2023 NFL Draft: Who Do Jaguars Land in First-Round Mock 6 Days Before the Draft?

The NFL Draft is right around the corner. And six days out, we know as much as we can about how the draft's top order might play out as teams wrap up their year-long evaluations of the class.

“That’s the challenging part, right? To gather as much information as you can, and I always say, get the stars to align, get the dots to align," Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke said on Thursday. "We do a lot of different things with these players from interviews to psychological testing, profiling, all kinds of things in background checks, interviewing a lot of people that are around that player, going back to their high school years, just gathering as much information as we can, and do all the stars align, do all the boxes get checked?

"When they don’t, try to figure out what they’re missing and why they’re missing it, and if they really fit our culture. I think Coach (Head Coach Doug Pederson) and I have said this, that locker room is pretty special. We’ve got a great group of guys in there. We want to keep it that way. That doesn’t mean we aren’t going to take some risks at times, but we’re always going to mitigate that as much as possible."

With the draft less than a week away, here is how we feel about how the first round shakes out.

No. 1: Carolina Panthers (via Chicago Bears): QB Bryce Young, Alabama

Bryce Young will be the pick at No. 1. The question is whether this is an owner pick or one that head coach Frank Reich is on board with.

No. 2: Houston Texans: QB Will Levis, Kentucky

I toss and turn every mock draft on this pick. Ultimately I think it comes down to the Texans' brass wanting to take an edge defender but being forced into a quarterback. With Young off the board, I think Levis is the Texans' top passer left.

No. 3 Arizona Cardinals: EDGE Will Anderson, Alabama

This could easily be Tyree Wilson, but I am just going to assume the Cardinals take the safer option in Will Anderson if they have to pick between the two.

No. 4: Indianapolis Colts: QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State

I buy the Levis smoke for the Colts, but in this scenario they don't even get a chance to pick him. I would assume the Colts prefer Stroud's high floor and ready-now ability over Anthony Richardson's upside.

No. 5: Seattle Seahawks (via Denver Broncos): DL Jalen Carter, Georgia

The right team needs to draft Jalen Carter, but the Seahawks very easily could be that team. Pete Carroll has the right mix of veterans in-house to help Carter develop off the field, and he could solve a lot of problems on it.

No. 6: Detroit Lions (via Los Angeles Rams): EDGE Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech

The Lions take the best defender left on the board, opting out of the quarterback sweepstakes for another year as they build their roster.

No. 7: Las Vegas Raiders: QB Anthony Richardson, Florida

The Raiders are run by the spawn of Al Davis and the guy who thought Tim Tebow was a first-round pick. Anthony Richardson feels like their type.

No. 8: Atlanta Falcons: CB Christian Gonzales, Oregon

The Falcons could take the top defender left on the board here, with plenty of mocks having Georgia's Nolan Smith slotted here. Instead we give them the draft's first cornerback off the board.

No. 9: Chicago Bears (via Carolina Panthers): OT Broderick Jones, Georgia

The Bears badly need to upgrade the offensive line, and there may not be a better upside pick here than Broderick Jones. He is limited in terms of experience, but he has the traits to help their offense.

No. 10: Philadelphia Eagles (New Orleans Saints): EDGE Lukas Van Ness

A freak athlete who can play up and down the defensive line? Lukas Van Ness sounds like a Philadelphia already, helping them restock their pass-rush for the future.

No. 11: Tennessee Titans: OT Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State

Mike Vrabel isn't passing on an Ohio State offensive tackle. Next question.

No. 12: Houston Texans (via Cleveland Browns): RB Bijan Robinson, Texas

Dameon Pierce is a good player, but it isn't hard to see Demeco Ryans and the Texans' brass wanting to walk away from No. 12 with a player who could help prop up Levis.

No. 13: New York Jets: OL Peter Skoronski, Northwestern

The Jets seem to always need more pieces all over the offensive line by November, so it makes sense to take a versatile guard/tackle prospect like Skoronski.

No. 14: New England Patriots: CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois

Devon Witherspoon is the prototype New England Patriots cornerback prospect. This pick would be made in seconds.

No. 15: Green Bay Packers: OL Darnell Wright, Tennessee

With a ton of offensive line questions facing their future, the Packers prepare for 2024 and beyond with one of the draft's top tackles.

No. 16: Washington Commanders: EDGE Nolan Smith, Georgia

Few teams need the heart and emotion Nolan Smith plays with like Washington does. He would be one of the new faces of their franchise from Day 1.

No. 17: Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Joey Porter Jr., Penn State

I bet the Steelers would love an offensive tackle here, but instead they land a Steelers prodigy.

No. 18: Detroit Lions: CB Deonte Banks, Maryland

The Lions take the top defender on the board with the dynamic Deonte Banks. He can play all over the secondary and has the traits for them to build their secondary around.

No. 19: Tampa Bay Buccaneers: OT Anton Harrison, Oklahoma

Tampa Bay's offensive tackle depth is frighteningly poor, leading to them making an early selection of Oklahoma offensive tackle Anton Harrison over some more established players.

No. 20: Seattle Seahawks: EDGE Myles Murphy, Clemson

The Seahawks completely revamp their defensive line in this draft, following up the selection of Carter with Myles Murphy. Murphy has one of the highest floors in the class but still has the traits to offer an enticing ceiling.

No. 21: Los Angeles Chargers: TE Dalton Kincaid, Utah

The Chargers need more pass-catchers and to upgrade the tight end spot. Dalton Kincaid seems more their speed than Micahel Mayer.

No. 22: Baltimore Ravens: DL Keion White, Georgia Tech

This feels like a prime spot for the draft to get weird. Keion White would fit the Ravens' aggressive and versatile defense to a tee, though they would be taking a big swing for the fences on his traits.

No. 23: Minnesota Vikings: WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State

The Vikings need another weapon opposite of Justin Jefferson. With this pick, they would have two silky-smooth route runners to make life easy for Kirk Cousins.

No. 24: Jacksonville Jaguars: DB Brian Branch, Alabama

The Jaguars find the perfect marriage of need and value here, though there was some sweating with Baltimore on the board. Branch would fit the Jaguars' defense like a glove as their starting nickel cornerback.

No. 25: New York Giants: WR Jordan Addison, USC

The Giants badly need more firepower in their passing game after just 15 passing touchdowns from Daniel Jones last season. Jordan Addison would quickly become one of his top targets.

No. 26: Dallas Cowboys: TE Michael Mayer, Notre Dame

It seems like it would surprise most if Michael Mayer fell past the Cowboys. They have the need at tight end and he could remind Jerry Jones a good bit of Jason Witten with his ability to win at the catch point.

No. 27: Buffalo Bills: CB Kelee Ringo, Georgia

The Bills need to throw more darts in the secondary. This time they do show with a high-ceiling option in Kelee Ringo, who could give them a pair of athletic, physical outside cornerbacks to build their future around.

No. 28: Cincinnati Bengals: TE Darnell Washington, Georgia

The Bengals don't have many obvious holes, but tight end is one of them. Washington could be an extension of the offensive line and help transform the offense.

No. 29: New Orleans Saints: DL Bryan Bresee, Clemson

The Saints are going to take a defensive lineman in the first round, the question is ... who? Bresee makes sense as a former top recruit.

No. 30: Philadelphia Eagles: OL O'Cyrus Torrence, Florida

There isn't a huge need, but the Eagles land the best interior blocker in the draft class to prepare for the future.

No. 31: Kansas City Chiefs: WR Zay Flowers, Boston College

The Chiefs clearly have interest after having him work out with Patrick Mahomes. He could even be a trade-up option.

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