Seven weeks remain in the 2023 NFL regular season. As the Eagles and Chiefs lead a group of Super Bowl contenders, other teams are in play for a very different prize: the future.
There has never been a draft in which five QBs were picked in the top 10. The 2024 class may change all of that, with USC’s Caleb Williams leading a talented group. With that in mind, here’s a look at how the draft may play out.
This draft order is based on team records and tiebreakers at the end of Week 11.
1. Chicago Bears (via Carolina): Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Williams has made some incredible plays this season but also drifted into a lot of backyard football that will turn off NFL teams. The gap between Williams and Drake Maye is closing.
2. Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
Kyler Murray will probably win just enough games for the Cardinals to miss out on Harrison, but if he lands here, that offense will be very, very dangerous next year. Yes, Arizona would strongly entertain trade offers for someone to come get Maye, but we won’t factor in trades until after the season.
3. New England Patriots: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
This week’s Patriots/Giants game feels like the Drake Maye Bowl, with the loser being the winner in the long run. Yes, I strongly considered Maye first overall.
Jimmy Johnson honored; Drake Maye vs. Caleb Williams?
4. Chicago Bears: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
He’s back from the ankle surgery and looks more dominant than any tight end who has come out of college in years. Bowers would go a long way toward helping the Bears offense.
5. New York Giants: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
I continue to waffle on who QB No. 3 is in this class, and though I like JJ McCarthy more, the guess right now is that Nix checks a few more boxes, as he puts together an incredible season (78 percent completions, 35 TDs, 2 INTs). One knock: he turns 24 in February, old for a rookie.
6. Tennessee Titans: Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State
Will Levis hasn’t been terrible, and he should get another year to show evaluators what he’s capable of. It would help if the Titans bolstered their offensive line.
7. Washington Commanders: Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State
There are lots of decisions ahead for the new ownership group, who may roll the dice of one more year of the Sam Howell roller coaster ride. How would a new head coach feel about that, though?
8. Atlanta Falcons: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
He’s made 54 college starts between ASU and LSU, and has taken a massive leap this season, possibly to the Heisman and now into the first round.
Heisman Trophy odds: is LSU’s Jayden Daniels the best player in the country?
9. Green Bay Packers: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
The Packers are a fascinating offseason team because they could go one of many ways, but at QB, Jordan Love has played better since some early season issues. Has he been good enough to get another year at the helm, however?
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa
Several teams in the 8-19 range have QB questions but also head coaching questions. Baker Mayfield has shown positive flashes on his fourth team in three years, and maybe the franchise holds off on picking a QB here.
11. New York Jets: JC Latham, OT, Alabama
If the front office asked me, I’d strongly consider a QB here after doing the research. Aaron Rodgers would try to talk them out of it, but how much longer will he be there?
12. Los Angeles Chargers: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
The Mike Williams injury hurt, and his time in LA may be done. Last year’s first-round pick Quentin Johnston has really struggled, and they need depth on the outside.
13. Los Angeles Rams: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Unless they can find a trade partner for Matt Stafford, I don’t see the Rams picking a QB here, but they could get protection for him to start opposite Rob Havenstein.
14. Las Vegas Raiders: Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA
Antonio Pierce has turned the Raiders into a frisky bunch, going 3-0 against the spread since taking over. Maybe they keep Davante Adams now? A reliable bookend for Maxx Crosby makes a lot of sense.
15. Indianapolis Colts: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
Shane Steichen and Anthony Richardson getting a potential star like Odunze to pair with Michael Pittman will help this offense take the next step.
Michael Penix Jr. finds Rome Odunze for a 33-yard TD as Washington regains the lead vs. Utah
16. Denver Broncos: JT Tuimoloau, Edge, Ohio State
The Broncos are one of the three most fascinating offseason teams, if you ask me. Will Sean Payton draft a QB and move on from Russell Wilson? Not the way he played in the second half of the season. For now, let’s stick with the best player available.
17. Cincinnati Bengals: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
The Bengals could be drafting near the top 10 with Joe Burrow’s season over. The defense has been disappointing, but with Tyler Boyd likely moving on, Nabers has the feel of a dangerous slot receiver.
18. Buffalo Bills: Dallas Turner, OLB, Alabama
The Bills have three potential pass rushers who could be playing elsewhere next season (Floyd, Phillips, Epenesa and Lawson), so you might as well fortify the front.
19. New Orleans Saints: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
Two starting offensive linemen are free agents and one would assume a defensive coach pushes to improve the running game. Fuaga, who is soaring up draft boards with an awesome season, could be the guy here.
20. Minnesota Vikings: Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas
He’ll turn 21 before the draft and only has 19 starts at Texas, but I’ll keep him in the first round for now as he’s improved his draft stock considerably. Maturity will be the big question for Ewers, who could stay in Texas and possibly leap into the top five next year … or tumble into the mid-rounds if things go south.
Quinn Ewers connects with Jordan Whittington for a 23-yard touchdown, extending Texas’ lead over Iowa State
21. Arizona Cardinals: (via Houston) Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois
If you look at how the Eagles built their team, it was through the trenches. Jonathan Gannon’s going to get the Cardinals to load up on the lines in the draft.
22. Seattle Seahawks: Michael Penix Jr, QB, Washington
The Seahawks have to strongly consider a QB here, and not just because Penix is in their backyard. He’s not a developmental QB (23 years old, 41 college starts), so he could fit their win-now timeline.
23. Pittsburgh Steelers: T’Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas
Their inability to stop the run has a lot to do with a void in the middle since they lost Javon Hargrave. At 6-foot-4, 362 pounds, Sweat should immediately help.
24. Houston Texans (via Cleveland): Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington
The Texans are suddenly in a great spot, with a QB on a rookie deal and lots of salary cap room to go after impactful free agents. CJ Stroud has been excellent, playing behind a mediocre-at-best OL. Fautanu has played plenty of guard and tackle, and that versatility is a huge bonus.
25. Miami Dolphins: Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
They need defense, but if Worthy runs a sub 4.3, can Mike McDaniel resist adding another burner to the fastest offense in the NFL?
Quinn Ewers throws a 42-yard DOT to Xavier Worthy as Texas extends lead over Houston
26. Dallas Cowboys: Chop Robinson, Edge, Penn State
After hitting a grand slam with Micah Parsons, will Dallas go back to Penn State for a pass rusher? The offensive line also will be in play as that unit ages in Dallas.
27. San Francisco 49ers: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
The lone weakness on the 49ers is the secondary, and the 6-foot-2 Wiggins has a case to be the top cornerback in this draft.
28. Jacksonville Jaguars: Graham Barton, OL, Duke
Trevor Lawrence hasn’t taken a big step forward this year, and his offensive line has been spotty, at best. Think they’ve got to strongly consider a center here. Barton has played tackle at Duke, but could be kicked inside in the NFL.
29. Baltimore Ravens: Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina
Call him a deep sleeper to go in the 1st round, but Legette has been putting up massive numbers with the Gamecocks, and if he runs a sub-4.4-second 40-yard dash, the case may be made. Who doesn’t love a 6-foot-3 WR who is a walking explosive play? The Ravens have three WRs who will be free agents, and Rashad Bateman can’t stay on the field.
30. Detroit Lions: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
I’m not as high on him as others, and several Tide defensive backs haven’t lived up to their draft billing for a variety of reasons. But the Lions must improve their dreadful secondary.
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Landon Jackson, defensive end, Arkansas
Has popped with the Razorbacks since transferring from LSU, and at 6-foot-7, 280 pounds, Jackson joins a pretty loaded defensive front in KC that could be losing Chris Jones in free agency.
32. Philadelphia Eagles: Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia
The Eagles have drafted five Bulldogs in the last two years, and adding a fantastic cornerback like Lassiter checks several boxes.
