A lot has happened since my last mock draft was released, including a trade at the top of the first round and many free-agent pickups. This means that it’s time to dive right back into the mock draft world and give y’all my current projections post-free agency. As always, I will be using the updated Pro Football Focus rankings to rank each player.

1. Carolina via Chicago

The Panthers made a huge trade to move up to number one. This included trading away their superstar pass-catcher D.J. Moore and future picks. This means that Carolina will certainly pick up their potential franchise quarterback with this selection. 

The Pick: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama (PFF Rank 1)

      2. Houston 

The Texans are also in a position to select their quarterback of the future with their first pick. They will happily take the guy at the top of their board at two.

The Pick: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State (PFF Rank 5)

     3. Tennessee via Arizona 

I’m projecting that there is a lot of uneasiness surrounding the remaining two quarterbacks after Stroud and Young are off the board. I’m predicting that the Titans make a call with Arizona and trade up to grab a quarterback at three.

The Pick: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida (PFF Rank 6)

     4. Baltimore via Indianapolis 

In this mock, I’m projecting that the Lamar Jackson saga ends up in a trade to Indianapolis with the package including the Colts’ first-round pick. The Ravens are in a tricky spot because they don’t think any of the remaining quarterbacks are worth spending the fourth overall pick on. They will instead take the first receiver off the board.

The Pick: Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU (PFF Rank 9)

    5. Seattle via Denver

The quarterback drama puts Seattle in a great spot after they traded away Russell Wilson. Will Anderson Jr. will fall into their lap at five?

The Pick: Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama (PFF Rank 3)

    6. Detroit via Los Angeles (N)

The Lions are another team that is in a great spot due to quarterback drama. They’ll have their pick of most of the top defensive prospects in this year’s class.

The Pick: Jalen Carter, DL, Georgia (PFF Rank 2)

    7. Las Vegas

I initially thought that Will Levis would be a good fit here, but picking up Jimmy Garoppolo in free agency makes me hesitate. There are plenty of other holes that the Raiders could fill here.

The Pick: Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech (PFF Rank 8)

    8. Atlanta 

The Falcons take the first defensive back off the board at eight, attempting to bolster a fairly weak defense.

The Pick: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois (PFF Rank 7)

    9. Chicago via Carolina

Chicago will look to protect their young superstar in Justin Fields with their first-round pick in 2023.

The Pick: Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern (PFF Rank 12)

    10. Philadelphia via New Orleans

As a part of a trade package last year, the defending NFC champions will be picking at 10. I have them beefing up their pass rush with this selection. 

The Pick: Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa (PFF Rank 15)

    11. Arizona via Tennessee

The Cardinals get a ton of draft capital by trading the third overall pick away, including this year’s eleventh overall selection. They use this pick to bring some stability to their secondary.

The Pick: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon (PFF Rank 10)

    12. Houston via Cleveland

The Texans decided to go all in on the big names in this draft. They use their second pick of the draft thus far to get their newly drafted quarterback a weapon, rather than shoring up their offensive line.

The Pick: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State (PFF Rank 11)

    13. New York (A)

Nobody has the slightest clue of whether or not Aaron Rodgers will actually be traded to the Jets, but for our purposes, we’re going to say that the deal does get done by the time New York is on the clock in April. After going all-in on pass catchers in free agency, the Jets will look to add some protection for Rodgers.

The Pick: Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State (PFF Rank 19)

     14. New England

The Patriots will take the third receiver off the board at 14, as they are looking to finally select an elite receiver and hoping to exorcize their draft demons of the past.

The Pick: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College (PFF Rank 29)

     15. Green Bay

After weeks of negotiation, the Packers were not successful in getting a first-round pick for Aaron Rodgers. Green Bay will decide to add a talented interior defensive lineman with the 15th overall selection.

The Pick: Bryan Breese, DL, Clemson (PFF Rank 21)

     16. Washington

Will Levis’s fall will finally come to an end when he’s taken off the board by a desperate Commanders team. 

The Pick: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky (PFF Rank 4)

     17. Pittsburgh

The Steelers have tipped their hand in recent days as to where they might look to draft in the earlier rounds this year. It looks like the Steelers will be looking to fill a hole in their secondary with this pick. With an abundance of great corner prospects, the Steelers will create a dynamic duo of Bama boys, by taking the top-ranked safety prospect with their first-round selection.

The Pick: Brian Branch, S, Alabama (PFF Rank 14)

     18. Detroit

The Lions are in a great position at 18. With some studs to choose from, Detroit will have its pick of some great weapons.

The Pick: Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State (PFF Rank 16)

     19. Dallas via Tampa Bay

This projected trade sees the Cowboys trading up in the first round so that they can take one of the better defensive linemen in the draft. Tampa will gladly take the capital that Dallas is sending their way.

The Pick: Calijan Kancey, DL, Pittsburgh (PFF Rank 13)

    20. Seattle

The Seahawks will look to continue to add to their haul in the draft by picking up an experienced defensive lineman with their second selection.

The Pick: Mazi Smith, DL, Michigan (PFF Rank 34)

     21. Los Angeles (A)

The Chargers will be looking to add youth to their aging defensive lineup. They get a steal with their first-round selection.

The Pick: Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia (PFF Rank 21)

     22. Baltimore

The Ravens will continue their huge draft by picking up a lockdown corner with their second pick of the first round. This first round will go down as one of the best in Ravens history despite losing their MVP quarterback.

The Pick: Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland (PFF Rank 18)

    23. Minnesota

The Vikings will be taking a shot on one of the top receiver prospects, attempting to establish one of the premier receiving duos in the league.

The Pick: Jordan Addison, WR, USC (PFF Rank 26)

    24. Jacksonville

After an amazing season by their standards, the Jaguars will look to create an unstoppable pass rush with the 24th pick.

The Pick: Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson (PFF Rank 22)

    25. New York (N)

The Jets will be looking to beef up their offensive line with their first-round pick by picking up a big man up front. 

The Pick: Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee (PFF Rank 20)

    26. Tampa Bay via Dallas

The Buccaneers will shock the world with this pick after trading back. They look to pick up their quarterback of the future here.

The Pick: Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee (PFF Rank 82)

    27. Buffalo

Some might call the Bills taking this receiver here a reach, but to them, he’s very much worth the pick. This former Tar Heel will create an insane receiving duo with Stefon Diggs.

The Pick: Josh Downs, WR, UNC (PFF Rank 40)

    28. Cincinnati

The Bengals are ecstatic that no tight ends were taken within the first 27 picks and will happily get their guy without having to trade up.

The Pick: Dalton Kirkland, TE, Utah (PFF Rank 15)

   29. New Orleans via San Francisco

The Saints will utilize this pick to add to their historically elite defensive line. Even though a lot of defensive line talent will be gone at this point, there are still guys worth drafting at 29.

The Pick: Will McDonald IV, EDGE, Iowa State (PFF Rank 25)

   30. Philadelphia 

This pick should be a no-brainer for a team that just lost its star running back to free agency. We will see the first running back prospect taken off the board by the defending NFC champions.

The Pick: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas (PFF Rank 27)

  31. Kansas City

The Chiefs will continue to build their offensive line with the final pick of the first round. They’ll select an elite offensive tackle with this pick.

The Pick: Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma (PFF Rank 24)

After many trades taking place in my third mock draft, this year’s draft is shaping up to be a huge event that will seriously impact the future of the league.