I’m back!
I think I was supposed to say that.
Hi there. My name is Ken Zalis. You killed my father. Prepare to die.
I am new to FantasyPros (sort of) but not to NFL mock drafts or fantasy football. I go by KZ if you have ever followed me. Been doing this for a long, long time. I have been told in the past I am pretty good at it. The Huddle Report said that over the last five years, I am one of the 15 most accurate mockers, so sit back and enjoy reading what a true professional mocker sees happening in the first round of the NFL Draft.
- Thor’s Latest NFL Mock Draft
- Historical Draft Picks of All 32 Teams
- NFL Draft Prop Bet Cards: Freedman | Weyrauch | Erickson
- 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Reports & Prospect Profiles
Ken Zalis’ 2023 NFL Mock Draft
1. Carolina Panthers: C.J. Stroud (QB)
CJ or Bryce, Bryce or CJ? I lean toward CJ, but it’s a QB here with little mystery.
2. Houston Texans: Bryce Young (QB)
See Pick 1.
3. Arizona Cardinals: Will Anderson Jr. (DE)
The best player in the draft at No. 3. Giddy up!
4. Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Richardson (QB)
A wild-card pick. If he hits, this is a steal. If he busts, they should have traded for Lamar Jackson.
5. Seattle Seahawks: Jalen Carter (DT)
Talent wins out.
6. Detroit Lions: Tyree Wilson (EDGE)
Defense, defense and an RB at some point.
7. Las Vegas Raiders: Devon Witherspoon (CB)
This could be a QB, but defense wins out.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Christian Gonzalez (CB)
This is a really solid CB draft. Gonzalez is only 21 and a surehanded tackler.
9. Chicago Bears: Paris Johnson (OL)
OL, OL and then more OL help. It could be Jones, the OT from Georgia, here, but BPA!
10. Philadelphia Eagles: Lukas Van Ness (EDGE)
I am too high on LVN — I know it, you know it — but he fits the Eagles like a glove.
11. Tennessee Titans: Will Levis (QB)
If he gets past the Raiders at No. 7, the Titans are a solid landing spot, as Malik Willis seems to be on the outs in Nashville.
12. Houston Texans: Nolan Smith (DE)
I love me some Nolan Smith. He’ll be an IDP darling.
13. New York Jets: Peter Skoronski (OL)
Protecting the QB (whoever it will be) is job one.
14. New England Patriots: Darnell Washington (TE)
No way they take a TE here, right? But a quick, 6-foot-7, 264-pound tight end is what they need, no matter who else they have on the roster.
15. Green Bay Packers: Myles Murphy (DE)
The Packers need help on defense. Put the tape on and watch Murphy play. One issue solved.
16. Washington Commanders: Joey Porter Jr. (CB)
The Commanders crush the Steelers’ hopes one pick away. Washington must get CBs.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Broderick Jones (OL)
The Steelers’ line was much better from Week 10 on, but Jones is a plug-and-play pick.
18. Detroit Lions: Calijah Kancey (DT)
Edge at 6, DT at 18. Fuel the front seven!
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Anton Harrison (OL)
Baker Mayfield is not great outside the pocket, so keep him upright in it.
20. Seattle Seahawks: Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR)
Get more weapons for Geno.
Miami Dolphins forfeited their pick.
21. Los Angeles Chargers: Bijan Robinson (RB)
Could Austin Ekeler be on the move? I just made the fantasy world very unhappy if he isn’t.
22. Baltimore Ravens: Deonte Banks (CB)
Baltimore loves drafting secondary help, and their CBs need an infusion of youth.
23. Minnesota Vikings: Hendon Hooker (QB)
The perfect landing spot for my QB2. (Yes, he said QB2.)
24. Jacksonville Jaguars: Dalton Kincaid (TE)
Evan Engram is nice, but, well, he is Evan Engram.
25. New York Giants: Emmanuel Forbes (CB)
I want to give them another WR, but the secondary needs more love.
26. Dallas Cowboys: Michael Mayer (TE)
I have loved this kid since his freshman year. Nice landing spot.
27. Buffalo Bills: Darnell Wright (OL)
Josh Allen ran for his life too often last year.
28. Cincinnati Bengals: Brian Branch (S)
The Bengals lost a bunch from their secondary. This softens the blow.
29. New Orleans Saints: Will McDonald IV (EDGE)
Could they move up for Will Levis or Hendon Hooker? Sure, but they need help on the edge.
30. Philadelphia Eagles: O’Cyrus Torrence (OL)
The Eagles lost some pieces from their offensive line, and Torrence can step right in from Day 1.
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Dawand Jones (OL)
KC lost both starting tackles to free agency, so this seems like a no-brainer to address the offensive line.
NFL Draft Needs for Every Team: Post Free Agency 
2023 Mock NFL Drafts
- Thor Nystrom’s Mock Drafts (1.0 | 2.0)
- Matthew Freedman’s Mock Drafts (1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 8.0)
- Kent Weyrauch’s Mock Drafts (1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 8.0)
- Matthew Jones’s Mock Drafts (1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 7.0)
- Andrew Erickson’s Mock Drafts (1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 4.0)
- Mike Fanelli’s Mock Drafts w/ Trades (1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 4.0)
- John Supowitz’s Mock Drafts (1.0 | 2.0)
- Russell Brown (1.0 | 2.0)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio
Beyond our fantasy football content, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you prepare for your draft this season. From our free mock Draft Simulator – which allows you to mock draft against realistic opponents – to our Draft Assistant – that optimizes your picks with expert advice – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football draft season.
