Countdown to Madness 2023: 10 College Basketball Coaches Who Could Be Fired This Offseason

Bobby Hurley, Arizona State

We've reached an exciting time in the sports calendar, with March Madness right around the corner. As many teams gear up for what they hope are extended NCAA Tournament runs, others are already looking ahead towards 2023-2024. For those that have no chance at the postseason, it begins a time of reckoning, evaluating whether they have the pieces in place to steer themselves back into contention next winter. Some may simply need to get healthy, or add a piece or two through the portal, while others may need to fire a head coach to get back on track. In that spirit, I brainstorm ten coaches who could be looking for new gigs over the offseason. 

Arizona State Sun Devils: Bobby Hurley

Record at Arizona State: 136-108

A college basketball legend known for his fiery sideline antics, Bobby Hurley feels like he may have overstayed his welcome in Tempe. After a pair of sub-.500 campaigns in his first two years at Arizona State, Hurley delivered consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, and likely would have gone to a third had the event not been cancelled in 2020. It's been a rough road since; the Sun Devils have had two straight rough seasons prior to 2022-2023, and their NCAA Tournament hopes appear to be getting dimmer this year. If ASU is able to sneak into the Field of 68, it's highly unlikely they choose to move on from Hurley this offseason, but the NIT feels like the more likely scenario. For a program that is watching their chief rival, Arizona, quickly ascend back up the totem pole in both basketball and football, that might not be good enough to keep Hurley around for a ninth year.

California: Mark Fox

Record at California: 38-82

If not for the well-documented struggles at Louisville, California would be getting more attention as the worst major-conference team in college basketball this season. In fact, you could make the argument the Golden Bears have been even worse than the Cardinals, given some of their losses. Those defeats include games against such college basketball heavyweights like UC-Davis, UC-San Diego, Southern, and Texas State. Not exactly the resume you're looking for during your fourth season at the helm, but such is the case for Mark Fox. It's hard to imagine a fifth year for Fox, who was a baffling hire at the time. Although he had success in the mid-2000s at Nevada, Fox was fresh off an uninspiring run at Georgia, and the results speak for themselves here.

Florida State: Leonard Hamilton

Record at Florida State: 425-262

Leonard Hamilton isn't in danger of being fired this offseason, but it's not crazy to think him and Florida State brass could be headed for a mutual parting of ways. Hamilton's coaching chops are unquestioned; he's won 625 games at the collegiate level and also coached the Washington Wizards in the NBA. He has a winning percentage of .619 at Florida State and has brought the Seminoles to the NCAA Tournament eight times. However, there's no denying the program has slipped over the last two years, including an ugly 8-20 season in '22-'23, one of the weakest years in recent ACC memory. In the fast-paced, chaotic college coaching landscape, two bad seasons can doom you. Hamilton seems to believe he can turn things back around, confirming to media that he plans to be back for 2023-2024, but you never know in big-money collegiate athletics.

Georgtown Hoyas: Patrick Ewing

Record at Georgetown: 74-105

Patrick Ewing should always be a legend on Georgetown's campus for the work he did as a player back in the 1980s, but he has been a complete failure as a head coach. The Hoyas have suffered through horrific stretches under his tutelage, including losing 29 straight Big East games, which is now a record. In fact, they've had just one winning season under Ewing, going 19-14 in 2018-2019 with James Akinjo and Mac McClung. There was the shocking NCAA Tournament appearance in 2021 after a Big East Tournament run, but one appearance in the Big Dance shouldn't erase the other failures that have persisted throughout the Ewing era. It's blatantly clear that it's time to move on, and this remains an attractive job, located in a great location and inside a big-time conference. There's simply no reason Georgetown should remain this bad for this long.

Ole Miss: Kermit Davis

Record at Ole Miss: 74-78

Kermit Davis has been around college basketball coaching since the early 1980s, when he served as an assistant at his alma mater, Mississippi State. He's held college basketball coaching roles across the United States, and delivered success at several of them. But, you have to wonder how much longer the 63-year old Davis will be around the game, at least at his current school. Since taking over after an impressive run at Middle Tennessee, Davis has only delivered one NCAA Tournament berth in Oxford. The Rebels are in the midst of another lost season, as they sit at 2-12 and at the bottom of the SEC standings. This wouldn't be a reactionary firing, either. Davis has had five years to build a program at a school with modest basketball expectations. He just hasn't delivered, and it feels like the right time for Ole Miss to look elsewhere.

Oregon State Beavers: Wayne Tinkle

Record at Oregon State: 124-150

The spring of 2021 was a thrilling one for Oregon State basketball. The program put together one of the most shocking NCAA Tournament runs in recent memory, only getting there because of a Pac-12 Tournament Title. Wayne Tinkle was the architect of that 2021 Elite Eight run, which seemed to be the momentum he needed to help the program emerge from mediocrity. Unfortunately, Oregon State followed it up with one of the worst seasons in the school's history, going 3-28 overall and 1-19 in the Pac-12. It doesn't look like a one-year fluke either, as the Beavers are sitting at the bottom of the conference standings once more in 2023. Tinkle might still be able to coast off that NCAA Tournament run for at least one more year, but time is running out. This is his ninth year in Corvallis and he's well below .500 overall, including a brutal .348 winning percentage in the Pac-12.

South Florida Bulls: Brian Gregory

Record at South Florida: 76-105

South Florida isn't a school that invests in their basketball program like others in the American Athletic and they certainly aren't a program with a history of success, with one NCAA Tournament showing since 1992. But at some point, the Bulls have to be willing to move on from Brian Gregory, who has had just one winning season since taking over in Tampa. Granted, that one season included a nice College Basketball Invitational Championship, but there has to be higher expectations than that. Gregory and USF are once again hovering near the bottom of the AAC standings at 4-10 in the league, and they've won 28 games in total since the COVID-shortened 2020 season. They aren't going to go out and land a big name, but the program desperately needs fresh energy.

St. John's Red Storm: Mike Anderson 

Record at St. John's: 66-53

A Nolan Richardson disciple who has made his rounds in the college basketball coaching world, Mike Anderson is on a flaming hot seat at St. John's. He did take over a program that was in the dumps after the Chris Mullin era, but Anderson has done nothing to return the program back to Big East relevance. On the contrary, they've been one of the most vanilla and bland teams in the league, with a a 16-11 overall mark being their high-water mark under Anderson's leadership. Anderson always felt like a bit of an uninspired hire when the Red Storm brought him on, and there's plenty of candidates who could come on and kill it here.

Stanford Cardinal: Jerod Haase

Record at Stanford: 109-106

Stanford's athletic department has traditionally been very patient with their head coaches. It's understandable considering the stringent academic requirements of the university and the other natural barriers to success. But, the basketball program has so much more potential than what they've shown under Jerod Haase. To be fair, Haase has not been some complete disaster of a hire since taking over in 2016. No, the Cardinal have been respectable year-in, year-out, but Haase has yet to coach in an NCAA Tournament game as Stanford head coach. Considering some of the big-name players that have passed through Palo Alto in that span, including Tyrell Terry, KZ Okpala, and Ziaire Williams, that's unacceptable.

Syracuse Orange: Jim Boeheim

Record at Syracuse: 1,014-437

Much like the Leonard Hamilton situation, Syracuse is not going to fire the legendary Jim Boeheim. But, is anybody going to start having the uncomfortable conversation about this program? They've clearly slipped in recent years, and the prognosis for a turnaround is not super promising. Recruiting hasn't been as strong as it should be, and it's really impacted the depth on this roster. Boeheim's prickly personality also feels like it's beginning to wear on people. It can be considered lovable when 'Cuse is winning, but downright irritating when things are going the other way. Boeheim will still likely be back next year, it's hard to imagine Syracuse brass forcing him out, but 2023-2024 could be an important season to show the program can be relevant on a national scale under his leadership.

Big Ten Power Rankings 2022-2023: Edition 3

Boo Buie, Northwestern

 * Records updated as of 2/16/2023

1. Purdue Boilermakers (23-4 overall, 12-4 Big Ten)

Previous Rank: 1

Purdue has been out in front of the Big Ten race the entire way, but the last week has displayed some kinks in the Boilermaker armor. They've lost three of four, which has dropped them to 23-4 overall and 12-4 in the league. It's clear there's still things Purdue has to figure out before they hit the postseason, but it's not time to worry just yet in West Lafayette. The defeats to Indiana and Northwestern weren't exactly overwhelming; both were close losses to quality opponents on the road. The Maryland loss felt a little bit different, even though it was also on the road. Purdue had their worst offensive showing of the year and couldn't contain Jahmir Young, two results that aren't particularly encouraging as we head into the home stretch of the regular season. There's plenty of time to right the ship, with a favorable schedule remaining, but dropping off the No. 1 seed line seems like a real possibility at this point.

2. Northwestern Wildcats (19-7 overall, 10-5 Big Ten)

Previous Rank: 7

Just as everybody expected, Northwestern is in sole possession of second place in the Big Ten with five games left to play on the regular season. The victories over Purdue this past weekend and Indiana earlier in the week essentially locked in the Wildcats for just their second NCAA Tournament appearance in program history, assuming they're able to stick the landing. That win over the Boilermakers was a reminder of what makes this Northwestern team so dangerous; guards Boo Buie and Chase Audige were overwhelming offensively and they did a great job containing Purdue's freshmen backcourt the other way. They are likely to have the edge in backcourt play in every game they play the rest of the regular season, which should put them in great position to finish off strong.

3. Indiana Hoosiers (18-8 overall, 9-6 Big Ten)

Previous Rank: 10

It's been a wild second season of the Mike Woodson era in Bloomington. The Hoosiers opened the season with legitimate Big Ten Title aspirations, but a three-game losing skid in early conference play quickly dashed those hopes. Instead of accepting a disappointing campaign, Indiana has responded in the face of adversity, winning eight of ten. Trayce Jackson-Davis in particular has been unstoppable, with double-doubles in six of his last seven contests. He should be a serious threat to unseat Zach Edey as not only the Big Ten Player of the Year frontrunner, but National Player of the Year. The supporting cast has also stepped up, with Jalen Hood-Schifino, Trey Galloway, and Miller Kopp playing some of their basketball of the season. Plus, there's still hope Xavier Johnson could return before March, as he's missed the last two months following foot surgery. 

4. Maryland Terrapins (18-8 overall, 9-6 Big Ten)

Previous Rank: 11

Heading into the week, it appeared as though there was separation between the top three teams in these rankings and the rest. Then, Maryland went out and ran past Purdue, winning in front of their home crowd by 14 points. It was a statement victory for the Terrapins, and likely helped secure their spot in the NCAA Tournament. Kevin Willard has done a superb job in Year One in College Park, and I wouldn't count out the Terps down the stretch. This team is so much more than Jahmir Young, even if he is the focal point of the offense. Donta Scott and Julian Reese may be the most underrated forward duo in the country, and played a major role in this team overcoming Purdue on Thursday night.

5. Michigan State Spartans (16-9 overall, 8-6 Big Ten)

Previous Rank: 5

This doesn't feel like a year where Tom Izzo's team is going to be creating magic in March, but the Spartans have proven to be a formidable foe who could play their way into the second weekend. The offense remains mediocre at best, led by Tyson Walker and Joey Hauser, but this is a tough defensive team with plenty of depth. It's huge that Malik Hall has returned and should be working his way back to 100 percent, as the senior forward is probably the team's best player when fully healthy.

6. Illinois Fighting Illini (17-8 overall, 8-6 Big Ten)

Previous Rank: 3

You could essentially pick-and-choose with just about any team from spots 5 through 11 in these rankings, but I remain a believer in the Fighting Illini. Their two losses early on in Big Ten play, to Northwestern and Penn State, looked concerning at the time, but both of those teams have proven to be quality opponents. Since, Illinois has been playing much better basketball, although they do enter a difficult stretch of games with losses in two of their last three. The Illini may have the toughest remaining road schedule in the conference, as they go to Indiana, Ohio State, and Purdue.

7. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (16-10 overall, 8-7 Big Ten)

Previous Rank: 2

Oh, how quickly things can change in the Big Ten. At the time of my last power rankings, Rutgers was 5-2 in the league and were the only team to have beaten Purdue. Fast forward a month, and Rutgers has lost three straight and finds themselves reeling heading into a matchup with Wisconsin. The offense has struggled as of late, particularly the guards. Paul Mulcahy has always been streaky, but it feels like a complete mystery which version of him is going to come out every night, and Cam Spencer has cooled down. To make matters worse, the Scarlet Knights are going to be without glue guy Mawot Mag, as a knee injury will cost him the year. Fortunately, there's still time to figure it out, and the schedule the rest of the way isn't as treacherous as it has been lately.

8. Iowa Hawkeyes (17-9 overall, 9-6 Big Ten)

Previous Rank: 8

If not for the sheer dominance of Zach Edey and Trayce Jackson-Davis, Kris Murray would be the Big Ten Player of the Year frontrunner and Iowa would have the third winner in four years (Luka Garza took home the award twice). Kris has been particularly lethal as of late, going for 28 against Minnesota and 24 against Purdue, likely to cement himself as First Team All-Big Ten. However, the rest of the Hawkeye supporting cast remains inconsistent, which is a concern as we hit the most important portion of the season. Filip Rebraca has been a revelation and Tony Perkins went off for 32 against Illinois, but it still feels like the Hawkeyes need one or two additional pieces to step up if they want to make a March run.

9. Wisconsin Badgers (15-10 overall, 7-8 Big Ten)

Previous Rank: 4

There's been absolutely nothing pretty about Wisconsin basketball over the past month, but the win over Michigan earlier in the week kept them on track to earn an NCAA Tournament berth. The Badgers are hopeful it concludes a skid that saw them lose five of their past seven games. To be fair, there have been a lot of road tilts in that stretch, but the offense has been a truly atrocious watch. Even in the win over the Wolverines, the Badgers suffered through terrible shooting woes. In fact, they didn't score a single field goal over the last 10:45 of the game, but somehow managed to come out on top. This team needs to figure it out if they have any shot at making noise in March, but there's no reinforcements on the way.

10. Michigan Wolverines (14-12 overall, 8-7 Big Ten)

Previous Rank: 6

A three-game win streak that appeared as though it could move Michigan on to the right side of the bubble has been erased by consecutive losses to Indiana and Wisconsin. The Wolverines aren't completely dead just yet, but they'll have to impress over their next five regular season games and likely have to do some damage in the Big Ten Tournament. Those two straight close defeats felt particularly painful, two more reminders that this team just hasn't been able to close out games this winter.

11. Penn State Nittany Lions (15-11 overall, 6-9 Big Ten)

Previous Rank: 9

Four straight defeats put a damper on an otherwise super successful second season for Micah Shrewsberry in State College. The Nittany Lions have shown real growth this year and the offense was out in full force in the win over Illinois, with Jalen Pickett dropping 41 points. That four-game skid also has to be given some context; three of the four games were on the road, including games against Purdue and Maryland. The NCAA Tournament is pretty much out of the question at this point, but Penn State still has a viable shot at the NIT, which would make their first postseason trip since winning that tournament in 2018.

12. Nebraska Cornhuskers (13-14 overall, 6-10 Big Ten)

Previous Rank: 12

The turnarounds at Northwestern and Penn State have been given ample attention in the league, and for good reason, but not enough is being said about the job Fred Hoiberg has done in Lincoln this winter. The 'Huskers have been more than just a pesky opponent; they've beaten some very good basketball teams and are poised for their most conference victories since 2017-2018, when they went 13-5 in the Big Ten. Lincoln native Sam Griesel has been a game-changing addition for the 'Huskers, but it's been Keisei Tominaga that has fueled the Nebraska offense as of late. In fact, he's been one of the best players in the country in the month of February, dropping 22 or more in four straight games. Coincidentally, Nebraska has done 3-1 in that stretch, including a win at Rutgers earlier this week.

13. Ohio State Buckeyes (11-15 overall, 3-12 Big Ten)

Previous Rank: 13

Fortunately for Ohio State, spring football season is right around the corner! It's been a brutal season on the court for the Buckeyes, who have won one single game since beating Northwestern on New Year's Day. It's hard to take too many positives away from this lost season, but at the very least, the freshman backcourt duo of Bruce Thornton and Roddy Gayle Jr. has been impressive for their age, and Felix Okpara has shown flashes. Expect Chris Holtmann to be extremely active in the transfer portal over the offseason, as this most recent batch certainly did not pan out.

14. Minnesota Golden Gophers (7-16 overall, 1-12 Big Ten)

Previous Rank: 14

Purdue has been a constant at the top of the standings in the Big Ten, and Minnesota has been a constant at the bottom. It's been a truly brutal campaign in Minneapolis, but the hope is that the young talent continues to progress and the hyped recruiting class next year delivers. There's still a chance the Gophers could add a win or two with seven conference games remaining, all against unranked foes, but they desperately need Dawson Garcia back in action. Garcia has missed the past five games with an ankle injury, and there's some real worry that we may have seen the last of him in 2022-2023.

Scouting the Contenders 2023: Alabama Crimson Tide

Jahvon Quinerly, Alabama

As March Madness slowly inches closer and closer, "Scouting the Contenders" takes a look at some of the nation's best teams in a chaotic race, scouts their strengths and weaknesses, and takes a best guess on just how far they could go in the NCAA Tournament. We begin with the nation's new No. 1 team, the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Track Record

• 22-3 overall, 12-0 SEC
• Wins over Michigan State (81-70), Houston (71-65), North Carolina (103-101)
• Losses to UConn (82-67), Gonzaga (100-90), @ Oklahoma (93-69)
• No. 2 in KenPom rankings

Scouting Report

Alabama is likely always going to be a football school, but there's no denying that head coach Nate Oats has built a winning culture on the basketball floor in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide have been one of the SEC's top dogs since Oats took over, but they have their sights set on even loftier goals in 2023. They celebrated another achievement earlier this week, earning their first No. 1 overall ranking since 2002-2003. It's an impressive accomplishment, but one that will feel hollow if the Tide aren't able to deliver when things really matter in March.

Strengths

Versatility on both ends ... Oats and company have epitomized the idea of position-less basketball, flaunting a roster full of guys who can play just about every role on the floor. It's an approach that gives Alabama nearly unlimited versatility and can allow them to find and attack mismatches more effectively than a traditional lineup. Take a guy like Mark Sears, who is currently second on the Tide in scoring this season. At 6'1", 185 pounds he acts as a guard, but you'll often see him defend forwards when needed, and his ability to crash the glass is one you don't often see at his position. Or, take freshman phenom Brandon Miller as an example. The 6'9" combo forward is a tough player to guard no matter the defender, but he can also handle the ball, and his passing ability is similar to that of a savvy veteran guard. This amount of versatility makes it incredibly hard for opponents to game-plan against, and makes the Tide particularly scary. It's certainly proved to be effective on the offensive end, as Alabama currently ranks seventh nationally, averaging over 83 points per contest.

They're incredibly tough ... One thing I've always appreciated about Nate Oats-coached teams is that they play with a certain attitude and purpose. You saw it when he was at Buffalo, and it hasn't disappeared at Alabama, as the talent level has elevated. The Crimson Tide are a tough basketball team, one that isn't going to be pushed over by any opponent they face. They play physical, aggressive on-ball defense and force offenses to beat them off the dribble. They're incredibly active in the post and on the glass; in fact, their 44.4 rebounds per game leads every team in Division I basketball, despite the fact there are plenty of larger teams out there. Even some of the smaller things, like setting hard screens or getting on the floor for loose balls, this team does. It's that type of toughness that doesn't always show up on the stat-sheet, but you see it every time this team takes the floor. And, it's there for the full 40 minutes, also. You won't see this Alabama team taking any plays off.

Depth ... Modern college basketball teams don't go 10-12 guys deep like they once did, but I still look for depth when evaluating which teams I believe have a legitimate shot at taking home the National Title. You need fresh legs deep in March if you want to win it all, and you never know when one of your key players gets in foul trouble. Fortunately, Alabama is a deep team with a balanced workload, especially in the backcourt. Beyond Sears and Miller, no player on this roster sniffs 30 minutes per game, a testament to just how many players can come in and contribute important minutes on this roster. Oats deserves ample credit for constructing a roster with this amount of depth, which becomes even more impressive when you consider the circumstances of this team. Forward Darius Miles was expected to play an important role on this team this season, but has since found himself in an ongoing legal battle that has cost him his spot on the Tide roster. Former Texas Tech transfer Nimari Burnett was also expected to play a role on this team, but has been out indefinitely since mid-December. Despite the absence of those two, the Tide feature an impressive second unit that could go toe-to-toe with just about anybody in the country.

Weaknesses

Pesky turnovers ... Oats has always featured a high-flying offense, one that plays incredibly fast and looks to get up as much shots as possible. It's been effective all season, but that comes with a catch: turnovers. It feels like this team can play too fast, where they get sped up and make poor decisions, which is backed up by the numbers. Their 14.1 turnovers per game are ranked 292nd in the nation, nestled among such college basketball heavyweights as Cal Poly and Hartford. Their turnover rate of 16.0% may rank higher, at 165th nationally, but it's still a startling number for a 22-3 basketball team. It puts the Tide in a precarious position every time they step out on the court, and the program knows first-hand the type of negative impacts it can have in March. As the No. 6 seed a year ago, the Crimson Tide looked like they got sped up and out-of-sync against Notre Dame and it cost them, with a 78-64 loss. Turnovers weren't the only problem on offense, but 14 of them doomed any chance of a heroic Alabama comeback. This team has to learn to take better care of the basketball, or it's hard to imagine them advancing deep in the chaos that is March Madness.

Do they have the three-point shooting? ... It's well-known that Nate Oats absolutely detests the mid-range jump shot. He wants his Alabama team to get downhill and get to the rim, or settle for a three-pointer rather than lean on the low-percentage mid-range game. It's a roster that's conducive to that game-plan, but the three-point shooting hasn't always shown up. In fact, Alabama's three-point shooting has been a major problem in all three of their losses so far, including their most recent blowout defeat at Oklahoma. The Tide went 6-22 from three in that loss, and it didn't help that they couldn't get any stops the other way against the Sooners. Alabama as a whole only has one player that currently shoots over 40% from three, which would be Brandon Miller, and shoots 35% as a team. It's understandable that a young team would have their struggles from three-point territory and it generally hasn't been a problem most of the year. But, you do wonder if it could be an issue if Alabama runs into a hot-shooting team down the stretch and isn't able to respond.

Lack of March experience ... NCAA Tournament experience is more of a luxury than commodity in modern college basketball, even as we transition into the NIL era and away from the "one-and-done" era. Even so, it is something to consider when scouting the top contenders for the National Title, and the Tide simply don't have much March experience. Sears played in the NCAA Tournament while at Ohio and won one game, but isn't exactly a Tournament veteran. Jahvon Quinerly, who started his career at Villanova, has also seen a decent dose of March action, but this team is extremely inexperienced beyond those two. That doesn't mean they can't achieve a deep run, but March Madness basketball is different than the regular season. The stakes are higher, the fans are louder, and the pressure is taken up a notch. Whether this team, which is still very young, can respond to that type of environment remains to be seen at this point.

The Verdict

As I said in my "Scouting the Contenders: Purdue" post, it's hard to feel particularly confident about any team at this point in the college basketball season. Every team in the country has taken their lumps this year, and there's still several weeks before we have a firm idea what the bracket will look like. With that being said, I'm a big fan of this Alabama team, and believe in them a lot more than many others at the top of the polls. That may not be a controversial statement considering they're the top team in the nation, but it still feels like a wide swath of the college basketball community isn't sold on the Tide just yet. To be fair, teams that turn the ball over at the rate Alabama does always have a high variance of outcomes in March. It would not shock me if this team ends up in Houston, but it also wouldn't shock me if they get knocked out during the first weekend. Such is life in college basketball, and what makes the NCAA Tournament such an engaging event. Yet, I'm willing to throw some weight behind the Tide and pencil them in as a Final Four team in my current bracket. In fact, there's only one team I prefer to the Tide at this point, and it's not Purdue (but we'll get to that in a later scouting report). 

NFL Mock Draft 2023: Edition 3 (Super Bowl Edition)

C.J. Stroud, Ohio State to Indianapolis

 1. Chicago Bears

Will Anderson Jr., LB, Alabama

This feels like a pick that Chicago will look to swap with a QB-needy team, but if not, Will Anderson Jr. feels right. The Alabama product was one of the sport's most dominant defenders in recent history and has transcendent talent off the edge. He's much more than a consolation prize for a rebuilding Bears defense.

2. Houston Texans

Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

Do the Texans try to move up a spot, or instead take their chances picking No. 2? It's well-known Houston is in the market for a new quarterback, and Bryce Young feels like the clear No. 1 quarterback, at least right now. He injects some fresh energy and spirit into an organization that has been staggering since the Deshaun Watson fallout.

3. Arizona Cardinals

Jalen Carter, DL, Georgia

All eyes will be on Arizona's offense as they bring in a new coach and overhaul their system, but the Cards will also have notable holes to fill defensively. Up front, J.J. Watt is calling it a career, and Zach Allen could leave in free agency. Enter Jalen Carter, a premier disruptor who should test extremely well at the Combine.

4. Indianapolis Colts

C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State

The Colts have relied on several different bridge quarterbacks since the sudden retirement of Andrew Luck, but it's about time they invest in a true franchise quarterback. C.J. Stroud feels like a step below Bryce Young as it stands right now, but could easily ascend with a strong pre-Draft. He's fresh off a 41-touchdown campaign in nearby Columbus this fall.

5. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver)

Tyree Wilson, DE/LB, Texas Tech

Don't be surprised is a fast riser through the spring, as he's the type of prospect every GM is looking for in the modern NFL. Versatile, long, athlete that is probably a defensive end at the next level, but could still fit in at outside linebacker. Seattle is loaded with selections over the next several years and focus on pass rush to kick things off.

6. Detroit Lions

Myles Murphy, DL, Clemson

Detroit may have invested a No. 2 pick in a pass rusher last year, but you can never have too many impact defenders in this league, and Myles Murphy feels too good to pass up. Murphy was an impact player from the moment he stepped on campus at Clemson, and projects even better to the NFL.

7. Las Vegas Raiders

Will Levis, QB, Kentucky

There may not be a more controversial player in the 2023 NFL Draft than Will Levis. Those who love him can talk themselves into him going No. 1, but he has his fair share of detractors. He didn't exactly set the world on fire during his time at Kentucky, but he's a toolsy quarterback with a lot of physical gifts. Levis feels like a boom-or-bust move Las Vegas is willing to take a chance on as they move forward without Derek Carr.

8. Atlanta Falcons

Bryan Bresee, DL, Clemson

Despite investing countless draft selections in their front seven over the past decade, Atlanta is still awfully porous up front, with one of the worst rush defenses in the NFC. Bryan Bresee could be the solution, formerly the nation's No. 1 prospect coming out of high school. He dealt with injuries and family tragedy during his three seasons at Clemson, but established himself as a physical force on the interior D-Line.

9. Carolina Panthers

Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame

Carolina is another team clearly in the market for a quarterback, but they find themselves in a predicament here if things shape up like this. With the top three quarterbacks on the board, Anthony Richardson is probably the best available, but that feels like a huge stretch at nine. Instead, the Panthers still work on their aerial attack but instead choose a pass-catching weapon in Michael Mayer. The well-rounded Notre Dame product could be the team's next Greg Olsen.

10. Philadelphia Eagles (from New Orleans)

Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State

Philadelphia is on the cusp of their second Super Bowl Title in a half-decade, but that doesn't mean the Eagles don't have holes to fill as they look ahead towards the offseason. Cornerback feels like an obvious spot to address; although they've gotten quality production there in 2022-23, both James Bradberry and Darius Slay are aging and Bradberry is going to be a free agent. Philadelphia won't have to go too far to land a franchise corner, picking up Penn State's Joey Porter Jr.

11. Tennessee Titans

Peter Skoronski, OL, Northwestern

It could be an interesting offseason for Tennessee after a disappointing year, but this pick feels like a no-brainer. The Titans have obvious holes to fill along their offensive line, and Peter Skoronski is top blocker available. He may not test as well as other linemen at the Combine, but feels like the type of player who is going to have a long, steady NFL career.

12. Houston Texans

Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU

Houston has needs throughout their roster, but it's hard to imagine they go very long in this Draft without selecting a new playmaker on the perimeter. There's plenty of options here, but Quentin Johnston stands out to me as an NFL prospect. He's a long, physical receiver who was absolutely unstoppable at times through his collegiate career. It wouldn't be shocking to see him and Bryce Young terrorizing defenses for years to come.

13. New York Jets

Paris Johnson Jr., OL, Ohio State

I'm not ready to completely sell my Mekhi Becton just yet, but the former Top 10 pick needs to show up in a big way in 2023. However, he's not the only concern up front for the Jets, with several pieces set to hit free agency. Even if New York is able to hold on to one or two, it feels like the right move to invest long-term by adding Paris Johnson Jr. out of Ohio State. He's likely to battle Skoronski for top billing in this offensive line group.

14. New England Patriots

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

There may not be a more pedestrian receiver corps in the NFL than the group in New England entering the offseason. If the Patriots are actually committed to Mac Jones being their guy, they simply have to upgrade his weaponry. Fortunately, Jaxon Smith-Njigba lasts all the way to 14 in this scenario, gifting the Patriots a dynamic wide out with elite ball skills.

15. Green Bay Packers

Brian Branch, S, Alabama

All eyes will be on Aaron Rodgers this offseason and it's easy to project a receiver here, but Green Bay's priorities seem elsewhere. Safety is an obvious spot they could choose to upgrade, with Adrian Amos an unrestricted free agent and the team potentially willing to move on from Darnell Savage to open cap. Brian Branch offers a cheap, high-upside safety who can line up just about anywhere in the defensive backfield.

16. Washington Commanders

Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon

Statistically, the Commanders were decent in defending the pass in 2022, but they have long-term concerns, especially considering the quarterbacks in their division. Enter Christian Gonzalez, who emerged as a serious NFL Draft candidate with Oregon this fall after two years at Colorado. Well-built, versatile, and equipped with excellent hands, Gonzalez is a quality get here.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers

Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina

A team with plenty of options here, trying to project which direction Pittsburgh goes in feels like complete guesswork. Offensive line and defensive line may be two possibilities, but corner feels like a real need, as the Steelers have significant moving parts here entering the spring. Cam Smith could be a potential steal at 17, and he plays with an attitude and toughness that fits this defense.

18. Detroit Lions

Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia

Pass defense has been an Achilles heel for Detroit for awhile now, and it's hard to imagine this team returning to the postseason without investing more capital on the back-end. Kelee Ringo feels like a prospect who could have a wide range in this Draft, but he offers plenty of value here in the mid-first round.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas

Bijan Robinson is one of the most complete running back prospects we've seen coming out of college in years and yet, it's nearly impossible to project where he'll be picked. It wouldn't shock me if Arizona or another team takes a swing at him in the Top 5, but if not, he could last into the 20s. In this scenario, Tampa takes a chance on the exciting tailback, as they embark on the post-Tom Brady era.

20. Seattle Seahawks

O'Cyrus Torrence, OL, Florida

Geno Smith was a pleasant surprise in 2022, but Seattle didn't always supply him the best help, as he was sacked 46 times. It feels like the Seahawks will be in the market for offensive line help with one of their first-round selections, and O'Cyrus Torrence makes plenty of sense. He's the Draft's top guard as we stand today, and Seattle could be set to replace both starting guards in the offseason.

21. Los Angeles Chargers

Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah

The Chargers could use help at all three levels of their defense, as they were mediocre to plain bad in rush and pass defense in 2022. An interior defensive linemen could be the move if somebody drops but cornerback feels like the most likely option. Clark Phillips III is one of the top playmakers in this Draft and would add much-needed attitude to this secondary.

22. Baltimore Ravens

Jordan Addison, WR, USC

No matter what the future looks like regarding Lamar Jackson, Baltimore has to upgrade their receiver corps. Beyond Rashod Bateman, there's no Raven that can cause significant pressure on the back-end of a defense, which has made Baltimore extremely one-dimensional. Adding a downfield weapon like Jordan Addison, the 2021 Biletnikoff Award winner, would work wonders.

23. Minnesota Vikings

Antonio Johnson, DB, Texas A&M

New defensive coordinator Brian Flores will bring a much-needed culture shift for Minnesota's defense, but the organization also needs to invest money or draft picks on this side of the ball. Antonio Johnson feels like the perfect fit for a defense that will look to play more downhill in 2023; the Texas A&M defender can line up just about anywhere and make an impact.

24. Jacksonville Jaguars

Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois

Jacksonville boasted one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL this past season, and that was in arguably the weakest quarterback division in the league. They have to add a quality defensive back early in this Draft, and I'm a big fan of Devon Witherspoon. He's not a guy who will blow you away with his testing numbers, but is a sturdy, well-built corner who should have a lengthy pro career.

25. New York Giants

Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College

New York appears set to bring back Daniel Jones in the long-term, but his receiving options have been underwhelming throughout most his NFL career. A healthy Wan'Dale Robinson will help, but taking a dynamic weapon like Zay Flowers feels even more effective. Flowers was one of the most electric receivers in college football, even in a vanilla Boston College offense, and projects well to the pros.

26. Dallas Cowboys

Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee

Beyond CeeDee Lamb, Dallas doesn't have the weapons on the perimeter to seriously contend for an NFC Title. They missed Amari Cooper after shipping him away, but could find a better long-term fit in Jalin Hyatt, fresh off a huge year at Tennessee. Hyatt became known as a big-play option with the Vols, but he's a versatile wide out who could still be scratching the surface of his potential.

27. Buffalo Bills

Lukas Van Ness, DE, Iowa

It was a deflating conclusion to the 2022 season in Buffalo, but the Bills remain a serious Super Bowl contender, assuming they make the right moves over the offseason. Spending on a receiver or drafting one early is a real possibility, but this is a front office that has leaned on the best player available approach in the past. Lukas Van Ness could sneak into the Top 10, but is more likely to land somewhere in the 20s as a ferocious edge rusher with upside.

28. Cincinnati Bengals

Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama

Joe Mixon's future in Cincinnati seems murky after his recent legal troubles, throwing a wrench into Cincinnati's offensive game-plan. Perhaps Mixon will be back as normal in 2023, but the Bengals could find a long-term upgrade in Jahmyr Gibbs. The versatile tailback is an explosive open-field runner and capable receiver, adding yet another element to this potent Cincinnati attack.

29. New Orleans Saints (from San Francisco)

Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas

With the selection they recently acquired in the Sean Payton deal, New Orleans adds an impact defender in Drew Sanders. The former Crimson Tide linebacker had a breakout 2022 while playing at Arkansas and can play multiple positions and contribute. He's too intriguing to pass up in the bottom of the first round.

30. Kansas City Chiefs

Isaiah Foskey, DE, Notre Dame

Kansas City's defense held up well in 2022 despite significant amounts of youth at just about every position group. They will likely be in play for defense somewhere early in this Draft, and Notre Dame's Isaiah Foskey offers excellent value here. Despite his size, Foskey moves incredibly well and has the type of physique every NFL team covets.

31. Philadelphia Eagles

Siaki Ika, DL, Baylor

With an earlier first-round selection already secured and without any overwhelmingly obvious needs at this spot, Philadelphia could trade down. If they don't, I like the idea of them pairing Baylor's Siaki Ika with Jordan Davis to form an impenetrable interior D-Line. They were banged up on the interior this fall and could see several pieces move on this offseason, adding even more value to this pick.