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The 2023 NFL draft is finished now. Both teams and fans were excited. Teams set a new record when it came to the number of trades during the event.
It was the top quarterback prospects that drew much of the attention early in the draft, though some other positions attracted plenty of hype as well. Now it’s the rookies’ job to try and make a big impact next season.
Here’s a look at some of the biggest news stories surrounding the 2023 draft.
Young at No. 1
The Chicago Bears originally had the first overall selection in the 2023 NFL draft, but didn’t hang onto it. Chicago dealt that pick to the Carolina Panthers, receiving a nice haul of picks in return.Carolina was guaranteed to take that a quarterback at the top of the board.
Carolina had some work to do before making a selection. There were some solid quarterback prospects in the draft. The final decision ultimately came down to Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud, and the Panthers didn’t make it official until Thursday evening.
The Panthers picked Young out of the University of Alabama, the first Crimson Tide player ever to be a No. 1 overall selection. Carolina is expected to play Young right away, looking to make a move in a mundane NFC South.
Carolina has a 2023 win total of 7½, according to NFL regular-season win odds.
Stroud, Richardson in Top 4
The Houston Texans were next, and they wasted little time. Houston made the easy decision of taking the former Ohio St. Buckeye Stroud with the No. 2 selection.
Stroud may have to spend some time on the bench, as the Texans do have Davis Mills as the incumbent. There’s no doubt the Texans view Stroud as their future, though. He will get plenty of opportunities to play.
Then, the biggest early surprise was the Indianapolis Colts selecting Anthony Richardson at No. 4. An underwhelming season in Gainesville with the Florida Gators, but was able to impress during both the combine and pro day at Florida.
Houston, Arizona and Indy are all 150-1 (+15000) to win the title, as per Super Bowl LVIII odds.
Eagles Pick Carter
The Philadelphia Eagles were NFC Champions a season ago. They were also extremely busy in the draft. Philadelphia was sitting on the clock at No 10, but were able to leapfrog one spot via trade with the Chicago Bears.
Philadelphia, now at No. 9, selected defensive tackle Jalen Carter out of the University of Georgia. Carter is expected to have an immediate impact in the NFL, especially with the Eagles.
Ahead of the 2022 college season, Carter was considered the No 1 prospect in the draft. He remained that way through the season, but some off-field “issues” led him to fall noticeably.
The Chicago Bears also needed some help on the defensive side of the ball, but general manager Ryan Poles made it clear that they were passing on Carter due to his character.
Levis’ Miserable Day
Perhaps the biggest story out of the first round concerned a player who wasn’t taken, at least not there. Kentucky Wildcat quarterback Will Levis was on hand in Kansas City to observe the opening round, seemingly a lock to be selected at some point.
There were some reports that had Levis going No. 4 to the Indianapolis Colts. There was also a less than one percent chance that Levis fell completely. That’s what happened though, as no team chose Levis Thursday.
Levis wasn’t at Day 2 of the draft. He wouldn’t have had to stick around that long, as the Tennessee Titans chose him at No. 33, He will be given a shot to win the job in Nashville.
- Tony Caliente, Gambling911.com
