With the NFL beginning this weekend and college football in the second full week of action, every 2-round 2023 NFL Mock Draft from here on out will have some element of reaction to ongoing events in the football world. The draft order will fluctuate, the prospects’ stock will ebb and flow, and the needs of all 32 NFL teams will begin to sharpen into focus. As always, we try to traverse the moving parts of the NFL draft process to bring detailed analysis and reasoning to what is essentially the world’s most difficult guessing game.
2023 2-round NFL Mock Draft | Round 1
The order for this 2023 2-round NFL Mock Draft is taken from the reverse Super Bowl odds. We don’t necessarily think that your team isn’t great, but Vegas definitely does. That said, the Houston Texans are on the clock with the first overall pick.
1) Houston Texans: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
Davis Mills has reportedly looked good through preseason camp, and there appears to be confidence in his ability to lead this Texans team this season. However, that confidence will only stretch so far if they’re picking first overall in the 2023 NFL Draft as projected.
Houston’s a leading contender for a quarterback, and Alabama’s Bryce Young is a leading contender to be the first QB off the board. Young’s poise under pressure, ability to throw with accuracy, and blossoming elements of creative mobility will make him a difficult prospect to overlook for any QB-needy team. The battle to be QB1 — and likely first overall pick — between Young and C.J. Stroud is set to rage all season long.
2) Atlanta Falcons: Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama
After leading the nation in sacks and tackles for loss last season, Alabama pass rusher Will Anderson Jr. kicked off a pivotal junior campaign in equally dominant style. The 6’4″, 235-pound outside linebacker is a power, speed, agility, triple threat who mixes elements of physicality with technical finesse to be a devastatingly disruptor off the edge.
Despite investing in multiple EDGE players last fall, Anderson is too good of a player for the Atlanta Falcons to ignore and would provide the pass-rush presence they’ve been searching for.
3) Chicago Bears: Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
A projection of third overall for the Chicago Bears in this 2023 2-round NFL Mock Draft would suggest that Justin Fields’ struggles under center have continued. The blame can hardly be put on the former Ohio State quarterback’s shoulders; the Bears have simply failed to surround him with talent.
That ends here with another Buckeyes standout in Paris Johnson Jr. Sliding over to left tackle this fall, Johnson looked like a seasoned veteran in his debut outing at LT against Notre Dame. He’s a perfect storm of size, strength, athleticism, and nastiness that makes him an elite pass protector and mauling presence in the ground game.
4) Detroit Lions: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
There’s an out in Jared Goff’s contract in 2023, and if the Detroit Lions are picking fourth overall next April you better hope that they’re going to part ways with the former Los Angeles Rams quarterback.
C.J. Stroud gives them an upgrade, boasting NFL size, the arm talent to stretch the field, and the mental fortitude to help lead a team early in his NFL career. Stroud’s accurate, technically impressive, and by the time he arrives in Detroit, could be the latest QB recipient of the Heisman Trophy.
5) Seattle Seahawks: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
Anthony Richardson was the talk of the town following Week 1 of the college football season. The 6’4″, 236-pound QB put in a mesmerizing performance to guide the Gators past a strong Utah team, flashing the physical tools that had made him an intriguing 2023 NFL Draft prospect prior to the season.
Some might say it’s a knee-jerk reaction to have Richardson this high in a mock draft. Yet, his wonderful opening weekend clarified the arm talent and ludicrous creation capacity that we already knew he possessed but needed visual confirmation of. We got that and more, and the Seattle Seahawks get their long-term Russell Wilson replacement.
6) New York Jets: Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
Despite the addition of Jermaine Johnson last year, the New York Jets should be in the market for an EDGE to bolster their defensive front. However, it would be difficult to let Georgie defensive tackle Jalen Carter slide past if he’s still on the board at six.
The 6’3″, 310-pound DT is an absolute monster who wrecks offenses for fun. Carter’s combination of high-level athletic ability, incredible power and violence, and a pass-rush toolbox already brimming with moves can’t be passed up on.
7) Jacksonville Jaguars: Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
Trevor Lawrence needs a wide receiver target who can dominate, and in this 2023 2-round NFL Mock Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars find him one. While other big-name receivers dominate the early conversation, don’t sleep on TCU’s Quentin Johnston.
Boasting a huge frame and elite catch radius to get the job done on the boundary, the Horned Frogs standout has deceptive athleticism to pose as an after-the-catch threat. He didn’t pad the box score in Week 1, but there were multiple examples of the aforementioned skill set.
8) Carolina Panthers: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
The Carolina Panthers had a bottom-five total offense and passing offense last season. If they’re picking eighth overall, as they are in this 2023 2-round NFL Mock Draft, it’s fair to say that Baker Mayfield likely didn’t elevate their offense much higher than last year.
While Matt Corral is an option, adding a playmaker like Will Levis should be a high priority. Poised to break out and challenge the top QBs in the class, Levis has a high-powered arm with tight window velocity and can make game-changing plays with his legs.
9) New York Giants: Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
With the presumptive top quarterbacks already off the board, the New York Giants face a dilemma in this 2023 2-round NFL Mock Draft. They clearly need to replace Daniel Jones, but any QB selected here will be a significant reach. Instead, they turn to another position of need here.
Georgia cornerback Kelee Ringo fills a significant hole on their roster. At 6’2″, 205 pounds, Ringo is a size, speed, and physicality threat who weaponizes his height with great length to be an impactful playmaker at the catch point.
10) Pittsburgh Steelers: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
Although Mitch Trubisky heads into the season as the Steelers’ QB1, by the time April comes around they should be looking at protection for the QB of the future in Kenny Pickett.
An explosive athlete who can get out ahead of the ground game, Georgia’s Broderick Jones has an enticing physical profile that is buoyed by the requisite strength and violence to be successful at the NFL level. Part of a line that allowed Stetson Bennett IV to look like a world-beater in Week 1, Jones will be a riser in this class.
11) Washington Commanders: Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
With Chase Young and Montez Sweat on the roster, Clemson EDGE Myles Murphy might feel like something of a luxury pick. There are certainly other needs for the Commanders, including in the secondary. However, Murphy’s combination of sensational strength and elite athleticism makes him too good to pass up on.
The 6’5″, 275-pound pass rusher is a monster whose length and devastating hand work ensure he gets off blocks with ease as he explodes from the line of scrimmage and into the backfield in the blink of an eye.
12) Houston Texans (from CLE): Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU
When you use the first overall pick on a quarterback, you want to give him the best opportunity to succeed. The Texans should have Young’s former teammate John Metchie III back to his best by next fall. But even with him, Brandin Cooks, and Nico Collins, they need a true game changer.
That’s exactly what Kayshon Boutte is. He’s an explosive pass catcher with the speed to stretch the field and take the short stuff for big gains. Boutte creates separation effortlessly with route-running prowess and elite movement skills.
13) New England Patriots: Noah Sewell, LB, Oregon
When you think of the best New England Patriots teams of the Bill Belichick era, their defenses were built around a ferocious force at the heart of the linebacker group. There isn’t that presence currently on the roster.
That’s why the selection of Oregon’s Noah Sewell in this 2023 2-round NFL Mock Draft makes sense, even with some needs that might appear to be more pressing. Sewell is a 6’3″, 250-pound physical freak who comes flying downhill with disturbing ferocity and a nose for the ball that makes him extremely dangerous.
14) Philadelphia Eagles (from NO): Jared Verse, EDGE, FSU
Is FSU becoming the king-maker at the defensive end position? Last year, Jermaine Johnson utilized his transfer to the Seminoles into a first-round pick and now former Albany standout Jared Verse looks to follow the same route.
Verse was exceptional against Duquesne to open the season, then emerged on the national stage with a dominant performance against LSU. He wins with speed. He wins with power. The 6’4″, 248-pounder has an ever-growing pass-rush arsenal and could line up on either side of the Eagles’ defensive line.
15) Arizona Cardinals: Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
Cornerback is comfortably the Arizona Cardinals’ most significant need at this moment in time. Cam Smith is comfortably the best available CB in this 2023 2-round NFL Mock Draft.
South Carolina has a history of producing physical phenoms and Smith is no different. He’ll never back down from a battle, and he’s combative in the run game. Additionally, Smith has the size, length, and vertical explosion to go up and impact the catch point with the very best of them. He’s a genuine CB1 challenger in this class.
16) Las Vegas Raiders: Antonio Johnson, CB, Texas A&M
The Las Vegas Raiders spent the offseason clearing house, trying to remove any traces of the Mike Mayock era. While not a revolutionary concept, that approach has left multiple areas of need. OT is one, but at this point, the class lacks the star power of last year.
Antonio Johnson, however, is the epitome of a star at the CB position. At 6’3″ and 200 pounds, Johnson has the size to play at any spot despite a high nickel usage for Texas A&M. He’s blessed with speed and length to be a playmaker in the secondary.
17) Tennessee Titans: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Imagine a world where the Tennessee Titans run two tight end sets with Chigoziem Okonkwo and their first-round selection of this 2023 2-round NFL Mock Draft, Michael Mayer.
The Notre Dame TE has the talent to return the position to the first round, with elite-level catch skills, ludicrous body control for his size, and deceptive athleticism for his size that allows him to create separation with some twitch to his movements. Mayer is also proficient as a blocker, enabling him to impact both the ground and passing games at a high level.
18) Minnesota Vikings: Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
If Bryan Bresee somehow falls to 18th overall, the Minnesota Vikings simply have no other option than to secure his services. They’re a prime landing spot for a pass rusher, but why should that presence come solely from the edge?
Plug Bresee into the defensive front and watch him dominate opposition offensive linemen from Day 1. The 6’5″, 300-pound defensive tackle is frankly frightening with his combination of high-end athleticism, block-shedding length, and power generation that is up there with the best in the nation.
19) Indianapolis Colts: Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
After allowing the second-most passing touchdowns last season, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Indianapolis Colts attempt to upgrade their secondary next April. In this 2023 2-round NFL Mock Draft, they land a playmaker with the skills to be a lockdown NFL cornerback.
Emmanuel Forbes is a defensive dynamo who possesses the length, vertical athleticism, quick footwork, and route recognition to be a Day 1 starter. The Mississippi State standout adds deceptive physicality to round out an impressive profile.
20) Philadelphia Eagles: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
Incredible catch-point prowess and a knack for creating easy separation have some inside Ohio State calling Jaxon Smith-Njigba the best WR the program has produced in recent years. He’s also produced some of the more awe-inspiring catches in recent college football history. The Buckeyes’ pass catcher gives Jalen Hurts an additional weapon with which to prove he’s the long-term answer under center.
21) Cincinnati Bengals: Isaiah Foskey, EDGE, Notre Dame
Despite adding Dax Hill in Round 1 this past April, there’s certainly a chance that the Cincinnati Bengals seek to add to the secondary again next year. However, they’ve attempted to bring depth and quality to their pass-rushing ranks in the last two classes and finally find an impact maker in the form of Notre Dame’s Isaiah Foskey. The Fighting Irish star boasts the size, power, motor, and length to consistently make plays as a dominant pass rusher.
22) Baltimore Ravens: Jordan Addison, WR, USC
Lamar Jackson already had a difficult enough time proving himself as a legitimate passing QB in the eyes of some media outlets before losing Hollywood Brown.
The Baltimore Ravens offense is screaming out for a three-level threat, and the selection of Jordan Addison — the reigning Biletnikoff Award winner — does just that. Addison can stretch the field with explosive speed while possessing the ability to challenge at the catch point.
23) Dallas Cowboys: Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson
The Dallas Cowboys have already shown a penchant for freak athlete linebackers who can fulfill multiple roles. In this 2023 2-round NFL Mock Draft, they land a playmaker who merges the lines between safety and linebacker in Clemson’s Trenton Simpson.
The defensive dynamo combines eye-popping athleticism, exciting explosive capability, and strength beyond his slender frame to be an enforcer in all three phases of the game and from multiple alignments.
24) Seattle Seahawks (from DEN): Felix Anudike-Uzomah, EDGE, Kansas State
With their QB of the future secured, the Seahawks switch to the defensive side of the ball. They’ve had some misses with pass rushers in the draft before, but they hit the target with Kansas State EDGE Felix Anudike-Uzomah.
The 6’3″, 252-pound pass rusher engineered one of the greatest single-game performances in college football history last fall, but with length, strength, and a relentless motor, he’s more than just a one-game wonder.
25) Miami Dolphins (from SF): Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
Some team and player combinations just scream out to you when writing a mock draft, and the Miami Dolphins and Bijan Robinson is one of them. The Dolphins need a running back, but the Texas junior is far more than just a rusher. He has the size, strength, and grit to be a workhorse back while possessing the vision and creativity to break off chunk plays with disturbing regularity. Robinson also boasts excellent pass-catching skills and physicality as a blocker. First-round running backs are frowned upon, but not this one.
26) Los Angeles Chargers: Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
A potential Super Bowl challenger with Justin Herbert under center, the Los Angeles Chargers appear to have just one weakness as the NFL season gets underway — right tackle.
They address that need in this 2023 2-round NFL Mock Draft with Tennessee’s Darnell Wright. Experienced on both bookends, Wright boasts prototypical NFL OT size and length, and blends violence with power while possessing the athleticism to be a force at the second level in the ground game.
27) Detroit Lions (from LAR): Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah
One of the most porous pass defenses in the NFL last fall should be buoyed by an impressive training camp from former first-rounder Jeff Okudah. However, landing a cornerback of the caliber of Clark Phillips III should also substantially upgrade their secondary.
The Utah CB is the epitome of the phrase “it’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the fight in the dog” as he routinely plays bigger than his diminutive stature. An elite playmaker with athleticism and physicality is just how Dan Campbell drew it up.
28) Kansas City Chiefs: Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern
Northwestern offensive tackle Peter Skoronski was one of the biggest winners from the opening salvo of CFB games, putting in an imperious performance against Nebraska in Dublin, Ireland.
The heir to Rashawn Slater for the Wildcats boasts impressive athleticism, high-level technicality with his hand work, and a rock-solid anchor. It might not be the primary need for the Kansas City Chiefs, but the right side of the line in particular could use a long-term answer that currently doesn’t reside on the roster.
29) Green Bay Packers: Brian Branch, S, Alabama
The additions of Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt strengthened the spine of the Green Bay Packers defense, but now it’s time for reinforcements in the secondary. Alabama’s Brian Branch is a high-motor guy who also boasts top-level instincts.
When required in pass coverage, he has the vertical athleticism to make an impact. Meanwhile, you’ll struggle to find a more reliable tackler in all of college football. A safety trio of Branch, Darnell Savage, and Adrian Amos is enough to strike fear into the heart of any opposition offense.
30) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
There weren’t many more impressive players in Week 1 of college football than Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr. He boasts great size at 6’2” and 198 pounds and great length, allowing him to play a physical brand of football.
Wrapped up in an ultra-athletic frame, the Nittany Lions star flies all over the field making plays. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers don’t have a huge amount of holes on their roster, but their secondary could use an injection of top-level playmaking talent, and Porter is definitely that.
31) Buffalo Bills: John Michael Schmitz, C, Minnesota
The Buffalo Bills struggled to move the ball on the ground last season — other than Josh Allen scrambling — and a lot of those issues can be traced back to the interior offensive line. Additionally, center Mitch Morse is out of contract at the end of the year.
Adding Minnesota center John Michael Schmitz in this 2023 2-round NFL Mock Draft gives them a roadblock in the run game who has the athleticism to get out ahead of the action and carve open lanes at the second level.
2023 2-round NFL Mock Draft | Round 2
32) Houston Texans: Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech
The successful Texans teams of old were predicated on destructive defenses and Lovie Smith’s vision must be in that mold. At 6’6″, 275 pounds, Tyree Wilson is long and powerful, with the athletic tools to be dangerously impactful at the next level.
33) Atlanta Falcons: Siaki Ika, DT, Baylor
There are several ways the Falcons could go in the second round of this 2023 NFL Mock Draft. However, adding 6’4″, 358 pounds behemoth Siaki Ika to the defensive front alongside Ta’Quon Graham and Grady Jarrett would allow maximum damage from first-rounder Anderson. It’s a terrifying enough prospect to make Tom Brady retire again.
34) Chicago Bears: Cedric Tillman, WR, Tennessee
After selecting Velus Jones Jr. last season, the Bears return to the Tennessee wide receiver well to secure a genuine pass-catching threat for Fields. Cedric Tillman is a 6’3″, 215-pound big-bodied boundary threat who can also pose a threat with some impressive athletic tendencies.
35) Detroit Lions: Henry To’oTo’o, LB, Alabama
The Lions could seek to add another WR to their roster here in the second round. However, Alabama’s Henry To’oTo’o offers Detroit an instinctual player with a high football IQ, physicality, and the attributes to be a high-level run defender at a significant position of need.
36) Seattle Seahawks: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
Tariq Woolen and Coby Bryant are slated to be rookie starters in the secondary this season, and Seattle could add another tall, long corner to the equation. In addition to his alluring size, Christian Gonzalez is an athletic freak with impressive football instincts who has impact maker written all over him.
37) New York Jets: Matthew Bergeron, OT, Syracuse
Concerns over Mekhi Becton’s future should see the Jets invest in a young offensive tackle to blood for the future behind newcomer Duane Brown. Syracuse kicked off their season in impressive style, with LT Matthew Bergeron helping the offense fire on all cylinders. He’s a violent and powerful player with impressive footwork.
38) Jacksonville Jaguars: Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh
While he’s likely to be hit with the “undersized” moniker in this 2023 NFL Draft class due to his 6’0″, 275-pound frame, Calijah Kancey has the explosiveness and technical refinement to impact the game both on the ground and as a pass rusher. Facing Kancey, Travon Walker, and Josh Allen is enough to give quarterbacks sleepless nights.
39) Carolina Panthers: O’Cyrus Torrence, G, Florida
Ikem Ekwonu is going to hold down the Panthers’ left tackle position for years to come, but there’s a little more uncertainty on the interior. What is for certain is that Florida guard O’Cyrus Torrence is a strong, violent, dominant interior offensive line prospect who might not even be available at 39 when the 2023 NFL Draft comes around.
40) New York Giants: Tyler Van Dyke, QB, Miami (FL)
Having missed out on one of the top quarterbacks early in the first round of this 2023 2-round NFL Mock Draft, the New York Giants strike for a successor in Round 2. Tyler Van Dyke is a riser candidate in this class, with arm strength, the ability to throw from multiple arm angles, and sufficient mobility to extend plays, all while boasting NFL size at 6’4″ and 224 pounds.
41) Pittsburgh Steelers: BJ Ojulari, EDGE, LSU
While Alex Highsmith has been impressive at times, the Steelers seek out a strong counterfoil to T.J. Watt in this 2023 2-round NFL Mock Draft. While a little undersized, LSU’s BJ Ojulari gives Pittsburgh a speed rusher whose combination of motor and a blossoming pass-rush toolbox can give opposing offensive tackles fits.
42) Washington Commanders: JL Skinner, S, Boise State
JL Skinner is currently our top-ranked safety in the 2023 NFL Draft class. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him garner first-round attention, making him a bargain for Washington here. The Boise State safety is a 6’4″, 220-pound heat-seeking missile, who comes downhill with ferocious intent and the physicality to be destructive on impact.
43) Cleveland Browns: Gervon Dexter, DT, Florida
After trading their first-round pick in the Deshaun Watson deal, the Cleveland Browns enter this 2023 2-round NFL Mock Draft in the enviable position of meeting need with a highly talented player. At 6’6″ and 313 pounds, Gervon Dexter possesses the power you’d expect from a player of his size while also boasting the athleticism that you wouldn’t.
44) New England Patriots: Garrett Williams, CB, Syracuse
Syracuse provided one of the shocks of college football Week 1, turning over a good Louisville team. One of the key components of that victory was cornerback Garrett Williams, who plays fast and physical while possessing the fluidity to stick with anyone in man coverage. Williams can be the answer for a Patriots secondary with plenty of questions.
45) New Orleans Saints: Cameron Ward, QB, Washington State
Jameis Winston might be the long-term future at quarterback for the New Orleans Saints. Conversely, he may not. Former Incarnate Word QB Cameron Ward has an arm to match Winston, driving the ball downfield with relative ease. He’s in line for a Bailey Zappe elevation to national attention.
46) Arizona Cardinals: D’Anthony Jones, EDGE, Houston
With a cornerback secured in the first round of this 2023 2-round NFL Mock Draft, the Cardinals add another defensive playmaker in Houston’s D’Anthony Jones. A unique specimen at 6’2″, 280 pounds, Jones is ludicrously explosive, powerful, and rarely misses as a tackler.
47) Miami Dolphins: Nick Hampton, EDGE, Appalachian State
An elite athlete, Appalachian State’s Nick Hampton is a speed rusher who boasts impressive power from his 6’3″, 235-pound frame. Meanwhile, he’s already adept at putting together combo moves in a pass-rush plan. Plugging Hampton opposite Jaelan Phillips would make for an electric pass-rush duo for the Dolphins.
48) Las Vegas Raiders: Jaelyn Duncan, OT, Maryland
With Alex Leatherwood a casualty of the Raiders house clearing, the need for an offensive tackle next April is clear. Maryland’s Jaelyn Duncan is a strong, athletic OT who is equally adept in pass protection as run blocking. Duncan has fast feet, is explosive out of his stance, and showcases strength with a vice-like grip.
49) Tennessee Titans: Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia
Harold Landry’s injury could well expose a depth issue for the Titans in the pass-rush department. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see them add a piece in 2023, and Georgia EDGE Nolan Smith brings an elite-level athletic profile to Tennessee. He’s also strong while having the bend capacity to threaten around the outside track.
50) Minnesota Vikings: Sedrick Van Pran, C, Georgia
Garrett Bradbury hasn’t developed into the star at center that Minnesota fans were expecting, and the interior offensive line continues to be a weakness of the roster. Inserting Georgia’s Sedrick Van Pran into the offense gives them a powerful, smart, and ultra-athletic player at the pivot who can help maximize both the ground and passing game.
51) Indianapolis Colts: Andre Carter II, EDGE, Army
Andre Carter II‘s Army eligibility question marks may prevent him from ever ascending this high in the 2023 NFL Draft. However, based on talent alone, Carter’s deserving of a Day 2 selection. An athletic anomaly at 6’7″ and 260 pounds, the Army EDGE is extremely explosive, arriving in the opposition’s backfield before the OT is even out of his stance.
52) Philadelphia Eagles: Mekhi Garner, CB, LSU
The Eagles should be in the market for a first-round corner, but history tells us that is unlikely. However, they secure a genuine playmaker in the second round of this 2023 2-round NFL Mock Draft. Mekhi Garner is a tall, long, physical, ball hawk who makes catch-point disruption look easy.
53) Cincinnati Bengals: Nehemiah Pritchett, CB, Auburn
A former high school wide receiver, Nehemiah Pritchett is a dangerous cornerback at the catch point. He’s fast, fluid, and boasts football intelligence in the form of route recognition. The Auburn CB can be an impact maker for the Bengals’ secondary.
54) Baltimore Ravens: Derick Hall, EDGE, Auburn
Derick Hall is an impressive athlete with excellent straight-line speed who puts that to dangerous usage as an outside pass rusher. Meanwhile, Hall has the length and strength to win when his speed alone isn’t enough. The Ravens have made a living out of betting on athletic pass rushers, and Hall can be the next one to find success.
55) Dallas Cowboys: Jermaine Burton, WR, Alabama
Come April, Jermaine Burton might not even make it out of Round 1. Alabama receivers have a habit of hearing their name called on Day 1. It’s not just a case of scouting the helmet, however. Burton has legitimate speed, route-running capability, ball tracking, and pass-catching technique. Area of need meets top-tier talent for Dallas.
56) Seattle Seahawks (from DEN): Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina
With Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf on the roster, Seattle already has pass-catching talent for new quarterback Richardson. However, you can never have too many dangerous weapons, and with his explosion, speed, and route-running ability, Josh Downs is a true threat at any level of the field. That offense would be nigh on impossible to stop.
57) San Francisco 49ers: Layden Robinson, G, Texas A&M
Early signs indicate that the San Francisco 49ers have gotten great value out of their previous draft class, including guard Spencer Burford, who has been incredibly impressive through the preseason. However, the interior offensive line still projects to be an area for improvement, and Texas A&M guard Layden Robinson could be a serious upgrade. A mauler mentality with technical excellence is a difficult combination to play against.
58) Los Angeles Chargers: A.T. Perry, WR, Wake Forest
Second-year WR Josh Palmer is set to start alongside Keenan Allen and Mike Williams for the Chargers this season. His emergence, while not a surprise, should also not preclude Los Angeles from adding more weapons for Herbert. At 6’5″, 206 pounds, A.T. Perry offers a big target who also can win with separation creating twitchy movements.
59) Los Angeles Rams: Eyabi Anoma, EDGE, Michigan
Michigan is rapidly becoming an EDGE factory, and they have several potential prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft. Eyabi Anoma is a former Alabama commit whose journey hasn’t been conventional, with a smattering of controversy.
But back in the national limelight in Week 1, Anoma showcased explosion, power, and used his length to force his will on anyone in his path. The Rams needed a Von Miller replacement this summer, and they don’t have it — yet.
60) Kansas City Chiefs: Jaheim Bell, TE, South Carolina
Considered one of the top tight ends in the 2023 NFL Draft class, South Carolina’s Jaheim Bell possesses game-changing speed, explosion, and lateral agility. When you hear South Carolina offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield say, “he’s listed as a tight end, but Jaheim, he’s Deebo 2.0,” you know that the fit with a creative offensive mind in Kansas City is going to produce fireworks.
61) Green Bay Packers: Blake Freeland, OT, BYU
With David Bakhtiari’s injury struggles, Green Bay should be considered a likely OT landing spot. BYU’s Brake Freeland gives the Packers an athletic tackle that can help AJ Dillon and Aaron Jones to succeed in the ground game while providing violence and a solid anchor as a pass protector for Aaron Rodgers.
62) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Clayton Tune, QB, Houston
How long will Tom Brady continue for? How confident are the Buccaneers about Kyle Trask? If there’s concern about the answer to either question, then Tampa Bay should be in the market for a quarterback in the 2023 NFL Draft. In this 2-round mock, the heir apparent is Houston’s Clayton Tune.
At 6’3″ and 215 pounds, Tune has decent size for an NFL QB. He’s also showcased the arm strength to push the ball downfield. However, he’s not just a strong arm, with the ability to throw with anticipation and placement. While not an elite athlete, Tune can extend plays with his legs, and he’s proven time and time again that he’s a natural-born leader.
63) Buffalo Bills: Brandon Joseph, S, Notre Dame
Buffalo has arguably the best safety duo in the NFL. However, Jordan Poyer is out of contract in 2023, with Micah Hyde following in 2024. Should they decide not to sign either to a big contract, Brandon Joseph is a playmaker who can come in and make an impact.
There are few players with the level of football intelligence that the former Northwestern product possesses. Meanwhile, Joseph has the athleticism to act upon those instincts, with good vertical get-up and the ability to click and close with dangerous intentions.