2023 NFL Draft: The Latest Intel on the First 10 Picks
We’re less than two hours away from the NFL draft, so we'll know soon what’s going to happen in Kansas City …
• I can’t remember there ever being less certainty over what will happen in the top five and it starts with Houston at No. 2. Texans GM Nick Caserio and coach DeMeco Ryans met with owner Cal McNair this morning to finalize plans, and the question’s been edge rusher or quarterback. You can guess which way any owner would like to go.
That said, I do get the sense that, between the second and 12th picks, the Texans would like to come away with one of each. To me, the presence of Texas Tech DE Tyree Wilson looms as large over this as the quarterbacks do. As one head coach put it Wednesday night, “God didn’t make many people that look like Tyree Wilson.” But taking him, for anyone, isn’t that simple for some teams.
The Texans did pass him on his physical as I understand it. But the foot is a concern for other teams, and could come into play with anyone if you’re splitting hairs on who to pick. So if he gets past No. 2 because of that, he could slide a little and become one of the draft’s most interesting figures.
Levis, Anderson and Stroud are all likely top-15 picks in the NFL draft.
Jordan Prather/USA TODAY Sports (Will Levis); Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports (Will Anderson Jr.); Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY Network (C.J. Stroud)
• The Panthers are taking Bryce Young with the No. 1 pick, and that might not be it for the night for them. Word is they've been exploring trading back into the bottom of the first round for a pass rusher, if the right one is there.
• As for Young, he was the baseline pick from the start, and he held serve all along. Among other things, Young’s football intelligence and ability to process information separated him from the pack.
• Kentucky QB Will Levis is another one who’s looking at a wide range of outcomes going into tonight, and the team he’s been linked to most has been the Colts. And another I’d keep an eye on, in certain scenarios, would be the Titans. Levis drew shaky reviews on the interview circuit, but I’m told he had a really good meeting with Tennessee coach Mike Vrabel, and left that meeting thinking Nashville is where he might land.
The Titans did a lot of interesting work on him (and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud is on their radar this way, too), and they’ve become a team to watch. They’ve had discussions on moving both up and back, with the potential for a big move up to Arizona’s spot at No. 3 or a shorter move up to Atlanta’s spot at No. 8.
• We mentioned the Eagles potentially going up, and Philly has had detailed discussions on deals with the Seahawks at No. 5 and the Falcons at No. 8 (they’ve touched base with Detroit, Houston and Vegas, too). I think both are in play, if things fall the right way, with GM Howie Roseman also having done his homework on moving down from both 10 and 30.
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• Among the other teams exploring trades up (in addition to Philly and Tennessee): Houston, Green Bay, New England, Pittsburgh, the Chargers and Kansas City.
• Could the Ravens get newly signed QB Lamar Jackson a new weapon tonight? Yes, they could. They’ve been linked to Boston College WR Zay Flowers for a while, and I heard a comp for Flowers from a GM on Thursday that Baltimore fans will like—Steve Smith. Flowers is a popular man, with the Chargers, Giants and Chiefs all said to like the do-everything dynamo who will be a great gadget guy at a baseline with room to grow at receiver.
• Want some more comps on this year’s receiver class? I got Cooper Kupp for Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba from one team, and Calvin Ridley for USC’s Jordan Addison from another.
• I mentioned that Illinois CB Devon Witherspoon absolutely crushed the pre-draft process in my column last night, and said how I believe that teams see him as one of the class’ safest prospects in that regard. Throw Ohio State LT Paris Johnson Jr. in that category, too. He could go No. 3 to Arizona, and I don’t think he gets past the Raiders at No. 7. If I had to redo my mock draft, I’d probably put him at that spot, flipping him with Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski, and giving Skoronski to the Bears at No. 9.
