With the NFL Combine taking place this week, we are now officially in the thick of mock draft season. Weigh-in numbers, interviews, and testing could certainly help and hurt the stock of many players this year, but I wanted to get a pre-Combine mock taken care of.
A number of teams will be hunting for quarterbacks early in the draft, but for my first walk-through of 2023, I avoided hypothetical trade scenarios that may occur. The Pittsburgh Steelers, meanwhile, have a number of needs to fill, but as the board unfolds in front of them, their decision with the 17th overall pick becomes an easy one for them. Here's my initial full first-round mock draft of 2023.
1. Chicago Bears: Will Andersson, EDGE, Alabama
The Chicago Bears seem very likely to attempt to trade out of this pick, and chances are they will find a suitor. However, if they were forced to stay, they will select on of the few truly elite players in the draft. If it was a competition between Will Anderson and Jalen Carter before, Carter's recent arrest Warrant will make this decision easy. The Bears get a premier pass rusher off the edge in Anderson.
2. Houston Texans: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
Bryce Young looked bite-sized upon his entrance to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, but teams and talent evaluators already know he is very small. Though his tiny frame raises plenty of concerns, it won't steer the Texans away from taking the top quarterback prospect on their board. He will give them an immediate boost on offense.
3. Arizona Cardinals: Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
Character concerns and all, the Cardinals already have the third-highest-paid quarterback in the NFL in Kyler Murray and Carter might be the best overall player in the draft. With the recent retirement of J.J. Watt and the fact that they are lacking star power, they take their chances with a fantastic defensive tackle in Jalen Carter.
4. Indianapolis Colts: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
The Colts just haven't been able to find their franchise quarterback since the retirement of Andrew Luck, so they opt for the safest QB in the class with C.J. Stroud. The Ohio State product might not have elite tools, but he checks a ton of boxes and his production was outstanding. He will be Indy's day-one starter as one of the league's worst offenses hopes for much better results in 2023.
5. Seattle Seahawks: Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech
It's hard not to be infatuated with the length and physical tools of a player like Tyree Wilson. Though he still needs some refinement, the Seahawks would love to take that gamble with the fifth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. They need a player who can consistently get after the quarterback, and the upside is high with Wilson.