2023 NFL Mock Draft 6.0: Panthers smokescreen revealed as they take C.J. Stroud; Bucs trade up for Will Levis

I’m not buying it. Maybe I’m just stupid, and maybe I’m stubborn. Those who know me will tell you there’s plenty of evidence to support both, but I don’t care; I’m not taking the bait.

I still think C.J. Stroud will be the pick at No. 1. I don’t care what sportsbooks say or who assistant coaches follow on Instagram. It feels too suspicious that after all this time when Stroud was the pick, the Panthers have suddenly done a 180 and have chosen Bryce Young. It doesn’t matter to me that Young has canceled visits with other teams. He knows if the Panthers don’t take him, the Texans will.

Want to know my theory? You may want to get your tinfoil hat for this one, but here goes: when the Panthers traded up to No. 1, they said they were still willing to listen to offers for the first pick. Well, perhaps the Panthers know how badly the Texans want Bryce Young. Perhaps it’s the Panthers floating it out there that they’ll take Young because they’re trying to see if they can convince Houston to trade up to No. 1 to get him.

Or maybe they’re taking Stroud, and these rumors are the result of what happens when you have months of content to fill in the NFL Draft Machine, and you get bored. Or maybe it’ll be Young. I don’t know.

The only thing I know for sure is this is my final mock before the NFL Draft finally (mercifully) takes place, so if there’s ever a time to stand firm on what I think will happen, this is it. I’m leaving Stroud at No. 1.

Remember: there are only 31 selections in this mock draft because the Dolphins were stripped of their first-round pick due to tampering.

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