The 2023 NFL Draft is now right around the corner with each of the 32 teams looking to add young talent to their roster during the three day event, starting Thursday in Kansas City.
The pre-draft process this offseason has been something special. It started with Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud being seen as the likely top-two picks, especially after the Carolina Panthers made the blockbuster move up to the No. 1 overall selection.
However, questions surrounding Stroud has led to Young being the obvious selection for Carolina. After that? Well, it’s anyone’s best guess. The intrigue starts at two with the Houston Texans and extends throughout the remainder of the first round.
Meanwhile, we can expect a few veterans to be dealt following the Aaron Rodgers blockbuster trade to the New York Jets. Which ones will be on the move?
These are among the top-10 storylines for the 2023 NFL Draft. Let’s check in on all of them below.
Where will Bijan Robinson land?
It’s all about positional value when it comes to Bijan Robinson. Teams view him as a top-five prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft. He’s seen as a generational talent similar to Ezekiel Elliott before he went No. 4 overall to the Dallas Cowboys in 2016 and Saquon Barkley prior to the New York Giants selecting him with the second pick back in 2018.
Unfortunately, teams just don’t value running backs at a high clip in today’s NFL. Four running backs have gone in the first round over the past four drafts. The highest of that group was Najee Harris to the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 24 overall back in 2021.
When looking at teams with potential needs in the bottom half of the first round, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (19th), Los Angeles Chargers (21st), Buffalo Bills (27th) and Cincinnati Bengals (28th) make sense. Robinson has also been linked to the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles. Though, it’s likely with the team’s original first rounder (30th) not the one it acquired from the New Orleans Saints (10th).
Related: Ranking the top running backs in the 2023 NFL Draft
Arizona Cardinals decision at three
Arizona general manager Monti Ossenfort is in a unique situation in that he took over for an organization that already has a built-in franchise quarterback. Whether Kyler Murray is viewed in that manner internally isn’t the point. Arizona is linked to him long term when it comes to the finances.
Sportsnaut NFL insider Benjamin Allbright reported recently that Arizona is actively involved in trade-down discussions from No. 3 overall. Starting anew with a rebuild and without a need at quarterback, it makes sense to stockpile picks.
At issue here is the first two picks. If the Houston Texans go quarterback at two, the value in Arizona trading down just won’t be there. However, Houston avoiding C.J. Stroud (a likely scenario) would open the floodgates to trade-down scenarios with quarterback-needy teams or those targeting one of the top edge guys. Don’t expect anything to happen here until Day 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Related: Sportsnaut’s 2023 NFL mock draft
The enigmatic Jalen Carter
Prior to the NFL Scouting Combine earlier this offseason, Carter was viewed by many as the top overall prospect in the draft. That’s when things changed on a dime. An arrest warrant was issued for Carter during the annual event in Indianapolis stemming from his role in a fatal car crash following Georgia’s win over Alabama in the National Championship Game. Then in March, Carter showed up to the Bulldogs’ Pro Day out of shape. This led to further questions about him as a prospect.
Since then, we’ve read differing reports on Carter. He only took meetings with teams selecting in the top-10. According to other reports, some teams around the league did not come away with a good impression after meeting with Carter.
“I had two teams that spoke to me at the combine and they did not relay a positive experience. They felt like when they talked to him and the combine, they felt that’s why there’s this slide talk out there, that he’s not necessarily going to be a top-five pick. Specifically, though, both teams said the same thing. They got into the nitty-gritty of what happened at Georgia and they felt like he was not just being completely straightforward with them.
Report on Jalen Carter ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft
What we do know is that the 6-foot-3, 314-pound defensive tackle is seen as an elite prospect on the field. He’s drawn comparisons to recently-extended Tennessee Titans star Jeffery Simmons as well as Ndamukong Suh. Right now, Carter could land anywhere from No. 2 to the Houston Texans all the way down to the 10th pick with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Related: Sportsnaut’s big board for the 2023 NFL Draft
Landing spots for second tier quarterbacks
For a while during the pre-draft process, it seemed to be a foregone conclusion that Florida’s Anthony Richardson and Will Levis from Kentucky would join Young and Stroud as top-five picks. With the draft quickly approaching, that’s no longer the case.
An example would be the Las Vegas Raiders picking seventh overall (more on them below). Vegas is only interested in Young and Stroud as quarterback prospects after replacing Derek Carr with veteran stopgap Jimmy Garoppolo.
The Indianapolis Colts (fourth overall), Seattle Seahawks (fifth), Detroit Lions (sixth) and Atlanta Falcons (eighth) join the Raiders in having scouted Richardson and Levis in the lead up to the 2023 NFL Draft. Meanwhile, Tennessee prospect Hendon Hooker is seen as a true wild card leading up to the event.
Teams tend to overdraft quarterbacks. It’s the most important position in the league (by far). This leads us to believe that both Richardson and Levis will find themselves as top-12 picks with Hooker going somewhere in the second half of Round 1.
Veterans that could be traded
One of the biggest NFL Draft storylines this year has absolutely nothing to do with actual prospects. Several veterans are said to be on the block with things set to get going in Kansas City here soon. Let’s look at some of them below:
- DeAndre Hopkins: This Arizona Cardinals Pro Bowl wide receiver has not drawn a ton of interest on the trade market. It has led to some speculation that Arizona might have to release him. Hopkins is coming off a less-than-stellar two-year run after averaging 1,315 yards from 2014-20.
- Budda Baker: It was reported with roughly two weeks to go until the NFL Draft that Baker had requested a trade from the Cardinals. Whether they plan on granting said request remains to be seen. But as a five-time Pro Bowl safety and someone with a tremendous amount of versatility, he’ll draw interest on the market.
- Kevin Byard: One of the most-accomplished safeties in the game, Byard has earned two First-Team All-Pro honors in seven seasons with the Tennessee Titans. That’s why he was taken aback by the team wanting him to take a pay cut. That’s highly unlikely to happen, potentially leading to a draft day trade.
- Javon Kinlaw: It’s interesting to look at. Kinlaw was selected with the pick the San Francisco 49ers acquired from the Indianapolis Colts in the DeForest Buckner trade back in 2020. He now could be replaced by big-ticket free-agent signing Javon Hargrave. Kinlaw, 25, has played in all of 24 games in three seasons with the 49ers. He could potentially be had for a pick in Day 3 of the 2023 NFL Draft.
- Ed Oliver: Yet another young defensive tackle, Sportsnaut’s Benjamin Allbright reported that Oliver could be on the trade block. The Buffalo Bills star is not happy about the lack of contract extension talks as he enters the fifth-year option on his rookie deal. In four seasons with the Bills, Oliver has registered 42 QB hits, 30 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks.
- Devin White: It’s being noted that White has in fact requested a trade from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after four seasons. Like Oliver, the former top-five pick from LSU is entering the fifth-year option on his rookie contract. Unlike Oliver, he’s actually earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors in his career.
- Trey Lance: Several reports indicate that Lance could very well be moved this offseason. It just remains to be seen if the San Francisco 49ers are confident enough in Brock Purdy’s recovery from elbow surgery to pull the trigger at this point in the NFL calendar. What we do know is that the young quarterback has been linked to the Minnesota Vikings, Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts.
Related: Sportsnaut’s NFL Draft rumors
Surprise first-round picks
We see surprise first-round picks every single year in the NFL Draft. The New England Patriots selecting offensive lineman Cole Strange No. 29 overall last year was a prime example of this. We’re also expecting this to be repeated when the 2023 event gets going Thursday evening.
Seen as one of the top tight end classes in modern NFL history, two players at that position in Dalton Kincaid (Utah) and Luke Musgrave (Oregon State) could slide into the first round. Heck, Iowa’s Sam LaPorta is drawing some buzz.
On the defensive side of the ball, cornerback is seen as especially deep this year. Could that include Emmanuel Forbes (Mississippi State) and Cam Smith (South Carolina) inching into Day 1? We wouldn’t be too surprised if this happened.
Las Vegas Raiders as intriguing team heading into NFL Draft
Selecting seventh overall, there is a chance that the Raiders could see either Will Levis or Anthony Richardson fall on their laps. Though, recent reports suggest that Josh McDaniels and Co. are only sold on Young and Stroud in this draft class. Could that potentially lead to a trade up from the seventh spot? We know that the Arizona Cardinals (No. 3 overall) are listening to offers and want to move down.
Vegas signed veteran stopgap Jimmy Garoppolo to replace longtime starter Derek Carr. On the surface, it would seem that eliminate quarterback early for a Raiders squad that has several needs on defense. However, Garoppolo’s contract is structured in a way that the Raiders can get out from it after one season.
In addition to the Cardinals at three, Las Vegas has had some discussions about moving all the way up to the second pick with Houston. Where there is smoke, there’s fire.
Related: Ranking the top quarterbacks in the 2023 NFL Draft
Bryce Young as a franchise quarterback
Bryce Young will be the first pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. That’s as clear as day after the Carolina Panthers moved up from the ninth selection to No. 1 overall with the Chicago Bears. While C.J. Stroud was getting some early play to be the top pick, it’s a foregone conclusion Stroud will end up in Carolina.
Attention will soon turn to Young as a potential franchise guy for a Panthers organization that has been in quarterback purgatory over the past several seasons. He has everything you look for in a potential Year 1 starter, including playing in a pro-style offense at Alabama.
Young is also pro ready in that he goes through his progressions, boasts a plus-level arm, is strong when it comes to intermediate accuracy and has great pocket awareness.
Heading to Carolina, Young will be working with offensive-minded head coach Frank Reich. He also boasts some solid weapons in that of new acquisitions DJ Chark, Adam Thielen and Hayden Hurst. Everything is set up for Young to succeed out of the gate if he’s able to beat out veteran Andy Dalton during training camp.
Related: 2023 NFL Draft order
Houston Texans decision at two
It now seems as if Houston is going to avoid quarterback with the No. 2 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Whether it’s about the recent C.J. Stroud headlines (more on that below) or something else, he doesn’t seem to be an option for the Texans.
Instead, general manager Nick Caserio and Co. are focused on two edge guys in that of Alabama’s Will Anderson and Tyree Wilson from Texas Tech. Despite Anderson getting most of the play with this pick during the pre-draft process, Wilson is now favored to land with the Texans. He was extremely productive in his final two seasons with the Red Raiders, registering a combined 27.5 tackles for loss and 14 sacks.
Adding either Wilson or Anderson to a defense that includes young defensive backs Derek Stingley Jr. and Jalen Pitre would be a boon for defensive-minded first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans.
Then again, there is also a chance that Houston opts to move out of the second pick. It also boasts the 12th overall selection from the Cleveland Browns. Acquiring more capital while also being able to land a second-tier quarterback in the 2023 NFL Draft might be in the cards for the rebuilding Texans.
The curious case of C.J. Stroud
The S-2 Cognition Test is something that very few knew about leading up to the NFL Draft. But it could very well play a role in where Stroud lands after rumors of a potential draft day fall. His score was the worst among quarterbacks likely to be selected later this week. Though, there is also very little information available as it relates to what the S-2 actually tests for.
What we do know is that Stroud is no longer an option with the second pick. Unless someone trades up to No. 3 with Arizona, the earliest this former Ohio State star could go is No. 4 to the Indianapolis Colts. Though, they have been linked more to Anthony Richardson.
Rarely have we seen a potential franchise quarterback such as Stroud knocked at this level so close to the NFL Draft. Whether that’s media narrative remains to be seen. But all of the leaks coming out surrounding the former Buckeyes star leads us to believe that a draft day slide is going to be in the cards.
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