1. Detroit Lions – Bryce Young, Quarterback, Alabama

Reuniting Jameson Williams with his college quarterback Bryce Young will be a monumental moment in Detroit Lion history. Young can make every throw, run effectively, read defenses, and be calm when the pocket collapses. The Alabama signal caller threw for 4,872 yards with 47 passing touchdowns to just seven interceptions last season. Young will have a good offensive line and a plethora of receivers and running backs to work with. There is a new day coming to Detroit that includes a lot of winning.

 

2. Houston Texans- Will Anderson Jr., Edge, Alabama 

Davis Mills hasn’t been horrible as he hasn’t been asked to do too much either as they run the ball more often with Dameon Pierce. What Mills has done warrants him to at least get another season while the Texans focus on building a stout defense to help out the offense. The pass rush for the Texans sits at the eighth lowest in terms of pressures with 49, and they need someone who will come off the edge to help tackle running backs in the backfield. The best defensive player in the draft to do that is Will Anderson. His speed off the line is hard for offensive linemen to match, and his ability to drop into coverage fluidly makes him hard to prepare for. 

3. Pittsburgh Steelers – Jalen Carter, Defensive Tackle, Georgia

The Steelers have never been afraid to grab the guy they think is the best available, regardless of position. Offensive line is the team’s most pressing issue, but none of the top lineman are worthy of being selected over Georgia’s phenom Jalen Carter. The interior defensive lineman has been arguably the most dominant player in college football over the past two seasons. He stood out on Georgia’s National Championship defense that produced five first round players in 2022. Cam Heyward is still playing at a high level, but is 33, and Larry Ogunjobi is on a one-year contract. Carter is a blue chip prospect that gives Pittsburgh a true Stephon Tuitt replacement, and he and DeMarvin Leal can carry on their dominant interior for another decade.

 

4. Seattle Seahawks via Denver Broncos – Myles Murphy, Edge, Clemson 

Seattle needs to add talent at every position, so they will be in a position to take the best player available route. Geno Smith has played well enough this season to deserve a second look, as he and Pete Carroll seem to be a package deal at this point. Myles Murphy is the second-best edge rusher in the draft and might be the best overall defensive end. Murphy uses his strength, quickness, pad level, and hand placement to consistently wreck opposing offenses. If Smith begins to decline, look for Seattle to clean house, including coach Carroll.

5. Carolina Panthers- C.J. Stroud, Quarterback, Ohio State 

After firing Matt Rhule it is clearer now more than ever that the Panthers are in rebuild mode. With rebuild mode comes drafting your franchise quarterback. C.J. Stroud is the ideal NFL quarterback with his 6’3, 218-pound build and arm strength to reach all levels of the field. In addition, he has the leadership ability that will help turn the locker room around off the field. Having Stroud throw the ball down the field to D.J. Moore would be a great duo to kick-start this new era for the Panthers. 

 

6. Indianapolis Colts – Will Levis, Quarterback, Kentucky

The Indianapolis Colts are accelerating their rebuild after benching Matt Ryan for Sam Ehlinger. Make no mistake, Ehlinger is not the long-term answer. The organization is clearly making a run at one of the top quarterbacks in this draft class, and here they grab the last top-tier option in Will Levis. Levis has the best physical tools in the class with his cannon arm and mobility. Consistency and accuracy have been concerns during his time at Kentucky, but his upside is too high for the Colts to pass on.

7. Philadelphia Eagles via New Orleans Saints – Jordan Addison, Wide Receiver, USC

Jalen Hurts has proved that he is the franchise quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles. Hurts has led the Eagles to an undefeated record and Super Bowl favorites in a short amount of time. Adding Jordan Addison to a receiver room that already includes A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith will give the Eagles the best receiving group in the NFC. Addison is a big play receiver that has a large catch radius, elite speed, good hands, great body control, and effectively earns yards after the catch. Howie Roseman will not be able to resist the possibility of having three top-tier receivers.

8. Chicago Bears- Paris Johnson Jr., Offensive Line, Ohio State 

The thought process here is that the Bears go out and sign more wide receiver talent in free agency, by doing that the next step to helping Justin Fields is to get him more protection. Fields is currently the most sacked quarterback in the NFL with 27. So, what better way to help strengthen the offensive line than with someone who he knows from Ohio State in Paris Johnson Jr. He gets out of his stance quickly, and plays every snap until the whistle. What also helps is with a running quarterback like Fields, Johnson has shown he has the strength to move defenders to create space and is effective at the second level as well. 

9. Jacksonville Jaguars – Quentin Johnston, Wide Receiver, TCU

TCU’s Quentin Johnston has been terrific so far in his junior season, and is making a case to be the first wide receiver off the board. He’s a prototypical X-receiver with his huge 6’4, 215 pound frame, and runs like a deer. Offseason additions Zay Jones and Christian Kirk have done their jobs, but Johnston would give Trevor Lawrence a true threat on the outside.

10. Houston Texans via Cleveland Browns – Peter Skoronski, Offensive Tackle, Northwestern

Adding Peter Skoronski to the Texans offensive line will be a foundational piece to Houston’s rebuild. Skoronski will be a day one starter in Houston that will make an instant impact. He uses his 6’4, 315 pound frame to stop defenders immediately with his strength and leverage. There is rarely a time Skoronski is not playing at a high level. Houston will be happy to add to the trenches on both sides of the ball in the first round.

11. Washington Commanders- Kelee Ringo, Cornerback, Georgia 

Quarterback could very well be in play here, but there are plenty of intriguing prospects to get in the second round. The next glaring need is cornerback. Kelee Ringo has all the traits to be a shutdown cornerback in the NFL. Ringo is a scheme versatile defender that can thrive in both man and zone coverage. In man, he does an effective job of jamming receivers and staying with them downfield. In zone, Ringo changes direction very fluidly when he diagnoses where the ball is going and gets there to make a pass breakup. Ringo would be the ideal player for the Commanders to add to their secondary.

12. New England Patriots – Joey Porter Jr, Cornerback, Penn State

If you built a cornerback for Bill Belichick in a lab it would be Joey Porter Jr. He possesses rare physical tools standing at 6’2, 194 pounds with 35-inch arms. He fits like a glove in Belichick’s man heavy scheme. Porter has been one of the best cover cornerbacks in the nation this season, but his run defense makes him stand out. Porter is one of the most aggressive corner prospects in recent memory. Jonathan Jones and Jack Jones have been breakout stars for the Patriots’ defense, and Porter would round out a phenomenal secondary.

13. Detroit Lions via Los Angeles Rams – Antonio Johnson, Defensive Back, Texas A&M

Detroit has statistically the worst defense in the NFL. Any defensive prospect would make sense at this spot for the Lions. Antonio Johnson may be the most versatile defensive back in the draft. Johnson can play corner, safety, and rover depending on the defensive scheme. The A&M product can cover the entire field and is a sure tackler. Coach Dan Campbell will use Johnson in a variety of ways from day one.