2023 NFL Mock Draft | Round 1, Picks 17-32
The first half of Round 1 is out of the way. Who’s on the rise to also potentially hear their names called on Day 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft?
17) Philadelphia Eagles: Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
Lane Johnson will be a free agent following the 2022 season. Jordan Mailata is the answer at one tackle spot, so the Philadelphia Eagles will absolutely be in the market for a new tackle. Paris Johnson Jr. is a big man at 6’6″, 315 pounds, and he moves around well for that size.
With the loss of Nicholas Petit-Frere from the left tackle spot, it’s a natural fit for Johnson to slide over. If he excels at left tackle, pick No. 17 could be his floor.
18) Indianapolis Colts: Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern
With a compact, almost immovable frame, Peter Skoronski offers a potential stalwart offensive lineman for the Indianapolis Colts for the future. Some will question his size and whether he’s cut out for left tackle in the NFL. Yet, he more than proved capable in all facets through two seasons at Northwestern.
With a quick first step and even better hands, Skoronski may be the Wildcats’ next big offensive lineman to make a splash immediately in the NFL.
19) Cleveland Browns: Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
A big-play receiver who plays just that — big. Quentin Johnston enters the fold with the Cleveland Browns amid a quarterback controversy. However, this pick is of the mind that Baker Mayfield gets healthy and returns to form in 2022, leading to a large contract. After you sign your franchise quarterback to a big deal, what do you do? Draft help.
Johnston is that help. He bails out his quarterback with contested catches, but he also runs crisp, ever-expanding routes for a man his size. At 6’4″, 200 pounds, Johnston is a big-play big man at receiver.
20) New Orleans Saints: Jordan Addison, WR, Pittsburgh
The New Orleans Saints would be unwise to come out of the 2022 NFL Draft without a wide receiver. But that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t want to draft someone of Jordan Addison’s level of play come 2023. The reigning Biletnikoff Award winner blew up this past season, finishing with 17 touchdowns and nearly 1,600 receiving yards.
Addison wins from all over the field not just the slot, and he can dominate at the catch point. What separates Addison from the majority of this class is his body control. Addison has body control in spades, whether it’s sideline catches or body-contorting receptions.
21) Tennessee Titans: Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson
You could tailor a linebacking prospect for Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, and it would spit out some form of Trenton Simpson. A large man with versatility in his game, Simpson excels when coming downhill against the run. But he also has tremendous coverage ability.
What separates Simpson from the rest of the linebackers is the fact that he can also rush the passer like an edge defender would. Simpson could even have an elaborate blitz package built specifically for him. However, with his hit rate already extremely high, he essentially doesn’t even need to. He just wins.
22) Dallas Cowboys: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
The general rule of thumb is don’t draft a running back in the first round, especially for a coach who claims to be so involved with allowing analytics to make the hard decisions. Yet, Bijan Robinson is different. So different, he signifies the end of the Ezekiel Elliott era in Dallas.
The Cowboys move on from Elliott with their next first-round running back, except this time, he can actually catch out of the backfield. Robinson had 4 receiving touchdowns and nearly 300 yards out of the backfield in his sophomore season. He also rushed for over 1,100 yards in just 10 games for Texas last year.
Robinson took over games and is a bruiser who looks for contact on the ground. His contact balance is as elite as we’ve seen in some time.
23) Cincinnati Bengals: Robert Scott Jr., OT, Florida State
The Cincinnati Bengals are set at major areas of importance moving forward. Joe Burrow is the answer at quarterback, and their trio of receivers may be the league’s best. Protecting Burrow and the face of the Queen City’s franchise becomes paramount. Jonah Williams has been great at left tackle, but RT is certainly in question.
Isaiah Prince will have one year left, and Riley Reiff will be a free agent following the 2022 season. Selecting Robert Scott Jr. out of FSU cures all those ills. Scott has been a bright spot on FSU’s offensive line the past two seasons. He can run block well but excels in pass protection. That’s a match made in The Jungle’s heaven.
24) Miami Dolphins (from San Francisco): Walker Parks, OT, Clemson
There’s a reason Clemson had a down year in 2021. Sure, it was their QB situation, but also because they’re loaded with youth. Walker Parks becomes the fourth Tiger in this 2023 NFL Mock Draft and first from the offensive side of the ball. He’s a value add at the right tackle spot for Miami.
Parks is terrific in run blocking but makes his bread when protecting the quarterback. The Dolphins took another QB earlier in this mock draft, making right tackle less important with a right-handed quarterback in the fold. Nevertheless, the Dolphins’ line will certainly be reworked and retooled come next season and especially next offseason. Jesse Davis isn’t the long-term answer at RT, Parks is.
25) Detroit Lions (from Los Angeles Rams): Rakim Jarrett, WR, Maryland
The Lions have already selected a quarterback of the future in this mock draft. Now, they add a potential WR1 for Rattler to throw to in Rakim Jarrett. A speedy threat from the outside, Jarrett has a great first step. He uses that to create separation not only at the catch point but also through his breaks.
Jarrett’s touchdowns didn’t follow as the Big Ten season wore on for Maryland a season ago, but the production was still there. He had three games of over 100 yards and went on a tear of 5 touchdowns in the first six games last year. Another year with Taulia Tagovailoa throwing the ball will pay dividends for both quarterback and receiver.
26) Buffalo Bills: Noah Sewell, LB, Oregon
A run on defenders comes with the perennial favorites to compete for their division crowns in 2022. The Buffalo Bills grab the next Sewell up: Oregon LB Noah Sewell. The younger brother of current Detroit Lions OT Penei Sewell, Noah’s range as a linebacker is unmatched.
Sewell patrols the middle of the field brilliantly in coverage. He also rushes the passer with great ease and even better instincts. The 6’3″, 251-pounder reads and reacts to run plays, coming downhill in a hurry. Sewell is built for the NFL and built to stop every offense.
27) Arizona Cardinals: Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah
The nation watched Clark Phillips III emerge against Ohio State in the Rose Bowl this past bowl season. Utah allowed a Rose Bowl record for passing yards in a game, but it was not Phillips’ fault at all. In fact, Phillips saved the game from being a blowout in favor of the Buckeyes.
Phillips is a sticky coverage man with hips on a swivel. He patrols the outside of the field with great ease, routinely seeing the best the opposing offense has to offer. He was hardly beat in coverage a season ago. Instead, he beat the receiver to the ball more often than not. Phillips presents few areas of weakness if any at all. The Arizona Cardinals get themselves a lockdown corner.
28) Los Angeles Chargers: Antonio Johnson, CB, Texas A&M
The new era of NFL DB is that of a tall, speedy coverage ace. Those don’t grow on trees everywhere, but they do in East St. Louis, where Antonio Johnson hails.
Johnson played all over the defense for Texas A&M this season, excelling when covering receivers from the slot. At a massive 6’3″, 200 pounds, Johnson brings with him a terrific combination of size and speed. Factor in the positional versatility and he’s the complete package. He’ll diagnose run plays quickly while sticking with receivers across the route tree. The Chargers pairing Johnson with their already illustrious cast of young defensive backs is a scary thought.
29) New England Patriots: Riley Moss, CB, Iowa
Returning to school following an injury, Riley Moss was originally invited to the 2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl. Instead, he’ll suit up for the Black and Gold one more time this fall. If his play to start the 2021 season was any indication, grabbing him here would be a steal for the New England Patriots.
Moss recorded 4 interceptions this season, including 2 against Indiana to open the year. He locks down in coverage and has no lapses against a bevy of receivers. He’s incredibly polished and will come with five years of experience in the Iowa secondary. Moss won’t be the youngest rookie, far from it actually. But he’ll enter the NFL ready to start from Day 1.
30) Green Bay Packers: Justin Flowe, LB, Oregon
The second Oregon linebacker selected in the first round, Justin Flowe just needs to see the field. He’s played just a handful of snaps over his first two seasons at Oregon, but when he was in action against Fresno State this past season, he was a game-changer. He excels in coverage and is even better at stopping the run.
If he stays healthy and showcases what made him such a highly sought-after high school prospect, the sky is the limit for Flowe. He already looks like he’s been carved out of stone. We can only hope he becomes that durable.
31) Kansas City Chiefs: BeeJay Williamson, S, Louisiana Tech
Fully expected to help Patrick Mahomes with more weapons this offseason, the Kansas City Chiefs will need secondary help in the 2023 NFL Draft. As the AFC West offenses improve, so will the need to stop the pass in KC. BeeJay Williamson stops the pass (and the run) with elite ball skills.
Williamson is as experienced as they come, bringing with him what will be four straight years of starts at Louisiana Tech. He ranges in coverage from outside cornerback to the slot to free safety to box pass rusher. His productivity never fails, and he presents a mismatch with his speed as well as his size.
32) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jaren Hall, QB, BYU
The seventh quarterback selected is the final player selected in this 2023 NFL Mock Draft. At this rate, we don’t expect Tom Brady to hang ’em up any time soon, but the growing impendency for when it will happen should be at a fever pitch. Jaren Hall’s emergence in 2021 was something to behold.
Hall was terrific when healthy, slinging darts all over the field. His arm talent is elite, and his legs are a great backdrop to a well-rounded, skilled dual-threat QB. Like other dual-threat quarterbacks, you like to see how they use their athletic ability to maneuver the pocket and find throwing lanes. Hall does that and does it well.
Hall’s arm strength is terrific, and his arm angles are even better. With another year like he had in 2021, he’s a first-round player capable of changing an NFL franchise.