Sporting News

There's been a major early shakeup in the 2023 NFL Draft order less than a week after the Combine came to a close. As expected, the Bears, not needing to take a quarterback at No. 1 overall, have moved that pick for a major haul in return from a QB-needy team. That team is the Panthers, who are now on the clock first for the night of April 27 with a pick of the litter. The blockbuster trade creates a necessary big change at a couple of picks in Sporting News' mock draft, as the Bears slide down to No. 9 while also recouping a second-round pick in 2023. That leads to a trickle-down effect to shake up a few more selections. Here's a revised look at the first-round projections based on the Bears-Panthers movement on the cusp of NFL free agency: