2023 NFL mock draft 4.0
After the conclusion of the combine festivities, I have decided to conduct my mock draft 4.0 based on individual combine performances and team meetings.
1. Panthers: Bryce Young, QB
Same as my last mock draft, I have the Carolina Panthers being aggressive in moving up in the draft to land their Quarterback, with reports all but solidifying my hypothesis that they would indeed do that in my mock 3.0. Bryce Young passed the measurement tests at the combine and appears to be QB1 on the board currently by consensus, although I personally would target Anthony Richardson.
2. Texans: CJ Stroud, QB
Houston breathes a sigh of relief, as their division rivals in the Indianapolis Colts doesn’t jump ahead of them in the draft. Although there’s question marks surrounding Stroud when things go off script, he put on a show in the throwing session at the combine. He can make all the throws.
3. Cardinals: Will Anderson, EDGE
With the looming status of Jalen Carter and Arizona’s need of a new presence at the pass rusher position, I have the Cardinals selecting the Alabama edge rusher here at three overall.
4. Colts: Anthony Richardson, QB
Indy was up close and personal as Anthony Richardson put on a combine performance for the ages right in their house. They’ll fall in love and run to the podium to turn in their pick.
5. Seahawks: Calijah Kancey, DT
The first surprise of my mock. This probably would’ve been Jalen Carter here, as Seattle needs improved defensive line help, but he falls in this one due to a lot of uncertainty at this current time. After posting the fastest 40 yard dash time by a DT since 2000, Kancey turned a LOT of heads at the combine. He will add a penetrating presence at the position that Seattle has needed for a while now.
6. Lions: Christian Gonzalez, CB
With a vertical of 41.5 inches and posting a 40 time of 4.38 seconds, Christian Gonzalez cemented himself as CB1 in this years draft. Detroit needs help alongside Jeff Okudah in the secondary, with hopes that one of those two will step forward as a true number one corner.
7. Raiders: Will Levis, QB
Even though Las Vegas seems to be primed to go after a veteran such as Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason, drafting Levis here at 7 wouldn’t be such a bad idea. The Raiders can let him marinate for a season or so and bring him along slowly.
8. Falcons: Nolan Smith, EDGE
With a very impressive combine performance that saw the Georgia Bulldog achieve a 41.5 inch vertical and a 4.39 second 40 yard dash, Nolan Smith will likely catapult up draft boards. He makes a lot of sense in Atlanta’s 3-4 defensive scheme as on OLB if he continues to refine his game and expand on his pass rush moves. A player with his athletic prowess with a “Plan B” would be a sight to behold.
9. Bears: Tyree Wilson, EDGE
Not only has Tyree Wilson met with Chicago twice already, but he fits the Matt Eberflus mold of what he’s looking for in a defensive prospect. The addition of Wilson will help Chicago’s lackluster defensive line.
10. Eagles: Jalen Carter, DT
The rich get richer? Look, Carter’s draft stock may have dropped some, but somebody will take the swing on him in the top ten, so why not a team in Philly’s situation coming off of a Super Bowl appearance and two first round picks to work with? Carter would reunite with former college teammate, Jordan Davis as he would replace a lot of talent along the defensive line that’s leaving the Eagles nest this summer.
11. Titans: Paris Johnson, OT
This has been the player you’re likely going to see in EVERY mock draft out currently, but with the release of Taylor Lewan, drafting his replacement early in this years draft seems like a no-brainer to me.
12. Texans: Jaxson Smith-Njigba, WR
Houston reunites CJ Stroud with his college teammate, Jaxson Smith-Njigba. His combine performance shut up a lot of naysayers, as he proved he could generate a lot of separation in the slot at the next level. I fully expect him to be the first wideout off the board come draft day.
13. Packers: Darnell Washington, TE
If you couldn’t tell, I have the Packers moving on from Aaron Rodgers by trading him to the New York Jets. With New York’s first round selection this year, I have the Packers selecting Jordan Love a nice security blanket in the middle of the field in Darnell Washington. Washington is 6’7” 265 pounds and ran a 4.65 second 40 yard dash. His 4.08 second 20 yard shuttle time ranked THIRD at the combine. For reference, Jaxson Smith-Njigba’s first place time clocked in at 3.93 seconds and he’s 6’1” 200 pounds. Outside of Anthony Richardson, Washington just might be the best athlete in this years draft class.
14. Steelers: Joey Porter Jr, CB
Pittsburgh’s General Manager, Omar Khan hinted at the combine that if the right player or situation were to arise, that we could see the Steelers move up in this years draft. With Joey Porter Jr still on the board, Pittsburgh makes sure that New England doesn’t get the chance to select him, as they keep a Steeler legacy in house.
15. Packers: Lukas Van Ness, EDGE
“Hercules” put on a show at the combine and will give Green Bay much needed depth at the pass rusher position. At 6’5” 270 pounds, the Iowa Hawkeye matches exactly what the Packers are looking for in the position. Van Ness is one of my favorite prospects in this years draft and should be a top fifteen selection.
16. Commanders: Michael Mayer, TE
With the success Eric Bieniemy had with Travis Kelce, the Commanders elects to select Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer here at pick sixteen. Mayer is thought to be one of the safest prospects in this years draft and I think he’s being overlooked at being the TE1 in this years draft class. Which is saying something due to the amount of talent this years class has at its disposal.
17. Patriots: Broderick Jones, OT
With the seventeenth overall selection, I have New England deciding on selecting a new franchise Left Tackle for Mac Jones. With the team not franchise tagging Jonathan Jones at the deadline, you could also make a case for a Cornerback to be selected here, but I think Broderick Jones is the best player available at this point in the draft.
18. Lions: Quentin Johnston, WR
A very interesting combine visit, I can see Detroit selecting Quentin Johnston here at pick 18 if available to be their DJ Chark replacement, as they continue to surround Jared Goff with quality weapons on the perimeter.
19. Buccaneers: Anton Harrison, OT
With the release of Donovan Smith, selecting his replacement at Left Tackle to protect whoever they bring in at QB should be priority one in my opinion. After a solid combine performance that showcased his athleticism (under five second 40) and a reported meeting with the team, this just seems like a perfect fit.
20. Seahawks: Zay Flowers, WR
Seattle just extended Geno Smith, so how about the organization uses their second first round pick to surround him with the proper weapons to succeed? Behind DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, nobody has emerged currently on the roster to be a reliable WR3 for the team. Additionally, lets not act like Lockett isn’t getting up there in age as well.
21. Chargers: Adetomiwa Adebawore, DL
With a cap hit of 27.75 million in 2024, I think it’s a very strong possibility that LA releases Khalil Mack as a cap casualty after this upcoming season. That, along with the lack of depth behind Joey Bosa and Mack should be enough for the Chargers to draft Adebawore, who’s standout combine performance should allow him to be a first round selection.
22. Ravens: Bijan Robinson, RB
It’s bound to happen at some point and with the injury woes to JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards in the backfield, I would think it would be wise for the Ravens to re-shuffle the room a little bit. Robinson is a top ten player talent wise in this years draft and will be a no doubt first round selection, no matter how much I personally hate the idea of drafting a RB in round one.
23. Vikings: Cam Smith, CB
Here comes a cornerback run! With Patrick Peterson hitting the open market, Minnesota has to find his replacement as the teams CB1. Cam Smith is one of my favorites in this years class and I believe he tested better than many thought at the combine as well.
24. Jaguars: Kelee Ringo, CB
After releasing Shaquill Griffin, saving 13.14 million in cap space, Jacksonville now needs to address his replacement and selects the raw but uber athletic Ringo.
25. Cardinals: Devon Witherspoon, CB
Much like my mock draft 3.0, I have Arizona trading DeAndre Hopkins to the Giants and will use the Giants 25th pick to bolster their secondary. Devon Witherspoon didn’t get a chance to participate in the combine festivities due to injury but interviewed with Arizona and would be an amazing get here this late in the draft. I wouldn’t be surprised if Witherspoon was gone much earlier in this years draft.
26. Cowboys: Dalton Kincaid, TE
Rumors have it that we should expect three Tight Ends being selected in the first round in this years draft. Another rumor is Dalton Kincaid being talked about as a top ten prospect and TE1 in this years draft. He didn’t get to participate in the draft due to him recovering from a fractured back which could make him drop a little bit, but Dallas scoops him up here at pick 26 to be the teams Dalton Schultz replacement.
27. Bills: Byron Young, EDGE
Tennessee’s Byron Young will be a lot of people’s “What the?” Selection of the first round. However, he had a very strong combine performance, good enough to be a fringe first round or early second round selection. An Edge rusher isn’t the teams biggest need, but Young just might be the best player available and would be a good value at this point in the draft.
28. Rams: Jordan Addison, WR
With a need at the Cornerback position and in one of the best situations salary cap wise in the league, I have the Bengals being aggressive and trading for Jalen Ramsey while Joe Burrow is on his rookie contract. With the new first round pick, I have the Rams selecting Jordan Addison, as he gets to stay in LA and should add needed depth at the WR position.
29. Saints: Myles Murphy, EDGE
Myles Murphy tying the combine record for smallest hands at the Defensive End position, weighing in at the combine at 258 pounds, instead of his listed playing weight of 275 and a tweaked hamstring that kept him from participating in the combine festivities has made Murphy drop on my big board. However, he should be the best player available and adds needed depth along the Saints defensive line.
30. Eagles: Deonte Banks, CB
Running a 4.35 second forty, jumping a 42 inch vertical and 11 foot 4 inch broad jump should all be enough to lock Maryland’s Deonte Bank’s as a first round selection. After selecting defensive line help with their first pick of the 1st round, Philly should use their second selection to add cornerback depth.
31. Chiefs: Darnell Wright, OT
Darnell Wright’s strong performances in the Senior Bowl and draft combine has vaulted him into first round consideration. Kansas City didn’t franchise tag Orlando Brown, but I’m viewing that has a good omen that both parties will get a deal done. However, I think KC will only be able to bring back one of their two starting tackles, so I’m projecting Wright to be their Andrew Wylie replacement.