The 2023 NFL Draft is only a few weeks away, and the rumor mill is on fire. We are seeing reports that some teams love a specific prospect. Meanwhile, other teams have reportedly removed a star prospect from their draft board. How much of the rumors can fans believe right now? Let’s look at some burning questions surrounding the 2023 NFL Draft.
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Is Jalen Carter a Top 10 Lock?
A few months ago, Carter was potentially the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. However, the off-the-field issues have hurt his draft stock. Furthermore, the former Georgia defensive tackle had a disappointing performance at his pro day last month. Meanwhile, some teams have reportedly removed Carter from their draft board following the events that have transpired over the past few months. Yet, his agent has declined all visit requests from teams picking outside the top 10.
Georgia DT Jalen Carter is visiting the Bears today. It is his second visit, with him already having visited the Eagles. Carter’s agent Drew Rosenhaus said he is declining visit requests for any team drafting outside the top 10 picks. “I’m confident Jalen will go in the top 10,”…
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 3, 2023
Drew Rosenhaus is arguably the best agent in the business. Therefore, fans should have confidence that Carter will be a top 10 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Furthermore, there are several potential landing spots for the former Bulldog superstar. The Seattle Seahawks (picking fifth), Detroit Lions (sixth), Atlanta Falcons (eighth), and Chicago Bears (ninth) are all potential landing spots for the defensive tackle. More importantly, what are the chances the Philadelphia Eagles let Carter slide past them at 10th overall? Zero.
Which Team Will Trade Up for the No. 3 Overall Selection?
After the Carolina Panthers traded up to the first overall pick, everyone expects the first two picks to be quarterbacks. Which two quarterbacks it will be is still to be determined. Meanwhile, the third overall pick has been a hot topic. The Arizona Cardinals don’t need a quarterback with Kyler Murray under contract for the next several years. However, the rest of the roster is arguably the worst in the NFL. Therefore, it would be surprising if the Cardinals did not trade out of the No. 3 slot.
With the Indianapolis Colts picking fourth overall and needing a quarterback, any potential quarterback-needy team might need to jump into the top three to secure their guy. There are plenty of possible suitors to move up in the draft. However, the front runners are the Seahawks, Lions, and Tennessee Titans. All three have a veteran quarterback under contract through at least the 2023 season. Yet, all three could fall in love with Anthony Richardson or Will Levis and decide to jump the Colts to secure their next franchise quarterback.
Will Quentin Johnston be a First-Round Pick?
Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba stole the show at the 2023 NFL Combine, posting excellent numbers during the drills. More importantly, he was far and away the best wide receiver in the on-the-field work. Meanwhile, Johnston didn’t run the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, and it scared some draft evaluators. However, he reportedly ran between a 4.48 and 4.52 40-yard dash at his pro day last week.
Quentin Johnston is a WR prospect in the 2023 draft class. He scored an unofficial 9.60 RAS out of a possible 10.00 after his pro day (with projected splits). This ranked 120 out of 2989 WR from 1987 to 2023. https://t.co/lJAIo7X7dX #RAS pic.twitter.com/g1IgIkvZ77
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 31, 2023
Many, including myself, believe Smith-Njigba will be the first wide receiver drafted. However, could Johnston be the second wide receiver picked? He could be after his pro day performance. The former TCU star had a massive 2022 season, totaling 60 receptions for 1,069 receiving yards and six touchdowns. More importantly, Johnston’s breakout age was 19, putting him in the 89th percentile. A few weeks ago, the wide receiver was a borderline-line first-round pick. Now, Johnston seems all but a lock to get drafted on opening night.
What Veteran Wide Receiver Could Get Traded Next?
Last year the entire offseason talk was centered around four potential wide receiver trade candidates. Then, the 2022 NFL Draft got turned upside down after the Titans traded A.J. Brown to the Eagles for a first-round pick. Meanwhile, there have already been a few wide receiver trades this offseason. The Panthers sent D.J. Moore to the Bears as part of the trade to acquire the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Similarly, the Houston Texans sent Brandin Cooks to the Dallas Cowboys for a pair of Day 3 picks.
Meanwhile, DeAndre Hopkins is still a Cardinal. The star wide receiver has been a popular name in the rumor mill this offseason. With Arizona heading into a rebuilding process, the team is better off trading away the veteran for draft capital than holding onto him. However, no deal has happened yet. Furthermore, Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy have seen their names in the rumor mill over the past few weeks. Will one of these veteran wide receivers get traded during the 2023 NFL Draft? We will see.
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.
