5 early predictions for the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft

While the 2022 season hasn’t finished yet, the draft season for a majority of the NFL is heating up with the Shrine Bowl and Senior Bowl next week. After that will be the Scouting Combine and numerous Pro Days leading into the 2023 NFL Draft at the end of April.

Over the next few months, there is going to be a lot of movement, and needs for teams could change depending on how they approach free agency. There are also a number of veterans who could be traded which could alter teams’ draft picks.

With all that in mind, it seems like a good point to make some early predictions on what might occur in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

5 early predictions for the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft

3 quarterbacks are drafted in the Top 10 of the 2023 NFL Draft

Last year, there was only one quarterback taken in the first round when the Pittsburgh Steelers took Kenny Pickett with the 20th overall pick. After Pickett, quarterbacks waited a long time until the Atlanta Falcons selected Desmond Ridder in the third round and he was followed shortly after by the Titans selecting Malik Willis and the Panthers drafting Matt Corral.

This year though the quarterback class looks very different and there are some excellent prospects at the top of the position. It is led by Bryce Young out of Alabama and C.J. Stroud out of Ohio State with those two followed shortly after by Kentucky’s Will Levis.

I believe all three will be drafted in the first round with teams like the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Carolina Panthers, and potentially Las Vegas Raiders having major needs at the position. The fact that teams will be fighting for position to select their quarterback leads to the next prediction.