The Carolina Panthers captured the #1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft from the Chicago Bears, creating a domino effect for teams in need of a QB.
Ever since reports indicated that the Chicago Bears were open to trading away the #1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, fans and the media alike have wondered which team would make the big move. After all, many teams are in need of a quarterback, and getting the first overall pick gave them the pick of one of the four best prospects in this year’s class. On March 10th, we found out that this particular team was the Carolina Panthers.
The Panthers have captured the Bears’ first-rank in exchange for #9 and #61 picks this year, first-rounder in 2024, second-rounder in 2025, and wide receiver DJ Moore.
With that said, the Panthers will now have their picks of Alabama’s Bryce Young, Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, Florida’s Anthony Richardson and Kentucky’s Will Levis, and next month they can discover the person who can lead their franchise for the foreseeable future.
With this move, it has also created a domino effect for other teams that need a quarterback, particularly the Las Vegas Raiders, Houston Texans, and Indianapolis Colts.
The Panthers’ acquisition of the No. 1 option creates a domino effect for the Raiders, Colts, and Texans
The Texans retain the second overall pick in the draft, and they will have their pick of the three remaining quarterback prospects. Let’s face it, they won’t move down.
Meanwhile, the Colts need a quarterback, too. The team once again tried to bring in a veteran quarterback to lead the team to success, but Matt Ryan just wasn’t out for them. The Colts said they would target the quarterback in the draft during head coach Shane Steichen’s introductory press conference. But they sit in fourth place.
Then, there are the Raiders, who moved on from quarterback Derek Carr this offseason. It’s unknown how they’re going to process the void this season, whether it’s through free agency or a trade block. But with the seventh pick overall, it offers the opportunity to craft a starting final in the near future.
While the Panthers hold the #1 pick, they are said to be able to forfeit the pick if they become intrigued by more than one of the possibilities. This would create another battle for first place. But will that actually happen? That remained to be seen.
For the Colts and the Raiders, their most realistic form of not being left with the last four prospects is to call the Arizona Cardinals to get them to give up their #3 overall pick. If the Panthers stay in first place, there is no way the Texans will move down the board. Therefore, the Colts and Raiders will have to convince Cardinals General Manager Monti Ossenfort to come back a bit in the first round.
With the Panthers winning the sweepstakes for a No. 1 pick, the Texans, Colts, and Raiders will all have to make plans on how to get the quarterback they want in this year’s draft. The first round will take place on April 27, so there is still plenty of time to make moves. This will probably happen during and after each potential client’s pro days.
