Here’s who the oddsmakers think will make the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, right? And if that’s the case, there’s a blazing inferno around the Chicago Bears trading the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

All major NFL insiders are tweeting intel about GM Ryan Poles leaning toward trading out. NFL Network’s Rich Eisen said recently that the Bears are inching closer to a trade. Poles told NBC Sports’ Peter King this week that he’s confident he can pull a 2024 and 2025 first-round pick in a deal.

Every day, a new nugget of information points toward the Bears trading the No. 1 pick sooner than later, and it appears the oddsmakers are buying in. According to the latest betting odds, three teams are more likely to pick first than the Chicago Bears.

Odds to make the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 #NFLDraft (via @BetOnlineBurns):

Panthers (+125)
Colts (+275)
Texans (+290)
Bears (+600)
Raiders (+600)
Falcons (11/1)
Buccaneers (14/1)
Commanders (16/1)
Jets (25/1)

— Jaime Eisner (@JaimeEisner) March 8, 2023

Interestingly, the team favored to be on the clock first is the Carolina Panthers. This would be a dream scenario for Chicago, considering the haul they can get to trade back to the No. 9 pick. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah recently outlined what a trade back to No. 9 would look like, and it included multiple picks in 2023 and a first-rounder in 2024 and 2025.

The least exciting trade partner for the Bears would be the Houston Texans. Sure, trading back one spot would still guarantee Poles a “blue player” by way of Will Anderson Jr. or Jalen Carter. But it’s highly unlikely the Texans would send a future first-round pick to the Bears to move up one spot. And that’s a bummer.

The Indianapolis Colts, who currently pick fourth, are the preferred trade-back partner. Their owner, Jim Irsay, is wild, he may be willing to sell the farm to move up three spots. It would be a near-certainty that Chicago would still land Anderson or Carter at No. 4 while securing a first-round pick in 2024. Home run.

The 2023 NFL Draft kicks off with the first round on Thursday, April 27, from Kansas City. Rounds 2 and 3 will take place on Friday, with the final day — Rounds 4 through 7 — on Saturday.

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