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Hello everyone and welcome to this surprise "Draft Expert" mock draft! Now, as the title states, this isn't a full blown NFL mock draft, this is just the top 10. Another important thing to note is that this is a top 10 based on the current state of the NFL. This is not my projected top 10, this is just how the top 10 would look if the season ended today.
Though there's only 10 picks, that shouldn't take away from the fun-ness of a mock draft, right? In this top 10 you will see three quarterbacks, with one surprising mention at the top, along with two edge rushers, two defensive tackles, two offensive tackles and one wide receiver, who may also surprise some people out there.
I'm going to keep this intro short and sweet for y'all today, all that matters is that you enjoy the list and take the time to read through each pick and it's reasoning, that way you're not as mad at me for placing someone higher, or lower, than you think they should be. So, without any further delay, I'm proud to present to you our surprise top 10 mock draft for the 2023 NFL Draft! Enjoy!
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Pictured: Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State; Will Levis, QB, Kentucky; Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama
1. Detroit Lions - Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
This may come as a surprise to some people, but I think as we get closer to April, this prediction will be very common. Though I don't have Kentucky's Will Levis at number one on my latest quarterback rankings, I think his size, arm strength, and athleticism will see him fly up draft boards as the draft approaches. Another thing that I think will help Levis is scouts eyes is the fact that he's not working will a lot of 'NFL talent,' and for whatever reason, scouts and GMs eat that up at the quarterback position. Levis has been beat up this season while at Kentucky, and his willingness to take a big hit to get the best throw off will surly impress people, and though his rushing numbers don't stand out a ton, he's a great athlete that has hurdled a few defenders in his time in college, i.e. Josh Allen. As for the Lions, I don't really mind Jared Goff, but he's not the quarterback to lead the Lions into the future, and if they hold one of the top picks in the draft, expect them to come away with a quarterback.
2. Houston Texans - Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama
As of right now, the Houston Texans are blessed with two top 10 picks thanks to the Deshaun Watson trade, and they will be pretty sport for choice when their two picks come around. Now, I don't know if he'll be sticking around past this season, but with Lovie Smith currently at the helm, you know he'd want to improve their defense, especially when it comes to getting after the quarterback. In this draft, there is no one better than Alabama's Will Anderson, who came fifth in the Heisman trophy voting last year. Though he probably won't reach 17 sacks this season, as he did the season prior, he's still a real menace coming off the edge for the Crimson Tide and is a real pain in the ass for opposing offensive linemen. Anderson is really the 'complete' edge rusher. His burst and bend allows him to get after the passer, and though he's not the heaviest guy out there, he's very powerful when it comes to the run game. Though the Texans will need a quarterback, I think they should focus on draft the 'best player available' first, and Will Anderson is certainly that.
3. Carolina Panthers - Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
The Carolina Panthers have tried everything recently to figure out their quarterback situation and nothing has worked. The tried to trade for former first rounders, sign an old legend, and even tried turning to a XFL legend in PJ Walker, but again, noting has worked. With the Panthers almost guaranteed to have a top pick in this years draft, I find it hard to believe they wouldn't take one of the top guys. Though he may not be the biggest quarterback in the class, Bryce Young is a truly insane talent. Again, though he's only (listed at) 6'0" 194 lbs., his ability to make something out of nothing is truly special. Out of all the quarterbacks in college football, I don't think anyone throws as nice of a football on the run as Young does. Whether he's scrambling to the left or to the right, you can bet your bottom dollar that he's going to make a play. If you look solely at skill, Young should probably be the number one overall pick, the problem is that he's not very big. I don't have an issue with that, I'm trying to think like a scout or GM would for the Draft. Young is a really special talent at the quarterback position, and it would be wise for the Panthers to take him, if he were available.
4. Philadelphia Eagles (via New Orleans) - Jalen Carter, DL, Georgia
One thing Howie Roseman has done as GM of the Philadelphia Eagles has build the team up through the trenches. It doesn't seem to matter how old they are, but Roseman loves to have a young draftee learn from one of the older vets on the team, which has payed off for him pretty well for the most part (we won't discuss Andre Dillard). That being said, the Eagles don't really have a lot of glaring holes on the roster, especially after trading for Chicago Bears pass rusher Robert Quinn a few days ago. At 6-0, the Eagles are sitting very pretty, and can afford to take the 'best player available,' as the Texans did before. To me, the next best player, that would fill somewhat of a need, is Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter. Yes, I know they drafted a Georgia d-tackle last time out in the form of Jordan Davis, but wouldn't it be cool to pair them back up again in the NFL? At 6'3" 310 lbs. Carter is extremely explosive in the middle of Georgia's defense, and though he's not putting up monster numbers or anything so far this season (just four tackles), his ceiling is incredibly high. I think this would be a very fun pick for the Eagles come April.
5. Houston Texans (via Cleveland) - CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State
After taking Will Anderson with their first pick, the Texans should look to draft a quarterback with their second. It just makes sense doesn't it? This pick was acquired by giving up a quarterback, so why not use it to replace said quarterback? Thankfully for Houston, this draft has got some very talented quarterbacks, so there's no need to be scared about losing one of the top ones before this pick. Now, with Will Levis (Detroit) and Bryce Young (Carolina) off the board, the Texans should make the move for Ohio State's CJ Stroud. Though Stroud isn't as big as Levis or as athletic as Young, Stroud is a very precise passer, who can rip apart defenses with some very well placed balls. One of the favorites to win the Heisman, at this point, Stroud is putting up better numbers than both Levis and Young, but his aforementioned 'lack' of athleticism and his slender build could see him 'slide' a little bit in the draft. That being said, he can make some great plays ripping apart a defense through the air. Will Davis Mills in place, the Texans don't necessarily need to rush Stroud into being the starter, which is a nice luxury to have. When Stroud is ready though, he should be very fun to watch.
6. Seattle Seahawks (via Denver) - Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
This is kind of an alternating thing at this point, isn't it? Where we have a quarterback and then a team with the mindset of drafting the 'best player available.' Like clockwork, we have reached the Seattle Seahawks who, surprisingly, probably won't rush into drafting a quarterback early on in this draft, given how Geno Smith has played up to this point in the season. With quarterback off the Seahawks minds, for now, they can turn their attention to the defensive side of the ball, which I know Pete Carroll will love. Though the Seahawks have registered 17 sacks this season, as a unit, I am of the belief that you can truly never have too many pass rushers. So, I think the Seahawks should move for someone like Clemson's Myles Murphy with this pick. At 6'5" 275 lbs., Murphy is much bigger than Alabama's Will Anderson, who we have going second overall to Houston, which can allow him to move inside if need be, which would work nice for the Seahawks style of defense. One question mark around Murphy was regarding his sack numbers, as people wanted see more production out of him. So far this month though, Murphy has really kicked into gear. After posting jut one and a half sacks through September, Murphy has registered four sacks in October, with two and half coming in the past two weeks. Like a lot of players in this class, Murphy's ceiling is pretty high, and his versatility should see him rise up some draft boards as we get closer to April.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers - Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
To me, the Steelers could really do two things, either addressing the offensive line or drafting one of the top corners. Though Mike Tomlin is a defensive guy at heart and would surely love to improve the Steelers secondary, the team drafted Pitt product Kenny Pickett in the first round last year, so getting him a bookend left tackle should probably be more of a goal then corner, in my opinion. A couple of years ago the Steelers boasted one of the top offensive lines in the NFL, but now, you could probably throw it in as one of the worst, which is not a good thing for a young quarterback or their struggling rush attack. Looking at those two problem areas, I think Ohio State's Paris Johnson Jr. should be the pick here. A former guard, Johnson possesses great quickness when run blocking, not allowing defenders to get around him to get to the runner. In the pass game, Johnson's natural size and aforementioned quickness sees him hold back some of the best edge rushers around. A former five star recruit, people knew how talented Johnson was going into the season, but just wanted to see how him did transitioning back out to tackle after spending some time at guard. I think if the Steelers want to improve their offense, they have to re-invest in the offensive line, and Johnson would be a great player to start off with.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars - Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
Though the Jaguars spent a shit ton of money on wide receivers this offseason, resetting the market with the Christian Kirk deal, I think they should look to add another weapon for Trevor Lawrence on the outside. Though he's not at the top of everyones boards at this point and time, I think by the time we get to April, TCU's Quentin Johnston will be near, or at, the top of everyone's wide receiver rankings. At 6'4" 212 lbs. Johnston has the size you're looking for in a 'true' number one wide receiver in the NFL. With his size, Johnston is great at shrugging off smaller defenders, and loves going up high for the ball, using his size and athleticism to out jump any defender covering him. With the ball in his hands Johnston is truly a problem. For being as big as he is, Johnston is very 'twitchy,' and can break away from defenders coming after him. His ability to cut on a dime and change direction isn't natural for someone who is 6'4" 212 lbs., which is what makes him truly special. After not really being involved in the offense early in the season, Johnston has exploded as of late, with his best performance coming against Kansas where he had 14 catches for 206 yards and a touchdown. Physically, Johnston has all the tools to be a true number one receiver in the NFL. His size, physicality, and athleticism are second to none, and though he may not be number one, yet, I think that could change when April rolls around.
9. Las Vegas Raiders - Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern
The Raiders could do a couple things with this pick, whether that be addressing the defense line or solidifying the offensive line, they need to sure up the trenches. After trying to address the latter need in the 2021 Draft, by over drafting Alabama's Alex Leatherwood, they have recently gone back to the drawing board after releasing the aforementioned Leatherwood this past offseason. After releasing Leatherwood, the Raiders turned to Jermaine Eluemunor to hopefully provide some sort of stability, but the former guard has struggled throughout this season, being rated as one of the worst right tackles up to this point in the season. With this draft class not necessarily being the deepest when it comes to offensive tackles, the Raiders should probably more quickly, taking Northwestern's Peter Skoronski with their first pick. Hey, drafting a Northwestern guy has worked for the rival Chargers, why can't it work here? When talking about the top tackles in this class, the 'gap' between Skoronski and the Pittsburgh bound Johnson is fairly non-existent. Where Johnson is more athletic and possesses more length, Skoronski is more experienced, with 28 starts at left tackle to this point in the season. Though he's played mostly left tackle throughout his career, I have no doubt Skoronski would be able to slot in at right tackle, or even guard, given how technically sound he is. He may not be as naturally athletic, but Skoronski would make for a solid first round pick for the Raiders, who need to figure out the offensive line. Also, as an offensive minded head coach, I'm sure Josh McDaniels would love to sure up his offensive line.
10. Atlanta Falcons - Bryan Bresee, DL, Clemson
The final pick of the surprise mock draft belongs to the Atlanta Falcons. Now, I can't be the only one who has been surprised by the Falcons so far this season, right? It's not like they're doing anything spectacular, but I was under the impression that they'd be the worst team in the league, which they are clearly not, just look at what they did to the San Francisco 49ers a few short weeks ago. That being said, they're still not a great team, and have plenty of holes to fill on the roster, namely on the defensive side of the ball. The past few drafts, the Falcons have focused their attention to getting weapons on the outside, in the form of Kyle Pitts and Drake London. Though those were positions or need, the Falcons have to address the defense in some capacity here, and should take the best defender available, in my opinion. To me, the next best option is Clemson's Bryan Bresee. What makes me like Bresee is his nastiness, and his overall quickness to get past the offensive line and into the backfield for a hit either on the quarterback or running back. I truly think his work rate is second to none on the defensive side of the ball, and again, would provide some real nastiness to the middle of the Falcons defense. With Grady Jarrett turning 30 as the 2023 NFL Draft starts, I think the Falcons would be smart to re-invest in their defensive line. At 6'5" 300 lbs., I think Bresee would work very nicely along the Falcons 3-4 defensive front, giving them more solidity across the line. Bresee is great in the run game and can get after the passer because of his aforementioned quickness and work rate, I'd love this pick if I were a Falcons fan.
Thank you for taking the time to read through the list! Hope you enjoyed it! If you did, give the article a like and comment down below how you felt!
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