ESPN’s Mel Kiper releases final mock ahead of 2023 NFL Draft

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has released his final 2023 NFL Mock Draft ahead of Thursday’s highly-anticipated event.

The wait is finally over. We’re about to find out who the Carolina Panthers are rocking with at No. 1, which quarterbacks will go where and be enthralled by the selections that take place. The NFL Draft has become one of the best events in all of sports, and Thursday should be no different.

Here’s how Mel Kiper Jr. believe it’ll all shake out, check out his final 2023 NFL Mock Draft below.

Mel Kiper Jr.’s Final 2023 NFL Mock Draft:

1. Carolina Panthers (via Chicago Bears) — QB Bryce Young, Alabama Crimson Tide
2. Houston Texans — DE Will Anderson Jr., Alabama Crimson Tide
3. Tennessee Titans (via projected trade with Arizona Cardinals) — QB CJ Stroud, Ohio State Buckeyes
4. Indianapolis Colts — QB Will Levis, Kentucky Wildcats
5. Seattle Seahawks (via Denver Broncos) — DT Jalen Carter, Georgia Bulldogs
6. Detroit Lions (via Los Angeles Rams) — CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois Fighting Illini
7. Las Vegas Raiders — CB Christian Gonzalez, Oregon Ducks
8. Atlanta Falcons — DE Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech Red Raiders
9. Chicago Bears (via Carolina Panthers) — OT Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State Buckeyes
10. Philadelphia Eagles (via New Orleans Saints) — RB Bijan Robinson, Texas Longhorns

For Mel Kiper Jr.’s full final first-round predictions for the 2023 NFL Draft, CLICK HERE.

Evidently, Kiper believes Bryce Young will be the first quarterback off the board on Thursday, as the Carolina Panthers will make him their leader for the foreseeable future. The franchise gambled a lot to move up eight spots to draft the former Alabama quarterback, and his skillset and demeanor would make it a worthy risk.

As many have said, the 2023 NFL Draft truly begins at second overall with the Houston Texans. There’s a bevy of different ways the franchise could go about things, but Kiper is predicting the Texans to stay put and land a star defender in Will Anderson, giving the Crimson Tide back-to-back picks at the top of the draft.

The Arizona Cardinals have Kyler Murray, so they’re not drafting a quarterback, but Kiper believes the Tennessee Titans will make a big swing for Ohio State’s CJ Stroud, moving up from No. 11 overall to No. 3 to secure his services. They already have Ryan Tannehill and Malik Willis in tow, but Stroud may simply be too good to let fall to their division rival Indianapolis Colts at No. 4.

Throughout the rest of Mel Kiper Jr.’s 2023 NFL Mock Draft, there’s plenty of fascinating insight and analysis, and of course some interesting selections. We’ll see how many of them come true Thursday, as the big night is finally upon us.