Welcome to the first round of the 17th annual SB Nation NFL community mock draft

Excitement is building for the 2023 NFL Draft, and our team communities have you covered with all of the predictions, analysis, and scouting reports you need to get ready for the big weekend. That includes our SB Nation Team Communities Mock Draft.

If you’ve somehow missed the past 16 years of this mock draft, let’s get you up to speed: Our 32 NFL communities (well, the ones that cover teams with first-round picks, anyway) select the player(s) they think make the most sense for their teams to draft and share the thought process behind those picks. We collect all of those picks here, linking out to the full analysis on each site.

Following the Panthers’ blockbuster trade with the Bears that put them in the No. 1 spot for the 2023 draft, Cat Scratch Reader held the No. 1 pick. We know the Panthers are going to take a quarterback, but which one?

While the Panthers are mum on who they want to take at No. 1 as of this writing, we believe they already have their minds made up, and that’s for former Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud. Stroud posted a stat line of 575 completions on 830 attempts for 8,123 passing yards and 85 touchdowns with only 12 interceptions as pretty much the consensus best pocket passer in this draft. One of the main concerns with Stroud pre-draft is making plays outside of structure and using his legs, however he demonstrated there’s more to his game there against Georgia in the Peach Bowl last season. - Brian Beversluis, Cat Scratch Reader

... he could flourish placed behind the highest paid left tackle in the NFL, Laremy Tunsil, and protected by the rest of the rebuilt Houston offensive line. Handing the ball off to the 1-2 punch of Dameon Pierce and Devin Singletary. Throwing the ball to Nico Collins, John Metchie and whomever the Texans draft after Young. Hitting his safety valve Dalton Shultz in stride for major first downs. It’s time to finally imagine a potent Houston Texans offense, and drafting Bryce Young makes that vision possible. - Mike Bullock, Battle Red Blog

The 21-year-old Anderson is one of the most productive pass rushers in college football history and had one of the single best seasons in 2021 when he posted an astounding 17.5 sacks, 31 tackles for loss and 101 total tackles and finished fifth in the Heisman voting.

We tried to talk with the Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawks, and Las Vegas Raiders to trade back in the first round, but no one wanted to bite. - Seth Cox, Revenge of the Birds

His floor?

It could be really bad. He has very little starting experience at Florida and will likely need time to adjust to the NFL game and the complexity of NFL schemes. His accuracy has been discussed consistently. Those reviewing the tape often conclude that those issues are overstated, but perhaps that’s easy to do with such an impressive athlete. ...

His ceiling? Lamar Jackson joined Tom Brady as a unanimous NFL MVP in his second season. Richardson is unlikely to get to that level so fast, but he is bigger and stronger than Jackson, has the same kind of athleticism, has a bigger arm than Jackson, and could become a better player than Jackson. If Jackson won an MVP, it’s not outlandish to suggest that if Richardson reaches his ceiling, he could be one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL for a long time. - Brett Mock, Stampede Blue

They need defensive linemen, dammit!

Seriously! They let go of Shelby Harris, Al Woods, Quinton Jefferson, and (thus far) haven’t re-signed Poona Ford. Their only defensive linemen are Myles Adams, Bryan Mone (out with a torn ACL), Jarrod Hewitt, Dre’Mont Jones, and Jarran Reed.

They’re not short on outside linebackers (e.g. Darrell Taylor, Boye Mafe, Uchenna Nwosu) but I don’t think Wilson best projects as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. I can’t imagine being this thin along the defensive line and not using at least one first-round pick at that position. - Mookie Alexander, Field Gulls

Blessed with an elite combination of power and athleticism, Carter has the unique ability to be impactful as both a pass rusher and run defender. He possesses a next-level first step and is quickly into his first pass rush move while the offensive lineman is still working to get out of his stance. He is devastatingly accurate with his hand placement and his lower body power complements this in a beautiful symphony of destruction.

While on the field, Carter is a clean prospect, recent off-the-field events—misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and racing in an incident that involved two fatalities, as well as a poor performance at his pro day—have raised potential red flags surrounding his character. The Lions have scheduled Carter for a top 30 visit, and his explanation of the events could go a long way in determining if he stays on the Lions’ draft board. - Erik Schlitt, Pride of Detroit

Meanwhile, Gonzalez had four picks in 12 games for Oregon last season, so he is a ballhawk the Raiders defense needs right now. Head coach Josh McDaniels said as much at the NFL Combine, stating:

“When you talk about certain players that you’re trying to add to your roster, you know, explosive players on offense or defense, I mean, that’s what our league is now. ... It’s more of an ability to make plays with the ball in your hands or to create disruptive plays on defense.”

Gonzalez also has excellent ball skills outside of just creating turnovers. He racked up seven pass breakups in Eugene last fall, which is something else the Raiders’ defensive backs are lacking. - Matt Holder, Silver & Black Pride

Adding Bijan to Atlanta’s offense would give the Falcons three potential stars: Kyle Pitts at tight end, Drake London at wide receiver, and Bijan Robinson at running back. He wouldn’t have to carry a massive workload as a runner thanks to the presence of Tyler Allgeier—who should still receive a good portion of the snaps. That should help extend his career as opposed to the traditional “run him into the ground” method employed by most teams. Bijan would bring so much dynamic athleticism to the backfield and the receiving game. Given Arthur Smith’s creative usage of Cordarrelle Patterson, I have no doubt that Bijan would get plenty of opportunities in the passing game.

It’s not the biggest need for the Falcons, and it’s not the best “value” on the board in a traditional sense. But Bijan is, objectively, the most talented player available and would slot right into an offense that would take full advantage of his talents. No other offensive player would “move the needle” for the Falcons offense more than Bijan Robinson in 2023, and I can’t think of a better way to take pressure off of Desmond Ridder than to give him the NFL’s best RB tandem. - Kevin Knight, The Falcoholic

Johnson manned the left tackle spot for the Buckeyes in 2022, but in 2021 he started 13 games at right guard, and he played in five games at guard as a true freshman in 2020. His length means he’s most likely an NFL tackle, but his versatility is a plus, as is an entire season working from a right-handed stance. The Bears were comfortable with rookie Braxton Jones at left tackle a season ago, but they aren’t married to the notion that he stays on the left with a rookie starting on the right side. ...

If Johnson is Chicago’s first-round draft pick, he’d immediately slot into a starting tackle spot, and whether it’s the right or left side, he’ll have a full offseason to hone his technique and get ready for the 2023 season. - Lester Wiltfong Jr., Windy City Gridiron

There are some questions about how Smith projects to the NFL considering his size. But he’s only an inch shorter and eight pounds lighter than Micah Parsons’ listed measurements from the NFL Combine. Smith’s actually an inch taller than Haason Reddick and just two pounds lighter. There’s reason to believe he can follow in their footsteps and utilize his elite athleticism to wreak havoc as both a pass rusher and run defender.

There’s also reason to believe in his character. The Eagles have made good bets on prospects like this in recent years. Jalen Hurts is a dog. DeVonta is a dog. Those are just two examples of dudes you do not want to bet against. They ooze Big Winner Energy. By all accounts, Smith checks all the boxes in that regard. Just look at the intensity and passion he plays with. He’s fearless. That’s a guy you want on your team. - Brandon Lee Gowton, Bleeding Green Nation

If the Titans are going to be a legitimate Super Bowl contender with Ryan Tannehill under center they are going to have to be great around him. That is why the pick here is Smith-Njigba. The 2021 receiver group at Ohio State included JSN, Garrett Wilson, and Chris Olave. Wilson and Olave were both first-round draft picks in 2022 and had outstanding rookie seasons. There are plenty of people who say JSN was the best player in that group.

The only thing that is keeping JSN from being in the conversation as a top 10 pick in this draft is the fact that he was only able to play in three games in the 2022 season for the Buckeyes. Back in 2021, he had 95 catches for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns while sharing targets with both Wilson and Olave. - Jimmy Morris, Music City Miracles

Addison is a fantastic route runner who possesses elite acceleration and can create yards after the catch with ease. Some teams may have an issue with Addison’s smaller frame, but the potential reward may outweigh the potential risk. Addison is also a very versatile player who possesses the ability to play on the inside or outside. ...

The Texans had one of, if not the worst passing games in football last season and are in desperate need of young talent on offense. Addison would be an instant upgrade and would join Robert Woods, Nico Collins, Amari Rodgers and John Metchie III if he is cleared. - Nick Schwager, Battle Red Blog

The Northwestern tackle profiles to be as much of a plug and play prospect as is possible. He lacks the ideal length for the tackle position, but he has everything else you would want to see from a player at the position. Skoronski falling to the Jets at 13 overall is a dream scenario. I think the Jets would run the card up to the podium if they saw him still on the board as they made their pick.

Skoronski on the line makes everything easier for the Jets. Vera-Tucker stays at guard. The other tackle position remains a bit of a question mark, but it’s easier to hope to cobble together 17 games out of the Brown/Becton/Mitchell trio than it is to need two of them to start over a full season. - John Butchko, Gang Green Nation

Why is Broderick Jones the newest Patriot? Because he provides the biggest upside at the biggest position of need. To have a guy with the athleticism and power of Jones, plus the upside of having limited time starting in college, makes this the best pick for the Patriots.

Bill Belichick typically goes for experienced players, especially early in the draft, but Jones is a unique case. He does bring some experience with him — on a two-time National Championship team in college football’s best conference — while also being young and raw enough to be molded into an even better pro. - Pat Lane, Pats Pulpit

We know that the Packers are considering taking a pass rusher high in the draft, as the team has scheduled visits with both Iowa State’s Will McDonald IV and Georgia Tech’s Keion White, who are both considered second-round picks on the consensus draft board. Not to sound like a broken record here, but you can find receivers outside of the first round, as we all saw in 2022 when Green Bay took Christian Watson on Day 2 and Romeo Doubs on Day 3. The same cannot be said about edge rushers — at least consistently — as the athletically demanding position often sees its difference-makers fly off the board early and often. ...

Despite his mid-2022 ACL tear, the assumption is that the Packers are going to pay former 12th overall pick Gary this offseason by giving him a long-term contract that should provide Green Bay with some cap relief in the short term. Meanwhile, Preston Smith — the Packers’ edge-setting drop outside linebacker — can be released or traded as soon as the 2024 season for cap relief. If Green Bay didn’t have Gary, we probably would have taken Van Ness to fill that role as the team’s designated pass rusher, but Murphy probably fits better as “the Preston replacement” out of the two options. - Justis Mosqueda, Acme Packing Company

This year’s focus has been on improving the offensive line and the secondary with Washington’s first-round pick. The Commanders added two offensive linemen in free agency and claimed a cornerback, but they are still expected to add more players to the positions. This year’s mock draft had some surprises, like Bijan Robinson going to the Falcons at No. 8, and Washington’s position was helped with a pair of WRs going before No. 16. Three of the top offensive linemen were off the board, while only one cornerback had been selected. Devon Witherspoon stood out as the top player available, and he was an easy choice at this spot. I did put the pick up for trade offers, but nobody jumped at the chance for Witherspoon or QB Will Levis.

The talent is there to be the best cornerback in the draft. Washington ended the William Jackson III experiment last year and relied heavily on Kendall Fuller, who will be a free agent after this season. Benjamin St-Juste improved last year, but injuries cut another season short. Washington’s cornerback depth chart is full of young players and Danny Johnson, and they need an influx of talent. - Scott Jennings, Hogs Haven

On film, Joey Porter Jr. operates as a lockdown specialist, knocking receivers off their routes in press-man coverage and expertly mirroring throughout the route. In zone, Porter displays the quick processing ability to break hard on routes underneath and the eye discipline to maintain positioning on double moves and deep routes. He is physical at the catch-point as well, as evidenced by an impressive 11 passes defended in 2022. He is also an eager participant in run support and a sure tackler on the perimeter.

The only true knock on Porter coming out is a lack of ball production with just a single career interception at the collegiate level, and zero in his final season at PSU. Despite this concern, it’s hard to not get excited about his physical style of play and his ability to affect the catch with regularity. - Jeremy Betz, Behind the Steel Curtain

At 6’5, 333 pounds, Wright’s skills are highlighted by his power, balance, and athleticism. Wright’s power is undeniable. He generates energy from his base and distributes it in a variety of ways. When in pass pro, he patiently waits for the rusher to get close then strikes with power into their chest. In the run game, he seeks and destroys, looking to overwhelm defenders with his frame. Wright’s running game skill set is ideally suited for the Lions’ gap/power offensive blocking scheme which should unlock elements of his game that were not featured at Tennessee.

Wright’s balance is an underrated part of his game, but it’s a completely vital trait. He kick slides easily and can get to his spot ahead of even some of the quickest edge defenders. When on the move, his balance allows him to harness his momentum without losing speed. If Wright does get off balance and overextends, his ability to recover is at an NFL-starter level already. - Erik Schlitt, Pride of Detroit

Kancey, the 6’1 280-pound junior from Miami, has the combination of speed and power that Todd Bowles would love to add to the front three. With Logan Hall — last year’s first pick of the second round — still being a question mark and not showing the growth in his rookie season you would have hoped for, Kancey is an immediate plug-and-play guy.

With a 4.67-second 40 and a 1.64-second 10-yard split, Kancey has some explosion in him that the Bucs would gladly welcome to their defense. In three seasons as a Pitt Panther, Kancey racked up 34.5 tackles for loss and 16 sacks, getting 14.5 of those in his second and third years. - James Yarcho, Bucs Nation

So, in short, the pick made at one of the positions with the lowest expected returns, but with hopes that Mayer can develop into the third receiving target for Geno Smith. Mayer fills a role the Seahawks have long needed behind Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf, while also providing support as a blocker as needed.

In addition, it’s a selection that not only considers 2023, but also looks forward to 2024. With both Colby Parkinson and Noah Fant set to be unrestricted free agents next offseason, the Hawks will need to address the position, and the sooner the better. Many fans will likely argue that the team can wait until 2024 to replace Parkinson and Fant, but the reality is that rookie tight ends often don’t provide significant production. Since the 2011 CBA reduced offseason practice time and slowed player development curves, 169 tight ends have been drafted. Of those 169, just 35 recorded 250 or more receiving yards as rookies. - John Gilbert, Field Gulls

Both Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are both set to have cap hits of over $30 million in 2024. Unless a miracle happens, it’s unlikely both players will be on the team a year from now. After the two combined to miss 11 games in 2022, the Chargers can’t risk heading into a pivotal year without adding reinforcements to the position group. As it stands, John Hightower and Keelan Doss are the team’s only backups behind Allen, Williams, and Josh Palmer.

While Flowers doesn’t necessarily meet the usual size thresholds of a Tom Telesco receiver, he’s exactly what this team has been missing for a long time. The Chargers have been trying to get it done through the air with physical, possession-type receivers and that’s just not the way the modern NFL game is won. The Chiefs have terrorized NFL defenses by utilizing players with dynamic athleticism in the open field. - Michael Peterson, Bolts From the Blue

On the Beatdown Big Board, Banks was our No. 1 player remaining. Combine Banks being the best player available with him playing cornerback, the position the Ravens have the greatest need at, and it’s a home-run pick.

Banks joins a Ravens defense that will relish his tough style of play. But toughness and tenacity isn’t the lone attribute of Banks, with his size, speed (4.35s 40-time) and agility combining into a prototypical cornerback that can mesh well in any system. Banks has demonstrated over the course of his college career that he’s capable of the professional leap; and with his traits and tools at the No. 2 spot for the Ravens, their secondary could be a resounding top five unit in 2023. - Kyle Barber, Baltimore Beatdown

Levis would be the fifth quarterback drafted by the Vikings in the first round in franchise history, following Tommy Kramer, Daunte Culpepper, Christian Ponder, and Teddy Bridgewater. Because both Ponder and Bridgewater could be considered “misses” in terms of success with the Vikings ... the latter largely for reasons that were out of his control ... Culpepper is the last real “franchise” quarterback the Vikings have drafted and developed, and his selection came nearly a quarter of a century ago. Since then, the quarterback position for Minnesota has mostly been a collection of stopgap solutions, or at least it was prior to the Cousins signing in 2018.

Taking Levis in this scenario would truly allow Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell to put their stamp on this team going forward. Their long-term futures with the Vikings and the long-term success of the franchise will, largely, be determined by their success at the quarterback position, as is the case with most teams. If they can strike gold with a prospect like Will Levis, those two men will be running things in Minnesota for many years to come. - Christopher Gates, Daily Norseman

While some might think spending a first-round pick on a nickel corner seems like a pass on value, you have to remember with how the modern NFL operates on offense, defenses are in a formation with five defensive backs a lot of the time. It’s one area the Jaguars struggled big time with in 2022 as well. When teams got pass-happy and the pass rush wasn’t getting home, the inside of the field got picked on quite a bit, especially after Darious Williams was shifted to the outside corner position.

At 6’ and 190 pounds, Branch is about the perfect size for an inside corner and has excelled at playing man-to-man in the slot in Alabama’s defense. While his 40 time leaves something to be desired at only 4.58 seconds, he does a great job in short areas and locking on targets on the inside of the field. He’s also a willing run defender who can be a violent tackler to boot. - Alfie Crow, Big Cat Country

The choice would be Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes. Yes, he’s just 166 pounds. He is, though, a ball-hawking cornerback with man-to-man coverage skills and excellent instincts. The Giants need a cornerback who can not only cover, but who can turn the ball over. Forbes had 14 interceptions, six returned for touchdowns, in college. - Ed Valentine, Big Blue View

What the hope is with Johnston is that the Cowboys are getting a package of size and speed that may resemble A.J. Brown or other bigger receivers. Johnston is big (6’3 and 208 pounds) plus has an enormous wingspan. He was very productive in college at TCU and was known for big plays deep, and his ability to get yards after the catch (8.9 YAC in 2022, second-best in top-level college football). Johnston has speed once he gets his long strides in gear and has played both outside and inside. It all sounds great except for one thing.

Johnston has been plagued by the one big no-no at his position: dropping passes. He loses focus, he can use poor technique, and he should be better with contested catches; without this issue he would be a much higher-graded prospect. Can NFL coaches make him better in this phase of the game? That’s the big question, because physically he is everything you would want in an NFL receiver. He’s also reportedly an unselfish, anti-diva receiver who was a team captain. - Dave Halprin, Blogging the Boys

At 6’4 and 235 pounds, with 32 1/8” arms and 9 3/4” hands, Drew Sanders has the requisite size to play the integral role of a three-down MIKE linebacker in the NFL. He’s an elite playmaker who began his college career with Alabama as an edge rusher for the Crimson Tide. Sanders eventually transferred to Arkansas for the 2022 season to play inside linebacker — and he found immediate success as an off-ball playmaker.

That lone season with the Razorbacks Sanders made 103 total tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, one interception, five passes defended, and three forced fumbles. For his efforts in 2022, Sanders was named an unanimous All-American and received First-Team All-SEC honors by the Associated Press, Coaches, Pro Football Focus, and USA Today. - Matt Byham, Buffalo Rumblings

The 6’4, 246-pound Kincaid is arguably the best in this year’s loaded tight end class, though a lingering back injury kept him from working out at the NFL Combine and has led to concern he may fall to the Bengals and possibly out of Round 1.

Thankfully, Kincaid passed his most recent physical and is cleared for next season, so he should be ready to roll when training camp begins.

When healthy, there’s no question Kincaid is an NFL tight end. He’s coming off one of the most dominant seasons by a college tight end in recent memory, hauling in 70 passes for 890 yards and eight touchdowns for a Utah team that won the Pac-12.

Kincaid’s NFL.com pro comparison is Zach Ertz, one of the NFL’s best tight ends of the last decade. Ironically, Ertz helped the Philadelphia Eagles win their first Super Bowl, and Kincaid certainly has the potential to help the Bengals claim their first Lombardi Trophy. - Jason Marcum, Cincy Jungle

Van Ness has tons of potential in this Saints defense, especially when you consider Lukas can play inside with free agent Khalen Saunders. When watching the tape on Van Ness, immediately the first thing that stands out to me is his pure strength and his motor to be all over the field and chase down the ball carriers stands out noticeably.

Running a 4.58 at the NFL combine earlier this year Van Ness has both speed on the edge or pure strength to play inside and handle his own. With only two seasons under his belt playing both positions at Iowa, Lukas could be considered “raw” still, in the sense of lacking the experience right now in recognizing blocking schemes, and his pass rush skillset might be limited. But who better to learn from than a future Hall of Famer and all-time franchise sack leader Cam Jordan? - Alec Salas, Canal Street Chronicles

Let’s not sugarcoat this: Quez Watkins failed to prove himself as a trustworthy option last season. He was very detrimental to the team’s chances of winning in three out of their four total losses. And in the one loss where he wasn’t responsible for an obviously awful play, he saw one target and didn’t log a catch.

It doesn’t make sense to have Watkins carrying the 18th-highest cap number on this year’s roster. Especially when he’s on the final year of his contract and can be released or traded to clear $2.743 million with only $42,415 in dead money.

Hyatt has the opportunity to be an upgrade on Watkins. The 21-year-old is coming off a season where he logged 67 receptions for 1,267 yards (18.9 average!) and 15 touchdowns. He’s drawn comparisons to elite deep threats like DeSean Jackson and Will Fuller V. - Brandon Lee Gowton, Bleeding Green Nation

I chose Harrison over prospects like defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah, offensive tackle Dawand Jones, defensive tackle Bryan Bresee and tight end Darnell Washington. The the first-round worthy wide receivers had all been selected — although wide receiver Joshua Downs was still on the board.

I believe this is very good value for Harrison. This is a top-heavy offensive tackle class, and Harrison is a part of that. In this mock draft, four offensive tackles had been selected by Pick 18. Harrison was the next off the board at 31. I don’t think Kansas City would gets that lucky again; one or two more could have be taken at that position before the end of the round. - Ron Kopp, Arrowhead Pride