NFL Mock Draft 2023: Eagles add Round 1 talent to Super Bowl defense; Buccaneers land Tom Brady replacement

The 2023 NFL Draft almost has a complete first-round order. All that’s left is finding out who wins Super Bowl 57 between the Eagles and Chiefs to settle the No. 31 and No. 32 overall slots.

As the playoffs wind down for good and a new champion is crowned, the attention will immediately turn to improving personnel in the offseason for every team. While free agency comings and goings and trades will change plenty of draft strategy across the league, here’s an updated look at the Round 1 projections, including what Philadelphia and Kansas City are thinking at the end:

BIG BOARD: Ranking the top 100 prospects for 2023 NFL Draft

NFL mock draft 2023

1. Chicago Bears

• Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama (6-4, 235 pounds)

The Bears, picking first overall for the first time since 1947, shouldn’t need to consider QB with the passing and running ceiling of big-armed Justin Fields. The ideal scenario is trading down for extra first-down selection power with a team looking to jump the Texans for a particular franchise QB. If the Bears stay, they should look to get familiar defensive pop. Anderson would give them a new Khalil Mack after also saying goodbye to Robert Quinn and Roquan Smith on the second level.

MORE: Breaking down the Bears’ best options for No. 1 pick

2. Houston Texans

• Bryce Young, QB, Alabama (6-0, 194 pounds)

For the Texans, after seeing enough of Davis Mills, quarterback must be the pick right away. Although they are no longer guaranteed to select their QB of choice, they must first answer the question of whether they prefer Young or Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud. Here’s thinking early that Young, with the pedigree that’s helped Tua Tagovailoa, Jalen Hurts and Mac Jones become NFL starters, will provide the right combination of passing upside and little bust factor based on his intangibles and proven production.

MORE: Breaking down the Texans’ best options after missing No. 1 pick

3. Arizona Cardinals

• Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia (6-3, 310 pounds)

The Cardinals also would have an easy pick to make here with J.J. Watt retiring and Zach Allen heading into free agency. Carter is a dominant, disruptive force made to make a lot of plays as an NFL base 3-4 end. He possesses Watt-like upside with pass-rush potential.

4. Indianapolis Colts

•  C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State (6-3, 215 pounds)

The Colts’ reward for an absolute QB mess between Matt Ryan, Nick Foles and Sam Ehlinger in the final abbreviated season under Frank Reich is being bad enough to get in position to stop recycling veteran QBs. They can land Stroud, a smart pocket passer with the right accuracy and intangibles to thrive as their true franchise replacement for Andrew Luck. He or Young is the right pick for whoever’s their head coach and offensive coordinator.

5. Seattle Seahawks (from Broncos)

• Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson (6-5, 275 pounds)

The Seahawks, after being eliminated in the wild-card round by the 49ers, should be thinking about boosting their defensive front seven with their extra higher first-rounder. Murphy has a great combination of explosiveness and instincts to maintain his pass-rush production in Pete Carroll’s scheme.

MORE: How Broncos ultimately landed on Sean Payton despite Jim Harbaugh, DeMeco Ryans courtship

6. Detroit Lions (from Rams)

• Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame (6-4, 251 pounds)

The Lions might think about complementing recent first-rounder Aidan Hutchinson at edge rusher or Jeff Okudah at cornerback, but this move also is in play to replace traded T.J. Hockenson. With Mayer in the mix with Amon-Ra St. Brown, D’Andre Swift and Jameson Williams, the Lions would be an even more difficult passing offense to defend. Mayer can be the next great one with his dominant physical frame and receiving moxie.

7. Las Vegas Raiders

• Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina (6-0, 188 pounds)

The Raiders need coverage help badly to complement what Maxx Crosby and others do up front to disrupt in the pass rush. Smith has great size and physicality as the aggressive cover man they could really use with some shutdown potential.

8. Atlanta Falcons

• Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State (6-6, 310 pounds)

The Falcons should think defense here, too, but they also might be hard-pressed to re-sign right tackle Kaleb McGary after his terrific breakout 2022 season. Should they let McGary walk for a bigger contract elsewhere, Johnson would be a plug-and-play replacement with his nimble pass protection and run blocking upside.

9. Carolina Panthers

• Will Levis, QB, Kentucky (6-3, 232 pounds)

The Panthers need to clean up their QB situation after going from Baker Mayfield to P.J. Walker before circling back to Sam Darnold in a run-heavy offense. Levis represents a solid pocket passer with the arm, accuracy and quick release to thrive with the right support system. He can get that with new coach Frank Reich.

MORE: Updated list of Round 1 picks after Broncos traded Saints for Sean Payton

10. Philadelphia Eagles (from Saints)

• Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia (6-0, 205 pounds)

Sitting on two first-round picks and not any glaring needs beyond further addressing defensive tackle after taking Jordan Davis in the first round, the Eagles can tap into another aspect of another national championship Bulldogs defense. Should they let James Bradberry walk as a free agent after one big season, Ringo would could start right away with Darius Slay. Ringo also his uses his athleticism, instincts and physicality to make a lot of big plays on the ball.

11. Tennessee Titans

• Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern (6-4, 315 pounds)

The Titans need to think about Taylor Lewan’s replacement at left tackle given he’s going into his Age-32 season with mounting durability issues. Skoronksi can deliver as their tackle of the future opposite 2022 draftee Nicholas Petit-Frere with his smooth quickness and athleticism on the edge.

12. Houston Texans (from Browns)

• Jordan Addison, WR, USC (6-0, 175 pounds)

The Texans need to pair a dynamic pass-catcher with their new franchise QB. Addison has a nice blend of field-stretching speed and after-the-catch quickness to quickly develop into the go-to guy for Young.

13. New York Jets

• Quentin Johnson, WR, TCU (6-4, 215 pounds)

The Jets knocked it out of the park by drafting offensive skill playmakers Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall in 2022, on top of landing shutdown corner Sauce Gardner for the defense. They should go after more big plays for their next QB by giving Wilson a complementary big field-stretcher and red-zone finisher outside to upgrade from oft-injured Corey Davis.

14. New England Patriots

•  Brian Branch, S, Alabama (6-0, 193 pounds)

The Patriots love versatile thumpers in their secondary and with Devin McCourty (35) and Jabrill Peppers heading into free agency, they will look for someone to line up next to Kyle Dugger and make a ton of plays. He’s a natural agile cover man learning how to clean up mightily against the run, too.

15. Green Bay Packers

• Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson (6-5, 300 pounds)

The Packers will have another key hole up front with Dean Lowry and Jarran Reed entering free agency. They got Devonte Wyatt in the draft to help Kenny Clark last season so it would make sense to round out the starting three with Bresee, a relentless solid run stuffer with great inside pass-rush upside.

16. Washington Commanders

• Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State (6-2, 198 pounds)

The Commanders need to get a force in their secondary after the William Jackson and Kendall Fuller moves didn’t pan out. Porter is flashy because of his size, physicality and speed in coverage. He can dominate with more consistency in the NFL.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers

• Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia (6-4, 310 pounds)

Dan Moore Jr. struggled big-time run blocking for Najee Harris and pass protecting on the left side for rookie QB Kenny Pickett. With Johnson and Skoronski possibly gone before this pick, they can plug and play Jones, who will help Pickett more first before settling in more to help Harris.

18. Detroit Lions

• Isaiah Foskey, EDGE, Notre Dame (6-4, 257 pounds)

The Lions could use a rangy bookend for 2022 No. 2 overall pick Aidan Hutchinson. Foskey can deliver with a powerful, explosive and technically sound game. He also has the potential to develop into an elite run defender.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida (6-4, 232 pounds)

The Buccaneers know that Tom Brady is retired for good now and can’t rely on the still-developing former Florida QB Kyle Trask, their second-round pick in 2021. They should still go after a veteran bridge (Jacoby Brissett) but also consider going back to Gainesville for this much higher upside Gator with his size, big arm and terrific athleticism.

20. Seattle Seahawks

• Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech (6-6, 275 pounds)

The Seahawks could use some more pass-rush pop for Carroll’s defense and this makes season if they’re content offensively with another year of Geno Smith at QB. Carroll will like his size and versatility to be effective as a hybrid pass rusher.

21. Miami Dolphins (pick forfeited)

22. Los Angeles Chargers

• Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson (6-3, 225 pounds)

The Chargers know that both Drue Tranquill and Kyle Van Noy are free agents, so they need a tough, fast and rangy option to fly all over the field and make plays both vs. the run and pass. Simpson easily fits that need in a physical, explosive package.

23. Baltimore Ravens

•  Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State (6-0, 197 pounds)

The Ravens need to get Lamar Jackson more help beyond Rashod Bateman and Mark Andrews as they missed Marquise Brown more than they would like to admit last season. Smith-Njigba would be a great complement to fellow Big Ten first-rounder Bateman with his speed, quickness and route-running.

24. Minnesota Vikings

• Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon (6-2, 201 pounds)

The Vikings need to give Cam Dantzler better help on the back end with Patrick Peterson and Chandon Sullivan heading into free agency. Gonzalez also offers good size and can get physical with his agile coverage.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars

• Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M (6-3, 195 pounds)

The Jaguars had below-average safety play and top backup Andrew Wingard is a pending free agent. Johnson is a rangy cover man for the position who also is reliable in run support.

26. New York Giants

• Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU (6-0, 190 pounds)

The Giants need to get Daniel Jones a bona fide No. 1 target in the passing game to recover from their injury-riddled mess in 2022. Boutte is the latest standout LSU product with a good blend of perimeter field-stretching and inside route toughness.

27. Dallas Cowboys

• Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas (6-0, 215 pounds)

With the possibilities of Tony Pollard exploring free agency after his breakout season and a change of heart on keeping Ezekiel Elliott, Jerry Jones might be interested in replacing them with a potential superstar from down the road in Austin. Robinson is a three-down back with explosive qualities including vision, quickness, determination and open-field burst as a runner and receiver.

28. Buffalo Bills

• O’Cyrus Torrence, G, Florida (6-5, 347 pounds)

The Bills need interior offensive line help around Mitch Morse following a disappointing season from Rodger Saffold and Ryan Bates. Torrence has the power, nastiness, hands and feet they could use to become smoother inside.

29. Cincinnati Bengals

• Devin Witherspoon, CB, Illinois (6-0, 180 pounds)

The Bengals need more playmaking juice and reliable coverage size outside instead of Eli Apple to help a healthy Chidobe Awuzie. Safety also is a need with Jessie Bates III and Vonn Bell as free agents, but this move for the rising Witherspoon makes sense for now.

MORE: Sean Payton trade grades

30. New Orleans Saints (from 49ers through Broncos)

• Felix Anudike-Uzomah, EDGE, Kansas State (6-4, 255 pounds)

The Saints know that Cameron Jordan will turn 34 in the summer and Marcus Davenport is heading into free agency as a disappointment. The defensive-minded Allen, now completely out of Payton’s shadow, should consult with GM Mickey Loomis to think pass rusher is the right call if the QB options are there. This prospect has some similar Jordan qualities to him.

31 or 32. Kansas City Chiefs

• Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma (6-5, 315 pounds)

This is the Chiefs’ best contingency plan for losing left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. in free agency or just getting a big upgrade with another young athletic lineman to replace Andrew Wyile on the right side. He already is a nasty elite run blocker who can be quickly molded into a nimble pass protector with the right coaching.

31 or 32. Philadelphia Eagles

• Noah Sewell, LB, Oregon (6-3, 250 pounds)

The Eagles may not bring back T.J. Edwards in free agency and might be in the market for a new clean up in the middle of their defense. Sewell is an absolute terror vs. the run as a rangy tackling machine with untapped upside in coverage.