It is 2023 Mock Draft time! The 2023 NFL Draft is a long ways away, but it is good to see some of the young prospects who could make their way into the NFL Draft. Get some idea of players to look for this year in college football! Take a look and send any feedback to @ShanePHallam on twitter
See Shane’s:
2022 7-Round Mock Draft (August 23rd)
2024 3-Round Mock Draft (August 23rd)
Round 1
| Pick | Team | Player | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atlanta Falcons | DJ Uiagalelei QB/Clemson | DJU is a unique specimen that will be an incredible NFL player. He is Ben Roethlisberger if Big Ben ran a 4.4. The huge arm, movement skills, and big body make for a QB who is incredibly hard to stop. With two more years at Clemson, expect DJU to prove he is the best in college football. |
| 2 | New York Giants | Will Anderson Jr. EDGE/Alabama | When a true freshman sets the college world ablaze for the Crimson Tide, you know they will be a top notch NFL player. Anderson's pass rush ability is off the charts with an NFL first step and quickness that can't be stopped, even by top college linemen. |
| 3 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Bryce Young QB/Alabama | Young hasn't started an NFL game yet, but he is the next in a Kyler Murray mold of smaller athletes with great arms. There is little doubt that Alabama will set Young up for success where he can use his rushing ability to clear out defenses and complete big passes. |
| 4 | Carolina Panthers | Bijan Robinson RB/Texas | The best NFL RB prospect since Saquon Barkley, Bijan has the full package. Size, speed, contact balance, pass catching, and the athletic ability to be dangerous in the open field. Texas couldn't keep his talent off the field as a freshman, and he will dominate college football for the next few years. The rare Top 5 NFL Draft RB. |
| 5 | Denver Broncos | Myles Murphy EDGE/Clemson | Murphy is a physical freak who can play on the Edge or in the middle of the DLine. He had some of his best games in the ACC Title game and Playoff last season, maturing to play with the top offensive linemen in college football. Not only can he rush the passer, but run stuffing edge setting gets him into the Top 5. |
| 6 | New England Patriots | Bryan Bresee DL/Clemson | Murphy's teammate Bresee lives in the backfield against Ohio State to end the season. His first step from the line interior makes him incredibly tough to stop. His leg drive is NFL ready as well. Clemson continues to develop their top DL recruits into top NFL prospects. |
| 7 | Detroit Lions | Kayshon Boutte WR/LSU | Boutte is the next in line of the great LSU WRs. After Terrace Marshall opted out, Boutte took over the WR1 role and never looked back. His 14 catch, 308 yard, 3 TD performance to end the season was one of the best freshman WR games ever. Possessing such a knowledge of the position at young age shows the potential Boutte has. He should be dominating with his athleticism and savvyness for the next two years and be a Top 10 selection. |
| 8 | Philadelphia Eagles | Malachi Moore S/Alabama | Moore was a jack of all trades as a freshman, playing safety, nickel corner, and just being a presence on the football field. Safety is likely his best NFL position (for now) and he would be a playmaking rangy FS who could turn around a defense. Expect to hear a lot of his name this season making plays for the Crimson Tide. |
| 9 | New Orleans Saints | Eli Ricks CB/LSU | Ricks was the #2 CB across from Derek Stingley, but he was every bit as effective as Stingley, maybe even moreso last season. Though he generally wasn't facing opposing teams top receiving options, Ricks ability to mirror and stick with older WRs on tough routes was pretty special. His size and physicality showcase his upside as a potential Top 10 pick. |
| 10 | Indianapolis Colts | Michael Mayer TE/Notre Dame | Notre Dame had a Top 100 pick at TE in Tommy Tremble, and true freshman Michael Mayer zoomed past him to more playing time and targets. He is the prototypical Notre Dame TE who can block and catch, but his athleticism and ability to be a red zone threat is better than any Fighting Irish TE of the past. Expect high draft capital. |
| 11 | Minnesota Vikings | Tank Bigsby RB/Auburn | No one runs as hard and powerful as Tank Bigsby. His name is fitting as defenders have such trouble bringing him down when he plows through the line of scrimmage. He bursts quickly through the line and has enough to be a bit of a homerun threat too. If he can show more in terms of pass catching, the top 10 is within reach. |
| 12 | Las Vegas Raiders | Peter Skoronski OT/Northwestern | When top NFL prospect Rashawn Slater opted out from playing for Northwestern in 2020, there was fear their offensive line would suffer. Bring in true freshman Peter Skoronski who more than held his own against top notch pass rushers and future NFL players. With great feet and movement ability, Skoronski has shown NFL potential already. If he can keep improving his play strength and bulk up a bit, he has a chance to be the top OT off the board. |
| 13 | Houston Texans | Trenton Simpson LB/Clemson | Combine high recruit status with great first year production and you get Trenton Simpson. In limited snaps, he had big time production, especially when rushing the passer. His showed top notch instincts and has the athletic ability. If he can keep it up when a full time starter, he should be a top draft pick in 2023. |
| 14 | Green Bay Packers | Khari Coleman EDGE/TCU | One of the great things about college football is seeing freshmen who weren't top recruits showcase high end ability almost immediately. Coleman was a 3-star recruit who burst onto the scheme as a penetrating edge whose run defense instincts were excellent. With 15 TFL and 3 sacks as a true freshman, Coleman certainly wasn't a fluke. |
| 15 | Detroit Lions (f/ LAR) | BJ Ojulari EDGE/LSU | Brother to current NFL LB Azeez Ojulari, BJ made a name for himself as a freshman with natural pass rushing bend and good instincts at collapsing the pocket. As a situational pass rusher, he showed NFL potential. Add in the bloodlines, and NFL teams will be interested. |
| 16 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Jaylon Jones CB/Texas A&M | Once we hit the second half of the first round, there becomes a lot of projection of what will happen over the next few years. Jaylon Jones was a starter for A&M's top defense. Though he wasn't a big playmaker, Jones rarely made big mistakes. He was a high end 5-star recruit with great size, so if he shows he can be a true #1 CB, the first round is within reach. |
| 17 | New York Jets | Robert Scott Jr. OT/Florida State | A starter at RT for the Seminoles, Scott held his own for most of the season. A smart player who wasn't fooled by false steps or fake pass rush moves, he showed a veteran Football IQ. He looked very solid, especially run blocking against North Carolina last season, and the potential is there to play in the NFL. |
| 18 | Tennessee Titans | Zach Evans RB/TCU | Evans might be known more for his crazy recruiting path that eventually led to TCU rather than his play, After some maturity concerns popped up toward the end of high school, he left his Georgia committment eventually going to TCU. It took the coaching staff some time to trust him, but once they did, he showcased the physicality and special athleticism that made him a 5-star recruit. I'd expect him to get more playing time and establish himself as a top back in CFB. |
| 19 | Washington Football Team | Javion Cohen G/Alabama | Cohen didn't get many snaps as a freshman for Alabama, but the ones he did play were very good. Now the likely starter at LG for Alabama in his 2nd year, he has the makings of a first round pick. 2-year Alabama starter on the offensive line who was a high end 4-star recruit means good odds to be an NFL player. |
| 20 | Cincinnati Bengals | Noah Sewell LB/Oregon | Oregon brought in two 5-star LBs in Sewell and Justin Flowe. Flowe got a lot of the press, but Sewell was the better freshman player. He led Oregon in tackles. He shows top notch instincts on film and his tackling technique is solid. Add in a few rushes of the passer, and Sewell has the talent to be one of the best LBs in college football and go to the NFL. |
| 21 | Los Angeles Chargers | Jalen Carter DL/Georgia | Another 5-star recruit who didn't play much, but made an impact when he did. At a big time program, Carter looks like he will start this season and the size and athleticism is NFL ready. Look out for him this season. |
| 22 | Miami Dolphins | Gervon Dexter DL/Florida | Dexter got a solid amount of playing time and played his way into the starting lineup during the season. Once he did, impact plays for the 5-star recruit were routine, even an interception against Mississippi. 22 may even be too low for the potential Dexter has as a pass rusher. |
| 23 | Chicago Bears | Chidozie Nwankwo DL/Houston | A shifty Nose Tackle who started most of the season replacing Ed Oliver, Nwankwo has that Oliver feel to him despite not having his same size. His role was mostly as a gap filler, but he helped solidify the run defense for Houston. It will be interesting to see how this 3-star recruit develops and if he can find his way into the NFL as a high draft pick. |
| 24 | Cleveland Browns | Nick Andersen S/Wake Forest | Andersen was one of the best freshmen playmakers in the nation last season. The crazy thing is, he wasn't even rated as a recruit. He walked onto Wake Forest after not receiving any FBS offers. He moves so well for not being a top recruit and his ball skills were superb. He should continue excelling with the program and gives himself an NFL future. |
| 25 | Seattle Seahawks | Jordan Burch EDGE/South Carolina | Burch had some of the most impressive high school film of the EDGE class, and flashed some of those skills as a freshman. South Carolina's front 7 is very impressive this season and Burch's size and quickness should serve him well in many one-on-one situations and prop his potential draft status. |
| 26 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Andrew Raym C/Oklahoma | Raym played a bit at Guard last season, but is the likely starter at Center this year. He is super athletic and is such an excellent fit for Lincoln Riley's offensive scheme, Raym should showcase that NFL potential as an interior lineman easily. |
| 27 | Miami Dolphins (f/ SF) | Jahmyr Gibbs RB/Georgia Tech | Four first round running backs shows how 2023 will be the draft of the RB. Gibbs is the full package of pass catching RB who has the burst and explosion to be a 3-down NFL RB. Georgia Tech wasn't exactly a stellar offense converting to a more traditional style after years of the Triple Option, but Gibbs was a shining spot for the team who should only improve. |
| 28 | Baltimore Ravens | Jaquelin Roy DL/LSU | Roy found his way into LSU's lineup often as a freshman and made his snaps count. He had two sacks against Florida and showed the blend of size and speed that makes him an ideal 3 or 5-tech. That game flashed NFL first round potential. |
| 29 | Dallas Cowboys | Anton Harrison OT/Oklahoma | Harrison's blend of size and speed were on display last season when he played LT for the Sooners. Still competing for a starting job this year, Harrison will make an impact when he gets his chance. If he gets a chance, even at RT, as a Sophomore, Harrison could be a muh more sought after NFL prospect. |
| 30 | Buffalo Bills | Tyler Grubbs LB/Louisiana Tech | A 3-star recruit, Grubbs was an instant starter and was one of the best players on the field in most games. Averaging 10 tackles a game, Grubbs was elite in the run game with excellent technique, including getting into the backfield to stop the run. The type of thumper who has a long NFL career despite not being from a high end school. |
| 31 | Arizona Cardinals | DJ Graham CB/Oklahoma | An athlete who was brought in to play WR but switched to CB, Graham showed good raw ability in tackling technique and closing speed on the ball. He definitely needs to get better and more comfortable, but the potential is there to be a top tier CB. |
| 32 | Kansas City Chiefs | Willie Lampkin G/Coastal Carolina | Lampkin may have had the best film of any freshman Interior Offensive Lineman in the country. Despite only being a low end 3-star recruit, Lampkin was paving the way for 2nd level runs, pulling to the outside, and dominating in one-on-one match-ups. If he can bulk up and show this consistency, he should make his way to the NFL. |
| Pick | Team | Player | Explanation |
Round 2
| Pick | Team | Player | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | Atlanta Falcons | Akheem Mesidor EDGE/West Virginia | Mesidor was a sack machine using his play strength as a freshman. |
| 34 | New York Giants | Rakim Jarrett WR/Maryland | Jarrett's athletic ability is off the charts. If Maryland's offense gets productive, he could be a first round pick. |
| 35 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Justin Rogers DL/Kentucky | Rogers showcased his potential against Alabama handling himself well in filling gaps in that game when tackling Najee Harris. |
| 36 | Carolina Panthers | Stephen Dix LB/Florida State | A decent sideline to sideline athlete with solid statistics, Dix will have a chance to improve his NFL stock this year. |
| 37 | Denver Broncos | Jordan Toles S/LSU | A good box tackler, Toles is in a defense where he can showcase his talents. |
| 38 | New England Patriots | Walker Parks OT/Clemson | The likely starting RT for Clemson, Parks 2 years of experience should help him get drafted. |
| 39 | Detroit Lions | Clarence Lewis CB/Notre Dame | Lewis is another example of a young CB who had solid play even if it wasn't flashy. As he improves, so will his draft stock. |
| 40 | Philadelphia Eagles | Kendall Milton RB/Georgia | Milton is behind Zamir White, but showed why he was a top talent and should continue to have a role. |
| 41 | New Orleans Saints | Tyler Batty EDGE/BYU | Batty was the lifeblood of a solid BYU defense and lived in the backfield. |
| 42 | Indianapolis Colts | Jaxson Smith-Njigba WR/Ohio State | A few high end catches showed JSN's potential if he can get more snaps. |
| 43 | Minnesota Vikings | Maurice Smith C/Florida State | FSU's O-line was one of the better things of their season and Smith anchored it. |
| 44 | Las Vegas Raiders | Arik Gilbert WR/Georgia | Gilbert's move from TE to WR and LSU to Georgia will be interesting, but he is a unique physical specimen. |
| 45 | Houston Texans | Paris Johnson Jr. OT/Ohio State | Johnson got some OG work, but should start there this season before moving back to LT. |
| 46 | Green Bay Packers | Tate Ratledge OT/Georgia | Ratledge did well in limited Guard snaps and should see time at OT soon enough. |
| 47 | Los Angeles Rams | Stefon Thompson LB/Syracuse | This 3-star prospect was a starter who held his own in ACC play. |
| 48 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Ladarius Tennison S/Auburn | Big time athlete who excelled on special teams and should be more of a shot this year. |
| 49 | New York Jets | Zykeivous Walker DL/Auburn | Looked like a monster against Arkansas. Should keep improving. |
| 50 | Tennessee Titans | Demouy Kennedy LB/Alabama | A good talent buried a bit on the depth chart. Will likely sitll be a reserve |
| 51 | Washington Football Team | Zach Frazier G/West Virginia | Good freshman season on a team that centered around the run. |
| 52 | Cincinnati Bengals | Brian Branch CB/Alabama | Branch got some nickel work and looked solid. He should have an expanded role this year. |
| 53 | Los Angeles Chargers | Jase McClellan RB/Alabama | McClellan is locked behind the multitude of high recruit Alabama RBs, but he has talent to be an NFL contributor. |
| 54 | Miami Dolphins | Dorian Strong CB/Virginia Tech | Strong was used as a versatile press CB, even rushing the QB. Intriguing upside. |
| 55 | Chicago Bears | Marvin Mims WR/Oklahoma | Mims was extremely productive as a freshman and should be Oklahoma's WR1 this season. |
| 56 | Cleveland Browns | Lathan Ransom S/Ohio State | Came on late in the season as a situational player. |
| 57 | Seattle Seahawks | Cody Simon LB/Ohio State | Mostly a special teams player in Year 1, but showed promise late as a reserve LB. |
| 58 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Drew Sanders EDGE/Alabama | A stand-up Edge who flashed with some good pass rushing as a freshman |
| 59 | San Francisco 49ers | Sav'ell Smalls EDGE/Washington | Wasn't able to get too much work as a freshman, but has the obvious talent. Look for a big role in Year 2. |
| 60 | Baltimore Ravens | Myles Murphy DL/North Carolina | Not to be confused with the Clemson player by the same name, UNC's Murphy was a good run stuffer as a freshman. |
| 61 | Dallas Cowboys | Justin Flowe LB/Oregon | Flowe should explode onto the scene in Year 2 as a high upside athletic LB. |
| 62 | Buffalo Bills | Jalen River OT/Miami (FL) | River is a big mover who forced his way into playing time |
| 63 | Arizona Cardinals | Chris Braswell EDGE/Alabama | Braswell hasn't played yet, but the big recruit should get his shot soon. |
| 64 | Kansas City Chiefs | Quentin Johnston WR/TCU | Johnston turned some heads as the top WR for TCU. He has the size, speed, and ability after the catch needed for the NFL. |
| Pick | Team | Player | Explanation |
Round 3
| Pick | Team | Player |
|---|---|---|
| 65 | Atlanta Falcons | Jordan Addison WR/Pittsburgh |
| 66 | New York Giants | CJ Stroud QB/Ohio State |
| 67 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Aki Ogunbiyi G/Texas A&M |
| 68 | Carolina Panthers | Emmanuel Forbes CB/Mississippi State |
| 69 | Denver Broncos | MJ Sherman LB/Georgia |
| 70 | New England Patriots | Desmond Evans EDGE/North Carolina |
| 71 | Detroit Lions | Kevin Harris EDGE/Georgia Tech |
| 72 | Philadelphia Eagles | Parker Washington WR/Penn State |
| 73 | New Orleans Saints | Haynes King QB/Texas A&M |
| 74 | Indianapolis Colts | Demond Demas WR/Texas A&M |
| 75 | Minnesota Vikings | Ja'Qurious Conley S/North Carolina |
| 76 | Las Vegas Raiders | MarShawn Lloyd RB/South Carolina |
| 77 | Houston Texans | Zak Zinter G/Michigan |
| 78 | Green Bay Packers | Karon Prunty CB/South Carolina |
| 79 | Los Angeles Rams | Paul Tchio G/Clemson |
| 80 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Theo Johnson TE/Penn State |
| 81 | New York Jets | Jermaine Burton WR/Georgia |
| 82 | Tennessee Titans | DeaMonte Trayanum RB/Arizona State |
| 83 | Washington Football Team | Luke Wypler C/Ohio State |
| 84 | Cincinnati Bengals | Tim Smith DL/Alabama |
| 85 | Los Angeles Chargers | Tre'Vez Johnson S/Florida |
| 86 | Miami Dolphins | Hudson Card QB/Texas |
| 87 | Chicago Bears | Derek Wingo LB/Florida |
| 88 | Cleveland Browns | Tony Grimes CB/North Carolina |
| 89 | Seattle Seahawks | Jake Majors C/Texas |
| 90 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Josh Downs WR/North Carolina |
| 91 | San Francisco 49ers | Nate Anderson G/Oklahoma |
| 92 | Baltimore Ravens | Chantz Williams EDGE/Miami (FL) |
| 93 | Dallas Cowboys | Devone Achane RB/Texas A&M |
| 94 | Buffalo Bills | Darnell Washington TE/Georgia |
| 95 | Arizona Cardinals | Kelee Ringo CB/Georgia |
| 96 | Kansas City Chiefs | Key Lawrence S/Oklahoma |
| Pick | Team | Player |