being thrown into the fire.


  12. Houston Texans: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

    The Houston Texans get a number one target at wide receiver. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is going to be the first wide receiver drafted despite hardly playing in 2022 due to injuries. Houston will have Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Nico Collins, Robert Woods, and John Metchie III who recently defeated his leukemia cancer with Housto's 2022 third round pick finally cleared to practice with Houston. Houston will have a lot of playmakers for their quarterback to throw to. The bad news is Houston is stuck with Davis Mills and Free Agent addition Case Keenum at quarterback for the 2023 NFL Season.



  13. Green Bay Packers: Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia

    Now seems like a perfect time for Green Bay to reload at edge rusher. Green Bay can get out of Preston Smith's contract in 2024 and Rashan Gary is a Free Agent next Spring. Nolan Smith has the upside to be better than both players as Georgia's pass rusher showcased his athleticism at the 2023 NFL Combine.


  14. New England Patriots: Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson

    New England has two sack artists in Matt Judon and Josh Uche that exceeded 10 sacks last year. The thing is, Uche is approaching the final year on his rookie deal. There's also the possibility that Bill Belichick is too cheap to pay Uche. Myles Murphy showed more explosiveness on tape than Tyree Wilson did against Texas Tech. It's possible that New England sits Murphy this year so he can learn how to transition from the 4-3 to the 3-4 defense before starting him across from Matt Judon in 2024.



  15. New York Jets: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia

    New York gets a blindside for Aaron Rodgers. Drafting Broderick Jones allows you to move Duane Brown over to right tackle. New York would have Broderick Jones at left tackle, Laken Tomlinson at left guard, Wes Schweitzer at center, Alijah Vera-Tucker at right guard, and Duane Brown at right tackle. An upgrade over Schewitzer could be used, but with a left tackle as good as Broderick Jones, Aaron Rodgers will have a clean pocket, a running back that can potentially exceed 1,000 rushing yards in Breece Hall, and an abudance of weapons in the passing game. New York has quality starters and depth players at both wide receiver and tight end. Aaron Rodgers first year with the New York Jets could end up being very similar to Tom Brady's first year in Tampa Bay if Jets GM Joe Douglas ends up getting one of the top three offensive tackles on the board.


  16. Washington Commanders: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon

    Washington gets their number one field cornerback here with Christian Gonzzalez and moves Kendall Fuller who did well at against number one receivers at times over to a number two cornerback role where he should have more success against NFL wide receivers.














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