2023 NFL Mock Draft: Ninth Edition

 Here is the ninth edition of my 2023 NFL Mock Draft.

1. Carolina Panthers (from Chicago Bears)- Bryce Young, Quarterback, Alabama: This pick should be an absolute no brainer, sans the infamous Reddit post about Will Levis being picked first. Young's size may concern people, but his potential is real and is the most well rounded quarterback drafted arguably since Joe Burrow.

2. Houston Texans- Tyree Wilson, Edge, Texas Tech: It's insane to me that the Texans may pass on a quarterback yet again and it would be a massive mistake unless it's a trade down. Wilson reminds me of Travon Walker in terms of how fast he was rising in mocks which had the Jags take him first last year, but Wilson has high upside and is super athletic.

3. Arizona Cardinals- Will Anderson Jr, Edge, Alabama: The Cards got to be careful here because they could trade down too far to the point that they miss out on who could be the best player of the whole draft. Anderson is more well rounded than Tyree Wilson and has excellent technique.

4. Indianapolis Colts- CJ Stroud, Quarterback, Ohio State: I cannot get cute here with putting Will Levis or Anthony Richardson here and if Stroud isn't the pick here, the draft will become chaotic as the Colts get the QB1 that they needed since Andrew Luck retired. Stroud excels from the pocket and has great accuracy.

5. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver Broncos)- Christian Gonzalez, Cornerback, Oregon: This would be a surprising selection for the Seahawks, since there are larger needs. Gonzalez is an absolute ballhawk and has great size and speed and would fit nicely in that secondary.

6. Detroit Lions (from Los Angeles Rams)- Jalen Carter, Defensive Tackle, Georgia: This would be a great selection for a Lions team that needs youth on their defense. Carter is perhaps one of the three best players in the entire draft and he has a strong on field demeanor.

7. Las Vegas Raiders- Devon Witherspoon, Cornerback, Illinois: The Raiders are always a media sleeper pick to draft a quarterback, but they will be happy to land Witherspoon here and it's a position of need too. Witherspoon is very polished and tough, but questions arise about his frame.

8. Atlanta Falcons- Nolan Smith, Edge, Georgia: The Falcons feel like a safe bet to take a pass rusher here and Smith makes sense as they make the homecoming pick. Smith is not as well rounded as Will Anderson as some may think he's the best pure pass rusher in the draft.

9. Chicago Bears (from Carolina Panthers)- Paris Johnson Jr, Offensive Tackle, Ohio State: The Bears did a great job getting a nice haul for the top overall pick and the team needs protection for Justin Fields in the worst way possible and they land a stud in Johnson. His versatility can allow him to come in and start immediately.

10. Philadelphia Eagles (from New Orleans Saints)- Myles Murphy, Edge, Clemson: Murphy feels like such a big Wild Card in this draft considering he can go top ten or fall out of the top twenty. Murphy was dealing with a hamstring injury, which may have teams concerned, but he has the size and speed to be an impactful pass rusher.

11. Tennessee Titans- Anthony Richardson, Quarterback, Florida: I don't mock trades in mock drafts, but I would not be surprised if the Titans moved up to grab their quarterback of the future. Richardson is a classic boom or bust prospect, but intrigues many teams due to his raw potential and elite arm.

12. Houston Texans (from Cleveland Browns)- Will Levis, Quarterback, Kentucky: I'm not completely sure if the Texans would even get Levis to fall into their laps here, but it would be something. There were rumors about Levis being told that he's going first, but I'm not buying that at all as the Texans get a guy that some feel is the best passer in the class.

13. Green Bay Packers (from New York Jets)- Lukas Van Ness, Edge, Iowa: Now that the Packers are in a rebuild, they got to take some chances on some players. Van Ness didn't even start while in college, but he has excellent technique and has a high ceiling.

14. New England Patriots- Joey Porter Jr, Cornerback, Penn State: Who was once the super hot consensus pick two spots later, is now an interesting choice to go here. Porter Jr is a very physical player and would fit super well in today's NFL, but he gets too handsy sometimes.

15. New York Jets (from Green Bay Packers)- Darnell Wright, Offensive Tackle, Tennessee: Now that Aaron Rodgers is officially a Jet, the team must go and get him some protection. Wright had a great season in college and stood out in the Pro Bowl and excels at pass blocking on either side.

16. Washington Commanders- Broderick Jones, Offensive Tackle, Georgia: The Commanders get a gift with Jones falling to them and they should absolutely take him. Jones was successful against strong SEC defenses in college and is super athletic.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers- Peter Skoronski, Offensive Tackle/Guard, Northwestern: The Steelers have to be doing cartwheels with Skoronski falling to them. Skoronski is a versatile player and the team would be hoping he'd protect Kenny Pickett for the next decade.

18. Detroit Lions- Bijan Robinson, Running Back, Texas: This would be a super fun player/team match if it were to happen and it would change the look of the Lions offense for the better. Robinson is a top ten talent in this whole draft and would be the best first round running back since Saquon Barkley.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Anton Harrison, Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma: The Buccaneers are all of a sudden rebuilding too and they need youth everywhere. Harrison excels at stopping the run and can start right away since Donovan Smith is no longer on the team.

20. Seattle Seahawks- Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Wide Receiver, Ohio State: It personally would be surprising if Smith-Njigba was still available into the twenties. Adding Smith-Njigba to go with a receiving group featuring Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf would make life easier for the newly paid Geno Smith.

21. Los Angeles Chargers- Jordan Addison, Wide Receiver, USC: Sans rumors about the Chargers going with a cornerback, it feels like a skilled offensive player is where the team will go. Addison is a great route runner and is mainly used in the slot and would be another weapon for Justin Herbert.

22. Baltimore Ravens- Quentin Johnston, Wide Receiver, TCU: Even with the addition of Odell Beckham Jr and whether Lamar Jackson is back or not, the Ravens need a wide receiver. Johnston had an excellent season in college and he has great athleticism, hands, and running routes.

23. Minnesota Vikings- Deonte Banks, Cornerback, Maryland: The Vikings go with an important need pick here with Banks and they need help all over their defense. Banks put together a very solid season this past season and his physicality can match some NFL receivers.

24. Jacksonville Jaguars- Brian Branch, Safety, Alabama: I think it's important that the Jaguars can select someone that can help them right away since they are close to Super Bowl contention. Branch believe it or not is faster than what he showed at the combine and he excels off the edge, tackles, and is solid in coverage.

25. New York Giants- Zay Flowers, Wide Receiver, Boston College: The Giants should do everything they can to help show everyone that Daniel Jones is worth the big contract he just signed. Flowers was an electric player in college and can play outside or in the slot and he'll help stretch the field.

26. Dallas Cowboys- Michael Mayer, Tight End, Notre Dame: Jerry Jones would be dancing around the draft room if Mayer were to fall to them. Mayer would more than help replace the production Dalton Schultz left behind and he would be able to stretch the field and excels at run blocking too.

27. Buffalo Bills- Drew Sanders, Linebacker, Arkansas: The Bills could go in a numerous different directions here and linebacker makes sense since they lost Tremaine Edmunds. Sanders had a terrific season in college and he is versatile, like Edmunds.

28. Cincinnati Bengals- Dalton Kincaid, Tight End, Utah: The Bengals are tying to get back to the Super Bowl for the second time in three seasons and giving Joe Burrow another weapon would help the cause. Kincaid could end up going higher than this due to his medicals being good, but his blocking still needs improvement.

29. New Orleans Saints (from San Francisco 49ers via Miami Dolphins/Denver Broncos)- Bryan Breese, Defensive Tackle, Clemson: One of the more obvious team and positional pick is the Saints and a pass rusher. Breese had a tough few years on and off the field, but he is excellent at stopping the run and has much more potential.

30. Philadelphia Eagles- Calijah Kancey, Defensive Tackle, Pittsburgh: With their second first rounder, the Eagles go with a longterm pick for the interior of their defensive line. Kancey is a relentless and consistent pass rusher, but he is undersized.

31. Kansas City Chiefs- Will McDonald IV, Edge, Iowa State: There is some chatter that the Chiefs want to move up and grab a wide receiver, but edge rusher is where there is a larger need. McDonald is a real explosive player with a high ceiling that can get sacks consistently.