The Carolina Panthers made a blockbuster trade Friday, acquiring the Chicago Bears’ No. 1 overall pick in a package that includes first- and second-round picks in the next two years as well as wide receiver D.J. Moore.
For the Jacksonville Jaguars, owners of the No. 24 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, it doesn’t mean much. But it’s probably unwelcome news for two of the Jaguars’ division rivals.
Both the Houston Texans (owners of the No. 2 pick) and Indianapolis Colts (owners of the No. 4 pick) were rumored to be interested in acquiring the Bears’ top pick. Not only did both AFC South teams fail to secure a deal with Chicago, the Panthers are now the team with the first choice of quarterbacks in the draft class.
For now, there’s no consensus on who that player will be for the Panthers. Bryce Young of Alabama has been considered the favorite to be the first passer off the board in April, but Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, Florida’s Anthony Richardson, and Kentucky’s Will Levis all made compelling cases at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine.
Barring a shocking change of heart, the Texans will get the second choice of those four quarterbacks. The Colts may get the third, but there’s also a real chance that there will be competition to acquire the Arizona Cardinals’ pick at third overall.
The 2023 NFL Draft is still seven weeks away, but the dominoes are already falling and the first big trade only helped the Jaguars, even if only a little bit.
