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2023 NFL Draft: Instant Analysis and Grades for Every Team’s Picks

By Sayre Bedinger

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - APRIL 27: (L-R) C.J. Stroud poses NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected second overall by the Houston Texans during the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station on April 27, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - APRIL 27: (L-R) C.J. Stroud poses NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected second overall by the Houston Texans during the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station on April 27, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images) /
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2023 NFL Draft
Apr 27, 2023; Kansas City, MO, USA; Texas running back Bijan Robinson with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Atlanta Falcons eighth overall in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Atlanta Falcons

  • 8. Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
  • 38. Matthew Bergeron, OT, Syracuse
  • 75. Zach Harrison, EDGE, Ohio State
  • 113. Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah
  • 224. DeMarco Hellams, S, Alabama
  • 225. Jovaughn Gwyn, OL, South Carolina

The Atlanta Falcons actually did it. They took Bijan Robinson 8th overall. What a glorious day. In all seriousness, how could you not like this? I guess if you are just vehemently against taking a running back in round one of the NFL Draft, you may not like it, but Robinson might be the best non-quarterback in this class.

And that’s saying something.

There are a few running backs you can look at and say — that guy is an offensive weapon, not just a workhorse back. I think the Falcons have guys like Cordarrelle Patterson and Tyler Allgeier who are going to be able to help keep Bijan Robinson fresh. The Falcons need to make sure to be creative in how they use Robinson but they don’t need to run him into the ground.

Get him in space, use his receiving skills, and let a guy like Allgeier — a thousand-yard rusher — do some of the dirty work.

I loved the Falcons’ pick of Matthew Bergeron in round two, he’s a real sleeper at tackle in this class.

Zach Harrison has big potential but we’ve only seen him show flashes in his time at Ohio State of that. Still, he’s got those freaky metrics.

A lot of people are saying they like Clark Phillips III out of Utah as the best pick of Day 3 overall. It’s hard to disagree with that because Phillips was, at one point, considered a possible first-round pick. He’s got tremendous instincts and ball skills at the cornerback position.

There’s certainly nothing wrong with that selection, especially on the heels of getting a guy like Jeff Okudah in a trade with the Lions.

Grade: A-

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