Scott Barrett's Final 2023 NFL Mock Draft

Everything written here will be extremely irrelevant in just a few hours. That is true. And NFL mock drafts are essentially just fan fiction for sports nerds. I’m well aware. So, I’m not going to pretend this is something greater than what it is. But for exactly that reason, I also had quite a bit of fun with this, and I hope you did too. Here’s my final 2023 NFL Mock Draft.

Scott Barrett’s Final Mock Draft

1) Carolina Panthers (VIA CHI): Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

This pick was decided two months ago, and there’s no reason to believe it’s any different now.

2) Houston Texans: Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech

The Texans might not be in love with any QB in this class. Will Levis wouldn’t even be in play for them with their second pick. I’m told GM Nick Caserio has given DeMeco Ryans full autonomy with this pick. Although I’m hearing that it’s very close between Will Anderson and Wilson, supposedly, Ryans likes Wilson’s upside and scheme fit slightly more.

3) Arizona Cardinals: Will Anderson, EDGE, Alabama

Although it seems Arizona has been desperate to trade out of this pick, getting the consensus top player in this draft has to be a nice consolation prize.

4) Indianapolis Colts: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State

It’s hard to say just how predictive S2 scores are, because they’re not released to the public and because we don’t have a really robust sample to work with. But something I do know that is both predictive and sticky is accuracy, and Stroud has the best accuracy of any QB in this class.

5) Seattle Seahawks: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida

I was told to put either Richardson or Jalen Carter here. And to me, this felt like an easy decision – QB is the most valuable position in football, and Richardson offers elite upside as basically “Vernon Davis with a cannon.”

6) Detroit Lions: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois

I’ve been told that the Lions were initially enamored with Jalen Carter’s tape, but following their recent gambling scandal, ownership has told them they need a player with a squeaky clean track record. The Lions may have also considered Christian Gonzalez here, but some talent evaluators in the NFL think “Gonzalez plays softer than a pillow.”

7) Las Vegas Raiders: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon

Per ESPN’s Jordan Reid, the Raiders seem determined to grab a CB with this pick. With Witherspoon already off the board, this decision is easy.

8) Atlanta Falcons: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas

Atlanta threw the ball only 24.4 times per game in 2022 – the 2nd-lowest of any team since 2006. Arthur Smith seems like he’s stuck in the early-1980s, so of course, he’s going to take a RB way too early.

9) Chicago Bears: Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa

This was the first pick I didn’t feel really good about, especially with studs like Jalen Carter, Paris Johnson, and Peter Skoronski still sitting there. But I heard a rumor from a guy who knows a guy that Chicago has fallen in love with Van Ness. Mock Draft season baby!

10) Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Carter, DL, Georgia

Carter’s – entirely “off the field”-related – fall stops at 10. I toyed with the idea of giving Philadelphia Jaxon Smith-Njigba — and thus, the sickest WR trio of all time — but ultimately caved to consensus here.

11) Tennessee Titans: Peter Skoronski, OG, Northwestern

The Titans have the worst offensive line in football. The only tricky thing about this pick was whether to give them Skoronski or Paris Johnson. Ultimately, I decided to go with the supposed “best guard to come out since Quenton Nelson.”

12) Houston Texans: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

Talking to someone in the know, JSN is the only consensus Round 1 talent at the WR position. There might be a few other guys who go in Round 1, but he’s the only guy with Round 1 grades. He is for sure going somewhere between 10-15. The only question is where.

13) Green Bay Packers: Paris Johnson, OT, Ohio State

I was told that Johnson was a late riser who could go a lot earlier than this. But I love this fit for Green Bay – playing Johnson opposite David Bakhtiari, and as a clear upgrade over Yosh Nijman and Zach Tom. Jordan Love desperately needs weapons, but taking a receiver in Round 1 isn’t really Green Bay’s MO, and JSN is already off the board.

14) New England Patriots: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky

I’m getting mixed signals on Levis. Talking to someone plugged in, I was told “don’t buy the hype on Will Levis. The NFL isn’t really all that high on him.” Per a different source, “New England absolutely loves him, and has obviously soured on Mac Jones.” I suppose both can be true — he can fall to the middle of the first round without the rest of the league being enamored with him. Ultimately, that was enough for me to put him here, instead of Washington or Tampa Bay.

15) New York Jets: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia

OK, now you’ve got your franchise QB. You’ve brought along his buddy Allen Lazard to play alongside WR1 Garrett Wilson. Now all you need is an offensive line — your biggest need and liability.

16) Washington Commanders: Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee

What I’m hearing is: “There are some teams who think Wright has the best tape of any OT in this class. However, there are some character concerns — probably his penchant for attacking (via Twitter DM) all members of the media who criticize him — which might cause him to fall.”

17) Pittsburgh Steelers: Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia

Apparently, Smith’s absolute floor is pick 17 to the Steelers, so I had to slide him in here. Although I know the Steelers are desperate to land an OL, and they do really like CB Joey Porter (for obvious reasons).

18) Detroit Lions: Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh

This fills an obvious need, but the Lions also could have taken Bryan Bresee here. Ultimately, I think GM Brad Holmes (who helped draft Aaron Donald when he was with the Rams), won’t be able to pass up on Kancey’s tantalizing athleticism and upside.

19) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: O’Cyrus Torrence, OG, Florida

This pick was tough because Tampa Bay has needs everywhere. But OL is probably their biggest need after QB, and I feel Torrence is the best offensive lineman still available.

20) Seattle Seahawks: Will McDonald, Edge, Iowa State

McDonald seems to check all of the boxes in a player Seattle typically loves to draft: 1) He’s freakishly athletic (9.7 RAS). 2) He dominated at the Senior Bowl. 3) And he’s old (soon to be 24).

21) Los Angeles Chargers: Jordan Addison, WR, USC

I don’t feel great going against my source, who told me the Chargers love Zay Flowers. But I think Addison makes too much sense, given his history with WR coach Chris Beatty.

22) Baltimore Ravens: Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State

I’ve been told that the Ravens love Porter — the only question is whether or not he gets past Pittsburgh.

23) Minnesota Vikings: Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee

For multiple reasons — injury and age — Hooker is not a lock to be drafted in Round 1. Although there are several teams in play, Minnesota makes the most sense to me.

24) Jacksonville Jaguars: Brian Branch, CB/S, Alabama

Whether as a safety or nickelback, Branch is a clear Round 1 talent. I was told he probably goes a lot earlier than this – the Patriots are particularly enamored with his skillset and versatility, and Green Bay may even have traded up just to snipe them on Branch (as Brett Whitefield projects). But ultimately, he falls to Jacksonville here. It’s a dream fit, filling their most glaring need — coverage help (whether that be as a CB or S).

25) New York Giants: Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland

I’m hearing that the Giants really love my guy WR Marvin Mims in Round 2 or Round 3. If that’s the case — and, as a Giants fan, I really hope it is — a WR doesn’t make too much sense here. So, they’re forced to address their other glaring need in CB. ESPN’s Jordan Raanan has said the Giants have interest in Banks, and The Athletic’s Dan Duggan has said they’d sprint this pick up if he’s still there.

26) Dallas Cowboys: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame

Dalton Schultz on steroids? Or just the next Jason Witten? This pick feels like a lock if Mayer lasts this long.

27) Buffalo Bills: Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU

Gabe Davis is on the final year of his deal, and has as many career regular season games with at least 110 receiving yards as Jonathan Taylor.

28) Cincinnati Bengals: Myles Murphy, Edge, Clemson

After ranking just 18th in pressure rate, Cincinnati addresses an area of need, by taking the last Round 1-caliber pass runner on my board.

29) New Orleans Saints: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah

OC Pete Carmichael once called plays for Jimmy Graham. The Saints once traded the remainder of their draft (four draft picks) to move up 25 spots to select TE Adam Trautman. Kincaid gives new QB Derek Carr an added weapon, and potentially a great one – according to some, the best receiver in the class after JSN.

30) Philadelphia Eagles: Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State

A little birdie told me to make sure I had Forbes in Round 1 – “NFL teams love this guy. OK, he’s too skinny. But the NFL already stopped caring about skinny WRs. So why do we care so much about it when it’s the player guarding them? There are a number of teams in the back-half of Round 1 willing to overlook his size.” Given GM Howie Roseman’s decision to draft another “too skinny” prospect Round 1 (DeVonta Smith), and given how well that’s worked out for him, I could definitely see him taking Forbes here.

31) Kansas City Chiefs: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College

Could it really be so obvious?