NFL Draft rumors 2023: Tracking the latest leaks, news, trade buzz before Round 1
Soon the curtains will be opened and the smoke screens will be lifted.
The NFL draft season is particularly notable for its landmines of misdirection, rumor, and common misinformation, with the NFL draft being the only true arbiter of truth. There was more of that this year.
Rumors of a CJ Stroud slip, potential trade-ups and preferred picks lingered through April 27th. As is usual, the quarterbacks are particularly interesting: Bryce Young appears to be the favorite to come off the board at No. 1 overall, but after that Thursday night’s group of Stroud, Will Levis, Anthony Richardson and Hendon Hooker doesn’t seem to have a firm ranking to have.
After that, one of Alabama’s Will Anderson, Georgia’s Jalen Carter and Texas Tech’s Tyree Wilson will be the first defenders to walk off the board, but there’s no sure sign of who will be first.
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The only thing that is certain is that nothing is certain in the 2023 NFL Draft. Here are the latest rumours, rumors and more ahead of Thursday night’s first round:
Rumors about the 2023 NFL Draft
Trey Lance isn’t being shopped, Niners say
Date: Monday, April 24th
Source: Adam Schefter, ESPN
The 49ers traded three first-round picks and one third-round pick two years ago to draw Lance third overall, but now there’s talk of San Francisco wanting to flip the QB. As ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports, when asked about the rumors, General Manager John Lynch mixed up a jumble of words.
Lance, 22, has played in just eight games (four starts) as a pro. His 2022 season was ended early with an ankle injury sustained in Week 2.
Hendon Hooker: Top 20 Pick?
Date: Monday, April 24th
Source: Todd McShay, ESPN
Hendon Hooker’s stock has been up throughout the pre-draft cycle, and it looks like she’s entered the top 20 of the first round, according to ESPN’s Todd McShay.
The Tennessee quarterback is still recovering from an ACL injury he sustained in November, so his status for 2023 is still something of a question mark. Still, Hooker is expected to have something of a redshirt season in his rookie year as he adjusts to an NFL game, so sitting out, whether through injury, isn’t the worst thing for a team or intention to design it.
Titans “Quarterback Mix”
Date: Monday, April 24th
Source: Todd McShay, ESPN
The Titans have signed Ryan Tannehill, but they’re clearly not happy with the space for 2023 and beyond.
A year after Liberty’s Malik Willis was drafted in the third round, the Titans could take another swipe at the quarterback, this time much higher in the draft, according to ESPN’s Todd McShay.
The Titans are interested in both CJ Stroud and Will Levis, both of whom could be ranked No. 2 overall on the board — or later, if the rumor below is to be believed.
MORE: How Texans passing CJ Stroud could shake up first round of 2023 draft
CJ Stroud might slip a little
Date: Monday, April 24th
Source: Peter King, NBC Sports
Rumors that the Texans could concede a second-ranked quarterback ranked high for the week leading up to the draft. According to NBC Sports’ Peter King, Stroud is not a “bar” for the top seven picks of the 2023 draft, thanks in part to his S2 Test score.
In his mock draft, King has the Texans take on edge-rusher Tyree Wilson in place of Georgia’s Jalen Carter and Alabama’s Will Anderson.