Bleacher Nation NFL 2023 Mock Draft: Seahawks Go D-Line Again

The Bleacher Nation NFL 2023 Mock Draft will be a running mock draft that spans between now and round one of the NFL Draft. Each of the 31 picks (Miami forfeited their first-round pick due to tampering) will get a dedicated post. Here’s how it’ll work:

• Every pick in the Mock Draft gets its own post. We will do one or two picks per day.
• We will link back to previous posts with a running draft recap.
• This feature will not include trades and will cover the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

The Seahawks are on the clock in the Bleacher Nation NFL Mock Draft …

The Pick Is In

EDGE Lukas Van Ness — Iowa

The Fit

I had the Seahawks adding to the defensive line with the Jalen Carter selection at No. 5, and I have them going back to the well here at No. 20 and selecting Iowa edge rusher Lukas Van Ness with their second pick in the first round of the draft.

Scouting Report

Despite not starting a game for the Hawkeyes, the redshirt sophomore racked up 13.0 sacks and 19.0 tackles for a loss in 26 games. Van Ness played all over the defensive line. He got more looks as an edge defender in 2022, collecting 46 total pressures on the season.

Van Ness possesses top-tier size, length, and strength, making him a load for any offensive lineman to handle. He ran a 4.58 40-yard dash at the combine (74th percentile) and owns a quick first step that he uses as the foundation for his ball rush.

He has a thunderous punch and is a relentless hand-fighter. His arms are like a forklift for an offensive lineman. In Iowa’s matchup with Ohio State, Van Ness lifted and drove Paris Johnson Jr. into C.J. Stroud and battled well with the consensus best tackle in the draft.

Paris Johnson Jr. (#77) vs. Lukas Van Ness (#91) made for a fun battle when they went up against one another. Here's a few clips (plus some CJ Stroud play extending on the last clip) pic.twitter.com/4tsRNOyrbx

— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) March 9, 2023

Final Thoughts: Dre’Mont Jones, Jalen Carter, and Lukas Van Ness would create a ferocious trio in the Seahawks’ 3-4 defense. Seattle has Geno Smith locked up and has D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Kenneth Walker III on offense. Adding two high-upside first-rounders on the defensive line makes that defense look good.

Bleacher Nation’s 2023 NFL Mock Draft

1. Carolina Panthers (via CHI) — QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
2. Houston Texans — QB Bryce Young, Alabama
3. Arizona Cardinals — EDGE Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
4. Indianapolis Colts — QB Anthony Richardson, Florida
5. Seattle Seahawks (via DEN) — DT Jalen Carter, Georgia
6. Detroit Lions (via LAR) — EDGE Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech
7. Las Vegas Raiders — QB Will Levis, Kentucky
8. Atlanta Falcons — EDGE Myles Murphy, Clemson
9. Chicago Bears (via CAR) — CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
10. Philadelphia Eagles (via NO) — DT Calijah Kancey, Pitt
11. Tennessee Titans — T Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State
12. Houston Texans (via CLE) — WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
13. New York Jets — T Broderick Jones, Georgia
14. New England Patriots — CB Christian Gonzalez, Oregon
15. Green Bay Packers — TE Dalton Kincaid, Utah
16. Washington Commanders — CB Deonte Banks, Maryland
17. Pittsburgh Steelers — CB Joey Porter Jr., Penn State
18. Detroit Lions — CB Kelee Ringo, Georgia
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — S Brian Branch, Alabama
20. Seattle Seahawks — EDGE Lukas Van Ness, Iowa
21. Los Angeles Chargers
22. Baltimore Ravens
23. Minnesota Vikings
24. Jacksonville Jaguars
25. New York Giants
26. Dallas Cowboys
27. Buffalo Bills
28. Cincinnati Bengals
29. New Orleans Saints (via SF)
30. Philadelphia Eagles
31. Kansas City Chiefs