We are one day away from the 2023 NFL Draft so here are my predictions of which prospect is going to go where. I will point out that this is not what I would do as the GM of each team but more what I think will happen based off news and rumors around the league.

1. Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

Bryce Young likely would have been selected first overall in last years draft. The Heisman trophy winner and National Champion figures to be an immediate impact player at the next level but like I pointed out in the rankings, he is not bust-proof. He has a small frame (5’10” 204lbs) and tends to shy away from pressure up the middle. Still, he is the best QB in the class with his quick release, smart decision making, pin point accuracy and mental toughness to dial it in when needed. Panthers’ fans should be ecstatic about this pick.

2. Houston Texans: CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State

There are last minute rumblings that the Texans are possibly going to take an edge rusher here but that must be coming from his agent because there has been nothing but radio silence from Houston since the end of the season. The Texans have a new head coach and general manager so it would make perfect sense if they selected the Quarterback of the future here. Stroud may need some time to develop but he will likely be asked to start at QB early. The jump from going from one of the most dominant teams in college football to the bottom feeders of the NFL will be tough for him. But since they are in a full rebuild, they should be able to grow together.

3. Arizona Cardinals: Will Anderson, Edge, Alabama

The 2^nd bama player comes off the board just three picks into the draft. The Cardinals need some help on defense and they will do just that with the most dominant edge rusher in college football for the past two years. Looks for Anderson to become a problem from day 1.

4. Indianapolis Colts: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky

Will Levis is one of the most polarizing prospects in this draft. Some think he’s Josh Allen 2.0 and others think he’s Paxton Lynch. I think the answer is somewhere closer to Carson Wentz. Levis didn’t have much to work with at Kentucky but still made them a top 25 team while completing over 65% of his passes each year, passing for 35 TDS and rushing for 11 TDs in two years. However, there is that tiny issue with him taking 48 sacks and throwing 23 interceptions. He’ll join a sneaky good Colts team that’s at the beginning of their rebuild and if he can fix those head scratching throws, he might be the best pick of the whole draft.

5. Seattle Seahawks (From Denver): Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia

Jalen Carter didn’t help his draft stock by pleading guilty to reckless driving and racing a month before the draft. However, Pete Carroll doesn’t shy away from troubled players and will get the most talented player in this draft here at #5. Carter dominated everyone over the last two years at Georgia, anchoring that Bulldogs defense and helped them win back-to-back national titles. He’s a plug and play starter and will be one of the best interior defensive linemen in the league by this time next year.

6. Detroit Lions: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois

The Lions were probably hoping Anderson or Carter slips to them here but they’ll settle for the hardest hitting CB in the draft with Illinois Witherspoon to help bolster that secondary.

7. Oakland Raiders: Peter Skoronski, OT/OG, Northwestern

Raiders look to rebuild around Jimmy G so they could go QB here but instead take the most polished lineman in the draft with Skoronski. Some scouts say Peter will be a guard at the next level but the raiders could use help at both.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Tyree Wilson, Edge, Texas Tech

Some will say he ‘fell’ to the Falcons here at #8 since Tyree has been speculated to go as high as #2 overall to the Texans. However, I think this is a good landing spot for him and gives the Falcons some serious firepower on the edge with Calais Campbell, Jarrett and now Tyree.

9. Chicago Bears: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia

The Bears moved out of the 1^st overall spot and committed to Justin Fields. They’ll be happy to pick up the LT of the back-to-back national champions Georgia Bulldogs.

10. Philadelphia Eagles: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas

The defending NFC champs will likely try and trade back here but if they don’t, expect them to take the best RB prospect since Adrian Peterson. Bijan Robinson with that Eagles offensive line, those weapons out wide and a mobile QB? Good luck stopping that.

11. Tennessee Titans: Jaxon Smith-Ngiba, WR, OSU

The Titans could go QB here with Richardson still on the board but I don’t think they’ve given up on Malik Willis quite yet and they need playmakers. JSN will start for them right away and breathe new life into that passing game.

12. Houston Texans: Nolan Smith, Edge, Georgia

The Texans could go a number of different ways with this pick but since Demeco Ryans is a DC first and foremost, I can see the Texans selecting the best available pass rusher here. Myles Murphy or Lukas Van Ness could either be the pick but Nolan Smith was a playmaker on that tough Georgia defense so we’ll go Smith here.

13. Green Bay Packers: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah

All signs are pointing to the Packers taking Kincaid here. While it’s a bit of a head scratcher to me, it fills a big need for the Packers and gives their new starter Jordan Love and big target over the middle. He won’t help much in the run game, though.

14. New England Patriots: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon

The Patriots are a tough one to predict. Belichick likes to zig when everyone else zags but be that as it may, Gonzalez provides a ton of value here at 14 for a defensive-minded head coach/ GM.

15. New York Jets: Paris Johnson, OT, OSU

The Jets will look to add some protection for their brand new QB. Paris Johnson is the most athletic tackle in the class and can play both sides. He also has experience at guard as well. That versatility will come in handy for this offensive line and this ascending roster.

16. Washington Commanders: Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland

Ron Rivera has proven that he doesn’t mind reaching on players. There are plenty of rumors that the Commanders are interested in Hendon Hooker here and if Richardson is still there like in this scenario, could they pass on him? Who knows but Rivera needs to win now to keep his job and taking a developmental QB will not help. Deonte Banks has been rumored to be the selection for the Commanders ever since the combine where he ran a 4.36 40 along with a 42” vert. I can see them potentially trying to trade down here to acquire more picks and still try to get Banks. However, if they stay put, the Commanders could use all the help they can get at corner and Banks should be an immediate starter for them either on the outside or at nickel.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Joey Porter Jr, CB, Penn ST

Like father like son. The Steelers need help at corner and have the late great Joey Porter’s stud of a son fall right into their laps here at #17.

18. Detroit Lions: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida

The free fall for Richardson ends at #18. Jared Goff has played well for the Lions but he isn’t getting any younger. I like the thought of Richardson learning for a year behind Goff and exploding onto the scene in 2024 behind a mean and nasty roster built in the image of their psycho coach.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Brian Branch, Safety, Alabama

Tampa doesn’t have a lot to look forward to moving forward after the loss of Tom Brady. Could they try and trade up for a QB? Likely but if they stay home, their safety position is in dire need of help. Branch is one of the best defenders in this class and should help solidify the center of the field for years to come.

20. Seattle Seahawks: O’Cyrus Torrence, G, Florida

This pick might not get a lot of love from the media but Torrence is a pro bowl caliber talent and the Seahawks have proven they want to be a run-first team. Jalen Carter vs Torrence in mini camp will be fun to watch.

21. Los Angeles Chargers: Jordan Addison, WR, USC

The Chargers roster is looking solid so adding another weapon for Herbert to air it out to makes perfect sense.

22. Baltimore Ravens: Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee

The Ravens know that Lamar Jackson is gone after this year so they’ll need someone for the future. This roster will likely not lose enough games to be a drafting top 5, so why not roll the dice on the Hooker who was playing better than everyone in the class before his injury? Hooker will be able to sit a year and recover while still learning from Jackson and Huntley and be ready to go in 2024.

23. Minnesota Vikings: Calijah Kancey, DT, Pitt

The Vikings are rumored to be in love with Hooker so they might be a team looking to trade up with either the Chargers or the Seahawks before the Ravens get a chance. If they don’t, Kancey would be the pick. Kancey isn’t your prototypical, space-eating DT. He is a pass rusher who just so happens to line up inside. He will give interior o lineman fits at the next level.

24. Jacksonville Jaguars: Myles Murphy, Edge, Clemson

Murphy is one of the most slept on edge rushers in this class and the Jaguars will be ecstatic to get him here at #24. With Travon Walker on the other side, the Jags pass rush just became a scary unit.

25. New York Giants: Quentin Johnson, WR, TCU

The Giants are rumored to be all in on Jordan Addison. However, with him going to the Chargers 4 picks earlier, they will likely stay at WR. Johnson makes plenty of sense here for a team that needs some size and speed at wide out. Zay Flowers, Jalin Hyatt and Jonathan Mingo have also been rumored to the g-men here.

26. Dallas Cowboys: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame

With Dalton Schultz leaving for FA, the Cowboys take one of the best TE’s in college football over the past few years in Michael Mayer. Mayer’s NFL comp is Jason Witten so this couldn’t make more sense. He’ll likely scored 100 TDs against the Commanders too.

27. Buffalo Bills: Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee

The Bills could use some help at CB or at edge rusher. However, Darnell Wright is too much of a talent to pass on. He played primarily at LT but could be a great swing tackle or even guard if given the opportunity.

28. Cincinnati Bengals: Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Miss ST

Forbes only weighs 170lbs but broke the NCAA record in pick-sixes. The Bengals secondary wasn’t terrible last year but Forbes could take them to the next level.

29. New Orleans Saints: Lukas Van Ness

The Saints need help all over the roster and Van Ness was the best player available. He’ll jump in the rotation and help turn this Saints defense around.

30. Philadelphia Eagles: Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee

The Eagles already selected one weapon to bolster their offense. Now they add what many consider to be a Desean Jackson clone in Jalin Hyatt. Dynasty in the making?

31. Kansas City Chiefs: Felix Anundike-Uzomah

The defending Super Bowl champions select an edge rusher to replace the hole left by Frank Clark. They have also been rumored to like Hyatt but with him gone, they’ll stick to their board.

This draft class is one of the weaker classes I can remember. There are not many sleepers this year because, frankly, there are not many studs either. The college QB class was a bit overhyped coming into the year so I believe that had a lot to do with it. However, there are still some difference makers so with only a few days to spare, here are my top 5 at every offensive position.

Note: One asterisk is who the Commanders have a legitimate chance to get and who they should target in the first round and two asterisks, 2^nd round.

QB:

1. Bryce Young, Alabama, 5’10” 204 lbs – 1st overall
2. CJ Stroud, Ohio State 6’3” 214 lbs – Top 5
3. Hendon Hooker, Tennessee, 6’4” 218 – 1^st-2^nd Round
4. Will Levis, Kentucky, 6’4” 229lbs – 1^st-2^nd Round
5. Anthony Richardson, Florida 6’4” 244 lbs -1^st-2^nd Round

Skinny: Bryce Young will go #1 overall and deservedly so. He had an excellent college career where he won both a national championship and a Heisman trophy. His numbers dipped a good bit last season since the team around him wasn’t nearly as dominant as the year before. However, he still showed good accuracy (64.5%) and had 32 TDs to 5 ints. His size might concern some GMs but his tape is second to none. Even at 5’10, dominated at the highest level of college football (the SEC) the last two years. I also liked how when the chips were down, he always seemed to dial in and rise to the occasion (ie the Texas game). Granted, he is not bust proof. There are some concerns with his game like his lazy footwork and the way he sails intermediate throws when facing pressure. There may be some growing pains but overall, the Panthers should be ecstatic to get him.

CJ Stroud comes in at #2 but I do not have a whole lot of confidence he will be a star. He played with arguably the greatest array of receivers a college QB could have over two years (NFL OROY Garret Wilson, Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njiba, Marvin Harrison Jr.) and a star-studded offensive line as well (tackles Paris Johnson and Dawan Jones should be 1^st round picks this year). While you can argue whether or not he could have succeeded in another QBs situation like Young or Levis, there is no denying how well he played towards the end of the season. He shined against Georgia and frankly should have beat them if that field goal wasn’t missed at the buzzer. Stroud will need a year to develop at get used to some pressure in his face (which he rarely saw at OSU) but if you give him a clean pocket, he has all the tools to be a solid starter at the next level.

The rankings get a little tricky after the top two. Hendon Hooker would be my third choice at QB even though he will be 26 before he can even suit up on an NFL field. Before his ACL tear, Hooker was looking like a unanimous Heisman winner and had Tennessee as the favorite to win a national Championship until they went into Athens. The Volunteers gimmicky offense gives me pause but Hooker had a solid college career, hardly throwing interceptions (only 2 last season) and finishing with a 65% completion percentage or higher since his redshirt sophomore year (69.6% last year). He also has the best deep ball in the class. I feel like people are sleeping on his arm in general. Further, I feel like he might be one of the best in the class from the pocket and stands tall against interior pressure. If his ACL heals properly, he should be another day 2 QB that takes the league by storm.

Levis and Richardson fill out my top 5 QBs. Each are workout warriors and superb athletes (especially Richardson) but both struggle with inaccuracy and are inconsistent. Scouts like to compare Levis to Josh Allen but he’s more like Carson Wentz but possibly even more of a head case (eats bananas with the peels on and puts mayonnaise in his coffee). Yet, I can still see why scouts get so excited about him. He has the biggest arm in the class, is tough in the pocket, accurate on third down and isn’t scared to put his head down and fight for that extra yard. He had no help at Kentucky and still made them a top 25 squad. He’s everyone’s most hated prospect but honestly, I could see him being a solid starter in the NFL with the right coach. But hey, he I could also see him pissing off his teammates/ coaching staff and be out of the league in a year.

Richardson is the #1 boom or bust in the class. He is big, strong, fast, and has a cannon of an arm. However, he was awfully inaccurate at times at Florida and does not handle pressure well. Scouts like to say he’s the next Cam Newton but faster but I see a lot more Trey Lance in his game than I do Cam Newton. Still, if he’s drafted into the right system and the coaches are willing to go through some growing pains, he has higher potential than everyone. Also, he’s only 20 years old so unless he crashes and burns hard, he should be around for a while.

RB

1. *Bijan Robinson, Texas, 5’11” 215lbs, 4.46 40 – 1^st round
2. **Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama, 5’9”, 199lbs, 4.36 40 – early 2^nd
3. Tyjae Spears, Tulane, 5’10 201lbs, NA 40 – 3-4^th round
4. Israel Abanikanda, Pittsburgh, NA 40, 3^rd-5^th round
5. Zach Charbonnet, UCLA, 6’0 214lbs, 4.53 40 – 4-5^th round

Skinny: Bijan Robinson is the most exciting RB prospect since Saquon Barkley. He’s the total package or speed, power, balance, vision, and has sure hands. I have him #2 on my overall board but he will likely slide down the draft since modern GMs don’t appreciate the every down back anymore but if he’s there for the Commanders at #16, I would take him.

Gibbs is a speedster who glides down the field almost exactly like Alvin Kamara. I’ve seen plenty of NFL talking heads say he’s the best RB in the class so I might be sleeping on him a bit.

Spears film really impressed me and he could be a late day 2, early day 3 superstar for the right team. He has elite one cut acceleration that could fit perfectly into a Kyle Shanahan style zone-read scheme. Abanikanda had an incredible year at Pitt and could be an every-down back in the NFL with his combination of speed, toughness and catching ability. Charbonnet is a reminds me of LaGarrette Blount when he runs but he has a decent bit of speed as well.

WR:

1. Jaxon Smith-Ngiba, OSU, 6’1” 196lbs, NA 40 – 1^st round
2. Jordan Addison, USC, 5’11” 173lbs, 4.49 40 – 1^st round
3. Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee, 6’0” 176lbs, 4.4 40 – 1^st round
4. Quentin Johnson, TCU, 6’3” 208lbs, NA 40 – 1-2^nd round
5. Tank Dell, Houston, 5’8” 165lbs, 4.49 – 2^nd round

Skinny: Feel like this WR class is being slept on a bit. These 1^st round WRs have serious star potential. Take Jaxon Smith Ngiba. JSN had a hamstring injury that limited him towards the end of his time at OSU (some even thought he milked it a bit to get ready for the draft) but he was an absolute stud when healthy. He might not be the burner that some of the rest of these guys are but he is an excellent route runner, makes acrobatic catches look easy and gets plenty of separation. OSU has producing plenty of NFL stars lately and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s the next one.  

Addison was a star at Pitt and a star at USC. He has the speed to take any catch to the house and like JSN, always seems to find himself wide open. He isn’t the strongest so he won’t break a bunch of tackles and will struggle against press. He should be a solid #2 in the NFL.

Jalin Hyatt is an exciting prospect. He’s a burner and showed it against Bama where he went for 5 TDs. He reminds me a bit of DK Metcaff coming out where he has all the athleticism but only ran three routes at college. He will need to work on his intermediate route-running and possibly add some weight to his frame, but if you are looking for speed, this is your guy.

Quentin Johnson rounds out my 1^st round graded WRs and when I first watched the highlights, I thought I was watching Randy Moss 2.0. He’s a bigger receiver who may be the fastest in the class. He gets vertical in a hurry but can also leap over you and has a knack for making defenders miss with the ball in his hands. Only issue is he disappeared in some games for TCU and appears to have a drop problem according to reports. If college DBs were able to take him out of games, he may struggle even more at the next level. He will not be a Randy Moss 2.0 in the NFL, but if he can improve that route tree and work on his hands, he has all the tools to be a solid #2 receiver at the next level.

Tank Dell finishes my top 5 WRs and edges out the others since he is a great punt returner. He will do all his damage from the slot in the NFL and has that quick twitch speed that you need to be successful. Most of his highlights were him wide open so you won’t have to worry about his separation. You will have to worry about his hands. Like Johnson, he is not the surest handed. If he can’t fix that, he will be out of the league in no time.

TE:

1. Michael Mayer, Notre Dame, 6’4” 249lbs, 4.7 40 – 1-2^nd round
2. Darnell Washington, Georgia, 6’7” 264lbs, 4.64 40 – 1-2^nd round
3. Dalton Kincaid, Utah, 6’4” 246lbs, NA 40 – 2^nd round
4. Luke Schoonmaker, Michigan, 6’5” 251lbs, 4.63 40 – 2-3^rd round
5. Zack Kuntz, ODU, 6’7” 255lbs, 4.55 40 – 3-5th round

Skinny: This TE class is as good as any I can remember and is the best position class of this draft. Michael Mayer has been a stud for a couple years at ND and should be the first TE selected off the board even though he ‘didn’t test well’ for some scouts. Turn on the film and you’ll see what a difference maker he is. He’s the complete TE – great blocker, great hands, great catching in traffic, solid route running. The only reason I have a late 1^st grade on him is because of how good the rest of the class is. Some teams may wait until day 2 to pick their TE but I’d still be surprised if he fell out of the first round.

Darnell Washington is the most exciting TE in the class. He is a mammoth of a TE at 6’7” 264lbs and moved the sled further than half the O lineman at the combine. He didn’t have the most productive career at Georgia since he played second fiddle to Brock Bowers but he should be much more productive in the NFL. He appears to have good hands and is a load to bring down in open space. He will need to work on his route running but he’s already a great run blocker and should be an instant starter at the next level.

Dalton Kincaid is the media darling in this class and while he shows a lot of promise as a receiver, I’m concerned about how well he will stand up against NFL pass rushers and run stuffers. Still, he has that basketball background of high pointing passes, as well as great hands and athleticism to get open. Could he be the next Antonio Gates? Probably not but if you can get open and make catches over the middle like he can, he should have a solid career.

Luke Schoonmaker is a sleeper in this class. He’s a big, tough, prototypical TE who looks a lot like George Kittle at times. Even at his size, he can make defenders miss and is a good route runner. Him staying healthy was an issue at Michigan where he never played a full season but if he can stay healthy, he should be a solid day 2 pickup.

Zack Kuntz finished 5 in my rankings this year mostly on his size and athleticism alone. He played well at ODU but only made 15 starts and didn’t play against much NFL-caliber competition. However, you can still see flashes of that potential. I might have him a little higher than most but the NFL is a big mans league. Under the right coaching and strength program, Kuntz could become a stud.

OT:

1. Peter Skoronski, LT/LG Northwestern, 6’4” 313lbs – top 10*
2. Darnell Wright, RT Tennessee, 6’5” 333lbs – 1^st round*
3. Broderick Jones, LT UGA, 6’5” 311lbs – 1^st round*
4. Paris Johnson, LT, OSU, 6’6” 313lbs – 1^st round*
5. Dawand Jones, RT, OSU 6’8” 374lbs – 1^st round*

Skinny: The tackles in this class are another slept on position group. Skoronski is the consensus top OT on the board and I can’t help but agree. His tape is so good, it’s dull. He has perfect technique and footwork to eat up pass rushers and strength to road grade holes in the run game. There is some chatter that his short arms make him a better guard at the next level but regardless, he should be a solid starter at either position.

Darnell Wright is my #2 OT in the class even though he played primarily at RT during his time for the Volunteers. His tape isn’t flashy but like Skoronski, he dominated competition over his two years of starting, only allowing 1 sack in two years (none last year). While that could be a product of the quick read, gimmicky Tennessee offense, I liked what I saw from him vs Will Anderson and Jalen Carter. He has an excellent punch that proved effective during his time at UT and has excellent athleticism for a 330 pounder.  Some scouts like to say he’s a 2^nd round pick, I could very well see him coming off the board right around pick #16.

Broderick Jones was LT for back-to-back National Champion Bulldogs and is about as intimidating as LTs come. He has elite strength and athleticism for an OT. He’s an enforcer along that o-line – burying defenders in the run game and stonewalling bull rushes. The only concern I have is he only started one full year and his technique/ footwork aren’t quite ready for the next level. Still, give him a year of NFL coaching and he could very well be the gem of the whole class.

The two OSU tackles round out my top 5. Paris Johnson is the most athletic tackle in the class and is a force out in the screen game. My biggest concern with him is whether he can anchor against a proper NFL-caliber edge rushers bull rush. He seemed to have some issues there at OSU but luckily for him, Stroud’s running ability kept a lot of edge rushers at bay.

Dawand Jones is the biggest player in the entire draft class and is decently athletic for a guy who weighs 374lbs. He plays angry. I could see him getting ejected a few times in the NFL for burying guys after the whistle. He also has slow feet and can be clumsy at time with his footwork. But if he gets his paws on you, the play is over. He’s the biggest high risk, high reward player in the OT class and I wouldn’t be surprised if he was taken late in the 1^st.

IOL:

1. O’Cyrus Torrence, LG Florida, 6’5” 330lbs – 1-2^nd round**
2. Joe Tippman, C Wisconsin, 6’6” 313lbs – 2^nd round**
3. Cody Mauch, LT/LG NDSU, 6’5” 302lbs – 2-3^rd round**
4. Steve Avila, LG TCU, 6’3 332lbs – 2-3^rd round**
5. John Michael Schmitz, C Minnesota, 6’3” – 2-3^rd round**

Skinny: Torrence is the cream of the crop this year as far as interior o line goes. He was one of the few who stood up to Georgia’s Jalen Carter and was able to push him around. He should be the first guard selected and there are rumors he could come to the commanders at #16…

As for rest, IOL is a hard position to find tape on but I’ll do my best. Tippman started for the Badgers for two years and was a stud for them. He made all the line calls it is well documented how impressive his football IQ is. The Commanders could use his services at center especially as a 2^nd round pick. Mauch played at LT in North Dakota but projects as a guard in the NFL.  Avila played well against Georgia and stout in the run game. He was impressive in the combine and looks to be one of the stronger players in the class. Schmitz finished as a 2^nd team All-American at center for the Gophers and made all the calls for the line. He should be a solid day 2 pick for a center-needy team.