NFL Mock Draft 2023: Patriots get Mac Jones more help; Commanders make big trade up for QB

With NFL free agency here, first-round draft needs are crystalizing for every team around the league, but some murkiness still remains. 

On the quarterback front, we still await the Aaron Rodgers decision, but signs do point to him signing with the New York Jets, or at least Gang Green's reported interest in the likes of Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, and even Marcedes Lewis indicate they're rolling out the red carpet for Rodgers. 

There are still some quarterback dominoes yet to fall, of course. For this mock, I have the quarterback carousel as follows:

• Aaron Rodgers traded to the New York Jets
• Lamar Jackson plays for the Ravens on the franchise tag in 2023

After previous mocks explored scenarios in which Jackson plays on a different team next season, let's check on the ripple effect it'd have on the rest of the league if Jackson does return to the Ravens.  

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 Andy Dalton acting as the bridge in Carolina to Anthony Richardson starting by November? Yessir.

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.

Mock Trade from Arizona Cardinals Round 1 - Pick 3 Will Levis QB Kentucky • Soph • 6'4" / 229 lbs Projected Team Washington PROSPECT RNK 6th POSITION RNK 2nd Levis is a big, strong, physical specimen at quarterback with a strong arm and plus running ability. Ron Rivera likes that type.

Round 1 - Pick 4 C.J. Stroud QB Ohio State • Soph • 6'3" / 218 lbs Projected Team Indianapolis PROSPECT RNK 4th POSITION RNK 2nd The Colts are ecstatic that they land Stroud without having to move any extra selections.

Round 1 - Pick 5 Tyree Wilson EDGE Texas Tech • Soph • 6'6" / 275 lbs Projected Team Seattle PROSPECT RNK 6th POSITION RNK 2nd The Seahawks landed stud interior pass-rusher Dre'Mont Jones in free agency and pair him with the long, bendy, athletic edge-rusher Wilson at No. 5 overall.

From Los Angeles Rams Round 1 - Pick 6 Jalen Carter DL Georgia • Soph • 6'3" / 314 lbs Projected Team Detroit PROSPECT RNK 8th POSITION RNK 3rd The Lions can't pass on the talent of Carter here, even with his off-field concerns.

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.

Round 1 - Pick 8 Nolan Smith EDGE Georgia • Soph • 6'2" / 238 lbs Projected Team Atlanta PROSPECT RNK 9th POSITION RNK 1st Smith's monster combine catapults him into the Top 10 to a team that desperately needs more juice at the edge-rusher spot.

From Carolina Panthers Round 1 - Pick 9 Lukas Van Ness EDGE Iowa • Soph • 6'5" / 272 lbs Projected Team Chicago PROSPECT RNK 3rd POSITION RNK 1st Van Ness is a young, long and athletic outside pass rusher with plenty of size. Perfect addition to the Bears defense.

From New Orleans Saints Round 1 - Pick 10 Christian Gonzalez CB Oregon • Soph • 6'1" / 205 lbs Projected Team Philadelphia PROSPECT RNK 32nd POSITION RNK 6th Gonzalez is an immediate replacement for the now released Darius Slay. Similar cornerbacks too. Plenty of length and athleticism.

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 Bryan Bresee DL Clemson • Soph • 6'5" / 305 lbs Projected Team Houston PROSPECT RNK 31st POSITION RNK 3rd This may feel a tick early for Bresee, but the Texans bet on his upside and high-level traits.

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. The Jets give up their second- and third-round picks in 2023 and 2024 along with Elijah Moore in the Rodgers deal.

Round 1 - Pick 14 Jaxon Smith-Njigba WR Ohio State • Soph • 6'0" / 197 lbs Projected Team New England PROSPECT RNK 21st POSITION RNK 1st The Patriots have to get more dynamic at receiver and Smith-Njigba is exactly that type of wideout, particularly in space. Bill Belichick will love his short-area quickness and how well he tested in the agility drills at the combine.

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.

Mock Trade from Washington Commanders Round 1 - Pick 16 Deonte Banks CB Maryland • Soph • 6'2" / 200 lbs Projected Team Arizona PROSPECT RNK 33rd POSITION RNK 6th The Cardinals have holes galore on their roster and add a long, speedy outside cornerback for the first pick of the Monti Ossenfort era. In the massive trade down, the Cardinals receive this pick, Washington's 2023 second-round selection (No. 47 overall), third-round selection (No. 97) and a first and second in 2024.

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 Myles Murphy DL Clemson • Soph • 6'5" / 270 lbs Projected Team Detroit PROSPECT RNK 5th POSITION RNK 1st A three-down defensive end with massive size and pass-rushing flashes, this is another in-the-trenches selection for GM Brad Holmes.

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 Zay Flowers WR Boston College • Soph • 5'9" / 175 lbs Projected Team Seattle PROSPECT RNK 52nd POSITION RNK 3rd How about a Tyler Lockett-type wideout to learn from ... Tyler Lockett in Seattle?

Round 1 - Pick 21 Devon Witherspoon CB Illinois • Soph • 6'0" / 185 lbs Projected Team L.A. Chargers PROSPECT RNK 17th POSITION RNK 2nd Not the most sizable need for the Chargers but Witherspoon is too good to pass on here. More talented coverage players in Brandon Staley's secondary.

Round 1 - Pick 22 Quentin Johnston WR TCU • Soph • 6'4" / 215 lbs Projected Team Baltimore PROSPECT RNK 5th POSITION RNK 1st The Ravens jump at the opportunity to take Johnston at this juncture. He falls because of the wide open nature of TCU's offense in 2022.

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 Peter Skoronski OT Northwestern • Soph • 6'4" / 313 lbs Projected Team N.Y. Giants PROSPECT RNK 22nd POSITION RNK 1st The Giants add Skoronski, who could begin his career at guard, to the blocking unit in front of Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley.

Round 1 - Pick 26 Darnell Washington TE Georgia • Soph • 6'7" / 265 lbs Projected Team Dallas PROSPECT RNK 38th POSITION RNK 1st Washington is a sixth offensive lineman every time he's on the field and has monster upside as a receiver at this size and with his athleticism.

Round 1 - Pick 27 Jack Campbell LB Iowa • Soph • 6'5" / 243 lbs Projected Team Buffalo PROSPECT RNK 85th POSITION RNK 10th Campbell has Tremaine Edmunds size and awesome coverage chops. Immediate Edmunds replacement for Buffalo.

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 Alvin Kamara-like explosiveness and receiving capabilities.

Round 1 - Pick 30 Jalen Redmond EDGE Oklahoma • Fr • 6'2" / 291 lbs Projected Team Philadelphia PROSPECT RNK 89th POSITION RNK 15th The Eagles hope to fill the vacancy left by Javon Hargrave's departure with a similarly sized, explosive up-the-field interior rusher.

Round 1 - Pick 31 Will McDonald IV EDGE Iowa State • Soph • 6'4" / 236 lbs Projected Team Kansas City PROSPECT RNK 15th POSITION RNK 2nd The Chiefs have to get better at edge rusher, even after picking George Karlaftis in Round 1 a year ago. McDonald has serious juice around the corner.