The NFL Draft is the perfect opportunity for teams to either add key players to their rosters who can lead a rebuild, or fine-tune their options by adding key position players.
The 2023 draft class is widely regarded to be slightly light on talent, but full of decent quarterback options, including Bryce Young, Anthony Richardson and CJ Stroud. The blockbuster trade sending Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets from the Green Bay Packers wasn't a surprise, but could still have implications for those two teams.
The draft is likely to throw up a few surprises here and there as teams change their minds late in the day, but Mirror Sport has presented a mock draft including the New England Patriots trading up.
1. Carolina Panthers - QB Bryce Young
An elite-level thrower and processor, size is the only knock on the 5ft 10in Alabama standout, but he is the top player in this quarterback class.
2. Houston Texans - Edge Will Anderson Jr
New head coach DeMeco Ryans is calling the shots and he is said to be favouring a defensive pick here despite the glaring need at QB. Anderson is another Alabama star who would be an instant upgrade on the line of scrimmage and in the locker room.
3. Arizona Cardinals - CB Christian Gonzalez
The Cardinals' roster is so bad that trading back here is the optimal move, but offers are unlikely to come so they take a polished cornerback in Gonzalez to upgrade the back end of the defence.
4. Indianapolis Colts - QB Anthony Richardson
The wildcard of this QB class comes off the board early with new HC Shane Steichen sold on Richardson's generational athletic freakishness.
5. Seattle Seahawks - Edge Tyree Wilson
Richardson being taken off the board could scupper their plans, but there are plenty of fine options with this selection and the Seahawks take many analysts' top edge rusher in Wilson.
6. Detroit Lions - CB Devon Witherspoon
Rough and tough in the secondary. Just how Lions HC Dan Campbell likes them.
7. Las Vegas Raiders - QB CJ Stroud
Jimmy Garopplo is only a short-term fix. The Raiders can find their long-term Derek Carr successor in Ohio State standout Stroud.
8. New England Patriots (From Atlanta Falcons) - RB Bijan Robinson
The Pats need playmakers and there are no better in this draft than the Texas speedster. They may have to trade up to get him; a steep price to pay for a running back in 2023, but this is a generational talent.
9. Chicago Bears - DT Jalen Carter
The best player on many draft boards and he would be a contender to be a top-three pick if not for character concerns over off-field behaviour.
10. Philadelphia Eagles - Edge Nolan Smith
The Eagles were last season's sack masters and they strengthen an already-stacked defensive front with the Georgia edge rusher.
11. Tennessee Titans - WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba
There are QB options on the board for the Titans, but they take the top wide receiver and look for a signal caller later in the draft; they could be picking high next year with the state of their roster.
12. Houston Texans - QB Will Levis
The Texans will be braced for the top four quarterbacks to be off the board by 12, but if Levis is there, they would be foolish not to spend this pick on the Kentucky prospect.
13. Green Bay Packers - Edge Myles Murphy
Jordan Love will have to wait until day two for new offensive weapons; Clemson star Murphy is the man for the Packers.
14. Atlanta Falcons (From New England Patriots) - Edge Lukas Van Ness
The Falcons have been shrewd in the free agent market to upgrade their defence, and Iowa defensive end Van Ness could make it a real area of strength.
15. New York Jets - OT Broderick Jones
Had to slide two spots to seal the Aaron Rodgers deal, but that doesn't affect how this pick is spent. Injuries on the offensive line were a killer last year and this pick is being used in the trenches.
16. Washington Commanders - CB Joey Porter Jr
A middling roster without glaring needs outside of QB, so a highly-rated corner like Porter Jr is a wise way to keep things steady until the long-awaited sale of the team is done and a full rebuild can begin with fresh leadership
17. Pittsburgh Steelers - OT Darnell Wright
This is the Steelers. They are meant to be tough. Wright fits the bill on the offensive line.
18. Detroit Lions - CB Deonte Banks
Jeff Okudah is gone after an injury-hit stint in Detroit. Banks comes in to fill the void and he will hope for better fortune when it comes to fitness.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - G O'Cyrus Torrence
A big man to get stronger on the O-line to help Baker Mayfield after Tom Brady took a battering last season.
20. Seattle Seahawks - TE Dalton Kincaid
After going defence with their first pick, Geno Smith gets a big-time playmaker.
21. Miami Dolphins - Pick forfeited
A failed – and unauthorised – attempt to sign Tom Brady backfired badly for the Fins.
22. Los Angeles Chargers - TE Michael Mayer
A smooth pass-catcher for Justin Herbert? Slam dunk.
23. Baltimore Ravens - QB Hendon Hooker
Lamar Jackson's saga rumbles on. In Tennessee star Hooker, the Ravens identify a long-term solution despite injury and age – he will turn 26 this season – concerns. Without a torn ACL last season, he is picked earlier in this draft.
24. Minnesota Vikings - S Brian Branch
Back-end help for a defence that was truly woeful last season.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars - OT Peter Skoronski
Best player available vibes here. Extra protection from a versatile lineman would be welcome for Trevor Lawrence.
26. New York Giants - WR Zay Flowers
Likened to former Giants first-round pick Kadarius Toney, Danny Dimes gets a new toy after penning his big contract extension. They will hope Flowers sticks around with Big Blue a little longer than Toney did.
27. Dallas Cowboys - C Steve Avila
Owner Jerry Jones may like to make big splashes from time to time, but Dallas likes to use these picks on the line of scrimmage.
28. Buffalo Bills - WR Jordan Addison
The Bills ran out of steam at the end of last season. Josh Allen needs weapons and Addison is a fine addition.
29. Cincinnati Bengals - OT Anton Harrison
Joe Burrow's getting paid sooner or later, so the Bengals look to protect their prized asset.
30. New Orleans Saints - DT Calijah Kancey
A big dude to beef up the middle of the Saints' defensive front.
31. Philadelphia Eagles - Edge Keion White
The Eagles keep adding to their strengths with another edge rusher in the shape of Georgia Tech's White.
32. Kansas City Chiefs - Edge Felix Anudike-Uzomah
The Chiefs will be pretty bummed if they can't put Zay Flowers' name on the card when they make their first-round pick after paying close attention to him throughout the process, so they opt for a defensive addition after letting Frank Clark walk.
