The long wait is over as the 2023 NFL Draft takes place tonight. Ever since the Super Bowl concluded, NFL fans have had the draft date circled on their calendar. Usually, there is a good sense of who the first couple of players off the board will be; however, this year, there is no consensus. Here are my thoughts:
The Number One Overall Pick
The Carolina Panthers acquired the first overall pick through a massive trade with the Chicago Bears. The Panthers will be selecting a quarterback, and the decision is likely between Alabama’s Bryce Young and Ohio State’s CJ Stroud. Young is narrowly favored over Stroud to be picked first, although concerns over Young’s height of 5’10” have made the decision not as clear-cut. Recent rumors suggest that the Panthers will select Kentucky quarterback Will Levis, however this is very improbable as his potential is not as high as Stroud or Young. No matter what, Panthers fans can be sure they will have a franchise quarterback after the draft.
Notable Prospects
This year’s draft is loaded with talent in all positions. Teams will have to decide if they value drafting the best player available or filling their positional needs. Notable players include Will Anderson, Jalen Carter, Anthony Richardson, Bijan Robinson, and many more. Arguably the best player in this draft, Will Anderson is an explosive pass rusher from Alabama. There are almost no downsides to his game and he will surely be a game-changing defender for whichever team drafts him. The Texans will likely be interested in Anderson with the second overall pick. Another player the Texans may be interested in is Georgia defensive tackle, Jalen Carter. At one point, Carter was the consensus first-overall pick, but with the Panthers announcing that they would draft a QB, Carter fell on draft boards. Every team wants an interior defensive lineman who can do it all and Carter is that. Despite his 314 pounds, Carter is extremely quick and has unreal power. We haven’t seen a defensive tackle prospect as coveted in recent years so expect Carter to be high on the scouts’ draft board.
One of the most talked about prospects is Florida QB, Anthony Richardson. Richardson is one of the most athletic quarterback prospects ever. With shades of Cam Newton, teams are interested in selecting him in the top ten. His through the roof potential along with his lack of experience makes him the deffiniiton of a boom or bust prospect. No matter what, he will be a project for whichever team takes the gamble on him. If the Colts are feeling risky, they could potentially draft Richardson with the fourth overall pick; otherwise, teams such as the Lions or the Vikings could draft him with intentions of benching him for his first season. The most debated prospect of the offseason is, without a doubt, Bijan Robinson of the Texas Longhorns. Robinson is widely considered the greatest running back prospect in over ten years. His combination of versatility, elusiveness, and patience makes him the most complete running back in a long time. The issue for him is that his position as a running back. In 2023, running backs are not valued as highly as they used to be. They tend to have the shortest careers, they usually don’t get selected in the first round, and they almost never make the top 10 selections. Where Robinson will be picked is one of the biggest mysteries of this draft; however, given what he brings to the table, don’t be surprised if he is selected within the top 10. This draft is the most complete in recent history with all positions represented strongly.
Long Night Ahead
As usual, the draft is sure to bring many surprise picks, trades, and more. The many unknowns in this year’s draft increases the excitement and tension among the players, fans, and teams. As we head into the first round, anything could happen. All NFL fans are looking forward to seeing how tonight plays out!
Third Down With Devin 