Top-10 mock draft: Panthers trading for No. 1 pick shakes up 1st round

Draft season has officially been kicked into high gear.

The Carolina Panthers' bold move to acquire the No. 1 overall pick from the Chicago Bears, coming all the way up from the No. 9 spot, will have some major implications for the top of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Here's a look at how the top 10 could shake out in the wake of Friday's blockbuster trade.

C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State

The Panthers likely won't know which quarterback they're taking at this spot for at least another few weeks; getting the No. 1 pick now was simply their way of ensuring they'd have their choice of the bunch. The smart money is on Stroud being their guy in the end. The Ohio State quarterback has everything Frank Reich could possibly want in a potential elite pocket passer. If he can start to tap into his athleticism a little more consistently, building on a spectacular playoff performance against Georgia, the sky is the limit for Stroud at the next level.

Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

Chicago being set on moving out of the No. 1 spot was always going to make it unlikely that the Texans ended up with their pick of the top quarterbacks. That's not such a bad thing in this draft, though. Young has the best film of any signal-caller in this class. Size will be a factor, and it's possible the Texans are one of the many teams that would be scared off by the idea of betting on an all-time outlier at the position. But it isn't something that's held Young back before, even against top competition in the SEC. The Alabama product has superstar potential.

MOCK TRADE: Raiders move up from No. 7 in deal with Cardinals

Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida

Here's where things really start to get interesting. Arizona is in prime position to sell this pick to another quarterback-needy team. The Colts could (and should) theoretically move up one spot to ensure they aren't settling for whoever falls to them at No. 4. But that could be a tough trade to work out for a number of reasons. And the Cardinals may not like their chances of moving back again from No. 4 if there's only one quarterback on the board at that point. This creates an opportunity for a team toward the back end of the top 10, like the Raiders, to get aggressive for their quarterback of the future. Richardson has some things to clean up in terms of footwork and accuracy, but that can be developed with time. He's far less of a project than many think, and he may have more upside than any quarterback in this class.

Will Levis, QB, Kentucky

The Colts not being able to move up and instead watching the top three quarterbacks come off the board before their pick would be a gut punch. That's not to say it couldn't still work out nicely, though. It's important to remember that there's going to be a wide range of opinions on this quarterback class - perhaps more than any other in recent memory. Levis could be among the top two quarterbacks on many teams' draft boards, and that may well include the Colts. Settling for the only remaining first-round quarterback will feel like a loss, but Levis has some incredible physical tools. There's major upside here with time to develop.

Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama

Seattle trading up to take a quarterback is very much on the table - especially given the relative ease with which the team could move on from Geno Smith after the first year of his new extension. But you won't find Pete Carroll or John Schneider complaining if they end up sitting tight at No. 5 and landing an elite pass-rush prospect. Anderson would be a dream scenario to bring some much-needed juice to the Seahawks' defensive front.

Jalen Carter, DL, Georgia

The early run on quarterbacks works out pretty well for the Lions, too. Carter, who many see as the best player in this draft, would be a steal anywhere outside of the top five picks. Detroit's defensive front becomes a nightmare to match up against, with the freakishly gifted Georgia standout lining up inside to complement 2022 first-rounder Aidan Hutchinson on the edge.

Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech

There's a good chance that moving back to this range could net the Cardinals, at minimum, a first-rounder in next year's draft. Adding that kind of future draft capital and still coming away with an impact player at a premium position would be a home run draft debut for first-year GM Monti Ossenfort. Wilson isn't getting quite as much hype as the consensus top two defensive players in this class, but that could change when he gets the chance to put his athleticism on display at Texas Tech's upcoming pro day.

Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon

The Falcons are another team that could potentially be lurking around trade-up scenarios, but they're not quite as desperate for a quarterback, with Desmond Ridder having shown some promise down the stretch. There are a number of different paths Atlanta could take here, including targeting one of this year's top offensive linemen, but the idea of landing another immensely talented young cornerback to pair with A.J. Terrell is particularly enticing. Gonzalez would be a major boost for a Falcons defense that needs plenty of help.

Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State

Chicago trading all the way down to No. 9 was a bold but necessary move. D.J. Moore gives Justin Fields a No. 1 target in the passing game, and the collection of premium picks extending into the 2025 draft provides GM Ryan Poles with endless assets with which he can build out the roster. And it shouldn't be forgotten that there's a real opportunity to land a blue-chip talent with this pick. Johnson could be a long-term stalwart for a Bears offensive line that has to do a better job of protecting Fields.

Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois

It should never come as a surprise if the Eagles use early picks to bolster the offensive or defensive lines, even if there are glaring issues elsewhere. That's just how they've always done business. But Witherspoon is quite possibly the best player on the board here, regardless of position, and news that Darius Slay could be on the way out makes the need at cornerback too pressing to ignore. This would be a great way for Philly to spend the pick acquired from the Saints in a genius move to trade out of the first round last year.

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