2023 NFL Mock Draft: Who Will the Panthers Select at No. 1?

The Carolina Panthers look ready to draft a franchise quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

2023 NFL Mock Draft: Who Will Carolina Panthers Select at No. 1?

The Carolina Panthers have already made a seismic move in the 2023 NFL Draft, trading a boatload of future picks to get the No. 1 pick away from the Chicago Bears. The Panthers will almost surely pick a franchise quarterback while the Bears, who had not owned the No. 1 pick since 1947, will now pick from the No. 9 spot.

The only question now is ... which quarterback will the Panthers take? In a draft featuring multiple quarterbacks who could go No. 1 overall, they definitely have options.

That's not the only drama that will play out leading up to the 2023 NFL Draft, which will take place on April 27-29 outside of Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri. Here's a look at Stadium Talk's first 2023 NFL Mock Draft.

1. Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young, Quarterback

Born: July 25, 2001 (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

High School: Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana, California)

College: Alabama

Height/weight: 5-foot-11, 204 pounds

Career highlights: CFP National Champion (2020), Heisman Trophy (2021), Maxwell Award (2021), Davey O'Brien Award (2021), Manning Award (2021), AP College Football Player of the Year (2021), Sporting News College Football Player of the Year (2021), SEC Offensive Player of the Year (2021), SEC Championship Game MVP (2021), Sugar Bowl MVP (2022), two-time All-SEC (2021, 2022)

Bottom line: The Carolina Panthers pretty much gave away the store to get the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, which means they will no doubt be taking one of the top two quarterbacks available with Alabama's Bryce Young and Ohio State's C.J. Stroud.

There aren't a lot of negatives to taking either player, but Young gets the slight edge here. His level of maturity has truly been something to behold over his two seasons as a starter for Alabama, going 23-4. The big knock on Young is his height, but he seems like a quarterback who can turn the Panthers into a winner within a few years.

2. Houston Texans: C.J. Stroud, Quarterback

Born: Oct. 3, 2001 (Rancho Cucamonga, California)

High School: Rancho Cucamonga High School (Rancho Cucamonga, California)

College: Ohio State

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 214 pounds

Career highlights: Two-time AP All-American (2021, 2022), two-time All-Big Ten (2021, 2022), two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year (2021, 2022), two-time Big Ten Quarterback of the Year (2021, 2022), Big Ten Freshman of the Year (2021), two-time All-Big Ten (2021, 2022)

Bottom line: C.J. Stroud didn't do himself any favors with his interviews at the NFL Combine when he declared himself the best player in college football the last two seasons (he wasn't) and picked Michael Vick and Deshaun Watson as two quarterbacks he's going to model his career after.

Stroud was definitely electric the last two seasons at Ohio State, but it's worth pointing out that Ohio State quarterbacks are generally not very good when they get to the NFL — a pattern that dates back almost 50 years. The last two Ohio State quarterbacks drafted in the first round, the late Dwayne Haskins (2015) and Justin Fields (2020), were a combined 8-30 in NFL starts through the end of the 2022 regular season.

3. Arizona Cardinals: Will Anderson Jr., Linebacker

Born: Sept. 2, 2001 (Hampton, Georgia)

High School: Dutchtown High School (Hampton, Georgia)

College: Alabama

Height/weight: 6-foot-4. 243 pounds

Career highlights: CFP National Champion (2020), Lombardi Award (2022), two-time Nagurski Trophy (2021, 2022), Bednarik Award (2022), Lott Trophy (2022), two-time SEC Defensive Player of the Year (2021, 2022), two-time AP All-American (2021, 2022), three-time All-SEC (2020-22), Cotton Bowl MVP (2021)

Bottom line: Will Anderson Jr. has been the dominant defensive player in college football for the last three seasons, and it's not a stretch to say the Arizona Cardinals could be getting a transformative player for the franchise with him at No. 3 overall. He has a bright future that might lead us to wonder why he wasn't taken No. 1.

There's little Anderson can't do on the defensive side of the ball, from playing the traditional linebacker role to rushing the passer to dropping into pass coverage, where he can match up with the NFL's freakish tight ends.

4. Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Richardson, Quarterback

Born: May 22, 2001 (Miami, Florida)

High School: Eastside High School (Gainesville, Florida)

College: Florida

Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 232 pounds

Career highlights: None

Bottom line: Sometimes, a player can have such amazing physical attributes and potential that they become a phenomenon heading into the NFL Draft — to the point where people watching them play actually begin to question their own sanity.

Such is the case with Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson, who went 6-6 in his only season as the full-time starter for the Gators but somehow finds himself being talked about as a possible No. 1 overall pick.

While neither of the teams at the top of the draft has shown any indication they're willing to roll the dice on Richardson, the Gainesville native ran a 4.4-second, 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine and has a cannon for an arm. He's going in the top 10 for sure.

5. Seattle Seahawks: Jalen Carter, Defensive Line

Born: April 4, 2001 (Apopka, Florida)

High School: Apopka High School (Apopka, Florida)

College: Georgia

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 310 pounds

Career highlights: Two-time CFP National Champion (2021, 2022), AP All-American (2022), two-time All-SEC (2021, 2022)

Bottom line: Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter was being talked about as a possible No. 1 overall pick until he was arrested for reckless driving and street racing in an accident that led to the deaths of Georgia football staffer Chandler LeCroy and Georgia offensive lineman Devin Willock.

Carter has denied the allegations, and whatever happens with the case, he's not likely to do jail time — both charges are misdemeanors — so it's going to be hard for the Seahawks to pass up the opportunity to get such an elite player at this spot.

6. Detroit Lions: Christian Gonzalez, Cornerback

Oregon defensive back Christian Gonzalez

Born: June 28, 2002 (Carrollton, Texas)

High School: The Colony High School (The Colony, Texas)

Colleges: Colorado/Oregon

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 201 pounds

Career highlights: All-Pac-12 (2022)

Bottom line: The son of a former Division I basketball player and with three sisters who were all Division I All-Americans in track and field, Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez had a breakout season in 2022 with 45 tackles, seven pass breakups and three interceptions on the way to All-Pac-12 honors.

Gonzalez transferred to Oregon after two seasons at Colorado in what proved to be a genius move. He was also arguably the biggest winner at the NFL Combine, where he ran a 4.38-second, 40-yard dash to go with a 41.4-inch vertical leap and a broad jump of 11-foot-1.

The Lions drafted a star on defense last season with defensive end Aiden Hutchinson. They could keep that run going with Gonzalez this year.

7. Las Vegas Raiders: Will Levis, Quarterback

Born: June 27, 1999 (Newton, Massachusetts)

High School: Xavier High School (Middletown, Connecticut)

Colleges: Penn State/Kentucky

Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 232 pounds

Career highlights: None

Bottom line: Will Levis started just three games in his three seasons at Penn State before transferring to Kentucky and turning himself into what seems like a surefire first-round pick. Levis has the prototypical size for an NFL quarterback at 6-foot-4 and 232 pounds and threw for almost 6,000 yards and 45 touchdowns over two seasons as a starter in the SEC.

Levis impressed with his arm strength at the NFL Combine — "I've got a cannon," he told scouts in interviews — but there's something off here. If you're trying to put a finger on it, it's probably that he seems more interested in performing for social media than playing football, as evidenced by weird stunts like putting mayonnaise in coffee and eating bananas with their peels still on. But, hey, it's the Raiders.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Tyree Wilson, Defensive End

Born: May 20, 2000

High School: West Rusk High School (New London, Texas)

Colleges: Texas A&M/Texas Tech

Height/weight: 6-foot-6, 275 pounds

Career highlights: AP All-American (2022), All-Big 12 (2022)

Bottom line: Tyree Wilson thrived under new Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire in 2022, as the Texas A&M transfer turned himself into an All-American and surefire first-round pick as the top-rated pure defensive end in this year's draft class.

The Atlanta Falcons have much bigger problems than who they're taking in the draft — mainly like deciding not to grab the brass ring and try to sign quarterback Lamar Jackson. If Wilson gets picked by the Falcons, he should prepare for a tough few seasons because this team will suck for a minute.

9. Chicago Bears: Paris Johnson Jr., Offensive Tackle

Ohio State offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr.

Born: July 3. 2001 (Cincinnati, Ohio)

High School: Princeton High School (Sharonville, Ohio)

College: Ohio State

Height/weight: 6-foot-6, 310 pounds

Career highlights: AP All-American (2022), two-time All-Big 12 (2021, 2022)

Bottom line: Paris Johnson was a fill-in starter at left guard as a freshman in 2020, the full-time starter at right guard in 2021 and moved to left tackle in 2022, where he was dominant in protecting quarterback C.J. Stroud. And Johnson became an AP All-American in the most important position on the offensive line.

He would be a good fit for the Bears, as Johnson already has experience blocking for quarterback Justin Fields in college — and it's never a bad move when you can pair up former college teammates. Even if the Bears don't feel like Johnson can start right away at left tackle, they already know he can step in and play guard.

10. Philadelphia Eagles: Nolan Smith, Defensive End/Linebacker

High School: IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida)

College: Georgia

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 235 pounds

Career highlights: Two-time CFP National Champion (2021, 2022)

Bottom line: Nolan Smith was a dominant defensive end/linebacker for Georgia on back-to-back national championship teams in 2021 and 2022 despite missing the last few months of his senior season with a torn pectoral muscle.

While missing games because of injury may have hurt Smith's draft stock, he got back most of that when the Georgia native ran a 4.39-second, 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. It was the second-fastest time for a defensive lineman in the last 20 years. The Eagles have two picks in the first round, thanks to a 2022 trade with the New Orleans Saints, but we believe they'll take Smith first.

11. Tennessee Titans: Peter Skoronski, Offensive Line

Northwestern offensive lineman Peter Skoronski

High School: Maine South High School (Park Ridge, Illinois)

College: Northwestern

Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 315 pounds

Career highlights: AP All-American (2022), Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year (2022), three-time All-Big Ten (2020-22)

Bottom line: This might be dropping too low for Northwestern's Peter Skoronski, who looks like he could play either guard or tackle in the NFL.

Skoronski was dominant at Northwestern despite going 1-11 in 2022 when he was still named an AP All-American and the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year.

Skoronski won't be the first NFL offensive lineman in his family. His grandfather, Bob Skoronski, played 11 seasons in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers and won five NFL championships, including back-to-back wins in the first two Super Bowls.

12. Houston Texans: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Wide Receiver

Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Born: Feb. 14, 2002 (Dallas, Texas)

High School: Rockwall High School (Rockwall, Texas)

College: Ohio State

Height/weight: 6-foot, 198 pounds

Career highlights: Rose Bowl Offensive MVP (2021), AP All-American (2021), All-Big Ten (2021)

Bottom line: Ohio State's Jaxon Smith-Njigba only played three games in 2022 because of a hamstring injury but was the dominant wide receiver in college football in 2021, earning All-American honors and setting the FBS record with 347 receiving yards and three touchdowns in the 2022 Rose Bowl win over Utah. For the season, he had 1,607 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.

The younger brother of Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Canaan Smith-Njigba, Jaxon Smith-Njigba has the ideal size for an NFL wide receiver and appeared to have recovered from his injury at the 2023 NFL Combine, even though he didn't run the 40-yard dash.

13. New York Jets: Broderick Jones, Offensive Tackle

Born: May 16, 2001 (Lithonia, Georgia)

High School: Lithonia High School (Lithonia, Georgia)

College: Georgia

Height/weight: 6-foot-5, 310 pounds

Career highlights: Two-time CFP National Champion (2021, 2022), All-SEC (2022)

Bottom line: Broderick Jones was the most sought-after offensive line recruit in the country in 2020 out of Lithonia High School and delivered on that promise as a junior at Georgia in 2022, where he was an All-SEC pick.

Jones impressed at the NFL Draft Combine by running a 4.97-second, 40-yard dash, but the more impressive stat for him is probably his time as a starter at Georgia. He took over as left offensive tackle with four games left in the 2021 season and ended his career by starting 19 consecutive games, including two wins in the CFP National Championship Game.

14. New England Patriots: Quentin Johnston, Wide Receiver

Born: Sept. 6, 2001 (Temple, Texas)

High School: Temple High School (Temple, Texas)

College: TCU

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 210 pounds

Career highlights: Two-time All-Big 12 (2021, 2022)

Bottom line: No wide receiver was more impressive for all of 2022 than TCU's Quentin Johnston, who racked up 60 receptions for 1,069 yards and six touchdowns as he helped lead his team to an improbable spot in the CFP National Championship Game.

Johnston doesn't play like a traditional wide receiver and seems more like a tight end at times, but the one thing you can't deny is how productive he's been or how athletic he is. He registered a 41-inch vertical jump and 11-foot-2 broad jump at the NFL Combine but declined to run the 40-yard dash. It's hard to see the Patriots not taking a wide receiver or offensive weapon to help out quarterback Mac Jones, and there are a lot of really good pass catchers in this draft.

15. Green Bay Packers: Michael Mayer, Tight End

Born: July 6, 2001 (Independence, Kentucky)

High School: Covington Catholic High School (Park Hills, Kentucky)

College: Notre Dame

Height/weight: 6-foot-5, 250 pounds

Career highlights: Two-time AP All-American (2021, 2022), All-ACC (2020)

Bottom line: Michael Mayer was pegged as a tight end who would dominate in college and the NFL while still at Covington Catholic High in Park Hills, Kentucky. He delivered on that promise by setting Notre Dame's career record for tight ends with 180 receptions in three seasons and becoming the school's first consensus AP All-American at tight end since Ken MacAfee in 1976. Mayer had over 800 receiving yards in each of his last two seasons and decided to forgo his final year of college eligibility to enter the 2023 NFL Draft.

With the Green Bay Packers getting ready to debut a new starting quarterback for the first time in almost 20 years in Jordan Love, it would be good to get him some weapons. Mayer fits the bill.

16. Washington Commanders: Devon Witherspoon, Cornerback

Illinois defensive back Devon Witherspoon

Born: Dec. 11, 2001 (Pensacola, Florida)

High School: Pine Forest High School (Pensacola, Florida)

College: Illinois

Height/weight: 6-foot, 180 pounds

Career highlights: AP All-American (2022), Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year (2022) All-Big Ten (2022)

Bottom line: If you'll allow me a moment to pat myself on the back, I was part of the sports staff that picked Devon Witherspoon as the Pensacola News Journal Defensive Player of the Year in 2018. He was one of two future NFL defensive backs on the first team that year, alongside future Mississippi State star and Cleveland Browns quarterback Martin Emerson.

So now that you realize I'm a talent-spotting savant, let's recognize Witherspoon as a lock to become the first Illinois player drafted in the first round since 2012 after he earned All-American honors and was named Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year in 2022. What's in the water at Pine Forest High?

17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jordan Addison, Wide Receiver

Southern California wide receiver Jordan Addison

Born: Jan. 27, 2002 (Frederick, Maryland)

High School: Tuscarora High school (Frederick, Maryland)

College: USC

Height/weight: 6-foot, 175 pounds

Career highlights: Biletnikoff Award (2021), AP All-American (2021), All-Pac-12 (2022), All-ACC (2021)

Bottom line: College football transfers don't get much messier than when 2021 Biletnikoff Award winner Jordan Addison decided to leave Pittsburgh for USC, where new coach Lincoln Riley and quarterback Caleb Williams were waiting. The move led to a nasty back-and-forth between Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi and Riley, and Addison got dragged into the mess.

But Addison was great at USC — when he played. He had 39 receptions for 585 yards and seven touchdowns in just seven games in 2022 because of injuries but was still named All-Pac-12 and declared for the 2023 NFL draft following the season. After former LSU teammates Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase have teamed up to make magic on the Cincinnati Bengals the last two seasons, the Steelers would be smart to team quarterback Kenny Pickett up with his favorite target from his time at Pitt.

18. Detroit Lions: Bryan Bresee, Defensive Tackle

Born: Oct. 6, 2001 (Damascus, Maryland)

High School: Damascus High School (Damascus, Maryland)

College: Clemson

Height/weight: 6-foot-5, 290 pounds

Career highlights: ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year (2020), three-time All-ACC (2020-22)

Bottom line: Bryan Bresee has been pegged as a first-round pick since he was at Damascus High School when he was rated as the No. 1 recruit in the nation. He pretty much lived up to that promise in his three seasons at Clemson, where he was a three-time All-ACC selection. Bresee seems like he would be the perfect complement on the interior defensive line to 2022 No. 2 overall pick Aidan Hutchinson at defensive end.

One thing that sticks out about Bresee is when it comes to stats. He just isn't very productive — he only had 64 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss and 9.0 sacks in three seasons. Compare that to another Clemson defensive tackle picked in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Christian Wilkins, who had 159 tackles, 36 tackles for loss and 15.0 sacks in his final three seasons.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Joey Porter Jr., Cornerback

Born: July 26, 2000 (Bakersfield, California)

High School: North Allegheny High school (Wexford, Pennsylvania)

College: Penn State

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 195 pounds

Career highlights: Three-time All-Big Ten (2020-22)

Bottom line: The son of former NFL linebacker Joey Porter, Joey Porter Jr. was a three-time All-Big Ten pick at Penn State but missed the final two games of the 2022 season with appendicitis and opted out of the Rose Bowl to prepare for the NFL Draft.

Porter Jr. has the perfect size for an NFL cornerback at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, and he impressed at the NFL Combine by running a 4.46-second, 40-yard dash.

You can't help but think Porter Jr. would thrive if he was drafted by a team in a warm-weather climate after playing both his high school and college careers in Pennsylvania.

20. Seattle Seahawks: Zay Flowers, Wide Receiver

Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers

Born: Sept. 11, 2000 (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)

High School: NSU University School (Davie, Florida)

College: Boston College

Height/weight: 5-foot-9, 182 pounds

Career highlights: Three-time All-ACC (2020-22)

Bottom line: Boston College isn't exactly a hotspot for college football wide receivers, but Zay Flowers made the most of it, becoming just the second player at his position to earn first-team All-ACC honors in Boston College history.

Flowers made the All-ACC team each of his last three seasons and showed a penchant for making the big play … and dropping the ball on occasion. But teams feel that the fact Flowers plays with unbridled enthusiasm makes the drops acceptable to live with. The Seahawks seem like a perfect fit because they've already got an undersized 1,000-yard wide receiver in their offense with Tyler Locket — so let's make it two!

21. Los Angeles Chargers: Myles Murphy, Defensive End

Born: Jan. 3, 2002 (Marietta, Georgia)

High School: Hillgrove High School (Powder Springs, Georgia)

College: Clemson

Height/weight: 6-foot-5, 275 pounds

Career highlights: Two-time All-ACC (2021, 2022)

Bottom line: This might be a little low for the Clemson defensive end, but Murphy would be a perfect fit opposite Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Nick Bosa. That said, it's hard to imagine a defensive front in the NFL where Murphy wouldn't eventually find a spot.

Murphy was dominant from the start at Clemson, where he's been tagged as a first-round pick from about the moment he stepped on campus. That's because he was productive in all three seasons at Clemson, finishing his career with 116 tackles, 36.0 tackles for loss and 18.5 sacks, and he had double-digit tackles for loss each year.

22. Baltimore Ravens: Bijan Robinson, Running Back

Born: Jan. 30, 2002 (Tucson, Arizona)

High School: Salpointe High School (Tucson, Arizona)

College: Texas

Height/weight: 6-foot, 220 pounds

Career highlights: Doak Walker Award (2022), AP All-American (2022), two-time All-Big 12 (2021, 2022)

Bottom line: I don't know if you've noticed or not, but running backs aren't exactly at a premium on NFL teams these days, which makes it kind of an anomaly when a player like Texas star Bijan Robinson plays his way into the first round.

There were two breakout stars last year in regard to rookie running backs with Breece Hall and Kenneth Walker, both second-round picks, and Robinson seems like he could do the same for whatever team he plays for. Getting him on the Ravens would be a huge help to quarterback Lamar Jackson as far as lightening his load when it comes to running the ball — that is, if Jackson is still playing for the Ravens.

23. Minnesota Vikings: Deonte Banks, Cornerback

High School: Edgewood High School (Edgewood, Maryland)

College: Maryland

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 205 pounds

Career highlights: All-Big Ten (2022)

Bottom line: Maryland native Deonte Banks is a great example of taking one decent year of college football, pairing it with an out-of-this-world NFL Combine performance and turning yourself into a first-round draft pick.

Banks battled injuries through his first two seasons at the University of Maryland before finally putting together a full year in 2022 when he had 38 tackles, one interception and eight pass deflections before leaving school early for the NFL Draft.

At the combine, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound Banks wowed the scouts by running a 4.35-second, 40-yard dash to go with a 42-inch vertical leap and a broad jump of 11-foot-4 — all big-time numbers.

24. Jacksonville Jaguars: Dalton Kincaid, Tight End

Born: Oct. 18, 1999 (Las Vegas, Nevada)

High School: Faith Lutheran High School (Summerlin, Nevada)

Colleges: San Diego (Division III)/Utah

Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 240 pounds

Career highlights: All-Pac-12 (2022), AP All-American (2022), All-PFL (2019)

Bottom line: Dalton Kincaid only played one season of high school football before making his way to the University of San Diego, an FCS program, where he played two seasons before he transferred to Utah.

Kincaid only played one game in Utah's pandemic-shortened 2020 season but was a breakout star in 2021 with 36 receptions for 510 yards and eight touchdowns in 2021. Then, he proved to be no fluke with 70 receptions for 890 yards and eight touchdowns in 2022.

Kincaid is just the sort of weapon the Jaguars need in their offense, with an up-and-coming star in quarterback Trevor Lawrence and coming off a playoff berth.

25. New York Giants: Brian Branch, Safety

Born: Oct. 22, 2001 (Fayetteville, Georgia)

High School: Sandy Creek High School (Tyrone, Georgia)

College: Alabama

Height/weight: 6-foot, 193 pounds

Career highlights: CFP National Champion (2020), AP All-American (2022), All-SEC (2022)

Bottom line: Brian Branch started three games as a freshman in 2020 on Alabama's CFP national championship team then closed his career out by starting 28 consecutive games and earning All-American honors as a junior in 2022.

Branch has the tools to be an NFL starter as a rookie and is likely to be the only true safety taken in the first round. He's considered as safe a pick as there are as far as possible first-rounders in 2023, but his 4.58-second, 40-yard dash time may have scared some teams off.

26. Dallas Cowboys: Jalin Hyatt, Wide Receiver

Born: Sept. 25, 2001 (Irmo, South Carolina)

High School: Dutch Fork High School (Irmo, South Carolina)

College: Tennessee

Height/weight: 6-foot, 176 pounds

Career highlights: Biletnikoff Award (2022), AP All-American (2022), All-SEC (2022)

Bottom line: Tennessee's Jalin Hyatt won the Biletnikoff Award as a junior in 2022. He racked up 67 receptions for 1,267 yards and 15 touchdowns, including 207 receiving yards and five touchdowns in a 52-49 upset win over No. 3 Alabama.

Someone is going to get a steal on Hyatt if he drops this far in the draft, and there's something to be said for picking dudes who know how to win. Hyatt won four state championships at powerhouse Dutch Fork High, and Tennessee had its best season in over 20 years by going 11-2 in 2022 with him as one of the stars.

27. Buffalo Bills: Lukas Van Ness, Defensive End

Born: July 6, 2001 (Barrington, Illinois)

High School: Barrington High School (Barrington, Illinois)

College: Iowa

Height/weight: 6-foot-5, 275 pounds

Career highlights: All-Big Ten (2022)

Bottom line: With the future of Buffalo Bills defensive end Von Miller very much in doubt — or, at the very best, pretty limited — Iowa's Lukas Van Ness could be the perfect edge rusher to step in and take over on defense.

One thing to keep in mind about Van Ness is that he's just coming into his own as a football player. In two seasons at Iowa, Van Ness never even started a game but was still a freshman All-American in 2021 and was an All-Big Ten pick in 2022 while putting up 70 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and 13 sacks over two seasons in a limited role.

But let's be clear, Van Ness not starting makes you wonder more about the Iowa coaching staff — which is super suspect at this point — and not so much his talent.

28. Cincinnati Bengals: Darnell Wright, Offensive Tackle

Tennessee offensive lineman Darnell Wright

Born: Aug. 10, 2001 (Huntington, West Virginia)

High School: Huntington High School (Huntington, West Virginia)

College: Tennessee

Height/weight: 6-foot-6, 335 pounds

Career highlights: All-SEC (2022)

Bottom line: If you're running the Cincinnati Bengals, you could do a lot worse than making sure you pick an offensive lineman or two every year that your franchise is blessed enough to have Joe Burrow as its quarterback.

Darnell Wright fits the bill of what you want out of an NFL offensive lineman — he is massive and powerful and seems to be getting better every year. He could even be a Pro Bowler in a few years with the right coaching.

29. New Orleans Saints: Calijah Kancey, Defensive Tackle

Pittsburgh defensive lineman Calijah Kancey

Born: March 1, 2001 (Miami, Florida)

High School: Miami Northwestern High School (Miami, Florid)

College: Pittsburgh

Height/weight: 6-foot, 280 pounds

Career highlights: AP All-American (2022), ACC Defensive Player of the Year (2022), two-time All-ACC (2021, 2022)

Bottom line: It's a shame that so many NFL teams will be scared off by Calijah Kancey's size — at 6-foot, 280 pounds, he's not the prototypical NFL defensive tackle.

That said, neither was another former Pitt standout, Aaron Donald, who has become one of the greatest players in NFL history. Not trying to compare Kancey to Donald because that's not fair, but even if Kancey's a bootleg version of Donald, you'd have a Pro Bowler on your hands.

We should also point out that Kancey was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 despite missing the final two games of the season with a shoulder injury and beating out three of the players projected to go ahead of him in the draft, including two defensive linemen from Clemson.

30. Philadelphia Eagles: Darnell Washington, Tight End

Born: Aug. 17, 2001 (Las Vegas, Nevada)

High School: Desert Pines High School (Las Vegas, Nevada)

College: Georgia

Height/weight: 6-foot-7, 265 pounds

Career highlights: Two-time CFP National Champion (2021, 2022), All-SEC (2022)

Bottom line: The national champion Georgia Bulldogs had two future NFL tight ends on the roster this season with Brock Bowers, an All-American who will be a top 10 pick in 2024, and Darnell Washington.

Washington would have been one of the main focuses of the offense on any other college football team but had to play a complementary role to Bowers the last two seasons. It's a role he excelled in, as he was named second-team All-SEC in 2022 while putting up career highs of 28 receptions for 454 yards and two touchdowns while starting 14 of 15 games.

31. Kansas City Chiefs: Anton Harrison, Offensive Tackle

Oklahoma offensive lineman Anton Harrison

Born: Feb. 2, 2002 (Washington, D.C.)

High School: Archbishop Carroll High School (Washington, D.C.)

College: Oklahoma

Height/weight: 6-foot-5, 315 pounds

Career highlights: All-Big 12 (2022), AP All-American (2022)

Bottom line: The Kansas City Chiefs need an offensive tackle with the departure of Pro Bowler Orlando Brown Jr., and Oklahoma's Anton Harrison fits the bill as well as anyone with the final pick of the first round for the defending Super Bowl champions.

Harrison might not be ready as a full-time starter right away, and that's totally fine — the Chiefs made a splash in free agency by signing former Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor to a four-year, $80 million contract.