We’re less than a month away for the 2023 NFL Draft that starts April 27th. Many pro days have wrapped up and there are many questions about who will go where and when. This a reminder that there are only 31 picks in the first round after the Dolphins forfeited their first-round pick due to tampering.
- Carolina Panthers – C.J. Stroud – QB – Ohio St.
After the video that we saw from Panthers assistant coach Josh McCown and his interaction with Stroud, I believe they are all in on taking the former Buckeye with the first overall pick. - Houston Texans – Bryce Young – QB – Alabama
Davis Mills is clearly not the answer in Houston. Getting Young at the 1.02 is a good bargain deal. - Arizona Cardinals – Will Anderson Jr. – EDGE – Alabama
Anderson falling into Arizona’s lap is a perfect scenario as their pass rush and defensive line situation isn’t the best. - Indianapolis Colts – Will Levis – QB – Kentucky
Levis has started to get jacked and has a nice Pro Day which should keep him from going outside of the top five. - Seattle Seahawks – Jalen Carter – DL – Georgia
Many believe Carter could’ve gone number one, but his legal issues will be why he slips further than he should. He will also fill a need for Seattle. - Detroit Lions – Anthony Richardson – QB – Florida
Richardson has all the physical attributes of being a freak of nature but will need to sit and develop for at least those years. Learning under Jared Goff will help the young talent. - Las Vegas Raiders – Paris Johnson Jr. – OT – Ohio St.
Johnson fills a future need with many offensive linemen for the Raiders being in the final year of their current contracts. - Atlanta Falcons – Tyree Wilson – EDGE – Texas Tech
The Falcons have been ignoring their defense for a little while now and have many young pieces on the offensive side of the football. Wilson should keep them competitive in the NFC South. - Chicago Bears – Peter Skoronski – OT – Northwestern
Chicago has shown a clear want and need to improve their offense so Justin Fields can show off his talents and give themselves a better chance to win. Getting one of the best tackles in the draft would help. - Philadelphia Eagles – Nolan Smith – EDGE – Georgia
Smith’s athleticism was on full display at the NFL combine and will likely raise his stock. This’ll help Philly as some major pieces in that area are aging. - Tennessee Titans – Devon Witherspoon – CB – Illinois
Many people have Witherspoon as a “lock” in the top 10. Tennessee has other needs but getting a top-rated cornerback can still help their cause. - Houston Texans – Quentin Johnston – WR – TCU
Now that you have Young, you’ll need some other young weapons for him to throw to and Johnston could be that guy for the former Alabama product. - New York Jets – Jaxon Smith-Njigba – WR – Ohio St.
The Jets moved on from their other slot receiver earlier in the off-season. Drafting Smith-Njigba will only improve their offense and make their next quarterback happy. - New England Patriots – Christian Gonzalez – CB – Oregon
Gonzalez falling feels like a sin but in this instance, New England gets another incredible secondary player for Bill Belichick’s defense. - Green Bay Packers – Brian Branch – S – Alabama
Green Bay continues its streak of taking defensive players in the first round and grabs the best-rated safety of the 2023 class. - Washington Commanders – Lukas Van Ness – EDGE – Iowa
Washington gets a beast of an edge rusher in Van Ness who recorded 13.5 sacks in his two years as a Hawkeye. - Pittsburgh Steelers – Joey Porter Jr. – CB – Penn St.
Porter fits well for Pittsburgh and gives them youth and depth in a secondary that is on the older side. - Detroit Lions – Michael Mayer – TE – Notre Dame
The Lions moved on from Tockenson last season and have a history of taking Tight Ends in the early rounds. Mayer is the highest-rated of the top three. - Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Broderick Jones – OT – Georgia
Tampa moved on from its long-time Left Tackle Donovan Smith and drafts a Georgia Bulldog to replace him. - Seattle Seahawks – John Michael Schmitz – IOL – Minnesota
The Seahawks with this pick address the interior of both lines with both first-round picks as they try to keep up with the division-rival 49ers. - Los Angeles Chargers – Calijah Kancey -DL – Pitt
Even though they have Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack, the Chargers need to improve their defensive line and Kancey will help pressure opposing quarterbacks. - Baltimore Ravens – Zay Flowers – WR – Boston College
The Ravens need to make Lamar Jackson and adding another offensive weapon would help with that. Flowers helps add more speed and versatility to that receiver room. - Minnesota Vikings – Jordan Addison – WR – USC
With Adam Thielen departing for Carolina, Minnesota fills that void with Addison who slides in as their wide receiver two as soon as day one of the rookie minicamp. - Jacksonville Jaguars – Deonte Banks – CB – Maryland
There are no glaring needs on offense or on the defensive line for the Jags so taking the best secondary player available makes the most sense. - New York Giants – Josh Downs – WR – North Carolina
The Giants gave Daniel Jones a massive extension and he needs as many pass catchers as he can get. Downs’ role in the slot could replace Sterling Shepard. - Dallas Cowboys – Bijan Robinson – RB – Texas
Robinson falls right into Dallas’ lap as he fills the role that Ezekiel Elliott left and creates the next great backfield duo with Tony Pollard. - Buffalo Bills – Bryan Bresee – DL – Clemson
Instead of going for another secondary player, stealing Bresee in the later part of the round will add useful depth to stop the run and rush the passer. - Cincinnati Bengals – Dawand Jones – OT – Ohio St.
Things aren’t looking great in Cincy with Jonah Williams looking to be traded and La’el Collins still recovering from a late-season torn acl and mcl. - New Orleans Saints – Myles Murphy – EDGE – Clemson
New Orleans needs to find the eventual replacement for Cam Jordan and Murphy is a perfect candidate for the job. - Philadelphia Eagles – Darnell Wright – OT – Tennessee
Lane Johnson signed a one-year extension with the Eagles. It’ll be proactive to take his replacement early. - Kansas City Chiefs – Darnell Washington – TE – Georgia
Rounding out the first round, the Chiefs take another somewhat unconventional selection by drafting the athletic freak at a position that is currently not in jeopardy of being thin.