2023 NFL Draft: Who Do Jaguars Take in Full First-Round Mock?
With the 2023 NFL Draft just 18 days away, the picture is becoming a bit more clear.
Rumors are flying as quarterbacks wrap up their pro days and teams cram in their top-30 visits. For the Jacksonville Jaguars and the rest of the NFL, the next 18 days will be a waiting game filled with misinformation and twists.
So, who do we have each team taking in our view of the first-round? We explain our 31 picks below.
No. 1: Carolina Panthers (via Chicago Bears): QB Bryce Young, Alabama
I know C.J. Stroud has been the chalk pick here, but I think the Panthers' ownership ultimately pushes -- and gets -- Bryce Young to be the new face of their franchise.
No. 2: Houston Texans: EDGE Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
I'm buying the smoke that the only quarterback in this class that the Texans love is Bryce Young. With him off the board, they take a dominant EDGE to be DeMeco Ryans' alpha dog.
No. 3: Minnesota Vikings (via Arizona Cardinals): QB Anthony Richardson, Florida
This is a long way for the Cardinals to trade down, but they could get a bounty of picks and save money in a throw-away year. That may sound odd, but it is the Cardinals. Here, the Vikings prepare for life after Kirk Cousins.
No. 4: Indianapolis Colts: QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
Chris Ballard is able to amend his mistake in not moving up to No. 1, getting lucky enough that the Texans don't take a quarterback. C.J. Stroud can start instantly.
No. 5: Seattle Seahawks (via Denver Broncos): EDGE Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech
The Seahawks need to badly invest in their defensive front. Jalen Carter could be the pick here, but we go with the versatile and athletic Tyree Wilson instead.
No. 6: Detroit Lions (via Los Angeles Rams): CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
It is looking more and more like Devon Witherspoon will be the first cornerback off the board. Other than Bijan Robinson or Carter, I am not sure who else makes sense here.
No. 7: Las Vegas Raiders: QB Will Levis, Kentucky
The Raiders take their developmental quarterback of the future. He is a Josh McDaniels quarterback through and through and can sit behind Jimmy Garoppolo until he inevitably misses time.
No. 8: Atlanta Falcons: CB Christian Gonzalez, Oregon
One of the cleanest cornerback prospects in the draft, Christian Gonzalez would help complete Atlanta's defensive transformation this offseason.
No. 9: Chicago Bears (via Carolina Panthers): OT Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State
No matter what analytical accounts try to convince you that the Bears' offensive line was good last year, it isn't reality. They need an offensive tackle in the worst way. Johnson can start at right tackle from Day 1.
No. 10: Philadelphia Eagles (via New Orleans Saints): DL Jalen Carter, Georgia
It seems clear that the reason Jalen Carter isn't visiting with teams outside the top-10 is that his camp believes he won't get past 10. It is a good bet to make considering the Eagles' need at defensive tackle.
No. 11: Tennessee Titans: WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
The Titans desperately need more firepower on offense and they get just that with the draft's top receiver. He is likely just a slot, but he is an excellent option nonetheless.
No. 12: Houston Texans (via Cleveland Browns): RB Bijan Robinson, Texas
Make sure you turn your notifications on for this one. Dameon Pierce is a good player, but Bijan Robinson is a great player. With no quarterbacks left, the Texans take a player they can build their whole offense around.
No. 13: New York Jets: OT Broderick Jones, Georgia
One of the most physically impressive tackles in the draft, the Jets are able to nap Broderick Jones here to give them an athletic and imposing offensive line to enter 2023 with.
No. 14: New England Patriots: WR Zay Flowers, Boston College
This may seem a bit high for Zay Flowers, but where there is smoke there is normally fire. He seems like a Patriots pick, and they need all the weapons they can get.
No. 15: Green Bay Packers: OL Peter Skoronski, Northwestern
A guard/tackle prospect with good athleticism who played in the Big 10? Peter Skoronski can be fitted for a cheesehead yesterday.
No. 16: Washington Commanders: CB Joey Porter Jr., Penn State
The Commanders need an alpha male cornerback prospect and they get just that in Joey Porter Jr. He will add a new level of physicality to their secondary.
No. 17: Pittsburgh Steelers: OL Darnell Wright, Tennessee
Arguably the best offensive lineman in the draft, Darnell Wright would boost the Steelers' front instantly. He can play right tackle, left tackle, or guard as a rookie.
No. 18: Detroit Lions: EDGE Myles Murphy, Clemson
A three-down edge defender who can line up across from Aidan Hutchinson is exactly what the Lions need. Myles Murphy fits their scheme to a tee.
No. 19: Tampa Bay Buccaneers: EDGE Lukas Van Ness, Iowa
With Tampa needing to invest in the future of their pass-rush, they take a high-upside pick in Lukas Van Ness. They don't need him to produce right away.
No. 20: Seattle Seahawks: DL Bryan Bresee, Clemson
The Seahawks need help all along the defensive line, and Bryan Bresee is an athletic former mega recruit. He is a Seahawk type.
No. 21: Los Angeles Chargers: TE Dalton Kincaid, Utah
The smoke appears to be that Dalton Kincaid, for some reason, will be the first tight end drafted. He helps the Chargers add another passing game weapon for Kellen Moore's offense.
No. 22: Baltimore Ravens: WR Jordan Addison, USC
The Ravens are very unserious if they don't take a wide receiver early this year. Jordan Addison isn't the biggest or most dynamic receiver, but he is at the very least solid at just about everything.
No. 23: Arizona Cardinals (via Minnesota Vikings): EDGE Nolan Smith, Georgia
Nolan Smith is a smaller EDGE rusher, but he could remind Jonathan Gannon of Haason Reddick. He can rush, cover, play the run, and is an elite culture pick. He makes sense for a new regime's first pick.
No. 24: New Orleans Saints (via Jacksonville Jaguars): CB Deonte Banks, Maryland
The Saints love trading up. It is more or less a given that they will in almost every draft. Here, they find a willing partner in the Jaguars and take a high-upside cornerback prospect.
No. 25: New York Giants: WR Quentin Johnston, TCU
The Giants' wide receiver depth chart is middling on its best day. Quentin Johnston is a bit of a project, but the Giants have shown they can help those types of players produce.
No. 26: Dallas Cowboys: TE Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
With Dalton Schultz leaving in free-agency -- and with the Cowboys clearly wanting to run the ball -- they get the best Y-tight end in the class.
No. 27: Buffalo Bills: LB Trenton Simpson, Clemson
Trenton Simpson is more athlete than linebacker right now, but so was Tremaine Edmunds when the Bills drafted him. Now, they get his replacement.
No. 28: Cincinnati Bengals: OL Anton Harrison, Oklahoma
The Bengals need as many offensive lineman as they can get, even after the Orlando Brown signing. Adding more offensive tackle depth for their division is never a bad idea.
No. 29: Jacksonville Jaguars (via New Orleans Saints): DB Brian Branch, Alabama
This is the best-case scenario for the Jaguars. They trade down and get an extra third-round pick (No. 70) while still landing the best nickel corner in the draft in Brian Branch. Branch is a great player, but his poor 40 time and nickel-only designation means he could slip some.
No. 30: Kansas City Chiefs: TE Darnell Washington, Georgia (via Philadelphia Eagles)
Offensive tackle and wide receiver make sense here, but just think of the ways Andy Reid could deploy Darnell Washington. For a team with a lack of wideouts, maybe more 12 personnel is the answer.
No. 31: Philadelphia Eagles: OL O'Cyrus Torrence, Florida (via Kansas City Chiefs)
The Eagles love investing in the trenches. They don't have an immediate need at guard or tackle, but they will in a year when Jason Kelce retires. They could also go with a pass-rusher like Will McDonald IV here.
