Lions head coach Dan Campbell has brought a gritty attitude to the team and built a squad that could contend for the NFC North. He will have the task of trying to stop the Chiefs offense led by reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes. The spread is already moving due to injury news about a big-time player.
Growing up is hard, but for Lamar Jackson, it’s time. John Harbaugh is finally taking the training wheels off his quarterback’s proverbial bike.
Naturally, everyone loves their picks (or you would not have picked them), but everything does not always pan out as expected. It is better to be prepared and know which players to target or stash on your bench if something happens. If you have not drafted, you can target some of these players later in the draft and secure them on your roster.
The running back position in the NFL has become a frustrating experience. Austin Ekeler, Tony Pollard, Saquon Barkley, and Josh Jacobs have all gotten some first-hand experience this offseason to some degree. Â
Given the hilariously on-brand failure to trademark their own name, the Commanders may have yet another new moniker in the near future. Hopefully this doesn’t hurt team morale, because I like them to beat their measly 6.5 win projection this season if they don’t get sidetracked by management incompetence.
Garrett Wilson earned the award last season after amassing 1,100 yards on 83 receptions. On the defensive side of the ball, Sauce Gardner took home the DROY award after leading the league in pass deflections. The Jets had two top-ten picks, and both won Rookie of the Year, and the Texans have a chance to do the same with C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr. this season.
The betting market for this award focuses on a handful of quarterbacks. Trevor Lawrence should be considered in that handful of guys this season. He threw for 4,113 yards, 25 TDs, and eight interceptions last season and was the fifth quarterback in MVP voting last season. He beat Justin Herbert, who is now listed as low as +900 to win MVP at some sportsbooks.
So, who won the quarterback sweepstakes? At this moment, it’s hard to tell. Levis and Richardson are a year or two away from starting, possibly. Young and Stroud should enter Week 1 of the 2023 season as the QB1 for their respective teams, although Frank Reich has insisted that it will be a competition in Carolina.Â
However, some teams made some shocking picks, and some made some picks that left their fans scratching their heads. Let’s dive in and examine some overreactions from some of the surprising picks in Round 1.Â