2023 NFL mock draft: Only the past 32 first-overall picks
Welcome to the third edition of our NFL mock draft: Mocking The Mocks. In this take, teams can only select the last 32 first-overall picks.
We’re back, baby. It’s the third edition of Mocking The Mocks.
If you missed the first two, no worries. We’ve got you covered in the links here and here. So what is this nonsense? Instead of a boring, regular mock draft, I’m having fun.
In this series, every team has its original pick. For example, the Denver Broncos will draft No. 5 overall.
Thirty-two picks. Thirty-two clubs. No trades. No holds barred.
This week, we have the last 32 No. 1 overall picks available to be selected. Let’s say the first and last choices aren’t surprising.
Everything else? Chaos.
2023 NFL Mock Draft: Picking the last 32 No. 1 overall picks
1
Peyton Manning
QB Tennessee
![Chicago Bears](https://weirdreads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/https://cdn.fansided.com/logos/nfl/bears.png)
With all due respect to Justin Fields, it’s time to trade Justin Fields in this case. Manning is arguably a top-five quarterback of all time.
2
![Houston Texans](https://weirdreads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/https://cdn.fansided.com/logos/nfl/texans.png)
Burrow is potentially closing in on a second consecutive Super Bowl appearance. The Texans would be lucky to have him.
3
Orlando Pace
OT Ohio State
![Arizona Cardinals](https://weirdreads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/https://cdn.fansided.com/logos/nfl/cardinals.png)
A franchise left tackle to protect Kyler Murray? Absolutely. The Cardinals need to upgrade their front in the worst way.
4
![Indianapolis Colts](https://weirdreads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/https://cdn.fansided.com/logos/nfl/colts.png)
The Colts landing Andrew Luck. Who could imagine? Hopefully, he plays into his 30s this time around.
5
Michael Vick
QB Virginia Tech
![Denver Broncos](https://weirdreads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/https://cdn.fansided.com/logos/nfl/broncos.png)
Can you imagine how far Vick would throw the ball in thin air? Also, a reprieve from Russell Wilson with Vick on a rookie deal? Yes, please.
6
Matthew Stafford
QB Georgia
![Los Angeles Rams](https://weirdreads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/https://cdn.fansided.com/logos/nfl/larams.png)
Fancy seeing Stafford here, but it’s the right spot. The Rams get their man, but about a dozen years younger.
7
Trevor Lawrence
QB Clemson
![Las Vegas Raiders](https://weirdreads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/https://cdn.fansided.com/logos/nfl/raiders.png)
Lawrence doesn’t exactly fit the Raiders’ swashbuckling mentality, but he would be a Godsend in a division loaded with young quarterback talent.
8
![Atlanta Falcons](https://weirdreads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/https://cdn.fansided.com/logos/nfl/falcons.png)
Manning would immediately make the Falcons a playoff team, especially in the worst division the league has to offer.
9
![Carolina Panthers](https://weirdreads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/https://cdn.fansided.com/logos/nfl/panthers.png)
Newton goes back to where it all began, and where he claimed the 2015 NFL MVP. The perfect situation on a grown team.
10
![New Orleans Saints](https://weirdreads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/https://cdn.fansided.com/logos/nfl/saints.png)
Another quarterback? You bet. The Saints are in cap hell and they escape with a Heisman Trophy winner at No. 10 overall.
11
Drew Bledsoe
QB Washington State
![Tennessee Titans](https://weirdreads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/https://cdn.fansided.com/logos/nfl/titans.png)
Bledsoe was one of the more underrated players of his era. The man threw for more than 44,000 yards and 251 touchdowns. Not a bad career.
12
Myles Garrett
EDGE Texas A&M
![Cleveland Browns](https://weirdreads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/https://cdn.fansided.com/logos/nfl/browns.png)
Again, another fit with his real-life team. Garrett is on a Hall of Fame track, and the Browns could certainly use a pass-rusher.
13
![New York Jets](https://weirdreads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/https://cdn.fansided.com/logos/nfl/jets.png)
Smith is perfect for the Jets. He stabilizes the situation and instantly makes New York a quality team in the AFC East.
14
![New England Patriots](https://weirdreads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/https://cdn.fansided.com/logos/nfl/patriots.png)
Nobody needs a weapon more than the Patriots, and Johnson would certainly provide that.
15
Mario Williams
EDGE N.C. State
![Green Bay Packers](https://weirdreads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/https://cdn.fansided.com/logos/nfl/packers.png)
Williams was a force with the Bills and Texans, racking up 97.5 career sacks as a four-time Pro Bowler. He’d be a nice fit opposite Rashan Gary.
16
![Washington Commanders](https://weirdreads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/https://cdn.fansided.com/logos/nfl/commanders.png)
Goff isn’t spectacular, but he’s a good player who could really upgrade Washington’s offense. The big key here is getting him a smart offensive mind to run the show.
17
![Pittsburgh Steelers](https://weirdreads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/https://cdn.fansided.com/logos/nfl/steelers.png)
Pittsburgh has needed to upgrade the offensive line for years. Why not give Kenny Pickett a stud to protect him in the AFC North?
18
Jadeveon Clowney
EDGE South Carolina
![Detroit Lions](https://weirdreads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/https://cdn.fansided.com/logos/nfl/lions.png)
Clowney never lived up to the hype of being a No. 1 overall pick, but he was a good player. He’d be a nice piece for Detroit in the front seven.
19
![Tampa Bay Buccaneers](https://weirdreads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/https://cdn.fansided.com/logos/nfl/buccaneers.png)
Tampa Bay is about to need a quarterback, and Murray makes plenty of sense. Some might be surprised to see him this far down the list, but do we know if he’s going to be a success yet?
20
![Seattle Seahawks](https://weirdreads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/https://cdn.fansided.com/logos/nfl/seahawks.png)
So much unknown about Walker, but the upside is there. If you’re the Seahawks, you’re taking this chance.
21
Eric Fisher
OT Western Michigan
![Miami Dolphins](https://weirdreads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/https://cdn.fansided.com/logos/nfl/dolphins.png)
Miami needs answers along the line, and Fisher provides one either at left or right tackle. He had a nice career with the Chiefs, earning two Pro Bowl trips.
22
Dan Wilkenson
DT Ohio State
![Los Angeles Chargers](https://weirdreads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/https://cdn.fansided.com/logos/nfl/chargers.png)
Wilkenson was a solid player who stayed in the NFL for more than a decade. He’d be an upgrade on the interior for Los Angeles.
23
![Baltimore Ravens](https://weirdreads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/https://cdn.fansided.com/logos/nfl/ravens.png)
Bradford was just a guy, but he could be a bridge if the Ravens decide to move on from Lamar Jackson this offseason.
24
Jameis Winston
QB Florida State
![Minnesota Vikings](https://weirdreads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/https://cdn.fansided.com/logos/nfl/vikings.png)
Winston and Kirk Cousins. Can you imagine two quarterbacks who play more different styles? Just a fascinating battle.
25
Russell Maryland
DT Miami (FL)
![Jacksonville Jaguars](https://weirdreads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/https://cdn.fansided.com/logos/nfl/jaguars.png)
Maryland wasn’t great, but he did a nice job for that dynastic Cowboys team of the 1990s. Certainly a respectable body on the interior.
26
Baker Mayfield
QB Oklahoma
![New York Giants](https://weirdreads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/https://cdn.fansided.com/logos/nfl/giants.png)
Mayfield in New York might be a disaster, but the Giants go from Daniel Jones to Mayfield, lose nothing in talent, and save money.
27
![Dallas Cowboys](https://weirdreads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/https://cdn.fansided.com/logos/nfl/cowboys.png)
Hey, we’re to the rough part of this draft. Everybody needs a backup — or a third-string –quarterback, right?
28
Steve Emtman
DE Washington
![Buffalo Bills](https://weirdreads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/https://cdn.fansided.com/logos/nfl/bills.png)
Buffalo could roll with a backup quarterback to replace Case Keenum, or someone who can rotate on the line and play special teams. We went with the latter.
29
David Carr
QB Fresno State
![Cincinnati Bengals](https://weirdreads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/https://cdn.fansided.com/logos/nfl/bengals.png)
Carr or Brandon Allen? Let’s live a little and put Carr in Cincinnati.
30
Courtney Brown
DE Penn State
![San Francisco 49ers](https://weirdreads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/https://cdn.fansided.com/logos/nfl/49ers.png)
If there is any team, and any coaching staff, that could get the best out of Brown, this is it.
31
Ki-Jana Carter
RB Penn State
![Kansas City Chiefs](https://weirdreads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/https://cdn.fansided.com/logos/nfl/chiefs.png)
Carter is a football tragedy. So much talent only to be cut down by a horrid knee injury in the preseason as a rookie. If he stayed healthy, he’d be incredible in Kansas City.
32
![Philadelphia Eagles](https://weirdreads.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/https://cdn.fansided.com/logos/nfl/eagles.png)
Well, Philadelphia, things happen.