Outkick

● By Armando Salguero

Accuracy: 14.90%209th Place
The Carolina Panthers have the first pick but the intrigue to the 2023 NFL Draft begins Thursday evening with the Houston Texans at No. 2. And what they will do is a mystery. Do the Texans pass on Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud as the persistent rumors suggest? Do they trade the pick? Do they make the pick and trade it? And what about that relationship between Texans GM Nick Caserio and Las Vegas GM Dave Ziegler, dating back to their years with the Patriots? Then what happens to the other top quarterbacks in this draft? Who falls to the Colts? Everyone says they go with Will Levis, which is a real thing based on what sources are whispering. But this mock goes a different direction.

Top Players Not Included

These players appear in the top 31 of our

Consensus Big Board

, but do not show up in this mock.