Brian Bosarge is back this week with his 9th 2023 NFL Mock Draft. This time you get one round of mock drafting goodness.
You will see a couple of trades, including one for a top QB and another involving a head coach.
If you want to see a more extended version, Shane has a seven-round one up here.
PLEASE NOTE: THE DRAFT ORDER IS SET PRIOR TO SNF & MNF COURTESY OF TANKATHON
2023 NFL Mock Draft 9.0 (Brian)
FIRST ROUND
| Pick | Team | Player | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston Texans | Bryce Young, QB, Alabama | The Texans have to make a real investment in the QB position. Davis Mills (former 3rd) ain't it. While Young has his questions (size), His intangibles, accuracy, and football IQ more than make up for his shortcomings (pun intended). |
| 2 | Carolina Panthers (F. CHI) | CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State | **TRADE ALERT** Carolina makes the bold move to go up a several spots and get their real QB of the future. CJ Stroud's performance in the CFP semifinal against Georgia was enough to convince me he was worth the price. (Carolina trades pick #9, '23 2nd, and a 2024 1st and 3rd) |
| 3 | Seattle Seahawks (F. DEN) | Will Anderson, EDGE, Alabama | Seattle sits back and maybe gets the best player in the draft. Anderson is an immediate upgrade for the Seahawks pass rush. If Chicago stays put and takes Anderson then maybe they consider Stroud. |
| 4 | Arizona Cardinals | Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech | With the retirement of JJ Watt, Arizona will need to ad a replacement. Tyree Wilson is a big, strong, rusher with great length. |
| 5 | Indianapolis Colts | Will Levis QB, Kentucky | The Colts may need to trade up to get in the Stroud/Young derby. There are many who love the size and arm of Levis but he is nowhere near the level of passer as the other two. |
| 6 | Detroit Lions (F. LAR) | Jalen Carter, DL, Georgia | I did not think the Lions pick from the Rams would be higher than their own before the season, but here we are. Jared Goff has played well enough to offset the immediate need at QB. Carter fill fit in great with the defense that is being put together in the Motor City. |
| 7 | Las Vegas Raiders | Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon | I assume the Raiders will bring in a veteran QB to take the place of Derek Carr. Because I can't see them drafting a project like Anthony Richardson this high. Corner seems like a good position to target. |
| 8 | Atlanta Falcons | Isaiah Foskey, EDGE, Notre Dame | I think Atlanta will give Desmond Ridder a full year to prove he can be the QB (or bring in a vet). But they always seem to be looking for a pass rusher. |
| 9 | Chicago Bears (F. CAR) | Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU | Justin Fields is emerging as the QB Chicago can be proud of. But they have to get him some weapons and offensive linemen. There isn't any OL worth taking this high. QJ is a near perfect blend of H/W/S. In my opinion, he is Randy Moss-lite. |
| 10 | Philadelphia Eagles (F. NO) | Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia | Thanks to a questionable trade prior to the 2022 draft, the Saints pick belongs to Philly. I think the Eagles will use that pick as an insurance for Lane Johnson by selecting fast rising Georgia OT Broderick Jones. |
| 11 | Tennessee Titans | Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson | Best player available at a position of need for Tennessee. |
| 12 | Houston Texans (F.CLE) | Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State | After drafting Bryce Young the Texans get him a weapon. Smith-Njigba has mostly been an afterthought after an injury wiped out the majority of his '22 season. |
| 13 | New York Jets | Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson | Jets have spackled some holes at the LB position but now it is time hang a new sheet of drywall. |
| 14 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Bryan Bresee, DL, Clemson | Steelers will eventually need to restart the rebuild of their defensive line and it starts with Bresee. |
| 15 | Washington Commanders | Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina | Another team that could be in the QB market, but corner is also a big need. |
| 16 | Green Bay Packers | Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame | The young WRs seem to be paying off for Green Bay. So, now they add TE1 in this class. |
| 17 | Detroit Lions | O'Cyrus Torrence, G, Florida | One could argue that Torrence is the best overall OL in this class. He is another culture pick in Detroit. |
| 18 | Seattle Seahawks | Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida | Richardson shouldn't be selected anywhere near round one. However, I can see Seattle extending Geno Smith for 1-2 years and trying to develop Richardson's talents. |
| 19 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern | I feel good about the weapons the Jags have accumulated for TLaw. I think they need some OL upgrades. Skoronski could be a tackle or guard and be an upgrade. |
| 20 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Brian Branch, S, Alabama | Whether he is an outside corner, a nickel, or a safety, I expect Branch to be impactful for Tampa as a rookie. |
| 21 | New England Patriots | Jordan Addison, WR, Southern Cal | A weapon that Mac Jones desperately needs. |
| 22 | New York Giants | Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee | I am making an assumption that Daniel Jones will be extended by the Giants. So, they have to add weapons for him and get one of the fastest WRs in this class. |
| 23 | Los Angeles Chargers | Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma | It feels like the Chargers could use an OT upgrade. Anton Harrison is the next off the board. |
| 24 | Baltimore Ravens | Joey Porter Jr, CB, Penn State | Baltimore adds a young corner to their secondary with the son of a familiar foe. |
| 25 | Cincinnati Bengals | Paris Johnson Jr, OT, Ohio State | Jonah Williams has been up and down this year and now La'el Collins is recovering from a torn ACL. At the very least the Bengals need to take a look at position depth. |
| 26 | Minnesota Vikings | Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State | Forbes is going to climb his way into round one by the time the process finishes. |
| 27 | Dallas Cowboys | Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia | Ringo got exposed a bit against Ohio State which is why I have him available for Dallas this late. |
| 28 | New Orleans Saints (F. MIA/SF/DEN) | Gervon Dexter, DL, Florida | **TRADE ALERT** Denver gets the head coach they hope can reinvigorate both Russell Wilson and their franchise by proxy. The Saints add a couple of picks as their rebuild continues. (New Orleans trades HC Sean Payton for pick #28 and a '23 3rd) |
| 29 | Buffalo Bills | Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas | Sure...why not |
| 30 | Kansas City Chiefs | Drew Sanders, EDGE, Arkansas | Pass rush help for KC. |
| 31 | Philadelphia Eagles | Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia | Eagles can take a chance on Smith's talent after the injury that wiped him out this season. |
| 32 | Miami Dolphins | FORFEITED PICK | |
| Pick | Team | Player | Explanation |