The college football regular season is officially over, and while we still have just under five months until the 2023 NFL Draft kicks off, it’s time to start looking at what holes NFL teams will be looking to fill come April.
The draft order will see plenty of change over the coming weeks, but the Houston Texans are likely to lock down the No. 1 overall pick. They have only won a single game this year and it seems unlikely they’ll win many more with the Bears a full two games back of them at the No. 2 position.
Houston’s needs are numerous and varied, but the quarterback question may be the most significant for them. They benched starter Davis Mills in November, opting instead for backup Kyle Allen without much marked improvement. An elite QB could continue building around WR Brandin Cooks and RB Dameon Pierce and would be a very sizable piece of a puzzle that will take more than just a single draft class to put together.
The first pick of the draft will likely be coming out of Alabama or Georgia. Heisman-winning quarterback Bryce Young seems the most likely choice, especially if the Texans remain in the top spot; although Bama edge Will Anderson and Georgia DT Jalen Carter are also options. Carter has yet to play in the College Football Playoff, while Young and Anderson will be just two of many draft-eligible players who will need to decide whether they opt out of their bowl game.
Here’s a look at the potential first 18 picks of the 2023 NFL Draft, which covers the teams that are not currently projected to make the playoffs. We’ve provided each team’s needs and then some possible picks that could fill those needs.
Team needs: Quarterback, run stopping DT, QB-harassing DE
Possible picks: QB Bryce Young, Edge Will Anderson, DT Jalen Carter, QB Will Levis, QB CJ Stroud
Team needs: Wide receiver, offensive tackle, EDGE, linebacker
Possible picks: WR Jordan Addison, WR Quentin Johnston, OT Broderick Jones
Team needs: Defensive tackle, EDGE
Possible picks: Edge Will Anderson, DT Jalen Carter
Team needs: Cornerback, defensive line, quarterback
Possible picks: QB CJ Stroud, DB Joey Porter Jr., QB Will Levis
Team needs: Quarterback, EDGE
Possible picks: QB CJ Stroud, Edge Myles Murphy, QB Will Levis
Team needs: Safety, cornerback, running back
Possible picks: DB Joey Porter Jr., RB Bijan Robinson
Team needs: Cornerback, safety, offensive line
Possible picks: DB Malachi Moore, CB Kelee Ringo, OT Peter Skoronski
Team needs: Offensive guard, center, EDGE, cornerback
Possible picks: C John Michael Schmitz, CB Kelee Ringo, EDGE Tyree Wilson
Team needs: Quarterback, offensive tackle, cornerback
Possible picks: QB Will Levis, QB Hendon Hooker, OT Peter Skoronski, CB Christian Gonzalez, CB Cam Smith
Team needs: EDGE, linebacker, wide receiver
Possible picks: WR Quentin Johnson, WR Jordan Addison, EDGE Myles Murphy, WR Quentin Johnson
Team needs: EDGE, linebacker, defensive tackle
Possible picks: DL Bryan Bresee, TE Michael Mayer, EDGE Isaiah Foskey
Team needs: Offensive tackle, offensive guard, cornerback
Possible picks: OT Paris Johnson, Jr., CB Cam Smith
13. Houston Texans (from Browns, 5-7, .512)
Team needs: See earlier pick
Possible picks: EDGE Isaiah Foskey, DL Bryan Bresee
Team needs: Offensive tackle, cornerback, linebacker
Possible picks: CB Cam Smith, LB Trenton Simpson
15. Detroit Lions, 5-7, .553
Team needs: See earlier pick
Possible picks: CB Jaylon Jones, QB Anthony Richardson
Team needs: Offensive tackle, offensive guard
Possible picks: OT Broderick Jones, OT Darnell Wright, OL Dawan Jones
Team needs: Offensive tackle, EDGE, linebacker
Possible picks: OT Jaelyn Duncan, EDGE BJ Ojulari, LB Drew Sanders, EDGE Nolan Smith
18. Washington Commanders, 7-5-1, .541
Team needs: Quarterback, offensive guard, linebacker
Possible picks: QB Anthony Richardson, QB Hendon Hooker, LB Drew Sanders, OG O’Cyrus Torrence
