2023 NFL Draft Odds: C.J. Stroud now betting favorite over Bryce Young, Anthony Richardson for No. 1 pick

With NFL Free Agency underway and the 2023 NFL Draft just a month away, it’s a good time to find out who the favorite for the first overall pick is. The last time we checked the odds for the No. 1 in late January, former Alabama quarterback Bryce Young was the betting favorite at -135, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. At the time, the Bears still held the No. 1 standings, which they earned thanks to the Texans’ win in the final week of the regular season.

Fast forward two months later and we now have a new team owning the No. 1 overall pick after the Panthers pulled off a blockbuster trade with the Bears. Carolina traded picks #9 and 61 in this year’s draft, a first-round pick from 2024, a second-round pick from 2025, and veteran wide receiver DJ Moore to the Bears for the top pick overall.

The Panthers are under new leadership after hiring Frank Reich as their new head coach. Carolina will likely pick a #1 quarterback since the only quarterbacks they have on their roster are sophomore Andy Dalton and QB Matt Corral.

This is a star-studded QB class where up to five signal callers could be selected in the first round, which would be a big improvement after only Kenny Pickett was drafted in the first round last season. Below we discuss the top 3 betting favorites picked with the #1 overall pick.

2023 NFL Draft #1 Overall Pick Odds: Top 8

Odds courtesy of Sports Interaction

player	#1 Overall Pick Rates
CJ Stroud	-164
Bryce Young	+159
Anthony Richardson	+539
Will Levis	+3798
Will Anderson	+10300
Jalen Carter	+15400
Tyree Wilson	+15400
Devon Witherspoon	+15400

2023 NFL Draft No. 1 Odds for the full selection: favourites

CJ Stroud (-164)

The former Ohio State standout is fast becoming the top overall pick in next month’s draft. Many NFL draft analysts believe Young or Richardson could carry a Panthers varsity. Stroud’s name is slowly picking up steam after his pro day, well represented by Carolina. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Stroud met with the Panthers Tuesday before his pro day and will meet with them again before the draft.

Stroud had another stellar season with Ohio State, completing 66.3 percent of his passes for 3,688 yards, 41 touchdowns and six interceptions. Though his completion percentage and passing yards were declining as of 2021, Stroud’s excellent play under center helped the Buckeyes advance to the college football playoffs, where he put on a show against eventual national champions Georgia Bulldogs. If Stroud finishes the draft circuit strong and excites the Panthers’ brass, it will be hard to get past a 6-3, 214-pound quarterback who can throw the ball down the field. However, unless you think Young and/or Richardson will disappoint in their pro days, his odds don’t offer much value right now.

Bryce Young (+159)

The former standout quarterback from Alabama has the second best chance of being the overall pick behind Stroud. Young did not practice on the field at the NFL combine earlier this month but will reportedly be throwing on his pro day this week. The 21-year-old signal-caller had a stellar career in Alabama, throwing for 3,328 yards, 32 touchdowns and eight interceptions last season. He also had a career-high 185 rushing yards and four touchdowns.

According to DraftKings Sportsbook on March 1, Young was the favorite to be number 1 overall (-160). However, the Panthers might hesitate to apply their pick to a 5-10 quarterback. Regardless of his size, Young should still have a fantastic NFL career, whether in Carolina or Houston, who is currently No. 2 overall. As for his odds, he still offers value considering he was the betting favorite less than a month ago.

Anthony Richardson (+539)

Richardson could be No. 1 overall next month if he has an incredible pro day after a great performance at the Scout Combine. The former University of Florida standout isn’t an efficient passer like Stroud or Young, but he has the athleticism, mobility and arm strength that lead scouts and draft analysts to believe he could be the next great dual-threat quarterback in the NFL. Though Richardson will likely sit out most of his rookie season, he could be the top quarterback in this draft class in three years, making him a relative value bet at +539.