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Having completed the first week of college football as well as the full NFL preseason schedule, it’s time to (theoretically) predict the top-10 picks for next season’s NFL Draft.
1. Houston Texans - C.J. Stroud
As much as Davis Mills has exhibited as quarterback of a very bad team, he’s not the future of the Texans. That’s Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud. He will be selected by Houston with the first overall pick in 2023.
A bet on the strong-armed Stroud to go No. 1 overall pays +200.
2. Atlanta Falcons - Will Anderson Jr.
The Falcons stay with Desmond Ridder as their quarterback of the future, allowing them to take the best non-quarterback on the board, Will Anderson Jr.
The Alabama edge rusher was the SEC’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2021, and will repeat in 2022.
Anderson is currently paying +300 to be the top overall pick, while the Falcons are a robust 28-1, or +2800, to win the NFC South. That is according to NFL odds.
3. New York Jets - Eli Ricks
The Jets decide that Zach Wilson really is the future, so they give 2021 first-round pick Sauce Gardner a new teammate at cornerback, selecting Eli Ricks from Alabama.
He is big, at 6-foot-2, with the wheels to stay with smaller receivers. Teamed with Gardner, these two will become one of the best corner duos in the NFL.
The Jets are paying +375 to finish this season with the worst record in the NFL.
4. Chicago Bears - Paris Johnson Jr.
There’s no other way to go for the Bears in the 2023 NFL Draft. A dreadful offensive line, and the best tackle in the class is there for the taking at No. 4 overall, Paris Johnson Jr.
Johnson, out of Ohio St. is at +1200 to be the first overall pick in the draft. The Bears are priced at +600 to have the league’s worst record.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars - Quentin Johnston
There are a number of good wide-receiving options that could go before Texas Christian’s Quentin Johnston, but his 6-foot-4 size, outside speed and solid hands make him the direction the Jaguars go.
Jacksonville’s over/under win total this season is 6½, as per NFL odds.
6. Detroit Lions - Anthony Richardson
With the experts expecting the Lions to draft Alabama’s Bryce Young, they decide to grab the considerably bigger quarterback, Florida’s Anthony Richardson.
As low as the fifth- or sixth-best quarterback prospect to begin the season, but that performance against Utah raised his stock. He will do that all season long, playing himself into the top-10.
The line on regular season wins in Detroit is 6½.
7. Seattle Seahawks - Bryce Young
Seattle’s less afraid of small quarterbacks, especially after its history with Russell Wilson. Alabama’s Bryce Young finds a good, comfortable landing spot at No. 7 with the Seahawks.
He also has the ability to overcome any perceived issues with his size, and he and D.K. Metcalf will establish a great connection in 2023 and beyond.
Young is +250 to be the first overall pick.
8. New York Giants - Will Levis
The 2023 run on quarterbacks continues with the Giants taking Kentucky’s Will Levis. The transfer from Penn State looks the part of an NFL passer at 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, and has the quick release that will go perfectly with the offense of new Giants’ head coach Brian Daboll.
Levis is +1600 to be picked No. 1 overall.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers - Peter Skoronski
So desperate for offensive line help are the Steelers, that while Peter Skoronki may be a bit of a reach, the Northwestern product is helped by the success of former Wildcat Rashawn Slater.
It doesn’t hurt that his grandfather, Bob Skoronski, won five NFL Championships as a tackle for the Green Bay Packers.
Over/under on the Steelers win total is 7½.
10. Carolina Panthers - Myles Murphy
The Panthers may decide to move around and grab one of the top quarterbacks (assuming they don’t see Baker Mayfield as the answer). If they stay at No. 10, they can’t do much better than Clemson edge rusher Myles Murphy.
He was second-team All-ACC as a 19-year-old, and his size and football I.Q. makes him a perfect prospect in the eyes of the NFL.
Carolina has a win total that’s projected at 6½.
