2023 NFL Draft Mock: Mel Kiper Reveals New First-Round Picks
It's that time of year again, when the top college football prospects move into the professional ranks, and the annual crop of players head to the 2023 NFL Draft.
To that end, mock drafter extraordinaire Mel Kiper went to work creating his second look at how this year's draft could shake out in the first round.
More: 2023 NFL Draft Mock Updates and Player Rankings
It's a lot of the usual names at the top, with two premier SEC defensive prospects on the market, in addition to a pair of high-profile quarterbacks who are poised to be selected high in the first round this year.
One notable drop was that of Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter, the stud interior lineman who has been a prominent pick at No. 1 in several mocks, but who has fallen in some predictions amid legal issues off the field.
Scroll through to see the latest updated mock draft from Mel Kiper.
2023 NFL Mock Draft: Mel Kiper predicts where college football's top prospects could land
1. Panthers: C.J. Stroud
Position: Quarterback
School: Ohio State
What Kiper says: "He's super accurate, has impressed everyone throughout the pre-draft process and is the ideal size profile of recent Frank Reich quarterbacks."
Scouting report: "Knows as the first one in, last one out, Stroud possesses all the intangibles that NFL Decision-makers seek from a franchise quarterback — head coach Ryan Day has praised his work ethic and professional approach to the game on a daily basis." — NFL Draft Bible
2. Texans: Bryce Young
Position: Quarterback
School: Alabama
What Kiper says: "No, he doesn't have ideal size, and at 5-foot-10, 204 pounds he's going to become the third under-6-foot signal caller drafted in Round 1. But turn on the tape and watch him maneuver the pocket, find passing lanes and drop dimes all over the field."
Scouting report: "A smart-accurate passer who doesn't force throws and rarely makes mistakes. Lacks prototype size but sees the field very well, demonstrated natural feel in the pocket and can push the ball downfield with a simple flick of the wrist." — NFL Draft Bible
3. Colts (via mock trade with ARI): Will Levis
Position: Quarterback
School: Kentucky
What Kiper says: "Levis isn't loved by every NFL scout, but his potential is really high. He has a cannon for an arm, even if he can be a little sloppy with the ball at times. He played in a pro-style offense for the Wildcats and didn't have much elite talent around him, especially along the offensive line."
Scouting report: "You will notice everything is ultra-quick. An up-tempo offense based on quick reads and fast decision-making. Levis gets rid of the ball in a hurry and it's the high-octane scheme that you see many NFL teams attempting to mimic." — NFL Draft Bible
4. Cardinals (via mock trade with IND): Will Anderson
USA Today Images
Position: Edge
School: Alabama
What Kiper says: "He's versatile, productive -- 130 pressures over the past two seasons -- and has the tools to develop into an All-Pro."
Scouting report: "One of the most twitchy and fastest pass rushers that we've seen come off the edge in quite some time. His ability to convert speed to power, along with his bend and athleticism, enables him to use an array of moves to get to the quarterback." — NFL Draft Bible
5. Seahawks: Anthony Richardson
Position: Quarterback
School: Florida
What Kiper says: "The upside is so, so high. He's a 6-foot-4, 244-pound signal-caller who can make any throw and who also ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash at the combine."
Scouting report: "An adroit athlete with a small sample size, if Richardson can follow up his 2021 appearances with polish and precision, he may see the biggest rise of any draft prospect come 2023." — NFL Draft Bible
Rounding out the Top 10
Scouting reports courtesy NFL Draft Bible
6. Lions: Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia: "Blessed with rare athleticism, a lightning quick first step and violent hands, the Bulldogs defensive tackle makes a living in the opponents' backfield."
7. Raiders: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon: "An exceptional athlete that has all the movement skills and demeanor of a true shutdown corner."
8. Falcons: Devin Witherspoon, CB, Illinois: "There are some minor concerns about Witherspoon’s size, but his elite agility, instincts, and ability to consistently stay attached to wide receivers warrant a top 60 selection."
9. Bears: Paris Johnson, OT, Ohio State: "Though he must work through certain technical issues, his rapid rate of refinement and improvement through the 2021 year indicates he has a high ceiling at tackle."
10. Eagles: Peter Skoronski, OL, Northwestern: "A potential first-round pick that has the versatility to play any position on the offensive line with his size and athletic ability."
2023 NFL Draft Order
- Panthers
- Texans
- Cardinals
- Colts
- Seahawks
- Lions
- Raiders
- Falcons
- Bears
- Eagles
- Titans
- Texans
- Jets
- Patriots
- Packers
- Commanders
- Steelers
- Lions
- Buccaneers
- Seahawks
- Chargers
- Ravens
- Vikings
- Jaguars
- Giants
- Cowboys
- Bills
- Bengals
- Saints
- Eagles
- Chiefs
More: 2023 NFL Draft order, schedule
You can see Mel Kiper's full mock draft here.
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