Five most intriguing storylines in the 2023 NFL Draft

The week of the NFL Draft never falls short on drama or watercooler talk.

Plenty of prospects have seen their draft stock rise (Tyree Wilson, Anthony Richardson) and fall (C.J. Stroud, Jalen Carter) over the weeks, and the consensus among most league executives and general managers has been this is the most unpredictable draft in recent memory.

Here are five of the draft’s most intriguing storylines to watch:

Are the Panthers really considering Will Levis with the No. 1 overall pick?

Regardless of if the Reddit post about Levis telling family members Carolina is taking him first overall is true, there’s little arguing that the 23-year-old signal caller’s stock is rising. 

Those more in the know such as ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Chris Mortenson are convinced Bryce Young is the pick, and until we have tangible proof otherwise, it’s hard to believe that a team honestly believes Levis is the best player in this draft class.

Are the Texans really going to pass on a QB with No. 2 pick?

Houston needs a quarterback and there will be three pretty good ones on the board when it’s on the clock. But reports indicate the Texans want Young over the others and if he’s gone, they might address another need and look for a QB later.

Many draft experts are connecting dots with edge rushers Tyree Wilson and Will Anderson to Houston at No. 2 given head coach DeMeco Ryans’ background with the 49ers and their propensity for taking defensive lineman in the first round. Still, it’s hard to see a team get in its own way with such a strong need such as that of a franchise quarterback.

How high does Bijan Robinson get drafted?

It’s crazy to think a player who’s widely considered a top-five talent could slide as low as the 20s, but that’s exactly where Robinson finds himself due to the devaluation of running backs over the years. But really, it’s only been five years since Saquon Barkley was the No. 2 overall pick, and Robinson has been described by many scouts as a generational talent.

Unfortunately for Robinson, the Eagles are the only team inside the top 10 that need a running back. But adding him to an offense that has Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown. DeVonta Smith, Dallas Goedert and arguably the best offensive line in the NFL would give NFC defensive coordinators nightmares. If it’s not Philly, Detroit at No. 18, Tampa Bay at No. 19, Seattle at No. 20 and the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 21 could all be possibilities.

Will the Titans trade up for a QB?

This is a sexy prediction from many NFL insiders as it’s been well-documented that Tennessee has done its due diligence on all four of the top QBs in the draft. First-year general manager Ran Carthon has kept his plans close to the vest, but he did speak during his pre-draft news conference on how he scouted the position.

Ryan Tannehill turns 35 soon and he’s in the final year of his deal, and the organization has soured on 2022 third-round pick Malik Willis, so if the Titans don’t draft a QB now, they’ll likely have to do so next year. That said, they have a lot of holes to fill and just six draft picks, so it’s difficult to see them trading any of those picks or mortgaging any future picks if the team truly is hitting reset on the roster.

Does Hendon Hooker get drafted before Will Levis or Anthony Richardson?

As cray as it sounds, some teams reportedly have Hooker as the third quarterback in the class behind Young and Stroud. By this point, it’s all but assumed that he gets picked in the first round as any team drafting him would certainly want a fifth-year option, but could he really go ahead of Levis or Richardson?

In my opinion, no. However, crazier things have happened, and former NFL GM Mike Tannenbaum made a strong case for Hooker in his mock draft when he had the Seattle Seahawks taking him fifth overall. It’s hard to see Hooker going that high, but there’s no reason why he can’t climb into the 10 to 20 range.