Could Georgia Bulldogs defensive tackle Jalen Carter be the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL draft? We think it is unlikely because Carter is not a quarterback.
The Houston Texans, who are 1-11-1, are the front-runners to land the first pick in the 2023 NFL draft. Houston needs a quarterback (and a bunch of other players), so the Texans are expected to draft one.
Last season, Georgia’s Travon Walker rose up NFL draft boards thanks to his College Football Playoff performance and dominant NFL combine. Walker ended up being the No. 1 pick of the 2022 NFL draft, but last season’s draft featured no elite quarterback prospects. The 2023 NFL draft is different.
The 2023 NFL draft features a much more impressive quarterback class than the 2022 NFL draft. 10 of the last 14 top overall selections have been quarterbacks.
ESPN NFL draft expert Mel Kiper thinks that Jalen Carter is the best player in the 2023 NFL draft. Carter, who missed two games after suffering a knee injury, has 29 total tackles, three sacks, and two forced fumbles this season. Carter is a disruptive force in both the pass and run game.
NFL teams need players like Carter who can defend the run and the pass. With the rise of usage in two-high safeties, the running game has regained importance in the NFL.
Mel Kiper’s highest ranked quarterback in the 2023 NFL draft is Kentucky’s Will Levis. Alabama’s Bryce Young is not far behind Levis.
