The 2023 NFL Draft is roughly two weeks away. That’s a good thing, too; April has been a bit of a wasteland when it comes to football news.
Sure, Odell Beckham Jr. signed with the Baltimore Ravens and Jeff Okudah’s Detroit Lions career ended less than three years after the franchise made him a top three pick, but it’s otherwise been a slow couple weeks when it comes to Super Bowl table setting. So for my latest mock draft, I opted to lean in to the boredom and get a little weird.
Every pick in this one-round mock draft gets traded. Some more than once. The deals are disclosed at the top of each writeup and trade compensation is based on Rich Hill’s Bill Belichick-inspired pick value chart. Some swaps will make more sense than others since dealing every selection is a silly exercise to begin with. If I happen to get just one of these trades even halfway right I will be pleasantly surprised.
So with those disclaimers out of the way, let’s get to dealing. Here’s my 2023 trade-every-pick NFL mock draft.
1
Houston Texans (trade with Carolina Panthers): QB CJ Stroud, Ohio State
- Texans send: Their first round pick (second overall), 2023 second round pick (33rd overall), 2024 third round pick, 2024 fourth round pick
- Panthers send: The first overall pick, 2024 sixth round pick
David Tepper became a billionaire buying distressed big name assets and selling once they’d restored their value. Trading a haul to the Chicago Bears for the top overall pick wasn’t in line with that philosophy, but a (very unlikely, but we’re dealing every pick) trade back could adhere. If Carolina likes Young and is convinced other suitors want Stroud, a slight move backward would let the Panthers find their playmaking franchise quarterback and recoup some of the assets lost in their earlier No. 1 pick trade.
Stroud could be worth an expensive deal just to move from second to first overall. He led the FBS in passer rating and averaged 9.5 yards per pass attempt while leading the Buckeyes within one missed field goal of the National Championship Game. He’s wonderfully accurate downfield and consistently makes the right decisions.
The Texans would have to punch up the supporting cast around him — a tougher task without this year’s second round pick. Still, if Houston wants to make sure it gets its top choice negotiating with the Panthers is the only game in town.
2
Carolina Panthers (trade with Houston Texans): QB Bryce Young, Alabama
- Texans send: Their first round pick (second overall), 2023 second round pick (33rd overall), 2024 third round pick, 2024 fourth round pick
- Panthers send: The first overall pick, 2024 sixth round pick
Young is a dynamic playmaker and former Heisman Trophy winner whose NFL stock remains in limbo thanks to his size. At 5-foot-10 and an inflated 194 pounds, he’d be the smallest quarterback in the league.
That didn’t hinder his play much alongside an NFL-caliber roster at Alabama. Young completed roughly 66 percent of his passes while stringing together an 80:12 touchdown:interception ratio across three seasons. He couldn’t match the efficiency of Stroud, but the instincts you see on his game tape suggest he’s got the unquantifiable qualities needed to turn disaster into glory on Sundays.
3
Indianapolis Colts (trade with Arizona Cardinals): QB Anthony Richardson, Florida
- Colts send: Their first round pick (fourth overall), 2023 third round pick (79th overall) and 2024 third round pick
- Cardinals send: The third overall pick and their fourth round pick (105th overall)
Someone is going to trade up and take the draft’s third quarterback here. The Cardinals may prefer it to be Indianapolis — a team that can offer Day 2 assets and another valuable first round pick that can be further auctioned to the highest bidder.
In this case, the Colts bite. Five years of roaming through the wilderness with veteran retread quarterbacks is enough to convince Jim Irsay to pay for a modest move up the draft board. The question is whether he wants a more ready-made QB like Will Levis or a higher-ceiling project like Richardson. Since Indy’s roster remains in flux and 2023 looks like a lost season anyway it’s as good a time as any to roll the dice on the Florida project.
It’s a gamble that could pay handsomely or crash and burn. Richardson has a ton of Josh Allen traits, but like Josh Allen has struggled with decision making and accuracy. Allen flipped the switch and proved his doubters wrong. The question is whether Richardson can do the same.
4
Las Vegas Raiders (trade with Arizona Cardinals via Indianapolis Colts): QB Will Levis, Kentucky
- Raiders send: Their first round pick (seventh overall), 2023 second round pick (38th overall) and 2023 third round pick (70th overall)
- Cardinals send: The fourth overall pick (acquired from the Colts) and 2023 sixth round pick (213th overall)
Jimmy Garoppolo isn’t a full-time solution, but he’s competent enough to win games and potentially keep the Raiders from a top 10 selection in next year’s draft. That means the time to strike at a top quarterback prospect is now. A slight move up this year’s order gives Mark Davis the opportunity to slowly grind another young passer into dust.
Levis’s draft stock has been sliding thanks to nebulous reports that don’t have anything to do with his play on the field — his interviews stink, he’s *too* jacked, etc. But Levis’s efficiency improved in 2022 despite losing several key members of his supporting cast and he looks every bit a successful pocket passer. Landing in Vegas gives him at least a year to learn the ropes behind Jimmy G, who is a valid and viable veteran option to groom a young QB.
5
Atlanta Falcons (trade with Seattle Seahawks): EDGE Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
- Falcons send: Their first round pick (eighth overall) and their third round pick (75th overall)
- Seahawks send: The fifth overall pick
There’s a massive opportunity to win a toothless NFC South. The Falcons understand this and have made moves this offseason to bolster a weak defense. Anderson is a common sense next step.
The All-American had 27.5 sacks the last two seasons. The entire Atlanta defense had 21 in 2022. He’d get to pair with Calais Campbell, David Onyemata and Grady Jarrett to create a powerful front four. The Falcons appear to be locked into a run-heavy, grind-it-out philosophy for 2023 with Desmond Ridder at quarterback. Adding a pocket-shredding pass rusher is a no doubt need this spring.
6
Seattle Seahawks (trade with Detroit Lions): CB Christian Gonzalez, Oregon
- Seahawks send: The eighth overall pick (acquired from the Falcons) and their third round pick (83rd overall)
- Lions send: The sixth overall pick and their fifth round pick (152nd overall)
OK, the swap back from fifth didn’t work out super well — this is a Seahawks team that could really use Anderson. But it still nets some mid-round value (up eight spots in the third round and a bonus fifth round selection) and nabs a very good prospect.
Pete Carroll knows the value of a big, athletic shutdown corner. Gonzalez fits that bill. The 6-foot-1 Pac-12 veteran (two years at Colorado, one at Oregon) is a supreme athlete and showcased his ballhawk bonafides in 2022 with four interceptions and seven passes defensed.
Christian Gonzalez read this play like a BOOK 😳
Several NFL scouts believe Gonzalez is a “sure shot” Top-10 pick in the Draft.
The Oregon CB has instincts for DAYS. pic.twitter.com/LIFI7t72PP
— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) March 27, 2023
The Seahawks avoided a rebuild after trading Russell Wilson and, after a modest trade-back, wound up with the draft’s top corner AND some extra draft assets. Missing out an Anderson in this situation stings, but a no-fly zone secondary (Gonzalez, Tariq Woolen, Jamal Adams when he’s not blitzing and Quandre Diggs) makes up for it.
7
Arizona Cardinals (trade with Indianapolis Colts, Las Vegas Raiders): DL Jalen Carter, Georgia
- Raiders and Colts send: A first round pick (seventh overall), 2023 second round pick (38th overall), 2023 third round pick (70th overall), 2023 third round pick (79th overall) and a 2024 third round pick (from Indianapolis)
- Cardinals send: The third overall pick, their fourth round pick (105th overall) and their 2023 sixth round pick (213th overall)
The net benefit of two trades back from No. 3 to No. 7 is four Day 2 picks — three in 2023 and one in 2024. That’s exactly what a talent-starved roster needs, even before factoring in any draft compensation gleaned from a DeAndre Hopkins trade.
The Cardinals traded down twice and still pick up arguably 2023’s top defensive prospect — albeit one with significant character concerns. Carter pled no contest to reckless driving and racing charges connected to the car crash deaths of a teammate and Georgia staffer.
There’s a lot to unpack there, but in terms of pure football he’s a versatile, explosive defensive lineman who can line up in multiple positions up front. Arizona needs all the talent it can get to upgrade the league’s 24th-ranked defense.
8
Detroit Lions (trade with Seattle Seahawks via Atlanta Falcons): CB Joey Porter Jr., Penn State
- Seahawks send: The eighth overall pick (acquired from the Falcons) and their third round pick (83rd overall)
- Lions send: The sixth overall pick and their fifth round pick (152nd overall)
Detroit has beefed up its secondary with some great low-key additions in free agency. Cameron Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley are two above-average starters if they can stay healthy.
But the Lions need more after trading away talented-but-frustrating former top three pick Jeff Okudah. That’s where Porter Jr. comes in. He may not be as highly rated as Devon Witherspoon on my draft board, but the uber-physical, perpetually all-out son of a straight-up lunatic NFL linebacker feels like more of a Dan Campbell fit. Porter works well in zone and thrives as a press corner. He could be the missing piece in the Lions’ run to their first division title in three decades.
9
New York Jets (trade with Chicago Bears): OT Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State
- Jets send: Their 2023 first round pick (13th overall), 2023 fourth round pick (112th overall), 2024 third round pick
- Bears send: The ninth overall pick
Aaron Rodgers is coming to town at some point. Probably. And what better way to cater to him than by trading up and taking the draft’s first left tackle?
𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 😮💨#DevelopedHere | #ProDay2023 pic.twitter.com/ztH8dGkPZA
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) March 22, 2023
Johnson is a blindside protecting prototype. He’s massive (6-foot-6), quick footed and still has room to grow. He’ll be an asset keeping a soon-to-be 40-year-old upright and healthy, especially if Mekhi Becton can’t get back to full strength in 2023.
10
Minnesota Vikings (trade with Philadelphia Eagles): CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
- Vikings send: Their 2023 first round pick (23rd overall), 2024 first round pick
- Eagles send: The 10th overall pick, 2024 third round pick
The Eagles trade way down the draft board here, but they also pick up a future first, which is a Howie Roseman special. It’s a bit of a bitter pill to swallow — Philly could really use a guy like Witherspoon! — but this is a draft flush with cornerback talent so it’s not a tragic loss. Additionally, this team will max out next year’s compensatory pick formula after hemorrhaging free agents, so the third rounder included in 2024 is house money anyway.
Instead, the Vikings get a badly needed talent infusion to a secondary whose best corner, currently, is buy-low(ish) free agent addition Byron Murphy. Witherspoon is a beast in coverage and a player whose 2022 invoked comparisons to reigning defensive rookie of the year Sauce Gardner. The NFC North is winnable, but Minnesota’s 13-4 record last season was an illusion. Adding a talented cover corner helps keep the Vikings in the playoff hunt in a weak conference.
Devon Witherspoon: 24.6 Passer Rating Allowed
1st among Power 5 CBs🔒 pic.twitter.com/4v3AFOmA7Y
— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 1, 2022
11
Detroit Lions (trade with Tennessee Titans): DL Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech
- Lions send: Their first round pick (18th overall), their third round pick (81st overall) and the Seahawks’ third round pick (83rd overall, acquired via trade)
- Titans send: The 11th overall pick and DL Denico Autry
Minnesota’s move up the draft board compels the Lions to do the same. And, like in the Twin Cities, it’s a worthwhile gamble. In the process, Detroit pays up in draft assets but also gets a year of Autry — a 32-year-old defensive end who had eight sacks last season but doesn’t make a ton of sense in Tennessee’s prospective rebuild.
Texas Tech DE Tyree Wilson (6’55/271) escorts TCU LT into the backfield to disrupt Max Duggan’s throw
The QBs frustration was palpable, so the next play Wilson is keyed on, leaving the rest of the DL singled up to flush Duggan for an incompletion
He then destroys IOL for a Stop pic.twitter.com/finSzdLors
— Eric Froton (@CFFroton) March 27, 2023
Wilson is a wrecking ball of a human being. The 6-foot-6, 270-pound defensive lineman has the quickness to win on the edge and the power to slide inside and blast through double teams to disrupt the pocket. Now he gets to join a defensive front with Autry, Aidan Hutchinson, Alim McTeill and 2022 second round pick Levi Onwuzurike manning the trenches.
12
Dallas Cowboys (trade with Houston Texans): RB Bijan Robinson, Texas
- Cowboys send: Their first round pick (26th overall), second round pick (58th overall) and third round pick (90th overall)
- Texans send: The 12th overall pick and their fifth round pick (151st overall)
Yep, that’s a pretty steep price to draft a running back in the first round. But it’s Jerry Jones. If I can find a situation in which he throws assets at a dynamic tailback, I’m gonna take it. So here he gets the best backfield prospect since Saquon Barkley at No. 12 to replace Ezekiel Elliott and pair with Tony Pollard in an explosive depth chart.
Just a reminder of how silly of a prospect Bijan Robinson is. pic.twitter.com/M5YlVGqaWg
— Jake Anderson (@JakeAndersonPGA) March 26, 2023
Robinson is a dynamo. While a Year 1 platoon with a hopefully-healthy Pollard isn’t quite what dynasty fantasy football managers might hope for it’d still be a ton of fun AND an added weight from Dak Prescott’s shoulders. Not only did Robinson average 6.1 yards per carry last season while rushing for 18 touchdowns in 12 games, but he also averaged 16.5 yards per catch for the Longhorns in 2022.
13
Chicago Bears (trade with New York Jets): OT Broderick Jones, Georgia
- Jets send: Their 2023 first round pick (13th overall), 2023 fourth round pick (112th overall), 2024 third round pick
- Bears send: The ninth overall pick
The Bears traded back twice and still landed a top three offensive tackle to keep Justin Fields upright. In this case, they opt for the high ceiling of Jones over the steady production of local product Peter Skoronski. If Chicago feels like Braxton Jones and Teven Jenkins can handle tackle duties, maybe they’d roll with Skoronski at an interior spot and potential swing tackle. But since that seems … unlikely, the UGA blindside watchdog gets the call.
Look at Georgia LT Broderick Jones get out in space and get the kill shot on the DB. Bulldogs aren’t messing around on either side of the ball today. pic.twitter.com/Z9GblTFTVm
— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) November 5, 2022
Jones is still growing as a blocker but spent the last two seasons protecting Stetson Bennett en route to back-to-back national titles. He may be the most athletic tackle in his class and would be a valuable running mate alongside Fields’ scramble-heavy dropbacks. He can get out in space and clear the field, which is exactly what the Bears need.
14
Baltimore Ravens (trade with New England Patriots): WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
- Ravens send: Their 2023 first round pick (22nd overall), their 2023 third round pick (86th overall), 2024 third round pick
- Patriots send: The 14th overall pick, their 2023 sixth round pick (192nd overall)
The Patriots like to trade back and there’s an option to draft 2023’s first wideout. This is fertile ground for the Ravens to plant a seed — whether that’s for Lamar Jackson or an as-yet-undisclosed starting quarterback.
Smith-Njigba would pair with new addition Odell Beckham Jr. and a hopefully healthy Rashod Bateman to give Jackson a solid top three at wideout should he remain in Baltimore. The Ohio State star is a bit of a wild card after playing only five games last season, but at his best he’s an untouchable force who runs butter-smooth routes and turns an ounce of hesitation into yards and yards of separation.
15
Los Angeles Chargers (trade with Green Bay Packers): OT Peter Skoronski, Northwestern
- Chargers send: Their 2023 first round pick (21st overall), their 2023 third round pick (85th overall) and their 2023 fifth round pick (156th overall)
- Packers send: The 15th overall pick
Los Angeles liked its last Northwestern offensive lineman so much it trades up here to add another. Skoronski stepped up at left tackle when Rashawn Slater became a Charger and played nearly perfect football for what became a very bad Wildcats team. He gave up only three hurries, two quarterback hits and one sack last season for a team that did nothing to strike fear in the hearts of opposing defenses (Nebraska excluded).
Northwestern OT Peter Skoronski recorded the 2nd-best vertical (34.5") and broad jump (9'7") of the OL group at the 2023 NFL Combine, earning an 83 athleticism score.
Skoronski is the top ranked offensive lineman on @MoveTheSticks' latest top 50 big board (7th overall). pic.twitter.com/qVpsHVW9vh
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 5, 2023
Slater was an All-Pro as a rookie but missed the bulk of 2022 due to injury. Here he returns to the lineup with a rock solid bookend at right tackle, leaving Justin Herbert the time he needs to let plays develop downfield.
16
New York Giants (trade with Washington Commanders): WR Quentin Johnston, TCU
- Giants send: Their 2023 first round pick (25th overall) and their 2023 second round pick (57th overall)
- Commanders send: The 16th overall pick and their 2023 sixth round pick (193rd overall)
Fearing a run on wideouts, the Giants pay a premium (to a division rival) to secure a top flight receiver for $140 million man Daniel Jones. Johnston’s stock has been uneven during the pre-draft process. He measured out as smaller than expected and increased scrutiny was placed on the drops that plagued his TCU career.
Even so, this guy, to use a technical term, absolutely rules.
Quentin Johnston was tied for 11th in the NCAA with 19 missed tackles forced and 20th in average YAC.
Not hard to see why. Elusiveness and explosive speed at this size is NFL-calibre stuff. pic.twitter.com/6Zvx1ZpWPH
— Cole Jackson (@ColeJacksonFB) March 27, 2023
He has an innate understanding of how to find holes in coverage and he uses his leverage to create consistent separation downfield. He’s also capable of taking short passes or deep throws to the end zone. Jones didn’t really have a guy like that in 2022; drafting Johnston would open up a new dimension in Brian Daboll’s playbook.
17
Jacksonville Jaguars (trade with Pittsburgh Steelers): CB Deonte Banks, Maryland
- Jaguars send: Their 2023 first round pick (24th overall), their 2023 third round pick (88th overall) and their 2023 fourth round pick (127th overall)
- Steelers send: The 17th overall pick
Shaquill Griffin failed to pan out after signing with the Jags and was released this spring. Darious Williams was very good in 2022 but turns 30 this year. There’s room to upgrade a 30th-ranked passing defense and Banks straddles the line between this year’s crop of elite cornerbacks and the merely very, very good.
That’s worth a trade up, where the athletic ball hawk could immediately step in as the team’s slot magician and expand his role from there. Jacksonville appears to be in firm control of the AFC South, but can’t afford to rest on those laurels. Banks would help patch a significant hole and keep this team on path for more postseason success.
18
Philadelphia Eagles (trade with Tennessee Titans via Detroit Lions): EDGE Nolan Smith, Georgia
- Eagles send: The Vikings 23rd overall pick (acquired via trade), their third round pick (94th overall)
- Titans send: The Lions’ 18th overall pick (acquired via trade)
An athletic marvel from Georgia proves too tempting for Roseman to pass up, leading to this trade back up the draft board using the pick gleaned from the earlier Vikings deal. The Titans, eager to add talent through a shotgun approach at this year’s draft, pick up a third round pick in their second trade-back of the evening.
Smith set the combine ablaze with absurd speed and agility workouts, suggesting he can be more than the supporting castmate he’d been among a stacked Bulldog roster.
He wouldn’t have to be an immediate star for a still-potent Eagles team, but he’d be an asset for a club that lost a boatload of veteran talent to free agency this spring. He’d spend 2023 as the heir apparent to Fletcher Cox, all the while bulking up to handle duties as a 4-3 edge rusher and, in theory, leading to a breakout 2024.
19
Seattle Seahawks (trade with Tampa Bay Buccaneers): DL Calijah Kancey, Pittsburgh
- Seahawks send: Their 2023 first round pick (20th overall) and their fifth round pick (154th overall)
- Buccaneers send: The 19th overall pick
The Seahawks have an extra fifth rounder to play with thanks to their earlier dealings. They use that house money here to ensure Kancey moves west.
The Pittsburgh defensive lineman was one of the biggest winners at this year’s combine. By dusting off a 4.6-second 40 yard dash he showcased the kind of explosion that will cause teams to overlook his relative lack of size (6-foot-1, 281 pounds). He’s the kind of player who shrinks pockets from the inside out and commands double teams, allowing his teammates to clean up the mess that creates.
Seattle currently only has five defensive linemen under contract. The Seahawks’ projected starting tackle is Bryan Mone, who is capable but better as a depth option. Kancey would have an opportunity to make an immediate impact for a playoff team with the Hawks.
20
Cincinnati Bengals (trade with Tampa Bay Buccaneers via Seattle Seahawks): TE Luke Musgrave, Oregon State
- Bengals send: Their 2023 first round pick (28th overall), their 2023 third round pick (92nd overall) and a 2024 fourth round pick
- Buccaneers send: The Seahawks’ 20th overall pick (acquired via trade)
The Bengals rely heavily on an offense eager to stuff Joe Burrow’s passing game with high-level targets. That leads Cincinnati to Musgrave — the tight end with the highest ceiling as a receiver in this year’s draft.
Musgrave has limited game film available after missing most of last year thanks to injury, but it’s easy to see the impact he’d have on Sundays. He’s got a huge catch radius, strong straight line speed (a 4.61-second 40 at the combine) and the ability to break off linebackers and cornerbacks with smooth routes. Now he’d pair with Irv Smith to give Burrow a pair of young, athletic tight ends to further stretch opposing defenses to a breaking point.
21
Miami Dolphins: Pick forfeited
The NFL docked Miami this pick and a 2023 third rounder and fined team owner $1.5 million for violating “the integrity of the game” as it pertained to tampering with then-Saints head coach Sean Payton and Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady.
22
Green Bay Packers (trade with Los Angeles Chargers): DL Bryan Bresee, Clemson
- Chargers send: Their 2023 first round pick (21st overall), their 2023 third round pick (85th overall) and their 2023 fifth round pick (156th overall)
- Packers send: The 15th overall pick
Green Bay’s Achilles heel on defense continues to be its lack of run stops. A trade-back here allows general manager Brian Gutekunst to continue a proud Packer tradition of spending Day 1 picks on defensive standouts from blue chip college programs.
Bresee isn’t the kind of player who stands out on an individual level. He only had 18 tackles the last two seasons (14 games). But he’s a tone-setter up front who can handle multiple roles and seal off running lanes for his teammates to clean up. He’s a rising tide for a Packer defense filled with talent that’s been, thus far, less than the sum of its parts.
23
New Orleans Saints (trade with New England Patriots via Baltimore Ravens): TE Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
- Saints send: Their 2023 first round pick (29th overall) and their third round pick (71st overall)
- Patriots send: The Ravens’ 22nd overall pick (acquired via trade) and their sixth round pick (184th overall)
Juwan Johnson is a perfectly capable player, but he’s not a pure tight end. Mayer is. His slip down the draft board convinces a Saints team in need of playmakers to trade up and snag him.
The Notre Dame star plays faster than his combine numbers suggest, rumbling downfield like an infuriated moose with run-after-catch skills equally liable to leave tacklers behind or run through them. But he’s also an edge-setting run blocker, which adds a dimension Johnson hasn’t quite locked down and creates some very flexible two-tight end sets for Derek Carr in his new home. That could be a boon is Michael Thomas misses a chunk of time this season, as is tradition.
24
Tennessee Titans (trade with Philadelphia Eagles via Minnesota Vikings): EDGE Lukas Van Ness, Iowa
- Eagles send: The Vikings 23rd overall pick (acquired via trade), their third round pick (94th overall)
- Titans send: The Lions’ 18th overall pick (acquired via trade)
Tennessee moved back from 11 to 23, picked up three third round picks and still managed to get one of the top edge rushing prospects in this year’s draft by landing Van Ness. Harold Landry and Jeffery Simmons are both locked down for the foreseeable future, but the Titans defense could still use a player capable of adding an extra gear to Mike Vrabel’s pass rush. The Iowa rotational presence/pass rushing cacophony is that guy.
Van Ness managed to rack up seven sacks each of the last two years despite not starting for Kirk Ferentz’s team. He looks like an NFL GM combined his favorite Disney prince and a prototypical blue chip pass rusher into one guy. He’s big, twitchy and capable of making plays around the corner or shooting inside. While Tennessee needs help just about everywhere, Van Ness’s potential may be too much to pass up after a pair of trades back.
25
Houston Texans (trade with Pittsburgh Steelers via Jacksonville Jaguars): WR Zay Flowers, Boston College
- Texans send: The Cowboys’ 26th overall pick (acquired via trade), their fourth round pick (104th overall)
- Steelers send: The Jaguars’ 24th overall pick (acquired via trade), their seventh round pick (234th overall)
Houston got its quarterback at No. 1. Now the Texans need someone for C.J. Stroud to throw to. The current lineup of Noah Brown, Robert Woods, Nico Collins and a returning John Metchie III is … uninspiring. But Flowers could step into an WR1 role that helps create space for everyone involved, making a slight overpay here worthwhile.
Flowers has steadily risen up draft boards this spring as analysts crunch his game film and realize just how often he was able to beat coverage and get open despite playing for a BC team without any other offensive threats worth consideration. The 5-foot-9 playmaker won’t be confined to slot duties in the NFL. He’s good enough to break games open from anywhere the Texans would like to place him.
26
Washington Commanders (trade with New York Giants): CB Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State
- Giants send: Their 2023 first round pick (25th overall) and their 2023 second round pick (57th overall)
- Commanders send: The 16th overall pick and their 2023 sixth round pick (193rd overall)
Washington’s trade back cost the team a shot at Banks, but the Commanders still manage to add a brilliant playmaking cornerback by plucking Forbes out of this year’s lineup of DB help. Though slight at 166 pounds, he’s a long-limbed playmaker who punishes quarterbacks who test him. He had 14 interceptions across three seasons at Mississippi State.
— FBVids (@vids_fb) January 9, 2023
The Commanders have a solid CB combination of Kendall Fuller and Benjamin St. Juste, but Forbes’ presence would give defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio an extra piece to move around the chess board and introduce havoc to opposing quarterbacks’ gameplans. Fuller is an unrestricted free agent in 2024 as well, so Forbes would provide a lower cost, younger replacement to pair with St. Juste moving forward.
27
Pittsburgh Steelers (trade with Houston Texans via Dallas Cowboys): LB Jack Campbell, Iowa
- Texans send: The Cowboys’ 26th overall pick (acquired via trade), their fourth round pick (104th overall)
- Steelers send: The Jaguars’ 24th overall pick (acquired via trade), their seventh round pick (234th overall)
Pittsburgh’s projected off-ball linebacker starters at the moment are Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts. Those are solid depth options and useful stopgap veterans, but it’s clear the Steelers have a need at inside linebacker.
Campbell is the best prospect in his class. Not only did he win the Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker in 2022 but he also thoroughly scorched the combine to prove he has the athleticism to stand up against both the run and the pass on Sundays. He’d be the interior anchor that allows the rest of his defense to feast — and could help unlock the next level for guys like Alex Highsmith and TJ Watt.
28
Chicago Bears (trade up from Day 2 with Buffalo Bills): EDGE Myles Murphy, Clemson
- Bears send: Their 2023 second round pick (53rd overall), their 2024 second round pick and the Jets’ 2023 fourth round pick (112th overall)
- Bills send: Their 27th overall pick and their 2024 fourth round pick
The 2023 draft is flush with depth at interior offensive line and cornerback — two areas where an already stacked team could stand to upgrade. And with three wideouts already off the board, general manager Brandon Beane instead opts to trade out of Day 1 instead of snagging Jordan Addison to serve as Stefon Diggs’ running mate.
In the process, he’s betting the Bears will have another rough season and that 2024 second round pick will feel more like a late first. That’s a strong wager.
A Chicago team flush with draft capital creeps back into the first round and stop Murphy’s slide. The beefy pass rusher was consistently solid at Clemson, notching 18.5 sacks over his three years with the program. At 275 pounds he’s a perfect fit up front in the Bears’ 4-3 alignment, pairing with Trevis Gipson to shrink pockets as the Chicago rebuild churns forward.
29
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (trade with Seattle Seahawks, Cincinnati Bengals): OT Darnell Wright, Tennessee
- Bengals send: Their 2023 first round pick (28th overall), their 2023 third round pick (92nd overall) and a 2024 fourth round pick
- Buccaneers send: The Seahawks’ 20th overall pick (acquired via trade)
Over the course of two deals, a rebuilding Tampa team turned the 19th overall pick into No. 28 along with third, fourth and fifth round picks. The real life Bucs would probably do better than I did, but those are still prospective starters who could play a role for a team in need of live (and inexpensive) bodies.
The wait paid off for Tampa. The Bucs dropped back nine slots, picked up some badly needed draft assets and still got the offensive linemen they were likely to select at No. 19.
Darnell Wright vs Will Anderson Jr. pic.twitter.com/yDxz2PvB75
— John Brennan (@jbrens20) March 26, 2023
Wright can crush linebackers and push back ends in the run game, which is a trait Tampa Bay badly needs given last year’s league-worst 3.4 yards per carry and a dire need to establish the run with a new, non-Tom Brady quarterback behind center. Wright is also a capable pass blocker who kept Hendon Hooker alive in the pocket long enough to pepper defenses with deep balls. He’s a little inconsistent and still needs to grow, but he’s the highest upside blocker available at this stage of the first round.
30
New England Patriots (trade with Baltimore Ravens, New Orleans Saints): S Brian Branch, Alabama
- Saints send: Their 2023 first round pick (29th overall) and their third round pick (71st overall)
- Patriots send: The Ravens’ 22nd overall pick (acquired via trade) and their sixth round pick (184th overall)
New England dropped from 14 to 29 but gleaned three third round picks (two in 2023, one in 2024) in the process. That nets Bill Belichick the Day 2 draft assets he covets and puts him in a proper landing spot to target a player from a program he adores.
Branch isn’t just a safety; he’s a multi-tool who can handle duties just about anywhere in the secondary. He’s particularly viable as a slot cornerback, but he’ll also make hay as a centerfielder next to the dynamic Kyle Dugger.
I don’t care how. Get Brian Branch in a #Packers jersey asap. pic.twitter.com/Q48ZLkNPis
— Eli Berkovits (@BookOfEli_NFL) January 23, 2023
Branch has the instincts and recognition to become an immediate Belichick favorite. He can identify plays as they unfold and put himself in position to be a supreme disruptor. He’s also an eager tackler who takes on all comers despite less-than-ideal size, which should make him a fan favorite in New England.
31
Kansas City Chiefs (trade with Philadelphia Eagles): WR Jordan Addison, USC
- Chiefs send: Their 2023 first round pick (31st overall), their 2023 fifth round pick (166th overall) and their 2024 sixth round pick
- Eagles send: The 30th overall pick
Addison’s slide is enough to convince Andy Reid and company to move up one spot and ensure Patrick Mahomes gets a new blue chip target in his offense. Addison would become an immediate commodity for a depth chart currently led by Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Skyy Moore, Kadarius Toney and Richie James.
Addison has the chops to be the alpha among that group. He was prolific at Pittsburgh and still pretty dang good at USC even if his numbers dipped. He can handle whatever assignment is handed to him and has the speed and body control to consistently create space for his MVP quarterback to thread passes through downfield.
32
Arizona Cardinals (trade with Philadelphia Eagles via Kansas City Chiefs): EDGE Will McDonald IV, Iowa State
- Cardinals send: Their second round pick (34th overall) and fourth round pick (104th)
- Eagles send: The Chiefs’ 31st overall pick (acquired via trade) and a 2024 fifth round pick
After landing Jalen Carter in the top 10, the Cardinals trade back into Day 1 in order to make McDonald the first Iowa State Cyclone selected in the first round since 1973.
Iowa State put 6-foot-4, 239-pound Will McDonald IV inside the tackles on 20% of his snaps in their three-man fronts, and probably wondered why he got washed out. You put him outside the tackles, and it's just one big splash reel. Could have a Haason Reddick-level impact. pic.twitter.com/X44hxsXXQl
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) March 25, 2023
McDonald is a solid, strong and consistent contributor who crashes into the pocket with an array of well-developed moves. He’s a battler against even the best offensive tackle prospects, bending underneath lunges on the outside or spinning inside to introduce panic to the passing game. Here he joins an Arizona team in need of inexpensive playmakers as the Cardinals try to figure out what’s next post-Kliff Kingsbury.
