Barry Recks
The 2023 NFL Draft is rapidly approaching, which means it’s high time to check out the top prospects, the needs of each team, and the storylines heading into this huge three-day event. The draft will take place at Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri from April 27 to 29.
With all that being said, you can check out JefeBet’s NFL Mock Draft predictions for the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. You can also drop by here for more NFL coverage and betting updates.
Predictions, Picks, and Preview for the First Round of the 2023 NFL Football Draft from the 27th to the 29th of April.
1. Carolina Panthers – Bryce Young, Quarterback, Alabama Crimson Tide
The Panthers traded with the Chicago Bears to get to the top of the order of the 2023 NFL Draft, and you can bet that they are going to use this pick on a quarterback. The only question here is which quarterback will they choose. Young has the talent, the collegiate accolade, and the upside pointing to a potential franchise-altering quarterback.
2. Houston Texans – Jalen Carter, Defensive Tackle, Georgia Bulldogs
The Texans could certainly use this pick to get themselves a quarterback, but the talent of Carter might also just be too good to pass up for Houston. He will be a powerful asset in the defensive line for the Texans, who were just 27th in 2022 in scoring defense.
3. Arizona Cardinals – Will Anderson Jr., Edge, Alabama Crimson Tide
The Cardinals have lost quite some talent on defense in the offseason with JJ Watt retiring and Zach Allen taking his talents to Mile High City. Someone like Will Anderson can plug the holes in the Cards’ stop unit that allowed the second-most points per game in 2022.
4. Indianapolis Colts – C.J. Stroud, Quarterback, Ohio State Buckeyes
The Colts need a quarterback not just in the 2023 NFL season but for years to come, and they can get one in the upcoming draft. If the Colts land Stroud, they’ll be a big winner in the draft, as they will have someone who could finally end their yearly QB conundrums since the retirement of Andrew Luck.
5. Seattle Seahawks – Will Levis, Quarterback, Kentucky Wildcats
Geno Smith is still with the Seahawks, but he’s not going to be in Seattle for several years to come. While Smith will be the starter for Seattle in 2023, it will be wise for the Seahawks to get a QB they can groom to become their QB1 – maybe as soon as the middle of the 2023 season even.
6. Detroit Lions – Anthony Richardson, Quarterback, Florida Gators
Like the Seahawks, the Lions still have a veteran to handle the quarterbacking duties in 2023 in Jared Goff, but Detroit is a team that is still in the rebuilding phase regardless of how much progress they showed in 2022. Anthony Richardson can learn as a backup in 2023 and begin handling the starting QB gig in 2024 – or sooner.
7. Las Vegas Raiders – Devon Witherspoon, Cornerback, Illinois Fighting Illini
There’s a ton of cornerback talent in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Raiders could get ahold of one of them in Illinois stud CB Devon Witherspoon, who will have a significant role right away in Las Vegas’ defense that was fourth-worst in the league in 2022 in passing yards allowed per game.
8. Atlanta Falcons – Tyree Wilson, Edge, Texas Tech Red Raiders
There is no question that the Falcons need help on defense, particularly when it comes to rushing opposing quarterbacks. Wilson can help deliver the goods for Atlanta in that regard after recording 14 sacks in his final two years in Lubbock.
9. Chicago Bears – Quentin Johnston, Wide Receiver, TCU Horned Frogs
The Bears entered the offseason starving for offensive weapons to make life easier for Justin Fields, who, in 2022m often had to do it all by himself to gain yards. The Bears got DJ Moore from the Panthers via that trade that sent the No. 1 pick to Carolina, but Chicago still needs more to boost its offense.
As one of the most explosive wideouts in college in 2022, Johnston can be that boost after recording 1,069 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 60 receptions in his final year with TCU.
10. Philadelphia Eagles – Christian Gonzalez, Cornerback, Oregon Ducks
The Eagles made it all the way to the Super Bowl last season thanks in large part to their stout defense. That defense lost some faces this offseason but the secondary still looks good with Darius Slay and James Bradberry still there and with Greedy Williams signing with the reigning NFC champs.
If the Eagles want to make that group even scarier, adding Gonzalez will do the trick. Gonzalez has the size and length to become successful right away in the NFL.
11. Tennessee Titans – Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Wide Receiver, Ohio State Buckeyes
Smith-Njigba was an absolute stud for the Buckeyes in college. He was not able to play a lot of games in 2022 for Ohio State due to injury, but in 2021, he torched defenses for 1,606 receiving yards and nine touchdowns on 95 catches. He is a superstar in the making, and he’ll have all the chances he can have in Tennessee’s offense which doesn’t have much behind running back Derrick Henry.
12. Houston Texans – Peter Skoronski, Offensive Tackle, Northwestern Wildcats
Regardless if they get a quarterback in this draft or not, they need better pass protection in 2023. Skoronski checks a lot of boxes for what a team needs in an offensive tackle. Moreover, his run-blocking skills will be very much in use in tandem with running back Dameon Pierce, who could have a breakout Year 2 in the league.
13. New York Jets – Calijah Kancey, Defensive Lineman, Pittsburgh Panthers
Defense was a strength in 2022 for the Jets, but they can always still improve. Adding Kancey will be a win for New York, as the defensive lineman from Pittsburgh is fast (ran a 4.67) and has shown the strength and technique that can overpower matchups in the trenches.
14. New England Patriots – Brian Branch, Safety, Alabama Crimson Tide
Many say that Branch is the best safety in the 2023 NFL Draft. Sounds like the perfect guy for the Patriots, who allowed opponents to complete 59.58% of their passes in 2022.
15. Green Bay Packers – Lukas Van Ness, Edge, Iowa Hawkeyes
One concern the Packers had in 2022 was the depth of their edge rushers group. That alone is a sign pointing toward a pick for someone like Van Ness in the first round for Green Bay.
16. Washington Commanders – Joey Porter Jr., Cornerback, Penn State Nittany Lions
There’s a lot to like about Porter. For one, he is tall (6-2)and has solid speed (ran a 4.46). He has also shown great ability in sticking with his man, which should only get better as he gets more reps in the NFL.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers – Dalton Kincaid, Tight End, Utah Utes
The Steelers still have Pat Freiermuth and has other needs to address in the draft, but the chance of securing the best tight end in the 2023 NFL Draft might be too tempting for the team not to take it.
18. Detroit Lions – Deonte Banks, Cornerback, Maryland Terrapins
Some would put a question mark on Banks’ lack of starting reps in college despite four years with the Terps. But his size (6-0) and ability to shadow his man without yet capitalizing on his length and size are tantalizing.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Paris Johnson Jr., Offensive Tackle, Ohio State Buckeyes
Tom Brady is no longer in Tampa – or in the NFL for that matter – but Johnson will still be a fit for the Bucs’ pass protection unit that needs addressing this offseason.
20. Seattle Seahawks – Bryan Bresee, Defensive Tackle, Clemson Tigers
Breese is coming from a great program and should be able to see a significant role in Seattle’s defense that was so porous in 2022. Breese had nine sacks in 28 games for Clemson in his college career.
21. Los Angeles Chargers – Nolan Smith, Edge, Georgia Tigers
Smith made loud noises at the NFL combine with his speed, running a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash. Again, he plays edge. His quickness to recognize defenses and apply speed in his attack should leave teams like the Chargers salivating.
22. Baltimore Ravens – Myles Murphy, Edge, Clemson Tigers
We got another edge rusher here in Murphy, who posted a total of 18.6 sacks in three years with Clemson.
23. Minnesota Vikings – Anton Harrison, Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma Sooners
Injecting a fresh talent like Harrison to the Vikings’ offensive line could further unlock the full potential of a talent-laden attack.
24. Jacksonville Jaguars – Zay Flowers, Wide Receiver, Boston College Eagles
The Jaguars have Calvin Ridley and Zay Jones expected to be 1-2 combo of the Jaguars downfield in 2023, but Flowers could – and should – have a say in that if he lands in Jacksonville. In his last season in college, he had 1,077 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns on 78 catches for Boston College in 2022.
25. New York Giants – Broderick Jones, Offensive Tackle, Georgia Bulldogs
New York committed a lot of money for Daniel Jones, so it’s only ideal for the Giants to ensure there’s always talent in front of the quarterback to protect the most expensive asset of the team.
26. Dallas Cowboys – Jordan Addison, Wide Receiver, USC Trojans
A seemingly lackluster combine performance may have damaged the stock of Addison, but the Cowboys should be happy if they get the Trojans wideout this late in the first round. Addison had 3,134 receiving yards and 29 touchdowns in three years in USC uniform.
27. Buffalo Bills – Bijan Robinson, Running Back, Texas Longhorns
The first round shouldn’t end without everyone hearing Robinson’s name get called. Mel Kiper even thinks that Robinson will be a perfect complement to Josh Allen.
28. Cincinnati Bengals – Michael Mayer, Tight End, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The Bengals lost Hayden Hurts to free agency, so a new tight end can be a worthy pick here for Cincinnati. In three seasons with the Fighting Irish, Mayer managed to collect 2,099 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns on 180 receptions.
29. New Orleans Saints – Will McDonald IV, Edge, Iowa State Cyclones
The Saints saw Jaden Elliss sign with the Falcons, opening up a hole in New Orleans’ defense. Enter McDonald, who could be a worthy replacement. McDonald played five years for the Cyclones and had back-to-back seasons at Iowa State in which he recorded 22 sacks.
30. Philadelphia Eagles – Josh Downs, Wide Receiver, North Carolina Tar Heels
The Eagles don’t really have a pressing need, so taking a chance on a stud wideout is an ideal move this late in the first round. Downs posted 2,364 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns on 195 catches in his final two years with the Tar Heels.
31. Kansas City Chiefs – Dawand Jones, Offensive Tackle, Ohio State Buckeyes
Jones is a massive person, standing 6-8 with a 374-pound frame. Imagine having that human being blocking for an all-time great like Patrick Mahomes. Jones isn’t just all about size and heft, though. He can still improve on his technique in the NFL, which is terrifying to think about for opposing defenses.
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