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Adam Schefter Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Adam Schefter predicts how top of the NFL Draft will unfold

By Colum Dell | Last updated 4/19/23

Although the 2023 NFL Draft could feature five quarterbacks selected in the first round, ESPN's Adam Schefter believes a run on signal-callers won't happen as early as some anticipate.

During a recent "NFL Live" appearance, Schefter sounded confident that quarterbacks won't be flying off the board at the beginning of the draft. He even predicted that the second quarterback might not go until the fourth pick, held by the Indianapolis Colts, who desperately need one.

Since Indianapolis has yet to attempt to trade up from their selection, Schefter suspects this is sufficient evidence of how the draft will play out.

"We've been hearing about quarterbacks going one, two, three, four. That's not gonna happen, I believe, in this draft …" said Schefter. "... I think Indianapolis thinks there's a real chance right now that they could sit right where they are at four and get, potentially, the second quarterback in this draft."

"These teams right now seem willing to wait. They seem willing to wait," Schefter continued. "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."

.@AdamSchefter just bet @danorlovsky7 that two QBs won't be selected before the Colts at No. 4 overall

"Indianapolis may be sitting there with its pick of the litter. Anthony Richardson, or Will Levis or C.J. Stroud. pic.twitter.com/BS3A1CjR14
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) April 17, 2023

The only quarterback guaranteed to land in the top three appears to be Alabama's Bryce Young, the overwhelming favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick (-770), according to OddsChecker. The 2021 Heisman Trophy winner strengthened speculation that Carolina will select him after he canceled his remaining pre-draft visits Monday.

In recent days, rumors have also swirled about the Houston Texans, who hold the Nos. 2 and 12 selections, may pass on a quarterback, so perhaps it's not all smoke.

Further reflecting Schefter's opinion, Young's Crimson Tide teammate linebacker Will Anderson Jr. has emerged as the favorite to become the second overall pick (+210). Should the draft play out as the odds suggest, it would be the fourth time in history that two teammates are selected back-to-back to begin the draft.

Michigan State's Bubba Smith (Baltimore) and Clint Jones (Minnesota) became the first teammates selected first and second overall in 1967. Nebraska Cornhuskers Irving Fryar (New England) and Dean Steinkuhler (Houston) earned this honor 17 years later. Courtney Brown (Cleveland) and LaVar Arington (Washington), both from Penn State, were the most recent to accomplish this feat in 2000.

It's worth noting that in 2020, Joe Burrow, Chase Young and Jeff Okudah became the first trio of players that attended the same school together to be selected in the top three. However, they don't qualify for this achievement since Burrow, the first overall pick, transferred from Ohio State and played his final two collegiate seasons at LSU.

If Schefter's prediction is accurate, the 2023 NFL Draft will be more exciting than previously thought. The three-day event, hosted in Kansas City, kicks off on April 27.

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