There is a new player forecast as the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft in the rankings of ESPN analyst Todd McShay. And with the Chicago Bears holding that pick, and seemingly committed to quarterback Justin Fields, it could create some interesting opportunity in the 2023 NFL Draft odds.
“So I re-ranked my top 32 prospects for this 2023 class, which includes a handful of quarterbacks who I think can be NFL starters,” McShay wrote for ESPN+ Insider on Wednesday. “… And after Will Anderson Jr. led my rankings from the preseason right through the college football regular season, I now have a new No. 1 overall prospect!”
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That new No. 1 is Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young, who was previously No. 2 in McShay’s rankings.
Per DraftKings, Young (-140) is a growing favorite over Ohio State Buckeyes QB C.J. Stroud (+210) to be selected first overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. The next highest odds are on Alabama rusher Anderson (+750) and Georgia Bulldogs interior defensive lineman Jalen Carter (+750). Based on the odds, the only other player possibly being considered for the No. 1 pick is Kentucky Wildcats QB Will Levis (+2000). All other players are +8000 or higher.
Young is -120 in the 2023 NFL Draft odds at FanDuel.
“His poise, patience and ability to extend plays separate him from the rest and are big reasons why I moved him up to No. 1 overall,” McShay wrote.
The Houston Texans have the No. 2 pick, followed by the Arizona Cardinals at No. 3 and Indianapolis Colts at No. 4. The Texans and Colts are likely in the market for a quarterback and could trade up into the No. 1 spot. The Cardinals have Kyler Murray at QB, and even though he is likely to miss some if not most of next season recovering from an ACL injury, he received a lucrative contract extension from Arizona last offseason.
McShay has Anderson ranked second, Carter third and Stroud fourth. Also at ESPN, in rankings as of Dec. 29, Mel Kiper Jr. had Carter at No. 1, Anderson at No. 2, Levis at No. 3 and Young at No. 4. Stroud was No. 7.
Indianapolis general manager Chris Ballard told the Colts website they would be willing to trade up to draft a player they liked.
“I’d do whatever it takes,” Ballard said. “If we thought there’s a player that we’re driven to get that makes the franchise and the team better, that’s what we would do.”
The Colts could stay at No. 4 but run the risk of another team trading up ahead of them to draft a quarterback.
“We understand the magnitude of where we’re at in the draft,” Ballard said. “And we understand the importance of the position (quarterback). To get one that actually you can win with and be right is the most important thing. Not if we take one or not. But being right.”
Chicago general manager Ryan Pace this week said he would have to be “absolutely blown away” to draft a quarterback with this No. 1 pick.
A quarterback has been the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft 34 times, most of any position, most recently in 2021 (Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars).
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