Alabama quarterback Bryce Young (9) won 24 out of the 27 games he started during his career with the Crimson Tide.
The Chicago Bears are on the clock.
The franchise that went 3-14 this past season will pick first in the 2023 NFL Draft, which will take place April 27-29 at Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri.
The Houston Texans, who won their final game of the regular season to keep from getting the top pick, will select second, while the Arizona Cardinals will pick third.
In a draft where three of the top five players in the mix to be the potential top overall pick are quarterbacks, could the Bears, who have Justin Fields under center, trade their pick to a team in need of a QB so they can beef up their offensive and defensive line needs?
Time will tell over the next two months, as there still a lot that can happen before the first name is called.
With so many factors still at play, FrontPageBets takes a look at the top five favorites to go first in the upcoming NFL Draft in April.
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(Odds courtesy of DraftKings and subject to change)
Bryce Young, QB, Alabama (-160)
Heading into the NFL Combine, which is set to start Feb. 28 in Indianapolis, Bryce Young is at the top of the odds board to be the first overall selection in the 2023 Draft.
In his three-year career at Alabama, Young threw for 8,356 yards, 80 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions on 949 attempts. He won the Heisman Trophy during the 2021 season. He also won 24 out of the 27 games he started, including the 2021 SEC championship.
Young holds Crimson Tide records for single-season passing yards (4,872), single-season touchdown passes (47) and career five-touchdown games (5). He’s second all-time in career passing yards and touchdown tosses.
Depending on what Chicago does with their top pick – which the Bears could trade to a team like the Indianapolis Colts, who desperately need a quarterback – Young could be the most NFL ready QB in the draft.
Not just because of the big games he’s played in while under Nick Saban at Alabama, but because of his understanding of the position and ability to see the field and read defenses.
The knock on Young is his size – or lack thereof. He’s listed at 6-feet, 194 pounds.
C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State (+330)
During his three-year career at Ohio State, including two as the Buckeyes starting quarterback, C.J. Stroud set numerous school and Big Ten records, including single-season passing yards (3,193) and touchdown passes (34).
Stroud also finished his time in Columbus with the Ohio State record for career passing efficiency (182.39) and total yards per season, averaging 294.9 yards per game.
He enters the NFL winning 21 out of his 25 career college starts. He finished with 8,123 passing yards and 85 touchdown passes.
Stroud has big-play potential and proved it during his time at Ohio State. He could be a plug-and-play option for any team in need of a quarterback.
Will Levis, QB, Kentucky (+550)
At 6-3, 232, Will Levis enters the NFL with the size and arm strength to be one of the most physically ready quarterbacks on the board.
After starting his college career at Penn State, Levis transferred to Kentucky in 2021 and made an immediate impact. He finished his time in Lexington with 5,233 passing yards and 43 touchdowns. He also completed nearly over 65% of his passes.
While Levis has the physical tools – he can also run – he’s turnover prone, throwing 23 interceptions in his last two seasons at Kentucky.
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Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia (+750)
Playing on one of the best college football defenses over the last couple seasons, Jalen Carter was an anchor for Georgia on its way to back-to-back national championships.
Carter, 6-3, 300 pounds, played in 38 games during his three-year career in Athens, tallying six sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss.
And while his production doesn’t pop off the stat sheet, it’s what the boxscore doesn’t show that makes Carter such a high-pick prospect.
His motor and strength in the trenches, as well as his ability to rush the passer, make him a mismatch in the interior line.
Carter was a unanimous first-team All-American this past season, as well as a Lombardi Award finalist.
Will Anderson, LB, Alabama (+900)
Talk about stats jumping off the page, Alabama outside linebacker Will Anderson’s numbers will hit you in the face, just like you were an opposing quarterback.
The two-time Nagurski Trophy winner, who also won the Lombardi and Bednarik awards, finished his Crimson Tide career with 34.5 sacks and 62 tackles for loss, both good enough for second all-time in Alabama history.
Simply put, Anderson is a game-changer for a team and can easily make an immediate impact in what he’s able to bring to a defense.
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