2023 NFL Mock Draft: Buccaneers trade up for Tom Brady replacement; Colts make move for franchise QB as well

Since Andrew Luck’s retirement, the Colts have had little success turning to QBs nearing the end of their careers, and it’s safe to assume that owner Jim Irsay will be looking for the team’s next face of the franchise. Stroud has flown under the national-media radar all season but some NFL teams will tell you he’ll be in the running for QB1, and his performance in the semifinal game vs. Georgia showed that he can beat you with his arm and his legs.

Bryce Young might be historically undersized by successful NFL QB standards, but we don’t care. He’s been that good for Alabama, dragging that team to victory just about every week. And he did it with none of the playmakers who made life so much easier for Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones in previous years.

Tom Brady has re-retired and the Bucs currently have Kyle Trask under contract … and that’s it. This would be a bold move but if Tampa stays at No. 19, four QBs could already be off the board. Levis, who definitely looks the part, was plagued by injuries and poor play all fall. That said, NFL teams love how he projects to the next level but he’ll be a controversial talking point in the coming months.

Will Anderson could very easily be the No. 1 pick in this draft but the Bears trade down and still land an elite pass rusher here.

The more you watch of Wilson the more you love his game. Not only what he put on tape at Texas Tech but his upside 2-3 years down the road. He’s long, has the frame to add weight if needed, and he’s a dominant, high-motor pass rusher who can take over games.

The Lions use the first of two first-rounders to add arguably the best player in this draft. In related news: a defensive front that includes Carter and Aidan Hutchinson is a real problem for the rest of the NFC North.

Paris Johnson, who played left tackle for the Buckeyes this season, also has experience on the interior; either way, he is a Day 1 starter.

Murphy turned 21 in early January, and while we’d like to see him play with more consistency … he just turned 21 in early January. He has all the physical tools you look for in an elite edge defender and it’s easy to see him in a few years being dominant. And that, in large part, is what makes him such an interesting prospect.

Richardson is one of the most exciting prospects in this class. The problem: he’s short on experience, and while his physical tools are rare, the Panthers are in dire need of a starting QB right now. David Tepper could choose to go the free agency route (again), but that has been, shall we say, a crapshoot. At the end of the day, Carolina may have to move inside the top five if it’s a quarterback it really wants with Day 1 starter potential.

Porter is the prototypical big, physical cornerback who looks like he belongs in the NFL. He can sometimes get a little too handsy downfield, but he checks many of the boxes of what team’s look for when drafting DBs.

Addison isn’t a big target, but he’s one of the most dynamic players in the country who can line up anywhere. The Texans drafted their QB of the future first overall and now they give him an explosive playmaker here. The only question is whether Addison or Quentin Johnston will be WR1. Two different body types, two different playing styles, both dominant.

Skoronski is solid and consistent, which are two of the best things you can say about an offensive lineman. The biggest issue he’ll face during the pre-draft process will be arm length and whether his NFL future is at tackle or guard.

Torrence transferred from Louisiana and didn’t miss a beat. He was dominant for Florida last fall, he was dominant during Senior Bowl practices, and if history is any guide, he’ll be dominant in the NFL, too.

Johnston’s an above-the-rim playmaker whose athleticism and contested-catch abilities make him in the running for WR1. Mac Jones has a new offensive coordinator and now he gets a new downfield target.

Mayer is more Gronk than Kelce but that’s not a bad thing. And in Green Bay he’ll get plenty of chances, whether it’s with Aaron Rodgers, Jordan Love, or the QB behind Door No. 3.

Witherspoon had a great season for the Illini and while there will be questions about his slight frame, you wouldn’t know it to watch him play.

There was some thought that Harrison might return to Oklahoma for an NIL deal that was too good to pass up but he’s instead opted for the NFL. He’s one of the top tackles in the class and now the question is whether he finds his way into Round 1 or goes early on Day 2.

Maryland teammate and fellow CB Jakorian Bennett got much of the buzz in the fall, but Deonte Banks put together the type of season that will land you in the top-50 conversation. He’s a fluid athlete who is also a big, physical corner who can match up with NFL wide receivers.

Gonzalez, a Colorado transfer, is a big-time athlete who is still growing into the position. He has the size, strength and speed to line up against NFL wide receivers; he just needs to improve in run support.

Branch isn’t the first name you hear about when the conversation turns to Alabama’s defense, but maybe he should be. He’s a sure tackler, can blitz off the edge, and is solid in coverage, and if Nick Saban trusts him, that’s all you need to know about his NFL prospects.

We’ll see if Jones ultimately find his way into the first round, but it’s hard to overlook just how dominant he was in one day of practice at the Senior Bowl. Yes, his footwork needs some fine-tuning but his huge frame, long arms and enormous wingspan more than make up for what he lacks in quickness. He’s block-out-the-sun big, even when standing next to his offensive linemates.

The Georgia-to-first-round pipeline continues. A year after five Bulldogs went in Round 1, expect a handful this time around too. Ringo is a long, physical corner who has matched up against some of the best players in the country.

White was another player who had a great week at the Senior Bowl, and NFL teams love his size (6-foot-4, 280 pounds) and his motor. He consistently wins at the line of scrimmage and is good against both the run and getting after the quarterback. He may eventually end up going early on Day 2 but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him slip into the first round.

Jones had had a strong ’22 campaign for the Bulldogs, where he has faced some of the best defensive players in the country every day at practice for the last two years. He’s not yet a finished product but he has the athleticism and strength to be a difference-maker when he puts it all together.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba barely saw the field during the 2022 season because of injuries, but he’s still one of the top wideouts in the class. And with Daniel Jones about to get paid, the Giants might as well get him some more weapons.

The Cowboys need a WR but there will be depth at the position in later rounds. Instead, the team targets the defensive backfield. Smith is a first-round talent who can be a Day 1 contributor.

Musgrave was getting some late-first/early Day-2 buzz down in Mobile, and while he didn’t have a great week, it was certainly easy to see why teams like him. He missed most of ’22 with an injury but he’s well built, long, and has the athleticism to consistently separate from both safeties and linebackers. His blocking is a work in progress but he’ll be a contributor in the passing game from Day 1.

Washington is listed at 6-7, 265 pounds (he actually plays bigger than that), and while he’s growing into his role as a receiver, he’s essentially another offensive tackle when he’s inline. The Bengals will only have one TE under contract after the season and Washington would serve the dual role of both receiver and blocker in Cincy’s offense.

Hyatt wasn’t in the first-round conversation heading into the 2022 season but he’s a great example of a player taking advantage of his opportunities, thanks in large part to Hendon Hooker’s Heisman Trophy campaign. Hyatt is a bona fide deep threat who consistently stacked defensive backs who were helpless to do much about it all season.

Ojulari, whose brother played at Georgia and plays for the Giants, had a solid campaign for the Tigers, and he has many of the same explosive qualities that made his brother so hard to block for the Bulldogs. Ojulari could end up being better than Azeez, and that’s saying something.

Robinson is special, and while he is probably one of the best players in this class, he could still be around late in Round 1 because he’s a running back. The Eagles have few needs but it would be hard to pass up on the Texas standout if he’s still on the board.