It’s that time of the year again.

The weeks of April are ticking away, and NFL fans have one thing on their mind: the 2023 NFL Draft. With just over a week remaining until Roger Goodell takes the stage and pretends that the boos from all 32 fanbases don’t hurt him deep down, there is still plenty of uncertainty surrounding many of the top prospects and teams.

The first round of the draft always produces some shocking moves, and nothing would make me happier than being able to say that I called one of them. But there’s also a chance that I completely miss the mark on a huge chunk of this. This blog has the potential to age like wine or like milk, and I’m comfortable with that.

Without further ado, the Panthers are on the clock.

1. Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

This is practically a sure thing at this point. When the Panthers traded up, it was obvious that they were going to look for their quarterback of the future. All reports are indicating that Bryce is their favorite of the bunch. His height and weight are well below what the quarterback position typically demands, but he has the tools to lead a franchise as long as he can stay healthy.

2. Houston Texans: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State

Recent reports have indicated that Houston might draft a defensive player or trade down, but if there’s a move that could spare me from another year of Davis Mills under center, I’m making it. Stroud might not have the same physical gifts as the other top quarterbacks in this class, but his size and accuracy make him a very intriguing prospect. The Texans get their guy for the future.

3. Indianapolis Colts (via Cardinals): Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida

I have the Colts trading up one spot with the Cardinals. Since they do not appear to be in the market for a quarterback, Arizona has made it clear that they are open to trading this pick. The Colts want to make sure that they get their guy, so they take the bait. Richardson is a once-in-a-decade athlete at the quarterback position, and I think Colts fans would be overjoyed with this outcome, even if they had to fork over a second or third round pick to the desert to make it happen.

4. Arizona Cardinals (via Colts): Will Anderson, EDGE, Alabama

This would be an ideal move for Arizona, too. They get a guy who many consider the No. 1 prospect in the entire draft and steal a pick from Indy along the way. Like his Alabama teammate who went first overall, Anderson’s size is concerning. Even so, his unfaltering status as the best edge rusher in the SEC for the past two seasons should indicate that his skills can at least partially translate to the next level.

5. Seattle Seahawks: Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia

Two months ago, you might have been scoffed at if you suggested that Carter would fall to the fifth spot and be the second defensive player off the board. After all, he was arguably the best player on a Georgia defense that just won back-to-back national championships. However, his issues off the field have definitely caused some scouts to think twice about him as the spring has lagged on. Even with that, I’d be shocked if Carter falls much further than this.

6. Detroit Lions: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois

Last week, the Lions shipped starting cornerback Jeff Okudah to the Falcons for a fifth round pick. This has led many to speculate that Detroit will use the sixth pick on their favorite player in this stacked cornerback class. They might prefer Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez (and I don’t think many people would blame them), but I’m taking Witherspoon by a thin margin. He’s a good tackler at his size with a serious nose for the football, and I think his body language would mesh perfectly in a Dan Campbell defense.

7. Las Vegas Raiders: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky

After the Derek Carr era ended with a whimper, Las Vegas patched up the quarterback position with Jimmy Garoppolo. I’m probably higher on Jimmy than the average person, but even I can admit that he’s probably not in the Raiders’ long-term plans. I think they’ll take a page out of the Packers’ playbook and draft a quarterback to sit and learn for a few years. I love his arm talent, but Levis is anything but a finished product, which makes me think that he is an ideal candidate for this type of situation.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech

I’ve seen Wilson mocked as highly as second overall to Houston, so this would certainly be a bit of a fall for him. Even so, I think Atlanta would be a solid landing spot for the former Red Raider. The NFC South is coming off a year where it crowned the 8-9 Buccaneers as division champs, and the Falcons have made roster moves on defense that show promise for the near future (see the Okudah trade above). Wilson’s length and power have scouts drooling, but he might need some time to adjust to the speed of NFL pass rushing.

9. Chicago Bears: Peter Skoronski, T, Northwestern

This pick would be a home run for the Windy City. After trading down from No. 1 to No. 9, the Bears still land the best offensive line prospect in this class. His arm length has led to speculations that he might have to switch to guard at the NFL level, but Chicago would be happy to fill any spot on their line with a guy of Skoronski’s caliber. Plus, Evanston is only a 30-minute drive to Soldier Field.

10. Philadelphia Eagles: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas

I’ll admit it; it would be much more responsible to use this high draft pick on a higher valued position, but I can’t resist. This pick is so fun. In my opinion, Robinson is easily the best running back prospect since Saquon Barkley in 2018. He has the talent to add a whole new dimension to a Philly offense that nearly won the Super Bowl two and a half months ago. Jalen Hurts just became the highest paid player in NFL history, so let’s get him a running mate for the 2023 campaign.