With less than a week until the 2023 NFL Draft, we gathered Rotoworld’s NFL and college football brain trust for a mock draft. All of the picks were made based on what Eric Froton, Connor Rodgers and Kyle Dvorchak would do if they were sitting in the GM chairs of their respective teams.
In an effort to save their friendship from dying at the negotiating table, no trades were made. Of note, Connor, acting as Arizona’s general manager, was happy to stand pat at third overall and select the best defender available, taking the most obvious trade off the board anyway. With that out of the way, here’s how the experts would navigate the draft.
NFL Mock Draft: Acting as GM
1. Panthers (from CHI): Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
Froton’s pick:
With Young’s current betting line at -1,200 to be the first quarterback selected, I will stay the course and select the player I’ve had as the top quarterback in the 2023 class since he left Mater Dei High School for Alabama, Bryce Young.
2. Texans: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
Dvorchak’s pick:
There’s a strong argument for Stroud as the QB1 of this class and the Texans obviously have a major hole at quarterback. I’m shocked their front office doesn’t seem sold on this pick.
3. Cardinals: Will Anderson, EDGE, Alabama
Rogers’ pick:
The Cardinals’ defense is in a bad place and needs to add as much high-end talent as possible. Will Anderson is a great building block up front who can rush the passer and make explosive plays to blow up the run.
4. Colts: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
Froton’s pick:
While Indianapolis is currently favored to take Will Levis at +150, I am backing the Colts to take the tantalizing upside of the still 20-year old Richardson, who measured in as the freakiest quarterback in the history of the Combine. AR’s footwork is a bit sporadic, but Levis routinely throws from an unstable base while testing tight windows. Plus, the Kentucky signal-caller will already turn 24 this season. Richardson is a nice shot to go here at +425 in my opinion.
5. Seahawks (from DEN): Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
Dvorchak’s pick:
Carter has notable off-field concerns, but is arguably the best defensive prospect in the class. He would immediately begin the turnaround of Seattle’s pass rush.
6. Lions (from LAR): Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
Rogers’ pick:
A sticky corner who plays with an edge, Witherspoon is lights out in coverage and brings the boom when coming downhill.
7. Raiders: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
Froton’s pick:
The Raiders breathe a sigh of relief that they have secured a brief glimmer of hope for the future of their quarterback position in this scenario. Levis has his deficiencies when it comes to his decision making and mechanics, but there’s no hiding his arm strength.
8. Falcons: Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech
Dvorchak’s pick:
The Falcons have had the league’s worst pass-rush for a few years. Wilson is a physical EDGE who is widely considered the second-best player at his position this year.
9. Bears (from CAR): Paris Johnson, OT, Ohio State
Rogers’ pick:
The Bears continue to help Justin Fields by getting him protection in the trenches. He started at right guard in 2021 and left tackle in 2022, giving him versatility for both sides of the line.
10. Eagles (from NO): Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
Froton’s pick:
With Paris Johnson Jr. off the board, the Eagles take Broderick Jones from Georgia to shore up their offensive line for their super-millionaire quarterback, Jalen Hurts. Northwestern OT Peter Skoronski is in play here, but his poor length will likely require him to kick inside, whereas Jones is a more traditional tackle prospect with excellent movement skills and proven success in the SEC East.
11. Titans: Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern
Dvorchak’s pick:
The Titans have numerous starting spots on their line up for grabs and Skoronski is capable of filling any one of them.
12. Texans (from CLE): Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
Rogers’ pick:
The Texans go best player available on defense in this spot after getting Stroud with the second overall pick. Gonzalez and Derek Stingley would be an exciting man-to-man coverage duo with ball skills.
13. Jets: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
Froton’s pick:
JSN is the top wide receiver in the 2023 class according to myself, as well as my colleague and lifelong Jets fan, Connor Rogers. Smith-Njigba’s ball skills are rare as he erased a lot of Stroud’s mistakes in 2021. Plus, he has near one-of-a-kind change of direction ability, as is evidenced in his blazing 3.93s shuttle (99th percentile) and 6.57s 3-Cone (99th percentile) . With the potential arrival of Aaron Rogers, it’s time for the Jets to stockpile weapons for a 3-4 year run.
14. Patriots: Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
Dvorchak’s pick:
Porter is the type of physical, outside corner who will thrive in New England’s defense.
15. Packers: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Rogers’ pick:
Mayer has caught 89 first downs over the last two seasons while holding his own on the line of scrimmage. He’s a true do-it-all tight end and would be an instant safety blanket for Jordan Love.
16. Commanders: Darnell Wright, RT, Tennessee
Froton’s pick:
Darnell Wright nay be a right tackle, but he mauled every defensive lineman in his wake at the Senior Bowl and is a near sure thing to provide plus front-side protection for the next five years. Now, the Titans just need a dependable quarterback to lead the offense.
17. Steelers: Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
Dvorchak’s pick:
I (as the Steelers’ GM) was desperate to get a tackle here, but got sniped on Wright. Instead, they get a freakish athlete at another position of need in Banks.
18. Lions: Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa
Rogers’s pick:
A power rusher with length and explosiveness, the Lions front seven gets much scarier with Van Ness in the picture. He could even kick inside when they bring James Houston on in a rotational role.
19. Buccaneers: Brian Branch, S, Alabama
Froton’s pick:
I was tempted to take Bijan Robinson for the buzz factor, but the practical decision is for a retooling Tampa Bay to solidify its secondary with Branch who can match up in single coverage on slot receivers or drop to single-high. Branch’s versatility would go a long way towards fortifying their back line.
20. Seahawks: O’Cyrus Torrence, OG, Florida
Dvorchak’s pick:
The Seahawks shored up the outside of their line via last year’s draft and now get to bolster their interior with the best guard (or center) of the class.
21. Chargers: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
Rogers’ pick:
Bijan is simply too talented to fall further than this. With Austin Ekeler unhappy and on the final year of his deal, this pick becomes even more of a no-brainer.
22. Ravens: Zay Flowers, WR, BC
Froton’s pick:
A dynamic receiver who was billed at 172 pounds in college, but checked in at a rocked-up 182 at the Combine. Flowers wins at all three levels of the field and has the potential to bring a Jaylen Waddle/Tyreek Hill explosive impact to a perspective NFL offense. You know what they say -- April showers, bring Zay Flowers.
23. Vikings: Jordan Addison, WR, USC
Dvorchak’s pick:
I’m not sure if Addison has the size to be a team’s No. 1 receiver, but he will feast as the WR2 opposite Justin Jefferson.
24. Jaguars: Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia
Rogers’s pick:
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Jacksonville take a bigger EDGE here (Clemson’s Myles Murphy or Old Dominion’s Keion White) but I love the speed Smith plays with as both a pass-rusher and off the ball.
25. Giants: Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
Froton’s pick:
I didn’t want to take QJ with Minnesota’s pick, but with NYG in desperate need of a plan at the wideout position, they take the TCU deep threat to pair with Wan’Dale Robinson and Isaiah Hodgins. Johnston has made several big plays downfield, but too often he lets the ball come to him as opposed to attacking it at its highest point.
26. Cowboys: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
Dvorchak’s pick:
The Cowboys let Dalton Schultz walk in free agency and now have a barren tight end room. Kincaid would step in as an immediate play-maker through the air.
27. Bills: Cedric Tillman, WR Tennessee
Rogers’ pick:
The wide receiver run went in front of the Bills in this draft scenario, but I have no problem going with Tillman here. His size, possession ability and red zone playmaking would perfectly complement Stefon Diggs.
28. Bengals: Dawand Jones, RT, Ohio State
Froton’s pick:
The gargantuan RT from Ohio State (6-8, 374 pounds) had a great Senior Bowl and really answered questions about his ability to move his feet enough to survive on the outside at the next level. He’s an instant plug-and-play, long-term solution at RT that the Bengals don’t have to think about for at least five years.
29. Saints (from SF thru MIA, DEN): Calijah Kancey, DT, Pitt
Dvorchak’s pick:
New Orleans’ defensive line was decimated in free agency. Kancey is undersized for his position but was a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks.
30. Eagles: BJ Ojulari, EDGE, LSU
Rogers’ pick:
A speed rusher with a wide array of pass rush moves, Ojulari adds youth to the Eagles defensive line.
31. Chiefs: Myles Murphy, Edge, Clemson
Froton’s pick:
With the desire to provide a running mate for 2022 first-rounder George Karlaftis, the Chiefs are fortunate to select former five-star monster edge rusher Myles Murphy with the 31st pick. Murphy was considered a potential top-10 pick during bowl season, but a bevy of talented edge rusher options from this class have pushed down his stock a bit. Regardless, Kansas City isn’t complaining and runs to the podium to make this selection.
