The NFL Scouting Combine was in full swing for the past week as the calendar turned to March. The draft countdown begins, ushering in endless speculation. Combine measurement results will certainly shake up draft boards around the league, as will off-the-field headlines. Blockbuster trades are sure to shake up the first round as is tradition and with trades now in play, I chose to incorporate some early on. There are multiple teams around the league who are desperate enough to make a dramatic move in order to require a top-prospect, notably at quarterback. Several quarterback-needy teams will opt to deal the cards in order to create a fresh slate with a cap-friendly rookie under center. As things begin to transpire in free agency and trades occur, we will start to envision a clearer picture of certain team needs and how the NFL landscape will unfold in April. Before I get into the picks in the fourth installment of predicting how the first round will play out, here is a look at the trades included:
- The Indianapolis Colts trade up three spots to snag a quarterback, while the Chicago Bears move into the No. 4 slot.
- Next up, the Carolina Panthers move up to the No. 6 spot in a trade with the Detroit Lions to acquire a quarterback. Subsequently, the Lions then drop to selecting a cornerback with the ninth overall pick.
1) Indianapolis Colts (From CHI): QB Bryce Young, Alabama
The Colts trade up to snag Bryce Young, the most heralded and gifted quarterback of the 2023 class with the fewest question marks. Young possesses great awareness in the pocket and produced at a high level in arguably the best program in college football. Young checks every box and is the most pro-ready quarterback despite size concerns on long-term durability. He has the instincts and accuracy required to succeed in the NFL. Following the retirement of quarterback Andrew Luck, the Colts targeted short-term solutions at the position in veterans such as Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, and most recently Matt Ryan. This time, they will go with a talented rookie in Young to become the franchise quarterback of the foreseeable future.
2) Houston Texans: QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
Per multiple reports, the Texans met with Ohio State Buckeyes signal-caller C.J. Stroud on Thursday at the Scouting Combine. Stroud upped his draft stock by putting the game of his life on tape against Georgia, similar to Justin Herbert’s performance at the Rose Bowl. In that game, Stroud completed 23 of 34 passes for 348…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at News…