The South Florida Sun Sentinel’s initial 2023 NFL mock draft features Dolphins columnist Chris Perkins making selections through pick No. 51, the Dolphins’ first pick. Trades, which are sure to happen, weren’t factored into this mock draft. The NFL draft is April 27-29 in Kansas City.
1. Carolina Panthers (from Chicago): Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
Tough choice between Young and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, and it’s always tougher to tell with Alabama quarterbacks because they’re surrounded by so much great talent.
Top needs: QB, Edge rusher, ILB
2. Houston Texans: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
The Texans come away with a top-notch prospect in Stroud, although he might not be as NFL-ready as Young.
Top needs: QB, Edge, WR
3. Arizona Cardinals: Will Anderson Jr., Edge rusher, Alabama
Arizona might trade out of this spot. If not, Anderson fits the bill as a high-quality pass rusher, a need with J.J. Watt retiring.
Top needs: Edge, CB, OL
4. Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
The veteran route hasn’t worked for the Colts since Andrew Luck’s retirement, so they’ll try the rookie route.
Top needs: QB, OL, CB
5. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver): Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
If you believe in the best-player-available philosophy, this is the pick. If you believe in reducing risk, this might not be the pick.
Top needs: DT, OL, WR
6. Detroit Lions (from L.A. Rams): Tyree Wilson, Edge, Texas Tech
Detroit needs defensive help. The big question is whether you take an edge rusher or a cornerback such as Illinois’ Devon Witherspoon.
Top needs: DL, LB, OL
7. Las Vegas Raiders: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
This could be a tough decision between Witherspoon and Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez. The Raiders could also use offensive line help.
Top needs: CB, OT, LB
8. Atlanta Falcons: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
The Falcons could take Iowa edge rusher Lukas Van Ness or Clemson edge rusher Myles Murphy, but Gonzalez provides good size and outstanding 1-on-1 skills.
Top needs: CB, Edge, S
9. Chicago Bears (from Carolina): Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern
Although Skoronski might end up being moved to guard, the bottom line is the Bears, who could use Van Ness considering they were last in sacks (20), are getting protection for QB Justin Fields.
Top needs: OT, Edge, CB
10. Philadelphia Eagles (from New Orleans): Lukas Van Ness, Edge, Iowa
Van Ness can rush from the inside or outside, and such versatility fits perfectly with the Eagles, who have fielded a strong defense for years.
Top needs: Edge, DT, DB
11. Tennessee Titans: Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
The Titans could go with Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba or even Kentucky QB Will Levis, but they’ve drafted fairly high at both positions the past two years.
Top needs: WR, OT, CB
12. Houston Texans (from Cleveland): Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
Smith-Njigba is a polished, NFL-ready player who excels at route-running and making plays, two traits any teams would love.
Top needs: WR, Edge, DT
13. New York Jets: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
QB Aaron Rodgers picks the receivers, and the organization picks the OL help. Sounds like a good deal.
Top needs: OT, S, DT
14. New England Patriots: Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
Porter’s man-to-man defensive skills, aggression and size (he’s 6-foot-2) make him attractive.
Top needs: OL, CB, WR
15. Green Bay Packers: Nolan Smith, Edge, Georgia
This might be a reach considering Smith is regarded as speedy, but undersized and not very strong. But the guy has shown a knack for getting to the quarterback.
Top needs: Edge, TE, S
16. Washington Commanders: Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
Banks has length, athleticism and physicality. Put him in the secondary and let him go to work.
Top needs: CB, TE, G
17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
Three tackles are off the board — Skoronski, Johnson and Jones. And four CBs are off the board — Witherspoon, Gonzalez, Porter and Banks. By the way, Wright is better at RT.
Top needs: OT, CB, DT
18. Detroit Lions: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
This is a major shakeup, especially considering Detroit added RB David Montgomery to join DeAndre Swift. But the Lions got defensive help at pick No. 6, and Swift struggles to stay healthly, never having more than 151 carries in a season.
Top needs: LB, G, TE
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
With Baker Mayfield as the starting QB, it’s probably wise to plan for the future. One of the SEC QBs, Levis or Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker, could be the choice here.
Top needs: DB, QB, Edge
20. Seattle Seahawks: Jordan Addison, WR, USC
Seattle could add more DL help from Pitt’s Calijah Kancey, but Addison, who, interestingly, transferred from Pitt, is too tempting to resist.
Top needs: OL, WR, Edge
21. Los Angeles Chargers: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
The Chargers will get QB Justin Herbert help at a key position. Yes, they return their top four TEs but none has gotten the job done.
Top needs: TE, OL, WR
22. Baltimore Ravens: Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
Boston College WR Zay Flowers would also make sense. And, yes, they just took WR Rashod Bateman in the first round in 2021, but help is still needed.
Top needs: WR, CB, DT
23. Minnesota Vikings: Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee
Minnesota eventually needs a replacement for QB Kirk Cousins and the time to find him is now, while Cousins is still in the fold and Hooker has time to fully recover from his knee injury.
Top needs: CB, ILB, DT
24. Jacksonville Jaguars: Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
Smith is an aggressive player who, as a CB, doesn’t help QB Trevor Lawrence directly, but helps a defense that ranked 28th against the pass so it makes sense.
Top needs: Edge, OT, DB
25. New York Giants: John Michael Schmitz, C, Minnesota
The Giants seem set at QB (Daniel Jones), RB (Saquon Barkley), TE Darren Waller and OT (LT Andrew Thomas, RT Evan Neal). Now it’s time to get strong up the middle.
Top needs: CB, WR, G
26. Dallas Cowboys: Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State
Musgrave fills the hole left by TE Dalton Schultz (Houston), but he’s not overly impressive. Dallas might trade up, especially if RB Bijan Robinson is in its sights.
Top needs: TE, G, DL
27. Buffalo Bills: Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas
Losing ILB Tremaine Edmunds (Chicago) hurts. Sanders helps absorb that huge loss even though drafting a WR is tempting.
Top needs: LB, S, OT
28. Cincinnati Bengals: Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
There’s some risk here because Harrison is a LT, but the Bengals could get a replacement for RT Jonah Williams, who has requested a trade.
Top needs: OL, RB, TE
29. New Orleans Saints: Bryan Bresee, DL, Clemson
A family situation, illness and injury have slowed Bresee the past two seasons so he’s being drafted on potential. But there’s lots of upside here to address the DL losses in free agency.
Top needs: WR, CB, DL
30. Philadelphia Eagles: Brian Branch, S, Alabama
The Eagles lost starting safeties Marcus Epps (Las Vegas) and C.J. Gardner-Johnson (Detroit) so this helps, and it goes along with getting an edge rusher at No. 10.
Top needs: DT, DB, RB
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee
The best way to help QB Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs will say in this situation, is getting more playmakers. OL and DL need new blood, but WR is more impactful for Mahomes.
Top needs: WR, Edge, OT
Round 2
32. Pittsburgh Steelers (from Chicago): Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan
Smith is strong and plays three downs. At 6-3, 335 pounds he gives the Steelers a presence inside.
Top needs: CB, DT, OT
33. Houston Texans: Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Edge, Kansas State
The Texans need pass rush help. Anudike-Uzomah had 8.0 sacks last season and 13.0 sacks in 2021.
Top needs: Edge, DT, OL
34. Arizona Cardinals: Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
Forbes had six interceptions last season and has ball-hawking skills. He’ll need to add muscle to his 166-pound frame, however.
Top needs: CB, OL, WR
35. Indianapolis Colts: Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State
The Colts get a QB and an OT in the first two rounds. Jones could win a starting job on either side but he’s best at RT.
Top needs: OL, CB, WR
36. Los Angeles Rams: Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
This doesn’t make up for the loss of CB Jalen Ramsey (Miami) but it’s better than doing nothing.
Top needs: TE, Edge, CB
37. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver): O’Cyrus Torrance, G, Florida
Torrance, a transfer from Louisiana, is a first-class run blocker who can also help protect QB Geno Smith.
Top needs: OL, ILB, DT
38. Las Vegas Raiders: Adetomiwa Adebawore, Edge, Northwestern
This pick is about speed. Adebawore, at 6-2, 282 pounds, ran a blazing-fast 4.49-second 40-yard dash. And he can play inside or outside.
Top needs: OT, DL, CB
39. Carolina Panthers: Noah Sewell, LB, Oregon
The Panthers need help on the inside and Sewell, younger brother of Detroit OT Penei Sewell, can handle the job.
Top needs: Edge, ILB, DB
40. New Orleans Saints: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama
RB Alvin Kamara has possible legal issues so a backup plan seems a good idea.
Top needs: WR, CB, RB
41. Tennessee Titans: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
Flowers, who attended University School high school in Davie, is small at 5-9, 182 pounds, but he’s a good slot WR, which the Titans need.
Top needs: WR, CB, TE
42. New York Jets (from Cleveland): Cody Mauch, C-G, North Dakota State
There’s lots of position versatility here because Mauch was an OT in college but his short arms suggest he’s better suited for interior OL.
Top needs: DT, S, LB
43. New York Jets: Keion White, DT, Georgia Tech
With DT Sheldon Rankins (Houston) departing via free agency White offers a possible solution as a replacement.
Top needs: DT, LB, S
44. Atlanta Falcons: Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M
Johnson replaces slot CB Isaiah Oliver (San Francisco), and is a playmaker in coverage as well as on blitzes.
Top needs: Edge, S, WR
45. Green Bay Packers: Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
Green Bay lost TE Robert Tonyan (Chicago) and might lose TE Marcedes Lewis if he goes to the New York Jets with Rodgers.
Top needs: TE, S, WR
46. New England Patriots: Matthew Bergeron, OT, Syracuse
Bergeron is a solid prospect who has the added benefit of being able to play either side.
Top needs: OL, WR, DL
47. Washington Commanders: Steve Avila, C-G, TCU
Avila is a physical player with position versatility, and the Commanders need interior OL help.
Top needs: TE, OL, DL
48. Detroit Lions: Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa
Campbell is a hard-hitting, physical presence on the inside.
Top needs: LB, OL, TE
49. Pittsburgh Steelers: Tyrique Stevenson, CB, Miami
Stevenson has an aggressive style and isn’t afraid to make mistakes in the name of making plays.
Top needs: CB, DT, LB
50. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: B.J. Ojulari, Edge, LSU
Ojulari, whose older brother, Azeez, plays for the Giants, had 9.0 sacks last season.
Top needs: DB, Edge, OL
51. Miami Dolphins: Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa
The Dolphins offense favors an in-line tight end. But after Mike Gesicki’s departure (New England) the Dolphins need a receiving TE, especially one who can run seam routes. LaPorta (6-3, 245), who has 111 receptions for 1,327 yards and four touchdowns the past two seasons, fills both roles.
Top needs: OT, G, TE
