1. Chicago Bears
Alabama OLB Will Anderson Jr.: Congratulations, Chicago. You wasted a year of a good, young quarterback, but hey, at least you got the number one pick. Seeing that they have Fields and it’d be foolish to give up on him this early, they should draft the best available. The best available is Alabama outside linebacker Will Anderson. He’s mean, lean, and will run through, past, or over any offensive tackle. In the past two seasons, he tallied 142 tackles, 25.5 sacks, an interception, and two pass deflections. It’d be foolish to not take Anderson.
2. Houston Texans
Alabama QB Bryce Young: Yeah, Houston could rock with the Davis Mills and his elongated neck. They could also draft the elite and talented Alabama quarterback Bryce Young. That seems like the best option. Young has a huge arm and great mechanics that could elevate the underrated talented in Houston like Brandin Cooks, Chris Moore, and Jordan Akins. Young threw for 3,328 yards, 32 touchdowns, and only 5 interceptions in 2022. This would be a slam dunk pick to kickstart the Texans in 2023.
3. Arizona Cardinals
Georgia DT Jalen Carter: With the retirement of J.J. Watt and injuries to Zach Allen, Rashard Lawrence, and Jonathan Ledbetter, Arizona needs interior help. There’s an argument to be made that Carter is the best player in the draft. I would disagree, but there’s an argument to be made. He’s impossible to move in the run game and adds sufficient pressure up the gut in the pass. He tallied 30 tackles, three sacks, and two forced fumbles in 2022 and is a huge reason why Georgia’s been so successful.
4. Indianapolis Colts
Ohio State QB CJ Stroud: The past few years has been a rocky rollercoaster ride of quarterbacks. It’s time they nip it in the bud and draft someone instead of signing a 90 year-old quarterback with a noodle arm. CJ Stroud has flashed as a dynamic passer and play maker. He did it this season without his number one pass catcher Jaxon Smith-Njigba. If you pair him with Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman, and Parris Campbell then Indianapolis could have one of the league’s top offenses in 2023.
5. Seattle Seahawks via DEN
Clemson DE Myles Murphy: Seattle is in a really great spot where they can take the best available. They have minimal holes on their roster. Edge is a bit shallow for the Seahawks and at 6’5, 276, Myles Murphy is a great fit. He’s stout against the run and applies heavy pressure in the pass that’d benefit Seattle. In 2022, he made 40 tackles and 6.5 sacks in a loaded Clemson defense. He’ll fit in great alongside Uchenna Nwosu.
6. Detroit Lions via LAR
Clemson DT Bryan Bresee: In the 2022 season, the Lions allowed the fourth most rushing yards per game with 146.5. Yikes. While they have two linebackers in Alex Anzalone and Malcolm Rodriguez who make plays, they need to bolster their defensive line. Hutchinson off the edge was great this season, but if they add Bresee on the interior, teams will struggle to run the rock. Bresee made 15 tackles and 3.5 sacks in eight games this season.
7. Las Vegas Raiders
Kentucky QB Will Levis: Is this a reach? Yes. Will people saying it’s a reach prevent the Raiders from taking Levis? Absolutely not. He has good mechanics and puts awesome zip on the ball, but he’s still relatively raw. It appears that the Derek Carr era in Vegas has come to an end and they don’t currently have anyone on the roster to take over. Levis would probably be the best option, but there will certainly be bumps along the way.
8. Atlanta Falcons
Georgia OLB Nolan Smith: The Falcons have a lot of needs, but they’re in an odd spot. If they were a few picks higher, they’d get a good DT in Bryan Bresee or a dynamic QB in CJ Stroud. Unfortunately, they’re not. Nolan Smith is a quick pass rusher who can bend the edge like Rubber Band Man. The 6’3, 235 pound edge rusher played in just eight games where he totaled three sacks and 18 tackles.
9. Carolina Panthers
TCU WR Quentin Johnston: Despite what you witnessed in the Natty, Quentin Johnston was the nation’s most dynamic pass catcher in 2022. He caught 59 balls for 1,066 yards and six touchdowns and will elevate Carolinas offense. Obviously, they’d like to take a QB here, but it’d be a MASSIVE reach to take one here. At 6’4, 215, Johnston could dominate NFL cornerbacks with his wide catch radius.
10. Philadelphia Eagles via NO
Oregon CB Christian Gonzalez: Gonzalez’s draft stock is shooting through the roof, and for good reason. Standing at 6’2, he has optimal size to play corner. Gonzalez made 51 tackles, four interceptions, and seven pass breakups in 2022 while playing against high level, PAC-12 competition. Philadelphia has good corners, but Bradberry is 29 and Slay is 32. It’s always good to have a youthful corner to fill in when one of these old codgers retires.
11. Tennessee Titans
Northwestern OT Peter Skoronski: Unfortunately, it seems like Taylor Lewan’s time with Tennessee is just about up. He’s suffered multiple knee injuries the past few seasons and Tennessee needs consistency at the tackle position. Skoronski is a 6’4 mammoth who moves with light feet and is effective against bull rushers. He has a strong punch and moves flesh in the run game. All qualities that the Titans need.
12. Houston Texans via CLE
Texas Tech OLB Tyree Wilson: Houston grabs their franchise QB at two and now they can acquire help on the defensive line. Wilson works his hands really well when he’s rushing the passer and could be a star on the Texans defensive line. With 61 tackles and 7 sacks in 2022, the Red Raiders edge rusher has shot himself in the top fifteen of the NFL Draft.
13. New York Jets
Ohio State OT Paris Johnson Jr.: New York has been a revolving door of offensive linemen this season and they’re in dire need of consistency. Mekhi Becton is injury prone, George Fant is most likely done in the Big Apple, and Mike Remmers is way too old. Paris Johnson Jr. has great energy and finesse at the tackle position which would be a nice change of pace from a heavy footed, robotic tackle.
14. New England Patriots
USC WR Jordan Addison: For once, Bill Belichick needs to buck is trend of picking obscure players and take a baller. Addison runs crispy, clean routes and has blazing speed to run past defensive backs. He’s played with multiple NFL level QBs in Kenny Pickett and Caleb Williams so he has experience with good quarterbacks. New England needs a threat to push the ball down the field and Addison is that guy.
15. Green Bay Packers
Notre Dame TE Michael Mayer: It’s become abundantly clear that if Green Bay wants to succeed and hang on to Aaron Rodgers, they need to put weapons around him. With Robert Tonyan’s production decreasing and Marcedes Lewis being 100 years old, tight end is a huge need. Michael Mayer is a mauler and a baller. He has a big catch radius and great hands to go with a kick-ass attitude in the run game. Mayer will be a guy that can play on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd down because he can do it all. Drafting Mayer could entice Rodgers to stick around for another year.
16. Washington Commanders
South Carolina CB Cam Smith: The Commanders have a solid front seven, but their secondary is weak. Cam Smith has great hips and will take on any team’s WR1. At South Carolina in 2022, Smith made 27 tackles, an interception, and five pass break ups. The NFC East has good receiving cores that Washington struggled to defend in 2022. Smith could step in immediately as Washingtons CB2.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers
Georgia OT Broderick Jones: Pittsburgh was so close to making the playoffs, but they have glowing issues on their roster. Their offensive line struggled big time against good defensive lines and need an anchor. Broderick Jones has a thick lower body and quick feet for a 6’4, 311 pound tackle. Dan Moore Jr. is probably gone this offseason, and Jones could slide into the starting left tackle slot.
18. Detroit Lions
Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba: The way in which Jared Goff stepped up this season with his career on the line was remarkable. It appears that Detroit will ride with Goff and they should now get him a good WR2 to pair with St. Brown. Smith-Njigba missed a lot of time in 2022, but there’s no doubt he’s one of the best pass catchers in the draft. Had he played more in 2022, he’d be a top ten pick.
