Five Big Predictions For The NFL Draft And Off-Season

Free agency is now starting and NFL teams are at the point where they can decide to franchise tag a player. With the NFL Combine taking place next week, teams are also thinking very carefully about which players they could potentially land in the NFL Draft, which takes place at the end of April.

With the season now over, the focus for teams turns very much towards next season and beyond and some teams are already making some key decisions on personnel, possibly due to cap space, but also with free agent moves, trades or the NFL Draft very much in mind.

It is also the time of the year when franchises will talk to their players and discover what their wishes are, which can lead to some unexpected trades, or players being released, that are somewhat unexpected and which can change the market considerably.

Now while you can find plenty of outright betting on next season’s NFL (which starts in September) at bet365 Sport, I’m going to instead give you five big predictions for some trades, draft moves or player releases that could happen in this pre-season period.

Big NFL Predictions For 2023

1. Aaron Rodgers To Continue…But Not With Green Bay

With Tom Brady retiring this summer, Aaron Rodgers future is very much up in the air, with the Packers QB recently completing his stay at a ‘darkness’ retreat to contemplate his future.

He did sign a 3-year deal with the Packers last year, but part of that deal allowed Rodgers to decide where to play at the end of each season and with the Packers looking likely to be at the start of a potential 2-4 year rebuild, he doesn’t have the luxury of time to wait until Green Bay become a major force once again.

It’s pretty well known that Rodgers would like a move over to the west coast and the Packers would probably prefer an AFC team, which probably means the Las Vegas Raiders could be a good option.

Having released Derek Carr, the Raiders need a new franchise QB to get the best out of their offensive talents and Rodgers could well be that man.

• Chicago Bears to Trade Their Number 1 Draft Pick And Possibly The Number 2

In a draft that is heavy on talented quarterbacks, the Chicago Bears find themselves with the number 1 pick in the draft, but also not requiring a new QB given the superb performances of Justin Fields.

With both the Texans (who pick second) and the Colts (who pick fourth) very much in need for a QB, it seems likely that the Bears will trade away that first pick to one of those teams to pick up additional draft picks to strengthen their team.

I don’t feel the Texans will offer enough to tempt the Bears to move down one slot, so I can see the Colts jumping above the Texans to perhaps take one of the top quarterback prospects, either Bryce Young or C.J.Stroud, with the Texans likely to take the other.

The Bears could then pick up a top defensive prospect, such as Will Anderson or Jalen Carter, who they would likely have picked first anyway, alongside getting some extra value picks for later in the draft.

If the Texans do trade up to first, then expect the Bears to trade away the second pick to the Colts, who may elect to jump to second to avoid the prospect of another team gazumping them for their QB of the future.

• Panthers Look A Good Bet For Will Levis (Kentucky)

With so many needs in their team, I can’t see the Panthers trading away a chunk of draft picks, or players to move up to the 1^st or 2^nd pick in the draft. However, they could still pick up their franchise QB either by trading up to 5^th or 6^th in the draft, or keeping patient and see how the dice fall for them at 9^th pick.

Either way, I think the Panthers will have a chance to land either Anthony Richardson from Florida or, more likely in my view, Will Levis from Kentucky who they may well feel is a more NFL ready option to come in and full the void at QB.

• Tennessee Titans To Continue Their Rebuild

The Titans have been one of the teams to make some major moves in the off-season already with four players, LT Taylor Lewan, WR Robert Wood, K Randy Bullock and LB Jay Richardson all released.

That has put the Titans under the salary cap for next season but I think under a new GM, the Titans are seeking an even greater refresh. While I think Derrick Henry remains the focal point of the offense, I think Ryan Tannehill could be considered for a trade with the Jets said to be keen if they can’t land Derek Carr.

I can see the Titans also making some moves in free agency, looking perhaps to make a move for some top offensive line talent, and also addressing that position in the draft, as well as perhaps looking for a wide receiver to work opposite last year’s first round pick Treylon Burks.

• Lamar Jackson To Seek A Trade But Be Franchise Tagged

Perhaps the most intriguing player to watch this pre-season is Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. So far, despite two years of talks, the quarterback has not received an offer he likes to sign back on with the Ravens and now, he is at the stage where he can be released as a free agent, or the Ravens can franchise-tag him.

My gut feeling is that Jackson wants to move away and some people are saying that the Titans are freeing up space under the cap to make a move for Jackson this off-season. Whether they have created enough space, is a point of contention, but it is a move which would likely appeal to Jackson, especially with Derrick Henry in the backfield.

However, the Ravens could franchise tag the player, but then Jackson could sit out the season, which is not a great result for the Ravens who need their star QB back and healthy and at his best.

This saga could rumble on right the way through to the NFL Draft and beyond so keep tabs on the situation in Baltimore!