Even though the 2022 college football season hasn’t started yet, it is never too early to start mocking for the next NFL draft. The 2023 NFL Draft class is one of the more highly touted in recent memory, especially at the quarterback position with all-world talent Bryce Young and Ohio State‘s C.J. Stroud leading the way.
ESPN NFL Draft Analyst, Jordan Reid, posted his first mock draft ahead of the 2022 season. As always, the 2023 class will be strongly represented by the Southeastern Conference and the University of Alabama. Reid’s list has three Crimson Tide players going in the first round Bryce Young, Will Anderson and Eli Ricks.
Most people would agree with Reid as he has Will Anderson as the first player off the board headed to the New York Jets. While there is a chance that a quarterback gets selected over Anderson, he is the best prospect in this draft.
Surprisingly, Reid had Young falling all the way to pick No. 5 where the Atlanta Falcons would eagerly take him. Even though the Falcons just used a third-round pick on former Cincinnati quarterback, Desmond Ridder, Young would fill in as a franchise building block immediately.
Finally, the LSU transfer, Eli Ricks, is projected to come off the board at No. 25 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buccaneers are in desperate need of defensive back depth, and for a lockdown corner like Ricks to still be available at pick No. 25 is too much to pass on.
As the season goes on, we will be seeing more Crimson Tide players make a name for themselves and play their way onto this list.
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