Final thoughts
If I had to say one team had a great night, it would probably be the Philadelphia Eagles who probably weren’t expecting either Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith and now have both of them.
The 2023 NFL Draft continues on Friday and Saturday but that will be all for today’s live coverage here at the Guardian. Thanks to everybody who followed along with us for the last few hours. Ciao!
Still on the board heading into tomorrow’s Round 2.
Profile: Will Levis, quarterback, Kentucky
It was a tale of two seasons for Levis, who had a fantastic 2021 in Kentucky but struggled last year after injuries and a change in offensive coordinator. If he’s able to return to form, he’s the type of dual-threat QB who has earned comparisons with Justin Herbert. If not, he’s a strong candidate to become a perennial journeyman.
31. Felix Anudike-Uzomah, edge, Kansas State
The Kansas City Chiefs select hometown kid Felix Anudike-Uzomah, defensive end from Kansas State. Maybe a sentimental pick, it would be bewildering if Smith were still available, but it’s not like the Chiefs were in desperate need here.
Updated
The Chiefs pick is in! We’re almost through with Day One here folks!
With Carter and Smith, it feels like the Eagles might have aced the first round of this draft. Closing it out, we have the home team: the Kansas City Chiefs are on the clock.
Again: very unlikely they go quarterback here. Sorry Will Levis.
Profile: Nolan Smith, edge, Georgia
A quality edge rusher, he was having a great season with Georgia before it ended with a torn pectoral muscle. So, obviously, there are major durability concerns, amplified by his size. Still, Smith managed 110 tackles and 12.5 sacks in four seasons with the two-time champion Bulldogs.
30. Nolan Smith, edge, Georgia
Donna Kelce, mom to Travis and Jason Kelce, announces the Philadelphia Eagles pick at No 30 and, my stars, it is indeed Georgia edge rusher Nolan Smith.
The Philadelphia Eagles are on the clock for the second time after landing Jalen Carter earlier in the draft. Could Nolan Smith drop to them as well?
Updated
29. Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
And we have back-to-back Clemon players, as the New Orleans Saints select defensive tackle Bryan Bresee.
Again, a note that this first round is only 31 picks this time around thanks to the Miami Dolphins’ chicanery, so we just have three picks left here. The New Orleans Saints are next with pick No 29.
Profile: Myles Murphy, edge, Clemson
A contributor for Clemson since his freshman year in 2020, Murphy should come into the NFL with enough experience to help with the pass rush right away. Last year, in 13 games he totaled 40 tackles, 11 for a loss and 6.5 sacks.
28. Myles Murphy, edge, Clemson
Cincinnati Bengals are now on the clock. Actually, they just made their selection, taking advantage of Clemson DE Mylese Murphy still being on the board.
27. Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
The Jaguars had a need at offensive tackle with Cam Robinson’s looming suspension, so it made sense that they would go with Oklahoma offensive tackle Anton Harrison here.
I am hoping the Jaguars go with Georgia edge Nolan Smith here, just because it will be embarrassing to me if he falls out of the first round altogether after I had him at No 10 in my own mock draft.
Yes I am this shallow.
And maybe now the Jacksonville Jaguars are going to make their selection?
26. Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan
The Cowboys select Michigan defensive tackle Mazi Smith, and that honestly is a fairly solid pick here considering who was available.
Britney Spears’s “Toxic”: great pop song or greatest pop song? In any case, that’s what’s playing as we get the announcement that the Dallas pick is in.
Dallas Cowboys are on the clock at No 26, I’ll try reallyy hard to be positive here.
This is the point in the draft where teams know exactly who they want and are willing to make small moves to ensure they get them. So, both the Giants and Bills have taken advantage of the Jaguars’ apparently belief that their guy will still be available at No 27.
Or maybe they’ll trade down again. Things get wibbly-wobbly late in the first round.
TRADE ALERT: Bills trade up to the No. 25 overall pick!
— NFL (@NFL) April 28, 2023
The Jaguars receive picks 27 and 130. #NFLDraft
(by @PlayNFLRivals)
Buffalo Bills trade up!
25. Dalton Kincaid, tight end, Utah
Never mind, the Jacksonville Jaguars trade the 25th pick to the Buffalo Bills, who select Utah’s Duncan Kincaid, the best tight end in the draft.
The Jaguars-Giants trade
The Giants traded up one pick with the Jaguars to select Deonte Banks: pic.twitter.com/f9Ce6zicq1
— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) April 28, 2023
New York Giants trade up for the No 24 pick
24. Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
The Jacksonville Jaguars were supposed to pick here, but the Giants moved up to select Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks. Banks is a 6-foot-5 and yet super-speedy, He probablywould be a higher pick in a draft that wasn’t so stocked with talented CBs.
I know this isn’t a strong draft for tight ends, but it really feels we’re overdue for one to be selected.
The New York Giants have the 24th pick.
Meanwhile, the good vibes in Boston continue after the Patriots landed Christian Gonzalez after trading down as the Boston Celtics finally eliminate the Atlanta Hawks in Game 6 of their series.
23. Jordan Addison, WR, USC
The Minnesota Vikings continue this run on receivers with USC’s Jordan Addison. This feels like right about where Addison should have gone.
Flowers is the first BC receiver to go in the first round. As someone who has watched many many Boston College games over the last 15 years or so, this does not surprise me!
Next up on the clock, the Minnesota Vikings with pick 23.
Flowers should be able to come right in and start catching passing in the NFL. In his last collegiate season, he caught 44 passes for 746 yards and five touchdowns in his last season. (He also should not be dinged for the fact that he was stuck with 3-9 Boston College.)
22. Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
Speak of the devil. As a gift to their QB, they Baltimore Ravens get Lamar Jackson a new offensive weapon with the previously mentioned Zay Flowers.
I do not think Baltimore will pick a quarterback. Just my expert opinion.
The Baltimore Ravens, who are already celebrating re-signing Lamar Jackson, are now on the clock with pick 22.
21. Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
The Los Angeles Chargers go with TCU wide receiver Quentin Johnston, a borderline first-rounder maybe. Boston College’s Zay Flowers might have been a better option, but in his junior season, Johnston caught 60 passes for 1,069 yards and six touchdowns. At this point in the draft, you’re really looking for best fit for your organization.
Email from Norval Scott
Hey Hunter
On Will Levis, you know the mayo thing isnt the weirdest thing about him - he’s deathly afraid of milk, to the extent that he screams if he sees it.
In exchange for this info, I challenge you to say something nice about the Cowboys when it’s their pick
Norval Scott
In the words of Bart Simpson, I can’t say I’ll try, but I’ll try to try.
The Los Angeles Chargers go on the clock with the 21st pick as I take a quick look at the Celtics-Hawks score and cringe.
Profile: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, wide receiver, Ohio State
One of the best wide receivers in the draft, Smith-Njigba unfortunately missed nearly all of 2022 thanks to a hamstring injury, playing just three games and going touchdown-less. Still that 202: 1,606 receiving yards, for an average of 16.9 yards per catch. He also scored nine TDs in the span of 13 games.
20. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
A fantastic pick for the Seattle Seahawks as Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the best receiver in (an admittingly receiver-light) draft, falls to them with the No 20 pick.
What is causing Will Levis’s long wait? Maybe teams are turned off by the fact that he puts mayonnaise in his coffee. That’s a red flag right there.
The Seattle Seahawks, who have already cashed in the first-round pick they received from the Denver Broncos in the Russell Wilson trade to select Devon Witherspoon, will now be using their own pick at No 20.
19. Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh
There’s some talk about the Bucs going with Will Levis to replace Tom Brady at QB (something of a downgrade) but instead Tampa Bay goes with Pittsburgh defensive tackle Calijah Kancey.
Next up with the No 19 pick, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are making their first selection in the draft.
18. Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa
The Detroit Lions, with their own pick go for defense by selecting Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell.
Okay, just a shoutout to the ad that just played on ABC that was set to the Wu-Tang Clan’s “Gravel Pit,” their best post “Wu-Tang Forever” single. I did not catch what it was advertising, but it made me smile.
I’m seeing double! The Detroit Lions are back on the clock!
Profile: Christian Gonzalez, cornerback, Oregon
After initially playing for Colorado, Gonzalez transferred to the University of Oregon last year. There he managed 50 tackles, seven pass breakups and four interceptions. Scouting reports compare him to Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, which is a rather flattering comparison.
17. Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
There we go, the Patriots trade down and still get a Top 10 talent in Oregon CB Christian Gonzalez.
Sometimes Bill Belichick knows what he’s doing.
The word around Forbes seems to be “ballhawk,” with a career record of six interceptions returned for touchdowns. This guy’s a potential perennial scoring threat on defense, although also a bit undersized.
16. Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
The Washington Commanders take CB Emmanuel Forbes at No 16.
The highlight of the night so far. The Jets should have drafted this kid.
J E T S Jets Jets Jets pic.twitter.com/XGa8Yxj9AL
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) April 28, 2023
The Washington Commanders are on the clock with the No 16 pick and the Patriots fan in me is attempting to convince them not to pick Christian Gonzalez.
15. Will McDonald IV, edge, Iowa State
The New York Jets select Will Mcdonald IV, defensive end from Iowa State. I will not even pretend I had anything prepared to say about this pick!
Updated
The Jets pick is the annual Make-a-Wish pick, where they select a young fan who has battled childhood disease to announce the selection. It’s all rather touching, and I say this as someone who is brutally cynical.
The New York Jets, who nailed last year’s draft and just traded for Aaron Rodgers are here to pick at No 15. It’s pretty much all gravy for them, as our broadcasters rightfully point out.
Profile: Broderick Jones, offensive tackle, Georgia
Yet another player with raw skills that have yet to be fully honed. His draft stock rose after an impressive performance in Georgia’s national championship win during his sophomore year, but he only played 19 games during his time in college. Jones may not be a player who can provide immediate protection but if developed properly he has the tools to be a difference-maker.
14. Broderick Jones, offensive tackle, Georgia
The Pittsburgh Steelers select Georgia tackle Broderick Jones. (Yes this is a tackle-heavy draft.)
So, instead, the New England Patriots will be picking at No 17, plus they will get an additional fourth-round pick.
Trade with Steelers:
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) April 28, 2023
Patriots get: #17 and #120 (4th rd)
Steelers get: #14
New England Patriots trade down. As always.
So much for my prediction that the New England Patriots would not trade down as the Pittsburgh Steelers are instead on the clock here at No 14
Back-to-back reaches. A dominant defensive lineman who could instantly improve a team’s pass rush. Van Ness led Iowa with nine sacks but, as Dalton Wasserman of PFF noted, it’s unusual that he was only the 11th-most played player by snap count during his time with the team. Were there reasons that Iowa felt the need to hide him?
13. Lukas Van Ness, edge, Iowa
The Green Bay Packers go with DE Lukas Van Ness with the 13th pick.
The Green Bay Packers will be next with the lucky 13th pick.
They could have just drafted Bijan lol
— Russell Dorsey (@Russ_Dorsey1) April 28, 2023
It’s very weird! Meanwhile, we’re about to be “treated” to the Jonas Brothers? I might have to switch to closed captioning for the next few minutes.
Jahmyr Gibbs was probably the second-best RB after Robinson, but the 12th pick? This feels like a complete reach.
12. Jahmyr Gibbs, running back, Alabama
With the No 12 pick, the Detriot Lions select Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs. No I don’t get it either.
Profile: Peter Skoronski, offensive tackle/guard, Northwestern
Possibly the best offensive lineman in the draft, he could start at right or left tackle and, should that not pan out – there are concerns about his arm length – he could easily be moved to guard. Should start immediately.
11. Peter Skoronski, offensive tackle/guard, Northwestern
Instead, the Tennessee Titans go for Peter Skoronski from Northwestern. Won’t lie, was hoping he would drop to the New England Patriots.
The Tennessee Titans, who I predicted would trade up, instead are sticking here and picking at No 11. If they want a quarterback, Will Levis would be the pick here (even if he’s very much the fourth best QB in this draft).
This is the point where I admit that I had Broderick Jones and Peter Skoronski above Wright at the offensive tackle position and thus don’t have a prewritten profile for him. I told you that all the experts said this one would be tricky to predict.
10. Darnell Wright, offensive tackle, Tennessee
With the 10th overall pick, the Chicago Bears go with Tennesse Titans offensive tackle to improve their offensive line and help protect QB Justin Fields, who desperately needs the help.
Now the Chicago Bears are finally on the clock, having already traded down twice.
It didn’t really cost the Eagles that much more to trade up for Carter. It will be worth it on a talent level, if Carter manages to avoid causing any controversy from here on out.
TRADE ALERT: Eagles have traded up to the No. 9 pick
— NFL (@NFL) April 28, 2023
Bears receive Pick 10 and a 2024 fourth rounder. #NFLDraft
(by @PlayNFLRivals)
Profile: Jalen Carter, defensive tackle, Georgia
Already a veteran of two championship teams with Georgia, the most talented defensive lineman in the draft has had legal issues. Earlier this year, he was involved in a fatal accident and pled no contest to reckless driving and racing. There are obviously major red flags here, but the on-the-field resume is unimpeachable, having collected 32 tackles and three sacks in his final year at Georgia.
9. Jalen Carter, defensive tackle, Georgia
Yep, the Philadelphia Eagles go with Jalen Carter, which seemed obvious the second the trade was announced.
Philadelphia Eagles trade up to No 9
Nevermind, the Philadelphia Eagles trade with the Chicago Bears to go up one spot to No 9, one imagines that they’re going to stop Jalen Carter from falling here.
Profile: Bijan Robinson, running back, Texas
Most NFL teams see running backs as fungible players with short shelf lives, and therefore rarely worth picking high in the first round. Robinson is one of those players who make teams question that wisdom. Last season, he won the Doak Walker Award for the best running back after a 1,580 rushing yards/18 touchdown campaign.
8. Bijan Robinson, running back, Texas
The Atlanta Falcons take… running back Bijan Robinson at No 8? Okay. That’s much earlier than expected, all signs had the Philadelphia Eagles selecting him at No 10.
The Atlanta Falcons are on the clock now. I may have first typed “Atlanta Hawks” here first, not that I have the NBA playoffs on my mind.
Profile: Tyree Wilson, edge, Texas Tech
The 6ft 6in, 275lbs Wilson had a successful senior year at Texas Tech until a foot fracture ended his campaign. It’s not entirely certain whether he will be at 100% to start his rookie season, but the talent is there so, even if he’s a long-term project, he could pay dividends down the road.
7. Tyree Wilson, edge, Texas Tech
The Las Vegas Raiders select Texas Tech defensive end Tyree Wilson at No 7 to upgrade their defense.
A quick update on the Arizona-Detroit trade:
The updated trade:
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) April 28, 2023
The Lions trade: Pick 6, pick 81.
The Cardinals trade: Pick 12, 34, 168.
The Las Vegas Raiders are on the clock which gives me enough time to point out that Paris Johnson Jr was all the way down at No 16 on my mock first round. So I feel this is a bit of a reach for Arizona, especially since they traded up for him.
Time will tell.
Details about the pick swap between the Detroit Lions and the Arizona Cardinals: Lions will pick No 12 and then No 34 at the start of the second round.
It's No. 6 for 12 and 34. https://t.co/SbsOeFVNv4
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 28, 2023
Profile: Paris Johnson Jr, offensive tackle, Ohio State
Scouts say the 6ft 6in, 315lb lineman is likely to fill out further, which would make him a huge presence at the crucial left tackle position. Has the athleticism to become a great pass protector but may take a season or two before he reaches his full potential.
Arizona Cardinals trade up for No 6
6. Paris Johnson Jr, offensive tackle, Ohio State
The Detroit Lions have made a trade with the Arizona Cardinals, who select Ohio State offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr.
The Detroit Tigers are now officially on the clock. The Carter watch continues.
Profile: Devon Witherspoon, cornerback, Illinois
Witherspoon was projected by many as the best cornerback available in the draft. Last year, he didn’t give up a single touchdown, while also picking up three interceptions. He can potentially contribute at safety too. If there are any concerns, it’s that he’s only 185lbs and may be prone to picking up avoidable penalties at the pro level.
The Seattle Seahawks select Illinois CB Devon Witherspoon at No 5
There goes my perfect game. The Seattle Seahawks take Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon with the No 5 pick.
Next up on the clock is the Seattle Seahawks at No 5. Will they take a chance at the talented but troubled defensive tackle Jalen Carter here?
As linked in the profile below, our own Oliver Connolly recently broke down the pros and cons of going with Anthony Richardson and other “high ceiling, low floor” QBs.
Profile: Anthony Richardson, quarterback, Florida
Do you enjoy high-upside players who are also huge question marks? Richardson has the best raw tools of any quarterback in this draft, but he had just 13 starts with Florida and suffered from some serious accuracy issues. However, a huge showing at the NFL Columbine, where he dazzled with a record-shattering leaping ability, caused his draft stock to rise to the point where he is getting Cam Newton and Michael Vick comparisons. Don’t expect him to be immediately ready for the pros though.
Updated
Indianapolis Colts select Florida QB Anthony Richardson with No 4
Yes, we do get three quarterbacks here in the first four picks. The Indianapolis Colts select Florida signal-caller Anthony Richardson at No 4.
Updated
The Indianapolis Colts are now on the clock. Will we get three QBs drafted in the first four picks?
As usual Adam Schefter is a step ahead of our television commentators and he has the full details on the Cardinals-Texans trade. This actually makes sense for both teams, to be honest.
Cardinals get:
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 28, 2023
12
33
1st in 2024
3rd in 2024
Texans get:
3
105
Profile: Will Anderson Jr, edge, Alabama
Perhaps the most talented all-around player in the draft. The reason that he wasn’t top of the mock drafts is he’s not a quarterback. Part of Alabama’s 2020 national championship team, Anderson had 51 total tackles, an SEC-leading 10 sacks and an interception in 13 games. If there’s a question about Anderson, it’s whether he has the upside of some of the other high-profile defensive players. But he has a much higher floor.
Texans select Will Anderson Jr with the 3rd pick
As expected, the Houston Texans select Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr with the third pick, after trading up from the 12th pick. (The full details are not yet available.)
Updated
Houston Texans trade up for No 3
And the Cardinals indeed make a trade, sending the No 3 pick to the… Houston Texans? Who will be picking twice in a row? Have to think this is Will Anderson Jr.
Updated
Next up, we have the Arizona Cardinals. Will they trade down? It feels very doubtful they will go with a quarterback, given the whole Kyler Murray thing.
Profile: CJ Stroud, quarterback, Ohio State
A two-time Heisman finalist, Stroud is almost certainly NFL-ready, but the problem is that his ceiling seems relatively low. His main attribute is his accuracy, although that may well have been thanks in part to his talented supporting cast at Ohio State. The worst-case scenario is that he becomes a top-tier backup in the NFL, although that would be highly disappointing for a first-round pick.
The Houston Texans select Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud at No 2
All that talk of the Houston Texans not picking a quarterback at No 2, and what do they do? They select Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud at No 2. Hey I’m two-for-two!
Updated
Bryce Young is the first Alabama player to be selected first overall in the common draft era, and the first overall since Joe Namath in 1965. https://t.co/i6taZIylcl
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) April 28, 2023
Just for clarification, Joe Namath was the first pick in the AFL draft, but only 12th overall in the NFL draft. (This, obviously, was pre-merger, so it’s difficult to compare draft eras.)
The Houston Texans are on the clock now and what they decide to do with the second overall pick will essentially dictate how the rest of this first round will play out.
So, you know, no pressure Houston.
Profile: Bryce Young, quarterback, Alabama
Young won the Heisman in 2021 after leading the SEC in both passing yards and touchdowns. He didn’t dip much last season either, passing for 3,328 yards and 32 touchdowns. There’s absolutely no question that Young is a talented quarterback. There is, however, a worry that at 5ft 10in and around 200lbs, he won’t be able to remain upright when the opposition gets bigger and stronger in the pros. There’s also the usual question mark about whether Alabama signal-callers’ stats get a boost from having a pro-caliber supporting cast. Other than that, he’s clearly a stellar talent.
Carolina Panthers select Bryce Young as the top overall pick of the 2023 Draft
After all that, the Panthers select Alabama QB with the first pick of the 2023 NFL Draft as literally everybody predicted! Now the fun really starts!
The Panthers are really going to let the timer hit triple zeros here before announcing this aren’t they?
They should implement the pitch clock for the draft
— Jake (@JakeWallinger) April 28, 2023
In my unbiased opinion, this would be a good idea. Especially when the team has already decided who they are going to select.
The Carolina Panthers are on the clock. The lack of suspense is killing me.
The world’s greatest Draft tradition: booing the commissioner. Roger Goodell can’t even do the “trolling the audience like a wrestling heel” bit like David Stern used to do in the NBA Draft.
Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, on the other hand, get huge cheers from the hometown crowd.
On Twitter, this year’s Spoiler Wars have already begun!
NFL Draft news: Carolina Panthers are selecting Alabama QB Bryce Young at No. 1 overall, per sources.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 28, 2023
Sad news for anybody hoping to watch “Grey’s Anatomy” on ABC. Instead we get an ocean of football fans, mostly in Kansas City Chiefs red, ready for several hours of… names being read.
NFL fans are a different breed.
Alright, we’re getting ready for the big event here! In an attempt to prepare for today’s festivities, I watched clips from one of the strangest pieces of NFL propaganda ever made: the Kevin Costner movie “Draft Day.” If you’ve ever wanted to see Roger Goodell’s acting chops, well, you don’t! However, if you’re morbidly curious it goes something like this:
Yes, that is a pre-Black Panther Chadwick Boseman (R.I.P.) bringing a dignity to the proceedings that the movie does not deserve.
@HunterFelt Best news tonight will be the resigning of Lamar Jackson by Baltimore. It keeps them as a good team to watch.
— david silva (@david2000n) April 27, 2023
In a way, the Ravens have already won the day and they haven’t even made a pick yet.
Predictions
I’m already second-guessing myself about the Houston Texans. The current chatter is that they’re not going to be going with a QB with the No 2 pick. We’ll see. As of this morning, these were my predictions for the top ten picks.
1. Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young, quarterback
2. Houston Texans: C.J. Stroud, quarterback
3. Arizona Cardinals: Will Anderson, edge
4. Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Richardson, quarterback
5. Seattle Seahawks: Jalen Carter, defensive tackle
6. Detroit Lions: Devon Witherspoon, cornerback
7. Tennessee Titans (via trade with the Las Vegas Raiders): Will Levis, quarterback
8. Atlanta Falcons: Tyree Wilson, edge
9. Chicago Bears: Christian Gonzalez, cornerback
10. Philadelphia Eagles: Nolan Smith, edge
Bonus Prediction: The New England Patriots will not trade down at No 14.
Have your own prediction about who your favorite team will draft? Which players will slide and which players will rise? Which teams will trade up or down in this first round? Feel free to send us your predictions, either via email (to hunter.felt.freelance@theguardian.com) or via Twitter (to @HunterFelt) and we’ll use them here.
Fun fact
With Bryce Young viewed as the presumptive number one pick in tonight's NFL Draft, he'll have a chance to make Alabama history: Young would become the first Crimson Tide player to ever go number one overall in the NFL Draft.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) April 27, 2023
I won’t lie, this bit of trivia absolutely stunned me, considering that Alabama has had 79 players selected in the first round of the NFL draft (and very much counting).
Rumor: The Arizona Cardinals trading down?
Hearing Cardinals are trying to send No. 3 overall and DeAndre Hopkins to Titans for No. 11 pick plus more.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) April 27, 2023
Of course, the Arizona Cardinals will have final say on where Hopkins will land. The latest rumors have the Cardinals sending him to the Tennessee Titans for the 11th overall pick plus additional lower picks. It’s a bit of an odd move for them to trade down, one imagines that it’s a deal being considered for financial reasons rather than football ones.
Lamar Jackson
It looks like that rift between the Baltimore Ravens and Lamar Jackson has healed. Hours before the draft came reports that the Ravens signed their franchise QB to a five-year, $260 million extension ($185 million guaranteed). That’s a large enough contract to make Jackson the league’s highest-paid player. This follows reports that the Ravens are seeking a trade for Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, a way to appease the frustrated QB by pairing him with a brand-new weapon.
Preamble
Welcome to the most important event in the NFL calendar that does not actually involve any actual football. Yes, it’s time for the 2023 NFL Draft! Every year, NFL teams come together to select what they believed to be the most pro-ready eligible players in college football.
Of course, not every team will be picking in today’s first round. The Los Angeles Rams, Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers will not be active as they have parted ways with their selections in various trades. Meanwhile, the league has taken away the Miami Dolphins’ first-rounder as punishment “for violating the policies pertaining to the integrity of the game” (as someone writing this from New England Patriots territory, I can assure you that this is not the first time the NFL has done such a thing).
This draft looks to be heavy with quarterbacks on top, a drastic change from last year’s somewhat less hyped-up affair. This would be the primary reason that the Chicago Bears traded the number one overall pick to the Carolina Panthers. At this point, it looks like it’s all but confirmed that the Panthers have decided on Alabama QB Bryce Young unless these reports were all just a gigantic smokescreen.
After that, things get much harder to predict! In fact, the people who make it their full-time jobs to try to forecast the NFL Draft have had remarkably different theories about what will happen after that. At the very least, this means that when my predictions are invariably wrong, I won’t be alone.
If you want to contribute to tonight’s liveblog, feel free to email us at hunter.felt.freelance@theguardian.com or tweet @HunterFelt and we’ll post your draft-related commentary and questions here throughout the course of the next few hours. It’s the 2023 NFL Draft live at Kansas City’s Union Station. We’re scheduled to start at 8:00 pm EST, but we’ll be back before then with additional updates.
Where and when to watch
The first-round of the NFL draft starts at 8pm ET/1am UK/10am AEST. It continues with rounds two and three at 7pm ET on Friday (midnight UK/9am Saturday AEST) and rounds four to seven, starting at 12pm on Saturday ET (5pm UK/2am Sunday AEST).
You can watch it live and in-person if you want to head to Kansas City, but if you want the easier option it will be shown on ABC and ESPN in the US, Sky Sports in the UK and Seven and ESPN in Australia. Broadcasting options around the world can be found here.
Hunter will be here shortly, in the meantime here’s who out writers think will go No 1. And they’re all in agreement:
Bryce Young, QB, Alabama. I’m guessing you’ve heard that Young is short. And he’s slender too: he looks more like a yoga instructor than an NFL quarterback. But Young is a pocket wizard. There have been comparisons to Patrick Mahomes’ bobbing and weaving style in the pocket, but even those fall short: Young is a more sudden manipulator than the bulkier Mahomes. He creates space when it appears there isn’t any. That’s his superpower, and why he’s separated himself from the other QBs at the top of the class. Oliver Connolly
Young. No need to be clever here. The Chicago Bears, having won the Justin Fields sweepstake, decided they had no need to pick first in a quarterback-heavy draft so they fleeced the Carolina Panthers, who desperately need a QB, in a March trade. By all accounts, Carolina have their eye on Young. Hunter Felt
Young. If Young were 6ft 2in, he’d be perfect. But he’s still about to be a Carolina Panther thanks to his talent and high football IQ, an especially important trait for his soon-to-be head coach Frank Reich. And Reich recently debunked the notion that he’s a quarterback heightist. Melissa Jacobs
Draft order for first round
Here’s a quick reminder of the provisional draft order for the first-round. Carolina traded up to acquire the Chicago Bears’ No 1 overall pick. Houston have two picks in the top 12.
1) Carolina (from Chicago), Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
2) Houston, CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State
3) Houston (from Arizona), Will Anderson Jr, LB, Alabama
4) Indianapolis, Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
5) Seattle (from Denver), Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
6) Arizona (from Detroit via LA Rams), Paris Johnson Jr, OT, Ohio State
7) Las Vegas, Tyree Wilson, DE, Texas Tech
8) Atlanta, Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
9) Philadelphia (from Carolina via Chicago), Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
10) Chicago (from from New Orleans via Philadelphia), Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
11) Tennessee, Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern
12) Detroit (from Cleveland via Houston and Arizona), Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama
13) Green Bay (from NY Jets), Lukas Van Ness, DE, Iowa
14) Pittsburgh (from New England), Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
15) NY Jets (from Green Bay), Will McDonald IV, DE, Iowa State
16) Washington, Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
17) New England (from Pittsburgh), Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
18) Detroit, Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa
19) Tampa Bay, Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh
20) Seattle, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
21) LA Chargers, Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
22) Baltimore, Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
23) Minnesota, Jordan Addison, WR, USC
24) NY Giants (from Jacksonville), Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
25) Buffalo (from New York Giants via Jacksonville), Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
26) Dallas, Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan
27) Jacksonville, Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
28) Cincinnati, Myles Murphy, DE, Clemson
29) New Orleans (from San Francisco via Miami and Denver), Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
30) Philadelphia, Nolan Smith, LB, Georgia
31) Kansas City, Felix Anudike-Uzomah, DE, Kansas State
The Dolphins forfeited their first-round pick due to tampering violations
Updated
