2023 NFL Draft domino effect for Raiders, Colts, Texans after Bears-Panthers trade

The Carolina Panthers acquiring the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft from the Chicago Bears has created a domino effect for QB-needy teams.

Ever since reports indicated that the Chicago Bears were open to trading away the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, fans and media alike wondered which team would make the big splash move. After all, there are many teams in need of a quarterback, and getting the first overall pick gave them their choice of one of the top four prospects in this year’s class. On March 10, we found out that that very team was the Carolina Panthers.

The Panthers acquired the No. 1 pick from the Bears in exchange for the No. 9 and 61 picks this year, a first-rounder in 2024, a second-rounder in 2025, and wide receiver D.J. Moore.

With this, the Panthers will now have their choice of Alabama’s Bryce Young, Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, Florida’s Anthony Richardson, and Kentucky’s Will Levis, and can find out in the next month which they view as the one who can lead their franchise for the foreseeable future.

With this move, it has also created a domino effect for other teams in need of a quarterback, notably the Las Vegas Raiders, Houston Texans, and Indianapolis Colts.

Panthers acquisition of No. 1 pick creates domino effect for Raiders, Colts, Texans

The Texans hold the second-overall pick in the draft, and will have their choice of the remaining three quarterback prospects. Let’s face it, they won’t be moving down.

Meanwhile, the Colts are in need of a quarterback as well. The team tried once again to bring in a veteran quarterback to lead the team to success, but Matt Ryan didn’t pan out for them. The Colts have said that they were going to target a quarterback in the draft during head coach Shane Steichen’s introductory press conference. But, they sit at No. 4.

Then, there are the Raiders, who moved on from quarterback Derek Carr this offseason. It’s unknown how they are going to address the void this offseason, whether it’s through free agency or the trading block. But with the seventh-overall pick, it does present the opportunity to draft their eventual starter in the near future.

While the Panthers do hold the No. 1 pick, they reportedly could trade down from the pick if they do become infatuated with more than one of the prospects. That would then create another battle for the No. 1 spot. But will that actually happen? That remains to be seen.

For the Colts and the Raiders, their most realistic shot at not being left with the last of the top four prospects is to call the Arizona Cardinals to get them to give up their No. 3 overall pick. If the Panthers stay at No. 1, there’s no way the Texans move down the board. So, the Colts and Raiders will have to convince Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort to move back a bit in the first round.

With the Panthers winning the sweepstakes for the No. 1 pick, the Texans, Colts, and Raiders will all have to come up with plans as to how they can get the quarterback they want in this year’s draft. The first round takes place on Apr. 27, so there’s still plenty of time for moves to be made. It could potentially happen during and after each prospect’s respective Pro Days.