2023 NFL Draft: 10 Predictions with Under a Month to Go

The 2023 NFL draft is one month away, and while it remains to be seen how things will unfold, we have a much clearer picture than we did a month ago.

The scouting combine provided more information about some of the draft's top prospects. For example, after an incredible athletic display, Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson jumped Alabama's Bryce Young as the No. 2 quarterback on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's big board.

Free agency has provided some clarity about where teams' biggest needs reside.

After evaluating the combine, free agency, the 2022 season, all 32 rosters, team's recent draft trends and relevant draft buzz, we've come up with 10 early predictions for the April 27-29 draft.

Between surprising selections, positional runs and more first-round trade activity, we expect this year's draft to be anything but boring.

The Carolina Panthers have acquired the No. 1 overall pick from the Chicago Bears. Carolina sent wideout DJ Moore, the ninth and 61st picks in this year's draft, a 2024 first-rounder and a 2025 second-rounder in the deal.

There is a chance that the Panthers could trade the top pick.

The prediction here, though, is that Carolina stays put and secures its quarterback. The other prediction is the Panthers grab Ohio State's C.J. Stroud, the top signal-caller on the B/R board.

Stroud checks all of the boxes. He has archetypal size at 6'3" and 214 pounds. He's accurate, shows great timing and anticipation, and can move well in the pocket. His throwing session in Indianapolis was superb, and Stroud recently impressed the Panthers during a dinner with team executives.

"We had a great two-and-a-half-hour dinner with him, really impressive off the field as he was on," general manager Scott Fitterer said, per Darin Gantt of the team's official website.

Stroud has the tools to be a good early starter and to put the new-look Panthers right in the thick of the NFC South race.

One quarterback will be off the board after the first pick, and more are sure to follow. The Houston Texans own the second selection, and they're desperate to find a new franchise signal-caller.

The Indianapolis Colts are also in the quarterback market, and they hold the fourth overall pick. Three signal-callers going in the first four selections is a near certainty.

However, the early run on quarterbacks isn't going to end there. Stroud, Richardson and Young are the top three QB prospects, and Kentucky's Will Levis—the 21st-ranked prospect n the B/R board—is also in the first-round conversation.

The prediction here is that either the Arizona Cardinals or the Seattle Seahawks, who hold the third and fifth picks, respectively, trade down so that a quarterback-needy team can move up. Arizona already has Kyler Murray, who signed a five-year, $230.5 million extension last offseason. Seattle just signed Geno Smith to a three-year, $75 million deal.

There are a couple of logical candidates to move into the top five. The Las Vegas Raiders (seventh overall) signed Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason, but the oft-injured 31-year-old shouldn't be viewed as the quarterback of the future.

Las Vegas has also met with Young, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. It has at least some level of interest in this QB class, and if general manager Dave Ziegler falls in love with a prospect, the Raiders could try to jump Indianapolis at No. 4.

The Tennessee Titans should also be eyeing a signal-caller, as Ryan Tannehill is entering the final year of his contract. Tennessee does have 2022 third-round pick Malik Willis on the roster, but he struggled mightily as a rookie (42.8 passer rating) and can't be counted upon as a succession plan. The Titans could move up from No. 11 to jump either Indianapolis or Las Vegas to get their guy.

There's also a chance that Seattle simply takes a quarterback at No. 5 to develop behind the 32-year-old Smith. It's worth noting that the Seahawks can get out of Smith's contract after one season while taking on a manageable dead-cap charge of $17.4 million.

Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter is the No. 2 overall prospect on the B/R board, but his draft stock has been trending in the wrong direction.

The Athens-Clarke County Police Department recently charged Carter with reckless driving and racing in relation to a single-car crash that killed Georgia recruiting staffer Chandler LeCroy and offensive lineman Devin Willock on Jan. 15. The 21-year-old briefly left the combine to meet with police and face charges but returned a day later.

Carter also disappointed at Georgia's pro day, showing up overweight and reportedly out of shape.

"He opted to do only position drills and didn't participate in other aspects of the workout, including the 40-yard dash, cone drills and other physical tests," ESPN's Mark Schlabach wrote. "Carter didn't finish the position drills because he was cramping up and breathing heavily."

However, recent buzz indicates that teams are still very high on Carter.

"While there is off-field uncertainty and his pro day workout wasn't great, scouts continue to tell me he'll be drafted in the top 10 picks," ESPN's Matt Miller wrote. "The consensus around the league is Carter has too much talent to fall very far."

Top-tier defensive tackles are a rare commodity in the NFL, and the Seahawks, Bears, Detroit Lions and Raiders are all teams picking in the top 10 that could use a difference-making interior defender.

Should Carter fall to the 10th pick, the Philadelphia Eagles could be happy to snag him after losing standout defensive tackle Javon Hargrave in free agency. The prediction here is that Carter doesn't make it to No. 11.

Running back has become a bit of a devalued position in the NFL. Ball-carriers tend to have shorter careers than other positions, and good backs can be found later in the draft. Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco, for example, just tallied 262 scrimmage yards in the playoffs as a seventh-round draft pick.

However, Texas' Bijan Robinson is a special prospect. He's the fourth-ranked player on the B/R board and has the tools to be an immediate difference-maker.

"He should step in right away and be able to carry the workload for a rushing offense, as well as contribute in the passing game," Derrik Klassen of the B/R Scouting Department wrote. "Robinson has the potential to be a multi-time Pro Bowler and one of the better backs in the NFL."

In the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's post-combine mock draft, Robinson landed with the Buffalo Bills at No. 27. The prediction here, however, is that he doesn't remain on the board that long.

This is a deep running back class—the scouting department has 15 backs ranked in the top 150 prospects—but Robinson has the potential to be an All-Pro-caliber dual threat right out of the gate.

The Eagles could be a threat to take Robinson after replacing Pro Bowler Miles Sanders with the oft-injured Rashaad Penny. The Lions could eye him with their second first-rounder (18th overall), even after adding David Montgomery in free agency. Montgomery is a serviceable starter but isn't explosive, and D'Andre Swift is entering the final year of his rookie deal.

The floor for Robinson is probably the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 21. They could use a potent runner to pair with Austin Ekeler and there's no guarantee that Ekeler—who has been granted permission to seek a trade—is even on the roster a month from now.

And with Los Angeles serving as a logical landing spot, it wouldn't be a shock to see a team like the Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys or Bills trade into the top 20 to secure Robinson.

The Green Bay Packers are widely expected to trade quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets before the draft—though discussions about trade compensation are ongoing.

"Per multiple sources, the Packers want a first-round pick and more from the Jets for Rodgers," ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio wrote.

The Packers will be moving on to Jordan Love, and the prediction here is that Green Bay does something for Love that it never did for Rodgers—draft a pass-catcher in Round 1.

The last time Green Bay selected a pass-catcher in Round 1 was in the 2002 draft, when it took Javon Walker. Since then, every single Packers first-round pick has been an offensive lineman, a defender or a quarterback (Rodgers in 2005, Love in 2020).

The Packers need to find out what they have in Love, who is only under contract for two more seasons. It would be extremely wise to upgrade his supporting cast, especially after losing both wideout Allen Lazard and tight end Robert Tonyan in free agency.

Green Bay will have options with the 15th overall pick. They could snag one of the draft's top wide receivers, like TCU's Quentin Johnston or Ohio State's Jaxon Smith-Njigba. They could also tap into a loaded tight end class and grab a prospect like Notre Dame's Michael Mayer or Georgia's Darnell Washington.

The Packers could also look to trade down and land a weapon for their young signal-caller. Between receivers and tight ends, six pass-catchers are ranked among the top 26 prospects on the B/R board.

For Green Bay, the 2023 season will be all about developing and evaluating Love. It would be a surprise to see them not draft with their quarterback in mind on April 27.

Along with Mayer and Washington, Utah's Dalton Kincaid is also ranked inside the top 26 prospects by the B/R Scouting Department. Oregon State's Luke Musgrave isn't far behind (No. 39) and could wind up in the first-round conversation as well.

"I think the tight end group is the best I've seen in the last 10 years. It's outstanding," NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah told reporters on a conference call (h/t Sal Maiorana of the Democrat & Chronicle).

In the Scouting Department's post-combine mock draft, Washington, Mayer and Kincaid all went in Round 1. The prediction here is that three or more tight ends do indeed go on opening night.

After the early stages of free agency, several teams loom large as logical tight-end suitors. The Packers are one, and the Jets are another—New York has a serviceable tandem in Tyler Conklin and C.J. Uzomah, but neither is a true difference-maker or signed beyond 2024.

The Lions could use a premier tight end after trading away T.J. Hockenson at the deadline, though offensive coordinator Ben Johnson's scheme doesn't heavily prioritize the position.

If any of the top tight ends make it to the back end of Round 1, they'll fall no further. The Dallas Cowboys desperately need to address the position after losing Dalton Schultz in free agency. The Cincinnati Bengals must do the same after losing Hayden Hurst.

The Buffalo Bills have a good tight end in Dawson Knox, but they have little depth behind him and could look to make two-tight-end sets a dangerous option for quarterback Josh Allen.

The Texans, Cardinals and Colts (pick Nos. 33, 34 and 35) are also teams that could use a star tight end and could trade up to secure a fifth-year option that only comes with a first-rounder.

Quality tight ends will be available on Day 2. However, we'll be surprised if three tight ends don't hear their names called by then.

With four quarterbacks likely going early in Round 1, there's a good chance that a fifth gets picked in the back end. It's not an unusual phenomenon because first-round selections come with a fifth-year option—which is especially valuable when quarterbacks are involved.

Teddy Bridgewater was taken 32nd overall by the Minnesota Vikings in 2014. Lamar Jackson was taken 32nd overall by the Ravens in 2018.

While the B/R Scouting Department doesn't have Tennessee's Hendon Hooker among its top 150 prospects—and he is coming off a torn ACL—the prediction here is that Hooker becomes QB5 and a first-round pick.

Hooker isn't coming from a pro-style offense, but he shows elite accuracy, touch and ball placement on film. He has archetypal size at 6'3" and 217 pounds, and he's an above-average athlete.

ProFootballTalk's Chris Simms has Hooker as his third-ranked quarterback in the 2023 class based on what the 25-year-old did at Tennessee.

"If you are going off of the film, I don't know how he is not in the top quarterback conversation," Simms said (h/t Ivan Lambert of Commanders Wire).

In a recent mock draft, NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah has Hooker landing with the Vikings at No. 23.

"Hooker is well liked around the league, and he could sit for a year behind Kirk Cousins before taking over and ushering in a new era for Kevin O'Connell."

Another reason why Minnesota could be a landing spot for Hooker: Cousins is scheduled to be a free agent in 2024. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 19) could also be in the market for a quarterback, even after adding Baker Mayfield in free agency.

If the Raiders don't draft a quarterback early, they would also be a candidate to trade up from No. 38. The Los Angeles Rams (No. 36) and Titans (No. 41) are also teams to watch when it comes to trading back into Round 1 for a signal-caller.

Could the Atlanta Falcons be among the team interested in drafting a quarterback this year? According to general manager Terry Fontenot, it's possible.

"We're never going to put ourselves in a corner; we're always leaving every door open," Fontenot said, per Daniel Flick and Jeremy Brener of FanNation. "... Whether it's the eighth pick or whether it's at some other point in the draft, we could definitely bring in a quarterback."

The prediction here, though, is that Atlanta avoids the position over draft weekend.

The Falcons used a third-round selection on Cincinnati's Desmond Ridder last year, and Ridder has shown enough to deserve a full year as the starter.

The 23-year-old went 2-2 as the starter at the end of last season, throwing for 708 yards with two touchdowns, no interceptions and a respectable 86.4 rating while completing 63.5 percent of his passes. He also rushed for 64 yards on 4.0 yards per carry and four touchdowns.

In free agency, Atlanta signed Taylor Heinicke, who has proved he can be a quality spot starter if needed. Additionally, the Falcons added tight end Jonnu Smith and wideout Mack Hollins over the past few weeks.

The Falcons seem to be more interested in building around and supporting Ridder than trying to replace him after only four games. Expect Atlanta to continue improving Ridder's supporting cast and a defense that ranked 27th overall in 2022 instead of drafting another young signal-caller.

Atlanta has quarterback depth in Ridder, Heinicke and Logan Woodside, and if it adds another passer, it will likely do so after the draft in rookie free agency.

While we don't see the Falcons taking a quarterback next month, we do see the Rams landing one. Whether that's by trading up into Round 1 or taking a quarterback later remains to be seen.

The prediction here, though, is that Los Angeles uses one of its 11 selections on a quarterback, and probably within the first three rounds.

The Rams have Matthew Stafford at quarterback for now, but he's 35 years old and is coming off a season-ending concussion and neck injury. He'll be around for at least two more years, as his 2024 salary became fully guaranteed on March 17.

However, Rams chief operating officer Kevin Demoff recently said that L.A. is reloading, and it's time for the Rams to start thinking about the future at the game's most important position. Demoff wrote the following via the team's official website:

"We faced a choice this offseason. We could once again restructure contracts to give ourselves one last shot with our core roster but that would mean a total rebuild would be necessary over the next few seasons. Or we could focus on replenishing our draft capital and improving our long-term salary cap situation."

With the Rams finally eyeing the future, taking a quarterback becomes necessary. Los Angeles lost Baker Mayfield in free agency, and Stafford is the only signal-caller on the roster.

With a second-round selection (36th overall) and two third-rounders, L.A. could move into Round 1 to grab a prospect like Hooker. It could also use a Day 2 pick on a prospect like Stanford's Tanner McKee or UCLA's Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Either way, it will be a total shock to see the Rams exit draft weekend without a developmental QB prospect in tow.

If a team like the Rams does trade into Round 1, it's going to have to find a trade partner. We're circling the Buccaneers for that role.

Tampa has lost a lot of talent this offseason, including quarterback Tom Brady, safety Mike Edwards, guard Shaq Mason, left tackle Donovan Smith and cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting.

Because of salary-cap constraints, the Bucs haven't replaced many of their departures. While Tampa does have nine selections in the draft, acquiring more picks for the ongoing rebuild would be logical.

The 19th overall selection could be a valuable trade chip because of how positional groups will be targeted. That's a spot to potentially grab Bijan Robinson, a falling quarterback, a top tight end or perhaps the No. 2 defensive tackle on a team's draft board after Jalen Carter.

The prediction here is that Tampa trades out of that spot and eventually moves out of the first round altogether. General manager Jason Licht has never been afraid to maneuver around the early stages of the draft.

Last year, Licht traded out last year, allowing Jacksonville to move up from No. 33 to secure linebacker Devin Lloyd. In 2020, Licht traded up to secure offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs.

Could Tampa move up to take a quarterback? That's a possibility, but they appear poised to let the competition between Baker Mayfield and 2021 second-round pick Kyle Trask play out before diving back into the draft pool.

Expect Tampa to instead be open to moving out of Round 1 if it means adding additional Day 2 selections to its draft cache.

Contract information via Spotrac.