Post Super Bowl Mock Draft (w/ Trades)
Who goes #1 in this draft? How many trades can the Seahawks make? Who do the Eagles add to retool for another Super Bowl run?
The Kansas City Chiefs are Super Bowl LVII Champions which means it’s officially draft season. With the draft order completely set there is no better time to drop a Mock Draft. This Mock Draft includes trades, some new faces in the first round and a few scenarios that aren’t as common to spark some conversation.
1. Indianapolis Colts (via CHI)
Pick: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
*Trade*
IND gets: 2023 1st-Round Pick (No. 1)
CHI gets: 2023 1st-Round Pick (No. 4), 2023 2nd-Round Pick (No. 36), 2024 1st-Round Pick, 2024 2nd-Round Pick
The Colts trading up first overall for a QB is a popular choice in mock drafts, taking Will Levis there, not so much. It may not be as crazy as one might think. We have already begun to hear about Levis’ exceptional tools and off field leadership and we haven’t even gotten to the Combine yet. Ballard and the Colts decision makers have fallen in love with prototypical QBs before in Carson Wentz, a common comp for Levis, don’t be shocked if they do it again.
2. Houston Texans
Pick: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
Talk about a home run, send the card in ASAP pick for Houston. With the Colts swinging for the fences at number the Texans are left with the consensus top QB in this class in Bryce Young. Young would join new head coach DeMeco Ryans in an effort to turn around one of the worst teams in the NFL.
3. Arizona Cardinals
Pick: Jalen Carter, IDL, Georgia
Arizona sits in the excellent spot of letting the QB battle play out ahead of them and getting a blue chip defender. With the recent hire of Johnathan Gannon I would expect them to follow a similar path to how the Eagles were built and that’s with uber talented interior defensive lineman.
4. Chicago Bears (via IND)
Pick: Will Anderson, EDGE, Alabama
*Trade*
IND gets: 2023 1st-Round Pick (No. 1)
CHI gets: 2023 1st-Round Pick (No. 4), 2023 2nd-Round Pick (No. 36), 2024 1st-Round Pick, 2024 2nd-Round Pick
This is the dream scenario for the Bears. Move down far enough to accumulate picks that a destitute roster desperately needs in order to build around Justin Fields but don’t miss out on the top tier of defenders in this class. Will Anderson would add pass rush juice to a Chicago defense that ranked dead last in 2022 with 20 sacks.
5. Carolina Panthers (via SEA)
Pick: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
*Trade*
CAR gets: 2023 1st-Round Pick (No. 5)
SEA gets: 2023 1st-Round Pick (No. 9), 2023 2nd-Round Pick (No. 39), 2024 3rd-Round Pick
The Carolina Panthers need to leave the 2022 draft with an answer at QB. They haven’t had a consistent signal caller since Cam Newton and likely will be too good to have a shot at the top of the 2024 QB class. With the addition of Frank Reich and the excellent staff he has brought with him it is time for them to be aggressive and find their franchise leader. C.J. Stroud has the passing acumen and IQ to run any offense; if they are able to unlock what he showed against Georgia in the CFB semifinals as a creator they may have a star on their hands.
6. Detroit Lions
Pick: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
Detroit was one of the hottest teams in football down the stretch in 2022 largely due to their strong offensive attack (5th in DVOA per Football Outsiders). Their Achilles heel (28th in DVOA) has been the defense especially in the secondary. Due to bad luck and string of injuries, the Rams pick, which they own via the Matthew Stafford trade, lands in the perfect spot for them to address the secondary. Devon Witherspoon is arguably the top CB in this class with his sticky coverage skills and a hard nosed mentality that the Motor City fanbase should love.
7. Las Vegas Raiders
Pick: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
This is a selection I’m sure a lot of Raiders fans won’t like. The reality is however, one of these teams in need of a QB in the back half of the Top 10 (Vegas, Carolina, etc.) will be left with the “fourth QB” in Richardson. A player who in my opinion is a better prospect than Levis. If I were to bet on upside I would take the player with better tools who has shown more improvement in decision making and pocket presence in one year than Levis has in two and a half. The main issue is the lack of QB options in free agency. Unless you are able to get a former MVP to leave his darkness retreat to come play for your team, the next best option is Jimmy Garoppolo who needs a talented and deep roster around him to make playoff runs. Teams picking in the Top 10 typically don’t have that. So either pair a veteran with a high ceiling rookie, or just sell, take the rookie anyway and try to create a more cohesive long term plan.
8. Atlanta Falcons
Pick: Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech
Atlanta needs to get Grady Jarrett some help up front if they ever want this defense to be respectable. Tyree Wilson is an uber athletic, very raw lineman with an insane ceiling. For a team like the Falcon’s that does not expect to win right away they can afford to wait for Wilson to develop and hopefully give them a nice young core with A.J. Terrell on the defensive side of the ball.
9. Seattle Seahawks (via CAR)
Pick: Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia
*Trade*
CAR gets: 2023 1st-Round Pick (No. 5)
SEA gets: 2023 1st-Round Pick (No. 9), 2023 2nd-Round Pick (No. 510), 2024 3rd-Round Pick
The way this Mock Draft fell the top tier of defenders were off the board by the time of Seattle’s original pick. A small trade down is something Seahawks fans are quite familiar with but in this case it makes a lot of sense to pick up extra capital from a QB hungry team. Many mocks that have them trading down to No. 9 either have them taking Tyree Wilson (gone) or Myles Murphy. Murphy’s a good player but doesn’t fit the scheme and is very raw. Nolan Smith is also a raw athletic defender but he has better bend and is currently a more impactful run defender. Smith fits better into what Seattle wants to do on the defensive side of the ball and in my opinion is a better prospect than Murphy.
10. Philadelphia Eagles (via NO)
Pick: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
The Eagles are fresh off of being Super Bowl runner ups but that doesn’t mean they are without their holes. With multiple starters potentially departing in free agency, including James Bradberry, the Eagles will have to look to the draft for cheap replacements. If Bradberry does in fact walk, Christian Gonzalez can step in on day one with his length and ball skills to fill the CB2 role. Gonzalez also provides long term CB1 upside would join a talented young Eagles nucleus lead by Jalen Hurts.
11. Tennessee Titans
Pick: Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern
Any Titans fan will tell you how bad their pass protection was in 2022 so let's fix that. Taylor Lewan looks to be a cap casualty this offseason and Dennis Daley is not a starting caliber offensive tackle in the NFL. Peter Skoronski is a high floor tackle who can step in Day 1 on the left side and hold his own. There will be questions about his arm length and long term projection at tackle but for a Titans team that is trying to extend their window, ready now players should hold a lot of value.
12. Houston Texans (via CLE)
Pick: Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
Earlier I talked about how Murphy has a long way to go to become a polished player and why he would not fit a playoff caliber team like Seattle. Houston is about as far from playoff caliber as you can get. They have the luxury of giving athletic and talented defensive lineman reps and time to grow as Coach Ryans tries to create a defensive line that can resemble what he had in San Francisco.
13. New York Jets
Pick: Paris Johnson Jr, OT, Ohio State
Due to injuries the Jets offensive line was an ever changing mess in 2022. Their interior should be set in 2023 with Tomlinson, McGovern, and AVT but questions about Becton’s long term viability, Fant’s age and the upside of Max Mitchell make tackle a major need. Paris Johnson Jr. is an athletic and talented OT who had an outstanding season for the Buckeyes in 2022. His ability to play both tackle and guard, should they want to bump AVT out to RT where he had some success in 2022, gives New York the versatility to get their five best on the field any given week.
14. New England Patriots
Pick: Jordan Addison, WR, USC
New England had one of the worst skill position groups of any team competing for the playoffs last year and that needs to change. Wide receiver is in need of a major upgrade especially with the expected departure of Jakobi Meyers this offseason. Jordan Addison has been one of the most productive receiving threats in college football over the past 2 years. He would add a level of separation and playmaking ability this offense and Mac Jones so desperately needs.
15. Green Bay Packers
Pick: Brian Branch, SAF, Alabama
Most of the headlines surrounding the Packers over the past 6 months have centered around Aaron Rodgers and the offense but their offense actually wasn’t the problem in 2022 (11th in DVOA). Their biggest problem was the defense (20th in DVOA), with the declining play of Darnell Savage and potential departure of Adrian Amos they need safety help. Brian Branch is an intelligent, versatile player who is ready made to make a Day 1 impact.
16. Washington Commanders
Pick: Joey Porter Jr, CB, Penn State
The Commanders had Top 10 defense in 2022 (9th in DVOA) but they need an infusion of talent and youth on the back end. Joey Porter Jr has the length, speed and mind set of a legit CB1 in the NFL. Inserting him into the same defensive backfield as Benjamin St-Juste, who was a surprise contributor in 2022, would give them a young talented CB duo for the foreseeable future.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers
Pick: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
Pittsburgh has invested picks in multiple talented skill positions over the past few yeas and look to have their QB in the future in Kenny Pickett. Their offensive line needs a major upgrade in talent in order to support him and if anyone saw Mike Tomlin at the Senior Bowl I think he agrees. Broderick Jones is an uber athletic OT who put together an excellent season in the SEC in 2022. His upside and mean streak should fit perfectly in the Black and Gold as Pickets blind side protector for the foreseeable future.
18. Detroit Lions
Pick: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
With Detroit's first pick I had them attacking the defensive side of the ball and while it was certainly tempting to double dip the value with Mayer at 18 was too good. Mayer can step in to replace any production lost from T.J. Hockenson at a much cheaper value. A young core of Jameson Williamson, Amon-Rah St Brown and Michael Mayer with that offensive line may just get Jared Goff another big contract he doesn’t deserve.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Pick: O’Cyrus Torrence, IOL, Florida
Tampa Bay is one of the hardest teams to mock for in the NFL. Given their cap situation and roster construction they are built to win now but their current starting QB is………Kyle Trask. Given the uncertainty I went with the best player on the board which also happens to be a position of need. Torrence is a big physical guard who should be able to fill the hole that Alex Cappa left last offseason that never truly got filled.
20. Seattle Seahawks
Pick: Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
Seattle is back on the clock again and they double dip into the Georgia defenders well. Kelee Ringo has seen a slide in his draft range the past few months due to questions about scheme versatility and lack of change of direction skills. Seattle likely will have less reservations about Ringo due to their penchant for running Cover 3, Ringo’s ideal scheme, and their love for long athletic corners (see Tariq Woolen). The Seahawks won’t ask him to be something he is not, which should allow him to thrive and giving them one of longest and most athletic CB duos we have seen in a long time.
21. Los Angeles Chargers
Pick: Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
There were a lot of reason’s the Chargers under performed in 2022 and the offensive line was a big one. The return of Rashawn Slater and improvement of rookie guard Zion Johnson will help but RT needs a major upgrade. Darnell Wright might be the best RT prospect in this class, his performance at the Senior Bowl and SEC pedigree should give the Chargers confidence in him stepping in right away on the right side of the line.
22. Baltimore Ravens
Pick: Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa
Most of the Ravens off season news will be surrounding Lamar Jackson and for good reason. Assuming he stays however, multiple departures along the defensive line and secondary means there are holes to fill. Lukas Van Ness is a powerful EDGE defender who has been rising up draft boards the past month. His play style should complement 2022 2nd Round Draft Pick David Ojabo and give Baltimore a cheap and talented EDGE duo for the next few years.
23. Minnesota Vikings
Pick: Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
Minnesota had a magical regular season in 2022 but in the end their defense let them down (27th in DVOA). The addition of Brian Flores should pay massive dividends next year but they will need to get the personnel to run his defense. This means corners, good ones, which they don’t have. Banks is a long, press corner who will fit perfectly into a Flores defense that loves to physical.
24. Jacksonville Jaguars
Pick: Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State
The Jaguars were one of the best stories of the NFL in 2022 led by an upstart offense and one of the most talented young QB’s in football in Trevor Lawrence. Keeping him clean is a majority priority and with it looking like they may be priced out of Jawaan Taylor their starter at RT in 2022 they need some help. Dawand Jones is a mountain of a man and had a spectacular Senior Bowl. Him stepping in at RT will allow Jacksonville to protect their franchise QB and keep Walker Little at guard or as a swing tackle in 2023.
25. New York Giants
Pick: Jaxon-Smith Njigba, WR, Ohio State
It’s no secret that the Giants need help at WR. While their WR room was a little underrated during the tail end of 2022 it doesn’t change the fact they lack top talent and a true WR1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba was one of the most productive WRs in all of college football in 2021 before getting hurt in 2022. A return to his 2021 form should allow the Giants to open up their playbook more in 2023 and give whoever their QB is a true go to target.
26. Dallas Cowboys
Pick: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
Bijan might be the most difficult player in this years draft to mock. Nobody will argue he is a unique talent worthy of being mentioned with the names of Will Anderson and Jalen Carter. However, in the modern day NFL the value of his position means no fan base wants him and teams will not prioritize him in their boards. Well nobody loves a good running back more than Jerry Jones. Bijan provides a cheap replacement to what Tony Pollard offered in 2022 while simultaneously giving them the ability to move on from Ezekiel Elliot after this year. A team with two starting caliber running backs spending a first round pick on another may seem weird on the surface, but in two years Dallas would likely have the best of the trio, on the cheapest deal.
27. Buffalo Bills
Pick: Antonio Johnson, SAF, Texas A&M
Buffalo has been one of the best teams in football over the past few years but haven’t been able to get over the hump and now their core is aging. Jordan Poyer (2023) and Micah Hyde (2024) are both getting older and soon to hit free agency. Antonio Johnson is a talented versatile safety who has the ability to play a meaningful role early in his career as a third safety or nickel corner before taking over long term for one of the veterans should they depart in free agency.
28. Cincinnati Bengals
Pick: Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
The Bengals need more help on the offensive line that is not secret but the way this mock draft fell there wasn’t any value. Well Darnell Washington is basically an extra lineman at TE. His elite blocking will pay dividends in the run game. He will represent upside and the future as an over the middle pass catch for Burrow and should be able to pair with or replace Hayden Hurst depending on what he does in Free Agency,
29. New Orleans Saints (via SF)
Pick: Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
Pick No. 29 in the NFL Draft has changed hands many times over the past few years but as of now it lies in the hands of the Saints via the Sean Payton trade. The Saints are in cap hell and have no QB, but the way the board fell a solution to the latter doesn’t seem to exist. The Saints have a CB1 in Marshon Lattimore but he needs a running mate. Cam Smith represents an athletic corner with inside out versatility and CB1 upside to take over for Lattimore as he ages.
30. Philadelphia Eagles
Pick: B.J. Oljuari, EDGE, LSU
The Eagles second pick of night one also goes to replacing some of their lost talent. Haason Reddick was one of the best pass rushers in all of football in 2022 but the strength of the Eagles defensive line was in their depth. Brandon Graham and Robert Quinn are set to depart in 2023 with Derek Barnett following the year after. B.J. Oljuari, younger brother of New York Giants EDGE Azeez, is a speed rusher who should provide immediate rotational support.
31. Seattle Seahawks (via KC)
Pick: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
*Trade*
KC gets: 2023 2nd-Round Pick (No. 39 via CAR), 2023 3rd-Round Pick (No. 83)
SEA gets: 2023 1st-Round Pick (No. 31)
Well hello there again Seattle! Using some of the ammunition they received in their trade with Carolina they move up into the back of the first round to secure their guy. With Tyler Lockett getting older and the need for multiple options in the modern day passing game Seattle should look to add another weapon. Zay Flowers is one of the most dynamic playmakers in this year's draft. He may be undersized but his burst and quickness should make him a favorite target underneath for Geno Smith.