Race for the No. 1 Pick:
Chicago Bears: Chicago won the No. 1-overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft by losing to the Vikings while the Texans beat the Colts. Sources from other teams think there is a 50-50 chance that the Bears will use the 2023 NFL Draft to acquire a more natural passing quarterback like Alabama’s Bryce Young and trade away Justin Fields. Chicago’s current regime of general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus did not draft Fields.
If the Bears want to stick with Fields, they could look to trade down with a quarterback-needy team to load up on picks to add a lot of talent to the roster. Fields needs more help in terms of receiving and offensive line talent. Chicago also has a huge lack of talent in its defensive front seven, so if the team decides to stick-and-pick, the organization could consider Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter or Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson.
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Let’s Play Matchmaker:
This section will look at some of the top talent in college football and match those prospects up with teams that have a dire need at the position.
Washington Commanders: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois 
The Commanders closed out their 2022 season with a meaningless win over the Cowboys, and Washington is stuck in quarterback purgatory. After passing on Justin Herbert, the Commanders are not picking high enough in the 2023 NFL Draft to land an elite prospect and are stuck in mediocrity. Washington should consider trading its first-round pick for Derek Carr or Justin Fields – if the Bears are willing to deal him -, but drafting Will Levis or Anthony Richardson is very risky. Both are boom-or-bust, and both of them probably wouldn’t beat out Taylor Heinicke to start next season. Hence, Washington could go for a veteran like Carr. If the Commanders keep their first-round pick and a quarterback is not worthy of the pick, drafting a cornerback would make sense to help improve their secondary.
In 2022, Witherspoon recorded 40 tackles, three interceptions and 14 passes defended. The 5-foot-11, 183-pounder impressed preseason evaluators thanks to having serious speed to go along with adequate size. Advance scouts noted his cover ability, saying he is fast and athletic to run the route to prevent separation.
Witherspoon had zero interceptions in 2021 after recording two in 2020 and zero in 2019. He also recorded 52 tackles and nine passes defended in 2021. He notched 33 tackles in each of the prior two seasons and two passes broken up over that time. Witherspoon’s ball skills were improved in 2022, and he could be a riser for the 2023 NFL Draft who would be a good fit for Washington.
Denver Broncos: Jaelyn Duncan, OT, Maryland 
The Broncos finished their disappointing season with a win over the Chargers, and a big priority for the 2023 offseason will be to help Russell Wilson rebound next fall. To do that, Denver could stand to add more talent to its offensive line, and getting a blocker with upside in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft would be a good idea.
Duncan (6-5, 315) was solid for Maryland in 2022, and he received a quality grade from NFL advance scouts. Duncan has good quickness and athleticism to be an edge blocker at the pro level. He is a team leader and captain who possesses good size and has some strength. Duncan broke into the starting lineup as a redshirt freshman in 2019 and was a mainstay at left tackle for the Terrapins. Duncan has a really good skill set, but he needs some development. Hence, team sources project Duncan as more of a late first-rounder. Late in Round 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft, Duncan could be a nice value for the Broncos to provide Russell Wilson better protection next season.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Tyler Steen, OT, Alabama 
The Steelers came very close to getting into the playoffs, but a late field goal gave Miami a 11-6 win that knocked out Pittsburgh. While Kenny Pickett played well over the past few weeks, he struggled in the final game of the season. Pittsburgh has a good defense with some skill position talent, but the team could use more talent on the offensive line. Adding better blocking will help the Steelers get more out of running back Najee Harris as well.
Steen was a 3-year starter at Vanderbilt before transferring to Alabama for his final season. The 6-foot-5, 315-pounder possesses excellent size for left tackle in the NFL. He was a rock-solid protector for Bryce Young while being a steady run blocker. Steen will enter the next level with a ton of experience, having started 45 straight games while playing in the best competition in college football. Steen has the flexibility to start out his career at guard before moving to tackle. He could be a plug-and-play competitor for the Steelers.
Carolina Panthers: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky 
The Panthers managed to get a 10-7 win over the Falcons despite Sam Darnold producing a horrific stat line, completing 5-of-15 passes for 43 yards and two interceptions. Carolina needs a true replacement for Cam Newton because Teddy Bridgewater, Baker Mayfield, P.J. Walker and Sam Darnold have proven not to be the answer over the past three seasons. In the first or second round if the 2023 NFL Draft, Carolina might be able to land the big-armed Levis to hopefully be the franchise’s long-term starter.
Levis completed 65 percent of his passes in 2022 for 2,406 yards, 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He has a good skill set and could be a riser between now and the 2023 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-3, 232-pound Levis has a cannon for an arm and easy velocity to push the ball downfield. He thrived running the Kentucky offense during 2021. Levis completed 66 percent of his passes that season for 2,826 yards, 24 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He also had nine rushing touchdowns.
For the NFL, Levis projects as a big-armed pocket passer, but he needs to cut down on the interceptions and continue to improve at reading the field. The Panthers have two second-round picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, so they could conceivably add some talent with their high first-rounder and then package their second-rounders to move back into the first round for Levis.
Atlanta Falcons: Myles Murphy, DE, Clemson 
The Falcons got a win over Tampa Bay thanks to the Buccaneers playing backups because they had nothing to play for with the NFC South already clinched. Atlanta has had a weak pass rush for years, and that continued with zero sacks on Sunday. After notching seven wins on the season, the Falcons will miss out on the top quarterback prospects, and I don’t believe Will Levis or Anthony Richardson is a fit for them. Hence, Atlanta could look to upgrade its pass rush in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
The 6-foot-5, 275-pound Murphy has the skill set to dominate at the next level and could be a riser throughout the 2023 NFL Draft process. Not only did he put together a season of excellent tape over 2022, but Murphy is a freak athlete in possession of a crazy combination of size, speed, athleticism and strength. He should work out well and impress in the eye-ball test. Murphy has the skill set to do whatever he wants on the football field, as he can burn tackles with speed, use his strength to set the edge in the ground game, dominate tight ends, and simply take over games.
In 2022, Murphy recorded 40 tackles, 6.5 sacks, one forced fumble and two passes defended. He was excellent as a freshman defensive end for Clemson in 2020, recording 51 tackles, 12 tackles for a loss, four sacks, three forced fumbles and a pass broken up. In 2021, he totaled 37 tackles and seven sacks. If the Falcons are picking too low to land a quarterback in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, they could target an edge rusher like Murphy to upgrade their defense.
Houston Texans: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State 
The Texans blew a big lead, then pulled off a shocking comeback to stun the Colts. It was Pyrrhic victory that cost Houston the No. 1-overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Davis Mills has proven that he is not the long-term starter, and the Texans need a true franchise quarterback to replace Deshaun Watson. With the second-overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, the Texans could take Stroud to get an upgrade.
In 2022, Stroud completed 66 percent of his passes for 3,688 yards, 41 touchdowns and six interceptions. The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder is a highly talented dual-threat quarterback who could end up as a first-round pick – and perhaps at the top of Round 1. He won Ohio State’s starting quarterback position following Justin Fields’ departure to the NFL. In 2021, Stroud completed 72 percent of his passes for 4,435 yards, 44 touchdowns and six interceptions. He was a dominant passer, showing good accuracy and the ability to push the ball vertically. Stroud would be a quality selection for the Texans in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State The Jaguars won the AFC South by dropping the Titans on Saturday Night Football. It was a shocking and amazing turnaround for Jacksonville to go from looking like one of the worst teams in the league early in the year, to having a winning season at 9-8 and going to host a playoff game. The team’s defense came up with the game-winning touchdown and stops to get the better of Titans backup quarterback Josh Dobbs. The Jaguars could use more receiver help for Trevor Lawrence.
Smith-Njigba recorded five catches for 43 yards in 2022. He left the season opener against Notre Dame early due to injury and barely played the rest of the season. Smith-Njigba had a fantastic 2021 season despite being the third receiver behind Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson. In 2021, Smith-Njigba caught 94 passes for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns, including an amazing Rose Bowl performance to lead the comeback win over Utah.
The 6-foot, 197-pounder has serious speed, athleticism, and playmaking ability to go along with decent size. Team sources love Smith-Njigba’s shifty route-running and big-play ability. He could be a good value for Jacksonville in the back half of the first round in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Team Draft Report:
In this section, we take a deeper look at specific teams and where they stand in regards to the 2023 NFL Draft.
Houston Texans: Entering the 2022 season, the Texanes were viewed as a team likely to land the top pick in the 2023 NFL Draft as they were clearly one of the worst teams in the league. Houston is dealing with the aftermath of the devastation that was inflicted on the franchise by former head coach Bill O’Brien. I could write a long book on how O’Brien’s temper and ego ruined the franchise, but we all know those mistakes and don’t need to review recent history. O’Brien started with one of the best scouting staffs and rosters in the NFL, but he squandered it and decimated the Texans front office and roster. New general manager Nick Cesario has a huge rebuilding project on his hands.
In my latest mock 2023 NFL Draft, I have the Texans taking Alabama quarterback Bryce Young with the No. 1-overall pick. Young could be a Kyler Murray type quarterback in the NFL with his natural passing ability to go along with mobility and athleticism. Thanks to Houston’s meaningless win over the Colts on Sunday, the Bears now hold the top pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, so Young could easily be gone to Chicago or a team that trades up with Chicago. That would leave Houston with C.J. Stroud. Stroud is worthy of being a potential franchise quarterback, and he would be a massive upgrade over Davis Mills.
After taking a quarterback, I have the Texans taking a wide receiver in TCU’s Quentin Johnston to help their new signal-caller. Houston has some decent receivers, but the team needs a true No. 1 receiver. Johnston would give the Texans a mismatch weapon with game-breaking size and speed. They also could consider Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba as a potential No. 1 wideout for their new quarterback.
Another route Houst could go with its second first-round pick would be to help the defense. The front seven is devoid of talent, and the team needs a lot of help on the defensive line. The Texans could consider edge rushers like Clemson’s Myles Murphy, Notre Dame’s Isaiah Foskey or USC’s Tuli Tuipulotu. Any of those three would be an instant upgrade to the talent of the Houston defense.
The Texans have lots of other needs to address like defensive tackle, linebacker, and help on the offensive line. If Laremy Tunsil is traded or a cap casualty, Houston will need a new left tackle as well.
The Texans have a lot of needs and holes on their roster that they will have to address to become a playoff contender again. This should not be the state of things in Houston, but owner Cal McNair made the catastrophic decision of turning the franchise over to Bill O’Brien, and it will take years of rebuilding to fix the damage done by O’Brien. The Texans have so many needs, it will take a few offseasons to rebuild this roster. Houston needs to lay a foundation this year by taking a franchise quarterback, adding another good starter with the first-rounder from the Browns, and then getting another quality starter at the top of the second round. The Texans have to get things right in the 2023 NFL Draft to start heading in the right direction. If Houston doesn’t draft well, the franchise will remain one of the worst teams in the league for many years to come.
Detroit Lions: With a second-half turnaround and a massive improvement in the second year of their regime, there is no doubt that Lions general manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell have the team headed in the right direction. Detroit was a massive rebuilding project after Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia put together a string poor drafts and free agency sessions that decimated the roster of talent. After two good drafts and an excellent job of coaching by Campbell and his staff, the Lions were one of the better teams in the NFL in the second half of the 2022 season.
Holmes first two drafts were very good. Penei Sewell is emerging as one of the top young offensive tackles in the NFL. He could have been a Pro Bowl pick this year. Ditto for rookie edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, who played very well as a rookie. The Lions made some other fabulous mid-round picks as well. Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown was a huge steal and is one of the better young receivers in the NFL. The early returns on nose tackle Alim McNeil are very good, and 2022 sixth-rounder linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez looks like another huge steal. Other mid-round picks like safety Kirby Joseph are showing promise. Late-round edge rusher James Houston was phenomenal in the back half of the 2022 season, and defensive lineman Josh Paschal has played well when healthy. Additionally, wide receiver Jameson Williams has star potential as well. If franchise ownership is patient, this front office is going to load up the Lions with talent through the draft, and that is the best way to build a team into a champion.
It appears that the Lions could stick with Jared Goff as their starter in 2023. Goff played well in 2022, and the Detroit offense fielded one of the best scoring attacks in the NFL. Goff helped guide the Rams to the Super Bowl with a good defense and a strong running game led by Todd Gurley. If the Lions are going to stick with Goff, they should look to make the running game elite and stock up the defense.
In my latest mock 2023 NFL Draft, I have the Lions taking Texas running back Bijan Robinson, and he would be a steal for them outside the top five. Robinson is the best player in the 2023 NFL Draft, and he could be a legend in Detroit. The Lions have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, so Robinson behind that line could be an elite running game. D’Andre Swift is a talented back, but he is prone to injury and not reliable enough to give a contract extension. Jamaal Williams is heading into free agency, and even if he is re-signed he is better as a platoon back. Swift is in the last year of his contract in 2023, and if the Lions take Robinson, they could probably trade Swift for a mid-round pick to get something in return. Aside from Robinson, Detroit could consider a running back on Day 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft. Perhaps Alabama’s Jahmyr Gibbs will get to the team’s second-round pick. Other talented backs the Lions could consider include UCLA’s Zach Charbonnet and Georgia’s Kenny McIntosh.
If Detroit doesn’t land Robinson with its high first-rounder, the organization could target Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez. The biggest need on the roster is cornerback. Jeff Okudah really struggled as a rookie under Matt Patricia, but defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has turned Okudah around, and he could be a viable starter. However, the cornerbacks around Okudah were a liability all season. Gonzalez could be a true No. 1 corner for Detroit and allow Okudah to face better matchups against No. 2 receivers.
However, there is quality cornerback depth in the 2023 NFL Draft, so the Lions could land a good one with their second first-round pick. With their second selection in Round 1, Detroit could target cornerback help in the form of Penn State’s Joey Porter Jr. or Illinois’ Devon Witherspoon. The organization also could wait until the second round, because there will be quality corners there and the Lions have two second-round picks. Players like Utah’s Cam Phillips, South Carolina’s Cam Smith, Georgia’s Kelee Ringo, or Mississippi State’s Emmanuel Forbes could all be good options to consider in Round 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Detroit also could consider taking a linebacker to go with Malcolm Rodriguez. In the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, some good options would include Alabama’s Henry To’oTo’o, Iowa’s Jack Campbell, Texas’ Demarvion Overshown or Washington State’s Daiyan Henley.
I think the Lions are really on the rise. The players play really hard for Dan Campbell; there is no quit in them; and the coordinators also do a good job in scheming. Holmes and his scouting staff are doing a great job in NFL drafts, and over timem that will lead to playoff appearances. With one more good draft, Detroit could really start to take off in 2023 and 2024.
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