2023 first round NFL mock draft sees a couple of early trades
By Brian Miller
The Steelers are on the clock with pick 17 of this NFL Mock Draft.
55. . CB/S. Pittsburgh Steelers. Brian Branch. 17. player
Thanks to the Browns, we are seeing the first AFC North team on the clock this year. The Steelers need to shore up their secondary. They were one game away from making the playoffs in 2022. Branch will help and is a good addition to feature next to Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Drew Sanders. 18. player. 50. . LB. Detroit Lions
This is a little early for Sanders but the Lions desperately need to fix holes on their defense. At six, they drafted CB and they could use another edge rusher here but Sanders is the best LB available and that is a position of need as well. They can hit DE later.
. CB. Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Christian Gonzalez. 19. player. 48
Tom Brady is gone and they have no QB in waiting that sparks any confidence. They could make a move for Derek Carr and then draft a QB prospect in round two or three but for round one, they have to shore up the secondary and this tall CB is fast and physically athletic.
36. . WR. Seattle Seahawks. Jaxon Smith-Njigba. 20. player
The Seahawks filled the DE need and still need LB help and DL help but they can’t pass up a top WR prospect. There will be options for the other two positions later in the draft but for now, they need to get younger at WR.
21. player. 13. . DT. Los Angeles Chargers. Mazi Smith
Linebacker or defensive line? The Chargers made the playoffs for the first time with Justin Herbert but there isn’t a lot of offensive needs. They have plenty on defense starting with stopping the run and Mazi Smith is a very big addition to a unit that needs that help specifically.