Touchdown Wire

Week 18 of the 2022 NFL season did a major number on the top of the order of the 2023 NFL draft. The Houston Texans lost by winning, dropped from first to second after beating the Indianapolis Colts, and fired head coach Lovie Smith for good (or bad) measure. The Chicago Bears went from second to first after losing to the Minnesota Vikings, the Arizona Cardinals went from fourth to third after losing to the San Francisco 49ers, the Colts moved from fifth to fourth after that Texans loss, and the Seattle Seahawks moved from third to fifth by dint of the Denver Broncos (who traded that pick and others for Russell Wilson) beating the Los Angeles Chargers. What that does to the draft overall, and the quarterback market in particular, should be fascinating. The Bears and Cardinals are not in need of franchise quarterbacks, while the Texans and Colts very much are. That leaves the Seahawks — who may decide to roll with Geno Smith on a new contract, select a developmental quarterback later in the draft, and focus on their defense up top.