2023 NFL Mock Draft: Post-Pro Bowl Projections for 1st-Round Prospects

The majority of NFL teams are now solely focused on preparations for the 2023 NFL draft.

The conclusions of the Pro Bowl and Senior Bowl have left the Super Bowl as the only NFL-sanctioned event between now and the talent grab in Kansas City on April 27-29.

The Chicago Bears and other teams at the top of the draft order have been busy breaking down the draft class since the end of the regular season.

Chicago's focus should be on the defensive side of the football, and most mock drafts believe Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter will be its selection at No. 1.

A lot could change for the Bears in two-and-a-half months, though, whether it be with prospect evaluation or potential trade offers that come across the desk of general manager Ryan Poles.

The Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts and Las Vegas Raiders could all use a new quarterback. They may package deals to move up to No. 1 and avoid any competition for the likes of Will Levis, C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young.

2023 NFL 1st-Round Mock Draft

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 31: Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young (9) scrambles during the Allstate Sugar Bowl between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Kansas State Wildcats on December 31, 2022 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, LA. (Photo by Chris McDill/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

1. Chicago: Jalen Carter, DL, Georgia

2. Houston: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

3. Arizona: Will Anderson, Edge, Alabama

4. Indianapolis: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State

5. Seattle (from Denver): Tyree Wilson, Edge, Texas Tech

6. Detroit (from LA Rams): Myles Murphy, Edge, Clemson

7. Las Vegas: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky

8. Atlanta: Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State

9. Carolina: Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern

10. Philadelphia (from New Orleans): Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State

11. Tennessee: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia

12. Houston (from Cleveland): Lukas Van Ness, DL, Iowa

13. New York Jets: Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU

14. New England: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

15. Green Bay: Jordan Addison, WR, USC

16. Washington: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida

17. Pittsburgh: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon

18. Detroit: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame

19. Tampa Bay: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois

20. Seattle: Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina

21. Los Angeles Chargers: Bryan Bresee, DL, Clemson

22. Baltimore: Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee

23. Minnesota: O'Cyrus Torrence, OG, Florida

24. Jacksonville: Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia

25. New York Giants: Siaki Ika, DT, Baylor

26. Dallas: Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland

27. Buffalo: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas

28. Cincinnati: Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma

29. New Orleans (from San Francisco): Brian Branch, DB, Alabama

30. Kansas City: BJ Ojulari, Edge, LSU

31. Philadelphia: Trenton Simpson, LB. Clemson

Jalen Carter on Top of Draft Boards

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ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 03: Zion Logue #96 and Jalen Carter #88 of the Georgia Bulldogs reacts after a stop against the LSU Tigers during the first half of the SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 3, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter seems to be the consensus top prospect in the draft class for the Chicago Bears.

Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN and Eric Edholm of NFL.com are among the many experts predicting that the 21-year-old will hear his name called first on April 27.

Kiper broke down why Carter has to be Chicago's choice over Alabama edge-rusher Will Anderson:

"It has to be D all the way for wherever the Bears make their selection. Carter, an explosive interior pass-rusher and run-stuffer, gets the nod over Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. on my Big Board. He's the best player in this draft, a Day 1 starter in the middle of this defense."

Carter fills a major gap in the Chicago defense, and he could be a dominant run-stopper for a decade-plus if he lives up to his potential.

Carter is aiming to be the second straight Georgia defensive player to be chosen with top pick. Travon Walker was a surprise selection by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022, but he ended up with 49 tackles, 10 quarterback hits and 3.5 sacks in his rookie season.

Georgia proved to be a factory of defensive prospects in the 2022 draft, with five players chosen in the opening round. Eight total defensive players came from the Bulldogs last year.

The same volume of top-tier prospects won't be coming from Georgia in 2023, though, and Carter could be the lone Bulldogs player chosen in the first round.

He would immediately help the Bears defense and could be part of the solution to stopping the likes of Dalvin Cook, Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams in NFC North games.

Chicago also has the possibility of a trade being dangled in front of it. Quarterback-hungry teams below the Bears in the draft order could blow them away with an offer to ensure a top selection.

Will Any Team Move Up for a Quarterback?

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ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 31: Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) drops back to pass during the college football playoff semifinal game between the University of Georgia Bulldogs and The Ohio State Buckeyes on December 31, 2022 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Houston sits at No. 2 in the draft order, but it might be forced to get involved on the trade market to ensure it gets the player it wants.

The Texans should try to reset most of their roster with new head coach DeMeco Ryans now in place. They must select a quarterback in the first round to move on from Davis Mills.

Indianapolis and Las Vegas are intriguing teams further down the top 10 because of the holes they both have at the same position.

The Colts have failed to find success by signing and trading for veteran signal-callers, so they may finally go the rookie route again under their new coach. Meanwhile, Las Vegas could pursue some of the experienced signal-callers available to replace Derek Carr, or it may go after a new face of the franchise in the draft.

Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic proposed that the Raiders move up to No. 3 in a trade with Arizona to select C.J. Stroud, while Dane Brugler of the same outlet mocked a trade by the Colts to get all the way up to No. 1.

The teams involved on the trade market must evaluate if a deal is worth it mostly based on how many draft picks they can risk.

Indianapolis could select the second-best quarterback at No. 4, but it has to decide if it would be content taking one of Will Levis, C.J. Stroud or Anthony Richardson if Bryce Young goes second.

Houston appears to be in the best position to land a quarterback without trading. Chicago could be committed to Carter at No. 1, which would leave all available signal-callers for the Texans.

Indianapolis and Las Vegas seem the most likely trade candidates, so they can move up to get their favorite players at quarterback. There could always be a surprise team that enters the trade market as well, depending on how free agency goes.