For me it’s a close race for the biggest surprise of Week 3. We had the Denver Broncos go into Tampa and totally take away Baker’s ability to pass the ball. Maybe, Tampa isn’t what we thought they were. Either way, they struggled and Denver’s pass D was suffocating. Tampa just couldn’t get anything going on both sides of the ball. We also had the Carolina Panthers with Andy Dalton totally dismantle the Oakland Raiders. This game showed me that it was more Bryce Young, then a bad team around him. He will need time to get back in the saddle, and that could be with another team by years end.

Those two were big surprises, but not as surprising as the Commanders beating the Bengals. This was Jayden Daniels coming out party, as he showed the world he’s the real deal. He showed poise in the pocket, and complete command of the offense. In addition, he’s smart with the ball and is not a guy who commits bad mistakes. For him to have this quality as a rookie is unheard of. The offensive line played their best game in awhile, giving Jayden ample time in the pocket. Give credit to the coaching staff who had a great game plan, and stayed aggressive going for it on a few 4th down calls. The Bengals have to go back to the drawing board and figure out how to dig out of the AFC North hole.

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Marvin Harrison Jr. – Top Dog

Marvin Harrison Jr. was the top weapon in this class and he will get to showcase his skills in Arizona. It’s somewhat rare that a rookie wide receiver heads to a team as the clear #1 but that’s the case with Harrison Jr. Arizona was in desperate need of a true WR1 and they now have that.

The Cardinals receiver room is still lacking depth and overall star power which means Harrison Jr. will get plenty of targets. If Kyler Murray can stay healthy this 1-2 combo should produce big-time numbers.

Jonathon Brooks – Lead Back

The Panthers needed a workhorse running back and I believe they found that in Brooks. As a Junior Brooks piled up 1,425 all-purpose yards and 11 total touchdowns at Texas. Carolina was in desperate need of an upgrade at the running back position and I believe they have that with Brooks.

He will get starter reps this offseason and should be in line for significant usage in this offense. The hope is that quarterback Bryce Young makes a big jump next year and this offense can bounce back from an abysmal 2023.

Ben Sinnott – The Next Great TE

Tight end Ben Sinnott flew somewhat under the radar heading into this year’s draft. When you watch his tape you can see why the Commanders were ecstatic to grab him in the 2nd round. Sinnott is a worthy blocker but more importantly, has all the tools to be a receiving threat.

The former Kansas St. product will get to learn behind Zach Ertz in Washington and I could see him taking the reigns sometime next season. The tight end position is a big part of Kliff Kingsbury’s offense and Sinnot will benefit from his scheme.

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This handed Chicago the 1st overall pick and the rights to generational talent Caleb Williams. Long story short, the Panthers have had a bad few seasons so let’s look at some ways they can bounce back. 

Bryce Young

Bryce young obviously didn’t have the best rookie season by his standards, but his career is far from over as we have seen multiple times a QB just need a better situation. For example, Trevor Lawrence seemed to be a huge bust after his rookie season in Jacksonville but then the following seasons he played like a top 10 Quarterback. Thankfully for Young, he’s going to some real help this season as the Panthers traded for Diontae Johnson and are likely to take a WR with their 33rd pick in the draft.

The Offensive Line

Young was sacked 65 times last year and with the additions of Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis, that unit should be much improved. Also in terms of run blocking the Panthers ranked nearly the bottom of the league of run block win rate.

The Division

Carolina by no means are going to be contenders this year, but neither are any of the teams in the division. The buccaneers made the divisional round last year but I do not expect that level of success to continue into next year and as far as the rest of the division, it’s not looking good. Carolina has a real shot to put it all together and potentially make a run at the NFC south title. 

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This coaching cycle was filled with big-time names and the candidate pool was large. There were some surprises along the way (see Ben Johnson) and some interesting hires. With that said, let’s break down each new coaching hire and offer grades for them.

Raheem Morris – Atlanta Falcons

It’s a full-circle moment for former Falcons interim head coach Raheem Morris. Morris spent 5 years in Atlanta and filled in as head coach when Dan Quinn was fired in 2020. He spent the last three years in Los Angeles as the defensive coordinator for the Rams. Morris was part of the Rams Super Bowl winning season in 2022.

No matter where he has been one thing is certain, the players love Morris. Over the years he has had several endorsements from players including this year when cornerback Jalen Ramsey praised the hire. The offensive staff will be key for Morris in Atlanta and the Falcons recently hired Zac Robinson to fill that role. Robinson worked with Morris in LA and was the quarterbacks coach/passing game coordinator.

For Morris to have success in Atlanta it will come down to the quarterback position. The Falcons will likely look at the draft to address this but it appears Desmond Ridder‘s time in Atlanta is over. This is a solid hire for the Falcons as Morris is already familiar with the organization and we already know he will get the best out of his players.

Grade: B

Dave Canales – Carolina Panthers

One of the first coaches to be hired this offseason was former Buccaneers OC Dave Canales. Although raw, Canales was excellent in his role coordinating the Bucs offense. He also helped resurrect the career of quarterback Baker Mayfield. Mayfield is now likely to sign with the Tampa Bay long term thanks in large part to Canales.

In Carolina, Canales will look to do the same for former #1 pick Bryce Young. Young had a disappointing rookie season but due to the coaching turnover and turmoil, it’s tough to judge his on-field performances. Next year will be different for Young. Canales will work with his strengths and get the most out of his talent. If Young fails again then it won’t be on coaching more so his limitations.

For me, this is an underrated hire for the Panthers. They didn’t go after the big name but instead found the next great offensive mind. The only part I didn’t like about this hire was the 6-year contract. It’s likely that Panthers owner David Tepper needed to add the extra year to seal the deal.

Grade: B+

Antonio Pierce – Las Vegas Raiders

When Antonio Pierce took over for the fired Josh McDaniels he wasn’t given much of a chance to keep the job long-term. As the season went on though it became clear Pierce was an excellent leader and he led the Raiders to a 5-4 record down the stretch. That was good enough for 2nd in the AFC West and once the season ended it was up to ownership to make the move.

Like Raheem Morris, Pierce received several ringing endorsements for current Raiders players. None bigger than Maxx Crosby who essentially stated he would want to be traded if the Raiders didn’t bring on Pierce long term. Las Vegas ownership heard the chatter loud and clear and decided to bring on Pierce full-time.

This is another solid hire and I give credit to the Raiders leadership for listening to their players. Pierce is a natural leader and will get the most from his players. There are also indications that Las Vegas will bring in Kliff Kingsbury as their OC which is a smart move.

Grade: B+

Jim Harbaugh – Los Angeles Chargers

Perhaps the biggest name on the market this offseason was former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh had just won the National Championship and there were many indications that this was the year he would jump back to the NFL.

No matter where he’s been, Harbaugh has proven to be a winner. From Stanford to San Francisco and eventually at Michigan, Harbaugh has been successful at each stop. The former Chargers quarterback will now get a chance to coach one of the best young quarterbacks in the league Justin Herbert. Herbert still has untapped potential and Harbaugh will teach him how to be a winner.

To me, this is the best hire of this coaching cycle. Harbaugh and the Chargers are the perfect match and I expect them to compete for Super Bowls. The only downside is how long he will last in LA. Harbaugh has a tendency to not stick around long at any of his stops. If the Chargers can get a Super Bowl out of him it won’t matter in the end.

Grade: A

Jerod Mayo – New England Patriots

After it became clear Bill Belichick would not be back in New England owner Robert Kraft had a choice to make. He could either go out and find a fresh face in the coaching pool or stick with the Belichick tree and hire within. Kraft ultimately decided to hire within and promote Jerod Mayo to head coach.

Mayo spent the last 5 seasons in New England as the inside linebackers coach. Like Antonio Pierce, Mayo was praised by former Patriots players including Tom Brady who called him an excellent leader. At just 37, Mayo is still young and if he works out the Patriots will be set long term.

What’s interesting about the New England situation is that Mike Vrabel wasn’t considered. Vrabel seemed like the perfect successor to Belichick. For whatever reason the Patriots decided not to pursue him and it may come back to bite them. By all accounts, Mayo seems like a solid hire but I fear the Patriots will once again be looking for a new coach in just a of couple years.

Grade: C

Mike Macdonald – Seattle Seahawks

One of the hottest names of this coaching cycle was Ravens DC Mike Macdonald. He did wonders for Baltimore’s defense and shut down some of the most dynamic offenses in the NFL this year. Before his stop in Baltimore, Macdonald spent 1 year as defensive coordinator at Michigan.

Although only 36, Macdonald has also been praised for his leadership qualities. He will have big shoes to fill in Seattle taking over for Pete Carroll. The Seahawks have a bunch of young talented players on defense and solid pieces in place on offense. The question for Macdonald will be if he decides to keep Geno Smith.

In all, I am a fan of this hire for the Seahawks. Seattle targeted him early on and eventually got their man.

Grade: B+

Brian Callahan – Tennessee Titans

In Tennessee, it’s the end of the Vrabel era. This was perhaps the most surprising of the offseason firings. Although they had a down year the Titans were respectable with Vrabel at the helm. Former Bengals OC Brian Callahan will step in his place.

Callahan has been with Cincinnati since 2019 and helped to tutor quarterback Joe Burrow. He is somewhat of a quarterback whisperer as he was able to do wonders for Jake Browning who filled in for the injured Burrow this season. If the Titans decide to stick with Will Levis I expect to see a big improvement in his game.

I am somewhat neutral on this hire. It’s not flashy by any means but Callahan will come in and elevate the Titans offense. The big question is if he is a good leader as he will be replacing Vrabel who is known for his leadership.

Grade: B-

Dan Quinn – Washington Commanders

For Washington Commanders fans this offseason got off to a perfect start. The new ownership group led by Josh Harris was now fully in control and they took no time hiring new GM Adam Peters. Peters knows how to build NFL teams as he helped build the 49ers into a championship contender.

Many expected the next move for Peters and the Commanders was to hire Ben Johnson as their head coach. As we all know that didn’t happen as Johnson decided to stay in Detroit. We don’t really know what happened behind the scenes and perhaps Johnson was never their preferred choice but in the end, Washington decided to hire former Cowboys DC Dan Quinn.

Now Quinn was not the most popular candidate on the market but it’s hard to ignore what he has done for the Cowboys defense. Quinn completely turned around that side of the ball and will need to do the same for the Commanders. Like the other defensive coaches that were hired, Quinn will need to pick the right staff to run his offense. So the next few hires will be key.

By all accounts, Quinn seems like a great leader of men and should help change the culture in Washington. I am just not sure about the fit. I would’ve liked to see the Commanders go after a young offensive mind. Washington is going through a full rebuild and I think they should’ve gone outside of the box on this hire.

Grade: C+

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The Good

One of the biggest reasons Frank Reich failed in Indianapolis was due to the quarterback position. Reich had to deal with Andrew Luck‘s early retirement along with mediocre quarterback play from players past their prime. It all came crashing down last year when the Matt Ryan experiment failed miserably and Reich was let go. It’s important to look past that as Reich has shown he can run a successful NFL offense. Expect Reich to get back to his roots in Carolina and that includes the triangle read passing game along with the zone run game.

The Panthers have a lot of new faces on the roster, especially on the offensive side of the ball. One of those pieces is former Philadelphia Eagles running back Miles Sanders. Sanders signed a 4-year, $25 million dollar contract with the Panthers this offseason. He is now in a perfect system and I expect him to excel as the Panthers #1 back. Sanders is coming off a Pro Bowl season in Philadelphia in which he amassed 1,347 total yards from scrimmage. Expect Sanders to be a workhorse early on as Young gets accustomed to the speed of the NFL.

The Bad

In order for the Panthers to pull off a trade for the #1 pick they needed to part ways with D.J. Moore. Moore has been a franchise player for Carolina since he was drafted in 2018. Now the Panthers have a giant hole on offense that is likely to hurt them this year.

They did attempt to address this by bringing in Adam Thielen this offseason on a 3-year deal. Thielen has shown he can be an excellent wide receiver but I don’t like him in the #1 role. He is better suited for a number 2 role similar to his position in Minnesota. The wide receiver group for the Panthers will be their weak spot going into next season. The hope is that they can get immediate results from rookie Jonathan Mingo but I expect him to take his rookie lumps.

The Prediction

In any other division, the Panthers would likely be an under .500 team. Thanks to the weak NFC South they will finish their first season under Frank Reich with a winning record. Bryce Young will take some time to learn the pro game but things should start clicking from him mid-season. The future is bright for the Panthers and expect them to be competitive for years to come.

2023 Record: 9-8 (2nd in the division)

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The Big Three

The ‘S’ tier is for the elite and that’s exactly what these three quarterbacks are. There isn’t much room to debate that Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow and Josh Allen are on another level. One could make an argument that Justin Herbert is sneaking into that conversation but he is not there yet.

Crowded B Tier

In all 13 quarterbacks made it into our ‘B’ tier. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett just made it into this tier as the last quarterback selected. Pickett had a strong finish to his rookie season winning his last 3 starts. Expect him to get better in the Steelers offense as the year goes on.

One quarterback to watch in this list is Justin Fields. Fields carried the Chicago Bears offense for much of the 2022-2023 season. The key now will be if Fields can become a more complete quarterback. He will have a better receiving core with the addition of D.J. Moore and the offensive line is improved.

Started From the Bottom

As expected many of the rookie quarterbacks are in the ‘C’ and ‘D’ tiers. Anthony Richardson is still raw and will take some time to adjust to the NFL. Once he does, look out. He could quickly climb up these rankings as he is a dynamic playmaker. Fellow rookies C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young make it into the ‘C’ tier. At this point in time, they are more polished than Richardson and should be slated to start in week 1.

Colt McCoy made it into our tier list over Kyler Murray due to Murray’s injury. We already know Murray will miss the start of the 2023-2024 season with his ACL injury but it could be more than that. ACL injuries are tricky to navigate and it’s possible we won’t see Murray until the 2nd half of the season.

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Atlanta Falcons: How Will The Young Offensive Core Do?

The Atlanta Falcons have a sneaky young offensive core that could be one of the NFL’s best sooner rather than later. Kyle Pitts, the super TE, had a rough sophomore season where he barely got passes and got hurt. Drake London had a solid rookie season where he got 72 catches for 866 yards and four TDs. The Falcons started their draft with RB Bijan Robinson, the best RB prospect in a while. All of these while having Desmond Ridder as your QB. Now, the Falcons have put their faith in Desmond this season, but he’s not the QB you would have as your starter. Hopefully, the OC can help lessen the load by giving simple plays to Ridder and let the three do the work. In case it doesn’t work out, there are big names in the upcoming draft who can be the final piece in the core.

Carolina Panthers: Will Bryce Young Get The Start Right Away?

Bryce Young and the Panthers have started camp and there have been some action shots of him taking reps. Currently, Andy Dalton is the starter in name. He is a solid QB but he’s not worth sitting the future for the entire season. The Panthers reloaded this offseason with the additions of Adam Thielen and Hayden Hurst. They did a good job putting in a roster that can lessen the workload of the QB. Now, the million-dollar question is if it’s Bryce Young time by Week 1. Personally, I don’t mind Dalton being the starter of Week 1, but if times are telling, you have to give the keys to Bryce as soon as possible to see if he’s worth the hype.

New Orleans Saints: Can Derek Carr Lead The Saints To The Best Record In The Division?

The odds according to Vegas have slotted the Saints to be the division winner for the NFC South. The Saints were filled with injuries and uncertainties last season as multiple QBs had looks during the season. Currently, Derek Carr is more stable than anyone they had last season. Personally, he’s also the best QB they had since Drew Brees. He’ll have a core of weapons with Kamara, Olave and MT if healthy. With almost every team having a young and inexperienced QB, Carr just needs to be solid enough for the Saints to have home-field advantage in the playoffs.

Tampa Bay Buccanneers: Can Baker Mayfield Keep The Critics Quiet?

The Tom Brady era in Tampa Bay has finished as he officially retired again. His impact in Tampa Bay will be missed but it’s time to look forward. Baker Mayfield has signed with Tampa Bay after stints in Carolina and the Rams last season. It’s been a rocky past few years for the former top pick of the draft. Going to Tampa Bay is a fresh start for him as he looks to regain his footing in the NFL world as a starting-caliber quarterback. There’s still a lot of talent on offense and defense and the division is still very open. Baker can change the narrative about himself and potentially save his career by being a solid starter in Tampa Bay. However, a bad season means Tampa Bay getting a high pick to draft their QB of the future and potentially Baker losing his starter status permanently.

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QUARTERBACKS

#1 Bryce Young – Carolina Panthers

Bryce Young is in Carolina after months of anticipation. He had been first overall on draft boards for the longest time when Carolina made the trade. We will see if the size concerns are legitimate as he is expected to start early on for the Panthers. Carolina did a good job bringing in pieces such as Adam Thielen and Hayden Hurst. Unless he’s a total bust, Bryce will have a strong rookie season.

#2 C.J. Stroud – Houston Texans

After all the noise in the pre-draft process, the Texans took the best QB available at number two. With all the propaganda against Stroud, his stock was falling and even the gambling lines weren’t a fan of him. Stroud goes into a rebuilding situation in Houston with few good options such as Robert Woods and Dameon Pierce. With Houston being in one of the weakest divisions in the NFL, he can make noise early on. The stats might not look as nice but I believe in C.J. Stroud.

#4 Anthony Richardson – Indianapolis Colts

The Colts shocked the draft boards when they selected Anthony Richardson with the fourth pick of the draft. Many were speculating that Will Levis would be the pick but the Colts were higher on Richardson. Richardson comes in as a project as he will need experience first. So, expect a rocky season in terms of win-loss record. His running game could give him points, like what Justin Fields did last season. I expect AR to be the starter as Gardner Minshew will serve as a good backup to him to help him grow. He’s worth stashing since he’ll most likely have a rocky start.

RUNNING BACKS

#8 Bijan Robinson – Atlanta Falcons

Bijan Robinson had been touted as the best non-QB offensive weapon in this class. With the value of RBs decreasing, his talent level was respected very much as he had top-10 pick status in mock drafts. Atlanta chose to use their eighth pick on him in the draft. Now, he would be their top RB and a nice piece for Desmond Rider. People were hoping he would go somewhere else where his talent can shine more. The Falcons drafted Tyler Allgeier last year and he just ran for over 1000 yards. I think it’s safe to assume Bijan will get the workload immediately. Allgeier could steal some snaps early on, especially if he’s doing well.

#12 Jahmyr Gibbs – Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions traded down to 12 and got two more picks for the 6th and 81st. They surprisingly took Jahmyr Gibbs out of Alabama with the 12th pick. Draft boards had Gibbs to be drafted later in the first round and running back isn’t a need for the Lions. Besides keeping D’Andre Swift, they also signed David Montgomery in the offseason. This might be a tough first season production-wise for Gibbs as he will have two established players ahead of him. Keep him on your mind in case any of the two gets injured during the season.

Update: D’Andre Swift has been traded to the Eagles so this leaves Gibbs with the potential to have a decent rookie season. It could be similar to the Swift-Williams combo last season.

WIDE RECEIVERS

#20 Jaxon Smith-Njigba – Seattle Seahawks

The first wide receiver off the board took longer than expected as the Seahawks took Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Many of the mocks had him as early as 12th to the Texans but the teams went with other options. This pick is interesting as he goes to a wide receiver room of DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. In case Lockett, leaves JSN would serve as a good replacement and it gives Geno Smith an extra weapon. JSN would be worth drafting in the middle to late rounds.

#21 Quentin Johnson – Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers went for a receiver a pick after when they took Quentin Johnson. A monster of a man, he makes the Chargers receiving core even bigger and much richer. It will be hard to spread the ball around with Mike Williams, Keenan Allen, and Austin Ekeler getting passes from Justin Herbert. He’s worth stashing depending on the availability of the receivers.

#22 Zay Flowers – Baltimore Ravens

What a day for the Baltimore Ravens as they were able to secure Lamar for the future and get him help with Zay Flowers. The wide receivers in Baltimore weren’t impressive last season. Now, with OBJ, Flowers, and Andrews, Lamar will feel much more comfortable in the passing game with Baltimore. Flowers is very explosive and can go off in those long TD catch and runs.

#23 Jordan Addison – Minnesota Vikings

While losing Adam Thielen to Carolina hurt, they have found his replacement in Jordan Addison. The wide receiver prospect out of Minnesota will enjoy Kirk Cousins‘ passes and being beside Justin Jefferson. He is the perfect complement for him and can have a sneaky good year for the Vikings.

TIGHT ENDS

#25 Dalton Kincaid – Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills drafted the only tight end in the first round with Utah’s Dalton Kincaid. Dalton is more of a pass-catcher which makes it interesting as Dawson Knox still has years left in his contract. It does give Josh Allen more weapons and different looks such as possibly double tight-end plays. It may take a year or two for Dalton to be a fantasy option but he has the skills to be a good pass-catcher.

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Will Levis with the First Pick?

Thanks to an anonymous Reddit post, Will Levis to the Carolina Panthers is gaining steam. The post is claiming that Levis is telling friends and family that Carolina is taking him with the first overall pick. Take the post with a grain of salt but it’s important to note that his betting odds have changed dramatically over the past 24 hours. I am not yet buying it as it seems like the Panthers are set on selecting Bryce Young. If Levis doesn’t go number 1, I expect him to go to he Colts.

Jalen Carter to the Seahawks is a Perfect Match

By now we all know the drama surrounding Jalen Carter and his off the field incidents. This will cause him to fall slightly but he is still the best prospect in this year’s draft. Seattle is the perfect fit for Carter and I projected him there in my latest mock draft. Pete Carroll is just what Carter needs as he will motivate and challenge him in the right ways.

Bijan Robinson in the Top 10?

Say what you want about taking a running back in the first round but Bijan Robinson is a different animal. He is the best overall offensive talent in this year’s draft. His ability to catch the ball out of the backfield along with his explosiveness sets him apart from the other running backs. Robinson to the Eagles at 10 makes too much sense. The Eagles said goodbye to Miles Sanders this offseason and picked up Rashaad Penny. Penny will be their bruiser but Robinson will be the playmaking RB they are looking for.

Titans Trade for a Quarterback

Tennessee looks like they want to move on from Ryan Tannehill and they have the ammo to make a big draft day trade. We have talked about it before as rumors have Derrick Henry on the trade block. Henry as part of a draft day package should be enough to get the Titans into the top 10 and allow them to select a QB.

Commanders Trade Back Again

In last year’s draft the Washington Commanders traded back in the first round and it was on of the best moves of the draft. They ended up using the draft capital to pick up Jahan Dotson, Brian Robinson Jr. and Sam Howell. These three are the young core the Commanders are now building on as they look to the future. I expect them to trade back again and focus on a CB or an OL. Both are big needs for the Commanders going into next year.

The post 5 Thoughts Before the 2023 NFL Draft appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

CHAOS #1: HOUSTON TEXANS DON’T TAKE A QB AT PICK #2

[PLAYER AFFECTED: C.J. STROUD]

C.J. Stroud has been the talk of the town the past few days. When the Panthers traded for the top pick, the gambling lines turned to Stroud as the favorite to be the first pick of the draft. After a few weeks have gone by, not only has Bryce Young been the heavy favorite to be the top pick, Stroud might not even be the second pick.

As of this writing, Will Levis has overtaken Stroud as the favorite to be the second overall pick. This has shocked everyone as some mocked Levis for going in the middle of the first round to even late in the first round. Back to C.J., there are those that say he is “uncoachable” and those words came out of nowhere. Another reason for “worry” is his 18 on the S2 Cognition Test. Now this test focuses on a QB’s ability in decision-making. He was the worst by far in terms of scoring, and this has executives worried about him overall. Studies have shown that those who don’t do well in the S2 Cognition Test, don’t translate in the NFL.

C.J. Stroud has been touted as at least the second-best QB prospect in this draft. With this, Houston is second and they need a QB, however, they aren’t sold on it as they want to see more of Davis Mills. If they don’t draft a QB, this could be trouble as the Colts and Seahawks have their eyes on other QB prospects. Maybe another team trades up for Stroud but that remains the case.

CHAOS #2: INDIANAPOLIS COLTS TAKE ANTHONY RICHARDSON AT PICK #4

[PLAYER AFFECTED: WILL LEVIS]

For every positive of Will Levis, there is a negative that worries NFL teams. From his weird-eating habits to his IG post of him shirtless, experts are stumped on where to put him. One NFL team that seems to like him is the Indianapolis Colts. They need a QB and are intrigued by Levis as he is more polished compared to Richardson. Now, what if Richardson is the surprise pick of the Colts?

The next team that may draft a quarterback is the Titans at 11th overall. Mock drafts however see them taking another position of need. The Patriots at 14 could be a sleeper, but Will doesn’t seem to be the prototype New England likes in a quarterback. I think Will gets drafted in the first round, but the wait may be a little longer than he hoped for.

CHAOS #3: SEATTLE SEAHAWKS SKIP ON A QB AT PICK #5

[PLAYER AFFECTED: ANTHONY RICHARDSON]

Anthony Richardson to Seattle is my favorite pick for him as he is a raw prospect with great tools. The Seahawks do have Geno Smith signed to an extension, but it’s not a long-term contract. Having multiple first-round picks is a blessing for the Seahawks as they were one of the more surprising teams last season.

It’s possible that the Seahawks go for a talented defensive prospect with the fifth pick. Jalen Carter could be available after his weird past few weeks and months. The talent is there however and they rank him as one of the best defensive prospects. Anthony could be available at 20 for their second first-round pick but there’s no guarantee.

Look at last year’s Malik Willis as he had many similarities with Richardson. Both are athletes with great arms but lack experience. He was pegged as a first-round pick, but he slipped all the way to Day 2. Richardson does give that fear. The other top QB prospects held the starting job for at least multiple years while Richardson only had one. Only time will tell.

CHAOS #4: CAROLINA PANTHERS SHOCK EVERYONE WITH C.J. STROUD AND HOUSTON TAKES A NON-QB

[PLAYER AFFECTED: BRYCE YOUNG]

This outcome seems the most unlikely as Stroud is the favorite to go first. The Texans at number two have been positive that they’ll take him if he’s available. However, anything is up in the air. Bryce Young is an interesting prospect as he has all the tools to be a successful quarterback. What makes him difficult is his size, which makes him an outlier.

Quarterbacks are a big investment and seeing Young scares a lot of teams. His size makes scouts and personnel worried about his durability, especially with numerous QB injuries that happened last season. With next year’s draft class having a much more intriguing QB class, teams may also wait instead of jumping the gun on Young. Personally, I wouldn’t take Young for the size concerns, but an NFL team will take a chance on him and hope they struck gold.

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