• Pressure on the Panthers: The Panthers gave up a lot in the move up to No. 1 overall, and it means they really can’t afford to get it wrong when they make their final decision on their quarterback of the future.
• To trade up or not to trade up? The issue for the Colts at No. 4 overall is that they are at the mercy of the teams in front of them. Should Young, Stroud and Richardson all come off the board in the first three selections, the Colts could be looking at Kentucky’s Will Levis, who earned a single-season passing grade above 80.0 just once in his career.
• Packers need to surround QB Jordan Love with talent: With the 15th overall selection in this draft — and potentially more coming their way if the New York Jets complete the trade for Aaron Rodgers — the Packers should add as many playmakers around Love as possible.
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
To state the obvious, the NFL draft is one of the easiest ways for a team to improve quickly. A struggling team can add top-level talent and get that talent on cheap rookie contracts, which frees up cap space for extensions and free-agency signings.
That means there is plenty of pressure to get things right. Here are four teams that can’t afford to get it wrong next week.
Carolina Panthers
The Panthers traded Pick 9, Pick 61, a 2024 first-round pick, a 2024 second-round pick and wide receiver D.J. Moore to the Chicago Bears in exchange for the No. 1 selection in this year's draft. It was a huge amount to give up, and it means they can’t afford to get it wrong when they make their final decision on their future quarterback
Right now, it likely comes down to two players. The first is Alabama’s Bryce Young, who led this draft class in PFF passing grade in 2021 and was tied for the top mark in 2022. The other is Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, who graded right behind Young in both seasons.
The wild card is Florida’s Anthony Richardson, who forced 39 missed tackles as a runner a season ago to lead this quarterback class.
Indianapolis Colts
The Colts badly need a franchise quarterback. They’ve recently tried trading for veterans to shore up the position, but neither Matt Ryan nor Carson Wentz could emulate what Philip Rivers did in 2020 when the former Charger took the team to the playoffs.
The issue for the Colts at No. 4 overall is that they are at the mercy of the teams in front of them and likely teams behind them, too. Should Young, Stroud and Richardson all come off the board in the first three selections, the Colts could be looking at Kentucky’s Will Levis, who earned a single-season passing grade above 80.0 just once in his career.
With that in mind, paying the price to swap picks with the Arizona Cardinals would make sense.
Green Bay Packers
The Jordan Love era is (almost) here, but the Packers need to quickly find out whether the 2020 first-rounder is worth a long-term contract extension. After all, he's played just 91 snaps over the last three seasons.
With the 15th overall selection in this draft — and potentially more coming their way if the New York Jets complete the trade for Aaron Rodgers — they should add as many playmakers around Love as possible.
Whether by picking tight end Dalton Kincaid or Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, landing playmakers will help Green Bay make an informed decision on Love's long-term potential.
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders finished last in AFC West a season ago and face the daunting task of securing a playoff berth in one of the toughest divisions in football. However, they are currently scheduled to make five of the first 109 selections in the 2023 NFL Draft, so finding key contributors could significantly speed up their improvement.
If they don’t select a quarterback with the seventh overall selection, they could look to pick up a cornerback. They signed Duke Shelley and David Long Jr. this offseason, but landing Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez or Illinois’ Devon Witherspoon would significantly boost their defensive backfield.
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