INDIANAPOLIS – The 2023 NFL scouting combine was about as eventful as they come.
Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles admitted he was leaning toward trading this year’s No. 1 overall draft pick given the presence of dynamic young quarterback Justin Fields
“There’s not a deadline,” Poles said on NFL Network. “Is it better to do something next week? Or is this something we should wait until draft day when we’re on the clock? We’ll weigh those options and see what’s best. It’s a really cool opportunity to increase our roster and get better.”
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Poles is further assessing his options given the new legal circumstances of Georgia DT Jalen Carter. The potential first overall selection was arrested on charges of misdemeanor racing and reckless driving in connection with the fatal crash that killed Bulldogs teammate Devin Willock and recruiting staffer Chandler LeCroy in January. Carter, who never planned to work out in Indianapolis, returned to Georgia during the combine to be booked and released but returned Thursday to complete his team interviews and other obligations at the event.
Needless to say, the intrigue at the top is real.
So why not fuel it a bit more by executing a trade on Poles’ behalf to kick off our first post-combine mock draft of the year? (Note: The Miami Dolphins, who were scheduled to select 21st, forfeited their pick for illegally tampering with QB Tom Brady and coach Sean Payton when they were under contract with other clubs):
1. Indianapolis Colts [PROJECTED TRADE with Chicago Bears] – QB Bryce Young, Alabama
Antithetical as it might be to Indy GM Chris Ballard this high on the board, the reality is that he almost certainly can’t stick at No. 4 and must climb to get his first (or even second) choice to stop the team’s revolving door under center. Since Andrew Luck retired in 2019, the veteran QB carousel has produced exactly zero playoff wins for Ballard and Co. – Philip Rivers the only one who even managed to get the Colts’ otherwise typically staunch roster into postseason. And the last year has offered ample evidence that Jim Irsay’s patience is wearing thin – not to mention the fact that, intentionally or not, the owner let slip last month that “the Alabama guy doesn’t look bad I tell you,” after introducing new coach Shane Steichen.
So let’s go ahead and stop the bleeding by pulling the trade trigger for Irsay and Ballard by getting the former Heisman Trophy winner back to the Circle City – even if this draft’s first- and second-rounder and next year’s first- might merely be a starting point to entice Poles, who’s bound to try and create a bidding war between the Colts and the AFC South-rival Texans, currently slotted No. 2 overall and also in need of a franchise passer. And Young, widely rated as the best quarterback in this draft, should be exactly that despite measuring in at 5-10 and 204 pounds – among the smallest at his position in recent draft history – and opting not to work out Saturday.
But he can sling it, never better than in 2021, when he won the Heisman Trophy. That season, Young finished with 4,872 yards and 47 TDs through the air. He’s accurate (66% completion rate in college) and his career 80-to-12 touchdown-to-interception ratio is indicative of solid decision-making. Young is highly mobile, though typically buys time to pass and does a nice job keeping his eyes downfield – a la peak Russell Wilson. His size might give Ballard (or whoever Young’s next boss is) pause since he won’t be afforded the same level of protection he was at Alabama – though it would theoretically be pretty good in Indianapolis if the Colts O-line rebounds in 2023. As poised at the combine podium Friday as he was while reading the field from the Crimson Tide pocket, a lot to like about Young – and the supporting cast in Indianapolis, especially RB Jonathan Taylor, would limit the burden on him as a rookie. Steichen’s track record with young quarterbacks, most recently Jalen Hurts, only seems to make this match more sensible.
2. Houston Texans – QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
He was all confidence at the podium in Indy, lamenting his two losses to “that team up north,” meaning Michigan before adding, “I feel like I could have won Heismans back to back if I win those two games.” Could be. And given his sophistication as a passer – Stroud was silky smooth in Saturday’s throwing sessions – he would hardly be a consolation prize if he follows Young and could certainly wind up eclipsing him.
Stroud (6-3, 214 pounds) is accurate (69.3% completion rate in college), productive (85 TD passes, 12 INTs, 182.4 passer rating over last two seasons) and athletic – but has been inclined to extend plays to throw rather than break the pocket, though admitted Friday he should probably tuck the ball and run a bit more. Stroud was spectacular in his final game for the Buckeyes, a 2023 College Football Playoff semifinal loss to Georgia, passing for 348 yards and four TDs against a Bulldogs defense that is almost NFL-caliber. He could be the man to stabilize a Texans franchise that has essentially been in free fall for more than three years.
3. Arizona Cardinals – OLB/DE Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
It’s not a foregone conclusion (yet), but Carter’s arrest likely solidifies Anderson as the first non-quarterback selected next month. Yet assuming that happens, it still might not occur at No. 3, as the rebuilding Cards are yet another team that might look to trade down – especially, say, if a quarterback derby develops later in the top 10 between the Raiders, Falcons and Panthers.
Schematically, Anderson was probably a better fit with the 3-4 front the Cards used in recent seasons. But you don’t say no when you get the chance to take someone with Anderson’s characteristics given his size (6-4, 253 pounds), burst and power. And given the success new head coach Jonathan Gannon had deploying LB Haason Reddick – he’s a bit smaller than Anderson – on the edge in Philadelphia, there should be no issues. The two-time SEC Defensive Player of the Year was truly spectacular in 2021, when he led the country with 17½ sacks and 31 tackles for loss.
4. Bears [PROJECTED TRADE with Colts] – DE Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech
Pass rusher should certainly be under foremost consideration for a team that recorded a league-low 20 sacks. The 6-6, 271-pound All-American had seven sacks and 14 TFLs in 10 games in 2022, his season cut short by a broken foot that was surgically repaired and prevented him from working out at the combine. (Wilson said he’s already running again and “close to 100%.”) He still has ample room to reach his full potential, and his future growth would theoretically coincide with a Bears team that ought to be on the upswing given the cap room and draft capital Poles has. Wilson should fit nicely into the four-man fronts most frequently employed by Chicago coach Matt Eberflus.
5. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver Broncos) – DT Jalen Carter, Georgia
While the fresh questions about his character were fodder for the white-hot combine spotlight, it’s premature to take Carter off the board and, frankly, out of the first round given his prodigious, scheme-diverse ability. And Seahawks coach Pete Carroll has gambled on talent in the face of serious allegations before, former Seattle DE Frank Clark, a second-round selection in 2015, a notable example. From a purely football perspective, Carter is basically made to order – especially after QB Geno Smith agreed Monday to re-sign, meaning Carroll and GM John Schneider don’t have to burn this valuable selection obtained in the Russell Wilson trade on another passer. But reinforcements for a defense that hasn’t ranked better than 22nd since 2018 are long overdue. The 6-3, 300-pounder’s sack numbers (3 last year) won’t wow you. But the All-American is cat quick, lines up at all points along the front, can push the pocket and gets exceptional penetration and is especially effective at swallowing running backs.
6. Detroit Lions (from Los Angeles Rams) – CB Christian Gonzalez, Oregon
The football résumé of the All-Pac-12 performer, who had four INTs and seven passes defensed in 2022, was already tip-top. But Gonzalez – plenty big at 6-1, 197 pounds – showcased his explosive athleticism at the combine, running a 4.38 40-yard dash, posting a 41½-inch vertical leap and broad jumping 11 feet, 1 inch. Yes, as satisfied as they seem with QB Jared Goff, this might be the Lions’ last best chance to take a young quarterback like Anthony Richardson knowing Goff’s contract only runs two more seasons. Barring that, Detroit has to alter what was statistically the league’s worst defense in 2022. As disappointing as Jeff Okudah, the No. 3 overall pick in 2020, and these corners have generally been, Gonzalez would address a glaring deficiency.
7. Las Vegas Raiders – QB Will Levis, Kentucky
The man with the self-described “cannon” attached to his right shoulder showed it off Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium … and could put it to excellent use throwing to WRs Davante Adams and Hunter Renfrow and TE Darren Waller. And even if they were to win the Aaron Rodgers sweepstakes, that wouldn’t necessarily preclude the Silver and Black from taking Levis – though that would also presume the four-time MVP would cost something less than the No. 7 pick. “The goal eventually is to try to have a young player here, that’s going to be a Raider for a long time,” coach Josh McDaniels said last week. Fairly or not – OK, not – the strong-armed, athletic, tough, 6-3, 229-pounder with experience in a pro-style offense is going to draw comparisons to the likes of Matthew Stafford and Josh Allen. But Levis needs to improve his consistency and footwork while recovering from the physical beating he endured in 2022.
8. Atlanta Falcons – QB Anthony Richardson, Florida
The self-styled “Cam Jackson” indeed blew up the combine as a bit of a Cam Newton-Lamar Jackson hybrid. At 6-4, 244 pounds, Richardson blazed a 4.43 40 and hit combine quarterback records with a vertical jump of 40½ inches and a broad jump of 10 feet, 9 inches. So though he’s lacking in experience (13 starts for the Gators), Richardson’s physical tools – to include a bazooka of an arm that was also on full display Saturday – are very likely to land him in the top half of Round 1 … at the very least. And even though QB Desmond Ridder is coming off his rookie season, Atlanta – owner Arthur Blank had his team in the running for Deshaun Watson last year – will have a prime opportunity to reinvest at the position. Richardson could clearly benefit from a season (or more) to marinate under HC Arthur Smith and work on his accuracy while the less physically gifted Ridder’s evaluation continues. But Smith’s penchant for extracting the most from his players and the prospect of Richardson eventually joining an offense with several promising youngsters could make him hard to bypass – and perhaps galvanize a city nearly two decades removed from the Michael Vick Experience.
9. Carolina Panthers – OT Peter Skoronski, Northwestern
In this scenario, new coach Frank Reich and Co. miss out on a young quarterback in Round 1 … so pressure could be on to do a deal given Derek Carr is also vacating the veteran market. If the Panthers do obtain a veteran quarterback, they might be a team that trades out of the top 10 given they’re well stocked at most premium positions. But if they stick and pick, highly regarded Skoronski would bolster the protection of his next quarterback – presumably as a guard here as long as Ickey Ekwonu and Taylor Moton are manning the tackles spots.
10. Philadelphia Eagles (from New Orleans Saints) – CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
A hamstring injury prevented him from working out in Indianapolis. But he broke up 23 passes over the past two seasons, and his willingness to tackle and mix it up behind the line of scrimmage will earn the appreciation of any defensive coordinator … especially one who’s likely going to lose CB James Bradberry to free agency.
11. Tennessee Titans – OT Broderick Jones, Georgia
What better way to replace departed Taylor Lewan than with a 6-5, 311-pound, 22-year-old All-SEC performer with major upside … particularly for a team built to run and one that might need to safeguard an inexperienced quarterback.
12. Texans (from Cleveland Browns) – TE Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
He catches (138 receptions for 1,649 yards over past two seasons), he blocks, he scores (16 TDs over past two seasons), and the 2022 All-American is huge (6-5, 249 pounds). Is there a better way to help RB Dameon Pierce and a young quarterback … especially since Mayer moves plenty well with his now-timed 4.7 speed?
13. New York Jets – OT Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State
It’s a given the NYJ will acquire a veteran quarterback this spring, so it stands to reason they should bolster an offensive line set to lose starting OT George Fant and C Connor McGovern in free agency. Johnson (6-6, 313 pounds) can play left tackle or one of the guard spots, which would allow New York to slot him accordingly based on the availability of 2020 first-round OT Mekhi Becton and whether 2021 first-rounder Alijah Vera-Tucker plays inside or at tackle.
14. New England Patriots – DB Brian Branch, Alabama
Bill Belichick tends to love players coached by his good friend, Tide coach Nick Saban. The Pats also value versatility, and the 6-foot, 190-pound All-American lines up in the slot, safety and corner. And this might finally be the year Belichick has to replace 35-year-old free agent S Devin McCourty.
15. Green Bay Packers – OLB Nolan Smith, Georgia
Mixed bag – at best – from the Pack’s pair of first-round Georgia defenders, LB Quay Walker and DL Devonte Wyatt, in 2022. But why not keeping swinging on Bulldogs, especially after Smith’s sub-4.4 40 and 41-inch vertical leap last week. Mostly recovered from a torn pectoral muscle that cut his 2022 season short, Smith would also address a problem area given Green Bay OLB Rashan Gary tore an ACL midway through last season.
16. Washington Commanders – CB Joey Porter Jr., Penn State
Maybe he’d hoped to run faster than 4.46, but that will hardly prevent him from becoming – believe it or not – the inaugural first-round defensive back in Nittany Lions history. The son of the former Steelers linebacking star of the same name, Porter Jr. is a big (6-3, 193) corner who could plug in nicely for a team that could use quality depth beyond what Kendall Fuller provides.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers – LB Drew Sanders, Arkansas
A 6-4, 235-pound All-American who can fill this defense’s years-long void at off-ball linebacker. Yet the Alabama transfer also knows how to make a mess in the backfield – perhaps even easier on this unit when you’re working behind T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward. In 2022, Sanders finished with 9½ sacks and 13½ TFLs.
18. Lions – DT Calijah Kancey, Pittsburgh
When you think undersized Pitt interior D-linemen who live behind the line of scrimmage … OK, OK, let’s not saddle Kancey with the Aaron Donald comparison. But let’s celebrate the 6-1, 281-pounder who dropped a 4.67-second 40 at the combine after posting 14½ sacks and 27½ TFLs for the Panthers over the past two years combined. Now imagine adding the reigning ACC Defensive Player of the Year to the middle of a Detroit defense featuring Aidan Hutchinson and all the opposing attention he merits on the edge.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – CB Deonte Banks, Maryland
The Brady-less, capped-out Bucs seem headed for an overhaul. But with DBs Jamel Dean, Mike Edwards, Logan Ryan and Sean Murphy-Bunting all headed for the open market, a talented corner like Banks seems like a logical choice. Measuring 6 feet, 197 pounds, Banks capped his combine with a 4.35 40, 42-inch vertical and a broad jump measuring 11 feet, 4 inches.
20. Seahawks – G O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida
Seattle still gave up too many sacks in 2022 – can’t blame Wilson for those – and could also use a mauler to further Carroll’s desire to run the ball with RB Kenneth Walker III and Co.
21. Los Angeles Chargers – DE Keion White, Georgia Tech
The converted tight end checked in at 6-5 and 285 pounds, and his strength was on display with 30 repetitions on the 225-pound bench press. White had 7½ sacks and 14 TFLs in 2022 for the Yellow Jackets and would provide the Bolts an infusion of athleticism and disruptive ability up front between OLBs Joey Bosa and Khalil, who have both struggled with injuries in recent years.
22. Baltimore Ravens – CB Kelee Ringo, Georgia
What better way to potentially replace a big, physical corner like Marcus Peters than with a big, physical corner like Ringo … though he’s not the takeaway machine Peters is. Conversely, Peters isn’t going to run 4.36, either.
23. Minnesota Vikings – DE Lukas Van Ness, Iowa
One way to address the NFC’s worst pass defense? Infuse more juice into its pass rush, and the 6-5, 272-pound Van Ness can do just that – especially if a guy who came off the bench for the Hawkeyes is allowed to start out with a focus on sub packages and passing downs.
24. Jacksonville Jaguars – TE Darnell Washington, Georgia
The Jags’ top three tight ends are unsigned, though Evan Engram may have the franchise tag coming his way. Regardless, Washington would be an intriguing complement and – at 6-7, 264 pounds with 4.64 speed – the imposing red-zone target Jacksonville doesn’t currently have. (For further proof, check out Washington’s one-handed stab on the boundary during Saturday’s workout.) He isn’t likely to provide Engram-level receiving production overall, but Washington brings serious blocking ability to the table – something Engram doesn’t.
25. New York Giants – WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
Are you getting the guy who racked up 347 receiving yards in the 2022 Rose Bowl? Or the guy who missed most of last season with a hamstring injury? Presently, Smith-Njigba appeared to be in his typically smooth form Saturday. And Big Blue really needs bodies for its receiving corps, Sterling Shepard already dropped into the free agent market. The Giants don’t currently have a player who had 40 catches or 400 receiving yards in 2022 under contract for 2023.
26. Dallas Cowboys – WR Quentin Johnston, TCU
An athletic, plus-sized (6-3, 208) target would nicely rectify last year’s mistake of trading Amari Cooper – and especially since Johnston should feast on single coverage opposite Pro Bowler CeeDee Lamb. Johnston averaged 19 yards per catch in college, and the Cowboys had ample opportunity to scout a guy in their backyard.
27. Buffalo Bills – RB Bijan Robinson, Texas
A three-down back with his talent and speed – Robinson clocked a 4.46 40 on Sunday – would have been a surefire top-five selection 20 years ago. This has to be the year Buffalo pulls the trigger on a guy who averaged 7 yards per touch for the Longhorns in order to reduce the rushing load on QB Josh Allen, right? Especially with Devin Singletary’s contract expiring? Quite the workhorse, Robinson had more than 3,300 yards from scrimmage over the past two seasons.
28. Cincinnati Bengals – DT Bryan Bresee, Clemson
A guy who can play up and down the line, Bresee (6-6, 298) is too good to pass up here given the impact he could have playing between DEs Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard. And after the health issues and personal adversity, including the death of his sister, Bresee faced with the Tigers, he seems primed to unleash his talent with a new set of stripes.
29. Saints (from San Francisco 49ers via Dolphins and Broncos) – DE Myles Murphy, Clemson
New Orleans picked up this peripatetic pick by letting Payton go to Denver. Murphy totaled 18½ sacks and 36 TFLs in three seasons in Death Valley and should be an every-down player. And with this D-line set to lose David Onyemata, Marcus Davenport and Shy Tuttle, Murphy would provide welcome support to aging DE Cam Jordan, 33, and possibly serve as his eventual successor. Murphy didn’t work out at the combine but should at Clemson’s pro day next week.
30. Eagles – DT Mazi Smith, Michigan
For starters, this feels like the kind of pick Philadelphia EVP/GM Howie Roseman typically swaps for future capital. If not, keep an eye on Smith, who topped The Athletic’s famed “Freaks List.” Smith showed off his standout strength in Indy (34 reps on bench) but will wait to do a full workout at the Wolverines’ March 17 pro day. He could form a “freakish” combo with 2022 first-rounder Jordan Davis in Philly, which will likely be looking to replenish its depth chart given DTs Javon Hargrave, Fletcher Cox, Ndamukong Suh and Linval Joseph are on the wrong side of 30 and without contracts for 2023.
31. Kansas City Chiefs – OT Anton Harrison, Oklahoma
He primarily served as the Sooners’ left tackle for the past three seasons, though did log time on the right side in 2022. Regardless, Harrison would be a boon to the Super Bowl champs, whose starting tackles – Orlando Brown Jr. and Andrew Wylie – are unsigned, Brown apparently not getting tagged again. Still, Harrison’s versatility and familiarity with another ex-Oklahoma star, C Creed Humphrey, are among his positive attributes.
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Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on Twitter @ByNateDavis.
