NFC Draft Rumors: Bucs, Commanders, 49ers, Seahawks
Every year, pundits and analysts debate the value of drafting a running back in first round. The Buccaneers are the latest to enter into this forum as they are reportedly considering doing just that, according to Buccaneers staff writer/reporter Brianna Dix.
The player in question for Tampa Bay is Texas running back Bijan Robinson. Robinson is far and away the consensus top running back on the board. In three years with the Longhorns, Robinson totaled 3,410 rushing yards and 33 rushing touchdowns while averaging 6.3 yards per carry. While not his main mode of attack, he can hurt in the passing game as well, as evidenced by his 60 catches for 805 yards and eight touchdowns over his collegiate career.
No running backs were taken in the first round of last year’s draft, with Breece Hall being the first off the board in the second round, but two years ago, we saw two running backs taken on Day 1. Despite durability being a main cause of concern for rookie rushers, Najee Harris rewarded the Steelers with a league-leading 381 touches and a Pro Bowl selection as a rookie. Travis Etienne unfortunately had to sit out his rookie season, but his debut season with the Jaguars in 2022 was nearly as impressive as Harris’s rookie year, despite only starting 12 games.
Beyond last year, we’ve seen the Chiefs move past Clyde Edwards-Helaire in favor seventh-round rookie Isiah Pacheco. We’ve seen a first-team All-Pro honor for Josh Jacobs in Las Vegas. We’ve seen the rollercoasters of Saquon Barkley and Sony Michel‘s careers, as well as the disappointment of Rashaad Penny‘s. The debate continues on into 2023. There has certainly been both hits and misses with first-round running backs, but where will Robinson fall in that storyline?
Here are a few other draft rumors from around the NFC:
- The Commanders have made it clear that they believe in second-year quarterback Sam Howell to take over the starting job in 2023, leading many to believe that taking a passer on Day 1 is off the table. According to ESPN’s John Keim, though, if a strong prospect like Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker is still available in the second or third round, Washington may not be able to pass them up. For the first round, though, it appears that the team has done their homework on the 2023 NFL Draft’s batch of offensive linemen. Jordan Reid, also of ESPN, specifically mentions Ohio State tackle Dawand Jones as a name that has been linked to the Commanders.
- The 49ers received a healthy amount of compensatory draft picks, including three third round picks. It’s a good thing, too, because without them, San Francisco’s first 2023 draft pick wouldn’t come until late in the fifth round. Surprisingly, despite needs at both offensive line and defensive back, Matt Miller of ESPN is hearing that the 49ers have done more work studying tight ends that any other team in the league. The team has lauded the depth of this year’s draft class, and Miller notes that this is a historically great tight end class. He mentions Michigan’s Luke Schoonmaker, South Dakota’s Tucker Kraft, and Old Dominion’s Zack Kuntz as potential options for San Francisco at the end of Day 2 who could end up working with George Kittle in the tight end room.
- The Seahawks can go in a couple of different directions in the first round with both the No. 5 and 20 picks. They may keep their eyes on the available quarterbacks, if they fall in love with any, to sit for a year or so behind Geno Smith and Drew Lock. What Miller really sees them doing is taking advantage of a potential early run of quarterbacks to nab one of the draft’s top defensive linemen like Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr. or Georgia’s Jalen Carter. If they don’t like any of their options at defensive line either, Miller reports that Seattle is reportedly in love with Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon.
Jalen Carter Unlikely To Fall Out Of Top 10; Bears, Eagles In Mix For DT?
APRIL 13: Carter’s floor may be settling in at No. 9. The Bears are unlikely to let the higher-risk prospect fall past them in Round 1, Matt Miller of ESPN.com notes. The Bears are believed to value the two-time national champion defender highly, and they are prepared to bolster their defensive line in this draft.
APRIL 11: Beyond this year’s lot of first-round-caliber quarterbacks, Jalen Carter has been the highest-profile player during the pre-draft process. The Georgia defensive tackle might be the most talented non-QB available, but off-field red flags have affected his perception.
Carter will not face jail time in connection with the misdemeanor charges he faced after two members of Georgia’s football program, offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting analyst Chandler Lecroy, died in car accident. A police investigation revealed Carter and Lecroy were “operating in a manner consistent with racing” that morning in January. A March plea deal led to Carter receiving a $1K fine and community service, but multiple teams are believed to have taken the standout interior D-lineman off their draft boards due to character concerns.
Carter, who also did not perform well at his pro day, should still not be expected to endure a Laremy Tunsil-like fall in Round 1. The high-end talent remains likely to go off the board in the top 10, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler and Matt Miller. Execs around the league believe a team will invest in Carter early, and Fowler adds Eagles buzz has emerged.
The Eagles, who took Georgia nose tackle Jordan Davis 13th overall last year, hold the No. 10 overall pick by virtue of their pre-draft trade with the Saints in 2022. GM Howie Roseman‘s penchant for building up Philadelphia’s lines has come up regarding Carter, as has Philly’s collection of veterans — including the recently re-signed Brandon Graham and Fletcher Cox — that could potentially help the suddenly riskier prospect assimilate. The Eagles lost Javon Hargrave to the 49ers in free agency as well; Cox is on another one-year contract and going into his age-33 season.
Philly’s potential as the Carter floor aside, Miller notes his survey among NFL staffers led to a conclusion either the Seahawks (at No. 5) or Bears (No. 9) will be the landing spot. Seattle both drafted Frank Clark in the 2015 second round, despite a domestic violence arrest leading to his dismissal from the Michigan program, and acquired Sheldon Richardson via trade in 2017 — two years after the defensive tackle was pulled over for driving 143mph with a firearm in his vehicle. The Seahawks have a significant investment at D-tackle this offseason, giving Dre’Mont Jones a three-year deal worth $51MM, and reached an agreement to bring back Jarran Reed. Seattle, which has been linked to QBs as well, would certainly show a tremendous commitment to its defensive interior with a Carter selection. Mel Kiper Jr.’s most recent mock draft sends Carter to Seattle — as the first non-QB taken.
Chicago has added both DeMarcus Walker and Rasheem Green, but both additions qualify as moves for supporting-casters rather than surefire impact presences. The Bears are looking to add up front in the draft — likely both on the edge and inside — and they joined the Eagles in hosting Carter recently.
Carter is not planning to meet with teams outside the top 10, though teams holding non-top-10 choices — draft real estate previously believed to be unrealistic to land Carter — began digging into the former Bulldogs interior anchor. He has met with the Seahawks, Lions, Raiders, Bears and Eagles thus far; each team holds a pick between Nos. 5 and 10. While this draft houses a few notable edge defenders, a notable gap exists between Carter and his D-tackle prospect peers. That stands to strengthen his position inside the top 10.
Giants Expected S Julian Love To Re-Sign
Given their financial commitments at safety coming into free agency, the Seahawks made a surprising move by signing Julian Love to join Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs. The Giants appear to have been surprised as well.
Like they did with Saquon Barkley during what became a narrow in-season negotiation — during the bye week — the Giants made Love an offer believed to be worth more than the two-year, $12MM Seahawks pact Love signed. The Giants then submitted a second offer earlier this year, according to the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz, who notes this proposal was worth more than what the team offered midseason.
[RELATED: Barkley Not Planning To Show For Team Workouts]
When Love chose the Seahawks offer, Schwartz adds the Giants were somewhat surprised. They gave Bobby McCain a one-year deal worth $1.3MM, but the team may still be on the lookout for a safety starter to replace Love alongside Xavier McKinney.
“I think I’m a player on the rise and I’m young, so a lot of things were going for me, I felt. Then the market was tough for safeties, that’s just the reality,” Love said recently. “I wouldn’t have expected it, but it was what it was. When Seattle saw where I was at contract-wise, they jumped at the opportunity to bring me on, which is exciting and it makes you feel like you’re wanted in this process. There were a few teams down at the end, but I think the appeal of Seattle was too great for me to pass on.”
No numbers have emerged regarding the Giants’ midseason or offseason Love offers, but this year’s non-Jessie Bates safety market not producing any deals worth at least $8MM per year did not bode too well for Love, even after a strong contract year. The new Giants regime used the same timetable with Love and Saquon Barkley, making an initial fall offer before upping it slightly ahead of free agency. But Barkley ended up being franchise-tagged — the expected outcome in the event a Daniel Jones extension surfaced — and Love hit the market. When free agency opened, the sides were not close on terms; that led to the Seattle visit.
McKinney has missed chunks of two seasons — 2020 and ’22 — but looks to remain in New York’s long-term plans. The former second-round pick could rebound and command a nice raise with a quality contract year, and Schwartz notes the Giants were not going to have Love making more than McKinney on a long-term deal. McKinney is now extension-eligible, but it would make sense for the Alabama alum — considering the ATV accident that cost him seven games last season — to bet on himself raising his value in 2023.
As for Love, he now sits 28th for safety AAV. Vonn Bell, Jordan Poyer, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Donovan Wilson and Juan Thornhill checked in a bit higher on their offseason deals, but Bell’s three-year, $22.5MM Panthers pact was the closest any safety came to Bates’ four-year, $64MM Falcons windfall. Gardner-Johnson signed a one-year deal after turning down a multiyear Eagles offer, joining Love in perhaps overestimating this year’s safety market. Love is expected to play a regular role, regardless of Adams’ health, in Seattle; the Seahawks are planning to use Adams closer to the line of scrimmage more often in 2023.
The Giants have McCain, Dane Belton and Jason Pinnock under contract alongside McKinney. Love took over after the Giants cut Logan Ryan and let Jabrill Peppers walk in 2022. The team has higher priorities entering the draft, and while safety can be considered an auxiliary need, the Giants may rely on McCain or one of their younger holdovers to team with McKinney.
Seahawks DT Dre’Mont Jones Addresses End Of Broncos Tenure
Seattle made one of the most impactful additions of the offseason along the defensive line when they signed Dre’Mont Jones in free agency. That pact marked the end of his time with the Broncos, the only team he had previously played for in the NFL. 
During his four-year tenure in the Mile High City, Jones established himself as a valued member of the team’s strong defensive units. From 2020 on, he was a highly consistent factor in their interior pass-rush, notching 6.5, 5.5 and 6.5 sacks over that span. That, coupled with his age (26), made a new contract for him a priority on Denver’s part heading into the offseason.
However, the former third-rounder ended up signing a three-year, $51MM deal with Seattle after it became clear Denver was headed in a different direction. The Broncos saw Jones’ asking price as being too high, which led to the end of extension talks and his change of scenery. He spoke on the matter recently, indicating Seattle was more willing than Denver to make a sizeable financial commitment.
“I mean, they should have just traded me from the jump,” Jones said in reference to the Broncos. “I was included in the [Russell Wilson] trade. Denver said no. And then, Denver kind of… I don’t want to say that word – but Denver didn’t pay me my proper respects” (h/t NFL.com’s Kevin Patra).
The Broncos did indeed prefer to keep Jones out of the package they sent to Seattle for Wilson, instead including veteran Shelby Harris as part of their compensation. Since they weren’t able to agree on a new deal with Jones, however, Denver pivoted to former Cardinal Zach Allen on a three-year pact worth $47.5MM. That figure not only comes marginally short of what Jones signed for, but it has also raised eyebrows around the league.
The Athletic’s Mike Sando notes that many team executives were caught off guard by the AAV of $15.8MM Allen was able to secure on his Broncos pact (subscription required). The 25-year-old posted notable sack totals in only the past two seasons, but is regarded as being strong against the run as well. Still, Denver’s investment in him carries some risk, and will no doubt be compared to the success (or lack thereof) Seattle is able to achieve with Jones now in the middle of their defensive front.
Jalen Carter To Visit Seahawks; DT Off Multiple Teams’ Draft Boards?
As the draft draws nearer, an important unanswered question remains regarding the future of Jalen Carter. The former Georgia defensive tackle is still receiving interest from teams set to pick within the top 10, but not every NFL franchise is looking to add him. 
The latest known visit for Carter will be with the Seahawks tomorrow, as noted (on Twitter) by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. That comes as little surprise, given the news that the highly-touted defender will not be meeting with teams which do not own top-10 selections. Seattle has pick No. 5, and could be well-positioned to add Carter to their new-look defensive line later this month.
The Seahawks made a re-tooling of their front seven a priority heading into this offseason, and it has resulted in moves such as the signing of Dre’Mont Jones, one of the top free agent defensive linemen, and a reunion with linebacker Bobby Wagner. Drafting Carter would add further to their upgrades along the defensive interior, provided he could replicate his high-level play with the Bulldogs upon transitioning to the NFL level. The 6-3, 310-pounder was named a consensus All-American in 2022 after another productive season with the national champions.
However, Carter’s stock has taken a hit for multiple reasons recently. He faced misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and racing, which resulted in a plea agreement being reached; he will not face jail time as a result. Carter also drew poor reviews after his pro day, particularly for the state of his conditioning. Especially given his decision to only focus on teams slated to pick at or near the top of the board, plenty of uncertainty surrounds where he will ultimately land on draft night.
On that point, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer notes that “at least a couple” NFL teams have taken Carter off their board altogether. He adds, though, that Carter should still be considered a first-round lock, and is unlikely to fall outside the top half of the Day 1 order. Much will depend, of course, on the evaluations teams make of him during his top 30 visits and their projections of his ability to perform at the level he demonstrated with the Bulldogs before his pre-draft issues arose.
Tomorrow’s Seattle visit will soon be followed by one with the Raiders. The Lions, Eagles and Bears are also among the teams which have show interest in Carter, so there could still be significant competition to land arguably the class’ most talented prospect later this month.
Bobby Wagner Aiming To Play Beyond 2023; Seahawks Planning To Reduce LB’s Workload
Becoming a lock Hall of Famer during his first Seahawks stint, Bobby Wagner finished his one-and-done Rams stay as a second-team All-Pro. Wagner has earned first- or second-team All-Pro honors in nine straight seasons. Even as the decorated linebacker enters his age-33 season, he looks to be a major addition for a Seahawks team that lost Cody Barton in free agency.
Wagner is back in Seattle on a one-year deal worth $5.5MM. Pro Football Focus’ top-graded 2022 linebacker joins ex-Steeler Devin Bush as additions the Seahawks made on their defensive second level this offseason. While the 2012 second-round pick is only committed to the team for one more season, he said (via the Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta) the goal will be to play beyond 2023.
The 10-year Seahawks starter acknowledged he is on a year-to-year arrangement at this point in his career, but as of now, retirement is not the plan for 2024. This could be significant for the Seahawks, given Wagner’s 2022 form. He finished with 140 tackles — down from his 170-tackle surge in 2021 — but a career-high six sacks, showing intriguing form in Los Angeles’ 3-4 scheme. Wagner, who patrolled the middle of a 4-3 Seattle look throughout his first Seahawks stint, will step into DC Clint Hurtt‘s 3-4 setup soon.
As for the Hawks’ plans regarding Wagner’s usage, ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson notes Pete Carroll and John Schneider have hinted at a reduced workload compared to his ironman snap rate during his first Seattle run. Wagner hardly left the field during his initial Seahawks tenure, playing no fewer than 93% of the team’s defensive snaps from 2013-21. For a Rams team that lost numerous starters to injury last season, Wagner was on the field for 99% of the team’s defensive plays.
Given Wagner’s age, it makes sense for the Seahawks to attempt a conservation effort. He has logged more than 1,000 defensive snaps in six of the past seven seasons, topping 1,100 in 2020 and ’21. That said, Condotta adds Wagner will likely begin the season wearing the green dot — signifying headset communication — due to his experience and Jordyn Brooks‘ January ACL tear. Wagner is certainly an ideal player for that role, and it is possible he plays a higher snap percentage early in the season — as Brooks finishes up his rehab effort — than he does down the stretch. But planning to take Wagner off the field and actually doing so will be different matters for the Seahawks, who have seen few players contribute as much to their cause in team history.
Brooks, who is going into his fourth season, did not undergo ACL surgery until late January. He will be a candidate to begin the season on the reserve/PUP list, which would sideline the former first-round pick for at least four games to begin the campaign. Wagner represents an ideal option to hold down the fort until his former sidekick returns. Once that happens, the Wagner-Brooks duo the team deployed at linebacker in 2021 will likely reform.
Bears Also Targeted Brian Burns, Derrick Brown; Panthers Discussed Trades With Cardinals, Seahawks
The Rams’ 2016 trade-up for Jared Goff involved only picks being exchanged with the Titans, whereas the Falcons’ 2001 move for Michael Vick featured a player and draft choices going to the Chargers. Standout return man Tim Dwight went to San Diego in that deal. Ryan Poles preferred the latter structure, leading to the pre-free agency swap that featured D.J. Moore and picks going to the Bears.
Chicago’s second-year GM zeroed in on a picks-and-players package when he began dangling the No. 1 overall pick, Joe Person, Adam Jahns and Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic report (subscription required). The Bears had other targets beyond Moore. Unsurprisingly, they were the two other top trade chips that came up at last year’s trade deadline. Chicago also targeted Brian Burns and Derrick Brown.
[RELATED: Panthers Leaning Toward Bryce Young At No. 1?]
Poles sought advice from Chicago Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson, per The Athletic, citing the NHL as relevant reference material regarding trades involving picks and players. The Bears first heard from the Panthers on a trade, after Carolina — even though team brass met with Derek Carr at the Combine — determined a rookie passer would be the plan after three seasons of veteran retreads post-Cam Newton. Chicago also discussed the pick with Houston and Las Vegas, but Poles’ relationship with Carolina GM Scott Fitterer helped move the intra-NFC trade past the goal line.
The Panthers’ first offer included only picks, per The Athletic, but Poles informed Fitterer picks alone would not be enough to allow the Panthers to move from No. 9 to No. 1. Carolina pulled that proposal, and Burns, Brown and Moore came up. All three players emerged as targets at last year’s deadline — none more so than Burns, who drew a two-first-rounder offer from the Rams. The picks included in that proposal were in 2024 and 2025, however, leading the Panthers to pass.
“There were certain players that we never really wanted to trade,” Fitterer said, via The Athletic. “It’s so hard to replace a Derrick Brown or Brian Burns, a pass rusher [and] an interior, dominant young player on a [first] contract. D.J., we didn’t want to move either. But it’s a little bit easier to replace a receiver than it is a pass rusher or a three-tech.”
Burns is entering his fifth-year option season, while Brown is going into Year 4. Both players arrived before Fitterer did, but the team has long planned to hammer out an extension with Burns. Fitterer’s comments on Burns’ value stand to strengthen the defensive end’s negotiating position. The Panthers are aiming to do a Burns extension after the draft. They will likely target receivers in the draft, though signings of Adam Thielen and DJ Chark lessen that need a bit.
Prior to pulling off the trade with the Bears, the Panthers discussed prospective deals with the Cardinals for the No. 3 pick and the Seahawks for the fifth choice. Neither negotiation gained much steam, per Person, even given Fitterer’s lengthy past in Seattle. The Colts also checked in with the Bears, according to Jahns and Fishbain. That certainly adds up, given Indianapolis’ post-Andrew Luck history and both Poles and Colts GM Chris Ballard having worked together in Kansas City.
The second-round picks exchanged here provided another interesting component in this seminal swap. The Bears wanted the Panthers’ No. 39 overall pick, according to The Athletic. Reluctant to part with it due to the gap that would exist between Carolina’s Nos. 1 and 61 overall picks, Fitterer counteroffered the 61st selection (obtained in the Christian McCaffrey trade) and a 2025 second. Instead of collecting one second-round pick, the Bears ended up with two in this trade — one that also will send Carolina’s 2024 first to Chicago. After David Tepper pushed for Deshaun Watson in 2021 and ’22, the Panthers determined this was the time to strike.
“I think when you’re at No. 9 — hopefully we’re not at No. 9 moving forward — this was an opportunity that we felt like, ‘Hey, this is the highest, hopefully, that we’re going to be in the future, so let’s take advantage of this, let’s be aggressive,” Panthers assistant GM Dan Morgan said, via the Charlotte Observer’s Mike Kaye. “Let’s trade up and let’s try to go get our quarterback.”
Considering the Panthers have held top-10 picks from 2020-22, it is not as though holding the No. 9 choice was rare draft real estate for the struggling team. Matt Rhule led the charge for the Panthers to stay at No. 7 and pass on a QB in 2020, rather than leapfrog both the Dolphins and Chargers for Justin Herbert, and the Panthers — after a failed Matthew Stafford pursuit — traded for Sam Darnold in 2021. The 2022 draft featured a poorly regarded QB crop, leading to Carolina taking Ikem Ekwonu at No. 6.
As the Panthers determined they wanted a first-round QB, the Bears viewed this year’s crop as impressive but not to the point it would bail on Justin Fields and make him their avenue toward stockpiling future picks. Instead, the Bears will be targeting non-quarterback options at 9. Pass rusher will be a consideration.
“Play the percentage game, it’s probably a chance one [quarterback] slides in, but … there’s different tiers in the first round,” Poles said (via Jahns and Fishbain) of the prospect of more QBs going from Nos. 2-8 will help keep high-end position players on the board at 9. “There’s always that cut-off of ‘elite’ and then it’s ‘very good starters.’ I know we’ll be in range for the players that are going to be in that first round that kind of hit that value bucket and for our team are going to make us better.”
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/4/23
Today’s minor moves:
Green Bay Packers
- Re-signed:S Dallin Leavitt
Seattle Seahawks
- Re-signed: WR Cody Thompson
Following a four-year stint with the Raiders, Leavitt joined the Packers last offseason and ended up collecting 13 special teams tackles for his new squad. As NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo tweets, Leavitt is a favorite of Packers special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia, who has coached the player with both the Packers and Raiders.
Thompson was expected to see a bigger role in 2022 after getting into five games with Seattle in 2021. However, a preseason shoulder injury ended up wiping out his entire campaign.
Texans, Lions, Bears Host Will Anderson Jr.; Houston Not Locked Into QB At No. 2?
Pre-draft visit season is in full swing, and the Texans are once again in possession of a top-three pick. The rebuilding team has long been expected to go with a quarterback at No. 2 overall, but GM Nick Caserio has not yet rushed into choosing a potential long-term Deshaun Watson replacement.
The Texans have met with Will Anderson Jr., Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports. Houston joins Chicago and Detroit in having met with the sought-after edge rusher. The Bears and Lions have made their plans known at quarterback, committing to Justin Fields and Jared Goff for 2023. The Texans’ meeting obviously proves more interesting.
Houston has been linked to Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud. Young and Will Levis have met with the Texans on pre-draft visits, and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport adds Stroud will do so Wednesday (Twitter link). Expected to be the second team to take a quarterback in this draft, the Texans are not a lock to do so. Were Caserio not to love a quarterback who will be available at 2, NBC Sports’ Peter King hears some chatter the Texans could draft Anderson, who is considered a safer bet. The team has not scheduled a meeting with Florida’s Anthony Richardson.
In this scenario, King notes the Texans could use their No. 12 overall pick to trade back into position for one of the top quarterbacks. But taking Anderson at 2 and sacrificing future draft capital for perhaps the draft’s third- or fourth-best QB may not be the best plan from a value standpoint, but if the Texans like Anderson that much, it is a potential blueprint to monitor. The Texans do not have much in the way of edge talent, having lost Ogbonnia Okoronkwo to the Browns in free agency. DeMeco Ryans built his head coaching candidacy on the strength of strong defensive lines. The Texans have signed Sheldon Rankins and still have Maliek Collins under contract, but they are light on edge-rushing presences.
This should still be considered the less likely route for Houston, and King expects Caserio to indeed commit to a quarterback at 2. This marks the GM’s second draft with Watson in the rearview mirror, and after making his first two HC hires (David Culley, Lovie Smith) one-and-dones, Caserio has likely moved closer to the hot seat. Passing on a quarterback — potentially a former Heisman winner in Young, as the Panthers have been more closely linked to Stroud as of late — in this spot will inject more risk into Caserio’s situation.
Anderson has recorded 27.5 sacks over the past two seasons; ESPN’s Scouts Inc. grades the two-time Bronko Nagurski trophy recipient as the second-best prospect in this year’s draft. Anderson sits between Young and Stroud on that list, further illustrating the risk the Texans would take by going with the acclaimed edge rusher. Both Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay’s most recent mock drafts have Houston taking Young at 2.
Holding the No. 6 pick, the Lions may be sitting a bit low for Anderson, who would obviously make for an intriguing pass rusher on an Aidan Hutchinson-anchored defensive line. Three quarterbacks are expected to be taken in the top five, though Richardson and Levis’ statuses are more difficult to peg compared to Stroud and Young’s. Anderson’s availability could depend on where the Cardinals end up — should they trade out of No. 3 overall — and how the Seahawks proceed at 5. Even if all four top QBs go in the top five, it would still leave one slot available for Anderson, whom both McShay and Kiper have as the first non-passer off the board. The Bears are eyeing pass-rushing help, but Anderson will probably be out of their reach at No. 9.
Ravens To Meet With Anthony Richardson; Seahawks On Radar For QB?
Submitting an intriguing prospect profile during an uneven 2022 season at Florida, Anthony Richardson has seen his schedule fill up. Six teams have booked visits with the high-end QB prospect, with No. 6 currently embroiled in one of the odder situations in many years at the position.
The Ravens will host Richardson on a visit, Josina Anderson of CBS Sports tweets. Richardson’s Baltimore trip will come amid an itinerary that still includes previously reported plans to meet with the Panthers, Colts, Raiders, Falcons and Titans. The Texans are not planning to meet with Richardson, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, but a private workout is not out of the question. 105.7 The Fan had previously indicated the Ravens would host Richardson (Twitter link).
Richardson is on track to meet with the Ravens during the Lamar Jackson standoff. The former MVP continues to push for a contract that rivals Deshaun Watson‘s for fully guaranteed money. The Ravens have continually expressed a desire for Jackson to remain their starter, but the sides have been unable to come to an agreement despite the sixth-year passer having been extension-eligible since January 2021. As the Ravens navigate messy negotiations with their self-represented quarterback — who requested to be traded more than a month ago — they will meet with at least one of this year’s top prospects.
Making the playoffs last season, the Ravens do not pick until No. 22. They would need to come up with a monster trade package to move into Richardson territory. The rest of the teams meeting with the ex-Gators QB pick from Nos. 1-11. Jackson would be worth a Watson-like trade haul (a package starting with three first-rounders), but his contract demands and injury history have led to the rest of the league passing on an offer sheet. An unmatched offer sheet would lead to the Ravens receiving two first-round picks. The Colts hold the No. 4 pick and would make sense as a Jackson suitor, but Jim Irsay‘s comments about guarantees do not point to a serious push.
The Seahawks should also be considered on the Richardson radar. Pete Carroll has developed a quality rapport with the 6-foot-4 passer, Anderson adds, but Seattle has not yet scheduled a visit. The Seahawks recently re-signed Geno Smith, but that contract — despite it being billed initially as a three-year contract worth more than $100MM — looks more like a “prove it” deal. Smith signed for just $27.3MM fully guaranteed, giving the Seahawks flexibility. Carroll and GM John Schneider have been regulars at pro days this year, and the power duo has not shied away from a potential QB pick at No. 5. While Schneider is fond of first-round trade-down maneuvers, Richardson falling to No. 5 at this point would be a bit of a surprise.
Buzz at last week’s league meetings connected the Seahawks to a trade-up from No. 5 to No. 3 for either Richardson or Will Levis, Vic Tafur of The Athletic adds (subscription required). C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young are the favorites to go off the board at Nos. 1 and 2, though this is not the slam-dunk proposition a Trevor Lawrence–Zach Wilson draft start was in 2021. Richardson completed only 53.82% of his passes last season but showed tremendous athleticism during his one season as a full-time starter. Richardson, who weighed 244 pounds at the Combine, would profile as a developmental player. The Seahawks having Smith under contract for three years would help pave a potential Richardson runway.
It would be interesting to see if the Cardinals would move out of that spot to allow their division rivals to select a quarterback. The Titans have also been connected to moving into that spot for a passer, as have the Raiders. The Seahawks moving up would not seemingly require as much trade compensation, though the intra-NFC West element complicates matters.