Mellor’s 2023 NFL Mock Draft: Will Levis, BJ Ojulari Surprise Top 10 Picks
At this point, we’ve gone deep into the NFL and college football seasons to know which direction each team needs to go in the full 7-round 2023 NFL mock draft. So, this mock draft is what you would really do for every seven-round draft of every NFL team. Being the general manager of every team isn’t easy, but it’s certainly a fun exercise to understand which positions might stack with leads that fit your team’s needs, and which positions you might need to trigger earlier than expected.
2023 NFL Mock Draft | Round 1
This draft order uses reverse Super Bowl odds to predict every pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. As we’ll see in the draft order below, Vegas has high hopes for some teams and high hopes for others.
Run your own simulation as the GM of your favorite team with the Pro Football Network Mock Draft Simulator.
1) Houston Texans: Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama
The best players at their respective draft levels are hardly No. 1 anymore. That’s not the case this season, as the Houston Texans are still expected to be the first pick and have a lot of demand. Davis Mills has been a capable starter at times this season, and Will Anderson Jr. has fundamentally changed the Texans’ overall defense.
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Offensive continuity is key, as the jury is still out on quarterback Mills, and the influx of talent in your pass-rushing unit can pay off immediately. Catching Anderson would allow the Texans defense to fly to the football field without relying too much on it and give them hope for the defense’s long-term future. It’s a win-win.
Oh, and the 2024 NFL draft class is expected to have a quarterback, so we can always move to QB next year.
2) Chicago Bears: Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
Don’t get me wrong. The quarterback is using this pick, especially after the start of Justin Fields’ season as Chicago’s starting QB. But with the top quarterback being another Ohio State signal-caller, we’ve turned to the second-best player in the draft for fear of being unpopular in Chicago again draining me.
Jalen Carter was second overall. Whatever value you can assign to a defensive tackle, multiply by 10 and you have Carter’s value. He’s an inside powerhouse with a versatile game. He’ll rush to the passer in the easiest way possible, with runs that match his instincts and game prowess, and free up the rest of the defensive line for favorable matchups. Think Fletcher Cox, Warren Sapp and Aaron Donald all mixed up as one player.
3) Carolina Panthers: CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State
The Carolina Panthers need a new identity. CJ Stroud brings a new identity to the team as the Heisman Trophy frontrunner has become everything and more this season. Stroud made every pitch look easy and played with a very professional system at Ohio State under Ryan Day. What differentiates Stroud from previous OSU quarterback prospects is his tendency to regularly make NFL-level throws in the Buckeyes’ offensive structure.
Stroud will flip a dime from any platform, and his right arm has the most talent we’ve seen from a quarterback prospect in a while. His pass layering in front of defenders and roaming safety is amazing. He needs very little defense, or even less of his catchers, as he’ll throw them open, lead them away from coverage, or simply beat perfect coverage with perfect pitches.
4) Seattle Seahawks: Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
Yes, I heard it. There are quarterbacks on the board. But aren’t Seattle fans tired of a below-average signal caller and the potential pitfalls of relying on the quarterback’s unsustainable magic to win games? It’s not a blow to Bryce Young at all, but the reason the Seahawks need to address other issues first.
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Kelee Ringo is the best cornerback in this draft, the Seahawks need it more And not just a cornerback. Ringo’s selection began to transform the Prosperity Corps in the Pacific Northwest as he brought track speed and enormous size at cornerback. His ball skills are top notch and he will easily lock down opposing WR1s.
5) Washington Commander: Will Reeves, QB, Kentucky
There is a group of geniuses on Washington’s list of commanders. Their current structure has to make a difference, and as head coach Ron Rivera said, their quarterback needs to play better. We’ve seen tremendous growth over the past 1.5 seasons in Will Reeves, and Washington’s ceiling is staggeringly high under him.
Levi’s biggest flaw right now is that it’s completely trainable. Untrainable is his accuracy in attacking structure, his arm strength and his pocket mobility, the last of which is almost unparalleled at this level. There’s no denying his athleticism or arm flair. With the proper coaching and a full year in the commander’s system, he’ll be the right person to lead this team going forward.
6) Pittsburgh Steelers: Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
Picking this low post means the Pittsburgh Steelers have found a way to end Mike Tomlin’s record of the first defeat of his career. It also meant that the Steelers never protected their quarterback and never paved the charge for Nagy Harris. So Paris Johnson Jr. makes the most sense.
The former guard dominates left tackle at Ohio State in 2022. He’s a great anchor in pass protection, and he’s a stonewall defender. Johnson has moved defenders from the point of attack and has a secondary hunt in the running game. He’s a well-rounded, versatile prospect who can fill any number of holes in the Steelers’ offensive line.
7) Atlanta Falcons: BJ Ojulari, EDGE, LSU
Listen to me: Beginning in 2022, there is no better SEC pass rusher than BJ Ojulari. The LSU Tigers didn’t win the game you might think they would, but that’s because of factors beyond Ojulari’s control. He leads the conference in pressure rate and dominates LSU.
The Atlanta Falcons can’t go into another season with their current defensive line or pass rusher, and Ojulari gives them an immediate and big boost in talent and projected output in that area.
8) Detroit Lions: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
Get out of Jared Goff’s contract, excited for the future, Detroit Lions fan. Bryce Young is the rookie here because it’s always going to be Detroit’s quarterback. Young performed miracles with his right arm and right leg. He will escape pockets while maintaining frontcourt vision and match his best football with off-platform throws.
It might be a relatively erratic way to win games, but Young’s ability in unscripted, almost backyard football is uncanny. He’s also very good in the pocket because he’s accurate, his decisions are sharp, and he has plenty of power in his arms.
9) New York Jets: Noah Sewell, LB, Oregon
Kwon Alexander’s contract is done, and CJ Mosley’s hat hits the Rockets after the season. For the New York Jets, grabbing a top linebacker prospect makes more sense than ever. Noah Sewell is a true third linebacker in today’s NFL because everything he does is elite.
Sewell’s game is unmatched, and his instincts rival that of seasoned NFL veterans. He punches hard on the downhill run defense, but has no trouble sifting through blockers to find the ball carrier in space. Sewell is also an elite defensive defender at the apartment, making him the perfect candidate to replace Alexander on New York’s defense.
10) Arizona Cardinals: Jordan Addison, WR, USC
Jordan Addison’s talent can be seen in any offense, and he’s climbing up the wide receiver rankings in the 2023 NFL Draft. So Addison was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals for one main reason: his route. Addison makes dodgy cuts and opens when the hat falls.
Opening up and creating natural isolation was key during the Arizona airstrikes. Not only can Addison open, he makes defenders look silly trying to cover him. No matter where he gets used on Arizona’s roster, he’s going to be a mismatch.
11) New York Giants: Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson
Today’s NFL is about coverage, and who better to join the New York Giants’ defense than the best screen linebacker we’ve seen in a while? Trenton Simpson is a master at his coverage and can easily limit the tight end, running back or slot wide receiver.
His movement in both back and full pursuits is excellent because there is no receiver he can’t reach. Simpson is also an excellent running defender and usually comes home with pressure when he pounces.
12) New England Patriots: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
I can’t think of one more New England Patriots pick. Michael Mayer is the epitome of mismatch and compare it to any number of all-time great NFL tight ends. What sets Mayer apart from seemingly every other passer in this draft is his ability to work at every level of the field.
He also plays support football and knows situational football very well. If coverage breaks, he’ll find holes in defense. His vision is unmatched, he can almost feel when his quarterback is in trouble, and shut down his route to backyard football to find a safety net for his signal callers. Mayer is also very good defensively in the run game, meaning he should have seen the field in most snaps as early as Year 1.
13) Las Vegas Raiders: Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
Rapidly climbing the offensive tackle ranks this season is Olumuyiwa Fashanu. Fashanu is a big man with an attitude who will block every passer in front of him in 2022. His main force is strong, and his hands are stronger.
Fashanu also dominated Penn State’s running competition. He’ll open up wide rushing lanes at the point of attack, but also finish his fair share of dominance in the frontcourt and movement. His skills translate to the NFL as he also has some of the best balance in this or any recent tackle class.
14) Seattle Seahawks (via DEN): Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee
The fourth quarterback of the top 14 rookies heads to Seattle, where the Seahawks have finally caught their future signal caller. Hendon Hooker will definitely be an “older rookie” when he enters the NFL, but at this rate, he’ll be a starter from Day 1.
Hooker has incredible talent in his right arm, and his growth in the volunteer system this season (and last) has been nothing short of phenomenal. He’ll shoot penalties with accurate throws, taking what defenses give him, while also opening his catchers out of coverage, or just where only a few quarterbacks can reach.
Hooker brings hope to a team in Seattle that has appeared to have been abandoned in their last few games.
15) Philadelphia Eagles (from NO): Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
Cornerback is rising faster than his passing speed, and Joey Porter Jr. is poised to transform Penn State’s defense. Porter, the son of legendary Pittsburgh Steelers LB Joey Porter, has been Penn State’s restricted cornerback all season, showing elite skill at every turn.
Philly needs an influx of talent in catch-point and back-end coverage to keep up with the NFC, and Porter provides that for them. No cornerback in the country has done what Porter has done this season, and he’s on his way to leading the nation in passing breakthroughs.
16) Houston Texans (via CLE): Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
Houston selected Broderick Jones to help them further improve the trenches…
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