NFL Draft 2023 mock draft: Our beat writers make their top-10 picks

Most years, it’s not a matter of if a quarterback run will happen in the NFL Draft, but when. By the looks of things, it could come early in 2023.

That is unless a potentially elite crop of defensive prospects (and maybe a handful of offensive tackles or skill-position players) have a say. With two weeks left in the regular season and the draft picture starting to settle into focus, we asked our team of beat writers and draft experts how the top 10 could play out. Will the Texans go QB at No. 1? Should the Seahawks or Lions lean in on that position, too?

Here’s our current best guess:

1. Houston Texans: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

Young’s size (listed at 6-foot-0, 194 pounds) is one reason there’s no consensus top quarterback prospect in this draft. There’s little debate, however, that the Texans should address that position here. If Houston has decided 24 starts into Davis Mills’ career that he’s most effective in a two-quarterback offense with Jeff Driskel, then Mills, a 2021 third-round pick, is clearly not the long-term answer.

The Texans and GM Nick Caserio haven’t been scared to operate against conventional wisdom (see: their last two head coaching hires), but I’ll go with the relatively obvious choice here. Young is draft expert Dane Brugler’s top-rated prospect at the position and the No. 3 prospect overall. — Aaron Reiss

Perfect. Product. Placement. ✊

.@_bryce_young ▶️ @c7_brookspic.twitter.com/jL9Xfu9rU4

— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) November 26, 2022

2. Chicago Bears: Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia

If you listen to first-year Bears coach Matt Eberflus, you should know how important the three-technique defensive tackle position is for his defensive scheme. Just last week, Eberflus described the three-technique as “the engine that makes everything go.” It’s not easy to pass on Alabama pass rusher Will Anderson Jr., but Carter can be that engine for the Bears’ defense in the future. He’s a nasty, do-everything lineman in the mold of Hall of Famer Warren Sapp. They’re actually from the same high school (Apopka) in Florida. Carter also is the best player on the best team in college football and arguably has been for the past two years. — Adam Jahns

Jalen Carter just threw his man right out of the way to make the stop. pic.twitter.com/N9J0c2Rjwm

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) December 3, 2022

3. Seattle Seahawks (via Broncos): Will Anderson Jr., Edge, Alabama

The Seahawks are in desperate need of a game-changing pass rusher. They haven’t had a double-digit sack guy since Frank Clark in 2018. Outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (nine sacks through 15 games) should reach that level before the year ends, but his presence alone hasn’t prevented Seattle from being average when it comes to pressuring the passer. The Seahawks are so desperate for a dominant edge to pair with Nwosu that they’re starting 35-year-old Bruce Irvin. He has played fine, to be fair, but the fact they had to call Irvin up from…