Buy or Sell: Top NFL Draft Rumors
It's nearly time for the 2023 NFL Draft, as we're just over a week removed from finding out the true fate of the first 31 picks (thanks Miami for bringing that number down).
Now more than ever, there's plenty of smoke surrounding each and every team over draft weekend.
There's some heavy rumors floating around the mill. Let's buy or sell three of them:
Panthers Are Taking Bryce Young: Buy
The Carolina Panthers moved all the way up to No. 1 to have their picking of whichever quarterback they deemed the best out of this class. With Frank Reich now in charge, Carolina made good on their opportunity to usher in a new era of Panthers football.
There were some reports that the Panthers were still undecided on who they would take after they made the deal with Chicago, but surely Carolina knew who they wanted.
For awhile, the thought was C.J. Stroud - and who could blame them. Stroud has fairly high potential and though he doesn't have Anthony Richardson's athleticism/traits or passing prowess of Bryce Young, he still enters the draft with a healthy mixture of both.
However, Young enters the draft as the top prospect for a reason. He excelled in a pro style offense at Alabama and has all the intangibles of a franchise quarterback. If Young was above six-foot in height, this probably isn't even a conversation.
But Young's height scared plenty of teams, so much to where Stroud was the assumed pick until recently. Now, with under ten days left until the draft, betting markets have shifted back to Young as the favorite to be the No. 1 pick.
Young (in this unprovoked opinion) is the top quarterback prospect, and the Panthers seem like they can't go wrong by taking him.
QB's Won't be Drafted at Either Pick No. 2 or No. 3: Sell
Just a few days ago, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the possibility of the Indianapolis Colts having their pick of the litter at No. 4 after Young presumably goes No. 1.
“These teams right now seem willing to wait, they seem willing to wait,” Schefter said. “I don’t think we’re going to see a quarterback go at two, and I think all the teams talking about trading up to three know that. So this great quarterback rush that we’ve all been expecting might start a little bit later.”
The thought is Houston wanted Young - and only Young. His absence off the board may provoke the Texans to draft Will Anderson.
There's been smoke around that that possibility for a couple weeks now, which does seem entirely possible.
However, the Cardinals (in the scenario that Anderson is off the board) absolutely will not stay at No. 3, especially with only one quarterback gone. If anything, the potential presence of Stroud should entice teams even more to wheel-and-deal with Arizona.
Houston passing up a passer? Perhaps.
Arizona drafting somebody at No. 3, who is not Anderson or a quarterback? Hard sell.
Bijan Robinson Will be Drafted in Top Ten: Sell
This is a tough one.
Robinson projects as the best running back prospect since Saquon Barkley coming out, and watching him run rampant at Texas has made plenty of heads turn - enough to warrant top ten consideration.
However, the league has severely devalued running backs to the point where no runner has been drafted in the top ten since Barkley. To counter that, no running back has exactly matched the hype that Barkley brought until Robinson.
Talent-wise, Robinson deserves consideration at worst. However, would teams such as Atlanta, Chicago or Philadelphia take him?
In today's league, teams are much more comfortable taking a running back later in the draft thanks to their limited shelf life and how easy their production can be replaced.
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