NFL Network's Lance Zierlein releases first 2023 mock draft
Super Bowl LVII is almost here, which means the entire NFL landscape will shift into offseason mode come Monday morning.
The Super Bowl's arrival means the NFL Scouting Combine is just around the corner. Festivities in Indianapolis will begin on Monday, February 28.
Experts have already begun releasing their predictions for the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. The latest to do so is NFL Media draft analyst Lance Zierlein, who published his first mock draft of the year this week.
Zierlein predicted the Giants address the defensive side of the ball with the selection of Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson at No. 25.
"Simpson has extremely rare speed as a linebacker," writes Zierlein. "The Giants know they need to put players on the field who can run and chase the Eagles for years to come."
Simpson played three seasons for the Tigers, totaling 187 tackles, 12.5 sacks, 22.5 tackles for loss, six pass breakups and three forced fumbles in his collegiate career.
As a freshman back in 2020, the linebacker amassed four sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss in just eight games. He followed that up with six sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss as a junior in 2021.
This past season, Simpson accumulated 77 tackles, 2.5 sacks, four tackles for loss, three pass breakups and two forced fumbles on 616 defensive snaps across 12 games, all of which he started. He earned a selection as Third-Team All-ACC, along with being named to the All-ACC Academic Team for the second consecutive year.
As of now, the Giants have just three inside linebackers under contract for next season, two of which (Cam Brown and Carter Coughlin) combined for less than 10 defensive snaps this past season. Rookie Micah McFadden, who played 39 percent of the team's defensive snaps at linebacker, is the third linebacker currently set to return in 2023.
NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah updated his ranking of the top 50 prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft.
![JEREMIAH-TOP-50](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/prbmux8keb6ffqftepjk.jpg)
![No. 50 Zach Charbonnet, RB, UCLA](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/lkiava0swctm8hm0deuh.jpg)
No. 50 Zach Charbonnet, RB, UCLA
![No. 49 Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/a9jogn2prxq21im5h1d2.jpg)
No. 49 Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa
![No. 48 John Michael Schmitz, IOL, Minnesota](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/dayqmx8ovvluxxtugyce.jpg)
No. 48 John Michael Schmitz, IOL, Minnesota
![No. 40 Keeanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/xkdsee0jzldd4h04f87k.jpg)
No. 40 Keeanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin
![No. 47 Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/t2pb7z51cbn8ealurewi.jpg)
No. 47 Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
![No. 37 Steve Avila, IOL, TCU](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/ksfjxzeyw2sfs3hcpga9.jpg)
No. 37 Steve Avila, IOL, TCU
![No. 46 Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/rozlj4dxsqzbo1tyffk6.jpg)
No. 46 Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee
![No. 45 Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/vjzui6qcwvolzmugi2l3.jpg)
No. 45 Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson
![No. 44 Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/mhxu59dgozzr5iplthyt.jpg)
No. 44 Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa
![No. 43 Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/wq6omr00v1yd9sgnrgwb.jpg)
No. 43 Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan
![No. 42 Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/ryrjbc13v5oen5rqav6r.jpg)
No. 42 Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee
![No. 38 Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/xviqwswyetjzu6k53jmz.jpg)
No. 38 Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State
![No. 39 Cody Mauch, OT, North Dakota State](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/sxqoiarpm0qc6rew093s.jpg)
No. 39 Cody Mauch, OT, North Dakota State
![No. 36 Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/gcbkjgsb9ja9gdjwgwpq.jpg)
No. 36 Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
![No. 41 O'Cyrus Torrence, IOL, Florida](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/q5mktisrs6ltvbiuksqr.jpg)
No. 41 O'Cyrus Torrence, IOL, Florida
![No. 35 BJ Ojulari, EDGE, LSU](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/g9jlnx5zoja4xi0uperk.jpg)
No. 35 BJ Ojulari, EDGE, LSU
![No. 27 Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/sr3wvrf4e5x2c5ntzxiu.jpg)
No. 27 Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
![No. 34 Joe Tippmann, IOL, Wisconsin](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/iynwsllcb2wqkykpggh1.jpg)
No. 34 Joe Tippmann, IOL, Wisconsin
![No. 32 Felix Anudike-Uzomah, EDGE, Kansas State](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/xeajpksz8zaytc4bq1eg.jpg)
No. 32 Felix Anudike-Uzomah, EDGE, Kansas State
![No. 31 Brian Branch, DB, Alabama](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/qr5hadiluxyt2lkv0gtx.jpg)
No. 31 Brian Branch, DB, Alabama
![No. 30 Quentin Johnson, WR, TCU](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/c6ygrotskdvht8dpoyty.jpg)
No. 30 Quentin Johnson, WR, TCU
![No. 29 Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/kmlezxeaduvfrwhj9dol.jpg)
No. 29 Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama
![No. 28 Keion White, EDGE, Georgia Tech](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/e7vtrngqebm4a6o4zxj8.jpg)
No. 28 Keion White, EDGE, Georgia Tech
![No. 26 Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/ikupssjbpxjlujtw1ism.jpg)
No. 26 Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh
![No. 25 Will McDonald IV, EDGE, Iowa State](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/kzpdzknf6c7kzqekzivn.jpg)
No. 25 Will McDonald IV, EDGE, Iowa State
![No. 33 Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/cqvkt7egtcltxyakhl0j.jpg)
No. 33 Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
![No. 24 Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/hkrmv4inipkm4cwp3ldm.jpg)
No. 24 Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
![No. 21 Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/fadca6y1u6fkpr7a7mlc.jpg)
No. 21 Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
![No. 22 Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/ovqpx2pv98pqzejgezd6.jpg)
No. 22 Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
![No. 20 Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/fneg0fbxzr4olnq8ruco.jpg)
No. 20 Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
![No. 23 Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/cc1bulus2odadmyjpmox.jpg)
No. 23 Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
![No. 17 Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/kstajekt5z585fvfnn2e.jpg)
No. 17 Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
![No. 13 Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/d0wwfpx53fszbxpqwg5w.jpg)
No. 13 Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia
![No. 19 Broderick Jones, OT Georgia](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/fu3uq2mg4pfqhwwgja07.jpg)
No. 19 Broderick Jones, OT Georgia
![No. 16 Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/cogr7ev7hy72yk0yweov.jpg)
No. 16 Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
![No. 18 Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/qq4hcnoimp7pywzftpm4.jpg)
No. 18 Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
![No. 14 Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/kziwixfda51ygnbah4lv.jpg)
No. 14 Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa
![No. 15 Jordan Addison, WR, USC](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/ru6h6fjfsa7xt0mabpj3.jpg)
No. 15 Jordan Addison, WR, USC
![No. 12 Will Levis, QB, Kentucky](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/zwyl6kcqnqdlfgnn2gf6.jpg)
No. 12 Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
![No. 10 Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/k6rkflml17trydh2a0x3.jpg)
No. 10 Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
![No. 11 Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/qba5kmb4qccsftmay4kl.jpg)
No. 11 Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
![No. 9 Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/ea0ptje3n45lj1cwcz0l.jpg)
No. 9 Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
![No. 8 Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/jpnp49cg6rc0kmntxr3h.jpg)
No. 8 Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern
![No. 7 C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/lwqgmwgazssm8jjwkbzu.jpg)
No. 7 C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
![No. 5 Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/up6rgeevzq6ymzijbdzc.jpg)
No. 5 Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
![No. 6 Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/ttzz0ssxgkftnvol5lzy.jpg)
No. 6 Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
![No. 4 Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/cwzr2windgwtpw5cfo9a.jpg)
No. 4 Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech
![No. 3 Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/ojhf9s5uh8wg7na9vr4f.jpg)
No. 3 Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
![No. 2 Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/kacatnnl9ormihnfe55j.jpg)
No. 2 Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama
![No. 1 Bryce Young, QB, Alabama](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/qmw8hvwkqrjw7flvfd3x.jpg)
No. 1 Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
![NYG23_PSL_DJ_1920x1080](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_editorial_landscape_mobile/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/knzq6vcgndmkwetxqx9f.jpg)