The 2023 NFL Draft is less than two weeks away. Not only is the rumor mill on fire, but teams are leaking misinformation to the media. What can fans believe at this point? That’s hard to say. However, let’s look at four burning questions surrounding the 2023 NFL Draft.
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2023 NFL Draft Burning Questions
Who will the Carolina Panthers Draft?
When the Panthers traded a bounty of draft capital to secure the No. 1 overall pick, the betting market had a massive shift. Bryce Young had been the favorite to get drafted first overall before the trade. Then, C.J. Stroud became a heavy favorite to land in Carolina. However, things have changed over the past week. Young is now the favorite to be the first overall pick later this month. He was -120 to be the top pick on Monday. Then he was -250 on Tuesday before being -450 on Friday.
Reportedly owner David Tepper loves Young. However, people in the front office want the team to draft Stroud. Meanwhile, head coach Frank Reich reportedly loves Anthony Richardson and his potential upside a year or two from now. Ultimately, it’s Tepper’s team, so his vote matters the most, hence why Young is such a heavy favorite. Yet, there is plenty of time for things to change between now and the NFL Draft.
Could the Houston Texans Pass on a Quarterback?
Everyone expected the Texans to draft a quarterback with their first pick. Even mock drafts written in October had Houston drafting a quarterback. However, that might not be the case, as the Texans could take Will Anderson with the No. 2 overall pick. Reportedly, head coach DeMeco Ryans loves Anderson. He saw firsthand how a dominant edge rusher can impact a defense in San Francisco with Nick Bosa. Furthermore, the Texans are reportedly not solid on any quarterback besides Young.
Houston has two first-round picks next year. Their pick will likely be a top-five selection regardless of who plays quarterback this season. They could decide to pass on a quarterback if the Panthers draft Young. The Texans would draft Anderson and tank for Caleb Williams in 2024. Another option would be trading the No. 2 overall pick to a quarterback-needy team.
Which Teams Could Trade Up to No. 3?
Speaking of quarterback-needy teams, the Arizona Cardinals are the only team in the top seven who won’t consider drafting a quarterback. However, their roster has several holes, and the team needs as many draft picks as possible. Meanwhile, the Cardinals reportedly have six teams interested in trading for the No. 3 overall pick. Arizona has so many teams interested in their draft pick because of who picks right after them.
The Indianapolis Colts have the fourth overall pick and a significant hole at the quarterback position. If the Texans draft a quarterback with the second-overall pick, it could help or hurt the Cardinals’ trade negations. On the one hand, teams will be more aggressive to get their hands on Stroud before the Colts pick him fourth overall. On the other one, teams might be willing to see which quarterbacks slide past Indianapolis before trading up. Regardless of what the Texans do with the second overall pick, expect the Cardinals to trade their pick. The top three potential trade partners are the Colts, Seattle Seahawks, and Tennessee Titans.
Will Hendon Hooker be a First-Round Pick?
While all the talk has been centered around the top four quarterbacks this year, there could be a fifth one drafted in the first round. Hendon Hooker was a potential first-round pick before tearing his ACL last fall at Tennessee. However, the former Volunteer quarterback will reportedly be ready for Week 1. More importantly, many NFL insiders believe Hooker will be a first-round pick, including NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
This year’s quarterback draft class reminds me of the 2018 class. Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, and Josh Rosen were all labeled top 10 picks. However, Lamar Jackson was the first-round wild card. Ultimately, the first four were top-10 selections, while Jackson was the last first-round pick. This year we should see a similar situation. Young, Stroud, Richardson, and Will Levis will be top 10 picks. The only question is, where will Hooker land? The Minnesota Vikings make sense. Kirk Cousins would be like Joe Flacco, the veteran on his way out the door, while Hooker could spend at least part of his rookie season learning from the bench like Jackson did in 2018.
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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.