Projecting the top five teams picking in the 2023 NFL Draft
Even though the 2022 season is just two weeks old, the NFL Draft is always fun to talk about. Which teams will hold the first five overall selections? Most of the time, teams who are picking this high are usually gunning for a quarterback. Obviously, that’s not the case all the time as different teams have different needs.
It’s too early to project which positions will go in the top five, but I don’t think it’s too early to project which teams will end up picking in the top five in April’s draft, which is slowly but surely approaching.
Which teams will populate the top five selections in the upcoming draft?
Predicting top five teams picking in 2023 NFL Draft
5. Seattle Seahawks
I think the Seahawks are headed towards a long season. They won their opening matchup against the Denver Broncos, which I personally saw as a trap game for Denver. They returned to Earth a bit last Sunday, getting beat by the San Francisco 49ers.
The Seahawks don’t have a ton of talent on their roster and are without Jamal Adams for the rest of the season. They are also in a tough NFC West division and are likely going to lose all six games this year. I think they are headed to one of the top selections in April’s draft.
4. Houston Texans
I actually kind of like the Texans. I think Davis Mills can be decent; Brandin Cooks is criminally underrated, and Lovie Smith one took a team to the Super Bowl. However, this is a full teardown for the Texans. This team might be the least talented in the NFL.
I don’t mean that as an insult. They do have some nice pieces here and there, and do get the benefit of being in a weak division, but I think they’ll be picking very high in 2023.
3. Carolina Panthers
I also am a fan of the Panthers, but man are they poorly coached. Matt Rhule has had a rough go in the NFL, and new QB Baker Mayfield hasn’t been able to settle into the offense yet. It’s a shame because the Panthers have a ton of talent on their roster, especially on defense.
Their offense features DJ Moore, Robby Anderson, Terrace Marshall, and Christian McCaffrey. They also made strides to improve their offensive line this past offseason. The weak points of their roster appear to be the quarterback and coach, the two most important pieces of a successful team.
2. Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears won a wild week one game in the pouring rain against the San Francisco 49ers. I think that was a fluke win for the team. The Bears are also hurting for talent badly. Perhaps the weakest unit on the team is their offensive line, which is a scary thought for Justin Fields, who hasn’t shown any improvement thus far in year two.
Because of the poor roster on offense, Fields might not improve much at all, which could prompt Ryan Poles, their general manager, to take a swing at a a quarterback that has more upside that Fields. The 2023 NFL Draft has CJ Stroud and Bryce Young at the top of the quarterback rankings so far, and one of those two would be available with the second overall selection if they were to pick this high.
1. Atlanta Falcons
Right now, I don’t see a team being able to lose more than the Atlanta Falcons this year. They essentially entered into a rebuilding phase once they traded Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts for a third round pick. They took Desmond Ridder in the 2022 NFL Draft, but that quarterback class was seen as a weaker one, and Ridder has some concerns.
The Falcons need just about every position on their roster. It’s a tough situation for them, as this rebuilding process is going to take some time. This is year one for them, and they might consider continuing the rebuild by selecting Bryce Young or CJ Stroud.