NFL Mock Draft 2023: Bears pair Justin Fields with familiar face; Eagles, Cowboys add playmakers on offense

It cost a lot for the Panthers to trade with the Bears and move up eight spots to No. 1, but now they control their own destiny when it comes to finding a franchise QB. Carolina is reportedly smitten with two QBs, with owner David Tepper preferring Bryce Young and new head coach Frank Reich liking C.J. Stroud. Tepper (unsurprisingly) wins that battle, and Carolina takes the small-statured yet ultra-talented Young.

Even if the Texans want Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud would be more than a fine consolation prize. Stroud's excellent combine performance reminded everyone why he's firmly in the QB1 conversation.

The Cardinals have also talked about trading out, but that may have become more difficult with the biggest QB-needy team behind them (the Panthers) already moving up. For the time being, Arizona makes Will Anderson Jr. the first defensive prospect off the board, filling a huge need for new head coach Jonathan Gannon with J.J. Watt retired and Zach Allen signing with the Broncos.

The bad news for the Colts is that they're no longer getting their first (or second) choice among the top QBs. The thin silver lining, though, is that they most likely won't have to trade up if they want one of the remaining signal-callers. That's the case here, as Indianapolis lands Will Levis without having to give up any assets.

The Seahawks bypass QB to continue to strengthen their defensive front. They made a big move on Day 1 of free agency by signing Dre'mont Jones, and now they get help on the edge with the selection of Tyree Wilson. The Texas Tech standout did not participate at the NFL Combine as he continues recovering from a fractured foot he suffered in November, but he plans to do drills and testing at the school's Pro Day on March 29. He'll showcase a skill set that will validate his standing as a top-10 pick.

The Lions have expressed the utmost confidence in Jared Goff as their starting QB this offseason, but in this scenario, Anthony Richardson being available is too good to pass up. Making this decision easier is the fact that Detroit has already addressed one of its biggest needs, cornerback, in free agency by signing Cameron Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley. All of the sudden, this franchise is in position to win now while grooming Richardson, who has the most potential of any QB in the draft, to take the reigns when he's ready.

The Jalen Carter situation has been resolved from a legal standpoint, with Carter getting 12 months of probation and a $1,000 fine but avoiding jail time. Still, it's unclear what teams think of him after his legal trouble and disappointing pro day. In this mock, Carter is passed over as the first defensive prospect taken but still lands in the top 10.

Christian Gonzalez seems to have cemented himself as this classes' best cornerback after his showing at the NFL Combine. He tested really well and showcased smooth athleticism during on-field drills -- and that's in addition to displaying his ball-hawking skills this past season at Oregon. The Falcons need more defensive playmakers, and Gonzalez fits the bill.

The Bears are making moves! First they trade the No. 1 overall pick to the Panthers for two firsts, two seconds and a proven wide receiver in D.J. Moore. Then they go out on Day 1 of free agency and lock down two of the best available linebackers in T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds in addition to solid guard Nate Davis. They've already filled some holes, but there's more work to be done. And with their newly acquired No. 9 selection, the Bears give Justin Fields a familiar weapon in Jaxon Smith-Njigba, a route-running savant with elite agility skills.

It appeared the Eagles would need a new starting cornerback after reports they were releasing Darius Slay. Now he's trending towards returning, meaning the star-studded duo of he and James Bradberry will be back in the fold. With that position taken care of, GM Howie Roseman fortifies the defensive line with the athletic and versatile Myles Murphy.

The Titans entered free agency needing major offensive line help, and while they secured former Eagles first-round tackle Andre Dillard, they released center Ben Jones and let guard Nate Davis walk in free agency. That means finding quarterback protection should still be a priority in the draft, and they do so by selecting Paris Johnson Jr., who handled the best Big Ten pass-rushers at both guard and tackle during his Ohio State career.

The Texans bolstered their wide receiver corps by signing Robert Woods and Noah Brown in free agency. Now, Houston looks to strengthen the secondary. Devon Witherspoon, coming from one of the best defenses in all of college football, has the fundamentals, physicality and instincts to thrive opposite 2022 No. 3 overall pick Derek Stingley Jr.

On Wednesday, Aaron Rodgers announced his intentions to play for the Jets. And while there's no trade in place yet, we're going to assume it involves the Jets' first-round pick (No. 13 overall). With Green Bay now on the clock, it knows the Patriots are looking for offensive line help and therefore goes with the technically excellent Peter Skoronski, who will help out the unit wherever needed.

Shortly after reports surfaced that the Patriots were making trade calls about DeAndre Hopkins and Jerry Jeudy, they landed JuJu Smith-Schuster on a reported three-year, $33 million deal. New England could still go pass-catcher here but instead opts for more protection for Mac Jones. Broderick Jones, in contention to be the first offensive lineman taken, has everything you want in an NFL tackle.

Brian Branch didn't have a great NFL Combine, but he was always going to be a "trust-the-tape" prospect anyway. The Alabama standout can basically play anywhere, has high football IQ and excels as a run defender. With the Packers set to lose one or both of Adrian Amos and Rudy Ford, and with this not being a strong safety draft class, they choose production over measurables in making Branch a first-round pick.

Having signed two offensive linemen at the onset of free agency, the Commanders turn their attention to the defensive side of the ball. Joey Porter Jr.'s testing numbers weren't great, but he's still a very long, physical cornerback who won't shy away from covering the other best receivers in the division.

The Steelers are in a similar position to the Commanders in that offensive line and cornerback are two of their bigger needs. Unlike Washington, Pittsburgh goes with the offensive lineman. Darnell Wright is coming off a great season for Tennessee, stood out during Senior Bowl Week and turned in a combine performance that got the attention of Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Thomas.

The Lions have done a good job addressing defensive needs in free agency, so they continue adding to the offense in the first round. Dalton Kincaid is one of the best pass-catchers in this class, regardless of position, and Anthony Richardson will love throwing to him for years to come.

The No. 1 high school player in the country a few years ago didn't have his best season in 2022, but the Clemson product still has everything you want in a formidable interior disruptor. He performed like a top prospect at the NFL Combine, too. The Buccaneers take the Clemson standout to replace Rakeem Nunez-Roches, who left for the Giants in free agency.

Many of the top WR prospects ran slower than expected in the 40-yard dash at the combine, Jordan Addison included, but that doesn't mean the Pittsburgh/USC standout shouldn't be a first-round pick. Addison plays faster on tape than his 40 time, and his route-running and ball skills will provide Geno Smith with another pass-catching weapon along with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.

This one's pretty straightforward. The Chargers have allowed Austin Ekeler to seek a trade, meaning there's a decent chance the do-it-all running back will be elsewhere next season. Los Angeles replaces him with the cheaper and younger Bijan Robinson.

The Ravens need to get a deal done with Lamar Jackson, and then they need to finally get him a No. 1 wide receiver. Quentin Johnston, thanks to his elite physical attributes, can be that player.

What Zay Flowers lacks in size (5-foot-9, 182 pounds), he makes up for with his route-running ability, contested-catch prowess and after-the-catch flair. He'd pair well with Justin Jefferson after the Vikings released Adam Thielen.

The Jaguars replace Jawaan Taylor with the monstrous Dawand Jones, who with some guidance could become a really solid protector for Trevor Lawrence.

Having adding weapons for Daniel Jones in free agency (re-signed Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton; signed Parris Campbell; traded for Darren Waller), the Giants get Wink Martindale a new playmaker. Deonte Banks needs some technical refinement, but his physical traits are hard to ignore (see: NFL Combine).

The Cowboys have made some head-scratching moves in the wide receiver department. First they shipped four-time Pro Bowler Amari Cooper to the Browns ... for a fifth-round pick and a swap of sixth-rounders. Then they gave a lucrative extension to Michael Gallup despite the moderately productive receiver coming off a torn ACL. The bottom line is that CeeDee Lamb needs a consistent counterpart, and Jalin Hyatt, who ranked top 15 in the nation in yards per reception (18.91), can be that player.

The Bills fortify their protection around Josh Allen by selecting the top guard prospect in this class. O'Cyrus Torrence is a plug-and-play talent.

Hayden Hurst

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