2023 NFL Draft News & Rumors

Breakdown Of Top 2023 QB Draft Prospects

April 2nd, 2023 at 10:00pm CST by Ely Allen

After last year’s draft, which saw only one quarterback taken in the first two rounds, this year’s draft class boasts a bit more top talent at the NFL’s signature position. The group’s superior personnel has already created a small amount of chaos atop the draft order with Carolina trading into the No. 1 overall pick. With three of the teams drafting at the top of the first round expected to have a need for a new quarterback, and several others having the option to trade up for one, there is a consensus that four quarterbacks should hear their names called on the night of April 27.

Teams interested in a new passer will have their choice between whoever is left of Alabama’s Bryce Young, Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, Florida’s Anthony Richardson, and Kentucky’s Will Levis. Below, we’ll explore the benefits offered by each young quarterback and provide some reasoning as to why they may or may not hear their names called first.

Bryce Young

Not only was Young the best recruit in his state or at his position coming out of high school, the young athlete out of Mater Dei (California) was rated as the nation’s No. 1 overall recruit in 2020, according to 247sports.com. He committed to nearby USC with two years left of high school play but flipped his commitment to Alabama at the beginning of his senior year.

Young played sparingly as a freshman in Tuscaloosa, backing up junior starter Mac Jones. With Jones having departed for the NFL, Young took over the Crimson Tide offense as a sophomore. He took the college football world by storm in 2021, completing 66.91% of his passes for 4,872 yards and 47 touchdowns while only throwing seven interceptions. He took Alabama to the title game, falling to Georgia but stoking early perceptions of himself as a future No. 1 overall draft pick. In 2022, Young continued to impress despite the loss of several top receivers, two to the first two rounds of the previous year’s draft. He completed 64.47% of his passes for 3,328 yards, 32 touchdowns, and five interceptions.

Young came into college as the nation’s top dual-threat passer but never developed as much of a rusher at Alabama. Instead, he utilized his versatility to be an effective passer on the run. Young’s eyes and mind work fast through progressions and help him to anticipate throwing lanes at an elite level. He’s adapted to his smaller size in terms of vision, but he requires his lower body to make strong throws. Teams don’t seem to worry about his lack of size as much as his durability. In a league that’s already seen success from a smaller quarterback in Kyler Murray, Young is expected to become a starting quarterback at the NFL level before long.

C.J. Stroud

Not far from Young in the southern California area, Stroud came out of the same class out of Rancho Cucamonga (California). Not quite as touted as Young, Stroud still boasted five stars as the nation’s second-best pro-style quarterback, according to 247. He made his decision late in the process but enrolled early shortly after committing to Ohio State.

Stroud also sat his true freshman season, redshirting behind starter Justin Fields. He was easily as productive as Young in their first years starting. In 2021, Stroud completed 71.88% of his passes for 4,435 yards and 44 touchdowns while only tossing six interceptions. Last year, Stroud, too, saw a bit of a drop-off in production, losing two receivers in the first round, but still impressed while completing 66.32% of his passes for 3,688 yards, 41 touchdowns, and six interceptions.

Stroud seems to be the most prototypical of the four options. His size, strength, and athleticism all signify a routine pro quarterback. His size gives him an ideally strong platform from which to throw and allows him to layer balls into short and intermediate levels over lineman and backers. The size does limit his agility, making him slow out of breaks and inaccurate when throwing on the run. His biggest strength, though, is his pure passing ability. He throws a strong, tight ball in a smooth motion, resulting in passes that receivers love to catch. His traditional quarterback makeup could be what makes him so attractive to a team like the Panthers at No. 1.

Anthony Richardson

Richardson is far and away the wild card of this group. A consensus four-star, dual-threat quarterback out of Eastside (Florida), Richardson stayed home in Gainesville for college after some back-and-forth on his commitment to the Gators.

Richardson is the least experienced of the four top options at quarterback. Richardson redshirted behind Kyle Trask as a freshman and sat behind Emory Jones as a sophomore. It wasn’t until last year that Richardson found himself starting behind center. Unlike the unquestionable success of Young and Stroud, Richardson’s results were hardly as impressive. Last season, Richardson completed 53.82% of his passes for 2,529 yards and 17 touchdowns while throwing nine interceptions. He did display a stronger rushing ability than the above two, racking up 654 yards on 103 rushing attempts and tacking on nine scores with his legs. As a starter for the Gators, Richardson ended college with a 6-7 record.

Despite the seemingly mediocre production, Richardson has skyrocketed up draft boards as pundits have fallen in love with his potential. Richardson has a large frame, similar to Stroud, but boasts an athleticism that makes it much more dangerous. His size and burst make him reminiscent of a young Cam Newton with the ball in his hands. Richardson has a rocket for an arm, completing easy throws with only a flick of the wrist. The physical frame and abilities are there in a raw form, but much molding is necessary. He’s extremely inconsistent in his decision-making and accuracy, resulting in dangerous passes into a crowd and misses that never stand a chance of hitting their targets.

This is a common high-risk, high-reward situation with drafting quarterbacks. Richardson could develop into an All-Pro or flame out, unable to make the most of his abilities.

Will Levis

Levis is another curious prospect whose production doesn’t quite match his hype as a top draft pick. A three-star prospect leaving Xavier (Connecticut), Levis committed to Penn State as part of the 2018 recruiting class. After redshirting as a freshman, Levis sat for two years behind Sean Clifford before transferring to Kentucky.

Levis took over as an immediate starter in Lexington and won 10 games for the Wildcats in 2021, completing 66.01% of his passes for 2,826 yards and 24 touchdowns while tossing 13 interceptions. Levis also displayed an ability to run the ball that year, producing 376 yards and nine touchdowns. When Wan’Dale Robinson and Josh Ali departed for the NFL, Levis’s production suffered as a result. In 2022, injuries and the loss of his top targets led to a down year in which he completed 65.37% of his passes for 2,406 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, all without displaying the rushing ability of prior years.

Like Richardson, Levis boasts the size, arm strength, and athleticism that make him an extremely attractive prospect on paper. There are latent abilities available within Levis, but a lack of sound technique and procedure hold Levis back from his full potential. He can throw strong balls through tight windows but also struggles with consistent accuracy. He is physical and tough but needs that toughness when standing too long in the pocket. There are strong tools to utilize at the NFL level, but it will likely take time and a good coach preaching strong technique in order for Levis to become a strong starter at the next level. Teams want him to be the next Josh Allen, but he has a way to go in order to get there.

There we have it: two strong options who seem ready to start in Week 1 and two developmental projects who could turn into stars in the right system. Which team needs which quarterback the most? Tell us in the comments who you’d want your team to take a chance on.

Chiefs Meet With CB Cam Smith

April 2nd, 2023 at 1:57pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Chiefs are once again scheduled to have the last pick of the first round in the upcoming draft, but a number of high-end prospects will be available with the 31st selection. Kansas City could use it to add to their secondary, as they did last year.

The Chiefs hosted former South Carolina cornerback Cam Smith on a pre-draft visit recently, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link). That marked the first of what will be several sit-downs with NFL teams, given Smith’s status as one of the top corners in this year’s deep class at the position.

The redshirt junior appeared in 32 contests during his college career, playing a key role in the Gamecocks’ success on the backend. Smith totaled six interceptions and 18 pass breakups, primarily operating as the team’s nickel corner. That allowed him to live up to his expectations as a former four-star recruit and solidify his status as a potential first-round pick. Competition from the likes of Devon Witherspoon, Christian Gonzalez, Joey Porter Jr. and Deonte Banks, among others, could push Smith to the second round, though.

Kanas City invested heavily in their defense last year at the draft, using their first-round picks on cornerback Trent McDuffie and edge rusher George Karlaftis. The former operated as a full-time starter immediately, logging a 95% snap share in his rookie campaign. McDuffie went without an interception during both the regular and postseason, but he was a key contributors in pass coverage on a generally young backend for the Super Bowl champions.

The team’s CB group also incudes fellow 2022 draftees Joshua Williams and Jaylen Watson, who each played a role alongside McDuffie and L’Jarius Sneed. The play of the younger members of the unit allowed Kansas City to trade away Rashad Fenton at the deadline, a move which leaves open a vacancy for another addition this offseason. The Chiefs have not brought in any free agent corners, but Smith will be one of many options to choose from if they wish to spend more premium draft capital at the cornerback spot later this month.

Raiders To Host DT Jalen Carter

April 1st, 2023 at 5:56pm CST by Adam La Rose

After spending the 2022 season as arguably the top prospect in the country, Jalen Carter‘s draft stock has taken a considerable hit recently. The former Georgia defensive tackle entered into a plea agreement stemming from his misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and racing, and delivered an underwhelming Pro Day performance.

That has led to speculation regarding how far down the board Carter will fall. A selection inside the top-10 remains a possibility, however, with the Lions hosting him on a top 30 visit. The team set to select one spot after Detroit – the Raiders – will do the same, as noted (on Twitter) by Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

The Raiders own the seventh overall pick in the draft, one which could allow them to draft a long-term quarterback project to one day succeed free agent addition Jimmy Garoppolo. Head coach Josh McDaniels spoke earlier this month about the team’s desire to land a more permanent solution than the 31-year-old, though the 2023 class’ top four passers may already be off the board by the time Vegas makes their pick. In that scenario, a defensive prospect would become appealing for the team.

Carter cemented his status as one of, if not the top defenders in this year’s class during his third and final campaign with the Bulldogs. The 6-3, 310-pounder matched his 2021 production with three sacks this past season, adding seven tackles for loss. His contributions to a second straight national title for Georgia have since been overshadowed by his legal issues, though, along with reports of concerns over his character and conditioning.

Interestingly, the news of Carter’s visit comes just two days after Vic Tafur of The Athletic reported that the Raiders no longer had the All-American under consideration to be drafted (subscription required). As Tafur noted, Vegas will do their due diligence in this case, though some similarities exist between Carter and former first-round wideout Henry Ruggs. The latter was released following DUI-related charges stemming from an accident which resulted in the death of Tina Tintor and her dog, so a hesitance regarding Carter could be understandable from the team’s perspective.

The Raiders struggled across the board on defense last season, and their only outside addition along the defensive interior so far in free agency has been journeyman John Jenkins. Carter could certainly help Vegas both against the run and as a pass-rusher, and more will certainly be gleaned from the team during his visit. Whether or not the Raiders will be willing to draft him later this month, however, will be worth watching in the build-up to the draft.

Steelers Meet With CB Joey Porter Jr.

April 1st, 2023 at 2:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

Like Kenny Pickett last year, the Steelers are plenty familiar with Joey Porter Jr. The son of the longtime Pittsburgh linebacker nevertheless went through the official process of a pre-draft visit with the team, Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review notes.

The younger Porter is one of the top cornerbacks available in this year’s class, but because of the Penn State product’s local ties, the 6-foot-2 defender does not count against the Steelers’ 30 allotted pre-draft visits. Porter has been training at the team facility at points during the pre-draft run-up, per Rutter, working with his father in advance of a near-certain first-round selection. The Steelers had a chance to study Pickett up close, with the quarterback having played at Pitt; Porter attended high school in the Pittsburgh area before his Nittany Lions run.

Porter Sr. — a 1999 third-round Steelers pick — spent eight seasons with the franchise, collecting a Super Bowl ring as a starting linebacker for the 2005 team. The brash defender later served on Mike Tomlin‘s staff from 2014-18. His son joins Christian Gonzalez (Oregon), Devon Witherspoon (Illinois), Emmanuel Forbes (Mississippi State) and Deonte Banks (Maryland) as those expected to be first-round picks at the position this year.

Porter declared for the draft after his redshirt-junior season, and although he did not intercept a pass last season, Pro Football Focus charged him with just one 15-plus-yard completion allowed. The second-team All-American deflected a career-high 11 passes last year. ESPN’s Scouts Inc. grades Porter as this year’s No. 19 overall prospect; NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah slots him 15th. Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest mock sends Porter to the Patriots at No. 14 overall and Banks to the Steelers at 17.

The Steelers will be one of the teams connected to corners in Round 1. They let Cameron Sutton walk, not offering him a deal on par with what the Lions proposed, and added Patrick Peterson. But Tomlin is preparing to use Peterson at both corner and safety in his age-33 season. Pittsburgh has Levi Wallace and Ahkello Witherspoon each tied to $4MM-per-year contracts; both pacts expire after the 2023 season.

Giants Meet With Quentin Johnston, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Zay Flowers; Veteran WRs Still On Radar

March 31st, 2023 at 10:28pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although the Giants used a first-round pick on a wide receiver in 2021, connecting them to a dive back into that pool is not especially difficult. Kadarius Toney is gone, and the team’s lot of free agency moves led complementary-type options coming in or staying put.

Unsurprisingly, this year’s top receiver prospects have heard from the Giants. The team has now met with TCU’s Quentin Johnston, Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Boston College’s Zay Flowers at pre-pro-day dinners, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com notes (Twitter links). Johnston’s meeting occurred Thursday. The other top-four wideout in this year’s class, USC’s Jordan Addison, said the Giants were the most recent team to contact him.

Mentioning Smith-Njigba as a wideout GM Joe Schoen is doing extensive homework on, NJ.com’s Darryl Slater notes the team filled its quota of signings in this year’s unremarkable free agency class. The next step would be to take a swing at a player with a better chance of becoming a lead pass catcher.

“I think we’re better than we were,” Schoen said of the team’s receiver situation. “I think Daniel [Jones] has a better group. It goes back to: It’s not fantasy football. So to say, ‘Go get a No. 1 receiver,’ you’re only afforded what’s on the market and what’s available. So all these things sound great. But with the receiver group that was out there…”

Schoen’s voice trailing off effectively illustrated the leaguewide view of this year’s free agent receiver class. No top-25 contract at the position ended up going to a wideout, which marks a change from recent years, when the likes of Christian Kirk, Allen Robinson, Kenny Golladay and Corey Davis scored such deals as UFAs. John Mara said the team might not be done in free agency, and the owner said earlier this week the team is not out on Odell Beckham Jr.

The former Giants Pro Bowler has received multiple offers, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com adds, though they have clearly not met with the mercurial talent’s approval. Attempting to pair him with Aaron Rodgers, the Jets remain the most likely Beckham destination, per Graziano, who adds OBJ may be waiting on the Rodgers deal to be finalized before he commits.

Schoen said a trade for a receiver remains in play. The Giants made a push for Jerry Jeudy before the 2022 deadline, but the Broncos want a first-round pick for their top wideout. That seems like a non-starter for the Giants, who prioritized draft capital — a third-rounder, which turned into Darren Waller — over waiting on Toney’s potential. Denver also wants a second-rounder for Courtland Sutton. Barring a big offer, the Broncos are standing pat at wide receiver.

The Giants could be a DeAndre Hopkins suitor as well; they will have competition for the Cardinals standout. The Waller move makes it a bit more difficult to envision the Giants dealing away another prime draft asset for a veteran pass catcher.

The Giants doing work on Smith-Njigba adds up, after the promising playmaker finished an abbreviated junior year. JSN broke through for 95 receptions, 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns as a sophomore, leading the Buckeyes in receiving by a substantial margin despite that squad housing 2022 first-round picks Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave. That included a monstrous 347-yard showing in that season’s Rose Bowl. Smith-Njigba, however, only played three games last season, catching just five passes. ESPN’s Todd McShay said in December Smith-Njigba had healed from his nagging hamstring injury by the Buckeyes’ semifinal game against Georgia but was protecting his draft status. That claim drew backlash from the junior wideout’s family, but his third-season no-show has undoubtedly prompted teams to examine the lengthy absence.

This year’s receiver class has not generated the buzz of recent crops, but ESPN’s Scouts Inc. rates Johnston, Addison, Smith-Njigba and Flowers as first-round talents. Johnston is coming off an MCL injury in TCU’s semifinal win over Michigan. None are viewed as top-10-level talents, though the top three here are each listed in the scouting service’s top 20 at the position. New York holds the No. 25 overall pick in next month’s draft. Mel Kiper Jr. mocks Addison to New York at 25.

The Giants, who retained Isaiah Hodgins as an RFA, re-signed Sterling Shepard and 2022 receiving leader Darius Slay ton and added Parris Campbell and Jamison Crowder. Wan’Dale Robinson still represents the centerpiece here, being signed through 2025. Though, the Kentucky-developed slot player is coming off an ACL tear. There probably will not be room for this sextet to each be part of Brian Daboll‘s second roster, and how the Giants proceed early in the draft will play a major role in determining this position group’s 2023 outlook.

Cowboys Notes: Schultz, Barr, Draft

March 27th, 2023 at 2:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Cowboys have made a number of moves so far this offseason, including the trade acquisition of wideout Brandin Cooks. While that gave the team a new, accomplished pass-catcher, the departure of tight end Dalton Schultz has created a vacancy at that position.

Conflicting reports have emerged on whether or not the Cowboys attempted to retain the 26-year-old, who played on the franchise tag in 2022. Confirming his earlier offering that Schultz turned down a multi-year offer from Dallas, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer notes that Schultz declined a three-year, $36MM deal. That far outpaces the one-year, $9MM pact he signed last week to join a Texans team facing far more uncertainty at the quarterback position than the situation he departed.

Schultz established himself as a highly dependable target for Dak Prescott during their time together in Dallas. The former recorded exactly 2,000 yards and 17 touchdowns over the past three seasons, production which he will look to replicate with the Texans and their new-look offense in 2023. A standout campaign would go a long way to earning him a new free agent deal similar to the one he chose not to take from the Cowboys.

Here are some other notes out of Dallas:

The Cowboys have retained a number of in-house free agents on defense this year, but the team’s linebacking corps will still look different in 2023. ESPN’s Todd Archer notes that veteran Anthony Barr will not be back in Dallas next year. The 31-year-old joined the Cowboys last season after eight years with the Vikings; he saw a notable role with 10 starts and a 63% snap share. After making 58 tackles and putting up underwhelming numbers in coverage, though, he will be headed elsewhere this year. Dallas has the recently-retained Leighton Vander Esch, along with the likes of Damone Clark, Jabril Cox and Devin Harper in their middle linebacker room, one which only sparingly includes dynamic edge rusher Micah Parsons.
With Schultz no longer in the fold, tight end is a position of need for the Cowboys heading into the draft. This year’s class is said to be extremely deep, and Jon Machota of The Athletic writes that Dallas is “intrigued” by it (subscription required). The door is open to the Cowboys using their first-round pick (No. 26) on a tight end, which would put them in play to add a prospect like Michael Mayer, Luke Musgrave, Darnell Washington or Dalton Kincaid.
Isaac Alarcon has spent the past three seasons on Dallas’ practice squad as an offensive lineman after joining the team through the International Player Pathway program. He will be making a position switch to defensive line this offseason, however (Twitter link via Archer). The 24-year-old will look to find a 53-man roster spot along the d-line as a depth option.

Latest On Colts’ QB Situation

March 27th, 2023 at 9:00am CST by Adam La Rose

With one month remaining until the 2023 draft, teams at the top of the board are increasingly turning their attention to this year’s class of prospects. That includes the quarterback position for several teams slated to pick in the top five – such as the Colts – who find themselves in an interesting situation.

Indianapolis holds the fourth overall selection, which has led to the widespread belief that they will draft a quarterback with that pick. They have a vacancy at the top of the depth chart, after their 2022 experiment with Matt Ryan failed and led to the veteran’s release. The Colts have since signed Gardner Minshew in a move which reunites him with head coach Shane Steichen, but the latter confirmed that a backup role awaits him with his new team.

“Right now, obviously, he’s coming in to just compete and be the best he can be, you know, and that’s where we’re going,” Steichen said, when asked whether Minshew could compete for the vacant starting job. “That’s where we feel he’s at right now and that’s his role right now” (h/t Brenna White of NFL.com).

Minshew signed a one-year deal with a maximum value of $5.5MM, giving the Colts a No. 2 option with 24 starts and 32 appearances to his name. However, the team’s Week 1 starter in 2023 has long been expected to be the signal-caller drafted with their top pick. On that note, though, The Athletic’s Zak Keefer notes that the Colts feel “pretty strongly” that the 2023 class is devoid of a can’t-miss franchise QB (Twitter link).

With the quarterback-needy Panthers and Texans slated to select first and second, respectively, there is a strong chance both Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud will be off the board before the Colts’ pick. The other top options at the position, Will Levis and Anthony Richardson, are generally seen as more volatile prospects in terms of their ability to transition successfully into the NFL. Given the lack of attractive options likely to be available to Indianapolis under center, the team could be steered toward an unexpected move.

Keffer’s colleague James Boyd opines that the Colts could consider drafting the best player available at No. 4, and saving their QB pursuits for later in the draft (subscription required). A number of high-end defenders will be on the board assuming Carolina and Houston take Young and Stroud in one order or another, so Indianapolis could be well-positioned to bolster their roster on that side of the ball. Their next selection is at No. 35, which Boyd notes may be too low for the team to secure Hendon Hooker, the next highest-rated passer.

For that reason, Boyd points to a trade-down from the fourth overall pick being a possibility if the Colts aren’t sold on selecting Levis or Richardson early. Hooker, coming off a torn ACL, carries risk of his own, of course, which will make the Colts’ evaluations and plans at the QB spot a key storyline in the coming weeks.

Jets Trade WR Elijah Moore To Browns

March 22nd, 2023 at 10:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

Shortly after agreeing to terms with Mecole Hardman, the Jets have a trade in place involving one of their holdovers. They are sending Elijah Moore to the Browns, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).

A former second-round pick, Moore will head to Cleveland in a deal involving a Day 2 pick swap. The Browns will send their No. 42 overall pick for Moore and the Jets’ No. 74 overall choice, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Two years remain on Moore’s contract; he is going into his age-23 season.

As the Jets’ wide receiver room became crowded, the Browns were connected to wideout interest. The team was looking into Jerry Jeudy, but the Broncos have continued to set a high price for teams regarding their top pass catcher. Instead, Cleveland will add Moore to its receiving corps as a slot piece to pair with Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones.

This will be a nice vault up the draft board for the Jets as well. Moving up 32 spots, the Jets now hold the Nos. 42 and 43 overall picks. Although the Packers have been seeking a first-round pick and change for Aaron Rodgers, the Jets now having two mid-second-round choices figures to come up in the Joe Douglas–Brian Gutekunst trade talks involving the superstar quarterback.

Moore voiced frustration about his role last season and asked the Jets to trade him. The 2021 second-rounder, who was sent home after a heated argument with then-OC Mike LaFleur ahead of a midseason hiatus, did not match his rookie-year numbers in 2022. But Zach Wilson‘s presence hindered Jets receivers, hence the all-out Rodgers pursuit. In reaffirming the team’s desire to retain Moore, Douglas issued strong support for the disgruntled wideout in November. Four months later, Moore has a new team.

As a rookie, Moore showed immediate promise coming out of Ole Miss. The 5-foot-10 target caught 43 passes for 538 yards and five touchdowns, reaching these numbers despite Wilson’s inconsistency and despite missing six games. The Browns will bet on Moore’s upside with Deshaun Watson targeting him, and the team will move out of another early draft slot to do so. The Watson trade cost the Browns their first-round picks in 2022, 2023 and 2024. Cleveland’s first 2023 draft choice will now arrive at No. 74.

Moore, who clocked a 4.32-second 40-yard dash at his pro day two years ago, is due base salaries of just $1.5MM and $1.9MM this season and next. This bet on potential notwithstanding, it does invite some risk for the Browns. Cleveland has now traded out of the first and second rounds of the draft, and the Watson swap also will send the Browns’ 2023 third-rounder (No. 73) to the Texans. Cleveland does have a compensatory third-rounder — No. 98, acquired from the NFL for the Vikings hiring ex-Browns exec Kwesi Adofo-Mensah as GM — but sliding down from No. 42 to No. 74 will make for a long wait on draft night.

The Jets targeted Moore on just 13% of his routes run last season, per ESPN.com’s Jake Trotter, who adds that was a league-low number for players who ran at least 400 routes. Paired with Cooper and Peoples-Jones, Moore should have a clear-cut opportunity in Cleveland. His exit will also free up space in a Jets receiver room that has seen both Hardman and Allen Lazard added since free agency started.

Gang Green’s receiver cadre now includes Hardman, Lazard, Garrett Wilson, Corey Davis and Denzel Mims. While Mims is an obvious candidate not to be part of a Rodgers-led receiver room, it will be interesting to see if the Moore trade allows for Davis to avoid cap-casualty status — the Jets can save $10.5MM by cutting him — or enables the team to pursue Odell Beckham Jr. and/or Randall Cobb. Rodgers is believed to have encouraged the Jets to sign both players, and they have begun doing so. Hardman’s arrival throws a wrench in both OBJ and Cobb coming to the Big Apple, but the Jets still have some space to add another weapon soon.

Panthers Targeting C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson With No. 1 Pick?

March 18th, 2023 at 6:45pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Panthers’ decision to move up to the top spot in next month’s draft has left them with opportunity to land a long-term solution at the quarterback position for the first time since Cam Newton‘s decline and departure. Carolina has a quartet of passers ranked in the top tier of this year’s class to choose from, but they may have their eye on a pair of prospects.

Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network Network reports that the Panthers are “targeting” either Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud or Florida’s Anthony Richardson with the No. 1 pick (Twitter link). He adds that debate is ongoing within the organization regarding whether or not it would be worthwhile to select the latter with the top selection, something which would no doubt mark a surprise move.

Richardson started just 13 games in his college career, spending only the 2022 campaign as the Gators’ full-time starter under center. That lack of experience contributed in large part to the sense among many that he would have been better suited to stay in school for one more year, and that declaring for 2023 could hurt his draft stock. The other main factor in that situation, of course, was his erratic performances on the field.

The 6-4, 236-pounder was inconsistent in the passing game in particular, completing less than 54% of his passes and compiling a 17:9 touchdown-to-interception ratio. While that has led to calls for him to sit for at least one year upon being drafted into the NFL, his production on the ground is considerable. Richardson totaled 1,116 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground, and showed off his athleticism with an historic performance at the Combine earlier this month.

Opinion is split considerably on Richardson, but Stroud profiles as a much safer prospect to project at the NFL level. An accomplished pocket passer, his time with the Buckeyes included two years as a starter and a high degree of personal and team success. Stroud went 21-4 at Ohio State, totaling 85 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions, though his rushing stats pale in comparison to Richardson’s in particular.

A two-time Big 10 Offensive Player of the Year, Stroud finished fourth and third in Heisman voting in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Stroud nearly decided to remain at Ohio State for his senior season, but he will enter the draft as one of the most known commodities at the QB position. Alabama’s Bryce Young is generally seen as the top signal-caller in this year’s class, but Stroud would not be an entirely unexpected selection for the start of the team’s new era with head coach Frank Reich.

Much is yet to be determined with respect to any player evaluations, but how the Panthers choose to proceed will have a significant effect on several other teams near the top of the board, including those eyeing a rookie QB. While Young or Kentucky’s Will Levis could emerge on Carolina’s radar, their attention seems to be steering them towards either Stroud or Richardson.

DT Jalen Carter Reaches Plea Deal

March 16th, 2023 at 10:20am CST by Sam Robinson

The two misdemeanor charges in connection with a fatal car accident will not lead to jail time for top prospect Jalen Carter. The former Georgia defensive tackle reached a plea agreement with Athens-Clarke County solicitors Thursday, according to Seth Emerson of The Athletic (on Twitter).

Carter was hit with misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and racing. These charges came in connection with the accident that killed Georgia offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting analyst Chandler LeCroy. Carter will not serve jail time, per Emerson, and will instead pay a $1K fine. The standout defensive tackle must complete a driving course and perform 80 hours of community service.

Carter was driving a separate vehicle Jan. 15, and a police investigation found the two vehicles were “operating in a manner consistent with racing.” Police initially determined the crash a single-car accident caused by LeCroy speeding. Evidence suggests Carter’s vehicle, a 2021 Ford Tomahawk, and LeCroy’s, a 2021 Ford Expedition, were switching lanes — including on the opposite side of the road — and speeding.

Just before LeCroy’s fatal crash, her vehicle was traveling approximately 104 mph. A toxicology report measured LeCroy’s blood-alcohol level at .197, well above the legal limit, and the investigation has deemed alcohol, racing and reckless driving were “significant contributors” to this accident. Police did not find Carter had been drinking.

Thursday’s development prevents the state of Georgia from bringing any additional charges against Carter in connection with the crash, Mark Schlabach of ESPN.com reports. Carter left the scene of the accident, but his attorney indicated (via Schlabach) he did not do so without being given permission first. Upon being charged, Carter left the Combine earlier this month but later returned after being released from jail on bond.

This obviously represents good news for Carter, who entered the Combine as a candidate to be a top-three pick. Teams will undoubtedly continue their own investigations into the top interior D-line prospect’s actions that night in January, along with an overall character background check, and Georgia’s recent pro day created new hurdles. Carter came in nine pounds heavier than his Combine weight, weighing 323 pounds, and failed to finish his position drills. Carter did not run the 40-yard dash or participate in parts beyond drills at his workout, Schlabach adds, noting the 6-foot-3 pass rusher was “cramping up and breathing heavily” during the drill portion.

Head coaches Mike Tomlin, Matt Eberflus and Arthur Smith were in attendance Wednesday, after Carter did not work out at the Combine. Although Carter should still be expected to be drafted early, the recent charges and this workout have dealt blows to his stock.

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