2023 NFL 1st-Round Mock Draft v1.0 (by Xavier Cromartie)
Two-time Huddle Report Top 100 board scoring champion Xavier Cromartie has released his first (of many) 1st-round mock drafts.
Xavier’s mock drafts are based upon his draft research and what his sources are communicating to him at this time -- and are not based on his personal scouting preferences. Xavier will have several Mock Drafts throughout the draft season as he works his way to the final mock draft submission for the national competition of mock draft analysts right before the 2023 NFL Draft.
1) Chicago Bears: EDGE Will Anderson (Alabama)*
Top needs: DE, CB, DT
The pick: The Bears are very likely to trade down a few spots with a QB-desperate team. They traded pick #32. Their defense is a disaster aside from the safeties.
2) Houston Texans: QB Bryce Young (Alabama)*
Top needs: QB, WR, DT
The pick: Will they miss the QB they want because they're picking #2 instead of #1?
3) Arizona Cardinals: DT Jalen Carter (Georgia)*
Top needs: CB, DT, G
The pick: They have so many needs, they need to swing for the fences here.
4) Indianapolis Colts: QB CJ Stroud (Ohio State)*
Top needs: QB, CB, S
The pick: They're going to make sure they get a top QB.
5) Seattle Seahawks (via DEN): EDGE Tyree Wilson (Texas Tech)
Top needs: DE, CB, LB
The pick: He's super long, giving him big upside.
6) Detroit Lions (via LAR): RB Bijan Robinson (Texas)*
Top needs: CB, RB, TE
The pick: Robinson in the Lions offense could score 30 TDs.
7) Las Vegas Raiders: DT Calijah Kancey (Pittsburgh)*
Top needs: QB, CB, DT
The pick: Aaron Donald 2.0. Surely teams have learned their lesson?
8) Atlanta Falcons: OT Peter Skoronski (Northwestern)*
Top needs: QB, WR, OT
The pick: Running the ball worked for them, so they'll keep doing it.
9) Carolina Panthers: EDGE Myles Murphy (Clemson)*
Top needs: QB, DE, S
The pick: Maybe a better pass rush will cover up their secondary issues.
10) Philadelphia Eagles (via NO): CB Christian Gonzalez (Oregon)*
Top needs: CB, DT, RB
The pick: It's always good to get younger and faster DBs.
11) Tennessee Titans: CB Devon Witherspoon (Illinois)
Top needs: CB, DT, G
The pick: Another CB for the Titans since they still have issues against the pass.
12) Houston Texans (via CLE): WR Quentin Johnston (Texas Christian)*
Top needs: QB, WR, DT
The pick: Their rookie QB needs a reliable target.
13) New York Jets: OT Paris Johnson (Ohio State)*
Top needs: OT, DT, C
The pick: They need to protect their veteran QB.
14) New England Patriots: WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Ohio State)*
Top needs: OT, CB, WR
The pick: The Patriots' last 1000-yard receiver was Julian Edelman in 2019.
15) Green Bay Packers: EDGE Lukas Van Ness (Iowa)*
Top needs: OLB, S, TE
The pick: They're a bit thin at the edge already and Preston Smith is a possible cap cut.
16) Washington: OT/G Broderick Jones (Georgia)*
Top needs: OT, CB, LB
The pick: Aside from Samuel Cosmi, the whole OL could be upgraded.
17) Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Joey Porter Jr. (Penn State)*
Top needs: OT, CB, LB
The pick: All mock drafters have a legal obligation to note that Joey Porter Sr. played for the Steelers.
18) Detroit Lions: TE Michael Mayer (Notre Dame)*
Top needs: CB, RB, TE
The pick: The TJ Hockenson trade left them with little at TE.
19) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: S Brian Branch (Alabama)*
Top needs: CB, LB, S
The pick: Their cap situation is a total disaster. Their needs on draft day could be totally different.
20) Seattle Seahawks: LB Trenton Simpson (Clemson)*
Top needs: DE, CB, LB
The pick: It's hard to ignore a LB who is probably going to run sub-4.4.
21) Los Angeles Chargers: WR Jordan Addison (Southern Cal)*
Top needs: WR, LB, DT
The pick: Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are injured so often that they should each be considered half a WR.
22) Baltimore Ravens: EDGE Will McDonald (Iowa State)
Top needs: OLB, CB, WR
The pick: Oweh and Ojabo are young but unproven on the edge.
23) Minnesota Vikings: CB Cam Smith (South Carolina)*
Top needs: CB, DT, C
The pick: I don't know why this team always needs a CB, but here we are again.
24) Jacksonville Jaguars: SAF Antonio Johnson (Texas A&M)*
Top needs: OT, CB, S
The pick: With a better secondary they could be competing for the AFC title.
25) New York Giants: LB Jack Campbell (Iowa)
Top needs: WR, LB, C
The pick: Enough is enough, this franchise needs a real off-ball LB.
26) Dallas Cowboys: CB Emmanuel Forbes (Mississippi St)*
Top needs: CB, LB, TE
The pick: He's thin-framed right now but he can play.
27) Buffalo Bills: G O'Cyrus Torrence (Florida)
Top needs: S, RB, G
The pick: There aren't many good pure guards in this class.
28) Cincinnati Bengals: TE Dalton Kincaid (Utah)
Top needs: OT, S, TE
The pick: Burrow needs more weapons not to win but to break all-time records.
29) Denver Broncos (via SF/MIA): EDGE Nolan Smith (Georgia)
Top needs: DE, OT, C
The pick: The Broncos traded Bradley Chubb to the Dolphins for this pick.
30) *Kansas City Chiefs: WR Zay Flowers (Boston College)
Top needs: OT, WR, DT
The pick: If Kelce ever runs out of juice then they can't roll with just Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore.
31) *Philadelphia Eagles: DT Bryan Bresee (Clemson)*
Top needs: CB, DT, RB
The pick: This guy is still developing but has the athleticism.
*XC NOTE: Will Levis left off, intentionally. Why? Levis is extremely polarizing. He looked good in 2021 but not in 2022. He didn't want to get exposed at the Senior Bowl. He'll get hyped like every QB, but I see round 2 right now. Last year, the day before the draft, there were rumors that Malik Willis could go as high as #2, and then he went #86.
The Huddle Report’s National Mock Drafter scoring results for Xavier Cromartie/College Football Metrics the past eight years…
Mock draft scoring: 5-YR AVG = 42.6 (9th best in the nation)
2022 = 41
2021 = 52 (3rd place nationally)
2020 = 43
2019 = 37
2018 = 40
2017 = 37
2016 = 37
2015 = 48
*Photo credit: swimfin fan
