The NFL draft season is upon us and it’s time to start speculating about who will go where! With the ever-evolving landscape of college football, it’s hard to predict who will be the next great NFL stars. But thankfully, our experts have done the work for you in this mock draft of the 2023 NFL Draft Class! Read on to find out who they think will go where and why!
Introduction to the 2023 NFL Draft
The NFL Draft is an annual event in which the 32 teams in the National Football League (NFL) select college football players to join their ranks. The event takes place over three days, with the first round being held on Thursday night, followed by the second and third rounds on Friday night, and the final four rounds on Saturday afternoon.
This year’s draft will be held from April 27-29 at a yet-to-be-determined location. It will be the first time since 2015 that the draft is not being held in Chicago.
The draft order is determined by reverse standings from the previous season. The team with the worst record gets the first pick, and so forth. This year’s top pick will belong to either the Jacksonville Jaguars or New York Jets, who both finished with identical 4-12 records.
As of right now, there is no clear consensus as to who will go where in this year’s draft. However, there are a few players who are considered to be “can’t miss” prospects, including quarterbacks Trevor Lawrence (Clemson) and Justin Fields (Ohio State). Other potential first-rounders include wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase (LSU) and DeVonta Smith (Alabama), running back Najee Harris (Alabama), and defensive end Gregory Rousseau (Miami).
Whoever ends up going where, one thing is for sure: there will be plenty of intrigue and excitement leading up to this
Early Predictions for the Top Picks
- Early Predictions for the Top Picks
Now that the NFL Draft order is set, it’s time to start making some early predictions for which players will go where. Here’s a look at how the first round could shake out:
- Cleveland Browns – Sam Darnold, QB, USC
The Browns are in desperate need of a franchise quarterback and they seem to be high on Darnold. This would be a dream scenario for Cleveland.
- New York Giants – Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
The Giants could use an upgrade at running back and Barkley is one of the best prospects in recent memory. He would be a great complement to Eli Manning and the New York offense.
- Indianapolis Colts – Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State
The Colts need help on both sides of the ball, but they’ll likely go with the best player available here in Chubb. He’s a talented pass rusher who would bolster Indianapolis’ defense.
The Best Players at Each Position
In any NFL draft, there are always a few players who stand out above the rest as the best at their respective positions. This year is no different, and we’ve compiled a list of the best players at each position in this year’s NFL draft class.
Quarterback:
The best quarterback in this year’s class is undoubtedly Kyler Murray of Oklahoma. Murray has everything you want in a franchise quarterback: arm strength, accuracy, mobility, and playmaking ability. He should be the first quarterback off the board come April 25th.
Running back:
There are a few running backs who could lay claim to being the best in this class, but we give the edge to Josh Jacobs of Alabama. Jacobs is a powerful runner with great vision and elusiveness. He’s also a capable receiver out of the backfield, which makes him an even more dangerous weapon for NFL offenses.
Wide receiver:
The best wide receiver in this year’s draft class is D.K. Metcalf of Ole Miss. Metcalf is an absolute physical specimen, and his combination of size, speed, and athleticism is unmatched among receivers in this class. He should be a top-10 pick come April 25th.
Tight end:
The tight end position is not as deep as some of the other positions in this year’s draft class, but there is still one player who stands out above the rest: T.J. H
Potential Sleepers of the Draft
The NFL draft is always full of surprises, and potential sleepers are a big part of that. These are the players that unexpectedly go early in the draft or become key contributors for their team. Here are a few potential sleepers of the 2019 NFL draft:
- Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma – Brown is an explosive playmaker with the ability to take any touch to the house. He could be a steal in the later rounds of the draft.
- Deionte Thompson, S, Alabama – Thompson is a rangy safety with good ball skills. He could be a good value pick in the middle rounds of the draft.
- Darrell Henderson, RB, Memphis – Henderson is an electric runner with great speed and vision. He could be a sleeper pick in the later rounds of the draft.
Teams Most Likely to Make a Big Move in the Draft
The NFL Draft is just around the corner, and there are a few teams that are rumored to be making a big move. Here are the teams that are most likely to make a big move in the draft:
- The Cleveland Browns are rumored to be interested in trading up for a quarterback. They have been linked to both Mitchell Trubisky and Deshaun Watson.
- The San Francisco 49ers are also rumored to be interested in trading up for a quarterback. They have been linked to both Patrick Mahomes and DeShone Kizer.
- The New York Jets are rumored to be interested in trading up for a defensive player. They have been linked to both Jamal Adams and Marshon Lattimore.
- The Carolina Panthers are rumored to be interested in trading up for a running back. They have been linked to both Leonard Fournette and Christian McCaffrey.
- The New Orleans Saints are rumored to be interested in trading up for a wide receiver. They have been linked to both Corey Davis and Mike Williams.
Mock Draft Results: Who Will Go Where?
- Mock Draft Results: Who Will Go Where?
The NFL mock draft is a yearly event where experts and analysts attempt to predict which college football players will be selected by each team in the first round of the NFL draft. This year’s mock draft was held on April 25, and there were some interesting results. Here are the picks for the first round of the 2018 NFL draft, according to the mock draft:
- Cleveland Browns – QB Sam Darnold, USC
- New York Giants – RB Saquon Barkley, Penn State
- Indianapolis Colts – DE Bradley Chubb, N.C. State
- Cleveland Browns (from HOU) – DB Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama
- Denver Broncos – QB Josh Rosen, UCLA
- New York Jets – QB Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers – CB Denzel Ward, Ohio State
- Chicago Bears – OG Quenton Nelson, Notre Dame
9 San Francisco 49ers – LB Tremaine Edmunds, Virginia Tech
10 Oakland Raiders – LB Roquan Smith, Georgia
11 Miami Dolphins – CB Josh Jackson, Iowa
12 Buffalo Bills (from CIN) – DT Vita Vea, Washington
13 Washington Redskins – S Derwin James, Florida State
14 Green Bay Packers – WR Calvin Ridley, Alabama
15 Arizona Cardinals- OT Connor Williams , Texas
16 Baltimore Ravens- WR Courtland Sutton, SMU
Conclusion and Final Thoughts
- Conclusion and Final Thoughts
With the NFL Draft just around the corner, all eyes are on who will go where. There have been mock drafts galore, with everyone having their own opinion on who will be taken first overall.
In our final NFL Mock Draft, we have the Cleveland Browns selecting Myles Garrett out of Texas A&M first overall. We also have the San Francisco 49ers selecting Mitch Trubisky second overall, as they look to find their quarterback of the future.
As always, there will be surprises come draft day and we can’t wait to see how it all unfolds. Be sure to check back here for all the latest news and analysis leading up to and during the NFL Draft!