2023 NFL draft prospects for these four teams

by Daniel Hepner

Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles are usually active trading during the Draft and sit in an excellent position to move around the board with two 1st round picks (#10 and #30). They lost key defensive pieces and are about to pay quarterback Jalen Hurts, so adding young talent on cheaper contracts will be key if Philly wants to continue building their strong roster.

I love the idea of a team perpetually having two 1st round picks and concocting trades every year to ensure their haul continues. The Eagles can move up or down the board depending on the players they want to target, but a trade down from #10 would net a premium pick (possibly a future 1st rounder).

Any number of teams could be looking to move up and grab a top player who slips to the end of the top 10, or their #30 pick would allow a team to trade up to secure the fifth-year option while the Eagles keep accumulating value and high draft picks (either this year or next). Philadelphia will add talented players, and history says they will not sit still.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Pittsburgh has been relatively quiet on the trade front early in the Draft, but their most recent trades have involved moving up. The trade in 2019 could scare the Steelers away as they gave up #20 and #52 that year and a 3rd rounder in 2020 for linebacker Devin Bush. While Bush showed flashes, Pittsburgh let him leave in free agency this year. But, of course, the Steelers would never make that same move knowing the outcome.

A trade early in the Draft seems unlikely based on recent seasons, but the Steelers could move up for a cornerback if a run starts in the 1st round. Many mock drafts have Pittsburgh targeting a corner after losing Cameron Sutton to the Lions, and at #17, they could be sitting with the top three options at the position already off the board. Moving up a few spots would secure a top option in the defensive backfield.

New York Giants: New York re-signed several receivers and traded for tight end Darren Waller, but there is still a hole at wide receiver that could be filled. The Chargers, Ravens, Vikings, and Jaguars pick directly before the Giants and could use receiver help, so moving up ahead of those teams would allow New York their pick of a pass catcher, especially if a WR1 is on the board.

If the Giants want to trade down like last season, they could look to the Bills (#27), Saints (#29), and Chiefs (#31) as aggressive teams at the end of the 1st round, possibly looking to trade up. As the Giants did last year, trading down on days 2 and

3 is an easy way to add late value.

New York Jets: The Jets hit two home runs in the 1st round of the 2022 draft and look poised to contend in 2023 if Aaron Rodgers comes in and plays at a high level. The division is one of the best in football, so New York can’t expect to make minor moves and still hang at the top. The AFC will be an absolute dogfight, especially with Rodgers switching conferences.

Assuming the Jets don’t trade the #13 pick to the Packers for Rodgers, many mock drafts have the Jets picking an offensive tackle. I agree with that logic and wouldn’t be surprised to see New York trade up if a run starts. The Bears (#9) and Titans (#11) are popular landing spots for the top tackles, so the Jets could look to move ahead of both teams or trade up with the Eagles at #10 if the Bears take a tackle. The Raiders at #7 also loom, so New York could eye getting #8 from the Falcons.

Daniel Hepner is keen on using analytics in his NFL analyses. He writes at The Sports Column.