With the NFL season greater than midway full, it’s time to begin fascinated by the 2023 draft.
Here are The Baltimore Sun’s projections for the primary spherical, which begins April 27 in Kansas City.
Note: Pick order is decided by ESPN’s Football Power Index, which simulates the rest of the season 10,000 instances.
1. Houston Texans: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
The solely knock on Young is one thing out of his management: measurement. The 6-foot, 194-pound Crimson Tide star excels in nearly each space, with the power to scramble, scan the sphere and ship correct throws beneath stress. With Davis Mills struggling in his second season because the starter, it’s time for Houston to draft its quarterback of the long run.
2. Carolina Panthers: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
The final time the Panthers had the prospect to take an Ohio State quarterback within the first spherical, they handed on Justin Fields. Carolina can’t make the identical mistake twice. While the 6-3, 218-pound Stroud lacks a number of the creativity and scrambling potential of his friends, he’s an distinctive pocket passer who avoids sacks and makes correct throws downfield.
3. Seattle Seahawks (through Denver Broncos): Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama
Landing maybe the very best total prospect within the draft as a part of the Russell Wilson commerce could be icing on the cake for Seattle. While Anderson isn’t bodily imposing at 6-4, 243 kilos, he’s remarkably robust for his measurement and makes use of his leverage to push the pocket and defend the run.
4. Chicago Bears: Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
The 6-3, 300-pound Carter has been slowed by a knee harm this season, however he’s a game-wrecking drive when wholesome and might need been the very best defender on an all-time nice nationwide championship workforce in 2021. The Bears desperately want a bodily presence in the course of their protection.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers: Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
While T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith type a formidable duo at outdoors linebacker, the Steelers might use one other large physique on the defensive position. The 6-5, 275-pound Murphy, who leads the Tigers in tackles for loss (9) and sacks (5 1/2), is an distinctive athlete.
6. Las Vegas Raiders: Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
Outside of star edge rusher Maxx Crosby, the Raiders’ protection has been disappointing, to say the least. At 6-5, 300 kilos, the previous prime total highschool prospect out of Damascus is as disruptive as they arrive.
7. Detroit Lions: Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
The Lions’ prime precedence ought to be fixing one of many league’s worst defenses. The 6-2, 210-pound Ringo, who made the game-clinching pick-six within the 2021 nationwide title recreation, performs with the type of physicality coach Dan Campbell would love.
8. Philadelphia Eagles (through New Orleans Saints): Peter Skoronski, OT/G, Northwestern
The Eagles satisfaction themselves on having one of many league’s finest offensive strains and may wish reinforcements this offseason. The 6-4, 315-pound Skoronski is placing collectively a dominant season, permitting simply 5 pressures on 383 pass-blocking snaps, in keeping with Pro Football Focus.
9. Detroit Lions (through Los Angeles Rams): Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
A working again hasn’t been drafted within the prime 10 since Saquon Barkley in 2018, however Robinson might finish that streak. The 6-foot, 220-pound Longhorns star would give the Lions among the finest teams of skill-position gamers within the league, making life simpler for quarterback Jared Goff or his potential substitute.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
For quarterback Trevor Lawrence to succeed in his full potential, he wants a full complement of weapons round him. A robust run blocker and receiving risk, the 6-4, 265-pound Mayer is among the finest tight finish prospects in years.
11. Houston Texans (through Cleveland Browns): Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
The 6-4, 215-pound Johnston is dynamic within the open discipline, forcing 41 missed tackles on 97 profession receptions, in keeping with PFF. He’d give the Texans the skin risk they’ve been missing since buying and selling DeAndre Hopkins.
12. Atlanta Falcons: Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia
Atlanta discovered a pleasant pair of rookie go rushers in Arnold Ebiketie and Deangelo Malone, however they shouldn’t cease there. While a season-ending pectoral harm might bump him down draft boards, the 6-3, 235-pound Smith has the velocity and athleticism price betting on.
13. Arizona Cardinals: Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
There’s loads of blame to go round for the Cardinals’ struggles on offense, and the road deserves loads of it. The 6-6, 310-pound Johnson moved from proper guard to left sort out this season and has allowed solely eight pressures on 286 pass-blocking snaps, in keeping with PFF.
14. Indianapolis Colts: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
The Colts’ recreation of musical chairs with veteran quarterbacks wants to finish in some unspecified time in the future. While the 6-3, 232-pound Levis has taken a step again after a productive 2021 season, he nonetheless has the arm energy, measurement and speeding potential to turn into a star on the subsequent stage.
15. Green Bay Packers: Jordan Addison, WR, USC
Maybe that is lastly the yr the Packers take a large receiver within the first spherical. What the 6-foot, 175-pound Addison lacks in measurement, he greater than makes up for with the power to separate downfield.
16. New England Patriots: Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
The Patriots have at all times been keen to put money into defensive backs beneath coach Bill Belichick’s tenure. The 6-2, 194-pound Porter, the son of the previous Steelers linebacker, has been a lockdown defender all through his school profession.
17. Washington Commanders: Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
While quarterback stays the obvious want, the Commanders would do effectively to improve a disappointing secondary. The 6-foot, 188-pound Smith is an aggressive man-to-man nook who’s allowed simply 9 catches on 22 targets this season, in keeping with PFF.
18. Los Angeles Chargers: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
The Chargers could be dealing with the age-old dilemma for his or her star quarterback: improve the offensive line round Justin Herbert, or give him extra receiving expertise? Given how sometimes Mike Williams and Keenan Allen see the sphere due to accidents, including a wideout may take advantage of sense. The 6-1, 200-pound Smith-Njigba’s season has been derailed by a hamstring harm, however he’s an impressive slot weapon when wholesome.
19. Seattle Seahawks: Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson
Simpson isn’t your typical off-ball linebacker; the 6-3, 240-pound Clemson star is great in protection and may even blitz off the sting. The Seahawks might use a rangy playmaker in the course of their protection with 2020 first-round choose Jordyn Brooks struggling by means of his first three seasons.
20. Tennessee Titans: Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State
With left sort out Taylor Lewan’s long-term well being in query after a season-ending knee harm and former prime picks Nicholas Petit-Frere and Dillon Radunz struggling, the Titans want a cornerstone on the offensive line. The 6-6, 308-pound Fashanu has been a revelation this season, permitting no sacks, one hit and solely six hurries on 299 pass-blocking snaps, in keeping with PFF.
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Brian Branch, DB, Alabama
Even if the Bengals deliver again star security Jessie Bates III, they might use an improve within the secondary. The 6-foot, 193-pound Branch can line up as a slot defender or free security and would pair effectively with 2021 first-round choose Dax Hill within the again finish of the protection.
22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech
Depending on the place they choose and Tom Brady’s retirement plans, the Bucs might choose a quarterback within the first spherical. However, the abundance of defensive expertise will probably be laborious to go up. The 6-6, 275-pound Wilson has racked up 47 pressures this season, in keeping with PFF.
23. New York Jets: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
With former prime choose Mekhi Becton coping with accidents and their different tackles struggling, the Jets want an improve on the offensive line. The 6-4, 310-pound Jones is a former prime recruit who has grown right into a dominant participant at left sort out for the defending champion Bulldogs.
24. New York Giants: O’Cyrus Torrence, G, Florida
The Giants have their bookend tackles of the long run in Andrew Thomas and Evan Neal; now it’s time to improve the inside of the offensive line. The 6-5, 347-pound Torrence has solely improved in opposition to SEC competitors after transferring from Louisiana.
25. Denver Broncos (through San Francisco 49ers): Isaiah Foskey, EDGE, Notre Dame
After buying and selling Bradley Chubb to the Dolphins, the Broncos have a transparent want at edge rusher. The 6-5, 265-pound Foskey leads the Fighting Irish in tackles for loss (9) and sacks (7) this season and is a robust run defender.
26. Miami Dolphins (forfeited)
27. Baltimore Ravens: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
It’s probably not draft season till Ravens followers begin fascinated by extensive receivers, however there isn’t a first-round expertise who is sensible on this vary. With Marcus Peters getting into free company and rookies Damarion “Pepe” Williams and Jalyn Armour-Davis struggling of their first season, cornerback might turn into a giant want fairly rapidly. The 6-2, 201-pound Gonzalez is the top-rated cornerback prospect in keeping with The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, who says the Ducks star “is long, athletic and can run, which is a great foundation for a man-coverage corner in the NFL.”
28. Dallas Cowboys: Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
With Dalton Schultz hitting free company, the Cowboys might need a gap to fill at tight finish. The 6-7, 270-pound Washington solely has 41 catches in three seasons, however he’s made probably the most of his restricted alternatives, averaging 17.4 yards per reception. He’s a dominant blocker and an enormous mismatch in opposition to defensive backs, particularly within the pink zone.
29. Minnesota Vikings: Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah
The solely factor retaining the 5-10, 185-pound Phillips from being a first-round lock is his lack of measurement; he’s tied for the nationwide lead with 5 interceptions, together with two pick-sixes. With Patrick Peterson and Chandon Sullivan hitting free company, the Vikings want one other nook to pair with younger constructing blocks Cameron Dantzler and Andrew Booth.
30. Buffalo Bills: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama
The Bills’ want for a working again has been well-documented. With Devin Singletary hitting free company, they might pounce on one within the first spherical. With his imaginative and prescient and pass-catching potential, the 5-11, 200-pound Gibbs has drawn comparisons to Saints star Alvin Kamara, who Buffalo reportedly tried to accumulate earlier than the commerce deadline.
31. Philadelphia Eagles: Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M
While the Eagles look Super Bowl-bound this season, a number of of their prime gamers are set to hit the open market. That consists of beginning safeties Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and Marcus Epps, amongst different key defenders. The 6-3, 195-pound Johnson is an instinctive participant who could make performs close to the road of scrimmage and canopy deep.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: BJ Ojulari, EDGE, LSU
Outside of star sort out Chris Jones, the Chiefs’ defensive position has been underwhelming this season. The 6-3, 250-pound Ojulari has been a constant go rusher for LSU, utilizing his velocity and bend to rack up 117 pressures in three seasons, in keeping with PFF.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com