Mel Kiper Jr. 2023 NFL Mock Draft 2.0: Bryce Younger, Stroud, Levis Centered in Trades

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has launched his most up-to-date mock draft, which facets three teams shopping and selling up to steal quarterbacks within the halt five.

Kiper thinks the Houston Texans will cross up one space in a trade with the Chicago Bears to steal Bryce Younger No. 1 overall. The Bears will plan a 2nd deal to cross down two spots, allowing the Indianapolis Colts to draft C.J. Stroud at No. 2.

Kiper’s final trade within the halt 10 has the Carolina Panthers leaping up four spots in a style out the Seattle Seahawks and taking Will Levis with the No. 5 take. ESPN’s draft guru additionally has the Seahawks the use of the ninth take received within the swap with Carolina to preserve Anthony Richardson.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Monday that “multiple teams” have approached the Bears about shopping and selling the halt take on this year’s draft and additionally they’re “leaning in direction of” dealing it.

Justin Fields made gigantic strides for the Bears all the procedure through the 2022 season with out much aid around him. Trading the take would allow the crew to accrue more gamers to starting up out maximizing Fields’ doubtless as a passer after he ran for 1,143 yards and eight touchdowns in 15 video games.

The Texans would have had the No. 1 absorb the occasion that they didn’t beat the Colts in Week 18. They’re aloof in prime build to procure a quarterback within the occasion that they halt of their most up-to-date space, however the halt take enables them to control the draft.

Kiper famed Younger “would no longer have many flaws” on the self-discipline with “prominent pocket presence” and “excellent” processing talents. There’ll likely be quite just a few attention on the 2021 Heisman winner this week when he measures in on the NFL Scouting Combine.

Per NFL Community’s Ian Rapoport, Younger is the actual one in every of the halt four quarterback possibilities who is now no longer anticipated to throw in Indianapolis.

Colts owner Jim Irsay has been very originate about desirous to elevate in a younger quarterback. He namely cited Younger as an sharp risk all the procedure through new head coach Shane Steichen’s introductory press conference

“The Alabama man would no longer ogle immoral, I will account for ya,” Irsay instant newshounds on Feb. 14.

The Colts halt up with Stroud on this scenario provided by Kiper. He wrote the Ohio Instruct quarterback has underrated arm energy and accuracy, and “his contact to all stages of the self-discipline is the most efficient on this class.”

The Panthers are a wild card within the quarterback market this offseason. Original head coach Frank Reich was fired by the Colts closing season after going through a revolving door of quarterbacks over the final three years.

Per NFL Community’s Ian Rapoport, Carolina is among the teams Derek Carr is anticipated to meet with this week. NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal known as the Panthers a “sleeper” crew for Aaron Rodgers and Lamar Jackson if either becomes available by job of trade.

Kiper famed we are going to have the choice to know what the Panthers’ knowing at quarterback is going to be once free company begins March 15. If they signal or trade for a player, this would per chance perchance objective almost indubitably preserve them out of the discussion for a signal-caller early within the draft.

Relating to the Kentucky quarterback, Kiper wrote: “Levis is now no longer liked by every NFL scout, however his doubtless is de facto high. He has a cannon for an arm, even though he on the overall is a small sloppy with the ball on occasion. He played in a reliable-model offense for the Wildcats and did not have much elite skills around him, especially along the offensive line.”

In this mock draft, Kiper initiatives the Seahawks to make use of the franchise designate on Geno Smith for subsequent season to let Richardson originate for 300 and sixty five days prior to taking on because the starter in 2024.

If nothing else, all the circulation on the halt of Kiper’s mock suggests the chance for quite just a few trades to happen between now and the starting up of the 2023 draft on April 27.