2023 NFL Mock Draft: Panthers orchestrate three-team trade, take Bryce Young at No. 1; Seahawks move up for QB

Carolina traded up to No. 3 overall and then to No. 1 overall. It is a similar model that Philadelphia used to select Carson Wentz in 2016. Philadelphia sent players, including Kiko Alonso and the No. 13 overall selection to Miami in exchange for the No. 8 overall selection. Then, it flipped that to Cleveland for the No. 2 overall selection. With the No. 1 overall selection, the Panthers select Bryce Young.

Houston does not get its pick of quarterback at No. 2 overall, but C.J. Stroud could still prove to be an elite talent.

Chicago attempts to upgrade its pass rush with the selection of Will Anderson Jr. The Bears want to move back from No. 1 overall without sacrificing the chance to select a top defensive talent like Jalen Carter or Anderson. Arizona may not want to trade out either.

Will Levis is in line with the prototypical quarterback that Indianapolis has coveted under the direction of general manager Chris Ballard.

Seattle is able to add pass rush help unconventionally as Jalen Carter joins the fold. The decision to take or pass on a quarterback was made for them with the top options coming off the board early.

Detroit takes one of the few remaining blue-chip talents even though edge rusher is not the biggest need.

Las Vegas has a hole to fill along its offensive line. Peter Skoronski has flexibility to play multiple positions. If right tackle does not work out, then the team should have no problem sliding him inside to guard.

Atlanta supplements its pass rush with the selection of Tyree Wilson, who has elite size and the potential to become one of the best players to come out of this draft class.

Arizona hired Monti Ossenfort from Tennessee as its next general manager. A vacancy remains at the head-coaching position that could impact its thought process in the draft. As it stands, the Cardinlas address a position that has been a weakness for quite some time after moving back to pick up additional draft capital.

Cam Smith showed significant improvement from 2021 to 2022. Philadelphia plays a higher percentage of zone coverage and Smith shows great awareness.

Tennessee may need to replace both starting offensive tackles so Paris Johnson is a good start. He played one season at left tackle after beginning his Ohio State career on the interior.

The top pass rushers are off the board at this stage so Houston upgrades its defense in a different manner. Bryan Bresee is a former No. 1 overall recruit that has yet to reach that potential. The hope is that occurs with the Texans.

Alabama does a lot of pattern matching in the secondary and that requires communication. Nick Saban trusted Brian Branch to fulfill that role in his defense. New York has two quality boundary cornerbacks and now it has another intelligent player in the secondary.

Drew Sanders is an Alabama transfer who primarily played an off-ball linebacker role, but also showed the capability to rush the passer when given the opportunity.

With Anthony Richardson still available, Seattle saw an opportunity to trade up and select a physically gifted, but raw quarterback prospect without giving up significant assets in return. The Seahawks can re-sign Geno Smith to a short-term contract and allow him to tutor Richardson.

Cornerback options are dwindling so Washington acts fast. Devon Witherspoon is a fiery competitor with the intelligence to play man and zone coverage.

The Nittany Lion begins his career where his father spent eight of his 13 seasons.

Kelee Ringo is impressive from a height, weight and speed perspective. He was no stranger to getting twisted around at the route stem but shows great recovery speed. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn should be a valuable resource for Ringo.

Lavonte David is scheduled to be a free agent this offseason. Tampa Bay has a lot to sort out this decision with Tom Brady’s decision and replacing the offensive coordinator. If a rebuild is initiated, Simpson would be a good complement to Devin White.

Michael Mayer is a well-rounded tight end who should serve as a quality pass catcher for Aaron Rodgers in addition to being a blocker in that Shanahan-style scheme.

Los Angeles has used first-round picks on offensive linemen each of the past two years. The Chargers make it three straight with the selection of Broderick Jones, who flips to the right side. It is conceivable that the Chargers go offense early and often with a need at tight end and to add productive speed at wide receiver.

Baltimore has struggled to keep running backs healthy. Bijan Robinson is a top-10 overall talent who could revamp the run game alongside a healthy Lamar Jackson.

Would Minnesota prefer a more explosive edge rusher like Nolan Smith or a better run defender like Lukas Van Ness? Minnesota elects to pick Van Ness to learn from Za’Darius Smith and Danielle Hunter.

Jacksonville needs to continue adding offensive talent for Trevor Lawrence. Darnell Washington is a massive target in chain-moving situations who doubles as a valuable blocker for Travis Etienne. The Jaguars are essentially getting two first-round picks with Calvin Ridley expected to join the team this offseason.

In this scenario, New York invests in Daniel Jones after an impressive season. Quentin Johnston is a tall target with sky-high potential. The Giants are able to pair Johnston with Wan’Dale Robinson long-term.

Dallas may decide to give Sam Williams more repetitions next season rather than drafting a player like Nolan Smith. However, the Cowboys need to generate pressure from multiple spots.

Generally speaking, Buffalo needs to do more to address the offensive line. Josh Allen’s play has been able to mask some of the Bills’ deficiencies but, in order to take that next step, Allen needs more.

Cincinnati is planning for turnover in the secondary as cornerback Clark Phillips III and safety Daxton Hill were added in consecutive drafts. The Bengals defense is in good hands as long as Lou Anarumo remains defensive coordinator.

Denver may ultimately part with this pick in exchange for Sean Payton. The Broncos have some young pass rushers in the program to go along with Randy Gregory but continue building out that room with Felix Anudike-Uzomah after trading Von Miller and Bradley Chubb in consecutive seasons.

Kansas City is collecting a lot of names at wide receiver, but do the prospects of any excite the fan base? Jordan Addison is probably not going to become a top-10 wide receiver but should be very productive with Patrick Mahomes.

In the event that C.J. Gardner-Johnson departs in free agency, Philadelphia drafts a replacement. If he stays, the Eagles likely do not go down this path as Gardner-Johnson is still very young and there is some redundancy in the skill sets.