by Of Jason McIntyre
FOX Sports Betting Analyst
The NFL 2022 draft it’s in the rearview mirror and that, of course, means it’s time to look forward to next April and the 2023 Draft.
Obviously, designing a draft a year in advance is a stupid commission, but a year ago I did this exercise for Draft 2022 and I got four of the top 10 correct and I got 10 of the first 32 rounds.
The hardest position to project – by far – is QB. The only QB taken in the first round of 2022 (Kenny Pickett) wasn’t on anyone’s radar a year ago. The QB class of 2023 should be much stronger, have you heard that yet? – so much so that I have five on top.
The draft order is taken from Super Bowl 2023 odds on FOX Bet.
1. Houston Texans: CJ StroudQB, State of Ohio
Unless Davis Mills is absurdly good, the Texans will be looking to draft a franchise QB, and the 6-foot-3 Stroud is the clubhouse leader after a monstrous 2021 season (4,435 yards, 44 TD).
2. Atlanta Falcons: Will LevisQB, Kentucky
The Penn State transfer had a very good year for the Wildcats (8.0 YPA, 24 TD) in the SEC and has a quick release. If you’re looking for a sneaky QB pick to start with, this is your guy.
3. Detroit Lions: Bryce YoungQB, Alabama
Young could win Heisman, become a star of Ja’Corey Brooks or JoJoe Earle (or both!), And spark a passionate debate about his pro perspectives, as he’s just 6 feet tall.
4. Carolina Panthers: DJ UiagaleleiQB, Clemson
This highly regarded QB wrestled last season with a lousy Clemson team, but the tools are all there because the 6-foot-4, 240-pound for being one of the best pro prospects, in the mold of Daunte Culpepper.
5. Giants of New York: Antonio RichardsonQB, Florida
He has a total of only 77 career dropbacks with the Gators, but he’s a thrilling, double-threatened talent, and at 6 foot-4, 235 pounds, he’ll finally be getting his turn to Gainesville.
6. New York jet: Will AndersonEDGE, Alabama
If (when?) The QBs fall, Anderson could be in contention for first place overall if he had another year like 2021, when he led the country in sack (17.5) and tackles by defeat (33.5) to the second year.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jaxon Smith-NjigbaWR, State of Ohio
Playing alongside two of the top 20 picks in Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, Smith-Njigba still amassed 1,606 yards in reception and nine TDs in 2021, including all-time Rose Bowl records (15-347-3).
8. Seattle Seahawks: Tyler Van DykeQB, You love me
After Van Dyke pitched for 2,931 yards and 25 TDs last year, can he make the leap that QBs like JT Daniels and Spencer Rattler couldn’t last season?
9. Pittsburgh Steelers: Pietro SkòronskiLT, North Western
Honored as the best left tackle in the Big Ten, he will be a potential brick on a bad Steelers offensive line.
10. Chicago Bears: Giordano AddisonWR, Pittsburgh
The Biletnikoff Award winner got 38 over 15-yard catches and took 12 of his 17 touchdowns in the slot from Kenny Pickett. But he could move to USC.
11. Washington commanders: Michael MayerYOU, Notre Dame
At 6ft-4, 250lbs, Mayer’s test profile is expected to top the roof and could be the third tight end to make the top 10 in the past four years.
12. Las Vegas Raiders: Jalen CarterDT, Georgia
All three starters on Georgia’s 2021 defensive line were drafted into the top 50, and that means Carter rises to a starter role and, arguably, an All-American nod.
13. Vikings of Minnesota: Paris Johnson Jr.LT, State of Ohio
Marked as a future star for a few years, Johnson will finally have the opportunity to play tackle, which is what he will do in the NFL.
14. Philadelphia Eagles (through Saints of New Orleans): Malachi MooreDB, Alabama
For two years a secondary school principal in Alabama, Moore is in the mold of former Tide directors Patrick Surtain, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Marlon Humphrey.
15. Miami Dolphins: Kelee RingoCB, Georgia
Ringo made a name for himself with the pick-6 in the national title match, showing the 4.35 speed that teams crave, as well as his covering ability.
16. New England patriots: Nolan SmithEDGE, Georgia
The twitch and curve is there, but Smith will need to add some weight to his 6ft 3, 235lb frame to jump into the top 10.
17. Philadelphia Eagles: It will be McDonald’sEDGE, State of Iowa
McDonald’s mysteriously disappeared upon entering the 2022 Draft, but he is an outstanding athlete who was a basketball star and a high school track and field athlete and started playing football late.
18. Tennessee Titans: BJ OjulariEDGE, LSU
This is the younger brother of Azeez Ojulari, a 2021 pick of the Giants. BJ had seven sacks and 11.5 TFL in 2021 and is touted as one of the SEC’s top pass-rusher for 2022.
19. Indianapolis foals: Phil JurkovecQB, Boston College
Jurkovec spent two seasons at Notre Dame before leaving for Chestnut Hill. The 6-foot-5 QB is ready to make the leap after missing half of last season due to a hand injury.
20. Arizona cardinals: Isaiah FoskeyEDGE, Notre Dame
The 6-foot-5 star is on track to be the best sackman in Notre Dame history, hitting 11 points last season and sitting just nine behind Justin Tuck’s record of 24.5.
21. Houston Texans (via Cleveland Browns): Quentin JohnstonWR, TCU
Johnston has modest stats – eight TDs, 55 catches in two seasons – but at 6-foot-4 he has burner speed and if he runs a sub-4.4 40, he’ll find himself perfectly in the first round.
22. Baltimore Ravens: Eli RicksCB, Alabama
One of the top 20 recruits in the 2020 high school class, Ricks started at LSU and was an American third-team freshman before moving to Alabama.
23. Cincinnati Bengals: Bijan RobinsonRB, Texas
The all-purpose defender had 1,422 scrimmage yards and 15 TDs last season, and while I rarely claim to do a first-round running back, it’s worth it.
24. Los Angeles battery charger: Arik GilbertTE, Georgia
This former LSU star is now in a tight Bulldogs room, with future first-round Brock Bowers and potential draft pick Darnell Washington. The 6-foot-5 Gilbert is too talented to keep himself off the pitch.
25. Dallas Cowboy: Brenton CoxEDGE, Florida
Cox started in Georgia, moved to Florida, and pestered SEC QBs for 24.5 sacks in 25 games.
26. Seattle Seahawks (via Denver Broncos): Noah SewellLB, Oregon
Linebackers are mostly coming down to round two, but Sewell – brother of former Oregon star Penei – will be in the mix to win the Butkus Award. At 6 feet-3, 251 pounds, he’s a force.
27. Miami Dolphins (via San Francisco 49ers): Josh DownWR, North Carolina
The 5-foot-10 burner got huge stats with QB Sam Howell last season (1,335 yards, eight TDs), and if he can hit a 4.40 40, he’ll put his name in the hat for the first round.
28. Detroit Lions (via Los Angeles Rams): Cornelius JohnsonWR, Michigan
At 6-foot-3, he’s likely going to run a 4.4 or better, and that kind of speed and size usually means round one, even with its modest stats (620 yards on reception, three TDs).
29. Green Bay Packers: Kayshon BoutteWR, LSU
The Tigers QB situation was a disaster, but Boutte still delivered 14 TDs in his first two seasons, and he’s also a 4.37 burner in the 40.
30. Heads of Kansas City: Khari ColemanEDGE, Ole Miss
Injuries derailed him last season at the TCU and now he’s moving to the SEC. He will be looking to duplicate his awesome 2020 campaign, in which he led all freshmen in America with 15 TFLs.
31. Tampa Bay Buccaneer: Myles MurphyEDGE, Clemson
The 6-foot-4, 275-pound pass-rusher has 12 sacks and 25 tackles for two-season defeat.
32. Buffalo bills: Marvin MimWR, Oklahoma
The Sooners have had plenty of starts after Lincoln Riley left, but Mims stayed close and will be WR1 in Norman after taking 14 TDs in his first two seasons.
Jason McIntyre is a FOX Sports betting analyst and also writes on NFL and NBA Draft. He joined FS1 in 2016 and has appeared in all shows on the network. In 2017, McIntyre began producing NFL, college football, and NBA gambling content for FOX Sports. He had a gambling podcast for FOX, “Coming Up Winners,” in 2018 and 2019. Before joining FOX, he created The Big Lead website, which he sold in 2010.
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