Round 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft officially kicks off Thursday April 27 at 8 P.M. ET LIVE from Kansas City, Missouri. After spending the last couple of months listening to podcasts and reading every article and mock draft I could find on the web (all while analyzing the moves made in the offseason through trades and free agency), I am finally ready to drop my 2023 NFL Mock Draft. A reminder that there are only 31 draft picks listed here as the NFL announced in August that the Miami Dolphins will forfeit their 2023 first-round pick and 2024 third-round pick following an investigation into whether the team violated league policies pertaining to the integrity of the game. With that, let’s dive in!

  1. Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young QB | Alabama

Last month, the Panthers traded receiver DJ Moore (the No. 9 pick), a late second-round pick (No. 61), a 2024 first-round selection, and a 2025 second-round pick to the Bears in exchange for the No. 1 selection and the ability to select their new franchise quarterback, Bryce Young. The last time Carolina took a quarterback with the first overall pick was 2011, selecting Auburn’s Cam Newton. Newton’s measurable’s at the time: 6′ 5″, 245 lbs. Young’s measurable’s: 5′ 10″, 204 lbs soaking wet, holding a brick, standing on his tippy toes. The size concerns are real, but you can’t doubt Young’s production at Alabama. The coaching staff that Carolina has assembled, along with the player acquisitions made in free agency, have put Young in a great position to lead this team to a division title in his rookie year.

2. Houston Texans: Will Anderson Jr. EDGE | Alabama

Houston must be kicking themselves for winning their final game of the 2022-23 season and missing out on the number one overall pick and chance to draft a franchise quarterback in Bryce Young. You might be thinking, “but Rip, CJ Stroud is available so it’s fine,” and you, my friend, would be wrong. While every mock draft under the sun has had some order of Young and Stroud going 1-2 over the last few months, recent rumors are now saying the Texans will NOT take a quarterback at two. Hell of a smoke screen if it’s not true. If that’s indeed the case, they must be thinking defense with one of the top two edge rushers in this year’s class- either Will Anderson Jr. out of Alabama or Tyree Wilson out of Texas Tech. Both players have ties to the Texans, with head coach Demeco Ryans being an Alabama guy himself and Wilson having played college ball in Texas. This is similar to last year’s Travon Walker and Aidan Hutchinson debate. The Lions ultimately ended up with the better player in Hutchinson, who I equate to Anderson. Therefore, I’m going Will over Wilson here.

3. [TRADE w/ Arizona] Tennessee Titans: C.J. Stroud QB | Ohio State

Rip’s first ever mock draft trade, let’s go! I can’t see Arizona sitting and picking at three. The Cardinals might have the worst roster in the league and they could use more draft capital to help fill some of their needs. I’m honestly shocked they haven’t traded down already. Maybe this ends up just being a swap with the Colts instead of a big move down the board. With a lot of teams needing quarterbacks though, I think someone ultimately gets aggressive and trades up. Tennessee has been rumored to be in the quarterback market, with Ryan Tannehill turning 35 before the season starts and 2022 third-round pick Malik Willis having a rough rookie year (not to mention being chosen by the previous regime). How cool would it be for new Titans GM Ran Carthon to make a trade with new Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort on draft day? CJ Stroud was once rumored to be a top two pick, and now he could potentially slide out of the top ten altogether unless someone comes up to get him. Despite a successful college career, Stroud has two things going against him: 1) he’s a former Ohio State quarterback, and 2) he had a low S2 cognitive test score. While there will ultimately be a team out there willing to take a chance on him as the new face of their franchise, history has shown that it doesn’t typically end well given those two factors. Here’s to hoping Stroud is the exception.

4. Indianapolis Colts: Will Levis QB | Kentucky

The Indianapolis Colts have had a different season-opening starting quarterback and a grand total of seven starting quarterbacks since Andrew Luck retired in 2019. That list includes Jacoby Brissett, Brian Hoyer, Phillip Rivers, Carson Wentz, Matt Ryan, Sam Ehlinger, and Nick Foles. It’s time to get some stability at the quarterback position in Indy. Levis has been linked to the Colts throughout the pre-draft process. Indianapolis might look to move up a spot or two to ensure they get him but, if not, they’re still sitting pretty to take him at four. No matter what happens, I feel really good about this match happening on draft day.

5. Seattle Seahawks: Tyree Wilson EDGE | Texas Tech

Seattle on the board with the first of their two first-round draft picks, this one courtesy of the Denver Broncos in the Russell Wilson trade. With 2-3 quarterbacks expected to go before the Seahawks are on the clock, Seattle should have their choice of one of the top defensive prospects. That list includes Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr., Texas Tech’s Tyree Wilson, or Georgia’s Jalen Carter. With Anderson off the board, it’s a coin toss between Wilson and Carter. I’ll go Wilson here in honor of the former Wilson (Russell) who was shipped out to acquire this pick. Keep an eye on Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson or CJ Stroud if he slips. Geno Smith is back after a solid season, but the Seahawks should be keeping an eye on the future and shouldn’t expect to be picking this high anytime soon.

6. Detroit Lions: Jalen Carter DT | Georgia

Oh how the mighty have fallen. Considered the top overall prospect in this entire draft class, Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter may slide on draft day. In addition to struggling at his pro-day, Carter’s been contending with off-field issues following his March 1 arrest for reckless driving and racing charges. Apparently the Lions have done their homework on Carter and would be comfortable taking him anyway. Assuming he can keep his nose clean and play at the level he did at Georgia, the Lions would be getting an absolute steal here. Offensive lines will have their hands full with both Carter and last year’s first round pick, Aidan Hutchinson, coming at them. The Lions could also go the corner route, with both Illinois’s Devon Witherspoon and Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez still on the board. But after signing Cam Sutton, Emmanuel Moseley and CJ Gardner-Johnson in free agency (before shipping Jeff Okudah to the Falcons), it seems the Lions are set in the secondary.

7. Las Vegas Raiders: Devon Witherspoon CB | Illinois

It’s so hard for me to not mock Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson to the Raiders after his combine and pro-day. Just look at the numbers: 6′ 4” 244 lbs, 4.43 forty yard dash, 40.50″ vertical jump and 129″ broad jump… Al Davis is rolling in his grave! Looks like the Raiders will be out on Bryce Young this year after failing to move up to number one overall. Assuming Jimmy G can stay healthy this season, Las Vegas could theoretically be fine at the quarterback position. Therefore we’ll look elsewhere. The biggest weakness on this roster is in the secondary, specifically at cornerback, with names like Duke Shelley, David Long Jr. and Nate Hobbs penciled in as starters. The value with taking Illinois’s Devon Witherspoon or Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez’s matches up beautifully with the Raiders biggest need here. I’ll give Witherspoon the slight edge.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Nolan Smith EDGE | Georgia

The Falcons made some nice moves in the offseason to improve their defense, but have yet to have a player post double-digit sacks since Vic Beasley (15.5) in 2016. Luckily for them, they won’t have to look far for help. Nolan Smith spent the last four years filling up the stat sheet at University of Georgia as a dominant linebacker and pass rusher. Smith may have missed a chunk of the 2022 season due to injury but he showed up big time at the combine, boosting his draft stock and solidifying himself as a top 10-15 selection. Cornerback could be another position to keep an eye on with Christian Gonzalez still on the board (or if Witherspoon is still available), but they just signed Mike Hughes and traded for the former Lions first-round pick, Jeff Okudah. A wild card here is Texas running back Bijan Robinson, a top three player in this draft class at a devalued position. Atlanta head coach, Arthur Smith, had a big-time back in Tennessee by the name of Derrick Henry, and was able to get over 1,000 yards rushing out of 2022 fifth-round pick Tyler Allegier last year. Just imagine what he could do with Robinson.

9. Chicago Bears: Peter Skoronski OT/G | Northwestern

This pick needs to be help for Justin Fields. The Bears snagged a true number one receiver in DJ Moore from Carolina to go along with Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool (who they traded for last year). They also brought in former Packers tight end Robert Tonyan to pair with Cole Kmet. It’s now time to build up that offensive line. Fields was sacked 55 times last year. Despite short arms, Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski can play any position across the line and is arguably the top offensive lineman in this year’s draft class. Unless Jalen Carter somehow makes it down here to nine, I feel really good about Skoronski being the pick.

10. Philadelphia Eagles: Bijan Robinson RB | Texas

A luxury pick for the defending NFC champions, the Eagles’s first of two first-round draft picks comes courtesy of the New Orleans Saints. With Jalen Hurts’s new mega-deal, the Eagles need to start building this roster around their big-money franchise quarterback with cheap draft picks. You have to go all the way back to 1986 for the last time the Eagles drafted a running back in the first round. Look, I get it- it’s not Howie Roseman’s forte. Philadelphia usually stays true to their philosophy and invests high draft picks along the offensive and defensive line. That being said, this is no ordinary year. In what has been deemed a weak draft class, Texas running back Bijan Robinson is arguably one of the top three prospects and one of the highest-rated running backs to come out. The Eagles love to run the ball and just lost Miles Sanders in free agency to the Carolina Panthers. Bijan is a three-down back capable of taking over games. Imagine Bijan and Hurts lining up in the backfield with AJ Brown, Devonta Smith and Dallas Goedert as options in the passing game. I’m drooling just thinking about it. Also keep in mind that Bijan only visited with the Eagles and Bucs during the pre-draft process. I’m just saying!

If the Eagles ultimately go offensive line here, Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski, Ohio State’s Paris Johnson Jr, or Tennessee’s Darnell Wright could all be in play as the eventual successor to Lane Johnson. With the loss of firepower this offseason and some aging vets on their last legs, they could also look at the defensive line. Iowa’s Lukas Van Ness has some versatility to his game and brings that pass-rushing presence Philadelphia covets on that side of the ball.

11. [TRADE w/ Tennessee] Arizona Cardinals: Christian Gonzalez CB | Oregon

The Cardinals move down in this scenario and, as mentioned earlier, have needs across the board. Here they can go ahead and select best player available. There are rumors Arizona could be thinking offensive line with Paris Johnson Jr. in a trade back, but with Kyler expected to miss time after tearing his ACL late in the season, what’s the point? Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez is a top ten talent and would give the team a stud at cornerback that they haven’t had since Patrick Peterson left town.

12. Houston Texans: Jaxon Smith-Njigba WR | Ohio State

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Could the Texans really be planning on not taking a quarterback in the first round at all?! I can understand if you aren’t sold on drafting one at two, but if a top four quarterback prospect is still available at twelve, can you really pass them up? You know what, maybe they do and instead trade back into the late first round / sit tight at the top of round two and grab Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker. No matter who is playing quarterback for the Texans in 2023, they are going to need some more firepower on offense after trading receiver Brandin Cooks to the Dallas Cowboys in the offseason. Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the number one wideout on most scouts and analysts boards. JSN missed all but three games in 2022 due to injury but was very productive playing alongside Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave for Ohio State in 2021. When Wilson and Olave were out, he set a bowl record with 347 receiving yards against Utah in a Rose Bowl win. He should end up going in the top 10-15 picks.

13. Green Bay Packers: Myles Murphy EDGE | Clemson

A-Aron is finally a J-E-T, Jet. The Jets and Packers agreed to a deal that sends quarterback Aaron Rodgers to New York. The Jets also receive the No. 15 pick and a 2023 fifth-round pick. The Packers get the No. 13 pick, second- and sixth-rounders and a conditional 2024 second-round pick that can become a first. The Jordan Love era has officially begun. Green Bay is certainly going to surround their new young franchise quarterback with some weapons, right? Hah! Love is the only first-round offensive player the Packers selected in the last ten years! They actually took two defensive players in the first round last year, former Georgia Bulldog’s Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt. While a receiver like Jaxon Smith-Njigba or a tight end like Dalton Kincaid would be a dream come true for Jordan Love, I’m going defense again. Rashan Gary is coming off a torn ACL and Preston Smith isn’t getting any younger. Clemson edge Myles Murphy looks the part of a Packer pass-rusher and so he’s the pick here at thirteen. Sorry Jordan.

14. New England Patriots: Paris Johnson Jr. OT | Ohio State

The Patriots are a crapshoot to predict. Alabama safety Brian Branch seems like a great fit after Devin McCourty’s retirement this offseason, so maybe they trade back and do that. Over the years, the Patriots have typically drafted offensive/defensive line or wide receiver/cornerback in the first round. While Jaxon Smith-Njigba is still on the board and could be a good fit, the N’Keal Harry flop might be too fresh. They also signed JuJu Smith-Schuster in free agency to man the slot. I do think this pick should be on the offensive side of the ball though to help out their quarterback, Mac Jones. Former 2018 first-round pick Isaiah Wynn was supposed to be the Patriots franchise left tackle and that never came to fruition. Currently, New England has 30-year-old Trent Brown penciled in at LT, who is on the last year of his deal, and Riley Reiff over on the right side, currently on a one-year deal. This is about the range where I expect there to be a run on offensive tackles and so the Patriots kick it off here with the selection of Ohio State’s Paris Johnson Jr.

15. New York Jets: Broderick Jones OT | Georgia

The Jets see their division rivals grab an offensive tackle one spot ahead of them and you better believe GM Joe Douglas is thinking the exact same thing. After a year of injuries and playing musical chairs along that offensive line, New York is desperate for some stability up front, which they’ll need if they want to protect their new quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, and ensure another 7-10 finish! Broderick Jones is the next best tackle on the board and can slide in on the right side, as well as provide insurance for Mekhi Becton on the left side in case he decides to get injured again.

16. Washington Commanders: Dalton Kincaid TE | Utah

After drafting a defensive player five years in a row, the Commanders finally switched to the offensive side of the ball in last year’s draft with Penn State wide receiver Jahan Dotson. Terry McLaurin desperately needed a running mate, but it didn’t matter much with the lack of consistency at the quarterback position in Washington. Carson Wentz proved the Colts were right in moving on, and Taylor Heinicke proved he is an above average backup at best. Luckily they’re both gone. Unluckily, they’re replaced by 2022 fifth-round draft pick, Sam Howell, and journeyman Jacoby Brissett. The Commanders claim to be all-in on Howell, but don’t be surprised if there’s a trade up to grab one of the top four quarterback prospects or if they decide to grab Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker here. With an imminent sale of the team and a head coach most likely on his way out, it probably makes sense to punt on quarterback for at least another year and continue to build up the team for someone you can drop in a year from now. With that, let’s stay on offense. Let’s get this team another weapon in the passing game to help make life easier for Howell (and ultimately their future franchise quarterback not named Howell). Enter Dalton Kincaid. It’s been so frustrating watching Logan Thomas continue to be hurt or inconsistent. Kincaid is an ultra productive pass-catching tight end hailing from Utah, where another former Washington tight end played his college ball. Chris Cooley anyone?

17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Joey Porter Jr. CB | Penn State

This is a fun pick to mock to Pittsburgh, who have a tendency to make moves like this. Just last year they drafted quarterback Kenny Pickett who they got a close look at during his five years at Pitt. Joey Porter Jr. fills a need at cornerback, and the bloodline runs deep with his father having suited up to play linebacker for the Steelers from 1999-2006. Fun fact, there has never been a cornerback from Penn State drafted in the first round.

18. Detroit Lions: Lukas Van Ness EDGE | Iowa

It’s all D in Detroit. After grabbing arguably the best prospect in the draft in Jalen Carter at pick six (courtesy of the LA Rams), the Lions continue to invest in that defensive line with Lukas Van Ness. Van Ness is just scratching the surface of what he’s capable of, after not starting at Iowa and still racking up 13.5 sacks over his two seasons there. NFC North foes beware, there’s a new sheriff in Motown.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Darnell Wright OT | Tennessee

Tampa Bay is a tough team to get a feel for what they might be thinking on draft day. Tom Brady’s retirement left the team in shambles with plenty of needs on both sides of the ball. Could the Bucs be in the quarterback market? The QB depth chart currently only consists of now journey-man, Baker Mayfield, and former 2021 second-round pick, Kyle Trask. Hendon Hooker anyone? It’s possible, but I see a bigger need on the offensive line. Former left tackle Donovan Smith was a cap casualty this offseason, so now it looks like the team plans to shift stud right tackle Tristan Wirfs over to the left side. Matt Feiler is currently penciled in at right tackle, a cap casualty himself of the Chargers. Rather than create a hole on the right side where Wirfs has held things down the last three years, why not go grab this draft’s best pure right tackle prospect in Tennessee’s Darnell Wright so you don’t skip a beat.

20. Seattle Seahawks: Anthony Richardson QB | Florida

Seattle’s back on the clock after addressing defense with Tyree Wilson at pick five. Here I’m thinking we look at the offensive side of the ball. Richardson is still on the board in this scenario, and while I understand the concern with him having just 13 college career starts under his belt (see Mitch Trubisky), the physical traits are off the charts. Richardson would have an opportunity to sit behind Geno Smith for a season or two before taking the NFL by storm. Seattle could take Richardson as early as five, so they are thrilled to land him at twenty. This reminds me of when the Ravens took Hayden Hurst with their first first-round pick back in 2018 and then grabbed Lamar Jackson with their second first round pick. Richardson has a blend of Lamar Jackson and Cam Newton to his game. Let’s hope his NFL career production can be similar.

21. Los Angeles Chargers: Calijah Kancey DT | Pittsburgh

There are a couple of different routes the Chargers could go here at pick 21. A pass catcher is certainly an option with Keenan Allen getting up there in age and struggling to stay healthy. Keep an eye on USC’s Jordan Addison or Boston College’s Zay Flowers. There’s also Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer at tight end who can fill the void the team never quite filled after Hunter Henry bailed. I expect the Chargers will add some firepower on offense, but not at this spot. Los Angeles was fifth worst in rushing yards allowed last season, which continues to be this team’s Achilles heel. The defensive-minded head coach Brandon Staley can’t be happy about that. The Jerry Tillery pick a few years ago never panned out, and so there remains a hole on that defensive line. Pittsburgh’s Calijah Kancey had a monster workout at the combine and some are now comparing him to a poor man’s Aaron Donald, a player Staley is very familiar with, having coached him with the Rams. If Kancey can overcome some of the size concerns scouts have and be even half the player Donald is, the Chargers would be thrilled. Bolt up baby!

22. Baltimore Ravens: Deonte Banks CB | Maryland

I thought Lamar Jackson would be gone by now and that the Ravens would be a team to watch in the Anthony Richardson sweepstakes. While it’s possible Baltimore could still look to address the quarterback position as a safety measure, it’s more likely the team continues to try and build up the talent around Lamar. The OBJ and Nelson Agholor signings in free agency, paired with the returning Rashod Bateman, make me think wide receiver is off the table. The Ravens pride themselves in their defense, particularly their deep secondary. Baltimore doesn’t have much depth behind Marlon Humphrey at corner with Marcus Peters now gone. The Ravens should have plenty of info on cornerback Deonte Banks, who was born and raised in Baltimore and played at Maryland. Banks fits what the Ravens do and has even been compared to Humphrey in the pre-draft process. This makes too much sense.

23. Minnesota Vikings: Hendon Hooker QB | Tennessee

Taking a look at the Minnesota Vikings roster, their two glaring needs are cornerback and wide receiver. It’s easy to project USC’s Jordan Addison or best available corner (in this case I’d say Mississippi State’s Emmanuel Forbes or South Carolina’s Cam Smith) here, but the fact that Minnesota doesn’t have a second round pick makes me think they either want to trade back, or they have to get a quarterback in the first round. I don’t know if you can consider this a fall for Hendon Hooker, since he’s projected by most to be a second round pick after suffering a torn ACL injury toward the end of the season. Oh, and he’s already 25 years old. The reason I can see him sneaking into the backend of the first round is so that the team drafting him gets that fifth-year option. This should be a slightly better pick than Kellen Mond was back in 2021. With Kirk Cousins on the final year of his deal, Hooker can sit behind the vet for a season before stepping into the starting lineup next year at the age of 42.

24. Jacksonville Jaguars: Emmanuel Forbes CB | Mississippi State

Loved seeing Doug Pederson find success in his first year as head coach of the Jaguars last season. This franchise is on the up-and-up with Pederson at the helm and Trevor Laurence leading the way as the franchise quarterback. At first glance there aren’t many holes on this Jacksonville roster. I guess secondary and maybe offensive line? Florida guard O’Cyrus Torrence would be a solid pick here and wouldn’t have to travel far. Alabama safety Brian Branch could also be in play. I think I’m going to go with a cornerback though, with Mississippi State’s Emmanuel Forbes. Shaq Griffin was a cap casualty in the offseason and the previous first-round corners the Jags selected were shipped out of town before their rookie contracts finished out (see Jalen Ramsey and CJ Henderson). While Forbes doesn’t have very much meat on the bone (6’1” 166lbs), the dude has a nose for turning the ball over and scoring when he does. He had 14 interceptions over his three year collegiate career, with six of those being returned for touchdowns.

25. New York Giants: Jordan Addison WR | USC

Danny Dimes is back after signing a four-year, $160 million contract. Whether you believe a top 25 quarterback should be making top 10 dollars is up to you. Just as with the previous four seasons though, the need to surround Jones with more weapons remains. While the Giants brought in a few new faces at wide receiver in Parris Campbell and Jamison Crowder, and brought back guys like Darius Slayton and Sterling Shepard, none of them are real difference makers. USC’s Jordan Addison doesn’t necessarily offer anything different in terms of size (5’11”, 173 lbs), but he is a younger and more explosive option, capable of filling those WR1 shoes in New York. Other options the Giants could explore are offensive line or cornerback.

26. Dallas Cowboys: Michael Mayer TE | Notre Dame

Gotta give credit where credit is due. The Dallas Cowboys have done a nice job drafting in the first round over the years, seemingly always able to land a contributor with their pick. The Cowboys don’t look like they have any glaring weaknesses on their roster since acquiring wide receiver Brandin Cooks and cornerback Stephon Gilmore during the offseason. A major loss they had was tight end Dalton Schultz though who signed with the Houston Texans. Schultz was a big piece of this offense and a favorite weapon of quarterback Dak Prescott. With former offensive coordinator Kellen Moore now in Los Angeles with the Chargers, head coach Mike McCarthy is expected to take over play calling which, in the past, has relied heavily on the tight end position. Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer is a complete tight end who can block and catch. He’s been compared to Jason Witten, which would have Jerry Jones and company excited to bring him aboard. If Bijan Robinson were somehow still on the board when the Cowboys pick, he could be an option as well to replace the loss of Ezekiel Elliott.

27. Buffalo Bills: Quentin Johnston WR | TCU

In listening to the Move the Sticks podcast, Daniel Jeremiah had pitched and now coined the “Mahomes Doctrine.” In a nutshell, this essentially comes down to: it doesn’t matter how many resources you look to put toward your defense to try and stop the Chiefs, they are going to continue to score points on you, so your best bet is to go all-in on offense and try to outscore them. I couldn’t agree more. The Buffalo Bills need to adopt this philosophy. Buffalo, led by defensive-minded head coach Sean McDermott, has been on the cusp of reaching the Super Bowl the last few years, only to fall short in the playoffs against Mahomes and Burrow. The Bills have drafted defense with their top pick in seven of the last eight drafts. Where has that gotten them? Heck, their defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier stepped down this offseason after five years on the job because he’s probably thinking what’s the point! Yes they have Josh Allen, and yes they have Stefon Diggs, but that’s it. They continue to ignore their lack of a running game and they don’t have a capable number two receiver alongside Diggs. This is the year, Bills Mafia. If Bijan Robinson is here, do it. Otherwise be looking to add another explosive weapon in the passing game like TCU’s Quentin Johnston to finally get this team over the hump!

28. Cincinnati Bengals: Jahmyr Gibbs RB | Alabama

Would have loved to see Dalton Kincaid available here to catch passes from Joe Burrow. Maybe the Bengals opt for Georgia tight end Darnell Washington instead. Regardless, the Bengals should read what I wrote for the Bills and be thinking offense if they hope to best the Chiefs. The Bengals look good on defense; some depth couldn’t hurt but it’s not pressing. At this point you would be taking the forth or fifth best corner or d-lineman anyway. A lot of mocks have Cincy going o-line and taking a tackle. If Jonah Williams ultimately gets traded, then sure, maybe, but the team just signed Orlando Brown Jr. and went out and got La’el Collins last offseason. What if we got Joe Burrow yet another weapon. Insert Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs. Another running back in round one?! I’m telling ya, this is not going to be your typical draft this year. Gibbs is an Alvin Kamara clone but a little smaller. He would give the Bengals offense something new with his ability to run and catch out of the backfield. Cincinnati lost Samaje Perine during the offseason while Joe Mixon had a down year last year. In fact, Mixon doesn’t have much going for him right now between a drop in production, his age, contract and recent off-the-field issues. Gibbs has been gaining steam lately and should come off the board somewhere towards the end of the first round.

29. New Orleans Saints: Bryan Bresee DT | Clemson

Luckily the Saints were able to steal this first-round pick from the Denver Broncos in the Sean Payton trade. I really liked the move this offseason to bring in Derek Carr to play quarterback. New Orleans has a playoff caliber roster in what is not only a weak division but a weak conference. Still, the Saints could look to improve their defensive line. New Orleans lost Marcus Davenport, David Onyemata, and Shy Tuttle in free agency. Meanwhile, Cam Jordan will turn 34 before the season begins. While Nathan Shepherd and Khalen Saunders were good signings as rotational pieces, this team needs some quality starters up front. Saints GM Mickey Loomis knows what he wants and sometimes that’s players that are a little unconventional, so there are a bunch of different names you could throw out here. At edge, some names that could go late first round include Kansas State’s Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Georgia Tech’s Keion White, or Iowa State’s Will McDonald IV. At defensive tackle, some names that could go late first round include Michigan’s Mazi Smith, Clemson’s Bryan Bresee and Northwestern’s Adetomiwa Adebawore. Bresee is the pick here, he’s a former top recruit that has been a solid player for the Tigers. While he’s dealt with his fair share of injuries and inconsistency in his collegiate career, his potential is worth taking a chance on as he could end up being one of the top 10 players in this draft class.

30. Philadelphia Eagles: Brian Branch S | Alabama

Oh yeah, this draft is going to get weird. The Eagles can go ahead and throw their script right out the door this year. I have Philly taking a chapter out of the Ravens playbook from last year’s draft, when Baltimore went best player available with both safety Kyle Hamilton and center Tyler Linderbaum despite their positional value. Safety Brian Branch was a stud at Alabama and is easily a top 15 player in this draft class, but few teams have a burning need at safety or want to spend a first round pick there. That is not the case in Philadelphia, who have a need and an extra first-round pick to do it. After losing both C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the Lions and Marcus Epps to the Raiders, the Eagles current starting safeties are former Steeler Terrell Edmunds and Reed Blankenship. The Eagles haven’t had a difference maker at the safety position in years. That’s no longer the case with Branch in the fold.

31. Kansas City Chiefs: Zay Flowers WR | Boston College

Last but not least, the Kansas City Chiefs. The defending Super Bowl champs are in a position to draft best available player. While depth on the offensive or defensive line would be nice, adding another weapon to the passing game is too tempting to pass up. Boston College’s Zay Flowers is no Tyreek Hill, but boy is he close. Plopping Flowers into an Andy Reid offense that already includes Kadarius Toney, Skyy Moore and Travis Kelce, Lord have mercy. There’s no way he makes it this far come draft day, so don’t be surprised if Kansas City trades up to get him.