When the Panthers traded up for the No.1 overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, the betting odds for who would be selected swung from Alabama QB Bryce Young to Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud. As we have crept towards the pivotal day, Young appears to have forced his way back into the pole position.
Depending on how the teams selecting after Carolina approach their picks, it is possible that Stroud could be in for a potential slide on Thursday. Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network is hearing that Stroud likely won’t drop past the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 7 overall, though.
While quarterbacks could potentially be the focus of the first four picks on Day 1, there are plenty of scenarios which do not revolve around this year’s class of gunslingers. There is a chance that the Texans (at No. 2) will go pass rusher.
Arizona shouldn’t be expected to take a passer at No. 3 after paying Kyler Murray, while the Colts in such an unfolding of picks would have Kentucky QB Will Levis and Florida QB Anthony Richardson as signal-caller options in addition to Stroud.
The Seahawks and Lions follow Indianapolis, but both have veteran quarterbacks coming off of strong seasons and are not thought to only be considering quarterbacks.
That brings us to the Raiders. Even after Las Vegas brought in Jimmy Garoppolo, rumors have had it that the team might still look into drafting a passer with their top pick. If Stroud somehow pinballs his way down the board, it would be extremely difficult for the Raiders to pass him up.
Here are a few other rumors as we close in on Draft Day:
- As we mentioned above, if the Texans pass on quarterback, they could choose a pass rusher with the second-overall pick. Many believe Texas Tech defensive end Tyree Wilson could be that selection, but according to Pauline, Houston has some problems with his medicals. If Wilson is not their selection as a pass rusher, Alabama’s Will Anderson would likely be the other option.
- There has been some reported certainty that Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter will be the Seahawks’ choice at No. 5 overall. According to Pauline, that certainty is coming from more external sources than internal. Reportedly, Seattle has some hesitancy about handing over the $30M in guarantees that Carter would get in that draft slot. We’ll have to wait and see if that hesitancy wins out.
- One name that continues to rise up draft boards is that of Pittsburgh defensive tackle Calijah Kancey. Despite his lack of ideal size at 6-foot-1, 281 pounds, he may well be a lock for a Day 1 selection, according to Pauline. The Saints, in particular, are a team that has done its due diligence on Kancey. They could feel good about nabbing a first-round talent with the 29th pick of the draft.
- According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, the Bears could be looking to add a tight end in a year that is incredibly deep at the position. Chicago won’t likely use a top-10 pick on Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer or Utah’s Dalton Kincaid, but thanks to the Roquan Smith-trade, the team has two second-round picks and could consider using them on such prospects as Georgia’s Darnell Washington, South Dakota State’s Tucker Kraft, or Iowa’s Sam LaPorta.
- Speaking of Iowa, a recent mock draft by Pro Football Network’s Adam Caplan slotted Iowa pass rusher Lukas Van Ness as a top-10 pick. Caplan has spoken with several executives who believe Van Ness won’t make it past the Eagles at No. 10 overall. Philadelphia had been looking into pass rushers in free agency with an aging Brandon Graham and Van Ness may be the answer.
