The destinations of the top quarterback prospects are coming into view — at least for the mock drafting community.
Bryce Young to the Houston Texans. C.J. Stroud to the Indianapolis Colts. Will Levis to the Carolina Panthers. That's the consensus among the latest projections of the NFL Draft's first round. Opinions of the other potential first-round QB, Anthony Richardson, vary wildly — anywhere from going first overall (in a trade by the Colts) to being snapped up at No. 30 (by the QB-needy New Orleans Saints).
Post-Super Bowl mock drafts introduced new faces to the first round (namely Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes) and downgraded forecasts of previous first-round locks (such as Georgia cornerback Kelee Ringo). Also, no consensus was found for three of the last four selections in the first round, but that’s not surprising for the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs. The Super Bowl LVII participants have the luxury of adding the best player available to their already loaded rosters.
The biggest question of the 2023 draft — What will the Chicago Bears do with the No. 1 overall pick? — won’t be answered until the days, perhaps hours, leading up to the April 27-29 festivities in Kansas City, Missouri. In the meantime, the speculation continues.
Here’s how the first round is shaping up in the minds of mock drafters.
Player | Position | School |
---|---|---|
Jalen Carter | DT | Georgia |
Whether the Bears keep the first pick or trade it, the consensus is that they will address their defense, which allowed the most points (463) in the league last season. Adding Carter is a positive step toward rebuilding a unit that ranked 29th in yards allowed.
Consensus 1.0 projection: Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia.
Player | Position | School |
---|---|---|
Bryce Young | QB | Alabama |
Young continues to be linked with the Colts in mock-draft trades, but the majority still expects the Texans to pair their exciting young head coach, DeMeco Ryans, with the exciting young QB talent from Alabama.
Consensus 1.0 projection: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama.
Player | Position | School |
---|---|---|
Will Anderson Jr. | Edge | Alabama |
Some have the 'Bama game-wrecker going to the Bears, but Anderson is still the popular pick for the Cardinals.
Consensus 1.0 projection: Will Anderson Jr., Edge, Alabama.
Player | Position | School |
---|---|---|
C.J. Stroud | QB | Ohio State |
The expectation is that the Colts will trade up to draft their franchise QB. The mock deals include Bryce Young and Anthony Richardson, but the overwhelming sentiment is Stroud ending up in Indy.
Consensus 1.0 projection: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State.
Player | Position | School |
---|---|---|
Tyree Wilson | Edge | Texas Tech |
Clemson edge rusher Myles Murphy and Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez appear here, but Wilson remains Pete Carroll's pick in the eyes of mock drafters as Seattle's biggest defensive upgrade.
Consensus 1.0 projection: Tyree Wilson, Edge, Texas Tech.
Player | Position | School |
---|---|---|
Devon Witherspoon | CB | Illinois |
As in Consensus 1.0, the Lions are expected to double-dip on defense with their two first-rounders. Witherspoon projects as the first cornerback off the board.
Consensus 1.0 projection: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon.
Player | Position | School |
---|---|---|
Peter Skoronski | OT | Northwestern |
The release of Derek Carr didn't result in a rush of QB forecasts for the Raiders. Whoever replaces Carr figures to operate behind an offensive line bolstered by the addition of Skoronski.
Consensus 1.0 projection: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky.
Player | Position | School |
---|---|---|
Myles Murphy | Edge | Clemson |
The consensus is that Atlanta desperately needs to upgrade a pass rush that recorded the NFL's second-fewest sacks (21.0). Murphy edges out Texas Tech edge rusher Tyree Wilson.
Consensus 1.0 projection: Myles Murphy, Edge, Clemson.
Player | Position | School |
---|---|---|
Will Levis | QB | Kentucky |
Mock drafters don't expect the Panthers to wait for a QB to fall to them. C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson appear in the projected trades, but Levis is the most common target for Carolina.
Consensus 1.0 projection: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida.
Player | Position | School |
---|---|---|
Christian Gonzalez | CB | Oregon |
Gonzalez is the consensus selection for the first of Philly's two first-rounders. Texas RB Bijan Robinson is starting to appear here, too, with Miles Sanders and Boston Scott headed for free agency.
Consensus 1.0 projection: Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State.
Player | Position | School |
---|---|---|
Paris Johnson Jr. | OT | Ohio State |
Just about every recent mock draft has Johnson going to the Titans, who might need to replace three-time Pro Bowl tackle Taylor Lewan.
Consensus 1.0 projection: Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State.
Player | Position | School |
---|---|---|
Jordan Addison | WR | USC |
TCU's Quentin Johnston continues to be projected to the Texans. Addison or Johnston would be the dynamic playmaker that Bryce Young needs.
Consensus 1.0 projection: Jordan Addison, WR, USC.
Player | Position | School |
---|---|---|
Broderick Jones | OT | Georgia |
Overwhelmingly, Jones is expected to be selected by the Jets.
Consensus 1.0 projection: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia.
Player | Position | School |
---|---|---|
Quentin Johnston | WR | TCU |
The Patriots are projected to go cornerback (Penn State's Joey Porter Jr.) or wideout. Giving QB Mac Jones a legitimate deep threat makes a lot of sense.
Consensus 1.0 projection: Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern.
Player | Position | School |
---|---|---|
Michael Mayer | TE | Notre Dame |
The 6-foot-4, 265-pound Mayer, a physical presence as a receiver and a blocker, has gone from slight consensus to THE pick for the majority of mock drafters.
Consensus 1.0 projection: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame.
Player | Position | School |
---|---|---|
Cam Smith | CB | South Carolina |
The consensus is that the Commanders will draft a cornerback. It's just a matter of which one. Smith appears more than once in the latest mocks.
Consensus 1.0 projection: Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina.
Player | Position | School |
---|---|---|
Joey Porter Jr. | CB | Penn State |
As many mock drafts have pointed out, Mike Tomlin probably won't pass on Porter, who plays the game with as much grit and energy as his dad, the former Steelers linebacker.
Consensus 1.0 projection: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois.
Player | Position | School |
---|---|---|
Bryan Bresee | DT | Clemson |
Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer is starting to show up in this spot, but the Lions are expected to complete their first-round defensive splash by giving Aidan Hutchinson help among the front seven.
Consensus 1.0 projection: Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson.
Player | Position | School |
---|---|---|
Brian Branch | S | Alabama |
Defensive picks are being forecasted the most to Tampa Bay, but Florida QB Anthony Richardson certainly would be tempting if he's still available.
Consensus 1.0 projection: Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia.
Player | Position | School |
---|---|---|
O'Cyrus Torrence | OG | Florida |
Minnesota center John Michael Schmitz has emerged as a potential option, but Torrence, the best guard prospect in the draft, might be too enticing for the Seahawks.
Consensus 1.0 projection: Siaki Ika, DT, Baylor.
Player |
---|
Pick forfeited due to tampering violations |
Player | Position | School |
---|---|---|
Jalin Hyatt | WR | Tennessee |
Over half of the latest projections have the Chargers adding to their receiving corps. The speedy Hyatt would give Justin Herbert a much-needed deep threat.
Consensus 1.0 projection: Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee.
Player | Position | School |
---|---|---|
Bijan Robinson | RB | Texas |
Wide receiver Jalin Hyatt is being forecasted here as much as Robinson. But in this fun exercise, Hyatt is off the board. So the draft's best running back goes to Baltimore, giving new offensive coordinator Todd Monken a new weapon in the running game and passing game.
Consensus 1.0 projection: Quentin Johnson, WR, TCU.
Player | Position | School |
---|---|---|
Emmanuel Forbes | CB | Mississippi State |
Mock drafters also have the Vikings opting for a wide receiver (Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Jordan Addison), but the new consensus pick is Forbes, who would bring a playmaking pedigree to the defense of new coordinator Brian Flores.
Consensus 1.0 projection: Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh.
Player | Position | School |
---|---|---|
Dalton Kincaid | TE | Utah |
With Evan Engram set for a big payday in free agency, the Jags are still expected to draft a tight end. Kincaid is the new favorite.
Consensus 1.0 projection: Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia.
Player | Position | School |
---|---|---|
Jaxon Smith-Njigba | WR | Ohio State |
Zay Flowers | WR | Boston College |
The Giants are projected to finally draft a No. 1 wideout. Flowers joins Smith-Njigba as co-popular picks.
Consensus 1.0 projection: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State.
Player | Position | School |
---|---|---|
Drew Sanders | LB | Arkansas |
Trenton Simpson | LB | Clemson |
The latest mocks have the Cowboys prioritizing defense. Simpson joins Sanders as the closest thing to a consensus.
Consensus 1.0 projection: Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas.
Player | Position | School |
---|---|---|
Jamyhr Gibbs | RB | Alabama |
Antonio Johnson | S | Texas A&M |
Consensus 1.0 had the Bills drafting RB Bijan Robinson to give QB Josh Allen a playmaker at running back. Gibbs could fill that need. Johnson is the backup plan for safety Jordan Poyer's free agency.
Consensus 1.0 projection: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas.
Player |
---|
No consensus pick |
The projections are a grab bag of potential picks, mostly along the offensive line with Florida guard O'Cyrus Torrence, Tennessee tackle Darnell Wright, North Dakota State guard Cody Mauch and Oklahoma tackle Anton Harrison.
Consensus 1.0 projection: Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma.
Player |
---|
No consensus pick |
Another spot in the first round with varying forecasts. The consensus is that the Saints will draft an edge rusher (Kansas State's Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Iowa's Lukas Van Ness, Georgia Tech's Keion White, USC's Tuli Tuipulotu).
Consensus 1.0 projection: O'Cyrus Torrence, OG, Florida.
Player | Position | School |
---|---|---|
Nolan Smith | Edge | Georgia |
Smith represents the slightest consensus for an Eagles team that could also go safety (Texas A&M's Antonio Johnson, Ohio State's Ronnie Hickman).
Consensus 1.0 projection: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama.
Player |
---|
No consensus pick |
The most intriguing non-QB mock trade is the Chiefs moving up to draft TCU wide receiver Quentin Johnston. AFC West defensive coordinators lose sleep already worrying about Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.
Consensus 1.0 projection: Lukas Van Ness, Edge, Iowa.