The 2023 NFL Draft once again featured some top defensive talent in the first round. While we did see more quarterbacks go earlier than in the previous draft we also saw several difference-makers on the defensive side. In the 2022 NFL Draft, the first 5 picks were all defensive players and they all made a significant impact. Sauce Gardner ended up winning the 2022 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and rightfully so. Can another cornerback win the award this year? Let’s break down some of the key candidates.

Devon Witherspoon – CB (Seattle Seahawks)

Witherspoon was the first cornerback taken in the 2023 NFL Draft and he went to a great situation. Head coach Pete Carroll is known to develop young defensive talent and turn them into stars. Unfortunately, Witherspoon has dealt with a hamstring injury for much of training camp which has dampened his buzz. Make no mistake though when he comes back healthy, he will be a stud for Seattle.

Current Odds: +1000

Tyree Wilson – EDGE (Las Vegas Raiders)

Like Witherspoon, Tyree Wilson is also dealing with an injury to start his rookie season. Wilson is an athletic freak at the EDGE position and has the tools to be an elite pass rusher. The thought of him lined up opposite Maxx Crosby is frightening for opposing offenses. I see 5+ sacks for Wilson in his first season for the Raiders.

Current Odds: +1000

Will Anderson Jr. – EDGE (Houston Texans)

If the Chicago Bears didn’t trade out of the first pick they would’ve selected Will Anderson. Anderson is another stud defensive player from the University of Alabama. He was a dominant force in the SEC totaling 27.5 sacks in his last two seasons. Anderson is not only an elite pass rusher but he is also an excellent run defender. Along with his sacks he had 152 total tackles in his Sophomore and Junior seasons. Anderson Jr. is the most pro-ready prospect from this draft and he will get 10+ sacks this year.

* Our Pick – Current Odds: +400

Jalen Carter – DL (Philadelphia Eagles)

Somehow Jalen Carter fell to the Eagles in the 2023 NFL Draft. Carter is another stud SEC defender who was dominant at Georgia. The off the field issues are a concern but if Carter can stay out of trouble he will make a big impact in Philly. Pairing him with one of the top defenses in 2022 seems almost unfair. I could see Carter starting when the season begins.

Current Odds: +700

Emmanuel Forbes Jr. – CB (Washington Commanders)

Emmanuel Forbes was a turnover machine for Mississippi State. He broke the all-time record for pick-sixes with 6 during his college career. The tall and lanky cornerback plays much bigger than his size and is more than willing to make a tackle when needed. Forbes will get plenty of chances to make his mark as he is expected to start for the Commanders in week 1. Expect to see 5 interceptions for Forbes in his rookie season.

Current Odds: +2000

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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.

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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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Panthers Go Young

We are now fairly confident that the Panthers will draft Alabama quarterback Bryce Young with the first overall pick. As we have stated before, Young has big upside despite his size. If he can stay healthy I expect him to excel in Frank Reich‘s system.

Texans Grab C.J. Stroud

The Houston Texans will waist no time sending in their pick for Stroud. C.J. Stroud has all tools and intangibles to succeed in this league. If the Texans are smart they beef up their offensive line and protect Stroud at all costs.

Colts Take a Chance on Will Levis

There is no doubt that the Indianapolis Colts need to take a chance on a quarterback in this draft. The main question is will it be Anthony Richardson or Will Levis? We have flip flopped a couple time on this one but believe the Colts will end up taking Levis. Levis has the physical tools to succeed in this league. Is he ready to be a day one starter?

Jalen Carter Drops to Seattle

Jalen Carter is arguably the best overall prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft. The recent legal issues will cause him to drop but only by a couple picks. Carter will anchor the Seahawks defensive line for many years to come.

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