We’re a month into football season, and that means we’re starting to learn more about teams and players at both levels, and how they might converge when the 2023 NFL draft rolls around.
We’ve seen draft stock move in either direction for big names and sleeper prospects alike through the first few weeks of the college football season, while the NFL campaign has already delivered a few surprises in the win/loss columns, as well as projected team needs.
Keeping all that in mind, here’s an updated look at how the first two rounds of next year’s draft could shake out, using the latest power rankings from Touchdown Wire to determine the draft order:
*NOTE: The Miami Dolphins forfeited their first-round pick in next year’s draft as a result of the NFL’s investigation into tampering violations.
If the Texans were hoping that Davis Mills would make a second-year leap that would keep them from having to spend this pick on a quarterback, the early returns haven’t been encouraging. If it keeps trending this way, don’t be surprised if Houston targets this year’s top passer. Right now, that’s still Stroud.
The Panthers have two top-three picks in their quarterback room, and if you combined them into one player, they’d still need to spend this pick on a replacement. Concerns about Young’s lack of size should be far outweighed by his impressive combination of physical tools, mental prowess and leadership.
The only undefeated team left in the NFL gets the best overall player in the draft? That just doesn’t seem fair. Alas, that’s what could happen if the Saints don’t turn things around, because their first-round pick already belongs to the Eagles. Anderson is an elite pass rusher who only falls this far because quarterbacks are just too valuable.
Washington may have landed a steal in fifth-round pick Sam Howell, who could end up being their starter (and an upgrade over Carson Wentz) next season. The bigger need is up front, where the Commanders could use a dominant tackle like Skoronski, who has lived up to the hype so far this season.
If the Seahawks end up picking this high, they should be targeting overall talent more than any particular positional need. Lucky for them, in this scenario, they get a huge bargain with one of the most dominant defensive prospects in the entire draft. Even with last year’s loaded class of Bulldogs, Carter might have been the best of the bunch.
Sure, the Falcons have spent their last two first-round picks on athletic pass-catchers, but maybe that’s exactly why they should take another one here? Opposing defenses would have quite the time trying to defend Addison, Kyle Pitts and Drake London, and Desmond Ridder should have a blast throwing to them.
Jared Goff might be fighting off the need for a new quarterback, and if so, the Lions desperately need to spend this pick upgrading their defense. The best value in this scenario comes at corner, where they grab an athletic playmaker with size and length to pair with the resurging Jeff Okudah.
The Raiders have one of the NFL’s best edge-rushing tandems in Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones, but the interior of their defensive front needs a player that can make a similar impact. Bresee is a rare athlete for his size, and would bring plenty of disruption to the heart of this defensive line.
The Bears are wasting their franchise quarterback in Justin Fields, and next offseason simply has to be spent giving him as many resources as possible. That starts up front, where Fields desperately needs an upgrade at pretty much every offensive line spot. Duncan has all the traits to become a franchise left tackle, and would be an immediate upgrade.
After landing their franchise quarterback at No. 1 overall, the Texans can shift their focus to the defense. Lovie Smith’s scheme doesn’t work well without consistent pressure from the defensive front, and landing a steal like Murphy would be a huge win for that group.
After landing one stud Bulldog for the interior of their defensive front, the Seahawks land another one here, this time for the edge. Smith’s skill set would be a perfect fit in this defense, and he could have easily been yet another first-round pick from this defense in this year’s draft.
Offensive tackle wasn’t a position the Steelers valued in the first round during Kevin Colbert’s tenure, but maybe that will change under new management with Omar Khan. It’s easily the team’s most pressing need, especially if they want Kenny Pickett to succeed, and Johnson has all the tools to quickly develop into an impact player.
Offensive tackle is the bigger need, but Robert Saleh would throw things if the Jets reached for one here despite all the defensive talent still on the board. Sauce Gardner already looks like a grand slam of a pick, but pairing him with another athletic playmaker with size and length would solidify the corner position for years to come.
You can never have too many explosive weapons for your young franchise quarterback, so the Jags would be wise to grab one of the talented pass-catchers still on the board here. Trevor Lawrence has one big-play threat in Christian Kirk, but Johnston’s big frame and physical playing style would be the perfect complement.
The Patriots have let multiple Pro Bowl corners walk recently in J.C. Jackson and Stephon Gilmore, and they need that shutdown presence back on the perimeter. Smith is a physical, athletic cover man with great instincts and ball skills, giving him limitless upside.
Matt Ryan was never going to be a long-term solution for the Colts at quarterback, and he might not even be a short-term one. Levis will likely go much higher than this thanks to some intriguing tools, but he’s still got plenty of development ahead of him before he’s ready to be a franchise passer at the next level.
Now that the Cardinals have fully committed to Kyler Murray with a massive contract extension, they need to surround him with as much help as possible. Offensive line is a strong possibility, but don’t be surprised if they pull the trigger on the rare running back prospect worthy of first-round consideration. Robinson would be a dangerous three-down weapon in this offense.
Few quarterbacks in this class came into the season with more hype, but Richardson’s start to the 2022 season has proven just how much refinement he still needs. That said, it’s hard not to watch him play and see shades of Josh Allen’s college tape, so what better spot for him to develop than in New York with Brian Daboll?
This defense already has some promising pieces at every level, but if they get a chance to land Simpson, he could bring a whole other dimension to the unit. A versatile playmaker who can line up all over the field, Simpson has a nose for the ball and a knack for making big plays against both the run and pass.
Even when Rashawn Slater returns from injury, the Chargers will still need a long-term solution for the other offensive tackle spot. Jones has a sky-high ceiling thanks to his impressive athleticism and physical tools, and could give Justin Herbert a strong pair of bookends to keep him protected.
Replacing A.J. Brown with Treylon Burks was helpful, as was the addition of veteran Robert Woods, but this offense needs a versatile tight end who can help balance their attack. Mayer is a capable blocker who can help clear things out for Derrick Henry, and would give the Titans a much-needed presence in the passing game that they lack at tight end right now.
Adam Thielen isn’t getting any younger, and the Vikings could use a young understudy to pair with Justin Jefferson for the long haul. Smith-Njigba has been limited by injuries so far this season, and this feels more like his range than the early top-10 projections. Even so, he’d be a fantastic addition to this offense.
Trevon Diggs is obviously one of the best playmaking corners in the NFL right now, but if opposing quarterbacks want to avoid him, they can find success on the other side of the field. Gonzalez is enjoying a breakout campaign after transferring from Colorado, and has the size, length and athleticism to be the perfect pairing with Diggs.
More reinforcements are needed for the Lions’ porous defense, and in this scenario, the best marriage of fit and value comes on the back end. Johnson is a big, rangy playmaker with an impressive combination of instincts, athleticism and ball skills, and can make big plays in coverage or in run support.
The Ravens desperately need to open up their offense and take full advantage of Lamar Jackson’s rare skill set, instead of limiting his ability to shine as a passer. That will require getting him more weapons, and Boutte would bring a well-rounded skill set that would pair well with Rashod Bateman on the outside.
Tampa Bay has perhaps the NFL’s best inside linebacker tandem with Lavonte David and Devin White, but as much as it pains Bucs fans to think about, David’s career is entering its twilight. Now would be the time to spend a high pick on his understudy, and Henley has all the skills to be a star in Todd Bowles’ defense.
Wide receiver is still a popular pick here, but offensive line is the more pressing need if the Packers want to maximize what’s left of Aaron Rodgers’ career. Fashanu has been one of the nation’s fastest-rising prospects over the last few weeks, and could easily come off the board much earlier if he keeps up his current level of play.
We all know about the offensive line struggles, but the Bengals’ biggest problems are scheme-related more than personnel right now. One addition that could help make Joe Burrow’s life easier would be a big-play threat at tight end, and Washington brings a rare combination of size, athleticism and explosiveness.
There aren’t many glaring holes on this roster, but the Bills have a couple of different directions they could go here. Safety could be a need depending on what happens in free agency, but protecting Josh Allen should be the top priority. That could lead them to Vorhees, who could be an immediate upgrade along the interior.
The Chiefs landed two pro-ready prospects in the first round of this year’s draft, and this scenario would give them another, with fantastic value. If Foskey falls this far, he would give Kansas City a fantastic tandem with George Karlaftis for the foreseeable future.
Yes, we know Howie Roseman doesn’t spend first-round picks on linebackers. But maybe he should? Nakobe Dean was a bargain in this year’s draft, but the Eagles could still use another three-down playmaker at the second level. Sewell would be a steal this late, too.