McMullen's 1.0 and Only Mock Draft: Eagles Add to Pass Rush, Trade Down

PHILADELPHIA - Uncertainty seems to be the theme in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft with a host of new coaches and general managers in prime position to upset the apple cart of conventional wisdom.

Philadelphia Eagles GM Howie Roseman, a veteran of the process, explained the nuts and bolts of a process so many foolishly believe they can predict.

"Nobody has any idea what we're going to do. I know that," Philadelphia's personnel chief said. "And so, for me to think that there's actually people in this league talking to people and saying, 'hey, I'm going to draft this guy at 10, but don't tell anyone,' this is a huge game of poker, and all you want to affect is the outcome of your desired results."

The outcome of the Eagles' desired results is a mystery with the fan base salivating over the thought of a video game-like offense that adds Texas running back Bijan Robinson to the mix while those who've studied Roseman focus on his DNA of adding to the offensive and defensive lines.

"Am I going to give you guys any answers? Roseman rhetorically asked reporters last week. "No, not even a little bit. But I think the reality of it is anyone who's sitting there and saying, 'hey, I know exactly what's going to happen at pick 11 or pick 12 or pick 6 or 20, it's all a guess.'"

My guess is incoming.

It's McMullen's 1.0 and only mock draft, the 2023 edition:

1. Carolina Panthers (from Chicago) - Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

The early spin on the Panthers trading up centered on Ohio State signal-caller C.J. Stroud before speculation shifted to Young, the undersized but gifted playmaker from the Crimson Tide.

A late betting market run on Kentucky signal caller Will Levis will be white noise and Carolina takes the cleanest quarterback prospect of the draft for the quarterback incubator of Frank Reich and Josh McCown.

2. Houston Texans - Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech

The draft starts in South Texas and it looks as if Nick Caserio will pass on the quarterback early with a second first-round pick looming at No. 12.

The belief here is that the Texans will keep Wilson in-state and choose the more prototypical pass rusher from a traits standpoint over Alabama's Will Anderson. There were some whispers about medicals holding things up for Wilson with what has been a tough process for some players with Houston but an NFL source told SI.com's Eagles Today that Wilson did pass his physical with the Texans and that's the last bar.

3. Arizona Cardinals - Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State

Going out on a limb here with three names on the list in Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson, Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon, and Johnson.

New coach Jonathan Gannon is defensive-minded so that side makes more sense until you peel the onion back a bit. Mission No. 1 of the new regime, which also includes first-year GM Monti Ossenfort, is getting Kyler Murray back on track.

Murray has been lobbying for more assets on the offensive line for the past two seasons and garnering him the best tackle prospect in the draft could spark a return to form by the talented quarterback.

4. Indianapolis Colts - Will Levis, QB, Kentucky

The Colts should have their pick of the litter when it comes to QB2 in this draft and the thought around Indy is that GM Chris Ballard likes Will Levis the best, assistant GM Ed Dodds would prefer C.J. Stroud and new coach Shane Steichen might want to try to replicate what's going on in Philadelphia with an RPO offense built around Anthony Richardson, who has the highest ceiling of any player in this draft.

My thought is that if you brought in a guy like Steichen to help you develop a QB and an offense, let him have the one he wants but Ballard will win out.

5. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver) - Will Anderson, LB, Alabama

Most have the Seahawks jumping on talented Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter but my mock has Anderson falling farther than expected and John Schneider and Pete Carroll will shift to the safer pick in Anderson.

6. Detroit Lions (From LA Rams) - Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia

The two top cornerbacks -- Devon Witherspoon and Christian Gonzalez -- are logical here but teaming up Carter with Aidan Hutchinson will improve the rush part of cover and rush, rush, and cover that the Lions can get their man at CB later.

7. Las Vegas Raiders - Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois

The name you keep hearing as a comp for Witherspoon is Antoine Winfield Sr. and if he is that fundamentally sound sign Dave Ziegler and Josh McDaniels up.

8. Atlanta Falcons - Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas

The Bijan-or-bust people in Philly come up a little short of being disappointed by watching Roseman pass on their thirst for fantasy football. A traditional running game by a back in the Ezekiel Elliott range as a prospect would be the best friend for a developing quarterback.

9. Chicago Bears (from Carolina) - Peter Skoronski, OL, Northwestern

A clean offensive line prospect from Northwestern for a Bears team that desperately needs help up front for Justin Fields? That's got to be a no-brainer right?

10. Philadelphia Eagles (from New Orleans) - Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia

The thought here is that Roseman would like to make a splash by securing an impact player that fits a need as well in Carter but that's easier said than done.

The presence of Christian Gonzalez and Lukas Van Ness will have Roseman exploring a targeted trade down, but you also need two to tango.

11. Tennessee Titans - C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State

The S2 cognition nonsense could work out for Ran Carthon and the Titans unless they believe in the S2 cognition nonsense.

12. Houston Texans (from Cleveland) - Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida

After passing on a quarterback at No. 2, the Texans are left with Anthony Richardson vs. Hendon Hooker. The former may shape up as too much a projection for an organization that needs stability and needs it now. Houston also did a ton of homework on Hooker with the assumption this possible scenario would unfold but in the end, Richardson is just too talented.

13. Green Bay Packers (from New York Jets) - Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame

The Packers move up a couple of spots thanks to the Aaron Rodgers trade and the first tight end in what is expected to be a great draft for the position comes off the board earlier than expected.

A great tight end as a security blanket for Jordan Love makes too much sense and to me it's it's Utah's Dalton Kincaid vs. Notre Dame's Michael Mayer. The latter isn't as explosive but he's the most well-rounded tight end prospect in years.

14. Detroit Lions (Trade up with New England) - Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon

With Gonzalez starting to fall a bit more than expected, the Lions seize the moment and make the targeted trade-up from No. 18. Getting Carter early and Gonzalez here is a home run for Dan Campbell's defense.

15. New York Jets (from Green Bay) - Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia

It's tough to count on Mekhi Becton at this point and mission No. 1 has to be to protect Aaron Rodgers.

16. Washington Commanders - Brian Branch, S, Alabama

Branch can play in the slot or at safety and should shape as quite the chess piece for Ron Rivera.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers - Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland

Banks is one of the players who NFL teams seem to think more of than most realize and the Steelers have been doing their homework on him,

18. New England Patriots (trade with Detroit) - Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee

Wright seems like a solid Patriots pick after dropping down understanding one of the OT prospects would still be there.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma

With the quarterbacks off the table, the Bucs turn toward the offensive front and the underrated Harrison.

20. Seattle Seahawks - Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

In a down year for receivers, Smith-Njigba is clearly the best.

21. Los Angeles Chargers - Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College

A receiver mini-run with the explosive Flowers teaming up with the talented arm of Justin Herbert.

22. Baltimore Ravens - Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State

The Ravens could continue the run on receivers to try to further entice Lamar Jackson back into happiness mode even with Odell Beckham Jr. in town. They might even double down with the trade market and DeAndre Hopkins later. The guess here is that Porter is too good to pass up after falling to this point.

23. Minnesota Vikings - Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson

The Vikings would have jumped on Porter but will move to the defensive front because the next best CB available, Mississippi State's Emmanuel Forbes, is probably too reminiscent of Cam Dantzler as a thin-framed playmaker. Bresee will add to the thin Minnesota interior front that has Harrison Phillips, Dean Lowry, and not much more.

24. Jacksonville Jaguars - Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa

Doug Pederson understands you can never have enough edge rushers and the value here is great for a team that has gone from have-nots to relatively deep very quickly.

25. New York Giants - Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU

A playmaker arrives in North Jersey to further assist in Daniel Jones' development.

26. Dallas Cowboys - Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State

The CB2 position was a big issue for the Cowboys last season so adding the biggest playmaker in college to Trevon Diggs turns a question mark into a strength.

27. Buffalo Bills - Jordan Addison, WR, USC

The best route runner in the draft arrives to take over the slot position that has been a problem for the Bills.

28. Cincinnati Bengals - Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah

Kincaid is good enough to go to Green Bay much earlier if the Packers prefer the flex flavor. In that case, just flip Kincaid with Michael Mayer here.

29. New Orleans Saints (from San Francisco) - Myles Murphy, DL, Clemson

Murphy strikes me as more of a base end which is why he is going to fall a bit but some have him as a top-10 level player in this class so this is a tremendous value for a defensive head coach who should be able to figure it out.

*Eagles trade down from No. 30 to 37 with Seattle, which selects Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker. Philadelphia gets Nos. 37, 123, and 151 and selects Georgia CB Kelee Ringo in the second round.

30. Seattle Seahawks (from Philadelphia) - Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee

The Seahawks move up to get the fifth-year option on the heir apparent to Geno Smith

31. Kansas City Chiefs - O’Cyrus Torrence, OG, Florida

Philly fans know Andy Reid better than most and the two-time Super Bowl winner will keep stocking things up front with the best offensive guard available.

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-John McMullen contributes Eagles coverage for SI.com's Eagles Today and is the NFL Insider for JAKIB Media. You can listen to John, alongside legendary sports-talk host Jody McDonald every morning from 8-10 on ‘Birds 365,” streaming live on YouTube. John is also the host of his own show "Football 24/7 and a daily contributor to ESPN South Jersey. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen