NFL Draft: Young, Stroud and Richardson all picked inside the top four
Bryce Young is taken first in the 2023 NFL Draft, while quarterbacks C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson are both picked inside the top four… but Will Levis is SNUBBED and falls outside of the first round
- Quarterbacks flew off the board in the early proceedings of the NFL Draft
- But Will Levis was the odd man out as he was passed over by 31 teams picking
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson made up three of the first four picks in the first round of Thursday’s NFL Draft, but fellow quarterback Will Levis will have to wait at least another day to find out his new team.
Kentucky quarterback Levis, who was projected by some to be the second passer taken off the board, sat and watched as his peers had their names called while he slipped out of the first round.
Young, the slender and dynamic Alabama quarterback, went No. 1 to the Carolina Panthers, seven weeks after the team made a blockbuster trade with Chicago to move up to get their choice.
Stroud didn’t have to wait long despite speculation he may drop out of the top 10 after scoring poorly in the S2 Cognition test. He told the AP earlier in the day he didn’t know where he would end up going but Houston snagged him at No. 2.
The Texans then made a blockbuster deal with Arizona to acquire the No. 3 pick and selected Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr.
The biggest question surrounding 2021 Heisman Trophy winner Young is size. He measured at 5-foot-10 1/8 and weighed 204 pounds at the combine. Though he dominated the SEC, some scouts and coaches fear Young may not be able to physically withstand all the hits in the NFL.
Alabama quarterback Bryce Young gets a jersey from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell
Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud was chosen by the Houston Texans with the second pick
Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson reacts after being chosen by the Indianapolis Colts
‘Those that doubt me are entitled to their opinion,’ Young said. ‘I think that is the beauty of sports. We all come together and have arguments on who you think is good or not. I choose to focus on what I can control.’
Richardson was selected at No. 4 by the Indianapolis Colts, who will begin a sixth straight season with a different starting QB.
Richardson might have the most upside of the group but he has the least experience. Colts owner Jim Irsay is fond of Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts and Richardson has similar playmaking ability.
He’ll play for Shane Steichen, who was the offensive coordinator in Philadelphia when Hurts developed into an MVP runner-up.
‘I know what he did with Hurts but I am excited to get to work with him,’ Richardson said. ‘He has told me we are going to do great things so I am looking forward to it.’
However, the night was one to forget for Levis.
Alabama quarterback Bryce Young sported a salmon-colored suit on the red carpet
C.J. Stroud added a silver chain to a classic blue suit with a black tie for his outfit
Anthony Richardson wore a white turtleneck under a black suit, along with a chain
And Will Levis looked dapper in a checkered blue suit despite not getting selected
Will Anderson Jr., seen after being picked third overall, rocked a blue suit with pinstripes
Devon Witherspoon arrived in a simple black jacket but showed off his jewelry beforehand
After the run on QBs, defense-needy Seattle took Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon at No. 5 and the wheeling-and-dealing Cardinals moved up to No. 6 to select Ohio State offensive lineman Paris Johnson.
Las Vegas then chose Texas Tech edge Tyree Wilson and Atlanta made Bijan Robinson the first running back taken in the top 10 since Saquon Barkley went No. 2 to the Giants in 2018.
NFC champion Philadelphia moved up one spot to take troubled Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter at No. 9 and Chicago went with Tennessee offensive lineman Darnell Wright with the 10th pick.
At No. 11, the Titans passed on Levis for Northwestern offensive lineman Peter Skoronski. Levis and Tennessee´s Hendon Hooker had a chance to make it five QBs in the first round a year after Kenny Pickett (No. 20) was the only signal-caller to go in the first round.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers also passed on Levis at No. 19, taking Pitt defensive tackle Calijah Kancey.
Philadelphia moved up one spot to take troubled Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter
Will Levis waited all night for his name to be called, but he’ll have to wait at least one more day
2023 NFL DRAFT FIRST ROUND
1. Panthers (from Bears): Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
2. Texans: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
3. Texans (from Cardinals): Will Anderson Jr., Edge, Alabama
4. Colts: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
5. Seahawks (from Broncos): Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
6. Cardinals (from Lions from Rams): Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
7. Raiders: Tyree Wilson, DE, Texas Tech
8. Falcons: Bijon Robinson, RB, Texas
9. Eagles (from Bears from Panthers): Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
10. Bears (from Eagles from Saints): Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
11. Titans: Peter Skoronski, G, Northwestern
12. Lions (from Cardinals from Texans from Browns): Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama
13. Packers (from Jets): Lukas Van Ness, Edge, Iowa
14. Steelers (from Patriots): Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
15. Jets (from Packers): Will McDonald, Edge, Iowa State
16. Commanders: Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
17. Patriots (from Steelers): Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
18. Lions: Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa
19. Bucs: Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh
20. Seahawks: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
21. Chargers: Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
22. Ravens: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
23. Vikings: Jordan Addison, WR, USC
24. Giants (from Jaguars): Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
25. Bills (from Jaguars from Giants): Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
26. Cowboys: Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan
27. Jaguars (from Bills): Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
28. Bengals: Myles Murphy, Edge, Clemson
29. Saints (from 49ers from Dolphins from Broncos): Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
30. Eagles: Nolan Smith, Edge, Georgia
31. Chiefs: Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Edge, Kansas State
It’s not crystal clear why Levis fell further than expected.
While it could be a case of the media and NFL franchises simply having differing opinions on the player, a report Thursday from ESPN’s Chris Mortensen suggested more could be at play.
Mortensen tweeted that at least one team considering Levis found a left toe injury that caused him to miss two games last year to be ‘problematic.’
The quarterback reportedly said the toe was healed, while another team thought surgery could be a possibility after the season.
Nonetheless, Levis will hope to be picked on Day 2 of the draft, which will feature the second and third rounds.
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