2023 NFL Draft: Will Hendon Hooker get selected in Round 1? Seven predictions for Thursday night

At long last, the 2023 NFL Draft starts Thursday night in Kansas City with Round 1. 

I’m no draft guru, but even the best experts whiff on plenty of pre-draft predictions, so why not have some fun and make a few guesses of my own for the 1st Round? 

Here’s seven predictions, some bolder than others, for Thursday night. 

ALABAMA LEADS THE WAY WITH FOUR FIRST ROUND PICKS

The Crimson Tide failed to make the SEC Championship in 2022, but that Tide team was still loaded with NFL talent including the likely No. 1 overall pick in quarterback Bryce Young. 

Pass rusher Will Anderson is also a probable Top 5 pick. That could be it for the Tide in Round 1, but based on recent buzz, I think speedy tailback Jahmyr Gibbs sneaks into the bottom half of the round (see: Cincy or New York). 

Finally, what about Brian Branch? The hybrid defensive back is one of the most complete football players in what is otherwise considered a poor safety/nickel class.  

That would give Alabama four 1st Rounders, and only Georgia has to potential to even match such a strong showing Thursday.

HENDON HOOKER IS NOT DRAFTED IN ROUND 1

The most bet prop of the entire draft process has been the over/under on quarterbacks selected Thursday night. Young, Will Levis, Anthony Richardson and CJ Stroud are all considered locks to go in Round 1. Then there’s Hendon Hooker. 

While reports rave about Hooker’s maturity and leadership, the Tennessee quarterback still has too many strikes against him for me to see a team reach late in Day 1. 

The NFL’s fifth-year option element is real, particularly with QBs, but Hooker is coming off an ACL inquiry, is 25 years old, faired poorly on the S2 testing and played in an offense many in the NFL view as gimmicky. I think he slips to Day 2. 

CJ STROUD GETS PICKED HIGHER THAN WILL LEVIS AND ANTHONY RICHARDSON

Speaking of quarterbacks, where will CJ Stroud, Will Levis and Anthony Richardson get selected Thursday? 

No idea, but I have an inkling that despite some very poor recent pre-draft buzz, Stroud is still the safest bet to go ahead of Levis and Richardson. 

Why? 

For one thing, despite the bad PR, more teams still seem interested/connected to Stroud. Levis has been strongly linked to Indianapolis at No. 4 but few others have shown reported interest. Richardson’s destination is even more unknown, as scouts have salivated over his upside and sky-high potential, but he’s yet to have a consensus landing spot by any of the popular draft gurus. 

WILL MCDONALD BREAKS IOWA STATE’S 44-YEAR DROUGHT

The Cyclones haven’t had a 1st Round pick since 1979, but outside linebacker Will McDonald will snap that streak Thursday, with the speedy edge rusher going in the back half of the first to a pass-rush-needy team. 

DALTON KINCAID IS THE FIRST PASS-CATCHER OFF THE BOARD

This one might be a tad bold, but why not have a bit of fun? 

So, apologies to Jaxon Smith-Njigba or Zay Flowers, but Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid is the first pass-catcher to get selected Thursday. Scouts love Kincaid’s balance and ball skills, and when you’re drawing Travis Kelce comps, well then…

GEORGIA HAS THREE PLAYERS SELECTED INSIDE THE TOP 15

The Bulldogs could have as many as five 1st Rounders taken for the second-straight season, but it seems unlikely that corner Kylee Ringo goes before Day 2, and tight end Darnell Washington may slip to the early second as well because the position is so deep this year. 

Still, Georgia should have another strong showing on Day 1, as Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith and Broderick Jones are all definitely hearing their names called. 

I don’t think any of the three go any later than No. 15 to Tampa, with Carter and Smith both potentially Top 10 picks. 

THE POSITION WITH THE MOST PICKS ON DAY 1? CORNERBACK

While offensive tackle and tight end are considered two of the deeper units in this class, as many as six corners could get selected in Round 1. 

I think that number is a bit rich, but five certainly could come off the board by the end of Thursday night. 

Illinois’ Devon Witherspoon and Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez are potential Top 10 picks. Then there could be a run on corners later in the first, with Mississippi State’s Emmanuel Forbes, Penn State’s Joey Porter Jr. and Maryland’s Deonte Banks three others I see getting selected on Day 1. Another possibility? Michigan’s freakazoid DJ Turner.