2023 NFL Mock Draft: Bears trade back twice for significant haul as Colts, Panthers move up for QBs

2023 NFL Mock Draft: Bears trade back twice for significant haul as Colts, Panthers move up for QBs
2023 NFL Mock Draft: Bears trade back twice for significant haul as Colts, Panthers move up for QBs

Round 1 - Pick 1

Ohio State • Jr • 6'3" / 218 lbs

Projected Team
Indianapolis
PROSPECT RNK
4th
POSITION RNK
2nd

Indianapolis trades up from No. 4 overall to select C.J. Stroud from Ohio State. Stroud has shown a complete skillset following the playoff loss to Georgia. He is young and has great size to lead Indianapolis forward with a new head coach.

Round 1 - Pick 2

Alabama • Jr • 6'0" / 194 lbs

Projected Team
Houston
PROSPECT RNK
3rd
POSITION RNK
1st

Houston named DeMeco Ryans as the team's next head coach, and now they have a new leader at quarterback. The Texans now need to make sure he has the talent around him to be successful.

Round 1 - Pick 3

Alabama • Jr • 6'4" / 243 lbs

Projected Team
Arizona
PROSPECT RNK
1st
POSITION RNK
1st

Arizona has lost Haason Reddick and Chandler Jones in recent years and are now losing J.J. Watt. It goes without saying that they need to find players capable of applying pressure to the quarterback. Will Anderson Jr. is one of those players.

Round 1 - Pick 4

Kentucky • Sr • 6'3" / 232 lbs

Projected Team
Carolina
PROSPECT RNK
6th
POSITION RNK
3rd

After trading back from No. 1 overall, Chicago now trades back from No. 4 overall to acquire future first-round and Day 2 picks. Quarterbacks came off the board with the first two selections, so Carolina felt the urgency to be aggressive. Head coach Frank Reich will have Will Levis at quarterback in his first season.

Round 1 - Pick 5

Georgia • Jr • 6'3" / 300 lbs

Projected Team
Seattle
PROSPECT RNK
2nd
POSITION RNK
1st

Seattle should probably aim to take a quarterback this year, but it does not have to be so desperate that it will take any. With a run on the position occurring early, the Seahawks instead elect to address the interior defensive line with Jalen Carter.

Round 1 - Pick 6

Texas Tech • Sr • 6'6" / 275 lbs

Projected Team
Detroit
PROSPECT RNK
16th
POSITION RNK
2nd

Tyree Wilson is a long, impressive looking prospect but still very much a work in progress. Detroit has bigger needs but are victims of the board. It may lean towards a more explosive talent at edge rusher to pair with Aidan Hutchinson.

Round 1 - Pick 7

Northwestern • Jr • 6'4" / 315 lbs

Projected Team
Las Vegas
PROSPECT RNK
8th
POSITION RNK
1st

It is unknown where Peter Skoronski is going to play at the next level. He succeeded at left tackle for Northwestern but has traditionally short arms. What is known is that Skoronski should be a good player protecting whomever Las Vegas deems fit to run the offense next season.

Round 1 - Pick 8

Clemson • Jr • 6'5" / 275 lbs

Projected Team
Atlanta
PROSPECT RNK
5th
POSITION RNK
2nd

Myles Murphy is one of the best talents in this draft class. Atlanta needs to find tentpoles moving forward, and Murphy could be one of those players on defense.

Round 1 - Pick 9

Georgia • Soph • 6'4" / 310 lbs

Projected Team
Chicago
PROSPECT RNK
19th
POSITION RNK
4th

Broderick Jones is a young, but physically gifted offensive tackle. Chicago may have preferred to address the defense, but after trading back twice, the board led the team to the offensive line. The Bears will have to decide whether to keep Braxton Jones on the left side or flip him to the right.

Round 1 - Pick 10

South Carolina • Jr • 6'0" / 188 lbs

Projected Team
Philadelphia
PROSPECT RNK
7th
POSITION RNK
1st

Cam Smith had a much-improved 2022 season and would be a great fit in Philadelphia's defensive scheme. James Bradberry is scheduled to become a free agent, so the Eagles fill that void elsewhere.

Round 1 - Pick 11

Ohio State • Jr • 6'6" / 310 lbs

Projected Team
Tennessee
PROSPECT RNK
21st
POSITION RNK
2nd

Will Tennessee retain left tackle Taylor Lewan for another year? It could potentially need to replace both starting offensive tackles next season, so it is important to get a jump on that objective early.

Round 1 - Pick 12

Illinois • Jr • 6'0" / 180 lbs

Projected Team
Houston
PROSPECT RNK
13th
POSITION RNK
3rd

Houston used an early first-round pick on cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. last year, but Devon Witherspoon is arguably the best option available at this stage of the first round. The Texans acquired this pick in the Deshaun Watson deal.

Round 1 - Pick 13

Alabama • Jr • 6'0" / 193 lbs

Projected Team
N.Y. Jets
PROSPECT RNK
10th
POSITION RNK
1st

Brian Branch has become one of my favorite projections for New York because of his high football acumen. The Jets had an edge to them this past season. They will be able to sustain it by adding quality players like Branch.

Round 1 - Pick 14

Clemson • Jr • 6'3" / 240 lbs

Projected Team
New England
PROSPECT RNK
43rd
POSITION RNK
2nd

New England has shown faith in assistant coach Jerod Mayo. It continues the good faith by giving him linebacker Trenton Simpson in the first round.

Round 1 - Pick 15

Notre Dame • Jr • 6'4" / 265 lbs

Projected Team
Green Bay
PROSPECT RNK
9th
POSITION RNK
1st

Green Bay could take a wide receiver like Jordan Addison here but instead adds a player who could also impact the run game through blocking. Michael Mayer is a well-balanced tight end.

Round 1 - Pick 16

Oregon • Soph • 6'2" / 201 lbs

Projected Team
Washington
PROSPECT RNK
12th
POSITION RNK
2nd

Washington adds a big-bodied cornerback to a defense that was improved this season. Christian Gonzalez has the size to play man coverage but has also been exposed to some zone.

Round 1 - Pick 17

Arkansas • Jr • 6'5" / 233 lbs

Projected Team
Pittsburgh
PROSPECT RNK
23rd
POSITION RNK
1st

Pittsburgh needs offensive tackle and cornerback help. Joey Porter Jr. makes a lot of sense considering team needs and his ties to the organization, but it also needs improved play at linebacker. A tandem of Drew Sanders and T.J. Watt gives Pittsburgh some flexibility to offer different looks pre-snap.

Round 1 - Pick 18

Florida • Soph • 6'4" / 232 lbs

Projected Team
Detroit
PROSPECT RNK
19th
POSITION RNK
4th

Detroit did not partake in the early run on quarterbacks, so it remained patient and had an intriguing talent fall to it midway through the first round. Anthony Richardson is as raw as they come, but his talent will bring Lions fans out to training camp in droves.

Round 1 - Pick 19

Penn State • Jr • 6'2" / 194 lbs

Projected Team
Tampa Bay
PROSPECT RNK
20th
POSITION RNK
4th

Tampa Bay is now informed of Tom Brady's decision to retire. After over-committing resources the past few years, it may be time for the Buccaneers to be a bit more conservative this offseason and allow their salary cap space to return to a healthy state. The addition of Joey Porter Jr. allows them to be more flexible in the secondary.

Round 1 - Pick 20

Georgia • Sr • 6'3" / 235 lbs

Projected Team
Seattle
PROSPECT RNK
49th
POSITION RNK
7th

Seattle added Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter with the No. 5 overall selection and now adds Nolan Smith, his teammate, later in the first round. With any hope, Boye Mafe will continue developing and Smith can provide some juice off the opposite side.

Round 1 - Pick 21

Georgia • Jr • 6'7" / 270 lbs

Darnell Washington is a big-bodied target for Justin Herbert, but he is also an effective blocker in the run game.

Round 1 - Pick 22

TCU • Jr • 6'4" / 215 lbs

Projected Team
Baltimore
PROSPECT RNK
27th
POSITION RNK
3rd

The addition of Quentin Johnston gives Baltimore some size in the wide receiver room. A skill talent group of Mark Andrews, Rashod Bateman and Johnston should be above average.

Round 1 - Pick 23

USC • Jr • 6'0" / 175 lbs

Projected Team
Minnesota
PROSPECT RNK
11th
POSITION RNK
1st

Jordan Addison may seem like a luxury right now, but the plan is for him to eventually take over for Adam Thielen.

Round 1 - Pick 24

Clemson • Soph • 6'5" / 305 lbs

Projected Team
Jacksonville
PROSPECT RNK
32nd
POSITION RNK
4th

Jacksonville has invested significant resources into the edge rush group and now adds a plug-and-play interior defensive ceiling. The only question is, how high will Bryan Bresee's ceiling reach?

Round 1 - Pick 25

Georgia • Soph • 6'2" / 210 lbs

Projected Team
N.Y. Giants
PROSPECT RNK
22nd
POSITION RNK
5th

Kelee Ringo has the size profile of a man coverage cornerback but got turned around too often this season. Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale should be able to help him reach his potential.

Round 1 - Pick 26

Texas A&M • Jr • 6'3" / 195 lbs

Projected Team
Dallas
PROSPECT RNK
14th
POSITION RNK
2nd

Dallas has really duct-taped its secondary together over the past few years, but it has become a need again. They could really afford to add another cornerback but add a versatile safety here.

Round 1 - Pick 27

Florida • Jr • 6'5" / 347 lbs

Projected Team
Buffalo
PROSPECT RNK
15th
POSITION RNK
1st

Buffalo needs more physicality along the offensive line, and O'Cyrus Torrence brings that to the building.

Round 1 - Pick 28

Oregon State • Jr • 6'6" / 250 lbs

Projected Team
Cincinnati
PROSPECT RNK
62nd
POSITION RNK
4th

It is a really strong year for the tight end position. As a result, the run may not start until later, but, in this scenario, three go in the first round. Luke Musgrave's lack of availability this season may stand in the way of him reaching the first round, but he certainly has the ability to receive consideration.

Round 1 - Pick 29

Iowa • Soph • 6'5" / 275 lbs

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