When one NFL draft season ends, the next one immediately kicks off, with early projections and breakdowns that look ahead to the next crop of top college football prospects.
The 2023 NFL draft class already looks like a promising one, with a pair of talented quarterback prospects who could battle for the No. 1 overall pick, as well as a dynamic pass rusher who is likely to be the consensus top prospect.
While the NFL’s 32 teams prepare for the 2022 season with this year’s group of new rookies, here’s an early look at how the first round of next year’s draft could turn out:
1. Houston Texans | Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud
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If the Texans are picking this high, the Davis Mills experiment has likely failed after a second season. Stroud has all the tools to be a franchise quarterback, and next year’s No. 1 overall pick.
2. Detroit Lions | Alabama QB Bryce Young
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The Lions punted on the 2022 quarterback class, likely with an eye on 2023’s deeper group. If they land this high in the draft order, landing Young to replace Jared Goff would be the obvious choice.
3. Atlanta Falcons | Alabama EDGE Will Anderson
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Even after grabbing two promising pass rushers in the 2022 draft, the Falcons wouldn’t pass up the best overall player in next year’s class, especially after stealing their quarterback of the future in third-rounder Desmond Ridder.
4. New York Jets | Georgia DL Jalen Carter
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Even with all the Georgia defenders who went in the first round of the 2022 draft, Carter might be the best prospect of them all. He’s the kind of dominant interior presence who could be worthy of a top-five pick.