2023 NFL Draft: Who Do Jaguars Take In Super Bowl Week Mock?
Super Bowl LVII is just days away. Soon, the Kansas City Chiefs or Philadelphia Eagles will be able to crown themselves champions and football immortals.
Until then, though, the world doesn't stop spinning for the NFL. Teams have wrapped up spending the week at the Reese's Senior Bowl, East-West Shrine Game and the Pro Bowl, gearing up for the impending offseason and NFL Draft.
With the 2023 NFL Draft just 79 days away, we take a look at the upcoming first-round as we approach the final game of the season.
Two notes: the Miami Dolphins had to forfeit their first-round selection due to tampering penalties, which would have been No. 21 overall. As a result, there are only 31 first-round picks this year.
Secondly, we used Pro Football Network's Mock Draft simulator for this exercise and will not be including any trades.
So, who do we have the Jaguars taking in this first-round mock? Who goes No. 1? We break it down below.
No. 1: Chicago Bears: EDGE Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
This could go a number of directions, whether it be a trade down or taking Georgia's Jalen Carter. Ultimately though, I think Chicago would take the pass-rusher at No. 1.
No. 2: Houston Texans: QB Bryce Young, Alabama
Houston has to take the best quarterback here if given the chance to do so. I could see them taking Will Levis or C.J. Stroud, but Young is the kind of player a dormant franchise like Houston could get its fanbase excited over.
No. 3 Arizona Cardinals: DL Jalen Carter, Georgia
Arizona has a depleted roster with holes everywhere. Jalen Carter has a good argument as the draft's top player and could quickly become their most important building block on defense.
No. 4: Indianapolis Colts: QB Will Levis, Kentucky
The Colts are obviously going to take a quarterback after years of failed veterans. Chris Ballard loves traits, so Will Levis makes sense in really any scenario.
No. 5: Seattle Seahawks (via Denver Broncos): EDGE Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech
The Seahawks are all about drafting traits when it comes to defensive prospects. Tyree Wilson has the size, length and burst to be a special pass-rusher if he puts it all together.
No. 6: Detroit Lions (via Los Angeles Rams): CB Joey Porter Jr., Penn State
Jeff Okudah hasn't panned out like many hoped he would, leading to a big need in the secondary after a tough year on defense in Detroit.
No. 7: Las Vegas Raiders: QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
The Raiders clearly need a new quarterback following the Derek Carr mess. C.J. Stroud is relatively pro-ready and can take on Josh McDaniels' scheme.
No. 8: Atlanta Falcons: OL Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State
The Falcons are on the right track moving forward, but I would imagine they give Desmond Ridder one more year before pulling the trigger on a QB. A future franchise LT makes sense instead.
No. 9: Carolina Panthers: QB Anthony Richardson, Florida
Frank Reich's running game with Anthony Richardson under center? Buddy,,,
No. 10: Philadelphia Eagles (New Orleans Saints): CB Cam Smith, South Carolina
With the Eagles needing to continue to add pieces on a defense full of pending free agents, a feisty cornerback like Cam Smith makes a ton of sense.
No. 11: Tennessee Titans: OL Peter Skoronski, Northwestern
The Titans' offensive line was a mess for a number of reasons last season. Peter Skoronski can fill in at tackle or guard to give them a chance to rebuild the trenches.
No. 12: Houston Texans (via Cleveland Browns): WR Jordan Addison, USC
Houston will need to keep adding playmakers for their franchise passer, especially with Brandin Cooks' desire to move on. Jordan Addison makes sense as an easy separator and playmaker after the catch.
No. 13: New York Jets: OL Broderick Jones, Georgia
The Jets have seen a bunch of injuries hit their offensive line and derail it in recent years. They have a few young linemen to build around, but Broderick Jones could fix their depth issues instantly.
No. 14: New England Patriots: CB Christian Gonzalez, Oregon
It is hard to watch Christian Gonzalez and not think of him as a Patriot. He just fits the bill with his athleticism and sound play.
No. 15: Green Bay Packers: WR Quentin Johnston, TCU
The Packers need to add another pass-catcher, even after Christian Watson came on strong last year. Johnston is similar to Watson as a prospect in a lot of aspects.
No. 16: Washington Commanders: DB Brian Branch, Alabama
One of the most versatile defensive backs in the class, Brian Branch would fill multiple voids in Washington's defense.
No. 17: Pittsburgh Steelers: DL Bryan Breese, Clemson
The Steelers need more playmakers along the interior after transition over the last few years, and Cam Heyward isn't getting any younger.
No. 18: Detroit Lions: EDGE Myles Murphy, Clemson
The Lions had two impressive rookie pass-rushers last year, but the defense still needs to add more and more to their pass-rush. Myles Murphy is better against the run right now, but all the tools are there.
No. 19: Tampa Bay Buccaneers: RB Bijan Robinson, Texas
The Leonard Fournette era looks like it is coming to a close. Bijan Robinson could makes things easy on whoever Tampa's new quarterback will be.
No. 20: Seattle Seahawks: S Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M
Adding another versatile and rangy defensive back to the secondary should be a top priority for the Seahawks, and Johnson fits that bill.
No. 21: Los Angeles Chargers: TE Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
With Gerald Everett a potential cap casualty, a balanced tight end like Michael Mayer makes a lot of sense for Justin Herbert.
No. 22: Baltimore Ravens: WR Jaxson Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
The Ravens need to make adding pass-catchers a top priority. They simply have not been filing enough NFL-caliber pass-catchers, and Jaxson Smith-Njigba would change that.
No. 23: Minnesota Vikings: CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
The Vikings will have to make cornerback a priority this offseason after hiring Brian Flores, whose scheme demands having numerous cornerbacks who can line up in man coverage for all four quarters.
No. 24: Jacksonville Jaguars: CB Kelee Ringo, Georgia
While positions like interior defensive line, tight end and interior offensive line are also enticing here, cornerback makes the most sense for the Jaguars. The Jaguars have two starters in Tyson Campbell and Darious Williams, but they do not have much proven or exciting talent behind them, and top backup Tre Herndon is set to be a free-agent.
Many expect for the Jaguars to target strictly a nickel cornerback, but that is unlikely what the Jaguars will be thinking. After all, we saw them sign the top cornerback available (Darious Williams) last March, even thought he wasn't a fit in the slot.
So, why Kelee Ringo? Because if you now general manager Trent Baalke, then you know he loves traits. Ringo may not be ready to play from Day 1, but he is going to blow the roof off of the combine. Plus, he is a Bulldog, and Baalke has taken a Bulldog defender with a top pick in each of his last two drafts.
No. 25: New York Giants: LB Trenton Simpson, Clemson
Adding a versatile linebacker to the Giants' blitz-heavy scheme makes a lot of sense if there isn't a top receiver who falls here.
No. 26: Dallas Cowboys: WR Kayshon Boutte, LSU
Kayshon Boutte had a strange final season at LSU, but that has never stopped the Cowboys before. They need a strong No. 2 wideout and he can be it.
No. 27: Buffalo Bills: OG O'Cyrus Torrence, Florida
The Bills' offensive line got beat up in a big way in the playoffs. They need to establish their offensive identity this offseason, and a balanced guard like Torrence can do that.
No. 28: Cincinnati Bengals: RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama
On the surface, this may seem a bit out there. But consider the Bengals are set to let their No. 2 running back be a free agent and Joe Mixon's deal is likely on thin ice with extensions for Tee Higgins and Joe Burrow coming up.
No. 29: New Orleans Saints: S JL Skinner, Boise State
With the Saints a year removed from trading C.J. Gardner-Johnson, it makes sense for them to invest in a hard-hitting and versatile safety like JL Skinner.
No. 30: Kansas City Chiefs: OL Cody Mauch, North Dakota State
If the Chiefs have a weakness along the offensive line, it is at offensive tackle. They could find an upgrade at right tackle in an athletic project like Cody Mauch, a former tight end.
No. 31: Philadelphia Eagles: DL Siaki Ika, Baylor
With several impending free agents along the defensive line, it would make sense for the Eagles to invest in the front-seven with another impressive space-eating defensive tackle.
