My first mock draft of the year had Bryce Young going first overall. My second one does as well — but the destination has changed.
The Detroit Lions, by virtue of a 4-1 record in their last five games, have rallied from the top pick to the middle of the draft order. The Houston Texans, a spilled pile of football players shaped into the rough form of an NFL franchise, have bumbled their way to No. 1. That puts them in perfect position to select a franchise quarterback capable of helping fans forget about the Davis Mills/Kyle Allen combo currently installed to lose games and quietly step aside this offseason.
After that, things get harder to predict. The 2023 NFL Draft class is thick with pass rushers, defensive backs and wideouts. Will needy defenses prefer the edge rushing of Will Anderson or the interior destruction of Jalen Carter? Is Joey Porter Jr. going to usurp Kelee Ringo as the first cornerback off the board? And which elite receiving target will the Green Bay Packers inevitably ignore to select a defensive player instead?
Here’s what I came up with for all 31 picks — remember, the Miami Dolphins don’t have one thanks to league sanctions against owner Stephen Ross — of the first round of next spring’s draft.