While the 2023 NFL Draft is still nearly two months away, we are knee-deep in draft season. The NFL Combine is this week, and teams are doing their homework. As NFL teams meet with prospects, we will start to get a sense of who could land where. However, there are still plenty of questions that need to be answered.
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2023 NFL Draft Burning Questions
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Which team will make the first overall pick?
The No. 1 overall pick has been a popular talking point since Week 18. The Chicago Bears currently have the top selection. However, most expect them to trade away the pick with Justin Fields coming off an outstanding season. Furthermore, the Bears have a roster full of needs and should add as many draft picks as possible. Chicago sent their 2023 second-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers for Chase Claypool at the trade deadline. Unfortunately, the Bears will go 52 picks between selections unless they trade out of the No. 1 draft slot.
While several teams are interested in the No. 1 overall pick, the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts are the two most likely trade partners. Both teams desperately need a quarterback and want to keep Bryce Young out of their division rival’s hands. However, Houston has the advantage. They can offer Chicago more draft picks this year and in 2024. Thanks to the Deshaun Watson trade last offseason, the Texans have the Cleveland Browns’ first-round pick this year and next. The NFL Combine is where a lot of trade conversations take place. We could see the No. 1 pick dealt within the next few days.
Could Anthony Richardson be the first quarterback drafted?
Young has been the top quarterback in this year’s draft class for the past calendar year. Yet, Richardson has worked his way up draft boards. The Florida quarterback has the most upside of any quarterback in this draft class. An NFL team with an established quarterback could take Richardson and give him a year to develop from the bench. However, could he supplant Young and be the first quarterback picked?
The former Gator was a long shot to be the No. 1 overall pick a few weeks ago. However, his odds have massively gotten smaller lately. Richardson went from 80-1 odds of being the first overall pick to 8-1 odds over the past few weeks.
He had a productive final year at Florida, totaling over 2,500 passing yards and 17 touchdowns. Furthermore, his impact on the ground will give NFL teams Lamar Jackson-like vibes. Richardson had 654 rushing yards and nine touchdowns last season. The former Gator averaged nearly seven yards per rushing attempt in his career. While it is a long shot, Richardson could be the first quarterback drafted, depending on which team acquires the No. 1 overall pick.
How many wide receivers will get drafted in Round 1?
Over the past few years, the NFL has changed its mindset. It has become a weapons league, and wide receivers matter more now than ever. There were five first-round wide receivers in the 2021 NFL Draft, including three in the top 10 selections. Last year’s class wasn’t as talented as the 2021 class. Yet, there were six first-round wide receivers, including four in the top 12 picks. How many could get drafted in the first round this year?
This year’s draft class lacks elite prospects like Ja’Marr Chase, Jaylen Waddle, and DeVonta Smith in 2021. Yet, we could see five wide receivers drafted in the first round this year. Jordan Addison and Jaxon Smith-Njigba are likely the first two selected. After that, Quentin Johnston, Zay Flowers, and Jalin Hyatt are possible first-round picks. There are several wide receiver needy teams picking in the 20s, including the Baltimore Ravens, Minnesota Vikings, and New York Giants. We could see a run on wide receivers happen to close out the first round.
Who will be the first cornerback selected?
Every year we see a surprise draft pick in the first round. Sometimes it’s a player getting drafted we didn’t view as a first-round pick. Other times it’s a certain player getting drafted before another. Most of the time, it is because of the scheme fit and most often we see this situation play out at the cornerback position. A zone-heavy scheme team will have a drastically different grade on a certain cornerback than a man-heavy scheme team.
This year we could see as many as seven cornerbacks get drafted in the first round. However, there are only three real candidates to be the first cornerback drafted: Devon Witherspoon, Christian Gonzalez, and Joey Porter Jr. All three have their strengths and weakness. Yet, Witherspoon has earned the most hype from NFL scouts. The Illinois star isn’t the biggest cornerback in the draft class, but he has two things teams will love: toughness and ball skills. Last year Witherspoon had 14 passes defended and three interceptions. Furthermore, the cornerback showed he isn’t afraid to make a big hit.
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.