ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay predicted a big trade at the top of his latest mock draft.
After making some big quarterback guesses in an earlier 2023 mock draft, the marquee move that McShay makes in his latest prediction involved a seismic trade that would shake up the 2023 NFL Draft right at the jump (and it’s not the deal our Christian D’Andrea predicted in his latest mock draft).
He imagined a scenario where the Indianapolis Colts trade up with the Chicago Bears and grab the signal caller for the future in Indy.
It’s a move that even Colts owner Jim Irsay tipped his hat to during Shane Streichen’s introductory press conference on Tuesday.
Here’s McShay’s reasoning behind the move:
Indianapolis has entered each of the past five seasons with a different starting quarterback, opting for veteran options via free agency and trades. But it was No. 27 in Total QBR last season (36.8), and the offense was at the bottom of the NFL in points per game (15.8). GM Chris Ballard will be eager to jump the line to land the top quarterback on the Colts’ board, whomever that ends up being. And the Bears should be listening to offers. They have their quarterback in Justin Fields and can still land a standout defensive player in a trade-back — while also picking up additional draft capital. Matt Miller actually projected the Colts to move up to No. 1 in his mock last week, too. It just makes sense.
The return could come down to just how desperate the QB-needy teams get and how much they fall in love with a specific passer. But I’d expect the Bears to receive something in the ballpark of the No. 4 pick, a second-rounder (No. 35), a fifth-rounder and maybe even an additional Round 1 selection in 2024.
As you might guess, the Colts would take Alabama quarterback Bryce Young with the No. 1 pick.
McShay said he feels Streichen would be a great fit for developing the former Bama star.
New Colts coach Shane Steichen got Justin Herbert up to speed when he was the Chargers’ offensive coordinator during Herbert’s rookie season, and then helped turn Jalen Hurts into one of the league’s top quarterbacks over his two years with the Eagles. Indianapolis has plenty of playmakers already on the roster, but Steichen now needs a signal-caller to build around.
Young’s combine measurements will be important, considering his slender frame (listed at 194 pounds), but he’s my top prospect right now thanks to elite poise in the pocket, good mobility and great field vision. Nothing seems to rattle him, and he can hit all of the NFL-level throws. The Colts must clean up the offensive line to protect him, but Young has a very high ceiling and could help turn the organization around quickly.
If you want more mock drafting in your life, check out our Christian D’Andrea’s latest set of predictions and our “consensus” mock draft that sums up how experts are approaching mocks.
