ESPN’s Mel Kiper released his initial 2023 NFL mock draft, projecting the first-round picks in this year’s draft. Kiper has two Georgia Bulldogs being taken in the first round, which only includes 31 selections because the Miami Dolphins were stripped of their first-round pick for tampering violations.
Kiper has Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter going No. 1 overall to the Chicago Bears. He notes the Bears could trade the pick since they already have their quarterback for the future, onetime Georgia passer Justin Fields.
If Carter is indeed the first player selected, it would be the second year in a row Georgia produced the No. 1 overall pick. Back-to-back would take on a whole new meaning for UGA fans.
Per BetMGM, Carter has plus-500 odds to be the No. 1 overall pick. Alabama quarterback Bryce Young has the best odds at minus-120, while Ohio State’s CJ Stroud is at plus-250.
Via Kiper:
I thought long and hard about a trade here, with the Colts, Raiders and Panthers as the top candidates to move up for a quarterback. And if I’m Chicago general manager Ryan Poles and I can move down a few spots, add premium picks and still get my choice of the best defensive prospects, I’d make a deal. It takes two teams to make a trade, however, and that’s never a guarantee. For now, let’s stick with the Bears keeping this pick.
Chicago’s roster needs help from top to bottom, but its defense was particularly dreadful in 2022, ranking last in the league in sacks (20) and points allowed per game (27.2). It has to be D all the way for wherever the Bears make their selection. Carter, an explosive interior pass-rusher and run-stuffer, gets the nod over Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. on my Big Board. He’s the best player in this draft, a Day 1 starter in the middle of this defense.
At No. 16 overall, Kiper projects Georgia offensive tackle Broderick Jones to be drafted by the Washington Commanders as the third offensive tackle selected.
Jones, a first-team All-SEC offensive lineman, started all 15 games at left tackle for Georgia during the 2022 season.
Via Kiper:
Here’s yet another team with quarterback issues, as the Commanders traded for Carson Wentz last offseason (which cost them their third-rounder this year) but turned back to Taylor Heinicke down the stretch. Neither is likely to be their Week 1 starter; I wonder whether they will be players in the veteran-signal-caller market and bring in someone to compete with Sam Howell. No matter who is playing quarterback, though, they have to improve along the offensive line. Jones is a 310-pound mauler who didn’t allow a single sack as the Bulldogs’ left tackle in 2022. I wouldn’t be shocked if he went in the top 10.
A former five-star recruit out of Lithonia, Georgia, Jones redshirted his first season in Athens and played in every game during Georgia’s back-to-back title runs.
Other Georgia players that could hear their names called as a first-round pick or early-second rounder include cornerback Kelee Ringo, outside linebacker Nolan Smith, tight end Darnell Washington and safety Christopher Smith.
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