There Is an Overwhelming Favorite to Become the First Overall Pick in the 2023 NFL Draft
Josh Frey
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After months of speculation over which of the top 2023 NFL Draft prospects could be the first overall pick, it seems we finally have an answer to that question. After meeting with the Carolina Panthers, Bryce Young has reportedly cancelled all remaining visits ahead of the NFL Draft, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
This has prompted the belief that the Panthers will select Young with the first overall pick next weekend. In fact, the odds for Young being that No. 1 pick have ballooned all the way to -1100. The next best odds are C.J. Stroud at +650 and Anthony Richardson at +1500.
Young has been a bit of a controversial prospect so far this offseason due to his small stature. The concern here is less with his talent and more with his durability as he gets into the NFL. If he takes too many hits, he could very well see his career cut short because of injury troubles.
That being said, the Alabama product is the Swiss Army knife of this draft. He can beat defenses in a number of ways, whether it be dropping deep passes into the bucket, hitting short routes with pinpoint accuracy, or extending plays with his legs. Here is an excerpt from our Vikings Draft Thermometer edition covering his skillset:
Young has a very fast delivery which allows him to get passes away even in the midst of pressure and fit throws into some tight windows. When facing pressure, he is also more than capable of using his legs to roll out of the pocket as well.
And finally, Young’s ability to process through his reads is unmatched by anyone in this class. He baits defenders with his eyes before finding openings in the coverage and delivering an accurate pass.
For this reason, Young has been the QB1 here at PurplePTSD for the entirety of the draft process, and it appears that the Panthers are close to coming to the same consensus.
Of course, nothing is certain as of now and won’t be until Carolina officially submits their pick. However, this is as close to concluding who will be that first overall pick as we’ve been throughout this entire draft process.
The 2023 NFL Draft officially gets underway on Thursday, April 27th.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.