Three days of intense deal making is set to get underway as the 32 NFL franchise teams battle to boost their rosters. The NFL draft is imminent with the best college players waiting to find out where they will be playing next season.
As always, the event will attract huge attention this year, so here’s a guide to the three days, along with some main trading predictions.
Don’t Miss Out
The draft opens on Thursday April 27, with the first round of picks gaining the most attention. Three days later, those trades will conclude on Saturday April 29. It’s a major event in itself and something that helps NFL fans stay in touch as they eagerly await the start of a new campaign.
The NFL network picks up the live coverage, while a host of nfl draft odds can be found at major sportsbooks across the United States and beyond. Another thrilling three days is in prospect, but what can we expect?
Bryce Young to the Carolina Panthers
While some debate continues as to who will be the confirmed number one draft pick this year, it’s certain that Bryce Young will be among the hottest prospects in 2023. The 21-year-old quarterback enjoyed some exceptional campaigns with the Alabama Crimson Tide and he claimed the Heisman Trophy in 2021.
Under NFL draft rules, the team with the worst record from the previous season gets the first pick. In 2023, that dubious honor goes to the Carolina Panthers. Irrespective of whether Young is the first in line, the Panthers need a top class QB and Bryce Young fits their profile.
Jalen Carter to Seattle Seahawks
Issues away from the field have seen Jalen Carter’s stock levels diminish, but the young defensive tackle remains one of the best in his position. In a sense, teams may be taking a gamble based on certain concerns, but there are no doubts about his quality and potential.
Who will make the trade? As Carter looks set to become only the fifth defensive player to be drafted, the Seahawks have a gap on their roster, and he could enjoy more gametime in Seattle.
Lukas Van Ness to Chicago Bears
For many serious football fans, the really interesting trades begin in round two. This is the point where the scouts have to prove their worth as they look to identify less heralded college players who they feel could still make the step up.
Defensive End Lukas Van Ness falls into that category: He hasn’t captured the same levels of media attention as the first round options, but he’s enjoyed solid performances for the Iowa Hawkeyes and many feel he has a big NFL future. The Chicago Bears are in line to give Van Ness that opportunity.
Mixed Messages from Reigning Champions
Kansas City Chiefs won a dramatic Super Bowl in February but, like all NFL teams, they will continue to strengthen their roster where possible. The franchise’s general manager Brett Veach has talked up the quality of defensive players in this year’s draft, but many experts are suggesting that the Chief’s priorities lie at the other end of the field.
Could Offensive Tackle Anton Harrison be Kansas City’s first pick of the draft? The Oklahoma graduate comes with a strong reputation and, if the Chiefs do have a weakness, it’s in Harrison’s right tackle position.
Eagles Make it Count
2022 NFC Champions the Philadelphia Eagles couldn’t quite find Super Bowl success, and they’ll be aiming higher next season. The team has just six picks at the upcoming draft, so they will need to make them count.
The good news for Eagles fans is that they have two picks in the first round and four inside the top 100. Predictions vary, but names in the frame include Devon Witherspoon, Edge Nolan Smith, Joey Porter Jr and Calijah Kancey.
C.J. Stroud Not in Demand
With Bryce Young’s stock tending to fall, the popular theory is that C.J. Stroud will now enter the 2023 NFL draft as the Number One pick. What isn’t so certain is his final destination, with the possibility of teams passing as they look to strengthen in other areas.
Stroud’s quality is not in question: The graduate from the Ohio State Buckeyes won a host of individual awards during his college career. A number of possibilities are being touted, including a shock trade to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Nothing is ever certain at an NFL draft, and that’s all part of the entertainment. The first round picks tend to find a logical home, but there can always be a surprise or two among the early trades.
As the draft moves on, it’s all about finding value among players who have the potential to make an impression in the big league. It’s a highly anticipated event, but will these predictions come true in 2023?