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Mel Kiper releases updated first-round NFL mock draft with new No. 1 overall pick

On3-Social-Profile_GRAYby:On3 Staff Report•04/11/23
NFL Mock Draft
Fans pose for an NFL mock draft at the NFL Experience prior to Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 11, 2023. (Mike Lawrie / Getty Images)

There are a little over two weeks until the 2023 NFL Draft begins, and ESPN analyst Mel Kiper has released an updated version of his latest NFL mock draft. His new mock has a flip in the quarterbacks selected atop the draft.

Previously Kiper had Ohio State‘s CJ Stroud going No. 1 overall to the Carolina Panthers. Now the long-time ESPN analyst has Alabama‘s Bryce Young taking the No. 1 overall spot, with Stroud going just behind him.

Kiper’s first round is fairly quarterback heavy.

In fact, Kiper has the first four picks in his NFL mock draft being used to take quarterbacks, with Florida‘s Anthony Richardson going at No. 3 to the Tennessee Titans via a mock draft trade, then Kentucky‘s Will Levis going at No. 4 to the Indianapolis Colts.

But Kiper’s quarterback love in the first round doesn’t end there.

He’s also got the Seattle Seahawks trading back up into the first round at pick No. 30 to select Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker. Hooker has reportedly impressed teams in the pre-draft process with his Xs and Os knowledge and his recall.

Kiper has a pair of SEC stars following close after the run of quarterbacks at the top of the draft, with Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter going at No. 5 overall to the Seattle Seahawks and Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson going No. 6 overall to the Detroit Lions.

You can check out the rest of Kiper’s updated first-round NFL mock draft below.

Mel Kiper Updated NFL Mock Draft (April 11)

  1. Carolina Panthers (from trade with Chicago Bears) — Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
  2. Houston Texans — C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
  3. Tennessee Titans (via mock trade with Arizona Cardinals) — Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
  4. Indianapolis Colts — Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
  5. Seattle Seahawks (via Denver Broncos) — Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
  6. Detroit Lions (via Los Angeles Rams) — Will Anderson, LB, Alabama
  7. Las Vegas Raiders — Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
  8. Atlanta Falcons — Nolan Smith, LB, Georgia
  9. Chicago Bears (from trade with Carolina Panthers) — Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
  10. Philadelphia Eagles — Peter Skoronski, OL, Northwestern
  11. Arizona Cardinals (via mock trade with Tennessee) – Tyree Wilson, DE, Texas Tech
  12. Houston Texans (via Cleveland) – Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
  13. New York Jets – Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
  14. New England Patriots – Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
  15. Green Bay Packers – Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
  16. Washington Commanders – Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
  17. Pittsburgh Steelers – Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
  18. Detroit Lions – Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
  19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
  20. Seattle Seahawks – Myles Murphy, DE, Clemson
  21. Los Angeles Chargers – Jordan Addison, WR, USC
  22. Baltimore Ravens – Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
  23. Minnesota Vikings – Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
  24. Jacksonville Jaguars – Lukas Van Ness, DL, Iowa
  25. New York Giants – DJ Turner, CB, Michigan
  26. Dallas Cowboys – Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
  27. Buffalo Bills – Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson
  28. Cincinnati Bengals – Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
  29. New Orleans Saints (via Denver, Miami, San Francisco) – Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh
  30. Seattle Seahawks (via mock trade with Philadelphia) – Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee
  31. Kansas City Chiefs – Will McDonald IV, DE, Iowa State