With the NFL combine in the books, it’s time to update my 2023 NFL mock draft. I’m not ready to project trades yet — we’ll do that in two weeks, after free agency — so I’m going defense with the Chicago Bears at No. 1.
The Bears have made it clear they plan to keep Justin Fields and trade the first pick, so all this will change by draft day. But if they don’t find any suitors or trade down and stay in the top five — the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts are trade-up candidates — they still could get the No. 1 defensive player on their board.
1. Carolina Panthers: QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
Big trade up Friday by the Panthers, who now have 6 ½ weeks to figure out if they want Stroud or Alabama’s Bryce Young
2. Houston Texans: QB Bryce Young, Alabama
If the Texans want Stroud, they’ll probably have to trade up and get him. If they have their eyes on another quarterback (Young? Anthony Richardson? ) they might be able to sit tight at No. 2 and keep their draft picks.
3. Arizona Cardinals: Edge Will Anderson, Alabama
The Cardinals are the next trade-up spot, if a quarterback-needy team wants to get in front of the Indianapolis Colts for Anthony Richardson or Will Levis.
4. Indianapolis Colts: QB Anthony Richardson, Florida
Both Richardson and Levis need another year of seasoning, but Richardson’s upside might be too hard for the Colts to ignore.
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5. Seattle Seahawks: DT Jalen Carter, Georgia
I wouldn’t rule out a QB to apprentice under Geno Smith, but I’m keeping Carter in my top five for now while NFL teams sort through Carter’s legal issues from two misdemeanor traffic violations in relation to an accident that took the life of one of his teammates.
6. Detroit Lions: DE Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech
I don’t think the Lions take a quarterback in Round 1, though Young or Stroud would be worthy if one slips to six. Wilson could crack the top five — he’s the draft’s third best defender. If he doesn’t, and if his medicals check out, the Lions should race to add him to their growing stable of impressive pass rushers.
7. Las Vegas Raiders: QB Will Levis, Kentucky
Four quarterbacks in the top seven, and that’s without projecting trades as the two quarterback-needy teams picking behind the Raiders might be looking to move up to No. 6 and be willing to give the Lions future assets to do so.
8. Atlanta Falcons: OT Peter Skoronski, Northwestern
Offensive tackles don’t generate much buzz this time of year, but they don’t last long on draft day, either.
9. Chicago Bears: OT Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State
The Bears miss out on the top defensive players by trading down from No. 1, but in Johnson they get someone to help keep Justin Fields upright.
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10. Philadelphia Eagles: CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
Darius Slay is 32 and the Eagles could lose starting cornerback James Bradberry in free agency, so adding the draft’s top cover man here makes sense.
11. Tennessee Titans: RB Bijan Robinson, Texas
If the Titans trade Derrick Henry, they can get the draft’s best running back in Robinson as a replacement.
12. Houston Texans: WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
I had the Texans going defense with their second first-round pick for head coach DeMeco Ryans in my last mock, but they need to give whoever they draft at quarterback a playmaker outside to give him a chance to succeed.
13. New York Jets: DE Myles Murphy, Clemson
Robert Saleh loves his pass rushers, and Murphy would pair nicely with Quinnen Williams and last year’s first-round pick, Jermaine Johnson, on the Jets line.
14. New England Patriots: DL Lukas Van Ness, Iowa
Van Ness was a hockey player first in high school and never started a game at Iowa, but his Iowa roots make a natural fit for Bill Belichick.
15. Green Bay Packers: OT Broderick Jones, Georgia
Aaron Rodgers could be headed to the Jets, so the Packers will need to beef up their line for new quarterback Jordan Love.
16. Washington Commanders: CB Christian Gonzalez, Oregon
Martin Mayhew knows cornerbacks, and Gonzalez has the size, length and speed to be a good one.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Joey Porter Jr., Penn State
I’m sticking with Porter to the Steelers here for sentimental reasons (his father’s eight seasons in Pittsburgh) and football ones (the Steelers need cornerback help if Cam Sutton leaves in free agency).
18. Detroit Lions: CB Deonte Banks, Maryland
I considered Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson here with the top three cornerbacks off the board, but Banks is a really good player who had elite testing numbers in Indy and would fill a huge need in the secondary.
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19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Edge Nolan Smith, Georgia
The Bucs have holes everywhere, on both sides of the ball. Smith missed time with a torn pec last season, but should be a first-round pick if his medicals check out.
20. Seattle Seahawks: DT Bryan Bresee, Clemson
With their quarterback of the future accounted for, the Seahawks can use their second first-round pick to give Pete Carroll some defensive help to try to win now.
21. Los Angeles Chargers: TE Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
After watching Travis Kelce help Patrick Mahomes wreck the AFC West for years, the Chargers go and get Justin Herbert his TE1.
22. Baltimore Ravens: DB Brian Branch, Alabama
The Ravens took safety Kyle Hamilton in Round 1 last year, but Branch is more of a slot cornerback who would fill a need for a team that has not spent a top-100 pick on a corner since 2017.
23. Minnesota Vikings: WR Quentin Johnston, TCU
The Vikings seem poised to move on from Adam Thielen, which means they’ll be looking for a new sidekick for Justin Jefferson.
24. Jacksonville Jaguars: OT Anton Harrison Oklahoma
With right tackle Jawaan Taylor headed for free agency, the Jaguars better find someone to help keep Trevor Lawrence protected.
25. New York Giants: WR Jordan Addison, USC
The Giants need more weapons for their passing game, and Addison might be the best receiver in the draft.
26. Dallas Cowboys: LB Trenton Simpson, Clemson
Simpson is another defensive chess piece the Cowboys can pair with Micah Parsons to give opposing offenses headaches.
27. Buffalo Bills: DL Keion White, Georgia Tech
With Von Miller coming off a knee injury and Shaq Miller headed to free agency, the Bills can use a versatile lineman like White who has plenty of upside after starting his college career as a tight end.
28. Cincinnati Bengals: DT Calijah Kancey, Pitt
Kancey is one of the best interior rushers in this class, and Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo won’t be scared off his smaller size.
29. New Orleans Saints: TE Darnell Washington, Georgia
I thought Washington was a first-round pick before his eye-opening combine showing. He’s a good blocker who makes sense for the tight end-needy Saints and new QB Derek Carr.
30. Philadelphia Eagles: OL Cody Mauch, North Dakota
This seems like a good trade-up spot for a team that wants in at the end of the first round. If the Eagles stay put, they could take the best offensive lineman left.
31. Kansas City Chiefs: WR Zay Flowers, Boston College
Mahomes can never have enough weapons.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.