Excitement is building for the 2023 NFL Draft, and our team communities have you covered with all the predictions, analysis, and scouting reports you need to prepare for the big weekend. That includes our mock draft of SB national team communities.
If you somehow missed the last 16 years of this mock draft, let’s bring you up to speed: Our 32 NFL communities (well, the ones that cover teams with first-round picks, anyway) select the players they believe it makes more sense for their teams to draft and share the thought process behind those selections. We’ve collected all of those picks here, with links to the full analysis on each site.
Following the Panthers’ successful trade with the Bears that landed them the No. 1 pick for the 2023 draft, Cat Scratch Reader was ranked the No. 1 pick. We know the Panthers are going to have a quarterback, but which one?
No. 1: Panthers select CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State
While the Panthers don’t know who they want to take as No. 1 as of this writing, we think they’ve already made up their minds, and that’s for the former. ohio state QB CJ Stroud. Stroud posted a stat line of 575 completions on 830 attempts for 8,123 passing yards and 85 touchdowns with just 12 interceptions as just about the consensus best pocket passer in this draft. One of Stroud’s main concerns leading up to the draft is making plays outside of the frame and using his legs, however, he showed there’s more to his game there against Georgia in the peach bowl last season. – Brian Beversluis, cat scratch reader
No. 2: Texans select Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
… could flourish positioned behind the NFL’s highest-paid left tackle, Laremy Tunsil, and protected by the rest of the rebuilt Houston’s offensive line. handing over the ball to 1-2 punches by Dameon Pierce and Devin Singletary. Throw the ball to Nico Collins, John Metchie and whoever the Texans draft after Young. Hitting your safety valve Dalton Shultz in stride for important first downs. It’s time to finally envision a potent Houston Texans offense, and recruiting Bryce Young makes that vision possible. – Mike Bullock, battle red blog
No. 3: Cardinals select Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama
The 21-year-old Anderson is one of the most productive pass rushers in college football history and had one of the best individual seasons in 2021 when he posted a staggering 17.5 sacks, 31 tackles for loss and 101 total tackles and finished fifth. in the Heisman voting.
We tried to talk to him. Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawksand las vegas raiders to trade again in the first round, but no one wanted to bite. – Seth Cox, Revenge of the Birds
No. 4: Colts select Anthony Richardson, quarterback, Florida
Your floor?
It could be really bad. He has very little experience starting in Florida and will likely need time to adjust to the NFL game and the complexity of NFL schemes. The accuracy of it has been constantly disputed. Those who review the tape often conclude that those problems are exaggerated, but perhaps that’s easy to do with such an impressive athlete. …
Your roof? Lamar Jackson joined Tom Brady as the unanimous NFL MVP in his second season. Richardson is unlikely to get to that level that quickly, but he is bigger and stronger than Jackson, has the same kind of athleticism, has a bigger arm than Jackson and could become a better player than Jackson. If Jackson won an MVP, it’s not unreasonable to suggest that if Richardson reaches his peak, he could be one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL for a long time. – Brett Mock, Stampede Blue
Stay tuned for the rest of our first round picks!