Once the 2022-23 NFL season concludes, the attention shifts toward the NFL Draft and the next crop of elite talent entering the league. While we're still three months out from the 2023 NFL Draft, sportsbooks have already released odds on who will be selected with the No. 1 overall pick. As things currently stand, the Bears own the first pick following a 3-14 finish, but with so many QB-needy teams, will Chicago trade down and acquire more assets?
The betting market seems to think so, as Alabama QB Bryce Young (-135) sits as the favorite to be selected No. 1 overall, per DraftKings Sportsbook. There's always an outside chance Chicago selects Young with the No. 1 overall pick, but with Bears general manager Ryan Poles saying he would have to be "absolutely blown away" to take a quarterback first overall, it seems unlikely Chicago goes that route with Justin Fields taking a step in the right direction in his second season.
Who will be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft? If you’re interested in getting involved in the NFL Draft futures markets, Sporting News has you covered. Below, we’ll break down three of the odds-on favorites and two sleepers who could potentially be drafted No.1 overall.
2023 NFL Draft No. 1 Overall Pick Odds: Top 25
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook
| Player | No. 1 Overall Pick Odds |
| Bryce Young | -135 |
| C.J. Stroud | +250 |
| Jalen Carter | +550 |
| Will Levis | +550 |
| Will Anderson | +750 |
| Lukas Van Ness | +10000 |
| Paris Johnson | +10000 |
| Devon Witherspoon | +10000 |
| Anthony Richardson | +10000 |
| Myles Murphy | +10000 |
| Peter Skoronski | +10000 |
| Bryan Bresee | +10000 |
| Jordan Addison | +20000 |
| Hendon Hooker | +20000 |
| Kelee Ringo | +20000 |
| Jaxon Smith-Njigba | +20000 |
| Jaylin Hyatt | +20000 |
| Michael Mayer | +20000 |
| Bijan Robinson | +20000 |
| Quentin Johnston | +20000 |
| Josh Downs | +20000 |
| Tyree Wilson | +20000 |
| BJ Ojulari | +25000 |
| Tanner McKee | +25000 |
| Jahmyr Gibbs | +25000 |
2023 NFL Draft No. 1 Overall Pick Odds: Favorites
Bryce Young -135 (implied probability 57.45 percent)
As we mentioned above, it seems unlikely the Bears move on from Fields so quickly, especially with so many QB-needy teams on the market (Texans, Colts, Jets, Raiders, etc.). Taking that into account, there's a high likelihood Chicago trades out of the first pick to a team in need of a franchise quarterback, giving way for Young to be selected as a cornerstone piece.
Sure, Young's only 6-0, 194 pounds, but his pocket presence and ability to make off-schedule plays are exactly what teams are looking for in a franchise QB. Young's going to have a successful NFL career, and even at -135, wagering on him to go No. 1 is not a bad way to dish out a unit of your bankroll.
C.J. Stroud +250 (implied probability 28.57 percent)
As the draft process progresses, there's certainly a chance a franchise likes Stroud enough to take him first overall. The Ohio State product didn't quite live up to the hype of being the preseason Heisman favorite, but Stroud still earned a trip to New York City for a second consecutive season (3,688 passing yards, 41 TDs).
Stroud's last game as a Buckeye against the National Champion Georgia Bulldogs was arguably his best collegiate performance (348 passing yards, 4:0 TD-to-INT rate, 34 rushing yards), showcasing his ability to extend plays with his legs while flicking the football all over the field. An impressive combine coupled with a QB-needy team trading up to the first pick could potentially result in Stroud holding up the No. 1 jersey next to Commissioner Goodell in Kansas City.
Jalen Carter +550 (implied probability 15.38 percent)
Carter currently has the third-best odds to go No.1 overall, and the most logical path for a +550 ticket on Carter to cash would be if Chicago refrained from trading the pick away. Considering the Bears' pass rush racked up the fewest sacks (20) this season while sporting PFF's lowest pass-rush grade (52.2), adding a dominant interior lineman like Carter makes too much sense.
We think there's a better chance he ends up as a Bear rather than the No. 1 overall pick, so once more NFL Draft prop markets arise, betting on Carter to become a Bear seems like a better bet than taking him at +550 to go No. 1.
2023 NFL Draft No. 1 Overall Pick Odds: Sleepers
Will Anderson +1300 (implied probability 7.14 percent)
Anderson's another potential selection for Chicago if it holds onto the first pick, and investing high draft capital on a dynamic EDGE rusher who's solid against the run and the pass isn't a bad move.
Anderson ended his junior season generating 44 QB pressures, and his versatility translates to a future All-Pro defender, making him a sleeper pick to go first overall.
Peter Skoronski +2500 (implied probability 3.85 percent)
Betting Skoronski at 25-1 follows the same narrative as Anderson, as his shot of being selected with the No.1 overall pick correlates to Chicago keeping its pick. Any team that lands the first overall selection has multiple glaring holes, and along with needing help on defense, Chicago needs to shore up its offensive line.
The Bears' offensive line ended the regular season ranking last in adjusted sack rate (13 percent), so adding a left tackle who surrendered just one sack in his final season at Northwestern makes sense.
