NFL Mock Draft 2.0

04/26/2023

By: Jeff Yoder

Good Morning,

Two NBA teams are moving on to Round 2 after another night of star takeovers, but our A-block story for the rest of the week shifts to the best three days of offseason football. The 2023 NFL Draft is roughly 36 hours away. Join us as we put our GM hats on and follow the online sports conjecture craze of mock draft mayhem. 

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NFL DRAFT

The Sportsletter’s Mock Draft 2.0

Image via Giphy

Get Ready For Your Franchise to Pick Their Next Superstar (NFL Draft: Thursday, 7:00 pm ET)

It’s that time! The NFL Draft is upon us and we’re just 36 hours and change away from the No. 1 overall pick. Our second rendition of the mock draft features a collective guesswork after reviewing hundreds of mock drafts across the internet, as well as our own research, combine grades, and intuition. We’re not factoring in potential trades or funny business. Five quarterbacks go in the first round, including four in the top 11, and we’ve got a run of four receivers, two tight ends, and two running backs in a weapons-heavy lineup from picks 10-31.

Your team is about to fill in some gaps. And more than 250 college football stars are about to have their lifelong dream come true.

Let’s do it. The Carolina Panthers are on the clock…

The Sportsletter’s Mock Draft 2.0

1. Panthers: QB Bryce Young (Alabama)

2. Texans: QB C.J. Stroud (Ohio State)

3. Cardinals: EDGE Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama)

4. Colts: QB Will Levis (Kentucky)

5. Seahawks: EDGE Tyree Wilson (Texas Tech)

6. Lions: DT Jalen Carter (Georgia)

7. Raiders: CB Christian Gonzales (Oregon)

8. Falcons: CB Devon Witherspoon (Illinois)

9. Bears: OT Peter Skoronski (Northwestern)

10. Eagles: RB Bijan Robinson (Texas)

1-10 Analysis: Will Levis has climbed into conversation for the No. 2 pick, but most believe it’s still Bryce Young at No. 1 overall. With quarterbacks dominating three of the first four picks, don’t be surprised if the top defensive studs in the draft go 5-8. We expect the Bears to go offensive line, whether that’s Peter Skoronski or Paris Johnson Jr. And in an unlikely move for Howie Roseman and the Eagles, Philly shoots big with a running back at No. 10.

Picks 11-20

11. Titans: QB Anthony Richardson (Florida)

12. Texans: WR Jaxson Smith-Njigba (Ohio State)

13. Packers: WR Zay Flowers (Boston College)

14. Patriots: OT Paris Johnson Jr. (Ohio State)

15. Jets: EDGE Lukas Van Ness (Iowa)

16. Commanders: CB Deonte Banks (Maryland)

17. Steelers: DT Calijah Kancey (Pittsburgh)

18. Lions: LB Nolan Smith (Georgia)

19. Buccaneers: TE Dalton Kincaid (Utah)

20. Seahawks: OT Darnell Wright (Tennessee)

11-21 Analysis: The Titans and Anthony Richardson could be a match made in heaven. Even though Tennessee might have to move up to get him, we have him landing in Nashville one way or another. Combining Ohio State teammates C.J. Stroud and Jaxson Smith-Njigba could restart the new era in Houston. The Packers add another weapon for the Jordan Love era. And the Lions grab their second player from the Georgia defense in the first round.

Picks 21-31

21. Chargers: CB Joey Porter Jr. (Penn State)

22. Ravens: WR Jordan Addison (USC)

23. Vikings: QB Hendon Hooker (Tennessee)

24. Jaguars: S Brian Branch (Alabama)

25. Giants: EDGE Myles Murphy (Clemson)

26. Cowboys: TE Michael Mayer (Notre Dame)

27. Bills: WR Jalin Hyatt (Tennessee)

28. Bengals: RB Jahmyr Gibbs (Alabama)

29. Saints: OT Broderick Jones (Georgia)

30. Eagles: EDGE B.J. Ojulari (LSU)

31. Chiefs: OL O’Cyrus Torrence (Florida)

21-31 Analysis: The Dolphins were stripped of their first-round pick this year, so there are only 31 selections on Thursday night. That doesn’t mean there’s any shortage of talent at the end of Round 1. The Vikings take a shot at quarterback with Kirk Cousins turning 35. The Bengals find their replacement for Joe Mixon at running back. And the Cowboys replace Dalton Shultz with a young tight end.

2023 NFL Draft: Thursday (8:00 pm ET)

Additional Storylines

The Ringer: The Ringer’s 2023 NFL Draft Guide

Sporting News: NFL Mock Draft 3-Round Edition

NFL: Top 150 Prospects of the 2023 NFL Draft Class

USA Today: 7 College Football Stars Who Could Face Long Wait in NFL Draft

Yahoo! Sports: Will Levis Odds to be Drafted by Panthers at No. 1 Shift Due to Reddit Thread

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NBA PLAYOFFS

Book It!

Photo: Christian Petersen / Getty Images

Suns & Nuggets Close Out Round 1 Series; Hawks Get Game-Winning 3 From Trae Young to Force Game 6

Another night in the NBA Playoffs and another takeover performance. One night after Jimmy Butler dropped 56 points, Devin Booker poured in 47 for the Suns in a closeout Game 5 against the Clippers. The Nuggets also punched their ticket to the next round by eliminating the Timberwolves, and the Hawks — courtesy of a late 3 from Trae Young — staved off elimination and forced Game 6 against the Celtics. Two teams are through, and three more can join them in the conference semifinals with Game 5 closeout opportunities tonight. Here’s the latest from the NBA postseason.

1st-Round Highlights

Gm 5: Hawks def. Celtics (119-117) | BOS Leads (3-2)

Gm 5: Nuggets def. T-Wolves (112-109) | DEN Wins (4-1)

Gm 5: Suns def. Clippers (136-130) | PHX Wins (4-1)

Star Spotlight

D. Booker (PHX): 47 points, 8 rebounds, 10 assists

T. Young (ATL): 38 points, 13 assists

J. Murray (DEN): 35 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists

K. Durant (PHX): 31 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists

N. Jokic (DEN): 28 points, 17 rebounds, 12 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks

Other Top Performers

J. Brown (BOS): 35 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists

A. Edwards (MIN): 29 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists

NBA Playoffs Bracket

Tonight’s Schedule

Gm 5: Knicks at Cavaliers (7:00 pm ET) | NYK Leads (3-1)

Gm 5: Lakers at Grizzlies (7:30 pm ET) | LAL Leads (3-1)

Gm 5: Heat at Bucks (9:30 pm ET) | MIA Leads (3-1)

Gm 5: Warriors at Kings (10:00 pm ET) | Series Tied (2-2)

NBA Awards

Magic F Paolo Banchero Wins Rookie of the Year

Additional Storylines

Yahoo! Sports: Devin Booker Goes Off for 47 as Suns Eliminate Starless Clippers

B/R: Trae Young Game-Winner Stuns NBA Twitter as Hawks Survive Celtics

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NHL PLAYOFFS

Game 5 Fireworks

Photo: Andy Devlin / Getty Images

Oilers Take Control, Islanders Stay Alive & Stars Push Wild to the Brink

Three tight first-round series in the NHL got a little more interesting on Tuesday night. The Islanders survived a closeout Game 5 against the Hurricanes while the Stars pushed the Wild to the brink with a 4-0 shutout. Out west, the Oilers regained control against the Kings thanks to more heroics from Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. All three series are heading to Game 6 with two more Game 5s tonight. The Bruins can become the first team through to the conference semifinals tonight at home.

1st-Round Highlights

Gm 5: Islanders def. Hurricanes (3-2) | CAR Leads (3-2)

Gm 5: Stars def. Wild (4-0) | DAL Leads (3-2)

Gm 5: Oilers def. Kings (6-3) | EDM Leads (3-2)

NHL Top Performers

N. Bjugstad (EDM): 2 Goals

T. Seguin (DAL): 1 Goal, 1 Assist

J. Robertson (DAL): 1 Goal, 1 Assist

C. McDavid (EDM): 2 Assists

Stanley Cup Playoffs Bracket

Tonight’s Schedule

Gm 5: Panthers at Bruins (7:00 pm ET) | BOS Leads (3-1)

Gm 5: Kraken at Avalanche (9:30 pm ET) | Series Tied (2-2)

Additional Storylines

USA Today: 2 Players in Hurricanes-Islanders Game Hit in Face by Puck on Goals

NHL: Avalanche Defenseman Cale Makar Suspended 1 Game for Interference in Game 5

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THE STORYLINES

 MLB Early Takeaways

April is always full of questions about what’s real and what’s not, what’s sustainable and what’s folly. With the four-week mark of the season arriving tomorrow, here are 10 takeaways from the early going. (ESPN+)

 What’s Next for Zach Wilson?

After weeks of waiting, the Green Bay Packers have traded four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets, thrusting them into the Super Bowl LVIII conversation. So what happens next for former No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson? (CBS Sports)

 NASCAR Power Rankings

Kyle Busch is the new No. 1 in this week’s NASCAR Power Rankings after slipping past other drivers in the final lap of Sunday’s overtime finish at Talladega. William Byron and Kyle Larson round out the top-3. (NBC Sports)

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THE HEADLINES

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READER POLL

Question of the Day

Four quarterbacks are in the spotlight and could go in the top 10 on Thursday night, but most mocks have three in the top-4 picks.

Which QB do you think will be taken 1st in the NFL Draft?

Bryce Young

CJ Stroud

Will Levis