The 2023 NFL Draft is here. With multiple teams in dire need of a quarterback, here is how the first round could play out on Thursday night at Union Station in Kansas City.
No. 1 Carolina (from Chicago): QB Bryce Young, Alabama. No need to overthink this pick. Yes, there are concerns about Young’s size (5-foot-10 and 204 pounds), but he is the best quarterback in the draft and has star potential.
No. 2 Houston: QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State. When you look at who the Texans currently have at QB (Davis Mills and Case Keenum), itap hard to see them pass on Stroud.
No. 3 Arizona: EDGE Will Anderson Jr., Alabama. The Cardinals’ defense struggled last season. Adding Anderson gives them a franchise cornerstone at a vital position.
No. 4 Indianapolis: QB Anthony Richardson, Florida. Richardson’s immense potential makes him worth the risk. He has elite size, strength and athletic ability mixed with a strong arm. He can be a game-changing weapon if the Colts give him time.
No. 5 Seattle (from Denver): DL Jalen Carter, Georgia. Carter’s off-the-field issues are concerning, but he is arguably the best prospect in the draft. It’s hard to pass on his potential.
No. 6 Detroit (from L.A. Rams): EDGE Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech. Since the Lions missed out on drafting Carter, they strengthen their pass rush by pairing Wilson with last year’s No. 2 overall pick Aidan Hutchinson and linebacker James Houston IV.
No. 7 Las Vegas: CB Christian Gonzalez, Oregon. The Raiders need an upgrade at cornerback, and Gonzalez checks all the boxes. He has great size (6-foot-1, 197 pounds), plays well in man coverage and has good ball skills.
No. 8 Atlanta: CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois. The Falcons need help in the secondary. Witherspoon, who had three interceptions and 14 passes defended in 2022, could form a solid cornerback duo with A.J. Terrell.
No. 9 Chicago (from Carolina): G/T Peter Skoronski, Northwestern. The Bears need to improve their protection around quarterback Justin Fields. Skoronski, who can play guard and tackle, can make an immediate impact.
No. 10 Philadelphia (from New Orleans): RB Bijan Robinson, Texas. The Eagles lost Miles Sanders to the Panthers in free agency. Robinson would be a big upgrade over the players currently in Philadelphia’s backfield.
No. 11 Tennessee: QB Will Levis, Kentucky. Ryan Tannehill is potentially on the move, and Tennessee doesn’t seem sold on Malik Willis. The Titans select Levis hoping his arm talent translates at the next level.
No. 12 Houston (from Cleveland): WR Jaxson Smith-Njiba, Ohio State. Pairing Stroud with his college teammate and the draft’s best wide receiver, Smith-Njiba, would be the perfect scenario for the Texans.
No. 13 Green Bay (from N.Y. Jets): TE Dalton Kincaid, Utah. The Packers do their best to put quarterback Jordan Love in the best position to succeed in his first season as a starter. Kincaid’s pass-catching skills make him the top tight end on the board.
No. 14 New England: OT Broderick Jones, Georgia. Although Jones has the fewest number of college snaps among FBS offensive tackles, his upside is hard for the Patriots to pass up.
No. 15 New York Jets (from Packers): OT Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State. The Jets finally landed future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Now, itap time to give him some protection.
No. 16 Washington: CB Deonte Banks, Maryland. Banks is athletic and a problem for wide receivers in man coverage. With the Commanders desperately needing help at corner, Banks is their guy.
No. 17 Pittsburgh: CB Joey Porter Jr., Penn State. Porter getting selected by his father’s former team is a perfect feel-good draft story. More importantly, the former Penn State standout fills a need.
No. 18 Detroit: DL Calijah Kancey, Pittsburgh. The Lions strengthen their pass rush with the addition of Kancey, who totaled 14 ½ sacks over the past two seasons.
No. 19 Tampa Bay: OT Darnell Wright, Tennessee. The Bucs begin the post-Tom Brady era by adding a potential long-term starter on the offensive line. The 6-foot-5, 335-pound right tackle gives the Bucs bookend tackles, joining Tristan Wirfs.
No. 20 Seattle: EDGE Nolan Smith, Georgia. Once again, Seattle addresses the defensive line by drafting Carter’s teammate. Smith is a freakish athlete who can develop into an all-around edge rusher.
Miami: Pick Forfeited
No. 21 Los Angeles Chargers: WR Zay Flowers, Boston College. Quarterback Justin Herbert needs more weapons. Flowers’ speed and ability to make defenders miss after the catch will be beneficial.
No. 22 Baltimore: WR Quentin Johnston, TCU. Even after signing veteran wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to a one-year deal, Baltimore adds another wideout, assuming Lamar Jackson is still the starting quarterback. Johnston’s big-play potential and athleticism could be a big boost.
No. 23 Minnesota: CB Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State. Forbes is a playmaking corner who can boost the Vikings’ woeful secondary. He might be undersized (6-foot-1, 166 pounds), but he’s a ballhawk (14 interceptions last three years).
No. 24 Jacksonville: EDGE Luke Van Ness, Iowa. Jacksonville could use some help in the pass rush. Van Ness has the tools to become a quality starter.
No. 25 New York Giants: WR Jordan Addison, USC. To capitalize on their investment in quarterback Daniel Jones, the Giants will add more playmakers on offense. Addison is a dynamic receiver who can play inside and out.
No. 26 Dallas: TE Michael Mayer, Notre Dame. Mayer gives the Cowboys a receiving threat who’s a solid replacement for tight end Dalton Schultz (signed with Texans).
No. 27 Buffalo: LB Drew Sanders, Arkansas. A talented pass rusher who can be a solid replacement for Tremaine Edmunds.
No. 28 Cincinnati: RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama. Gibbs’ ability as a runner and pass catcher convinces the Bengals to draft him late in the first round.
No. 29 New Orleans (from San Francisco via Miami and Denver): DT Bryan Bresee, Clemson. The Saints view Bresee as a potential fit with a high upside. He’s a steal this late in the first round.
No. 30 Philadelphia: Safety Brian Branch, Alabama. Branch can play nickel and drop back as a safety, giving the Eagles a versatile player in the secondary.
No. 31 Kansas City Chiefs: EDGE Myles Murphy, Clemson. The Chiefs close out the first round by adding depth at pass rush. Murphy has a high ceiling with his size and length.
