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Lincoln Heimbach’s 2023 NFL Mock Draft 2.0

After the 38-35 Kansas City Chiefs victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, it is officially NFL Draft season.. Let’s get it started with Mock 2.0.

The 2023 NFL Scouting Combine is from February 28th to March 5th and takes place in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Chicago Bears are currently on the clock with the first overall pick; But what will they do? Trade it, or stick and pick? I will not be predicting that during this mock draft as this will be a NO TRADE mock. There are only 31 selections in the 2023 first round because the Miami Dolphins were stripped of their 21st overall pick due to tampering violations.

Pick 1 – CHI – Jalen Carter, DL, Georgia

Pick Breakdown – Mocked here a lot recently. At this point, it is believed that Chicago will try to trade back and get a haul from whoever needs a quarterback in this draft. If the Bears do decide to stick and pick, they will aim for players that can wreak havoc on defense. Carter is one of these guys — maybe the best.

Pick 2 – HOU –  CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State

Pick Breakdown –  While Bryce Young has shown that he is one of, if not the best quarterbacks in this class, Stroud showed why he should be the first QB off the board in his game vs Georgia in the CFP. He showed flashes of his mobility and playmaking out of the pocket and off-platform playmaking.

Pick 3 – ARI – Will Anderson Jr., ED, Alabama

Pick Breakdown – Anderson has consistently stayed in my top-3 and nothing changes in this one. He has dropped in stock a little over the past month, but I can’t see him falling out of the top-5. This would be the best spot for him with the Cardinals’ loss of JJ Watt.

Pick 4 – IND – Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

Pick Breakdown –  Bryce Young falls below CJ Stroud because of what Stroud was able to do in the College Football Playoff. Still, this is considered low for Young because of how special of a talent he is. Sure, he’s a bit small but he has told reporters that he is trying to weigh around 205 lbs when March’s NFL Scouting Combine comes to Lucas Oil.

Pick 5 – SEA – Tyree Wilson, ED, Texas Tech

Pick Breakdown –  Wilson is super lanky, super smart, and super quick. Offers a ton of speed and strength in pass rush and poses solid speed off the edge. Will automatically make a difference in a Seahawk defense that needs some semblance of a pass rush and could use his elite run stoppage.

Pick 6 – DET – Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State (Via LAR)

Pick Breakdown – Porter has drawn a ton of attention at this spot because of his physicals. Crazy long arms and really good talent on the sideline. Good hands, and good feet. He can press cover and is solid in zone play. Great measurables and very high potential.

Pick 7 – LV – Will Levis, QB, Kentucky

Pick Breakdown – Quarterback seems to be the big question in this class, and Levis is no exception to the “Who is QB1?” narrative. He may be the top quarterback, but there’s no way of knowing, especially before combine day. Old-school gunslinger that has a rocket of an arm and is effective in the run game. The big concern is his anticipation and processing speeds.

Pick 8 – ATL – Peter Skoronski, OL, Northwestern

Pick Breakdown – Absolute mauler. Impressive strength and really good with hands. A big concern is his arm length and how far he can stretch on the line. Can play any either guard or left tackle, but he is expected to be used at RT too in the NFL.

Pick 9 – CAR – Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida

Pick Breakdown – When watching his film (the good stuff), Richardson looks like the clear-cut QB1. With crazy athleticism, 60-yard throws, and 60-yard runs, it seems like he can do it all. The risk lies in his accuracy and decision-making. He made some questionable throws at times, leaving Gator fans asking “where are you looking?” If he can fix these hiccups, expect him to do very well for a Panthers team that needs to figure out its quarterback situation.

Pick 10 – PHI – Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois (Via NO)

Pick Breakdown – Had the best season of any corner this past football season, but I question him being the first off of the board because we have no idea of his potential. If he can test well on Illinois’ Pro-day and in early March for the NFL Scouting Combine, I don’t see him falling even this far; But for now, the Eagles take their CB of the future.

Pick 11 – TEN – Paris Johnson Jr., T, Ohio State

Pick Breakdown – Major team need for Tennessee here. Johnson is a very pure, raw, massive talent that was the bookend opposite Dawand Jones on that strong Buckeye O-Line. Johnson is a super effective pass blocker and creates a ton of space at the second level. Johnson will surely protect whoever lines up at quarterback for the Titans in 2023.

Pick 12 – HOU – Jordan Addison, WR, USC (Via CLE)

Pick Breakdown – Maybe the best route runner in the class, Jordan Addison creates a ton of space off the LOS thanks to his explosive speed and fancy footwork. Gets downfield really quickly and will serve as a solid target for the next Texans QB. He continues a formidable young corps of wide receivers alongside John Metchie and Nico Collins.

Pick 13 – NYJ – Broderick Jones, T, Georgia

Pick Breakdown – Jones showed why he deserved a top-15 pick in the CFP and the National Championship. Big body that can make things happen in space. Will serve as a solid run blocker for the Jets and Breece Hall, and will protect whoever is sitting in the pocket for them in 2023.

Pick 14 – NE – Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson

Pick Breakdown – Where Murphy will end up being taken is a big question. Really strong, really explosive, and quick. Creates a ton of pressure and made a lot happen on that Clemson Tiger front-9 that boasted players like Bryan Bresee, KJ Henry, Trenton Simpson, and himself.

Pick 15 – GB – Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame

Pick Breakdown – Green Bay has a huge need for a tight end and they have the chance to grab the best one in the Draft at 15. This year’s strong tight-end class starts with the size, speed, and strength that Mayer has. Has been overlooked recently in favor of Luke Musgrave, Dalton Kincaid, and Darnell Washington. Try not to sleep on Mayer.

Pick 16 – WAS – Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon

Pick Breakdown – Ideal pick for Commanders. The major team need. Gonzalez was one of the best in the nation this past year at his position. Had quite the rise at the end of the season and was the CB1 for a while and still is to most experts. The Commanders are in need of a cornerback and the first round is the place to scoop one this year.

Pick 17 – PIT – Brian Branch, S, Alabama

Pick Breakdown – I really like Brian Branch. He is justifiably versatile. He can pay free safety, strong safety, nickel corner, slot corner, and much more I probably didn’t even get to see on film. Prime definition of defensive back — not just a safety and not just a cornerback, either.

Pick 18 – DET – Calijah Kancey, DL, Pitt

Pick Breakdown – Very underrated prospect. While I think top-10 is a tad high for him, I completely understand why. Super strong, heavy hands, sick swim-move. Everything you could ask from an IDL right? Well, he’s 6-0 280 lbs; So a little undersized. But, what happened to the last “undersized” defensive lineman for Pitt? Aaron Donald happened.

Pick 19 – TB – Keion White, EDGE, Georgia Tech

Pick Breakdown – White had quite the rise during Senior Bowl week in Mobile, Alabama. 6-4 with strong hands. Does lack in wingspan a little with it being 79’, but makes up for it with his speed and his ability to use all 280 pounds of his frame to overpower the guy in front of him. Made a lot happen for the Georgia Tech defense and will be expected to do the same for the Bucs.

Pick 20 – SEA – Lukas Van Ness, DL, Iowa

Pick Breakdown –  Defense seemed to be the biggest need for the Seahawks no matter where it is. Van Ness is as powerful as an Edge rusher can get coming out of college. Seemed to overpower offensive linemen play-in and play-out. Didn’t have a ton of sacks/tackles, so not a super stat freak, but will bolster Seattles’ run defense playing opposite Uchenna Nwosu.

Pick 21 – MIA – Forfeited

Pick 22 – LAC – Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland

Pick Breakdown – Banks is a guy that I watched film on and asked, “Why is nobody talking about him?” Well now, a ton of people are and I look late to the party. Probably the stickiest corner I’ve seen yet. Only had one interception in the 2022 season, but his anticipation will leave you questioning why he doesn’t have more. If he tests well I could see him going even higher than this.

Pick 23 – BAL – Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

Pick Breakdown – After missing out on the 2022 season, Smith-Njigba has been a question since the end of the season. Plays from the slot the majority of the time which will prove for an interesting situation for the Ravens offense. If Baltimore keeps hold of Lamar Jackson, this pick will be very helpful for him. 

Pick 24 – MIN – Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State

Pick Breakdown – Minnesota is in need of some help in the secondary and Forbes will do just fine. Jumpy corner with good instincts, lanky, sticky coverage guy that recovers well. Nothing overly impressive, but covers well and assists in run support. Did a lot of good for the Mississippi State secondary.

Pick 25 – JAX – O’Cyrus Torrence, OL, Florida

Pick Breakdown – Jacksonville needs help on the line. Plain and simple. Torrence was one of, if not the best, IOL this past football season. Will prove useful in opening up interior gaps for Etienne and is strong at the second level. Major team need and a big add here for the Jags.

Pick 26 – NYG – Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU

Pick Breakdown – Has some concerns. At his size, he should be making more contested catches and he does not look like he catches the ball naturally; He lets the ball come to him rather than letting the ball hit his hands before he brings it into his body. Big body, with good speed, will add another layer to the Giants’ offense.

Pick 27 – DAL – Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College

Pick Breakdown – Flowers may be the best wideout in this class. Great route runner, great hands, and really explosive. Not the blazing speed of Tyreek Hill, but his smoothness out of his break will take the pressure off of Ceedee Lamb.

Pick 28 – BUF – Cody Mauch, OL, North Dakota State

Pick Breakdown – The Bills would love to address the running back position but that position has dropped in value when it comes in the first round. So, with a deep RB class and the best pure IOL in the class, the Bills bolster OL.

Pick 29 – CIN – Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State

Pick Breakdown – The Bengals are a very complete football team. If they retain the majority of their offense, it would be helpful for them to look towards the tight end position, cornerback position, and/or safety position. Musgrave is freaky athletic for his size and will prove as a positional advantage for Cincinnati on day 1.

Pick 30 – NO — Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas (Via SF thru MIA thru DEN)

Pick Breakdown – Sanders was able to make a ton of plays for the Razorbacks and will prove to do the same for the Saints’ defense that needs help at the LB position. Very capable run stuffer and a prototypical linebacker. Fundamentally sound and a heat-seeking missile in the flats.

Pick 31 – PHI – Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas

Pick Breakdown – With Miles Sanders possibly finding a new team via free agency, The Eagles will have to find a new running back and preferably through the Draft. Even though this RB class is very very deep, Robinson is far and away the best this year. He has absolutely everything an NFL team could ask for in a running back and will prove to be a great addition to a star-studded Eagles offense.

Pick 32 – KC – Adetomiwa Adebawore, ED, Northwestern

Pick Breakdown – With an impressive Senior Bowl, Adebawore has proven he is deserving of a first-round pick in April. What he does in The Scouting Combine will change some things but he has a case to sneak into the top 32 picks this year. Kansas City, with no long-term plan after Frank Clark, Adebawore will help the Chiefs look ahead defensively. (Ah-Day-Tommy-wah Ah-day-Bar-woh-Reh).

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