NFL Mock Draft 2023: Panthers select Anthony Richardson with No. 1 pick; QB falls into Colts' lap at No. 4

The 2023 NFL Draft has gotten its seismic trade, with the Carolina Panthers moving from No. 9 overall all the way to the No. 1 spot in a trade with the Chicago Bears. The Frank Reich-led club can now pick whichever quarterback it chooses, and the Bears got an early draft-pick haul, plus the perpetually underrated D.J. Moore, who's somehow only 25 years old. 

This makes things more clear, of course, but there's plenty of uncertainty, particularly when it comes to the quarterbacks. For this mock, I have the quarterback carousel as follows:

• Aaron Rodgers traded to the New York Jets
• Lamar Jackson traded to the Atlanta Falcons
• Jimmy Garoppolo signs with the Las Vegas Raiders
  
• Ryan Tannehill signs with Baltimore Ravens

Having laid out those destinations, I do need to add some caveats. On Wednesday, ESPN's Dianna Russini reported the Falcons will not be pursuing Lamar Jackson. I'm not intending to question Russini's reporting, but this from CBS Sports Lead NFL Insider Jonathan Jones is vital to remember: 

One more note: There will only be 31 first-round picks this year because the Dolphins were stripped of their selection due to tampering.

Let's get to the picks!

NFL Mock Draft

Round 1

From Chicago Bears Round 1 - Pick 1 Anthony Richardson QB Florida • Soph • 6'4" / 244 lbs Projected Team Carolina PROSPECT RNK 9th POSITION RNK 4th Reich coached the large and deceptively athletic Andrew Luck in Indianapolis and has assembled a star-studded cast of veteran assistant coaches, all of which creates a cushy landing spot for Richardson.

Round 1 - Pick 2 Bryce Young QB Alabama • Soph • 5'10" / 204 lbs Projected Team Houston PROSPECT RNK 2nd POSITION RNK 1st The Texans upgrade the quarterback position in a big way with Young, who has all the improvisational brilliance to succeed in today's NFL.

Round 1 - Pick 3 Tyree Wilson EDGE Texas Tech • Soph • 6'6" / 275 lbs Projected Team Arizona PROSPECT RNK 6th POSITION RNK 2nd The Cardinals opt for Wilson's length and overall size over Will Anderson Jr. here at No. 3 overall. Wilson's a darn-good rusher too.

Round 1 - Pick 4 C.J. Stroud QB Ohio State • Soph • 6'3" / 218 lbs Projected Team Indianapolis PROSPECT RNK 4th POSITION RNK 2nd Ideal scenario for the Colts. They don't have to trade up and can still land the highly polished Stroud at No. 4.

Round 1 - Pick 5 Jalen Carter DL Georgia • Soph • 6'3" / 314 lbs Projected Team Seattle PROSPECT RNK 3rd POSITION RNK 1st The Seahawks can't pass on Carter here, even with the off-field concerns. They have a dire need at defensive tackle.

From Los Angeles Rams Round 1 - Pick 6 Will Levis QB Kentucky • Soph • 6'4" / 229 lbs Projected Team Detroit PROSPECT RNK 8th POSITION RNK 3rd Here's how I'd link Levis to the Lions: Detroit's GM Brad Holmes was with the Rams organization forever -- dating back to the St. Louis days -- before taking the job in the Motor City. Guess who he spent three years with in Los Angeles? Liam Coen. Who's Liam Coen? Levis' former offensive coordinator at Kentucky. [Michael Scott voice]: Boom. Roasted.

Round 1 - Pick 7 Will Anderson Jr. EDGE Alabama • Soph • 6'4" / 243 lbs Projected Team Las Vegas PROSPECT RNK 1st POSITION RNK 1st Does this fill the most immediate need on the Raiders roster? Absolutely not -- hello, Maxx Crosby -- but Anderson is too talented and was too productive in college for Las Vegas to pass on him here.

Mock Trade from Atlanta Falcons Round 1 - Pick 8 Quentin Johnston WR TCU • Soph • 6'4" / 215 lbs Projected Team Baltimore PROSPECT RNK 9th POSITION RNK 1st The Ravens move Jackson and start building around Tannehill, their bridge guy, in 2023. Johnston is a big, long, physical, YAC specialist with serious vertical ability. In the Lamar Jackson trade, the Ravens get this selection, 2024 first-round and second-round picks from Atlanta along with 2025 second-round and fourth-round picks.

From Carolina Panthers Round 1 - Pick 9 Jaxon Smith-Njigba WR Ohio State • Soph • 6'0" / 197 lbs Projected Team Chicago PROSPECT RNK 25th POSITION RNK 4th The Bears aren't playing around -- they're loading up on weapons for Fields entering Year 3, and rightfully so. After what will likely be a sub 4.40 40-yard dash at his pro Day, Smith-Njigba going top 10 won't be considered crazy.

From New Orleans Saints Round 1 - Pick 10 Nolan Smith EDGE Georgia • Soph • 6'2" / 238 lbs Projected Team Philadelphia PROSPECT RNK 32nd POSITION RNK 6th Smith proved his athletic brilliance at the combine who'll formulate an awesome duo with Josh Sweat and Haason Reddick in Philadelphia for years.

Round 1 - Pick 11 Broderick Jones OT Georgia • Soph • 6'5" / 311 lbs Projected Team Tennessee PROSPECT RNK 31st POSITION RNK 5th Jones is super strong and athletic with his best football in front of him. After his combine workout, he probably solidified himself as OT1 in this class.

From Cleveland Browns Round 1 - Pick 12 Peter Skoronski OT Northwestern • Soph • 6'4" / 313 lbs Projected Team Houston PROSPECT RNK 12th POSITION RNK 1st After going blocker in Round 1 last year, the Texans do it again after selecting Young at No. 2 overall. Prudent selection.

Round 1 - Pick 13 Paris Johnson Jr. OT Ohio State • Soph • 6'6" / 313 lbs Projected Team N.Y. Jets PROSPECT RNK 14th POSITION RNK 2nd Johnson is a super-long, athletic blocker who feels very NFL ready at the left or right tackle spot.

Round 1 - Pick 14 Brian Branch S Alabama • Soph • 6'0" / 203 lbs Projected Team New England PROSPECT RNK 21st POSITION RNK 1st Branch will get the thumbs up from Nick Saban to Bill Belichick, as the star defensive back was everywhere at Alabama during his illustrious career with the Crimson Tide.

Round 1 - Pick 15 Dalton Kincaid TE Utah • Soph • 6'4" / 240 lbs Projected Team Green Bay PROSPECT RNK 24th POSITION RNK 2nd Kincaid is the most gifted pure receiving tight end in this class, and he'll be an immediate favorite target for Jordan Love.

Round 1 - Pick 16 Christian Gonzalez CB Oregon • Soph • 6'1" / 205 lbs Projected Team Washington PROSPECT RNK 33rd POSITION RNK 6th The Commanders jump at this opportunity to get a star outside cornerback onto this roster.

Round 1 - Pick 17 Calijah Kancey DL Pittsburgh • Soph • 6'0" / 280 lbs Projected Team Pittsburgh PROSPECT RNK 40th POSITION RNK 4th Kancey is the Javon Hargrave replacement the Steelers have missed for the past few seasons.

Round 1 - Pick 18 Deonte Banks CB Maryland • Soph • 6'2" / 200 lbs Projected Team Detroit PROSPECT RNK 5th POSITION RNK 1st Another tall, highly talented cornerback to the Lions, a team that has so many fun young pieces.

Round 1 - Pick 19 Darnell Wright OT Tennessee • Soph • 6'6" / 333 lbs Projected Team Tampa Bay PROSPECT RNK 30th POSITION RNK 4th With this selection, the Buccaneers can flip Tristan Wirfs to left tackle and stay very good at the right tackle spot with the strong and advanced Wright.

Round 1 - Pick 20 Lukas Van Ness EDGE Iowa • Soph • 6'5" / 272 lbs Projected Team Seattle PROSPECT RNK 52nd POSITION RNK 3rd Van Ness is another long, athletic specimen to improve the defensive front in Seattle.

Round 1 - Pick 21 Zay Flowers WR Boston College • Soph • 5'9" / 175 lbs Projected Team L.A. Chargers PROSPECT RNK 27th POSITION RNK 4th Flowers didn't run in the 4.30s at the combine, but he still feels like a first-round pick. The Chargers add more weaponry for Justin Herbert.

Round 1 - Pick 22 Devon Witherspoon CB Illinois • Soph • 6'0" / 185 lbs Projected Team Baltimore PROSPECT RNK 5th POSITION RNK 1st Witherspoon fits what the Ravens want out of their cornerbacks. He's ultra-feisty with polished man-coverage skills.

Round 1 - Pick 23 Joey Porter Jr. CB Penn State • Soph • 6'2" / 194 lbs Projected Team Minnesota PROSPECT RNK 16th POSITION RNK 3rd Porter has offensive tackle arm length and plus man coverage ability. The Vikings again go to the secondary well early in the draft.

Round 1 - Pick 24 Anton Harrison OT Oklahoma • Soph • 6'5" / 315 lbs Projected Team Jacksonville PROSPECT RNK 25th POSITION RNK 3rd This pick is to better protect Trevor Lawrence and to fill in the spot likely vacated by impending free agent Jawaan Taylor.

Round 1 - Pick 25 O'Cyrus Torrence IOL Florida • Soph • 6'5" / 347 lbs Projected Team N.Y. Giants PROSPECT RNK 22nd POSITION RNK 1st Torrence is an NFL-ready guard the Giants can plug in immediately. He'll improve the run and pass game for the G-Men.

Round 1 - Pick 26 Drew Sanders LB Arkansas • Soph • 6'5" / 234 lbs Projected Team Dallas PROSPECT RNK 38th POSITION RNK 1st The Cowboys could be extremely multiple with Sanders on the defense next to Micah Parsons. Sanders is a long, athletic off-ball/edge hybrid.

Round 1 - Pick 27 Rashee Rice WR SMU • Soph • 6'1" / 203 lbs Projected Team Buffalo PROSPECT RNK 85th POSITION RNK 10th The Bills opt with Rice over Jordan Addison because of size and explosiveness. Rice can win on the perimeter and after the catch. Plus he stars in combat-catch situations.

Round 1 - Pick 28 Bijan Robinson RB Texas • Soph • 5'11" / 215 lbs Projected Team Cincinnati PROSPECT RNK 7th POSITION RNK 1st This selection comes after the Bengals move Joe Mixon this offseason. Wouldn't be totally crazy. More firepower in Joe Burrow's offense.

From Denver Broncos Round 1 - Pick 29 Jahmyr Gibbs RB Alabama • Soph • 5'9" / 200 lbs Projected Team New Orleans PROSPECT RNK 14th POSITION RNK 2nd Shades of the 2021 NFL Draft, when Travis Etienne and Najee Harris went back-to-back late in the first round. Gibbs has Kamara-like explosiveness and receiving capabilities.

Round 1 - Pick 30 Adetomiwa Adebawore DL Northwestern • Soph • 6'2" / 282 lbs Projected Team Philadelphia PROSPECT RNK 89th POSITION RNK 15th The Eagles love building the trenches early in the draft and high-caliber athletes. Adebawore and Milton Williams on the same defensive line would represent loads of athleticism.

Round 1 - Pick 31 Jordan Addison WR USC • Soph • 5'11" / 175 lbs Projected Team Kansas City PROSPECT RNK 15th POSITION RNK 2nd The Chiefs jump at the opportunity to add Addison to their offense, even after a disappointing combine.