2023 NFL Mock Draft, Best Bets & Sleeper Picks

2023 NFL Draft Best Bets & Sleeper Picks

The 2023 NFL Draft is scheduled to take place from April 27-29, 2023, in Kansas City, Missouri. There are various types of bets that can be placed on the NFL Draft, including:

1. Overall Pick - Betting on which player will be selected with the first overall pick in the draft, second overall pick, etc.

2. Draft Position - Betting on the draft position of a specific player. For example, betting on whether a player will be drafted within the top 10 picks, or in the first round.

3. Team Draft Position - Betting on the draft position of a specific team. For example, betting on whether a team will draft within the top 5 picks, or in the first round.

4. Over/Under - Betting on whether the number of players drafted in a specific round will be over or under a given number.

5. Head-to-Head Matchups - Betting on which player will be drafted first between two specific players.

6. Prop Bets - Prop bets are bets on specific events or outcomes that are not directly related to the draft order or player selection. For example, prop bets can include the total number of quarterbacks drafted in the first round or the number of players drafted from a specific college.

In my mock draft below, I’m going to include best bets for each of those bet types while also explaining why all the picks make sense. Note that it’s impossible to predict mid-draft trades, so those are not taken into account. Any pre-draft trades will be reflected in the mock and updated. 

2023 NFL Mock Draft: Entire First Round

1. Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young (QB, Alabama)

Under 4.5 Total QB’s Drafted In 1st round (+140, BetRivers)

The Frank Reich era will begin by selecting an extremely decorated, successful collegiate quarterback who will come in and instantly become the franchise QB for the Panthers.

2. Houston Texans: Anthony Richardson (QB, Florida)

Anthony Richardson 2nd Overall Pick (+4000, PointsBet)

Anthony Richardson 2nd QB Selected (+500, BetRivers)

Anthony Richardson Drafted Before Will Levis (+275, BetRivers)

Anthony Richardson Top 5 Pick (-100, BetRivers)

DeMeco Ryans may be a defensive-oriented first-year coach, but the Texans need a franchise QB and should select the one with the most upside. That’s clearly Richardson in this draft. Even if he doesn’t start in Week 1, that’ll be fine since this team is going through a rebuild.

3. Arizona Cardinals: Will Anderson (LB, Alabama)

Will Anderson 3rd Overall Pick (+400, BetMGM)

The Cardinals should have their pick of the best defensive player in the draft if they keep this pick. Will Anderson would fit perfectly into new head coach Jonathan Gannon’s defense. 

4. Indianapolis Colts: Will Levis (QB, Kentucky)

Will Levis 4th Overall Pick (+125, BetRivers)

While rumors are swirling tying him to the first overall pick, I think he will be available here and the Colts need their QB of the future. Gardner Minshew is their current QB1.

5. Seattle Seahawks: Tyree Wilson (DE, Texas Tech)

Tyree Wilson 5th Overall Pick (+350, BetRivers)

The Seahawks lost a lot of talent on their defensive line and Wilson turned heads during his final year in college. Take a look at this guy’s highlight reels and you’ll understand why he should go high. Seattle is transitioning to a 3-4 defense and he’s a prime candidate to play one of the outside linebacker/edge roles.

6. Detroit Lions: Devon Witherspoon (CB, Illinois)

Devon Witherspoon 6th Overall Pick (+100 BetRivers)

Lions To Take DB With 1st Pick In Draft (-110, Caesars)

Caesars is projecting the Lions to draft a defensive back with their first pick in the draft and Witherspoon is the best cornerback option in this class. Detroit’s pass defense needs some help and he should provide just that.

7. Las Vegas Raiders: CJ Stroud (QB, Ohio State)

CJ Stroud 7th Overall Pick (+600, BetRivers)

Raiders To Take QB With 1st Pick In Draft (+250, Caesars)

Even with Jimmy Garoppolo signed for three seasons, I expect the Raiders to select a quarterback with their first selection. Not only is Jimmy G injured often, but you know what you’re getting from him. Stroud is one of the best collegiate producers in recent memory and could be special with some refinement.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Joey Porter Jr. (CB, Penn State)

Joey Porter Jr. 8th Overall Pick (+2500, BetRivers)

Falcons To Take DB With 1st Pick In Draft (+250, Caesars)

The Falcons released Casey Hayward, which leaves a void at their right cornerback starting position. Porter might be my favorite CB prospect in this draft and is probably the best press corner in this class. 

9. Chicago Bears: Peter Skoronski (OT, Northwestern)

Peter Skoronski 1st OL Drafted (+200, BetMGM)

Peter Skoronski 1st Player Drafted By Bears (+380, PointsBet)

Peter Skoronski 9th Overall Pick (+250, BetRivers)

Peter Skoronski Drafted Before Parris Johnson Jr. (+155, BetRivers)

The Bears need to protect Justin Fields and there’s no better fit than Skoronski, who played his college ball at Northwestern. He’s a Day 1 starter.

10. Philadelphia Eagles: Bijan Robinson (RB, Texas)

Bijan Robinson 1st Player Drafted By Eagles (+600, PointsBet)

Bijan Robinson 10th Overall Pick (+800, BetRivers)

Bijan Robinson Top 10 Pick (+100, BetRivers)

Eagles To Take RB With 1st Pick In Draft (+800, Caesars)

Bye bye Miles Sanders and hello Bijan Robinson? Rashaad Penny, Kenneth Gainwell and Boston Scott are an interesting trio, but why not grab one of the best running back prospects in recent memory to bolster the running game for years to come?

11. Tennessee Titans: Zay Flowers (WR, Boston College)

Zay Flowers 1st WR Selected (+650, BetMGM)

Titans To Take WR With 1st Pick In Draft (+700, Caesars)

The Titans desperately need to draft a wide receiver, as Treylon Burks and Chris Moore are currently their top two wideouts on the depth chart. Derrick Henry will be the focal point of the offense, but a possession receiver like Flowers could come in and instantly impact the passing game with his route-running ability. 

12. Houston Texans: Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR, Ohio State)

Jaxon Smith-Njigba 2nd WR Selected (+350, BetRivers)

Speaking of route-running ability, how about pairing Anthony Richardson with Jaxon Smith-Njigba? That would be fun. For what has been a very stale Houston offense, Smith-Njigba could fit in perfectly alongside Robert Woods, tight end Dalton Schultz and running backs Dameon Pierce and Devin Singletary. 

13. Green Bay Packers: Nolan Smith (DE, Georgia)

Packers To Draft DL/EDGE With 1st Pick In Draft (+175, Caesars)

Smith is one of the most dynamic defensive playmakers in this draft class and getting him in this spot would make the Packers very happy. They could use him in multiple positions.

14. New England Patriots: Jalen Carter (DT, Georgia)

Patriots To Take DL/EDGE With 1st Pick In Draft (+550, Caesars)

Character issues don’t scare away Bill Belichick and the Patriots. I expect Carter to drop due to his off-field issues and Pro Day performance, but I don’t think he’d go past this number.

15. New York Jets: Parris Johnson Jr. (OT, Ohio State)

Jets To Take OL With 1st Pick In Draft (-250, Caesars)

Now with Aaron Rodgers in town, the Jets need to protect him. Johnson Jr. is arguably the best tackle in this draft class.

16. Washington Commanders: Brian Branch (S, Alabama)

Commanders To Take DB With 1st Pick In Draft (+125, Caesars)

The Commanders need an upgrade at safety, so why not take the best safety in this year’s class to instantly come in and start? 

17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Darnell Washington (TE, Georgia)

Darnell Washington 1st TE Drafted (+1100, BetMGM)

Darnell Washington 1st Round Pick (+100, BetRivers)

Steelers To Take TE With 1st Pick In Draft (+2500, Caesars)

Pat Freiermuth is still there, but in an effort to make life easier for second-year QB Kenny Pickett, why not draft an immediate red zone threat, freak athlete and stellar blocker Darnell Washington? This guy turned heads in the College Football Playoff and has sky-high potential.

18. Detroit Lions: Jordan Addison (WR, USC)

Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Jordan Addison. Just imagine how dynamic this passing offense could be!

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Christian Gonzalez (CB, Oregon)

Buccaneers To Take DB With 1st Pick In Draft (+800, Caesars)

The Buccaneers have to make upgrades to numerous positions this offseason and defensive back is one of them. At this point, Christian Gonzalez would be the best player on the board and could be dynamic within Tampa’s defensive scheme.

20. Seattle Seahawks: Broderick Jones (OT, Georgia)

The Seahawks invested a lot of money in Geno Smith and need to make sure he’s protected. Jones is a super athletic tackle with seemingly a lot of pro upside.

21. Los Angeles Chargers: Michael Mayer (TE, Notre Dame)

Chargers To Take TE With 1st Pick In Draft (+275, Caesars)

Justin Herbert deserves another weapon and an upgrade over Gerald Everett. Mayer is the best pure pass-catching tight end in this class and would be able to make an instant impact in a star-studded offense.

22. Baltimore Ravens: Jalin Hyatt (WR, Tennessee)

Jalin Hyatt To Be 1st Round Pick (+105, BetRivers)

Ravens To Take WR With 1st Pick In Draft (+170, Caesars)

Signing Odell Beckham Jr. was a nice start, but if the Ravens want to get Lamar Jackson to sign long-term, why not give him another toy to play with? Hyatt routinely took over games against future pros back in college, is an elite downfield threat and would be an incredible threat to have on the other side of OBJ, especially in play-action situations.

23. Minnesota Vikings: Quintin Johnson (WR, TCU)

Vikings To Take WR With 1st Pick In Draft (+190, Caesars)

Adam Thielen is gone and the Vikings need to give Kirk Cousins another option at wideout. Justin Jefferson is going to attract a ton of attention from opposing defenses, so more talent needs to be added to offset some of that. Johnson has the size and athleticism to make an instant impact.

24. Jacksonville Jaguars: Dalton Kincaid (TE, Utah)

Jaguars To Take TE With 1st Pick In Draft (+600, Caesars)

With Evan Engram on a one-year deal, Kincaid would be a very smart player for the Jags to draft. With Travis Etienne Jr. at running back and Calvin Ridley, Christian Kirk and Zay Jones at wideout, Kincaid would join a really solid offense right away and could be a future impact starter once he takes over for Engram.

25. New York Giants: Darnell Wright (OT, Tennessee)

Giants To Take OL With 1st Pick In Draft (+350, Caesars)

New York gave Daniel Jones a shocking amount of money this offseason and now need to make sure he’s protected well. The G-Men need to establish the run this season (unlike they were able to do in certain games with Saquon Barkley running the ball last year) and Wright’s addition would only help.

26. Dallas Cowboys: Anton Harrison (OT, Oklahoma)

Cowboys To Take OL With 1st Pick In Draft (+550, Caesars)

Harrison played both tackle spots in college but doesn’t seem to have the athleticism to play tackle in the NFL. The Cowboys need a left guard, so why not take a shot on transitioning him to fill that void?

27. Buffalo Bills: Jack Campbell (MLB, Iowa)

Jack Campbell To Be 1st Round Pick (+175, BetRivers)

Bills To Take LB With 1st Pick In Draft (+250, Caesars)

Tremaine Edmunds left the Bills to sign with the Bears in free agency, thus leaving a middle linebacker void. Jack Campbell is the prototypical middle linebacker from Iowa and would fit perfectly into Buffalo’s defense.

28. Cincinnati Bengals: Deonte Banks (CB, Maryland)

Bengals To Take DB With 1st Pick In Draft (+300, Caesars)

The Bengals lost both starting safeties and a starting cornerback and other cornerback starter Chidobe Awuzie is coming back from major knee surgery. I expect them to get help in their secondary with this pick and Banks seems like a logical choice.

29. New Orleans Saints: Myles Murphy (DE, Clemson)

Saints To Take DL/EDGE With 1st Pick In Draft (+120, Caesars)

The Saints like drafting long pass rushers and Murphy is an ultra-athletic option to fit their need at this spot.

30. Philadelphia Eagles: Calijah Kancey (DT, Pittsburgh)

The Eagles love to rotate their defensive line in and out and while Kancey doesn’t project as an every-down player, he will never need to be. He possesses elite pass-rushing potential and will make the most of his allotment of snaps.

31. Kansas City Chiefs: BJ Ojulari (DE, LSU)

BJ Ojulari To Be A 1st Round Pick (+120, BetRivers)

Chiefs To Take DL/EDGE With 1st Pick In Draft (+175, Caesars)

The Chiefs need another edge player and Ojulari fits that need as a pure pass-rusher.