The 2023 NFL Draft is right around the corner as Round 1 looms Thursday evening. With the class considered as a weaker one in general, things will get crazy as teams jockey themselves for the best positioning possible. We have the latest news and rumors as we near the final milestone before the NFL dead zone is underway.
NFL News and Rumors
As expected, the buzz is picking up around the league as the draft nears. We’ll dive into what league insiders believe could happen throughout the 2023 NFL Draft weekend, including trades with some household names.
Aaron Rodgers Expects To Play Past 2023
On his first official day as a New York Jet, Aaron Rodgers didn’t make any firm declarations about his playing future but did seem to indicate he will play past the upcoming season.
“This isn’t a one-and-done in my mind,” Rodgers said Wednesday. “This is a commitment.”
MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Mock Draft Simulator (With Trades)
Rodgers is under contract with the Jets through the 2026 campaign, but he could theoretically walk away from the rest of his deal at any time. Of course, he has tens of millions of reasons not to retire anytime soon.
Before being traded to New York, Rodgers signed a revised deal with the Green Bay Packers, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Under this restructure, the Packers will take a $40 million dead cap hit for Rodgers in 2023, but he’ll be totally off the books in 2024. Meanwhile, the Jets will likely rework Rodgers’ deal on their end in the coming weeks, per Pelissero.
Texans Could Take Will Levis at No. 2?
The Houston Texans’ decision at No. 2 overall has been the talk of the draft. With the Carolina Panthers seemingly settled on Bryce Young at No. 1, will the Texans take their next-favorite quarterback? Or will they go with a pass rusher or trade down?
John McClain, who is as plugged in as any Houston-based reporter, says the Texans have already decided what they’ll do with the second overall selection.
“(Houston) has no indecision whatsoever, those are national media reports,” McClain said on 107.5 The Fan on Wednesday. “They know what they’re going to do, they’ve just put a tight lid on it … With the second pick, I have them taking Will Levis in my final mock draft.”
Betting markets at DraftKings still place Texas Tech edge rusher Tyree Wilson as the slight favorite to go No. 2 (+130), but Levis is right behind him at +145.
Eagles Considering Trade Up For Pass Rusher?
The Philadelphia Eagles are typically among the most active teams on draft night, and they could make moves on Thursday. Multiple sources tell PFN’s Tony Pauline that the Eagles are “setting the groundwork for a potential move up from pick No. 10 if they could get one of the pass rushers.”
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman is an avowed fan of building through the trenches, and it could make sense for Philadelphia to fill their pass-rushing cupboard. While Haason Reddick and Josh Sweat are still in their primes, Brandon Graham is 35 years old, while both Graham and Derek Barnett will be free agents after the upcoming season.
Depending on how high the Eagles go, they could target some of the draft’s top defensive ends, including Will Anderson Jr., Wilson, or Myles Murphy. If they stay put at No. 10, Philadelphia might see at least one of those options fall to them, while Lukas Van Ness, Nolan Smith, and Will McDonald IV could all still be on the board.
Seahawks Interested in Jalen Carter
If the Seattle Seahawks don’t draft a quarterback with the fifth overall pick, they could consider the best defensive player on the board. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated says Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll is “intrigued” by the idea of selecting Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter.
Seattle has taken chances on players with off-field issues in the past, so they might be willing to roll the dice on Carter. However, ESPN’s Todd McShay said earlier this week that Carter is not expected to be the Seahawks’ pick. Smokescreen season is real, and it’s here.
Dolphins Could Chase After Dalvin Cook
Several NFL veterans have requested trades this offseason, including Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler, Cincinnati Bengals tackle Jonah Williams, and Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker. It remains to be seen whether each will get their wish during draft weekend, but one veteran who was unexpectedly named by ESPN’s Dan Graziano as a trade candidate is Dalvin Cook.
MORE: Could Dalvin Cook, Austin Ekeler, or DeAndre Hopkins Get Moved This Week?
Cook’s $14 million cap hit is a tough one for the Minnesota Vikings to deal with, as they’ve spent the offseason shedding commitments. Graziano named the Dolphins specifically as a suitor even after Miami brought veterans Jeff Wilson Jr. and Raheem Mostert back. If dealt, Minnesota would save almost $5.9 million in cap space, and Miami would inherit $10.4 million in salary obligations to the star back.
Why DeAndre Hopkins Is Unlikely To Be Traded Now
Despite DeAndre Hopkins’ overtures that he wants to play for a winner and won’t push for a massive new contract, no deal has surfaced yet for the veteran playmaker. According to Graziano, teams want the Cardinals to cover “a portion” of his $19.45 million salary for 2023. That’s likely going to end any trade discussions, as Arizona is only set to save $8.9 million of his massive $29.9 million cap hit if they trade him before June 1.
Could Patriots Trade Up to No. 2 With Houston?
Reddit isn’t exactly the place to get consistently credible sources, but an interesting Patriots rumor surfaced late last night.
According to a Reddit user (H/T to Establish The Run’s Anthony Amico), the Patriots could have a deal in place with the Texans to move up from 14th to No. 2 overall. The proposed deal would send Patriots quarterback Mac Jones, No. 14, a 2023 fourth-round pick, and a 2024 first-round pick to Houston for the second overall pick.
C.J. Stroud’s Uncertain Slide
No one seems to have a clear grasp on where Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud will go. ESPN’s Jordan Reid projected Stroud’s floor to be Tennessee or Las Vegas, but it’s also possible Houston, Indianapolis, or Detroit could still be interested.
There’s no question Stroud has endured a tough draft process, hearing concerns over his S2 testing, whether he’s coachable, and passing on the Manning Passing Academy.
Some of those concerns can prove to be meaningful. Despite his obvious talent as a pocket passer, Stroud will find himself with an uncertain draft experience compared to what we feel is a more predictable experience for Bryce Young, Anthony Richardson, and Will Levis.
Where Does Bijan Robinson Land?
As the draft nears, most evaluators have Bijan Robinson as an elite prospect regardless of who else is in this class. He’s my top overall player in terms of talent, and Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer reported that he’s top-five “on many boards.” The problem Robinson will face is how teams have devalued the running back position.
MORE: Bijan Robinson Lands in Atlanta in Latest Mock Draft
Atlanta is the betting favorite to take Robinson, but as Graziano noted, it might be wiser for the Falcons to trade down from eight to either Tennessee or Houston if a quarterback is falling. That way, they can still bolster their running game with a star back and get additional assets. He named Baltimore as a team to watch in case Robinson falls closer to the 22nd overall pick.
Jets Eyeing Jaxon Smith-Njigba
One year after drafting Chris Olave, the Jets could be looking to add another Buckeye playmaker in Jaxon Smith-Njigba. With Aaron Rodgers officially a Jet now, the team’s focus has to be maximizing the next two years with Rodgers. According to ESPN’s Matt Miller, Smith-Njigba has been the focus of the Jets’ draft process.