The favorite in the NFL Draft is Bryce Young. The quarterback is drafted 1 overall by the Carolina Panthers. C.J Stroud will be the second quarterback taken in the draft.

The decision has been made.

No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft is Bryce Young.

The Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback was drafted by the Carolina Panthers. Thus, the case occurred that most experts and bookmakers had already estimated in advance as the most likely.

The Panthers had surprisingly traded for the No. 1 pick from the Chicago Bears in mid-March.

In return, the 9th pick in 2023, the 61st pick in 2023, the first-round pick in 2024 and the second-round pick in 2025 went to the Bears. In addition, wide receiver DJ Moore is moving to the Bears.

Houston Texans shock on draft day

The Houston Texans also selected a quarterback for the future. At second position, the Texans drafted C.J. Stroud as expected, making the playmaker the second overall pick.

After deciding on their new playmaker, the Texans shocked the draft. The franchise bet on the future and acquired their third pick in a deal with the Arizona Cardinals.

After the offensive-minded Stroud, Houston picked up edge rusher Will Anderson at the third position.

In return, the Texans’ first-round pick (No. 12), their second-round pick (No. 33) this year and a first- and third-round pick in 2024 will go to Arizona.

At fourth, quarterback Anthony Richardson went to the Indianapolis Colts. With the move, the franchise hopes to have found a franchise quarterback again after many years of constant turnover. Richardson had played himself into focus at the Combine, setting new QB records there in the vertical jump and broad jump.

Seattle Seahawks bolster secondary

At the fifth position, the Seattle Seahawks somewhat surprisingly selected cornerback Devon Witherspoon to bolster their secondary. Previously, there had even been speculation that the Northwestern franchise would be angling for a quarterback.

The franchise reportedly received some trade inquiries, but decided to use the pick themselves.

The Cardinals, who were without a top-10 pick in the interim, eventually acquired position six in a trade with the Detroit Lions to secure the services of offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr.

NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles used their ninth pick to bolster their D-line with the headline-grabbing Jalen Carter.

With the tenth pick, the Chicago Bears selected Darnell Wright and the Tennessee Titans also drafted an O-lineman afterwards, Peter Skoronski.

Detroit Lions upset all mock drafts

The Detroit Lions landed a big surprise. Already at position twelve, the franchise selected the second running back after Bijan Robinson (eighth overall to the Atlanta Falcons) in the draft, Jahmyr Gibbs.

Division rival Green Bay Packers stayed conservative in the draft and once again did not select a wide receiver in the first round. Instead, Lukas van Ness is backing up the pass rush.

The New England Patriots, meanwhile, opted for a new cornerback at 17th, drafting Christian Gonzalez. Two positions later, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected a D-lineman in Calijah Kancey.

Four wide receivers in a row – Seahawks get the start

The first wide receiver went off the board only afterwards. With their second pick, 20th overall, the Seahawks secured Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Curiously, the Los Angeles Chargers (Quentin Johnston), Baltimore Ravens (Zay Flowers) and Minnesota Vikings (Jordan Addison) then selected three more franchises’ receivers, marking the first time in draft history that four receivers were drafted consecutively in round one.

Closing out the first round were the two Super Bowl contenders and both chose edge rushers. The Eagles took Nolan Smith, who many experts expected to be with a team earlier, with their second pick, while the Kansas City Chiefs selected Felix Anudike-Uzomah.

Will Levis drops out of 1st round

After the early quarterback glut, Will Levis is the big loser as no other quarterback is picked in the 1st round.

The talent show continues Friday night into Saturday when rounds two and three take place. That’s when the Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams, who didn’t hold a first-round pick for various reasons, also get in on the action.