Top 10 Mock NFL Draft and Overall Position Rankings
1. Carolina Panthers – Bryce Young – Quarterback (Alabama)
At the end of the NFL season, Bryce Young was the obvious favorite to go number one. We just didn’t know what team Chicago would trade the pick to. Once Carolina traded for the rights to draft first, speculation shifted to CJ Stroud being their choice. Now with Stroud having an abysmal S2 score, Young has once again returned to the odds-on favorite to be drafted first overall and we think it would be the right choice. He does come with size concerns. At the Combine, Young measured 5’10” and 204 lbs. That 204 number is closer to 190-195 as most of it was probably water weight. Besides the size though, Young has everything you’d want to see from a young quarterback. He possesses great decision making, accuracy and some playmaking ability. He was a two year starter at Alabama, winning the Heisman trophy in 2021. By all accounts, he is the quarterback most ready for the league and Carolina desperately needs one. After missing on Sam Darnold, they’ve been in quarterback hell ever since. Bryce Young will be able to turn the tide and get them back on the right track.
2. Houston Texans – Will Anderson Jr.- Edge (Alabama)
I thought about the possibility of Houston trading here but it doesn’t really make sense. They have their eyes on one of the top three defensive players and any team trying to trade up would put them too far out of the mix. The only possibility would be Indianapolis, but I don’t see the Colts giving up additional picks to a division rival just to move up two slots. Because of this, the Texans get the best defensive line player in the draft, Will Anderson. Ever since JJ Watt left Houston, their defensive front has been average at best. Anderson is a workhorse, playing an average of 734 snaps per season in his three year collegiate career. He never has to leave the field and can give DC Matt Burke peace of mind at that position. The Texans get someone to anchor their defensive line for years to come with Anderson.
3. Tennessee Titans – Will Levis – Quarterback (Kentucky)
We project that Arizona trades out of the third overall for picks 11 and 41 this year and a 3rd rounder next year. Arizona gets more draft capital to try and turn their team around and Tennessee gets to leapfrog their division rival, Indianapolis, to get their quarterback of the future. There is a lot of hype around quarterbacks in this draft not named Bryce Young. Levis, Richardson and Stroud have all had their ups and downs this draft season, but I believe Levis is the best prospect out of the three. He does have accuracy issues, obviously not something you want to see out of the quarterback position, but his arm strength is unmatched. Ryan Tannehill is still on the Titans roster meaning Levis has some time to work on his accuracy and footwork before being put into the starting spot.
4. Indianapolis Colts – CJ Stroud – Quarterback (Ohio State)
The Colts won’t have time to recoup after the Titans trade as they are on the clock immediately after. Stroud might have been who they wanted all along and if so, they’re in luck. The only thing CJ Stroud has going against him is the shockingly low S2 score. However, the co-founder for the S2 test basically (not really, but he said it without saying it) said Stroud’s score was inaccurate. That the test shouldn’t have been administered when it was and it was unfair to the player. If this is true and Stroud actually tested high, the Colts might be getting the steal of the century. Stroud has the body size and accuracy to be an MVP in this league. He throws a perfect ball and can put it wherever he wants. There are some concerns with how he plays under pressure, so the Colts need to get their line back up to the level it was playing in 2021 or they risk Stroud crashing and burning right out of the chute.
5. Seattle Seahawks – Jalen Carter – Edge (Georgia)
Before the scandal surrounding Jalen Carter was announced in early March, he was arguably deserving of being the first defensive player off the board. But because of the scandal, Carter is bound to slide in the draft a little. However, I don’t think he gets past Seattle at number 5. He has all the makings to be the next Aaron Donald. Carter is as strong as an ox but shows the quickness of someone half his size. For a 6’3”, 300 lb man, he can shed lineman with ease, but also beat them off the snap. Seattle desperately needs to improve their rushing defense that saw them give up 5 yards per carry last season good for 26th in the league. Carter will plug that hole right up.
6. Detroit Lions – Devon Witherspoon – CB (Illinois)
I thought for a long time on which of the top two cornerbacks Detroit should take here. Whether they choose Witherspoon or Gonzales, and they can’t go wrong, but in the end I like Witherspoon more. He’s a little small at 180 lbs, but he plays with more than enough intensity to make up for it. The Lions’ passing defense was awful last season and now with the loss of Jeff Okudah, they’re more thin at the cornerback position than ever. Witherspoon will help improve the defense that was 30th in total passing yards allowed and 31st in net yards allowed per pass attempt. The Lions like to play fast on offense, but that doesn’t mean their defense has to keep allowing 25+ points per game. It started to improve at the end of last season and Witherspoon can keep it going in the right direction.
7. Las Vegas Raiders – Anthony Richardson – QB (Florida)
I can’t remember a project quarterback with more hype around him than Anthony Richardson. He was nowhere near the top of mock drafts before the combine, but after videos circulated of him launching the ball from that cannon of an arm, his stock went soaring. The Raiders obviously have a lot of needs up and down their roster, but the Jets are the perfect example of how it doesn’t matter what the roster looks like if the quarterback position is unsolved. Las Vegas nabbed Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason, so Richardson doesn’t have to come anywhere near the field this season. If he can improve his accuracy, he could be a scary sight for every defensive coordinator. He’s built like Cam Newton and Josh Allen, but his speed is closer to that of Murray or Jackson. A combination that will send shivers down opposing defense’s spines.
*On a side note, if Richardson goes to a team that makes him start in the first year (unless it’s the last game or two of the season) he will likely be a bust. He needs time for his mechanics to mature and he won’t get that if he’s an immediate starting quarterback.
8. Atlanta Falcons – Jaxon Smith-Njigba – Wide Receiver (Ohio State)
Atlanta could make a move up to get a quarterback, but I think they’re more focused on the crop of quarterbacks coming in next year’s draft. When they finally do get their quarterback, they’re going to want weapons for him to throw to. Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba would be a great weapons room. Combining them with rookie sensation Tyler Allgeier could potentially make Atlanta’s offensive attack one of the most dangerous in the league. Atlanta’s defense needs some work as well and they very well could select one of the top defenders still on the board, but I don’t think it’s crazy to totally solve one side of the ball before moving onto the other.
9. Chicago Bears – Peter Skoronski – Tackle (Northwestern)
PFF ranked the Bears pass blocking unit as 16th best in the league, right at league average. Justin Fields is an elite runner, but if he’s going to keep progressing, he needs more time to throw in the pocket. The Bears went out and got him DJ Moore in the trade with Carolina, so now that he has Moore, Mooney and Claypool he just needs more protection in the pocket. Peter Skoronski can help solve that problem. Skoronski gave up 5 sacks on 1,258 pass blocks, good for a rate of .4%. He was second in 2022 in pressure rate % at 1.3%. He’s an NFL ready tackle and the Bears badly need him.
10. Philadelphia Eagles – Paris Johnson Jr. – Tackle (Ohio State)
Philadelphia is going to lose Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson next year. If the Eagles had won the Super Bowl last season, I think they would have already lost them. But it looks like they both want to come back for one last shot at another ring. When two hall of fame players leave a unit, it usually takes a turn for the worst. The Eagles can make sure Jalen Hurts continues to stay well protected by investing in a future offensive line. They already have a replacement at center. Johnson Jr. will act as Lane’s replacement. It’s a smart move for a well-run franchise.
Positional Rankings
