Panthers trade to No. 1, jump Colts for top QB

The Carolina Panthers acquired the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft in a trade with the Chicago Bears, jumping the Indianapolis Colts and giving them the top selection for a quarterback.

This is a big deal for the Colts, who were thought to be a team willing to move up for their top quarterback. However, it’s the Panthers who pull the trigger on a massive, blockbuster deal.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Panthers are trading away the Nos. 9 and 61 selections, a 2024 first-round pick, a 2025 second-round pick and wide receiver D.J. Moore.

Compensation update, per sources: Bears trading No. 1 overall pick to Carolina for:

🏈pick No. 9
🏈pick No. 61
🏈a first-round pick in 2024
🏈a second-round pick in 2025
🏈WR DJ Moore pic.twitter.com/hHrHn1UIR2

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 10, 2023

This certainly complicates matters for the Colts, but it doesn’t come as a massive surprise that they weren’t the ones to make the move. Speculation might suggest the Panthers will favor C.J. Stroud, who is a strong fit for Frank Reich’s offense.

If the Houston Texans take Bryce Young with the next pick, the Colts will then be hoping that either Anthony Richardson or Will Levis falls to them at No. 4 overall. One of them will, but if the Colts have a stronger feeling of one over the other, they may need to make a move up to No. 3.

We’ll see what the draft has in store for the Colts, but now they won’t be able to control who they get.

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