2023 NFL Draft odds: Colts, Panthers favorites to land No. 1 overall pick via trade from Bears

We are going to hear a lot of 2023 NFL Draft talk this week because of the Draft Combine in Indianapolis, and ESPN's Adam Schefter reported this morning that the Chicago Bears have been approached by multiple clubs about trading the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft -- and the Bears are leaning towards dealing it. That's hardly surprising given all the holes GM Ryan Poles has to fill, and because he doesn't need a quarterback. SportsLine offers odds on which team will pick first if the Bears don't.

Since the AFL/NFL merger in 1967, the No. 1 pick has been traded 12 times before the start of the draft, most recently in 2016 when the Rams moved from No. 15 to No. 1 to select quarterback Jared Goff out of Cal. Nowadays, teams are only trading up to the top for a quarterback. It's not the sort of move made for an offensive tackle or pass-rusher.

Poles appears sold on the future of Justin Fields, so it's logical to trade the top pick for multiple picks as the Bears are at least one year away from realistic playoff contention. They need help everywhere but at QB, particularly on defense. The top two prospects on that side of the ball are Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter and Alabama pass-rusher Will Anderson. The Bears could move back a few spots, save a few million dollars and still have their choice of the two. Carter is the +110 favorite to be the first defender chosen at DraftKings, with Anderson +135.

The Indianapolis Colts currently pick fourth overall and may want to move up to No. 1 to take their choice of QBs among Alabama's Bryce Young, Ohio State's CJ Stroud, Kentucky's Will Levis or Florida's high-rising Anthony Richardson. Young is the -165 favorite to be the top pick.

The Colts haven't spent an early draft pick on a quarterback since they took Andrew Luck in 2012. If Chicago dropped to No. 4, one of Carter or Anderson should still be there with QBs then expected to go first to Indy and second to Houston. Arizona, slotted at No. 3, would probably take either Carter or Anderson if its stays put.

Carolina sits at No. 9 overall and certainly will be doing something at quarterback. The team could a free agent like Jimmy Garoppolo or Derek Carr, or take one in the draft. The Bears might not want to move all the way down to No. 9 and lose out on Carter or Anderson – although moving back that far likely would ensure a second first-round pick in return next year via trade.

What Las Vegas does with the No. 7 overall pick might depend on whether Aaron Rodgers is staying with Green Bay or not. Vegas has been the favorite to trade for Rodgers.

If Houston truly favors one quarterback over the rest, it might want to move up one spot to No. 1 overall and it probably wouldn't cost too much to entice the Bears to slide back to No. 2. Both Carter and Anderson would still be on the board, and Chicago would be able to take its favorite of the two. 

The draft begins on April 27 in Kansas City.

Via SportsLine oddsmakers: Which team will pick first in the 2023 NFL Draft if not the Bears?

• Colts +300
• Panthers +400
• Texans +500
• Raiders +800
• Seahawks +900
• Falcons +1500
• Commanders +2000

So which 2023 Fantasy baseball busts, breakouts, and sleepers should you target or fade in your drafts? Visit SportsLine's Fantasy baseball cheat sheets now to get rankings for every single position, all from the model that called Joey Votto's disappointing season, and find out.