Starting Thursday April 27th, each NFL team will have the chance to shape and/or change the future of their organization during the NFL Draft. Every Draft has some unpredictable shocks, surprises, and memorable moments that make for an exhilarating three days of programming for experts and novices alike.
Here are three things for everyone to watch for in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Who is QB1?
When it comes to the quarterback position, the big question is always who will be the first QB taken. Sometimes it’s obvious, and sometimes it’s not. The QB1 for the 2023 Draft is still somewhat unknown. Alabama QB Bryce Young is the heavy favorite to go first overall to the Carolina Panthers, but that doesn’t mean they will take him. Early on in the scouting process, it seemed like the Panthers were leaning towards taking C.J. Stroud (Ohio State). Will Levis (Kentucky) is also getting some late action at the sportsbook, with his odds of going first overall skyrocketing from +4000 to +400 in a matter of hours.
Whoever the Panthers take will end up in a very good situation. They have a very QB friendly staff with Frank Reich as the head coach, Thomas Brown as the offensive coordinator, and Josh McCown as the quarterbacks coach, plus Andy Dalton will be there as a veteran backup QB. They also have some solid weapons at wide receiver with Adam Thielen and D.J. Chark, as well as Miles Sanders at running back. Another thing to remember is that the Panthers were decent at the end of the season. They finished 7-10 after starting 1-6, capping off the year by winning six of their last ten. Had they beaten the Buccaneers in Week 17, they would’ve actually won the dismal NFC South.
When the Panthers traded up from the ninth slot to the first pick, everyone knew they would be taking a quarterback. Which one they take is still unknown, but they have options to choose from, whether it be Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, Will Levis, or a curveball is thrown and they take Florida QB Anthony Richardson. Regardless, this pick is the most important of the night. If they get this right, the Panthers might have a franchise quarterback on their hands.
Which Teams Draft a Quarterback?
One thing that will dictate how the draft goes is which teams end up taking a quarterback, and when those QBs are picked. Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, Will Levis, and Anthony Richardson are all expected to be first round picks, and there has also been some traction for Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker to get selected in the back end of the first round. Teams that could potentially take a quarterback in the first round are the Panthers, Texans, Colts, Raiders, Falcons, Titans, Vikings, and Saints. The big question is which of those teams take a QB?
The Panthers and Colts are the two teams that seem to be dead set on taking a quarterback. The other six may or may not take one, which makes the draft interesting. The one team that will truly dictate how the dominoes fall is the Houston Texans.
After last season, everyone assumed that the Texans would be taking a quarterback with the second pick in the draft. However, it is starting to seem more likely that Houston decides to take a defensive player. The odds for Houston’s selection have recently changed from Will Levis as the favorite to Texas Tech edge rusher Tyree Wilson. If the Texans do take Wilson, Will Anderson (Alabama) would be available for the Cardinals to take if they don’t trade down. That would likely result in the Colts taking Will Levis, which could leave both Stroud and Richardson outside the top ten. The Texans taking a QB would likely result in three teams in the top four taking a quarterback. That, in turn, could force another QB-desperate team to trade up into the top ten in order to acquire a signal caller of their own. As usual, the quarterback market will dictate the entire Draft.
The Texans hold the keys to how crazy this draft could get, and their pick will have a profound affect on every team that picks after them. It could affect which trades are made, as the Texans have been linked to trading for Trey Lance, who will most likely find himself behind Brock Purdy on the 49ers depth chart as long as Purdy is healthy. With the heavy 49ers influence that exists on the Houston coaching staff, starting with head coach and former 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans, Lance could be a fit for Houston, which would allow them to target talent at other positions on Draft day.
Blockbuster Trades?
This offseason has already seen one blockbuster trade, with the New York Jets acquiring Aaron Rodgers. Although the trade for Rodgers is a massive deal, there is a chance to see other big trades on draft day or later in the offseason.
Players who could be traded include DeAndre Hopkins, Austin Ekeler, and Joe Mixon. Hopkins is the most likely to be dealt on Draft day, but there’s a chance that none of them get moved. Any of these stars being traded would most likely cause their current teams to make a move for a replacement.
The Bengals or Chargers could look to draft a running back to replace Mixon or Ekeler respectively, leading to a high-profile trade on Draft day or afterward. Bijan Robinson (Texas) could be an option for either team if he surprisingly slips to the back end of the first round, although the likely replacement option for either team would be Alabama’s Jahmyr Gibbs, as he is likely to go late in the first round or early in the second round. Other options would still be available for these teams later in the draft, but trading way someone like Hopkins, Mixon, or Ekeler could net their team another high draft pick in return, which would allow the team to add to the rest of their roster.
We should also consider which teams could trade to move up or down in their draft positions. Rumors have surrounded teams like the Cardinals, Colts, Lions, Titans, and others as teams that may look to move around in the draft. The Aaron Rodgers trade saw the Packers move from the 15th pick to the 13th pick, which could have serious implications on the first round. The trade has allowed Green Bay’s pick to jump ahead of the Patriots and the Jets, both of whom look to be in the market for an offensive lineman. The Packers jumping ahead of the Pats is crucial, as both Green Bay and New England may be seeking a wide receiver. This gives Green Bay their choice of wideout instead of being left with whoever New England doesn’t take.
That wraps up the 2023 NFL Draft preview. As with anything, we won’t know what will happen until it actually happens, which is what makes the Draft so interesting every single year. If you are excited about the NFL Draft, tweet to me @derrik_maguire and @BleacherBrawl to let us know what you hope to see during this year’s NFL Draft.