2023 Mock Draft Thread

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  • Fleet 1
    TPB Founder
    • Jun 2013
    • 2193
    • Kauai
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    2023 Mock Draft Thread

    Post your mocks as well as pundit mocks here. This is always a fun thread. Most of my mocks will have a totally random projected UDFA or late round prospect in the 3rd round. Just to honor our GM.


    PFF Mock to get us off and rolling. Loved this kid in 2021.


    1. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: QB WILL LEVIS, KENTUCKY


    via mock trade with Bears PFF Big Board Rank: 3


    The Colts are in desperate need of a franchise quarterback and can’t afford to wait and see who's available at No. 4. Instead, they move up to No. 1 and take Will Levis. Bryce Young is the more polished (and probably better) quarterback, but general manager Chris Ballard loves traits, and that’s what Levis has going for him. It’s a risky pick, but the Colts must swing for the fences to compete in the AFC South moving forward. 2. HOUSTON TEXANS: QB BRYCE YOUNG, ALABAMA

    PFF Big Board Rank: 1


    Getting Bryce Young at No. 2 would be the ideal situation for the Texans. Sure, they could try to trade up one spot to ensure he's on the board, but there’s also a chance he falls into their lap, as not every team is going to be in love with him due to his lack of prototypical size. Young would give Houston a face to their franchise and a player to build around for the next decade. 3. ARIZONA CARDINALS: EDGE WILL ANDERSON JR., ALABAMA

    PFF Big Board Rank: 4


    Getting the best player in the draft at No. 3? That would be a home run for the Cardinals, as no one in college football has been more dominant than Will Anderson Jr. over the past two years. Arizona has one of the weakest pass rushes in the league, especially now that J.J. Watt is retiring. But Anderson could help turn this unit around in Year 1 after racking up a Power Five-leading 147 pressures since 2021. 4. CHICAGO BEARS: DI JALEN CARTER, GEORGIA


    via mock trade with Colts PFF Big Board Rank: 2


    If the Bears fail to find a trade partner at No. 1, they might go with Jalen Carter. But in this mock, they are able to trade down and still get the generational defensive tackle prospect. Carter is a highly disruptive defensive tackle who can be nearly unblockable in one-on-one situations. The Bears have a long way to go on defense, but adding a talent like Carter would speed up the rebuild. 5. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (VIA BRONCOS): EDGE TYREE WILSON, TEXAS TECH

    PFF Big Board Rank: 7


    The Seahawks love to draft traits, and no player in this class has more insane measurements. Wilson has some of the longest arms you’ll ever see from an edge rusher (35.5-inch arms) and can play all over the defensive line. Seattle has to improve up front, and Wilson joining the fray would be a fantastic start. 6. DETROIT LIONS (VIA RAMS): DT BRYAN BRESEE, CLEMSON

    PFF Big Board Rank: 8


    The Lions are close to being a real contender in the NFC, but they’ll need improvements along the front seven of their defense. Aidan Hutchinson was fantastic as a rookie, but they need more help on the interior. While Bresee doesn’t have the production of a top-10 pick, he is a unique athlete with incredible size and strength. The best part is that he plays incredibly hard, which is a must for head coach Dan Campbell. 7. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: QB C.J. STROUD, OHIO STATE

    PFF Big Board Rank: 5


    If the Raiders don’t add Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers in the offseason, look for them to explore the idea of selecting a quarterback at No. 7. Stroud might be the best fit of all the quarterbacks with head coach Josh McDaniels, as he can win in the pocket with his accuracy and ball placement. Stroud would be an excellent value for Las Vegas here as they look to replace Derek Carr. 8. ATLANTA FALCONS: EDGE MYLES MURPHY, CLEMSON

    PFF Big Board Rank: 6


    There wasn’t a team in the NFL with a worse pass rush than the Falcons last season. While they were playing several rookies and young players, it's a unit that needs to improve. Murphy is less talented than Will Anderson Jr. or Tyree Wilson, but he is worth a top-10 pick since he can play both defensive end and defensive tackle in sub-packages. 9. CAROLINA PANTHERS: QB ANTHONY RICHARDSON, FLORIDA

    PFF Big Board Rank: 11


    The Panthers have taken too many chances on low-upside starters over the past few years, including Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield. It's time for them to fill the position with some serious upside, with a player who can change the franchise's outlook. Anthony Richardson is the most talented quarterback in this class, but he needs a lot of work. If the Panthers can be patient with Richardson and give him time, he could be their next Cam Newton. 10. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (VIA SAINTS): CB DEVON WITHERSPOON, ILLINOIS

    PFF Big Board Rank: 12


    James Bradberry is scheduled to be a free agent at the end of the year, and Darius Slay just turned 32. The Eagles would be wise to add more talent to their cornerback room, and Witherspoon is one of the top cornerbacks in this class. He allowed just 206 yards on 63 targets this season to go along with three interceptions. 11. TENNESSEE TITANS: OT PARIS JOHNSON JR., OHIO STATE

    PFF Big Board Rank: 9


    There wasn’t a worse offensive line in the NFL by the end of the year than that of the Titans. Both offensive tackle spots were a disaster, and Taylor Lewan‘s long-term future is up in the air amid injury troubles. Johnson played both left tackle and right guard at Ohio State, so the Titans shouldn’t have any problem finding him a spot in the starting lineup as a rookie. 12. HOUSTON TEXANS (VIA BROWNS): WR JORDAN ADDISON, USC

    PFF Big Board Rank: 231


    After adding Bryce Young with the No. 2 pick, the Texans grab a receiver to pair with him. Addison isn’t overly big or fast, but he gets open and can play all over the field. With Brandin Cooks likely to be traded this offseason, Addison could be a Day 1 starter to pair with Nico Collins and John Metchie III. 13. NEW YORK JETS: OT PETER SKORONSKI, NORTHWESTERN

    PFF Big Board Rank: 13


    The Jets had a lot of success taking a short-armed offensive tackle around this spot in 2021 in Alijah Vera-Tucker, so why not do it again? Skoronski is expected to measure in with sub-33-inch arms, but he was still one of the best offensive tackles in the country. Considering he can play four different spots on the offensive line, this would be another smart pick by general manager Joe Douglas and the Jets as they continue to invest in their offensive line. 14. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: EDGE LUKAS VAN NESS, IOWA

    PFF Big Board Rank: 16


    The Patriots got fantastic play from Matt Judon and Josh Uche last year, but they could use more size and power on the defensive line. Van Ness is one of the best power rushers in this class, as he can bully offensive tackles back into the laps of quarterbacks. He would be a perfect fit in a New England defense that likes to utilize different types of pass rushers. 15. GREEN BAY PACKERS: CB CAM SMITH, SOUTH CAROLINA

    PFF Big Board Rank: 25


    Of all the cornerbacks in this class, no player is better when the ball is in the air than Cam Smith. He racked up four interceptions and 15 pass breakups over the past four years. The Packers are already mostly set in the secondary, but Smith is too good of a player to pass up here at No. 15. 16. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS: CB CHRISTIAN GONZALEZ, OREGON

    PFF Big Board Rank: 14


    Cornerback was a major issue for the Commanders for most of the season after they moved on from William Jackson III. But in a deep cornerback draft, expect them to target one early. Gonzalez would be an ideal pick here — he possesses the size, speed and ball skills you want from a Round 1 cornerback. He’s got all the traits to develop into a No. 1 cornerback in the NFL. 17. PITTSBURGH STEELERS: CB JOEY PORTER JR., PENN STATE

    PFF Big Board Rank: 26


    This one is almost too easy, right? Pittsburgh loves to draft local players, but they love elite bloodlines even more. Joey Porter Jr. is one of the top cornerbacks in this class and would solve one of Pittsburgh’s biggest needs. This feels like a near-lock to happen in April. 18. DETROIT LIONS: S BRIAN BRANCH, ALABAMA

    PFF Big Board Rank: 10


    Another safety for the Lions? Yep. Kerby Joseph was fantastic as a rookie, but they could always use another to pair with him for the next few years. And Branch is so much more than just a typical safety. He can play in the slot, in the box or even at cornerback. This would be a gamble on talent, as Branch is one of the best 10 or 12 players in this class. 19. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: OG O’CYRUS TORRENCE, FLORIDA

    PFF Big Board Rank: 27


    Luke Goedeke was a disaster last season, earning a 43.7 PFF grade as the Buccaneers struggled to find any reliable play at left guard. Torrence is the best pure guard in the NFL and would be a massive upgrade on an offensive line that could use an injection of youth. 20. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: WR QUENTIN JOHNSTON, TCU

    PFF Big Board Rank: 15


    Do the Seahawks really need another big, athletic receiver? Why yes, yes they do. Johnston is a physical freak who is the best receiver in this class after the catch. If the Seahawks want to compete with the rest of the NFC, they need to get even more explosive on offense. Johnston, whose 7.6 yards after the catch on average was a top-15 mark in the Power Five in 2022, will help them do that. 21. MIAMI DOLPHINS (FORFEITED)

    22. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS: WR JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA, OHIO STATE

    PFF Big Board Rank: 20


    The Chargers can’t count on Mike Williams and Keenan Allen to stay healthy for a 17-game season at this stage of their careers, and so they take the best wide receiver on the board. Smith-Njigba might be a slot-only in the NFL, but he gets open and makes nearly every catch. He would give quarterback Justin Herbert another reliable pass catcher to make the Chargers' offense even more dangerous. 23. BALTIMORE RAVENS: CB KELEE RINGO, GEORGIA

    PFF Big Board Rank: 45


    The Ravens love to invest in their secondary and draft players with big-time pedigrees. That’s why the selection of Ringo would make so much sense here. Marcus Peters appears to be on his last legs, and the Ravens need to add more depth at the position. Ringo's experience, combined with his size and athleticism, makes him a perfect fit in Baltimore. 24. MINNESOTA VIKINGS: CB DEONTE BANKS, MARYLAND

    PFF Big Board Rank: 68


    The Vikings got unbelievable play from Patrick Peterson this year, but they can’t count on that going forward, considering he’ll turn 33 this offseason. Banks is another long, physical cornerback who could be a major value in the second half of Round 1 after missing most of the 2022 season. If he had stayed healthy, he could have easily been a top-10 pick given his ability to play sticky man-to-man coverage. 25. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: S ANTONIO JOHNSON, TEXAS A&M

    PFF Big Board Rank: 30


    The Jaguars spent a bunch of draft capital on their linebackers last offseason, and they still couldn’t stop Travis Kelce in the playoffs. So what about adding a 6-foot-4 safety who can line up against the top tight ends in football? Johnson is one of the most versatile defensive backs in the class and would bolster Jacksonville's secondary with his athleticism. 26. NEW YORK GIANTS: TE MICHAEL MAYER, NOTRE DAME

    PFF Big Board Rank: 17


    The Giants need to add more weapons around quarterback Daniel Jones, assuming he returns, this offseason. And while it would be ideal to find a No. 1 receiver at Pick No. 25, that's just not likely. Instead, they take one of the best pure pass catchers in this class in Michael Mayer, who has a massive catch radius and the athleticism to be a weapon down the seams. Mayer would be an excellent value pick for the Giants late in Round 1. 27. DALLAS COWBOYS: WR ZAY FLOWERS, BOSTON COLLEGE

    PFF Big Board Rank: 19


    CeeDee Lamb had a breakout season in 2022, but it’s clear the Cowboys need to get quarterback Dak Prescott more help. Flowers is one of the most underrated receivers in this class, as he can play all over the field and is dynamic with the ball in his hands. The only thing he doesn’t have is size, but he would be a great fit alongside Lamb and Michael Gallup for the next several years. 28. BUFFALO BILLS: LB TRENTON SIMPSON, CLEMSON

    PFF Big Board Rank: 29


    Tremaine Edmunds is a pending free agent and the Bills appear ready to move on. Simpson is smaller than Edmunds, but he does have great sideline-to-sideline speed. He's also shown the ability to play in space and cover, which Buffalo needs in the middle of its defense. 29. CINCINNATI BENGALS: OT ANTON HARRISON, OKLAHOMA

    PFF Big Board Rank: 21


    Harrison is one of the best pure pass blockers in this class and would be an outstanding pick for the Bengals here at No. 28. Jonah Williams struggled in 2022 as he dealt with injuries, and La’el Collins tore his ACL late in the year. Harrison could be an instant upgrade at either offensive tackle spot on a team that needs more talent and depth along its front five. 30. DENVER BRONCOS (VIA 49ERS): OT BRODERICK JONES, GEORGIA

    PFF Big Board Rank: 24


    Tackle Garett Bolles missed most of the 2022 season with an injury, and the rest of the offensive tackles on the Broncos' roster aren’t long-term options. Jones is one of the strongest offensive tackles in this class but is a bit raw after starting just 19 games in college. 31. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: EDGE NOLAN SMITH, GEORGIA

    PFF Big Board Rank: 22


    The Chiefs spent a first-round pick on an edge rusher last year, but it’s still a spot where they need to get better and younger this offseason. Smith, while coming off a season-ending pectoral injury, will be ready to start the 2023 season and would give the Chiefs even more pass-rush help after posting an elite 25.0% pass-rush win rate in 2022. 32. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: RB BIJAN ROBINSON, TEXAS

    PFF Big Board Rank: 18


    Make no mistake about it: Robinson is a better player than this. It's just hard to find a good fit for him before the Eagles at No. 32. Robinson is a sure-fire first-round pick and would be a fantastic selection for the Eagles this late. His size, speed and playmaking ability would make their offense even more potent.
  • Leslie Grossman
    Registered Charger Fan
    • Nov 2020
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    • Oklahoma
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    #2
    Well done. If I'm Sea or Det no way I pass on one of the 3 QBs because I plan to not be bad enough in the next ten years to draft a franchise QB. Will be fun to watch it unfold.

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    • 21&500
      Bolt Spit-Baller
      • Sep 2018
      • 10599
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      #3
      So we have 21 because Miami lost that pick?
      is that right?

      If so, we won that by 1 spot by making the playoffs!
      G-Ro knows.

      Comment

      • madcaplaughs
        Registered Charger Fan
        • Jun 2013
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        #4
        27 Jan.jpg

        Traded down with Philly. They wanted Trenton Simpson. So did I, but I just waited for Sanders : )

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        • Air Coryell
          Registered Charger Fan
          • Jan 2021
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          #5
          OL, DT, Edge, WR in that order. Trade down if available.

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          • Fouts2herbert
            Charger Fan since 1978
            • Sep 2021
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            #6
            They’re not going to trade down, they haven’t in TT’s tenure and they won’t start this year…it’s difficult to do a mock when we don’t know if they’re keeping pipkins, tranquill, and others…who will they restructure, will they trade someone? The answers to those questions will determine if there are any starting spots up for grabs, otherwise if they keep their guys pipkins and tranquill, there shouldn’t be any starting jobs up for grabs

            this should be the draft for depth draft…find quality depth and 1-2 future starters for current starters…

            "The author assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this post. The information contained in this post is provided on an "as is" basis with no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness or timeliness..."​​

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            • charger1_sj
              Registered Charger Fan
              • Nov 2022
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              #7
              On offense: WR to replace Allen will be needed by next year if not this. Upgrade at TE. ROT or LOG depending on roster. Complementary RB
              to Eckler.

              On defense; Except for DBs, start from scratch. Mack is older, Bosa gets injured. The LBs minus one guy are trash. DL needs upgrades.
              In other words the front seven needs some work.

              Comment

              • Ghost of Quacksaw
                Beef Before Gazelles
                • May 2021
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                #8
                So many directions the team *could* go, with multiple legit needs.

                If someone falls-- and someone always does-- the Bolts' could easily be looking at the 15th ranked player at #21.

                If that player is a DL, OL, WR, RB, TE, or Edge guy, taking him would mean you'd have an important upgrade at a lower-than-expected draft capital expense. .

                So IMO, there has rarely been a better time to the Chargers to draft BPA than in the upcoming draft.

                Comment

                • Fouts2herbert
                  Charger Fan since 1978
                  • Sep 2021
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                  #9
                  Until I know more this is like throwing darts in the dark, while blindfolded, and completely drunk, but okay, I’ll post one…

                  #21 ojulari Edge
                  #54 sanders or sewell LB
                  #84 musgrave TE
                  #123 vorhees IOL
                  #154 wick WR
                  #187 kirkland OT
                  #218 vaughn RB little train james wannabe slot reciever, kick returner, gadget player weapon type guy…my favorite player in this draft
                  "The author assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this post. The information contained in this post is provided on an "as is" basis with no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness or timeliness..."​​

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                  • Boltnut
                    Registered Charger Fan
                    • Feb 2019
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                    #10
                    1st: CB/NB Clark Phillips. Replaces Bryce Callahan. JaSir Taylor isn't starting material yet. Bengals, Chiefs, Bills, and Dolphins will be the teams we need to beat in the playoffs.
                    2nd: RT Cody Mauch. Replaces Pipkins. Solidifies our OL. He's a great run blocker and athletic enough to protect in pass pro. Gets to the 2nd level well.
                    3rd: NT Keeanu Benton. Stout run defender. Rotation piece and allows the DL to protect the LB's.
                    4th: LB Daiyan Henly. Replaces Tranquill. Read and reacts well. Athletic/versatile.
                    5th: WR Derius Davis. Good speed and returns punts.
                    6th: IOL Jordan McFadden. Played OT @Clemson but better suited for IOL. Depth @OC/OG.
                    7th: RB Camerun Peoples. Depth @RB.

                    Comment

                    • Boltinloudguy
                      Registered Charger Fan
                      • Nov 2021
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                      #11
                      Originally posted by Fouts2herbert View Post
                      Until I know more this is like throwing darts in the dark, while blindfolded, and completely drunk, but okay, I’ll post one…

                      #21 ojulari Edge
                      #54 sanders or sewell LB
                      #84 musgrave TE
                      #123 vorhees IOL
                      #154 wick WR
                      #187 kirkland OT
                      #218 vaughn RB little train james wannabe slot reciever, kick returner, gadget player weapon type guy…my favorite player in this draft
                      John Wick?;-/

                      If they could get Kirkland and Vaughn with the last 2 picks. That would be some great value IMO. I love Vaughn. Absolutely reminds me of Sproles.

                      Comment

                      • dmac_bolt
                        Day Tripper
                        • May 2019
                        • 10514
                        • North of the Lagoon
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                        #12

                        • 21.

                          Bijan Robinson
                          RB Texas

                        • 54.

                          Marvin Mims
                          WR Oklahoma

                        • 85.

                          Mazi Smith
                          DT Michigan

                        • 123.

                          Alex Forsyth
                          OC Oregon

                        • 154.

                          Deshawn Pace
                          LB Cincinnati

                        • 187.

                          Will Mallory
                          TE Miami (FL)

                        • 218.

                          Brock Martin
                          EDGE Oklahoma State

                        “Less is more? NO NO NO - MORE is MORE!”

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