The Houston Texans may have vanquished the Indianapolis Colts 32-31 in Week 18 to avoid a series loss for the first time since 2019, but it cost them the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft.
That belongs to the Chicago Bears, who may be sellers considering they already have a top quarterback in 2021 first-rounder Justin Fields. Why not entertain a few offers before using the No. 1 overall pick on either Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter or Alabama defensive end Will Anderson?
According to the scouting staff at the 33rd Team, which released its latest mock draft, the Colts get the last laugh over the Texans as they jump them from No. 4 to pick first in April’s draft.
One criticism of mock drafts is that they don’t account for the capital needed to work out a deal with the Bears. At least the 33rd Team tries with the Colts sending their first-, second-, third-rounders along with a 2024 first-rounder for the Bears’ first- and fourth-rounders. According to the Drafttek trade value chart, the Bears’ picks are worth 3,092 points while the Colts’ 2023 complement is worth 2,545 — 547 points short. That means Indianapolis’ 2024 first-rounder makes up the difference in compensation, and is worth about as much as an early second-round pick in the 2023 draft.
The Colts use the pick to take Kentucky quarterback Will Levis, which would mark the first time since 1999 that a former Wildcat was the top pick in the draft. The Cleveland Browns selected Tim Couch, who went through growing pains rebooting the former AAFC franchise following a three-season hiatus.
Houston takes Alabama’s Bryce Young No. 2 overall and then grabs USC wideout Jordan Addison with the No. 12 overall pick, a boon the Texans picked up thanks to their 2022 offseason trade with the Cleveland Browns.
If the Colts gave up that capital for Levis, he better be worth it, because it otherwise compromises their ability to collect talent. Indianapolis struggled at quarterback, but it was hardly their only problem in 2022.
