With the NFL Combine wrapped up, it’s now time to start preparing for the 2023 NFL Draft. The NFL Draft kicks off in Kansas City, Missouri starting April 27th at 8 PM. Until then, we can speculate on the first round as a whole. 

Now, the Carolina Panthers hold the first overall pick. Now, there is even speculation that they will trade it for a team in need of a quarterback. 

Check out below the odds of the first overall pick, the first player at their position taken, and where some names have a chance of landing. These odds are courtesy of FanDuel and are changing daily, so get them at the cost while you can!

2023 NFL Draft: First Overall Pick

Prior to the Carolina Panthers trade:

After the Carolina Panthers trade:

What a shakeup Friday afternoon! Prior to the trade, I knew it was highly likely that the Chicago Bears would trade out of the first pick. That they did. If you listened to Anthony Cervino’s latest first-round mock, then you would have heard of the Indianapolis Colts trading up to select Bryce Young. 

To clarify, Anthony made it a point of a team that is in dire need of a quarterback would definitely be looking at the top pick here. While the odds have shifted, so has the #1 overall pick. As a result, the Panthers now acquired the top pick from the Bears, and the odds flipped to C.J. Stroud being the first overall pick.

Because the number one pick is worth so much, the Panthers have also been rumored at trading the pick. Therefore, that’s why the next three quarterbacks have greater odds than the defensive players.   Will Anderson and Jalen Carter are still top-10 picks now, but this solidifies a quarterback being a lock.

First Wide Receiver Drafted

If you pay attention to fantasy football, especially dynasty fantasy football, then you would know the consensus top wide receiver is Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Smith-Njigba missed the majority of the 2022 college football season, but many will recall his 2021 monster season while playing with 2022 first-round picks Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave. His downfall is his speed, and not running the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. However, he did not disappoint in any of the drills and had a Raw Athletic Score (RAS) of 9.39/10 which is very good.

The dark horse I like here above all is Quentin Johnston. Many might dislike him as a prospect, but just because he is a TCU wide receiver doesn’t mean he can’t break the curse. Scout the player and not the helmet! Johnston has the size (6’3, 208 pounds) and has a 135.9 burst score (98th percentile) per PlayerProfiler which is his stop-and-start acceleration and the player’s ability to catch the ball outside of the body.

Speed is his biggest strength and you can’t teach someone of his size. That being said, he can work on better catching techniques and not do as many body catches. All in all, this kid could be the top wide receiver of the class. 

Finally, the remaining four wide receivers are players I see being selected somewhere in the 20s. Players in this range are not considered the first ones to be drafted by me. But hey, if you have faith in thinking they’ll be the first one taken, sprinkle a little money on the odds. 

First Offensive Lineman Drafted

Kicking off as the first offensive lineman drafted is Ohio State’s Paris Johnson Jr. He did extremely well at the NFL combine but, is he the best Offensive lineman in the draft? Many will think so as the Chicago Bears, Arizona Cardinals, and the Philadelphia Eagles have all met with him. Furthermore, he would fill the void that all these teams need. 

Next up is Northwestern standout Peter Skoronski. Is it just me or does Northwestern just pump out offensive linemen? He played guard at Northwestern and many tend to think he could play left tackle.

Surprisingly, the odds are high for both offensive linemen. One thing that snagged my attention is the Atlanta Falcons did not franchise tag offensive tackle Kaleb McGary. This could elevate the Falcons into drafting the offensive lineman and continue to bolster the offensive line. 

Finally, Broderick Jones and Darnell Wright wrap up our odds to be the first offensive linemen taken. Jones was part of Georgia’s championship team. Additionally, he is a big body at 6’5, and311 pounds, and ran faster than any other lineman at the NFL Combine. I’ve seen NFL mocks with Jones as high as 8 and as low as 32. Overall, the chance is there for him to be the first one taken, but with that large of a spread, I’m passing. 

Generally speaking, Darnell Wright is a name to know as a top defensive pick. Will Anderson stated that he was the best tackle throughout all of college that he’s faced. However, in many mock drafts, I’ve seen Wright go as high as 17th to the Pittsburgh Steelers. There’s no way he’s the first one taken if he’s going this late in mocks, but who knows? 

First Cornerback Drafted

Namely, it’s been no secret that Christian Gonzalez has been mocked many times as a first-round pick. Not only that but being the first cornerback off the board at pick 6 by the Detroit Lions. He has incredible ball-handling skills and is a hawk to go up and get it. Furthermore, Gonzalez was a lock-down corner at Oregon and killed the drills at the NFL combine. 

Next up is Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon. Like Gonzalez, Witherspoon has been projected as a top-10 pick in the NFL Draft. Last season, Witherspoon did not allow a single touchdown and allowed a passer rating of 25.3. Similar to Gonzalez, Witherspoon is a ball hawk and a hard hitter. 

Overall, you can’t go wrong on the first two as they are both listed as CB1 by many people in this class. Personally, my money is on Gonzalez.

Finally, the odds have widened for players like Joey Porter Jr. and Brian Branch. Looking over many NFL mock drafts these players have been ones picked in the teens at the earliest. If Porter was a better player (one interception) he could’ve pushed himself into the top 10, but that’s not happening. 

Obviously, Brian Branch on the other hand is the best safety in the class. With the Philadelphia Eagles letting C.J. Gardner-Johnson walk, that leaves an opening in the Eagles in the secondary. Looking at the 10th overall pick, I see that being the earliest Branch is drafted.

Anthony Richardson

While it’s fun to bet on who will be the first overall pick or first player to be drafted at their position, why not specific teams to draft a certain player? Here, we focus on the odds with NFL combine sensation Anthony Richardson. Just like Stroud, Young, and Levis, Richardson has also moved into likely the top-15 of the NFL Draft. 

Looking over the odds, with the Seattle Seahawks extending Geno Smith, I don’t see them spending the fifth overall pick on him. Additionally, the Raiders need a quarterback with Derek Carr gone so I’m confused as to why their odds are worse than the Seahawks. Sure, he could be there at seven, but with Lamar Jackson rumors swirling, I think he would be more of a suitor for the Raiders than Richardson when it comes to selling seats. 

Next are Houston and Detroit. I don’t see Houston taking Richardson at 2 overall as they have their sights on Stroud or Young.

Finally, the Lions said they wouldn’t take any quarterback unless they fell to them at 18. But, they could be a trade partner for a suitor at six. 

Hendon Hooker

While it’s fun to bet on something more obvious, why not try to figure out the landing spot of Hendon Hooker? Hooker is a Senior out of Tennessee who was tearing up college football. Especially Alabama, before going down with a torn ACL in a loss to South Carolina. Speculation from the NFL Combine is that his medicals look really good and he should be ready for Week 1 of the NFL season.

Furthermore, he’s a 25-year-old prospect who spent five years playing college football. Now, I don’t knock him for that but being a backup and possibly not starting till age 27 could be a little harder than expected. Here, the team’s odds I view as more of a backup role right now than a starting role.

What’s fun about it though is they all have a great return on them if you hit. Just bet $10 on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and you have a chance to win $110 with a payout ($10+$110) of $120. Why not sprinkle a little money on any of these just to see what hits?

Bijan Robinson

Generally speaking, we all want the best running back on our real football teams. Looking at the current odds, the Bijan Robinson landing spots are great for him. Outside of maybe the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Kicking off at the top is the Detroit Lions. Are they willing to make the move for Robinson at 18? Personally, I don’t see that quite yet unless they trade down and he falls somewhere into the 20s.

Next are two possible landing spots in the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals. Both are at the end of the first round with picks 28 and 29. This seems more like a reasonable spot hence why their odds are the same. I like Robinson’s odds of going at the end of the first and not anywhere near the middle of the round.

Wrapping up with Philadelphia and Washington and those odds make sense in the fact that the Eagles won’t take Robinson at 10 while the Commanders also pass at pick 16 when they need other pieces outside of the running back. The only way Robinson goes to the Eagles is with pick 31 at the end of the first round.

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