It’s the eve of the 2023 NFL Draft, and connections are being made left and right. Every team has hosted several prospects and done their fair share of homework. Here’s a few things we’re hearing in the hours leading up to the draft:
- The Commanders can go in a lot of directions at the exact midpoint of the first round. They’ve been connected to offensive tackle and cornerback prospects in most situations. According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, though, Washington’s executive vice president of football/player personnel Marty Hurney is a big advocate for Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson. The team has committed to last year’s fifth-round pick Sam Howell as their starting quarterback for 2023, as well as bringing in Jacoby Brissett as an experienced backup. Drafting Richardson would likely be a sit-and-learn situation while either Howell or Brissett man the starting spot under center.
- The Chargers have been rumored to be looking ahead in this year’s draft towards next year’s needs, according to Breer. Even though wide receiver is clearly not a need with Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Josh Palmer, Williams may end up as a cap casualty after this season with a pending $32.46MM cap hit in 2024. This could lead to Los Angeles getting ahead of that hole and drafting a wideout in the first round this year. Breer hears the team really likes Boston College receiver Zay Flowers.
- Another team who could possibly be looking to cover a future contract situation, the Giants are reportedly fairly high on Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs, according to Breer. With contract negotiations with veteran Saquon Barkley being reported as tenuous, it’s hard to imagine general manager Joe Schoen further stirring the pot with another first-round running back. It would provide the team with a backup option if negotiations with Barkley turn sour, though.
- The Bengals ranked 29th in 2022 for team sacks and are reportedly looking for more pass rushing help on the interior defensive line, according to Breer. At the end of the first round, there’s only so many options. Georgia’s Jalen Carter surely won’t still be around at No. 28 overall. Clemson’s Bryan Bresee has some strong tools but is expected to need to improve his pass rushing arsenal. Pittsburgh’s Calijah Kancey is the only real answer here. With 14.5 sacks and 27.5 tackles for loss over the last two years, the diminutive tackle projects as a discount Aaron Donald. If Kancey isn’t available or not what the Bengals are looking for, they could trade back or just wait for someone like Auburn’s Colby Wooden in the third or fourth round.
- Lastly, the Bears have been frequently tied to offensive line prospect Peter Skoronski out of Northwestern. It’s unclear whether they like Skoronski as an improvement at tackle or a new starter on the inside, but if he’s available by the time the tenth pick rolls around, it’s hard to imagine Chicago passing up the nearby offensive lineman.
Bears have 9th pick. Eagles have 10th.
How do these writers have jobs as writers when they can’t get simple facts correct? Bears have the 9th pick!!
1. Panthers- QB Bryce young
2. Texans- DE Tyree Wilson
3. Titans via trade with cardinals – QB CJ Stroud
4. Colts- QB Will Levi’s
5. Seahawks- DE Will Anderson
6. Lions – DT Jalen Carter
7. Raiders – CB Devin Witherspoon
8. Falcons- CB Christian Gonzalez
9. New England via trade with Chicago- WR Smith-Nijigbu
10. Eagles- DE Nolan Smith
11. Cardinals- OT Paris Johnson
12. Texans- QB Anthony Richardson
13. Packers- TE Michael Myers (coin flip between him and Kincaid)
14. Chicago via New England- OT Peter Sktonski
*This is where it gets hard
15. Jets- DE Lukas Van Ness
16. Commanders- CB Deonte Banks
17. Steelers- CB Joey Porter
18. Lions- TE Dalton Kincaid
19. Buccs- OT Darnell Wright
20. Bills trade up with Seahawks- RB Bijan Robinson
21. Chargers- WR Zay Flowers
22. Ravens- WR Quentin Johnson
23. Vikings- S Brian Branch
24. Jags- OT Broderick Jones
25. Giants- WR Jordan Addison
26. Cowboys- RB Jahmyr Gibbs
27. Seahawks via Buffalo- QB Hayden Hooker
28. Bengals- CB Emmanuel Forbes
29. Saints- DE Myles Murphy
30. Eagles- OT Anton Harrison
31. Chiefs- DT Calijah Kancey
Take it to Vegas.
I am looking forward to every single Levi’s autocorrect making people look silly.
Bears aren’t taking skoronski as a Tackle, he doesn’t meet their thresholds which they have held true to with every single pick and signing of the Poles era, also the Pats trading up for a WR in the top ten is hilarious
Yeah that ain’t happening. Bears won’t pass up Johnson to move back and get Skoronski. And even if they did they would take Wright over Skoronski.
Chargers need to draft a WR for the future. Allen is awesome but he seems to have hamstring issues and once hamstring issues arise they seem to pop back up regularly. I wouldn’t be surprised if he only played 12 games this year. Williams is super talented but he will get expensive next year. Palmer is one of my favorite WR3’s in the NFL but the Chargers need to get another weapon. Zay Flowers, Jordan Addison, Jalin Hyatt, Josh Downs, or Quentin Johnston any of these guys would add some depth moving forward, it just depends on which ones are still available at #21. Or go big and make a trade to AZ and get D-Hop this year…just an idea.