As crazy as it sounds, 2023 NFL mock draft season has almost reached its end. We've got to get as many of these in as possible, and so here at Predominantly Orange we're taking a look at the entire NFL Draft, not just the Denver Broncos, with this full three-round NFL mock draft. In order to get an idea of what the Denver Broncos could be looking at, we've got to take a look at as many scenarios as possible, and although simulators can be helpful, it's also not a bad idea to have a real person pulling the trigger on each of these picks.
Of course, predicting the entire NFL Draft is about as easy as getting a perfect NCAA brackett. Actually, it's probably harder to predict the Draft. It's just such an inexact science and it's much harder to get things right than most people realize, so efficiency needs to be graded much more on the baseball curve. Meaning, a really good "average" is around .300.
And if you get close to that in your NFL mock draft projections, maybe you should start doing that kind of job professionally. All of that to say, predicting the NFL Draft is predicting the unpredictable. That's what makes it fun. Let's look at three rounds of mock draft madness and what the Broncos might do in this kind of scenario (with no trades).
2023 NFL mock draft: QB-loaded first round leads to madness
1. Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
The Panthers go after their QB of the future with Frank Reich and his epic cast of characters on that offensive staff now in Carolina. The Panthers traded up into this no. 1 overall slot with a brain trust that should give any youn QB a great environment to thrive in. Right now, the pendulum seems to be swinging in the direction of Bryce Young and not CJ Stroud or Anthony Richardson.
2. Houston Texans: Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama
What if the Houston Texans surprise everyone and go with Will Anderson Jr. here? We're not projecting trades in this mock draft, but what if Houston takes Anderson here, then trades up with the Cardinals at pick no. 3 overall to take CJ Stroud? Wouldn't that be fun? Or they could stay put where they are and just keep adding to this roster. DeMeco Ryans inherited a decently talented roster and I feel like the Texans have a chance to significantly improve this year.
3. Arizona Cardinals: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
Not sure the Cardinals would pick Gonzalez at no. 3 overall, but this is the type of scenario I could see playing out if they miss out on Will Anderson Jr. Remember, they hired Jonathan Gannon as their new head coach. Gannon is a defensive backs guy. The Cardinals are in desperate need of pretty much everything offensively and defensively, so it's going to be the best player on their board at a premium position. We'll see if they have Gonzalez or Witherspoon ranked above Tyree Wilson or Jalen Carter...
4. Indianapolis Colts: CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State
The Colts get lucky here with CJ Stroud falling to the 4th overall pick. Again, is this going to happen in the 2023 NFL Draft for real? We're not projecting trades, and trades happen all the time. We could see the Colts move up to take someone like Stroud, even if it is just one spot. Rumor has it the Texans are not hellbent on taking a QB at no. 2 overall and while it's lying season, we also know that both Nick Caserio and DeMeco Ryans have seen many players picked outside the top 10 excel in their NFL career at the QB spot.
The Colts need to take advantage of Stroud's fall if he ends up here.
5. Seattle Seahawks: Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech
Why not? The Seahawks use the pick they acquired from the Denver Broncos to take a versatile, athletic, long EDGE prospect in Tyree Wilson. I would imagine, if the Broncos were selecting here, this is a player many fans would be clamoring for. Wilson has the potential to be a very good player at the next level with traits to be consistently disruptive as a pass rusher.
6. Detroit Lions: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
The trade that sent former top-3 pick Jeff Okudah to the Atlanta Falcons solidifies the cornerback position as a need for the Detroit Lions, who added a handful of key players this offseason like CJ Gardner-Johnson, Cam Sutton, and Emmanuel Moseley in the secondary. This defense has been revamped, but a player like Devon Witherspoon could really be a centerpiece of the secondary. He plays with the kind of toughness the Lions have been trying to add to their team lately.
7. Las Vegas Raiders: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
I don't know what we're supposed to expect from Josh McDaniels at this point. Does he love Jimmy Garoppolo? Is Garoppolo a very expensive stopgap? I wouldn't be surprised if McDaniels took a liking to Will Levis, who is one of the smartest dudes in this year's draft. Before commiting to Penn State, Levis had offers from Harvard, Princeton, Dartmouth, Yale, and Columbia. That seems like the kind of thing that will really resonate with McDaniels.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
The Falcons run the ball as well as just about any team in the league. Just imagine what kind of level their offense could get to with a player like Bijan Robinson behind the QB? I know Tyler Allgeier ran for over 1,000 yards last season, and Cordarrelle Patterson has found the fountain of youth since his position switch, but Bijan Robinson is maybe the best non-QB in this draft, at least offensively.
9. Chicago Bears: Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
The Bears put their faith in Justin Fields, and we'll see if he can make the necessary progressions in year three. Their major move was trading down off of that no. 1 overall pick and getting DJ Moore in the process. Moore has been QB-proof throughout his career so far and I think the final piece for the Bears (final major piece, at least) is getting a stable situation at left tackle. Paris Johnson Jr. looks like he might be the best in this class. Maybe the Bears go with Broderick Jones from Georgia.
10. Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Carter, DL, Georgia
The Eagles have arguably the best team in the NFL, and although they lost quite a bit in free agency (including DL Javon Hargrave), they are primed to reload in the 2023 NFL Draft. Imagine being able to make it to the Super Bowl and replace a guy like Javon Hargrave with arguably the best overall player in this draft...Howie Roseman loves to add players in the trenches, and Jalen Carter would be a tremendous value here. The Eagles took a couple of Bulldogs last year in Jordan Davis and Nakobe Dean, so this could be a healthy environment for a player like Carter to land in.
11. Tennessee Titans: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
You've got to think that if the Titans want Anthony Richardson, they'll probably need to trade up for him, right? Again, we're not projecting trades here, but I could see a scenario where the Titans are the team that makes a move to go up and get Richardson. Or maybe it would be the Texans right behind them. Still, if no trades are allowed then Richardson's fall stops here. The Titans need to make a move at QB and start resetting the major contracts on their roster. They already cut left tackle Taylor Lewan, so that position can't be ruled out here, either.
12. Houston Texans: Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee
It sounds like NFL teams are much higher on Hendon Hooker than the masses. Although there are questions about his age and health, I think Hooker might have been the consensus QB3 if he had stayed healthy all of last season. He was having a huge year for Tennessee. Given the Texans already have Davis Mills in place, and it wouldn't cost them anything to trade up from this slot, perhaps taking a shot on Hooker for this season would be wise. They might end up in position to get Caleb Williams or Drake Maye in a worst case scenario.
13. New York Jets: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
Are the New York Jets and our old pal Nathaniel Hackett going to have Aaron Rodgers at this point? The clock is ticking. Regardless if the Jets have Rodgers by the 27th or not, I think they would probably love to be able to make this kind of a pick. Former first-round pick Mekhi Becton may or may not be able to take the next step in a contract year. The Jets need a new long-term option at tackle and Broderick Jones has tons of talent.
14. New England Patriots: Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern
I don't know if there's much to say about this kind of a pick that really needs to be said. Peter Skoronski kind of just screams "Patriots" pick, doesn't he? He can play multiple positions and I think if you're the Patriots, who just said goodbye to former first-round OT Isaiah Wynn, this would almost be a gift from the football gods. Skoronski is a plug-and-play type of starter at the next level.
15. Green Bay Packers: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
Leave it to the Packers to wait until Aaron Rodgers wants to leave to make a selection like this...Or would this kind of a pick entice Rodgers to stick around? Either way, regardless if it's Rodgers or Jordan Love under center for Matt LaFleur next year, I think Jaxon Smith-Njigba represents a best-case scenario from this year's draft for Green Bay. With young Christian Watson emerging last year, as well as Romeo Doubs, Smith-Njigba could be that slot threat who is always open for Green Bay.
16. Washington Commanders: Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
The Washington Commanders appear to be close to getting sold as a franchise, perhaps in the realm of $1.5 billion more than what the Denver Broncos went for last year ($4.65 billion). On the field, this team needs desperate help at a couple of spots, cornerback being one of them. Deonte Banks is a player whose stock has been on the rise lately thanks to his outstanding pre-draft workouts. Banks has been so impressive that some people think he's cemented his status among the top 20 overall picks.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
Sometimes reality writes the best stories. The Pittsburgh Steelers were obviously once the home of former pass rush star Joey Porter. Now, they have the need and the opportunity to potentially select his son in the first round of the 2023 Draft. As cool as this would be from a legacy perspective, it honestly just makes a ton of sense. The Steelers did go out and sign veteran Patrick Peterson to shore up the cornerback spot, but they shouldn't psas up on a top-tier talent like this if the opportunity arises.
18. Detroit Lions: Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia
Earlier in this 2023 NFL mock draft projection, the Lions came away with a tough, physical cornerback prospect in Illinois' Devon Witherspoon. Here, they come away with another guy who is going to add toughness and athleticism to their defense in Georgia's Nolan Smith. Smith had an outstanding Combine with a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash, a 41.5-inch vertical jump, and a 10-yard split of 1.47 seconds. That kind of get-off is bonkers. Imagine this guy wreaking havoc with Aidan Hutchinson...
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
The Buccaneers cut left tackle Donovan Smith, so depending on what happens in the 2023 NFL Draft, we could see them look to move Tristan Wirfs over to the left side. If they are able to snag Darnell Wright here with the 19th overall pick, I think that is something they would explore. Baker Mayfield is going to be the QB of the Bucs unless he loses a "competition" with Kyle Trask, and I think setting up the QB of the future with the best offensive line possible has to be atop the Bucs' priority list.
20. Seattle Seahawks: Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
The Seattle Seahawks are a tough team, in general, to peg in this year's draft. This team has a lot of good pieces on both sides of the ball, they have a lot of picks, and they made good moves in free agency. Obviously they stole Dre'Mont Jones away from the Denver Broncos but they also brought back Bobby Wagner. Seattle's defense was the team's weak link in 2022, but the wide receiver position here also lacks depth. Quentin Johnston could actually be a really great value in this slot.
21. Los Angeles Chargers: Jordan Addison, WR, USC
The Chargers hired Kellen Moore as their new offensive coordinator, which means we should see a lot more three wide receiver sets on the field this coming season. The Chargers have struggled with injuries at receiver over the last couple of years and no one has really been able to emerge as a true, long-term threat even with Justin Herbert slinging the rock. Jordan Addison could play inside or out, and give the Chargers a much-needed infusion of talent at a position that's very top-heavy for them.
22. Baltimore Ravens: Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa
The Baltimore Ravens always seem to find some kind of ridiculous value in the NFL Draft, at seemingly every turn, and this would be no different. Although there are the semantics of whether or not he was a "starter" at Iowa, Lukas Van Ness is one of the most physically gifted EDGE players in this class and I think he could help the Ravens right away. Although Baltimore always seems to draft well, they have struggled to identify consistent impact players off the edge in recent years with veteran Justin Houston leading the team with 9.5 sacks last season. In fact, the team's top two producers as pass rushers (in QB hits) were Houston and Calais Campbell last season, both players are gone.
23. Minnesota Vikings: Calijah Kancey, DL, Pittsburgh
After his amazing Scouting Combine workout, Calijah Kancey appears to have solidified himself as a first-round pick and perhaps somewhere in the top 25 overall. Kevin O'Connell, who spent time coaching in Los Angeles with the Rams, might take one look at Kancey and have flashbacks to another former Pitt defensive tackle. Although the comparisons to Aaron Donals are not quite accurate, Kancey can be a highly impactful interior defensive linemen who can cause havoc with his quickness.
24. Jacksonville Jaguars: Brian Branch, DB, Alabama
There were few teams as fun to watch as the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second half of the 2022 season. Doug Pederson quickly put his stamp on that team, and as Trevor Lawrence began to emerge as one of the top young QBs in the league, Jacksonville's defense also took a much-needed step forward. Last year, they used the top pick in the draft on an SEC defender (Travon Walker) and here they get another. Brian Branch can play a versatile role which is a coveted trait in today's NFL, and a lot of Jacksonville fans seem to be hoping their team lands this guy.
25. New York Giants: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
The New York Giants have been at the center of Jerry Jeudy trade rumors for quite some time now. Dating back to last year's trade deadline, it seems like the G-Men have been trying to get George Paton to part with arguably his best offensive player for pennies on the dollar, but Paton won't budge. The Giants are going to need cost-effective players at receiver and Jeudy is going to require a pay day in the near future. If the Giants can get Zay Jones here, they might finally put their Jerry Jeudy hopes to bed.
26. Dallas Cowboys: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
The Cowboys have had to make a couple of really tough decisions in the 2023 offseason, namely cutting former top pick Ezekiel Elliott and letting starting tight end Dalton Schultz walk out the door in free agency. I think the loss of Elliott stings Jerry Jones a bit, but the loss of Schultz might be more immediately felt in this offense. Thank goodness for the Cowboys' sake, this year's TE class is ridiculously good, and Michael Mayer may be the TE1 out of all of them. If the Cowboys can land Mayer here in this slot, he might pencil in for 6 of 7 touchdowns as a rookie. Schultz got a lot of run for this unit.
27. Buffalo Bills: O'Cyrus Torrence, OG, Florida
The Buffalo Bills might be in line to make a really boring pick atop their 2023 NFL Draft class, but sometimes the most boring picks are the best ones. O'Cyrus Torrence probably isn't going to sell many jerseys in Buffalo, but he might help keep Josh Allen upright. If you're the Bills, that's the goal here. I could also see Buffalo maybe making a play for a receiver if they don't love their depth there right now, but offensive line is the pick with Torrence being arguably the top IOL in this class.
28. Cincinnati Bengals: Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
The way this board falls, I don't know exactly what I think the Cincinnati Bengals would do. This is a team that has a major question mark right now at the running back spot with Samaje Perine now a member of the Denver Broncos and Joe Mixon facing some serious off-field issues. Do the Bengals go with Jahmyr Gibbs here or do they wait for a running back until later? At tight end, they've added free agent Irv Smith Jr., but that's more of a dart throw than filling a need. Darnell Washington is the top dual-threat TE in this class and an absolutely freakish specimen at the position.
29. New Orleans Saints: Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
This is the selection that previously belonged to the Denver Broncos before they traded it for head coach Sean Payton. Before that, it belonged to the Miami Dolphins, who traded it to Denver for Bradley Chubb. Before that, it was originally in the hands of the San Francisco 49ers, who traded it to move up for Trey Lance in 2021. Now, the Saints have a chance to add a pretty good EDGE prospect in Myles Murphy, who could help ease the blow of the many losses this Saints defensive front is taking on after free agency.
30. Philadelphia Eagles: Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
Even after bringing back James Bradberry and Darius Slay, the Eagles aren't getting much younger at the cornerback position. Word on the street is that there are teams who really like Emmanuel Forbes a lot, and perhaps one of them is the Eagles. He's already visited Philadelphia in this pre-draft process, and would be bringing arguably the best ball skills at this position group to Philadelphia with this selection.
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
The Kansas City Chiefs are working on replacing their starting offensive tackles from last season with the departure of left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. (Bengals) as well as right tackle Andrew Wylie (Commanders). The loss of Wylie has flown under the radar a bit and the Chiefs probably still need to find their starter at that spot for the 2023 season. Anton Harrison out of Oklahoma seems to be an ideal fit at this juncture of the Draft along with players like Dawand Jones or Darnell Wright if they are available.
2023 NFL mock draft: Second round picks
32. Pittsburgh Steelers: Bryan Bresee, DL, Clemson
33. Houston Texans: Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
34. Arizona Cardinals: Will McDonald IV, EDGE, Iowa State
35. Indianapolis Colts: Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State
36. Los Angeles Rams: Adetomiwa Adebawore, EDGE, Northwestern
37. Seattle Seahawks: Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
38. Las Vegas Raiders: Mazi Smith, DL, Michigan
39. Carolina Panthers: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
40. New Orleans Saints: Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee
41. Tennessee Titans: Steve Avila, IOL, TCU
42. New York Jets: John Michael Schmitz, IOL, Minnesota
43. New York Jets: Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina
44. Atlanta Falcons: Felix Anudike-Uzomah, EDGE, Kansas State
45. Green Bay Packers: Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State
46. New England Patriots: Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah
47. Washington Commanders: Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas
48. Detroit Lions: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama
49. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa
50. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: BJ Ojulari, EDGE, LSU
51. Miami Dolphins: Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa
52. Seattle Seahawks: Cody Mauch, OL, North Dakota State
53. Chicago Bears: Keion White, EDGE, Georgia Tech
54. Los Angeles Chargers: Zach Charbonnet, RB, UCLA
55. Detroit Lions: DJ Turner, CB, Michigan
56. Jacksonville Jaguars: Julius Brents, CB, Kansas State
57. New York Giants: Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson
58. Dallas Cowboys: Tyrique Stevenson, CB, Miami
59. Buffalo Bills: Cedric Tillman, WR, Tennessee
60. Cincinnati Bengals: Antonio Johnson, DB, Texas A&M
61. Chicago Bears: Joe Tippmann, IOL, Wisconsin
62. Philadelphia Eagles: Isaiah Foskey, EDGE, Notre Dame
63. Kansas City Chiefs: Marvin Mims, WR, Oklahoma
In case anyone is wondering, the reason why round two starts with pick no. 32 this year is because the Dolphins had to forfeit their first-round pick (tampering). The Steelers kicked things off with Clemson DT Bryan Bresee, who feels very on-brand for them. Some of the best values in this round include Dalton Kincaid to the Panthers, Luke Musgrave to the Packers, and Cody Mauch to the Seahawks. Perhaps the best value in this round overall, though, is Jahmyr Gibbs bringing his big-time speed to the Detroit Lions.
2023 NFL mock draft: Third round picks
64. Chicago Bears: Keeanu Benton, DL, Wisconsin
65. Houston Texans: Gervon Dexter, DL, Florida
66. Arizona Cardinals: Rashee Rice, WR, SMU
67. Denver Broncos: Tucker Kraft, TE, South Dakota State
Given the way the board has fallen here, I think the best course of action is for the Broncos to take former South Dakota State tight end Tucker Kraft. Kraft is an impressive athlete, he can block as well as be an asset in the passing game, and the Broncos are undoubtedly looking for someone to pair up with Greg Dulcich at the TE position. This team wants to pound the ball on the ground and while there will be a place for Dulcich, he's not going to play a ton of in-line reps and the Broncos will likely look to emphasize his strengths rather that fit a square peg into a round hole.
Tucker Kraft is tremendous value in this slot as well.
68. Denver Broncos: Matthew Bergeron, OT, Syracuse
After taking Tucker Kraft, the Broncos turn right around and address a position that everyone has been clamoring for now for years. The offensive tackle spot has been rather neglected by the Broncos in the NFL Draft and the time has come for that to end, especially if someone like Matthew Bergeron is on the board here. He can play either tackle position, but you draft him here because he projects as your starting left tackle as early as 2024.
69. Los Angeles Rams: Luke Wypler, C, Ohio State
70. Las Vegas Raiders: Derick Hall, EDGE, Auburn
71. New Orleans Saints: Tuli Tuipulotu, DL, USC
72. Tennessee Titans: Byron Young, EDGE, Tennessee
73. Houston Texans: Tyler Scott, WR, Cincinnati
74. Cleveland Browns: Zach Harrison, EDGE, Ohio State
75. Atlanta Falcons: Siaki Ika, DL, Baylor
76. New England Patriots: Jordan Battle, DB, Alabama
77. Los Angeles Rams: Sydney Brown, S, Illinois
78. Green Bay Packers: Andre Carter II, EDGE, Army
79. Indianapolis Colts: Nathaniel Dell, WR, Houston
80. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss
81. Detroit Lions: Karl Brooks, DL, Bowling Green
82. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Devon Achane, RB, Texas A&MM
83. Seattle Seahawks: Daiyan Henley, LB, Washington State
84. Miami Dolphins: Tyjae Spears, RB, Tulane
85. Los Angeles Chargers: Blake Freeland, OT, BYU
86. Baltimore Ravens: Garrett Williams, DB, Syracuse
87. Minnesota Vikings: Darius Rush, CB, South Carolina
88. Jacksonville Jaguars: Zacch Pickens, DL, South Carolina
89. New York Giants: Chandler Zavala, OL, North Carolina State
90. Dallas Cowboys: Roschon Johnson, RB, Texas
91. Buffalo Bills: Jartavius Martin, DB, Illinois
92. Cincinnati Bengals: Jaelyn Duncan, OT, Maryland
93. Carolina Panthers: AT Perry, WR, Wake Forest
94. Philadelphia Eagles: JL Skinner, S, Boise State
95. Kansas City Chiefs: Ji'Ayir Brown, S, Penn State
96. Arizona Cardinals: Byron Young, DL, Alabama
97. Washington Commanders: Tyler Steen, OT, Alabama
98. Cleveland Browns: Jaquelin Roy, DL, LSU
99. San Francisco 49ers: Jammie Robinson, S, Florida State
100. Las Vegas Raiders: Eli Ricks, CB, Alabama
101. San Francisco 49ers: Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU
102. San Francisco 49ers: Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, CB, TCU
103. Chicago Bears: Tank Bigsby, RB, Auburn
BONUS: Broncos 4th-round pick: Riley Moss, CB, Iowa
As a bonus, let's take a look at who I picked for the Broncos in the fourth round of this 2023 NFL mock draft scenario, since the pick was so close to the top of the round. Riley Moss out of Iowa was available in this slot, and I think he makes a ton of sense given the way the Broncos have been looking so closely at versatile defensive backs.
Moss was a starter at outside cornerback for the Iowa Hawkeyes, but I think you can project him anywhere at the next level, whether that's playing outside, playing in the nickel, playing some safety, dime, and certainly playing special teams. When you talk about competitiveness and toughness, Moss has those things in spades. He knows how to fight for the ball at the catch point and he has good ball skills and instincts.
2023 NFL mock draft recap for the Broncos
67. Tucker Kraft, TE, South Dakota State
68. Matthew Bergeron, OT, Syracuse
108. Riley Moss, DB, Iowa
The Broncos don't exactly need to go with these three position groups with their top three picks in this draft, but these three do make a lot of sense. Although everyone seems to want a center in round three, I just don't think that you can back the team into that corner. They need to take the best players on their board and that could lead them to any number of positions.
One thing this exercise really revealed is that the depth of this class is not overly deep. There are certain guys in every round that are intriguing, but that doesn't make the class very deep as a whole. The Broncos would be wise to take advantage of the deepest position groups on their board rather than simply attack perceived needs.