2023 NFL Draft Preview

Bryce Young (#1 Overall)

The Carolina Panthers have had little success in the NFL over the last six seasons. They had a nice run with Cam Newton from 2011-20174, but after that, it’s been a rough stretch for the team. Luckily, for them, they have a strong core and are a young team, so I firmly believe they are only a good quarterback away from being a playoff-contending team. Young will be a great scheme fit for Panthers, and will be able to make an immediate impact if integrated into the team properly. Young has played under the great Nick Saban at the University of Alabama for the past three seasons. His breakout season was in 2021 when he threw for 4,872 yards and 47 touchdowns and also the most yards passed for in a game by an Alabama quarterback. Young has the potential to be a face-of-the-franchise quarterback, but teams, and especially the Texans, are going to have to overlook his lack of size and focus on his film. Young is a full-field reader who oozes confidence when on the field, but never becomes cocky. His deep ball is nothing special and his drive velocity certainly doesn’t stand out, but he has enough arm strength to make necessary throws. He’s poised in the face of both physical and situational pressure and possesses a full offering of intangibles that helps set him apart from some of the more physically gifted quarterbacks in this class. Young, prior to visiting with the Panthers, canceled the rest of his meetings with other franchises, so it has given us a good indication that Young will be selected by the Panthers first overall.

CJ Stroud (#2 Overall)

The Texans were by far the worst team for the majority of the season. However, after winning on the final day against the Indianapolis Colts, they gave up the first overall pick to the Chicago Bears, who would eventually trade it to the Carolina Panthers. Since the Panthers will most likely take their first-choice quarterback, Bryce Young, they'll most likely take the second-best quarterback in the draft, CJ Stroud. The two-year starter comes from a high-octane offense at Ohio State, known for creating high-level production opportunities for its quarterback. Stroud’s accuracy on tape stands out above all else, with the ability to lead his receivers with excellent placement and make throws almost everywhere on the field. The question is more surrounding how he will acclimate to his new surroundings outside of the Ohio State scheme, as he didn’t often extend drives using his legs, something that will be crucial considering the Texans’ dreadful offensive line. If he can become a more willing runner, Stroud could fill the void Deshaun Watson left and allow the Texans to focus on other parts of their roster whilst obtaining their quarterback of the future. 

Will Anderson Jr. (#3 Overall)

The Cardinals could so easily trade this pick away. They are very much in rebuild mode after the disappointment of last season and the majority of the Kliff Kingsbury era, so a decent amount of draft picks could easily persuade them to move out of the third slot. However, new head coach Jonathan Gannon is a defensive coach, so why not pair him with the best defensive player in the draft: Will Anderson Jr. Anderson has been outstanding the last three years for the Alabama Crimson Tide, racking up over thirty sacks, including seventeen and a half in 2021. This also fills a massive hole left by the retiring J.J. Watt, one of the top edge rushers over the past decade, with Anderson the first piece in Gannon’s defensive rebuild. 

Will Levis (#4 Overall)

The Indianapolis Colts are a good quarterback away from making the playoffs consistently. They have a great defense, offensive line, and receiver core. They haven’t had a great quarterback since Andrew Luck in 2019. The Colts are hoping that drafting Will Levis will bring their franchise back to life and create a winning culture. Levis is without a doubt one of the most physically gifted quarterbacks in the draft, but there are some serious issues with his game, so if the Colts draft him, they will have to develop him closely and fast. He has great size, standing at six feet, three inches. He’s also a very athletic passer, possessing the ability to run around in the pocket and hit any target from any angle. While he has all of the physical attributes to be in the NFL, he did struggle this past season. He threw for 2,406 yards and 19 touchdowns. Now, these are decent stats, but this raises flags for scouts. Levis has a huge upside and his talent is worth the investment but could require extensive coaching. 

Anthony Richardson (#5 Overall)

After signing Geno Smith to a new three-year deal, it seems like an odd move for the Seahawks to bring in another quarterback. However, Anthony Richardson’s performance at the combine was so excellent it put him in the conversation to be taken number one instead of the second half of the first round. As a pure raw prospect, Richardson is being compared to the likes of Cam Newton and Josh Allen, however, he needs at least a year or two to sit behind an experienced veteran to be ready to compete properly in the NFL. His situation would fit perfectly in Seattle, where he can sit behind a great leader in Geno Smith, whilst mastering his mechanics before taking over in a couple of years. Additionally, this will most likely be the highest Seattle will be able to pick for a while, so why not take their quarterback for the future?

Christian Gonzalez (#6 Overall)

The Lions are getting closer and closer to completing their rebuild. A few more good picks this draft can potentially put them finally over the edge and into the playoffs. Christian Gonzalez is one of those picks which could be crucial to finalizing their rebuild. Gonzalez is an explosive outside cornerback that possesses a rare combination of physical and mental traits. Gonzalez plays with his elite speed and great IQ of the game, something that will only help him when it comes to adapting to the NFL. The only thing the Lions would need to coach him up on is his technique because he relies so much on his instincts. Gonzalez has the ability to be a CB1 and  a top cornerback in the league if the Lions develop him properly. 

Tyree Wilson (#7 Overall)

The Raiders are a very interesting franchise. They have so much talent, but for some reason, they can never seem to do much with it every season. This season, They have Jimmy Garoppolo, Davante Adams, Josh Jacobs, and many more. They have a pretty solid team, they just need to do something with it. Adding Tyree Wilson to their roster will help their pass rush. He is an elite talent that will make an immediate impact on the team. Wilson is a long-limbed defender who turns into the offense's worst nightmare. Wilson's raw athleticism should show flashes of the dominant play he is capable of. His length and lateral quickness are definitely ingredients to become an elite run disruptor. On the other side, he’s not the most instinctive as a run defender, and his play demeanor could stand to be a little more difficult when attacking blocks. He has the potential to be one of the best edge rushers in the league and be a true leader on his team. 

Nolan Smith (#8 Overall)

The Falcons let the money fly in free agency, strengthening their defense with the additions of Jessie Bates III, Kaden Ellis, and Calais Campbell, so adding more to their defense seems a bit strange. However, after Nolan Smith’s fantastic performance at the combine and being a key part of Georgia’s title-winning defense, the Falcons are reportedly desperate to keep him in the state. An excellent athlete, as shown by his incredible 4.39 forty-yard dash, Smith has been a top player since his high school days, registering as the top high school recruit in the country in 2019.  

It may seem a bit high, but if the Falcons are set on pairing him up with Grady Jarrett in their pass rush, they may not care when they take him, just that they get him. 

Jalen Carter (#9 Overall)

The Chicago Bears have all of the pieces of the puzzle, but they just need to put it together now. They have a young quarterback who can blossom into a top-ten quarterback, a phenomenal receiver core, and a very solid defense. Jalen Carter, despite his legal troubles and rough combine, will be an asset to any team that drafts him. The Bears desperately need a defensive tackle, so Carter could fill that need. Carter checks off every box needed for success in the NFL. He is tough, explosive, and has a high level of skill, and the sky's the limit for his potential. He has the ability to find a lot of little wins against sloppy guard play and finishes the play once he’s in the backfield. His hand usage can be violent or subtle, but his feet are always active and searching for an opening. Carter seems ready to step into a DT1 role and the Bear would be lucky to have him.

Myles Murphy (#10 Overall)

Coming off a season in which they reached the Super Bowl, the Eagles lost some key pieces during the offseason. Crucial defensive pieces in Javon Hargreave, T.J. Edwards, Marcus Epps, and Kyzir White, have all left the City of Brotherly Love, leaving some massive holes in the Philadelphia defense. They do have some young talent at the ready after drafting Jordan Davis and Nakobe Dean out of Georgia last year, however, they are still lacking in the pass rush with the aging pair of Brandom Graham and Robert Quinn slowly decreasing in productivity every year. To solve this issue they have to draft a young, hungry, pass rusher to pair with Josh Sweat, with Myles Murphy being an excellent potential prospect to fill the void. Coming out of Clemson, Murphy recorded just over eighteen sacks over the past three seasons with the Tigers, showing his versatility by constantly producing when put in several different schemes. With a rare blend of size, length, explosion, and fluidity, Murphy is an incredibly tough player to stop and has all the tools to challenge any offensive line if he’s successfully able to mature while putting all these elements together. 

By Luke Birch and Avner Belsky