1. Chicago Bears: Alabama OLB Will Anderson Jr.
While there’s a solid chance Chicago deals this pick, I think it’d be wise to take Will Anderson. Anderson is fast, physical, and more efficient than anyone else in the draft. He’s no doubt the best player in the draft and the safest pick. He’s tallied 27.5 sacks over the past few seasons and will continue to terrorize offensive tackles when he hits the NFL.
2. Houston Texans: Alabama QB Bryce Young
It was nice while it lasted with Davis Mills, but Houston needs some consistency. Barring them signing Derek Carr, Bryce Young feels like a great fit. He is a mobile quarterback with a big arm that’s able to throw on the run. He could be what brings Houston to the playoffs in the same way Trevor Lawrence pushed Jacksonville over the top.
3. Arizona Cardinals: Georgia DT Jalen Carter
With the retirement of J.J. Watt, and Rashard Lawrence being injury prone, Arizona is in desperate need of run stuffers. Having Carter on the same defensive line as Zach Allen and Myjai Sanders would be a youthful boost. Carter is large and lean with a great first punch and does an awesome job transitioning pass rush moves. The NFC West doesn’t have great interior offensive lines so Carter could shine early.
4. Indianapolis Colts: Kentucky QB Will Levis
I think that C.J. Stroud is a better quarterback than Levis, but Levis feels like a Colts quarterback. He has a strong arm and puts awesome zip on the ball. He thrives on shorter passes like slants, outs, and digs, but has the juice to push the ball downfield. In addition to his strong arm, he’s not afraid to take off and run. While he does struggle with accuracy at times, he wouldn’t be an awful pick at four. Maybe a bit too high, but Indianapolis needs a quarterback.
5. Seattle Seahawks via DEN: Texas Tech DE Tyree Wilson
Seattle is set up the best of any team this offseason. They have 31 million in cap space and two top twenty picks in the draft. Their biggest need is on the defensive line and off the edge so John Schneider will address that. First, he’s grabbing a physical defensive end with Tyree Wilson. In ten games with the Red Raiders, the 6’6, 275 pound pass rusher had 61 tackles, 7 sacks, and 1 forced fumble. This is a solid top five pick here.
6. Detroit Lions via LAR: Clemson DT Bryan Bresee
Detroit allowed the fourth most rushing yards in the NFL this season and need to nip that in the bud to make the playoffs. Bryan Bresee can play from 2i technique to 5 technique and that versatility will be huge in Aaron Glenn’s defense. He can play on four downs in run and pass scenarios which is another bonus because they’ll get the most out of the Clemson defensive tackle in the Motor City.
7. Las Vegas Raiders: Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud
With the release of Derek Carr and the free agent pool of quarterbacks being below average, the draft is the Raiders best shot at getting a franchise quarterback. I personally find Stroud to be the best quarterback in the draft as he’s able to push the ball downfield with great accuracy. Putting him in a Josh McDaniels offense with Davante Adams, Hunter Renfrow, and Darren Waller could lead to immediate success.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Injigba
Even though Desmond Ridder wasn’t great overall, he showed flashes of brilliance. To boost your young quarterback, you need to build around him. With Drake London and Kyle Pitts already in Atlanta, adding Smith-Injigba would give him another option who runs awesome routes and gets active after the catch. I’ve toiled over it for hours on end and I think Smith-Injigba is the best receiver in the draft.
9. Carolina Panthers: Clemson DE Myles Murphy
Personally, I don’t think that Myles Murphy should be a top ten prospect. After really combing over his tape, he shows poor usage of his hands and is very robotic as he has negative bend. Instead of speed rushing upfield and then dipping around a tackle, he’s prone to being pushed up field and or just running upfield. He’s not super efficient as a pass rusher and if Carolina picks him, he’ll get mauled by Tristan Wirfs, Ryan Ramczyk, and Jake Matthews. Nevertheless, playing on a good Clemson defensive line and putting up solid numbers will land him in the top ten.
10. Philadelphia Eagles via NOS: Oregon CB Christian Gonzalez
One of the Eagles biggest needs is on the interior of their offensive line at center with Kelce aging. At eleven, it’s far too early to take a center so they’ll grab the best corner in the draft. Christian Gonzalez has good hips and breaks on the ball with elite quickness as he broke up 7 passes and picked off 4 more for the Ducks this season. It’s unsure if James Bradberry will be back in Philly as he was on a one year deal this past season and Gonzalez can take over at CB2 with no problem.
11. Tennessee Titans: Northwestern OT Peter Skoronski
Other than maybe Will Anderson, Peter Skoronski is the safest pick in the whole draft. He’s a physical pass protector with quick feet and mauls dudes in the run game. Much like Bradberry in Philly, it’s uncertain if Taylor Lewan will be back in Tennessee. If he is back then Skoronski has the ability to play guard. If Lewan gets cut then Skoronski will step in at left tackle.
12. Houston Texans via CLE: TCU WR Quentin Johnston
You grabbed your quarterback of the future. Now, go get a consistent pass catcher with great length and big play ability. Johnston is a threat anytime he’s on the field whether he lines up out wide vs press coverage or in the slot vs an off the ball safety. He’s fantastic at creating space and when he isn’t able to, his 6’4 frame lends him the ability to bring a jump ball down.
13. New York Jets: Ohio State OT Paris Johnson Jr.
I think that the Jets will sign Derek Carr in free agency and they already have a great core of weapons on offense. Offensive line is the issue. Mekhi Becton has been injury prone, Duane Brown is old, and George Fant isn’t a starter. Johnson presents great energy and has a nasty attitude that any offensive line could use.
14. New England Patriots: Notre Dame TE Michael Mayer
I think that New England needs to add weapons for Mac Jones and their offense to get to the next level. With Jordan Addison and Zay Flowers on the board, they could get a legit deep threat, but Michael Mayer is an unreal safety net. Outside of Will Anderson and Peter Skoronski, Mayer is the safest pick in the whole draft. He has a high floor and a high ceiling. New England has developed great tight ends over the years with Gronk, Hernandez, and Watson. Why not add Mayer to that list?
15. Green Bay Packers: USC WR Jordan Addison
It’s still unsure if Aaron Rodgers will be back in 2023, but whether it’s him or Love slinging the rock, they’ll need weapons. Green Bay didn’t have a single receiver or tight end go over 800 yards this season. Addison runs really crispy routes and has an awesome receiver quality with late hands where he’ll show his hands late to catch a pass to throw the defensive backs off. I’m fairly certain he’d be the Packers wide receiver one the second they draft him.
16. Washington Commanders: Florida OG O’Cyrus Torrence
Since losing Brandon Scherff, the Commanders offensive line has struggled. Andrew Norwell allowed 4 sacks and Trai Turner allowed 2 sacks with a PFF grade of 53.0%. O’Cyrus Torrence is a massive human being. He stands at 6’5, 346 pounds and is a dominant mover of men in the run game. Brian Robinson is primed to breakout, but won’t if he doesn’t have the right guys in front of him.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Georgia OT Broderick Jones
Pittsburgh has a lot of holes on their roster. Tackle is probably their biggest need, though. Chukwuma Okafor isn’t cutting it at tackle and they need a youthful infusion with a powerful punch if Najee Harris is going to unlock his true potential and Kenny Pickett will stay upright. Jones has large hands and great mobility which is what you want in a tackle.
18. Detroit Lions: Penn State CB Joey Porter
The Lions were very close to making the playoffs this year and by drafting Bryan Bresee, they’ve upgraded their front seven. Now, it’s time to tune up their back end. Much like his father who was a dominant linebacker, Porter is physical. He’s solid in bump and run coverage and will give you the business in man. With 8 pass breakups and 27 tackles last season, he’s a great fit with Detroit.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Florida QB Anthony Richardson
Tom Brady officially retired, or at least we think. The Bucs currently have Kyle Trask on their roster and could sign Jimmy G or Baker, but Richardson has been soaring up the draft boards. I’m not sure if I’m fully sold on him, but Tampa needs a quarterback. Richardson is remarkably dynamic and can kill an offense through the air or on the rug. Last season, he passed for 2,549 yards and 17 touchdowns while also rushing for 654 yards and 9 touchdowns.
20. Seattle Seahawks: Pittsburgh DT Calijah Kancey
I mentioned prior how Seattle’s biggest needs are on their defensive line. They address the edge position by drafting a physical defensive end at five and now they’re going to get their run stuffing defensive tackle at twenty. Kancey is a threat on all four downs as he tallied 7 sacks this past season and added 31 tackles. A youthful infusion with Kancey and Wilson running stunts could give NFC West offensive lines a fit.
21. Miam Dolphins (FORFEITED)
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Illinois CB Devon Witherspoon
The Chargers defense was solid this past season after adding Khalil Mack, but they could use a little boost in the secondary. It’s not clear what J.C. Jackson’s future with the team is and, if he’s back, Witherspoon can play in the slot. Witherspoon showed off his versatility this past season with Illinois breaking up 14 passes, intercepting 3, and making 42 tackles.
23. Baltimore Ravens: Iowa DE Lukas Van Ness
Baltimore is most concerned about if Lamar will re-sign, but they do have a vacancy off the edge. JPP and Campbell are aging and Tyus Bowser isn’t Matt Judon. Van Ness at 6’5, 269 pounds can play wide 7 tech or 4i tech which is great versatility. With 6.5 sacks and 36 tackles in 2022, he’ll be a huge piece on the Ravens defensive line that’ll include himself, Travis Jones, and Odafe Oweh.
24. Minnesota Vikings: Boston College WR Zay Flowers
With where the Vikings stand cap space wise, cutting Adam Thielen feels inevitable. I’m going to hate to see it happen, but the NFL is a business. KJ Osborn stepped up and proved he can be a second wideout and drafting Zay Flowers just adds another dynamic deep threat that can also kill you on short routes. By dropping Thielen and adding Flowers, the Vikings will be able to build a young core of weapons that includes Jefferson, Flowers, Cook, Osborn, Mattison, and Hockenson.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars: Alabama DB Brian Branch
Of all the defensive backs in this years draft, Branch is the most versatile. He can play corner, safety, or even in the slot in nickel and dime packages. He made 90 tackles, 7 pass breakups, 2 interceptions, and 3 sacks for Alabama this past season and the Jacksonville defensive is loaded with versatile cats like Devin Lloyd, Andre Cisco, and Chad Muma. Branch would fit in great in Duval.
26. New York Giants: Utah TE Dalton Kincaid
The Giants have a solid young core of wideouts, but severely lack talent at tight end. Having a trustworthy safety net in Kincaid will only benefit Daniel Jones. Kincaid caught 70 passes for 890 yards and 8 touchdowns this past season for the Utes and he’d be a massive upgrade for the Giants over Daniel Bellinger.
27. Dallas Cowboys: Michigan DT Mazi Smith
Dan Quinn’s defenses like to crowd the line of scrimmage and make life difficult for teams in both the run and pass. Using strong interior defensive lineman who possess talent frees up edge rushers like Micah Parsons and Demarucs Lawrence. Smith stands at 6’3, 337 pounds and gets busy when he’s on the field. He had 49 tackles and 1 sack this season on a great Wolverine defense. The one drawback is I don’t know if he’s a three to four down guy. He may be most efficient only on first and second down.
28. Buffalo Bills: South Carolina CB Cam Smith
With Christian Gonzalez and Devon Witherspoon’s draft stock rising, Smith’s has fallen a bit. I still think he’s a very good corner and Buffalo is getting a steal here. He plays very well in zone and has matched up with the number one wideouts from great schools like Tennessee, Clemson, and Kentucky this past season. This’d be an outstanding value get for Buffalo.
29. Cincinnati Bengals: Oklahoma OT Anton Harrison
Even after signing Alex Cappa and Lael Collins, the Bengals offensive line struggled. The only solution other than selling their soul for Trent Williams, Quenton Nelson, and Creed Humphrey is to draft an offensive tackle. Anton Harrison is 6’5 and shows off magnificent athleticism as he’s able to mirror speed pass rushers better than almost anyone in the draft.
30. New Orleans Saints via SF: Baylor DT Siaki Ika
With any potential first round quarterback off the board, New Orleans is left deflated. The Saints still have to pick, though. David Onyemata and Shy Tuttle are below average players in the middle of the Saints defense and they need a run stuffer. They allowed 2,218 rushing yards and 4.5 yards per carry and that needs to be cut down if they want to succeed. Siaka Ika is massive, but at 6’4, 358 pounds, he’s remarkably quick and is active with his hands.
31. Philadelphia Eagles: Ohio State C Luke Wypler
Drafting a center after making the Super Bowl with a dominant offensive line may seem like bonehead move, but with Jason Kelce being 35 and turning 36 in the middle of next season, they’ll need a replacement. Wypler has a solid frame at 6’3, 300 pounds and is very affective as a pass blocker. He struggles at times in the run, but with Landon Dickerson and Isaac Seumalo at his side, he’ll be fine.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Maryland CB Deonte Banks
What more do you need when you’ve already won everything? Well, after watching the Super Bowl, I’d say their biggest need is at corner. Sneed has battled injuries and McDuffie isn’t close to a number one corner. I’m not saying Banks is a true number one, but Steve Spagnola could build a great exterior defensive shell around two young cornerbacks in McDuffie and Banks.
