Billy Wood 2023 NFL Mock Draft 1.0
The NFL Draft is a little less than a week away and the NFL Combine has wrapped. Scouts are compiling their new found statistics and asking draft prospects extremely weird personal questions that go a bit too far. Nick Sirianni is playing mini hoop with 380 pound men? Anyway, let’s get into my no trade 2023 NFL Mock Draft.
1. Carolina Panthers: QB C.J. Stroud Ohio State
C.J. Stroud is pretty much new head coach Frank Reich’s dream of a quarterback. By now you have probably heard the stat that Reich has never coached a QB smaller than 6'2, but that’s not the reason why the Panthers take Stroud here, they’re taking him because he is the best QB on the board. Stroud has played two incredible seasons against serious Big 10 competition and has tossed for over 40 touchdowns in each. Stroud’s completion percentage did drop from 71% to 65% in 2022, but Alabama QB Bryce Young has never had a completion percentage above 66%. Stroud has a bigger arm, better pocket presence, and can fit the ball into tighter spots than Young. Stroud is the best QB in this draft and Carolina is gonna be very happy taking him at #1.
2. Houston Texans: QB Bryce Young Alabama
The Texans will be plenty happy taking Bryce Young at #2 and I’d be happy too. Young has all the tools to be a star quarterback in the NFL. Strong arm, smart as hell, can zip it, played against SEC defenses, won a Heisman trophy. Young nearly threw for 5,000 yards in his Heisman season and let’s be honest…size doesn’t matter in today’s NFL. Young immediately solves the Texans QB woes and will soon become the best QB the Texans have ever rostered.
3. Arizona Cardinals: EDGE Will Anderson Jr. Alabama
Is Will Anderson Jr. even in the draft anymore? I haven’t heard anything about Anderson Jr. in the media since about last season…WHERE HE WAS THE CONSENSUS #1 PICK. Let’s not forget about Will Anderson Jr., he’s the best defensive player in this draft. Anderson had a supposed down year last season (oh no he had 14 sacks instead of 15, whatever shall we do?), but Anderson Jr. is a monster of an edge combining speed and muscle to destroy SEC offensive lines. 56 hurries in 2021 and 42 in 2022 show you everything you need to know about this guy. Anderson Jr. is going to be a monster in the league at 6'3 255 and the other scary thing is he can also stop the run. He’s an all around monster that would be the surefire #1 if teams weren’t so QB needy this year. The Cardinals shouldn’t be so desperate to get out of #3. Want J.J. Watt again, but the 20+ sack kind? Here you go!
4. Indianapolis Colts: QB Will Levis Kentucky
I’m not going to lie to you for the purpose of this mock draft and tell you that I like Will Levis. I don’t. I think Will Levis has been severely overrated by scouts and “Draft Experts”, but I do think the Colts will like him at #4 due to the QB talent drop off after Stroud and Young fall off the board. Levis hasn’t been eye popping, but he does have a strong arm and played in a pro style offense at Kentucky. Levis maintained a 65% completion percentage over two seasons and played against some really tough competition in the SEC. Levis’ decision making will need some work, but with the right coaching he could develop into an above average QB in the NFL.
5. Seattle Seahawks: EDGE Tyree Wilson Texas Tech
Tyree Wilson is outrageous. Wilson stands 6'6 271 with an 86 inch wingspan. This body alone could make a player go first round, but Wilson can also play. Wilson recorded 8 sacks in 2022 and 6 sacks in 2021 against high powered Big 12 offenses. Wilson also forced 32 hurries in 2022. Wilson isn’t going to be Will Anderson Jr. but he isn’t going to get worse, it’s only up from here. Why not give the Seahawks a premier EDGE to line up opposite of Uchenna Nwosu and get after NFC West QBs and RBs. Pete Carroll developed raw athletic freak Tariq Woolen into one of the best corners in the NFL last year, why not give him a supremely talented pass rusher with premier physical traits to evolve like a Pokemon. Wilson is good. Really good.
6. Detroit Lions: CB Devon Witherspoon Illinois
The Lions were horrible on defense last season, and it was the only thing holding a premier defense from tearing up the NFL playoffs. The Lions are gonna fix that with this pick. Devon Witherspoon was the best cornerback in college football last season and it seemingly came out of nowhere. Witherspoon allowed a 122.6 passer rating in 2020 and a 86.9 passer rating in 2021. If these were his numbers going into this years draft he would be lucky to be a 7th round pick. Thankfully, Witherspoon allowed only a 25.3 passer rating in 2022, putting him in the same space as Sauce Gardner’s monster final collegiate season. Witherspoon only allowed 206 yards all season and was the definitive #1 corner on a daunting Illinois secondary. The Lions need a certified outside corner with the departure of Jeffrey Okudah and Witherspoon has the instincts to thrive in that role.
7. Las Vegas Raiders: QB Anthony Richardson Florida
The Raiders are the perfect landing spot for Anthony Richardson. Richardson is a complete project that will take multiple years to develop until he’s ready to start, but his athletic ability is worth the investment. Richardson has arguably the strongest arm in the draft, moves like a speeding freight train, and possesses a 6'4 240 frame. Richardson did have a 53% completion percentage in his only full season starting, but it’s not the production that gives him value, it’s his physical traits. The Raiders can afford to wait with Jimmy Garroppolo on a three year contract and if Richardson is properly developed, he’ll be a nightmare in 2025.
8. Atlanta Falcons: DI Jalen Carter Georgia
Jalen Carter was the consensus #1 overall pick for the entire time the Bears held the #1 pick, then Carter was cited as involved in the street race that killed Georgia teammate Devin Willock. This along with Carter being nine pounds overweight and not being able to finish position drills at his pro day make Carter a tough choice in the top five. Despite this, Carter is what any scout would want in an interior defensive lineman and at 6'3 314 as the size to fill all gaps. Carter was a technician in stopping the run game for a daunting Georgia defense and NFL conditioning should kick him back into shape. Atlanta gets a generational run stopper to pair with the veteran experience of Grady Jarrett.
9. Chicago Bears: DI Calijah Kancey Pittsburgh
Chicago can go a lot of places with the #9 selection, but Pittsburgh interior defensive lineman Calijah Kancey makes the most sense. Chicago has solidified the linebacker position with the signings of Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards, but the interior defensive line will need a boost to get back to the Bears history of hulking lineman. Kancey only stands 6'1 281, but he can really get after the quarterback as an interior lineman. Kancey recorded 8 sacks in 2022 with an additional 30 hurries. his previous season he recorded 9 sacks and 19 hurries. Kancey is scary similar to former Pitt defensive tackle Aaron Donald and it looks like he could be an immediate contributor for the Bears in 2023.
10. Philadelphia Eagles: S Brian Branch Alabama
The Eagles lost safeties Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and Marcus Epps in free agency this offseason. That leaves the Eagles with just about nothing at safety. Brian Branch immediately helps repair this. Branch played 569 snaps in the slot last year and also played a little in the box. Branch’s 74 tackles against SEC competition show he can be effective in stopping the run and his experience in the slot gives him safety and corner flexibility. Branch’s versatility should be coveted by Philadelphia.
11. Tennessee Titans: WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba Ohio State
Despite an injury hurting his draft stock and limiting his 2022 season production, Smith-Njigba is the best receiver in this draft. Smith-Njigba is a technical route runner out of the slot and can be a constant safety blanket for whoever QBs the Titans next season. 95 receptions for 1,595 yards in 2021 was an eye catching stat line that looks even better when you watch the tape. Smith-Njigba can catch any ball thrown to him and has a route running savy similar to former teammate Chris Olave. He’s always open even if he’s not and should turn into one of the most productive receivers in the NFL. If you want to fall in love with him, take a look at the 2021 Rose Bowl VS Utah.
12. Houston Texans: WR Quentin Johnston TCU
The Texans just took Bryce Young at #2, so why not give him his #1 receiver with #12. Quentin Johnston was QB Max Duggan’s best friend at TCU and for good reason. Johnston possesses a 6'3 208 frame and a 40.5 in vertical. In short, Johnston is big and can jump for a ball sent to a moon. Johnston had 60 receptions for 1,067 yards in 2022 and also has the ability to outrun defenders in the open field, something uncommon for players of his size. Johnston can fit into the Texans outside receiver role, replacing Brandin Cooks as the teams deep threat and playing well off the returning John Metchie’s speed. Taking Johnston immediately gives the Texans an intriguing receiving core that will be very tough for defenses to game plan for, and sets up Young with all the weapons to have immediate success.
13. New York Jets: T Peter Skoronski Northwestern
With Aaron Rodgers presumably joining the Jets, they will need another tackle to protect their prized possession. With Mekhi Becton presumably holding down the left tackle position, Skoronski will slide over to right side of the line and fill in for Max Mitchell. Skoronski only allowed 1 sack and 3 hurries in 2022 and at 6'4 313 has the mobility to match up with increasingly speed edge rushers. The Jets solidify their O-line with this selection and complete what could be one of the best offensive turn arounds in NFL history.
14. New England Patriots: T Paris Johnson Jr. Ohio State
Isaiah Wynn didn’t work out for the Patriots and it’s clear that it’s time to move on. This leaves the Pats with a huge void at right tackle and that void should be filled by Johnson Jr. Johnson Jr. allowed 2 sacks in 2022, but didn’t allow a single hit on the QB elsewhere all season. Johnson Jr. measures in at 6'6 313 and his mobility should allow him to match up with anybody on the line, his wingspan will also allow him to have immediate leverage coming off the line. Johnson Jr. should be an easy fix to the Pats O-line woes and makes edges have to choose between going against 6'8 Trent Brown on one side and 6'6 Johnson Jr. on the other. That’s a scary choice.
15. Green Bay Packers: WR Jordan Addison USC
Green Bay is in a rebuilding period now that the Rodgers saga is finally culminating. Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson looked like promising outside deep threats, but the team needs a receiver to line up in the slot and move the chains. Addison does this and even more. Addison played most of his snaps outside at USC, but this isn’t a bad thing. In 2021 at Pitt Addison caught 100 balls for 1,593 yards and 17 touchdowns. Addison has the versatility to be a big play threat on the outside while also being a chunk player on the inside. Addison is crafty in space and can be very effective after the catch. His speed isn’t tremendous, but he plays faster than he tests. Addison’s addition to the offense gives Jordan Love another weapon and no excuse for failure in 2023.
16. Washington Commanders: G O’Cyrus Torrence Florida
Torrence is a really big guard, standing 6'5 330, and showed tremendous run and pass blocking during three years at Florida. Torrence never gave up a sack in three years starting and has only allowed one quarterback hit. Torrence gives Washington an immediate elite offensive guard and gives Sam Howell the protection he needs to excel in 2023.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Joey Porter Jr. Penn State
It’s only right the son of Steelers legendary linebacker Joey Porter becomes a Steeler. The Steelers are in desperate need of secondary help after the loss of Cameron Sutton and Porter Jr will help to fill that wound. Porter Jr is a true outside corner that possesses an ideal 6'2 192 frame. Porter Jr ran a 4.46 at the combine and his coverage rating improved from an 84.6 in 2021 to a very solid 63.6 in 2022. Only allowing 143 yards as a #1 corner in the Big 10 is also a bonus. Developed Porter Jr could be just as dangerous, if not more than his father.
18. Detroit Lions: EDGE Myles Murphy Clemson
Myles Murphy is a tall and fast edge rusher for his size and has plenty of experience at Clemson that would make this selection a dream for the Lions. Murphy compiled 20 sacks over three seasons at Clemson and had 33 pressures in 2021. Aidan Hutchinson already has one side of the line covered, adding Murphy to the other would be a nightmare for NFC North QBs.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: T Broderick Jones Georgia
With the retirement of longtime tackle Donovan Smith and no quality quarterbacks left to select in the first round, the Bucs need to fill their tackle spot oposite of Tristan Wirfs. Jones does just that. Jones allowed 0 sacks and 7 hurries in 15 games in 2022 and played all 930 snaps at left tackle. Jones is raw with his footwork but he’s proven against SEC pass rushers and his 6'5 311 frame is more than enough to help himself maintain his dominance into the NFL.
20. Seattle Seahawks: C Luke Wypler Ohio State
The Seahawks haven’t had an answer at center since Max Unger and it’s finally time they find their guy. Wypler only allowed 1 sack over two seasons of work and has been a dominant force in Ohio State’s run game. Wypler should have the longevity and skill to immediatley be the guy that works with Geno Smith at the line.
