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10 NFL Draft Burning Questions (2023 Fantasy Football)

10 NFL Draft Burning Questions (2023 Fantasy Football)

With the Combine in the rearview mirror and the draft fast approaching, it’s time to consider what teams really need from the draft and how that could impact our fantasy rosters for 2023 and beyond.

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10 NFL Draft Burning Questions (Fantasy Football 2023)

How Many Times Can The Bears Trade Down?

The Bears are in the rare position of holding the 1.01 while seemingly believing they have their franchise quarterback in place. By trading down once or twice, they can set themselves up for either Justin Fields to succeed or to have enough draft capital in 2024 or 2025 that they would be able to make an aggressive move back up draft boards to acquire a quarterback should Fields fail to work out. Fields deserves another year to see if his passing can make a leap forward after finishing 56th in passing EPA among 57 quarterbacks with 50+ dropbacks, but if he fails to do so, then the Bears have an excellent security blanket. The Bears seem set to take a defensive player with their first pick, but adding a haul of picks that allows them to target offensive line and pass-catching options will help Fields out significantly.

Are The Seahawks Out On A Quarterback?

The Seahawks appeared to commit to Geno Smith as their quarterback when they signed him to a three-year contract ahead of Smith hitting free agency. The contract, though, isn’t too large that it would prohibit them from drafting a quarterback and developing them while Smith is the starter in 2023, at the least. The Seahawks haven’t picked as high as their current pick, fifth overall, since 2009, and since 1995 they’ve had only two top-five picks, so the organization would be remiss if they didn’t at least look into the top quarterbacks who are within reach. Smith’s contract was a great result for a player who has faced adversity, but it might not have been the most sensible approach for a team still rebuilding itself.

How Many First-Round Tight Ends Are Drafted?

During the Combine, various talking heads repeatedly told us this was one of the best tight end classes in years and that we could be surprised with how many are taken on the first day. Dalton Kincaid and Michael Mayer seem to be leading the charge in most mock drafts, with Kincaid dropping only two balls on 108 catches last year and Mayer offering good blocking skills along with soft hands at the catch point. More tight ends are leaving college as developed pass catchers ready to suit the way NFL coaches are utilizing them nowadays, and if it wasn’t for injuries and poor offenses, Greg Dulcich and Chigoziem Okonkwo could have made a real impact in 2022. For some teams, however, a first-round pick is out of the question for a tight end, so perhaps we see fewer first-round picks than we’re being led to believe is likely.

Can Any Wide Receivers Go Inside The Top 10?

Consensus mock draft sites that track the many mock drafts on the internet currently have no wide receivers going inside the top 10 picks, which would be the first time since 2020 that multiple receivers haven’t been picked in those first 10 selections. Quentin Johnston and Jaxon Smith-Njigba seem the most likely names to creep up draft boards, but a lackluster Combine from the wide receivers as a group hasn’t pushed the demand for them higher, so teams might be content not to reach early.

How High Does Bijan Robinson Get Drafted?

There is zero doubt that Bijan Robinson will be the first running back drafted this year. The only question remains how high does a team make the pick? In 2022 no running backs went in the first round, but Bijan Robinson is the best running back prospect since Saquon Barkley, who was selected second overall in 2018. While, in hindsight, that pick might look excessive, elite running backs are hard to come by, and even though we continue to see teams not desire to pay running backs long-term contracts, there is something to be said for having an elite back on a cost-controlled rookie contract.

How Do The Packers Rebuild?

It seems inevitable that Aaron Rodgers leaves the Packers this offseason, most likely for the Jets, who will have to part with several draft picks to acquire the 39-year-old former MVP. The noise out of Green Bay suggests they’re content to go forward with Jordan Love as their quarterback in 2023, a sign that suggests they realize this team is more than a quarterback away from competing and instead, they can look to use the assets acquired from any team trading for Rodgers to augment that roster and prepare for a year when they’re better placed to compete. On Green Bay’s wishlist should be wide receivers, tight end, offensive tackle, and defensive reinforcements, not to mention they shouldn’t be ruling out a quarterback either.

Can The Ravens Draft The Wide Reciever They Badly Need?

The Ravens have a lot of question marks hanging over them, and for a team not used to such drama, they could do with earning back some goodwill from their fans. Rashod Bateman has failed to stay healthy for his first two years in the league, and the Ravens wide receiver room beyond him has been disastrously thin, even for a team that was built on the run. With Todd Monken installed as offensive coordinator, the Ravens will likely be more pass-friendly than in recent years, and drafting at least one new wide receiver should be key to that. With the Ravens picking at 23 around other receiver-hungry teams, including the Giants and Chargers, they may have to make a move up the draft board to secure one of the better options.

How Far Does Kayshon Boutte Fall?

A year ago, there were suggestions that Kayshon Boutte could be a first-round pick this year. However, after a scandal-hit season at LSU, rumors that he was told to declare as he wasn’t welcome back, and then a poor Combine that has plummeted his draft stock, it seems fair to consider if Boutte will be drafted before Day 3. Boutte has great after-the-catch ability and could be a real game-changer in the NFL, but he’s not selling himself very well right now.

Do The Saints Draft Alvin Kamara’s replacement?

During the Combine, the Saints were reported to have met with a large number of running backs, and it makes a lot of sense, given Alvin Kamara will be 28 years old when the season starts and is facing legal issues that might have a big impact on his availability to start the season. The Saints have three top 72 picks in the draft and could do with an infusion of youth after fielding the oldest roster in the league during 2022. Jahmyr Gibbs is a like-for-like replacement for Kamara, but it may be that the Saints choose someone to complement him instead.

How Do Washington Build Around Sam Howell, if at all?

The Commanders became the latest team to move on from Carson Wentz when the season ended, and if you believe the words they’re putting out, they feel confident in tackling the 2023 season with Sam Howell under center. Howell had one appearance in 2022 after failing to earn a start among the rollercoaster performances of Carson Wentz and Taylor Heinicke. In that one start, Howell completed 11 of his 19 pass attempts for 169 yards and added 35 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground. The Commanders have a good receiving room with Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, and Curtis Samuel, but could do with adding a pass-catching tight end and bolstering the offensive line, if those moves are made, we could allow ourselves to be optimistic for Howell in 2023.

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