Reimagining 2023 NFL Draft based on NBA Draft Lottery results

These were the original top-five spots for the 2023 NFL Draft.

Pick 1: Chicago Bears

Pick 2: Houston Texans

Pick 3: Arizona Cardinals

Pick 4: Indianapolis Colts

Pick 5: Seattle Seahawks (from Denver)

Now apply the lottery results to the draft, and the top-five spots would have looked like this:

Pick 1: Houston

Pick 2: Indianapolis Colts 

Pick 3: Seattle Seahawks (from Denver)

Pick 4: Arizona Cardinals

Pick 5: Chicago Bears

That changes things. In this scenario, Chicago won’t be getting four draft picks and D.J. Moore from Carolina for the fifth-overall pick. Of course, the Texans could just as easily have traded the pick to the Panthers, but what if they didn’t?

Was Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud their guy all along, or would they take Alabama’s Bryce Young if given the chance? Either way, the Indianapolis Colts would be thrilled with either one at No. 2.

Of course, the Colts have said Florida’s Anthony Richardson was their man all along, but it’s easy to say that when Young and Stroud are off the board. Had a lottery given Indianapolis the second-overall pick, Richardson would almost certainly be somewhere else next year.

Less certain is what the Seahawks would have done in this scenario. With the fifth pick, they chose Illinois’ Devin Witherspoon, the draft’s top cornerback according to ESPN. But with the third pick, it’s hard to imagine Seattle passing on Alabama’s Will Anderson.

Arizona passed the third-overall pick to Houston in last month’s draft, and they’d likely do the same with the fourth pick. The Cardinals need help all over the roster, and the fourth pick alone can only do so much.

Chicago needs help too, but a lottery style draft does them no favors here. Without the top pick to trade, the Bears would likely stay put at No. 5.  With the 10th pick, the team took Tennessee OT Darnell Wright, but with the fifth pick Ohio State’s Paris Johnson would probably be the guy.

Believe it or not, the NFL used to award the 1st overall pick by drawing names from a hat. They used to wear leather helmets too. Lotteries can be fun, just don’t expect to see one in the NFL anytime soon.