With The First Pick
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Top ten draft order for the 2023 NFL Draft is set after week 18

By Lou Scataglia

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 3: Jayden Daniels #5 of the LSU Tigers is hit by Jalen Carter #88 of the Georgia Bulldogs as he passes the ball during a game between LSU Tigers and Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 3, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 3: Jayden Daniels #5 of the LSU Tigers is hit by Jalen Carter #88 of the Georgia Bulldogs as he passes the ball during a game between LSU Tigers and Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 3, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images) /
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After week 18’s games of the 2022 NFL season, the top 10 draft order for the 2023 NFL Draft has officially been locked in.   The final regular season week of the 2022 season saw a bit of change in the top 10 order for the upcoming draft.

No longer are the Houston Texans picking first, but with the Bears’ week 18 loss and Texans’ week 18 victory, the Bears are now picking at first overall.  Justin Fields, their 2021 quarterback selection, progressed a bit in year two.

It would appear as though the Bears are going to build around Justin Fields, as the second year pro was noticeably better.  However, I guess there is always a chance that the new regime, led by General Manager Ryan Poles, ends up going in a different direction.

The Texans now pick second overall and still seem very in play for the likely quarterback selection that is coming for them.

The Arizona Cardinals pick third.  They have their quarterback locked in and could use a significant boost on the defensive side of the ball.  They could also use an offensive lineman, but none appear to warrant taking them third overall.

In fourth are the Indianapolis Colts, who surely need to try their hand at drafting a quarterback.  At fifth are the Denver Broncos, but their first round pick belongs to the Seattle Seahawks, so we have a 9-8 playoff team picking fifth overall.

The Los Angeles Rams were originally picking sixth, but their pick belongs to the Detroit Lions, so there’s another 9-8 team picking within the top 10.  The Lions should go heavy on defense in the 2023 NFL Draft, as that unit was clearly the weakpoint of their roster.

The Las Vegas Raiders are a total dumpster fire and pick seventh overall.  As of now, they need a long-term answer at quarterback, but probably won’t be able to take Bryce Young or CJ Stroud.

The Atlanta Falcons pick eighth, and I’m not sure what direction they go in.  Do they have faith in Desmond Ridder, or could they also try and take a signal caller?

Picking nine is the Carolina Panthers.  Again, a QB needy team, but they have some talent on defense and what appears to be a strong offensive line, so they might be in play for someone like Derek Carr or Ryan Tannehill, if he is no longer a Titan after 2022.

The tenth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft belongs to the Philadelphia Eagles, by way of the New Orleans Saints.  This almost seems unfair.  The best team in the NFL is picking tenth overall.  I do think the Eagles try and nab a cornerback at this spot, as that unit seems to be the weakest and perhaps oldest of their team.

So, the top 10 picks look like this:

  1. Chicago Bears
  2. Houston Texans
  3. Arizona Cardinals
  4. Indianapolis Colts
  5. Seattle Seahawks (VIA Denver Broncos)
  6. Detroit Lions (VIA Los Angeles Rams)
  7. Las Vegas Raiders
  8. Atlanta Falcons
  9. Carolina Panthers
  10. Philadelphia Eagles (VIA New Orleans Saints)
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