NFL Mock Draft 2023: 1st-Round Projections for Most Exalted Prospects

With Super Bowl LVII in the rearview, the NFL world has officially turned its attention to the 2023 NFL draft. Yes, free agency (March 15) is up first, but with the scouting combine set to kick off at the end of the month, draft season is officially here.

The 2023 draft is set to be an intriguing one, with multiple quarterbacks holding first-round potential and several elite defensive prospects likely to top draft boards. While the draft is not a one-round affair, almost all of the pre-draft buzz is focused on April 27's opening night.

How might that first round unfold? It's largely a guessing game at this point in the evaluation process, but we're here to examine a couple of likely scenarios based on evaluations from the Bleacher Report Scouting Department and the latest intel from around the league.

This will be a mostly trade-free mock draft, though we're including a big one at the top, and we'll explain why below.

2023 NFL Mock Draft

Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: The Indianapolis Colts logo on the video board during the first round at the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington Texas. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

1. Indianapolis Colts (from CHI in projected trade): C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State

2. Houston Texans: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

3. Arizona Cardinals: Jalen Carter, DL, Georgia

4. Chicago Bears (from IND in projected trade): Will Anderson Jr., Edge, Alabama

5. Seattle Seahawks (from DEN): Myles Murphy, Edge, Clemson

6. Detroit Lions (from LAR): Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State

7. Las Vegas Raiders: Peter Skoronski, OL, Northwestern

8. Atlanta Falcons: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois

9. Carolina Panthers: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida

10. Philadelphia Eagles (from NO): Tyree Wilson, DL, Texas Tech

11. Tennessee Titans: Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State

12. Houston Texans (from CLE): Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah

13. New York Jets: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia

14. New England Patriots: Jordan Addison, WR, USC

15. Green Bay Packers: Nolan Smith, Edge, Georgia

16. Washington Commanders: Christopher Smith, DB, Georgia

17. Pittsburgh Steelers: O'Cyrus Torrence, IOL, Florida

18. Detroit Lions: Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky

20. Seattle Seahawks: Will McDonald IV, Edge, Iowa State

21. Miami Dolphins (forfeited)

22. Los Angeles Chargers: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame

23. Baltimore Ravens: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

24. Minnesota Vikings: Bryan Bresee, DL, Clemson

25. Jacksonville Jaguars: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah

26. New York Giants: Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU

27. Dallas Cowboys: BJ Ojulari, Edge, LSU

28. Buffalo Bills: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas

29. Cincinnati Bengals: Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia

30. New Orleans Saints (from SF, via MIA and DEN): Brian Branch, S, Alabama

31. Philadelphia Eagles: Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina

32. Kansas City Chiefs: Siaki Ika, DL, Baylor

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*Draft order via Tankathon

Bears Hold the Power (and Plenty of Reasons) to Trade out of the No. 1 Spot

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ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announces a pick by the Chicago Bears during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Quarterback prospects like Ohio State's C.J. Stroud, Alabama's Bryce Young and Florida's Anthony Richardson will be held in high regard throughout the pre-draft process and will be highly coveted on draft weekend.

The Chicago Bears can use this to their advantage by trading out of the No. 1 spot and acquiring additional draft capital. That is, unless they are thinking of replacing quarterback Justin Fields with a rookie prospect—as some recent buzz would seem to indicate.

According to Audacy's Jason La Canfora, multiple NFL general managers are "fairly convinced" Fields will be traded.

Would Chicago really move on from a young quarterback with loads of physical upside and two years of NFL experience for a completely unproven prospect? Perhaps, but Bears general manager Ryan Poles could also simply be creating smoke.

By creating the illusion that Chicago wants a quarterback, Poles can jump-start the trade-down discussions.

According to Heavy's Matt Lombardo, the Bears might even be able to trade down twice:

"Some league sources here for the Senior Bowl suggest that the Bears could conceivably trade back twice if Poles can manufacture a smokescreen that Chicago is interested in a quarterback that a team such as the Houston Texans are intent on targeting, moving to pick No. 2—potentially for multiple first-round picks, and sliding down again to either pick No. 4 (the Indianapolis Colts), or No. 5 (Seattle Seahawks)."

In our mock, we have the Indianapolis Colts jumping the division-rival Houston Texans. They land Stroud, the top-ranked quarterback on the B/R board, leaving Houston to take Young. Both franchises get a quarterback, while the Bears land a bevy of draft picks—perhaps including multiple first-rounders—with which to bolster their ongoing rebuild.

Defense Will Dominate the Early First Round

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Alabama edge-rusher Will Anderson Jr.

Trading down makes a lot of sense for Chicago because the Bears can still land an elite defensive prospect if they stay in the top five. That's something their 32nd-ranked scoring defense desperately needs.

In this scenario, the Arizona Cardinals—who do not need a quarterback—grab Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter. Disruptive, dependable and versatile interior defenders are extremely valuable in the NFL, and Carter has the tools to be a great one.

"Any team picking toward the top of the draft that's looking for an interior defender who can make an impact against the run and as a pass-rusher should be more than happy to select Carter," Matt Holder of the Bleacher Report Scouting Department wrote.

With Houston and Indianapolis taking quarterbacks, this would allow Chicago to still get Will Anderson Jr., the top-ranked defender on the B/R board. This, though, will only be the beginning of a heavy first-round run on defensive prospects.

Aside from a quarterback, landing a dominant front-line defender, elite edge-rusher or shutdown cornerback is one of the most valuable things a team can do in the early first round.

These are positions that can yield game-changers, and in this mock, six of the first 10 selections are on defense. Three quarterback-needy teams get their guys in the top 10, while the Las Vegas Raiders round things out with an offensive tackle in Northwestern's Peter Skoronski.

The Raiders could also be in play for a quarterback following the release of Derek Carr. However, they could also land a veteran, possibly via a trade before then. The prediction here is that Las Vegas adds a free agent like Jimmy Garoppolo or trades for a guy like Aaron Rodgers and instead uses its top selection on an anchor offensive lineman.

Meanwhile, multiple defenses get a whole lot better in the early minutes of opening night.