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

The 2023 NFL Draft was expected to be chaotic, and especially early on, it delivered. The draft certainly didn’t start with an overly shocking selection, but the madness that ensued was so much fun for NFL fans all around the world.

A lot of people like to talk about “grades” for picks and players right after the draft is over, but the reality is, every team is probably excited — to a degree — about how things went down. You didn’t see many upset war rooms on the ESPN or NFL Network broadcasts. These teams feel like they all got better, no matter if you had two of the first three picks like the Texans or if you didn’t pick until the late third round like the 49ers.

Let’s take a look at every team’s draft in the order in which their first picks came off the board, and make some arbitrary grades and give some analysis for each pick.

2023 NFL Draft: Grades, analysis for all 32 teams

Carolina Panthers

• 1. Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
• 39. Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss
• 80. DJ Johnson, EDGE, Oregon
• 114. Chandler Zavala, OL, North Carolina State
• 145. Jammie Robinson, S, Florida State

Well, the Carolina Panthers made some of the most noise in this draft long before it ever happened, didn’t they? They traded up into the number one overall slot after originally holding the ninth pick, and in a blockbuster deal with the Chicago Bears, they set themselves up for the future.

Former Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young enters the fray in Carolina as their new franchise quarterback. He’s packaged completely different from the last Heisman winning no. 1 overall pick to play for Carolina (Cam Newton) but that doesn’t matter. This entire team is taking on a new complexion with Frank Reich, Ejiro Evero, and a new coaching staff.

Joining Young in this new-look Panthers offense is Jonathan Mingo, the playmaker out of Ole Miss.

Mingo brings so much to the table in terms of his size, athletic profile, and his ability to help out a quarterback by just creating offense from anywhere on the field.

DJ Johnson was a surprise pick in round three but new defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero obviously sold a compelling vision for him off the edge opposite Brian Burns.

Chandler Zavala and Jammie Robinson round out a really solid class for the Panthers, who have truly had an outstanding, A+ offseason.

Grade: A

Houston Texans

• 2. CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State
• 3. Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama
• 62. Juice Scruggs, OL, Penn State
• 69. Tank Dell, WR, Houston
• 109. Dylan Horton, EDGE, TCU
• 167. Henry To’oto’o, LB, Alabama
• 201. Jarrett Patterson, C, Notre Dame
• 205. Xavier Hutchinson, WR, Iowa State
• 248. Brandon Hill, S, Pittsburgh

Well, it’s safe to say that the Houston Texans made a statement with this NFL Draft class. Everyone and their dog thought this team was taking CJ Stroud with the second overall pick for the last two or three months, and then in the two weeks leading up to the NFL Draft, rumors emerged that Houston was “okay” with passing on a quarterback this year. Mock drafts shifted, odds shifted — all that.

Then the Texans took Stroud anyway, only to follow that up with a shocking move back up the board to take Will Anderson Jr. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Texans ended up getting the QB1 of this draft as well as the top non-QB. That’s how you win the NFL Draft and utilize that extra capital from the blockbuster Deshaun Watson trade.

Some of the remaining picks from Houston’s draft were head-scratchers. Some were just flat-out good. The Tank Dell pick was really well-received by just about everybody and after the Texans traded Brandin Cooks to the Cowboys, a player like that in the offense was needed. He was also considered arguably the premier punt returner in this class.

In just a couple of years since the Deshaun Watson debacle, we’ve seen GM Nick Caserio reshape and retool the roster. It was two years ago when Houston didn’t have a first or second-round pick. They had virtually no core foundation players on their roster. Now, heading into the 2023 season, thanks to some quality drafting and good use of free agent budget, Caserio has built things the right way.

The Texans have hope again for the first time in a long time. I can’t not give this draft as high of a mark as possible for the fact that I think Houston landed potentially the top QB and the top non-QB.

Grade: A+

Indianapolis Colts

• 4. Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
• 44. Julius Brents, CB, Kansas State
• 79. Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina
• 106. Blake Freeland, OT, BYU
• 110. Adetomiwa Adebawore, EDGE, Northwestern
• 138. Darius Rush, CB, South Carolina
• 158. Daniel Scott, S, Cal
• 162. Will Mallory, TE, Miami
• 176. Evan Hull, RB, Northwestern
• 211. Titus Leo, EDGE, Wagner
• 221. Jaylon Jones, CB, Texas A&M
• 236. Jake Witt, OT, Northern Michigan

The Indianapol-RAS Colts.

ChRAS Ballard.

The Colts, perhaps more than any other team in the NFL, might just look at their draft board and ask, “Who’s the guy with the highest Relative Athletic Score” on the board here?”

And then they take them.

The Colts took one of the draft’s perfect 10/10 players on the RAS scale at the top in Anthony Richardson, and that pick will define the next window of time for this franchise as a whole. Even though owner Jim Irsay took to Twitter and asked Colts fans if he should use his team’s second-round pick on Will Levis and give the Colts a modern version of Joe Montana and Steve Young.

Funny guy.

The Colts didn’t end up taking Levis, but they loaded up on absolutely freak athletes.

But getting good athletes is one thing. What about good football players?

I think the Colts got a good combination of the two, even if some of the guys they landed are raw. Julius Brents will be an instant contributor in the secondary and Josh Downs is one of the most explosive slot players in this class. I love the idea of putting him in the mix with Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce, with Jehlani Woods at that tight end spot.

There are obviously a ton of picks to touch on here, but the Colts’ selections out of the Northwestern program could end up paying immediate dividends with Ade Adebawore off the edge and a sleeper Evan Hull at the running back position.

The final pick of this draft was Northern Michigan tackle Jake Witt, a former tight end who has elite physical traits and just needs some seasoning.

But the defining pick in this class will undoubtedly be Anthony Richardson and how quickly he can develop with the QB whisperer, Shane Steichen. Ultimately, the Colts have a clear process and I can respect that. We’ll see how the big-time RAS stars pair with this new coaching staff.

Grade: B+

Seattle Seahawks

• 5. Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
• 20. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
• 37. Derick Hall, EDGE, Auburn
• 52. Zach Charbonnet, RB, UCLA
• 108. Anthony Bradford, G, LSU
• 123. Cameron Young, DL, Mississippi State
• 151. Mike Morris, DL, Michigan
• 154. Olu Oluwatimi, OL, Michigan
• 198. Jerick Reed II, S, New Mexico
• 237. Kenny McIntosh, RB, Georgia

The Seattle Seahawks, for the second consecutive year, enjoyed the luxury of having a top-10 pick thanks to the Denver Broncos. They also enjoyed the luxury of selecting an extra time within the top 10 picks of the second round.

That Russell Wilson trade has yielded some major building blocks for the Seattle franchise (this is not every player included in the trade):

• OT Charles Cross
• EDGE Boye Mafe
• CB Devon Witherspoon
• EDGE Derick Hall

Of course, the jury is still out on most of these players. It looks like Cross is going to turn out to be a good player, but the highest pick in this haul from the Broncos is Devon Witherspoon, the first cornerback the Seahawks have taken in round one since 2006. Witherspoon is a big, physical player who will pair up with Seahawks second-year sensation Tariq Woolen to give this team an enviable group of corners going forward.

I don’t know that there’s anyone in this business who didn’t like the fit of Jaxon Smith-Njigba in Seattle. DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett are established. This Seattle team now has a legit third option who has outstanding hands, who knows how to win his matchups in the slot, and who is one of the best in this class at creating after the catch.

Derick Hall is super on-brand for Seattle in terms of a long edge who is slightly one-dimensional at this point, but he’s an incredible story and someone I think they’ll be able to rely on to consistently get after the QB.

Zach Charbonnet paired up with Kenneth Walker is really fascinating. Charbonnet transferred to UCLA, and that was all that prevented this Seattle draft class from having about 19 Michigan players in it.

Getting both Cameron Young and Mike Morris for the middle of that defensive line is literally and figuratively huge for this team.

Overall, this draft will be defined by how those top two picks hit. The Seahawks took players at premium positions with each of their last three first-round picks, none of which were QBs. They didn’t necessarily need to be, either. Seattle wasn’t in position for the top 3 QBs in this draft, and they passed.

Grade: B+

Arizona Cardinals

• 6. Paris Johnson Jr. OT, Ohio State
• 41. BJ Ojulari, EDGE, LSU
• 72. Garrett Williams, DB, Syracuse
• 94. Michael Wilson, WR, Stanford
• 122. Jon Gaines II, OG, UCLA
• 139. Clayton Tune, QB, Houston
• 168. Owen Pappoe, LB, Auburn
• 180. Kei’Trel Clark, CB, Louisville
• 213. Dante Stills, DL, West Virginia

The 2023 NFL Draft has been a very interesting one for the Arizona Cardinals. It all started with some bad news. The Cardinals were popped for tampering with Jonathan Gannon in the process of hiring him as their next head coach, and that ended up costing them about 30 spots in the third round.

At the end of the day though, the Cardinals did so much wheeling and dealing that it really didn’t end up mattering. They needed the best possible combination of quality and quantity in this class, and they really got it. Moving down from the third overall pick to the 12th, new GM Monti Ossenfort secured arguably the most valuable piece from this class: The Houston Texans’ 2024 first-round pick.

Not Cleveland’s from Houston — Houston’s.

I don’t know if that pick will be in the top five, but given the state of the Texans, it’s not impossible.

Let’s focus on the picks, though. The Cardinals took a liking to Ohio State offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. and made him their top pick after a trade up to no. 6 with the Detroit Lions. Johnson is going to obviously be a core piece for this team moving forward, but the Cardinals passed up on Will Anderson Jr. to get him.

We’ll see how that works out.

Beyond that Paris Johnson Jr. pick, I don’t know if the Cardinals found the best value at their respective slots.

https://twitter.com/SharpFootball/status/1652454713877581825

Arizona was picking third overall in this draft, and near the top of every round. They should not be this low in terms of “value” but they were. And it felt that way throughout the whole selection process. BJ Ojulari was a good pick in round two, and frankly, he might be the best true value and pick of the bunch.

As of right now, what’s keeping this draft from being a complete disaster is really that 2024 first-round pick the Cardinals added, along with quite a bit of extra 2024 NFL Draft capital.  Still, we’re grading this based on the picks that were made, not the ones that are yet to be made.

Grade: C-

Las Vegas Raiders

• 7. Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech
• 35. Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
• 70. Byron Young, DL, Alabama
• 100. Tre Tucker, WR, Cincinnati
• 104. Jakorian Bennett, DB, Maryland
• 135. Aidan O’Connell, QB, Purdue
• 170. Chris Smith, S, Georgia
• 203. Amari Burney, LB, Florida
• 231. Nesta Jade Silvera, DL, Arizona State

There were plenty of rumors surrounding the Las Vegas Raiders leading up to the 2023 NFL Draft regarding the quarterback position. Of course, those rumors have been persistent for the last handful of years as the Raiders were only able to make the playoffs a couple of times in Derek Carr’s years with the team, and speculation came up just about every offseason about major QB changes.

They finally made them in 2023 by letting Carr hit the road to New Orleans, bringing in Jimmy Garoppolo to replace him.

The big change offensively is now coupled with the addition of versatile defensive lineman Tyree Wilson, who can play on the interior as well as on the edge. The Raiders made the big move last offseason to get Chandler Jones but that move was considered mostly a disappointment in year one. What can the trio of Jones, Wilson, and Maxx Crosby do together? They have to make sure, if nothing else, they make life tough on those star QBs out west.

Beyond round one, the Raiders might have gotten one of the best Day 2 picks in the league with the acquisition of tight end Michael Mayer. In a loaded tight end class, there were plenty of people who felt like Mayer was the absolute best.

The Raiders traded up on Day 3 to select Purdue quarterback Aidan O’Connell, an interesting player who will be a factor at some point given Jimmy Garoppolo’s injury history.

One truly head-scratching pick the Raiders made was taking Cincinnati WR Tre Tucker over his teammate Tyler Scott. Perhaps there was something there the whole league knew that we didn’t.

This draft class for the Raiders was top-heavy and the fact that Tyree Wilson is coming off of a Lisfranc injury is a bit concerning. Obviously not concerning enough for the Raiders to pass on him with the 7th overall pick.

Those top two picks are the heavy hitters, and the rest of this draft feels extremely underwhelming.

Grade: C+

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-

Philadelphia Eagles

• 9. Jalen Carter, DL, Georgia
• 30. Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia
• 65. Tyler Steen, OL, Alabama
• 66. Sydney Brown, S, Illinois
• 105. Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
• 188. Tanner McKee, QB, Stanford
• 249. Moro Ojomo, DL, Texas

The Philadelphia Dawgs.

The Georgia Eagles.

Whatever you want to call them, if you point at a team photo of the 2021 Georgia Bulldogs with a blindfold on, there’s probably a decent chance you’re going to point at someone who is now on the Philadelphia Eagles.

Eagles GM Howie Roseman has been taking Bulldog after Bulldog over the last two years, something he jokingly admitted was tough for him as a Florida Gators grad. The Eagles not only landed Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith, and Kelee Ringo in this draft, but they landed Jordan Davis and Nakobe Dean in 2022.

It’s incredibly impressive how committed to the “bit” Roseman is. There is a reason this “bit” is so well-received, though. Georgia obviously has one of the best defenses in the country year in and year out, so it makes sense that the Eagles would load up on Bulldogs if the rest of the league is going to let them do it.

You add Tyler Steen and Sydney Brown with back-to-back picks at 65 and 66, and I think right there you’re getting two more starters for this team whether that’s in 2023 or 2024. Steen can step in and play guard whenever Jason Kelce calls it a career and Cam Jurgens takes over at center.

Brown can come in and play right away in this reloaded Eagles secondary which no longer includes Chauncey Gardner-Johnson.

Tanner McKee and Moro Ojomo round out a class that just has really great quality and depth. For a team to go win the NFC last year and have arguably the best overall class in the league? That’s saying something. You’re maximizing value, being smart with your assets, taking premium positions…

Not to mention, the Eagles traded a 2025 draft pick for running back D’Andre Swift (another Bulldog).

Grade: A+

Chicago Bears

• 10. Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
• 53. Gervon Dexter, DL, Florida
• 56. Tyrique Stevenson, CB, Miami
• 64. Zacch Pickens, DL, South Carolina
• 115. Roschon Johnson, RB, Texas
• 133. Tyler Scott, WR, Cincinnati
• 148. Noah Sewell, LB, Oregon
• 165. Terell Smith, CB, Minnesota
• 218. Travis Bell, DT, Kennesaw State
• 258. Kendall Williamson, DB, Stanford

Back when the Chicago Bears held the number one pick overall, fans wanted the team to trade down not once but twice. Load up on as many picks as you possibly can, right?

The Bears ended up doing that, trading the top pick to the Carolina Panthers for an absolute haul which included DJ Moore and a 2024 first-round pick, then trading down one more spot with the Philadelphia before getting their guy — Darnell Wright — at no. 10 overall.

Nothing in this draft was more important than protecting Justin Fields, and Wright is going to help do exactly that.

After the Darnell Wright pick, the Bears and GM Ryan Poles went on a defensive kick, taking Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens on the defensive line sandwiching Tyrique Stevenson at the cornerback position. I like all three of those picks for the Chicago defense and I like investing in Matt Eberflus’ side of the ball. You hired that guy to be your head coach, but you also hired him for what he can bring to that side.

On Day 3, there were few values better than Tyler Scott out of Cincinnati. Why did he fall to the 133rd overall pick? I guess we may or may not find out the answer to that question. At any rate,he joins a significantly revamped WR unit in Chicago.

Roschon Johnson joins a stable of backs in Chicago where he may legitimately have a shot to emerge as “the guy” within a year or so.

Grade: B

Tennessee Titans

• 11. Peter Skoronski, OL, Northwestern
• 33. Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
• 81. Tyjae Spears, RB, Tulane
• 147. Josh Whyle, TE, Cincinnati
• 186. Jaelyn Duncan, T, Maryland
• 228. Colton Dowell, WR, UT-Martin

After all the rumors about the Tennessee Titans possibly moving up into the third overall spot to select CJ Stroud or Will Levis, maybe even Anthony Richardson, none of it happened. It was the Titans’ division rivals in Houston who pulled off the blockbuster. But sometimes in the NFL Draft, it’s the deals you don’t make, right?

The Titans came into this draft clearly looking like a team on the cusp of rebuilding. Injuries hindered the Titans’ playoff bid last season and they fell short, but this is still one of the most well-coached teams in the league, led by Mike Vrabel.

At the top of this draft class is one of the more sure-fire prospects you can come upon — Peter Skoronski out of Northwestern. Having Skoronski in the fold along with taking a shot in free agency on former first-round pick Andre Dillard at least gives the Titans some new blood to work with after losing both Taylor Lewan and Nate Davis in free agency (and Ben Jones).

How much longer will Ryan Tannehill be under center for this team? I’m not sure, but if the Titans’ last two draft classes are any indicator of where the team is at, they clearly are putting the pressure on. They drafted Malik Willis in 2022 and now Will Levis in 2023, moving up to secure him.

Levis is one of the most polarizing prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft class, and for good reason. He has his detractors, but he also has his fans who are adamant that he wasn’t healthy this past season, that he played through injury and wasn’t able to show the true full arsenal of skills he has at his disposal with his mobility and athleticism.

I tend to gravitate toward Levis’ skills and smarts — he was recruited and offered by a variety of Ivy League schools coming out of high school. I think he’s got what it takes to make it in the NFL.

Tyjae Spears was an awesome pick in round three, and gives the Titans another option in the backfield to go along with Derrick Henry. Spears can contribute on all three downs.

On Day 3, it’s hard to imagine many teams got a better value than the Titans with Jaelyn Duncan at pick no. 186 overall.

Overall, I think this draft has some upside with Levis and a high floor with Skoronski on top.

Grade: B+

Detroit Lions

• 12. Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama
• 18. Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa
• 34. Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa
• 45. Brian Branch, DB, Alabama
• 68. Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee
• 96. Brodric Martin, DL, Western Kentucky
• 152. Colby Sorsdal, OL, William & Mary
• 219. Antoine Green, WR, North Carolina

A lot of people are up in arms over this Detroit Lions draft class. Those who believe in positional value are absolutely crawling in their skin over the Lions’ top four picks — all top-50 selections — being:

• Running back
• Linebacker
• Tight End
• Safety

I mean, when you put it that way, it does sound kind of bad, doesn’t it? But the Lions are one of very few teams that had six selections in the top 100 overall. They managed to get some really good players which is the thing that matters most.

They shocked everyone by taking Jahmyr Gibbs with the 12th overall pick and reports after the fact were that they would have been okay taking him at pick no. 6 overall if they hadn’t been able to trade down. Gibbs is an outstanding talent with elite speed, pass-catching abilities, and vision. He joins an already dynamic Lions offensive arsenal.

Jack Campbell might have been the biggest “reach” of the first round but who really cares? What happens if some team in the 20s loved Campbell as much as the Lions, and they missed out on getting him in round two because of positional value? They feel like he can be a major difference-maker for their defense, and they’re right to believe that. Campbell was ridiculously productive at Iowa and makes plays on all three downs.

Speaking of making plays at Iowa, offensive production was somewhat the equivalent of a lunar eclipse, maybe a bigfoot sighting at Kinnick Stadium the last handful of years. In the Hawkeyes’ case, Bigfoot’s name was Sam LaPorta. He was virtually the only player consistently producing for the offense and stood out like a sore thumb. The Lions trade away TJ Hockenson last year, and replace him with another Hawkeye with tremendous athleticism.

Brian Branch joins a revamped Lions secondary with CJ Gardner-Johnson. Although he was a great value, he kind of strikes me as redundant after that acquisition but we’ll see what Aaron Glenn’s plans are.

Hendon Hooker deserves so much more attention than the typical third-round pick. The Lions got an absolute steal there and I don’t think anyone would have batted an eye if they had taken him at 18 overall. If it weren’t for a knee injury this past season, he might have gone sooner than that.

Overall, this Lions draft is presently being defined by positional value, but people are ignoring the players. This team has a legit shot to win the NFC North with Aaron Rodgers out of the picture, so I don’t hate this class at all. Positional value does factor in slightly, but I’m going to be higher on this Lions class than most.

Grade: A-

Green Bay Packers

• 13. Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa
• 42. Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State
• 50. Jayden Reed, WR, Michigan State
• 78. Tucker Kraft, TE, South Dakota State
• 116. Colby Wooden, DL, Auburn
• 149. Sean Clifford, QB, Penn State
• 159. Dontayvion Wicks, WR, Virginia
• 179. Karl Brooks, DL, Bowling Green
• 207. Anders Carlson, K, Auburn
• 232. Carrington Valentine, CB, Kentucky
• 235. Lew Nichols III, RB, Central Michigan
• 242. Anthony Johnson Jr., DB, Iowa State
• 256. Grant DuBose, WR, Charlotte

Sheesh, I think the Packers just made another pick, didn’t they?

Let the post-Aaron Rodgers era begin. Or are we calling it the Jordan Love era? Jordan Love, YOU are a New York Jet in 2037.

All kidding aside, Packers GM Brian Gutekunst stayed painfully on-brand with his top pick, taking Lukas Van Ness off the edge out of Iowa. Van Ness is a good-looking young player with length, power, and the ability to get to the QB in a hurry. The Packers had the Jets include that little trade two spots up the board in the Aaron Rodgers deal, so it’s obvious that Van Ness is someone they had their eyes on.

You look at the rest of this draft class and you see a lot of investment in offensive skill guys, of course. The Packers got two of the best tight ends in this class in Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft, and I think those two will be such a massive help for Jordan Love and having a successful first year on the job as a starting QB.

When you mix those guys with someone like Jayden Reed out of Michigan State? I think the Packers did so well there to add to their offensive weaponry.

Talking about doubling up at certain position groups, Karl Brooks doesn’t play off the edge like Lukas Van Ness, but I think getting two guys on the defensive front of that quality was really good work by Gutekunst and his staff.

Everyone was shocked the Packers actually picked Sean Clifford at pick no. 149 overall, making him part of a rather historic QB class.

Ultimately, this draft class will be remembered as the one after Aaron Rodgers left. How quickly can these young players, along with Jordan Love, move this franchise forward?

Grade: B+

Pittsburgh Steelers

• 14. Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
• 32. Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
• 49. Keeanu Benton, DL, Wisconsin
• 93. Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
• 132. Nick Herbig, LB, Wisconsin
• 241. Cory Trice Jr., CB, Purdue
• 251. Spencer Anderson, OL, Maryland

It’s hard to look around the league and find a more “complete” draft class than this one. The Pittsburgh Steelers worked the board methodically. They were aggressive in spots. They were patient. They took advantage of good value at every turn.

Starting, of course, with the selection of the road grader at left tackle, Broderick Jones. The Steelers traded up a couple of spots to make sure they landed Jones as tackles were flying off the board. This is a team that needed to solidify the LT spot and they did it with a very talented player.

Then you turn around in the second and get someone like Joey Porter Jr.? That is a player many — myself included — thought had a floor of 17 overall in this draft because of his connection to the Steelers. Pittsburgh needed outside corner help, and the 6-foot-2 Porter is going to play immediately along with a living legend in Patrick Peterson.

At every turn of this draft, I think the Steelers got second contract players. I don’t see any picks in this group that won’t work out at least in terms of depth.

Darnell Washington at pick 93 overall has to be one of the best overall values in the class. Washington was a personal favorite of mine coming into this draft but there might be concerns about a knee. We’ll see if that impacts him going forward but the Steelers have long been masters of finding skill position talent on Day 2 and they stole Georgia’s George Pickens last year coming off of an injury, too.

Nick Herbig at 132 overall was highway robbery. Getting him and his college teammate Keeanu Benton? Chef’s kiss.

Well done for the Steelers.

Grade: A

New York Jets

• 15. Will McDonald IV, EDGE, Iowa State
• 43. Joe Tippmann, C, Wisconsin
• 120. Carter Warren, OT, Pittsburgh
• 143. Israel Abanikanda, RB, Pittsburgh
• 184. Zaire Barnes, LB, Western Michigan
• 204. Jarrick Bernard-Converse, CB, LSU
• 220. Zack Kuntz, TE, Old Dominion

The New York Jets traded for Aaron Rodgers.

That’s it. That’s the review.

In the days leading up to the 2023 NFL Draft, the fortunes of the New York Jets officially and emphatically changed with the addition of the four-time MVP. Rodgers’ inclusion in the Jets’ lineup immediately legitimizes this operation and they were already creeping into the top 10 teams of our power rankings last season when Zach Wilson was starting.

That’s just how good Robert Saleh is at scheming defense and making up for his offense’s mistakes. We saw him do that so well when the 49ers were going through tough times injury-wise at QB, and we have seen him do it with the Jets. Now, he’s got a four-time MVP under center.

So why not treat yourself with Will McDonald IV? I get it. The tackles were off the board. If the value isn’t there to protect the QB, find someone who can get after the other team’s QB. Right?

The Jets could have taken Jaxon Smith-Njigba, which I think they should have done, but I’m not going to ding them too much for that.

Getting Joe Tippmann and Carter Warren gives New York some much-needed depth on the offensive line both on the interior and at tackle. Tippmann was considered arguably the best center in this draft by some.

On Day 3, the pick of Zack Kuntz in round seven looks like one that could pay dividends. This guy is a ridiculous athletic specimen, a 10/10 on the RAS scale. We’ll see if he can crack the Jets’ roster and make an impact.

Overall, you can’t grade this draft without Aaron Rodgers context, and I think the Jets did okay. They could have gotten an A from me if they’d taken Smith-Njigba.

Grade: C+

Washington Commanders

• 16. Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
• 47. Jartavius Martin, DB, Illinois
• 97. Ricky Stromburg, OL, Arkansas
• 118. Braden Daniels, OL, Utah
• 137. KJ Henry, EDGE, Clemson
• 193. Chris Rodriguez Jr., RB, Kentucky
• 233. Andre Jones Jr., EDGE, Louisiana

The Washington Commanders brought us all a bit of shocking news leading up to the 2023 NFL Draft that they were not going to pick up the fifth-year option on former second-overall pick Chase Young. Of course, there are reasons for that, and they are understandable, but based on who Chase Young was coming out in that 2020 NFL Draft, it’s hard to believe.

With that in mind, the Commanders still have one of the best and most talented defensive fronts in the entire NFL. They can get pressure on the QB, but they know they need players who can take advantage of all that pressure. That’s why they brought in the guy with arguably the best ball skills in this class in Emmanuel Forbes out of Mississippi State.

Having Forbes in the fold is awesome for the Commanders, but I love how they supported that pick by taking the versatile Jartavius Martin out of Illinois with their very next pick. Martin plays all over the defensive backfield as a safety, slot, or outside corner if need be. I think he will be a major factor as a rookie and a fan favorite rather quickly.

The Commanders then took to upgrading the offensive line with Ricky Stromburg and Braden Daniels, two picks I really liked for them to fortify their depth on the interior and giving some starting potential with both guys.

KJ Henry on Day 3 was a solid value for the Commanders as well.

Overall, the Commanders passed on a chance to take Will Levis or Hendon Hooker, which is fine. They did a lot early on to upgrade the secondary and I think those are going to be immediate difference makers as they try to keep pace in the wildly competitive NFC East.

Grade: B

New England Patriots

• 17. Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
• 46. Keion White, EDGE, Georgia Tech
• 76. Marte Mapu, LB, Sacramento State
• 107. Jake Andrews, IOL, Troy
• 112. Chad Ryland, K, Maryland
• 117. Sidy Sow, OL, Eastern Michigan
• 144. Antonio Mafi, OL, UCLA
• 187. Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU
• 192. Bryce Baringer, P, Michigan State
• 210. Demario Douglas, WR, Liberty
• 214. Ameer Speed, CB, Michigan State
• 245. Isaiah Bolden, CB, Jackson State

I can’t believe the Patriots. I cannot believe this.

They had a chance to hit for the cycle. They had a chance to complete the holy trinity of special teams players, and they didn’t do it.

You’re telling me with 75 picks, you couldn’t take one long snapper? After already taking a kicker and punter?

Shame.

All kidding aside, the Patriots had a unique NFL Draft class which did feature a very highly drafted kicker and punter, both players landing within the top 200 picks. The Patriots have drafted specialists in the past, so this is not new territory for them at all, and certainly if you draft guys at those spots, you expect them to be among the league’s best rather quickly.

What I can’t get over is how much I love the Patriots’ top pick — Christian Gonzalez — as well as how much I love the Marte Mapu pick, and yet how much I hate this draft.

The Patriots have a young QB in Mac Jones. They simply haven’t done enough to support that selection in Jones’ first three years. Not that the Patriots need to take a wide receiver with every pick, or offensive linemen with every pick, but I just don’t see how you can justify giving the Steelers Broderick Jones when you needed him yourself, how you can pass on tackles in this draft, pass on receivers until Kayshon Boutte at 187.

Again, love Christian Gonzalez. Love Marte Mapu. But where’s the help for Mac Jones?

Grade: C- (would have been a D without Gonzalez and Mapu)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• 19. Calijah Kancey, DL, Pittsburgh
• 48. Cody Mauch, OL, North Dakota State
• 82. YaYa Diaby, EDGE, Louisville
• 153. SirVocea Dennis, LB, Pittsburgh
• 171. Payne Durham, TE, Purdue
• 181. Josh Hayes, CB, Kansas State
• 191. Trey Palmer, WR, Nebraska
• 196. Jose Ramirez, EDGE, Eastern Michigan

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers obviously are taking on some water in the old Black Pearl this offseason. Tom Brady retired. Donovan Smith was cut. The Bucs are a team somewhat in transition, I think it’s fair to say.

Draft classes get evaluated so often based on the quality of the picks, which is spot on, but you also have to think about the context of the team around these picks. This Tampa Bay team had a lot of resetting to do all around the roster, they’ve got Devin White asking for a trade, and they’ve got a lot going on.

They also play in seemingly a very winnable division if the offensive staff can work things out with Baker Mayfield.

At the top of this class is Combine superstar Calijah Kancey. He’s not the next Aaron Donald, but he’s a good pick for that interior defensive line and he’s going to be able to cause some problems.

Cody Mauch can slot in as a replacement for Shaq Mason on the interior, and my guess is that the Bucs envision him playing there on the inside and not at the tackle position where he played in college.

YaYa Diaby is an incredible story of perseverance, a late-bloomer who could factor into the pass rush rotation immediately.

It was on Day 3 where I think the Bucs really made some hay in this draft class, though.

Getting Payne Durham out of Purdue was a pick made about two or three rounds too late. Durham was lost in the shuffle of this elite tight end class. Outstanding value.

The Bucs also landed Nebraska speedster Trey Palmer, a player who undoubtedly projects as someone who will make the roster and potentially make an impact as a field stretcher.

Jose Ramirez to cap things off gives the Bucs a draft class I think Jason Licht and his staff can really be proud of. I don’t see a miss on this list.

Grade: A

Los Angeles Chargers

• 21. Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
• 54. Tuli Tuipulotu, DL, USC
• 85. Daiyan Henley, LB, Washington State
• 125. Derius Davis, WR, TCU
• 156. Jordan McFadden, OT, Clemson
• 200. Scott Matlock, DL, Boise State
• 239. Max Duggan, QB, TCU

Whatever the Los Angeles Chargers saw from the TCU program, they obviously liked. While Howie Roseman and the Eagles were busy loading up on Georgia Bulldogs in this draft, the Chargers were busy loading up on Horned Frogs, starting with Quentin Johnston there in the first round.

Johnston was part of an impressive run of four receivers in a row in the first round and obviously is coming to Los Angeles with high expectations. He joins Mike Williams and Keenan Allen as big-bodied weapons for Justin Herbert to spread the ball to in Kellen Moore’s offense.

Although a little underwhelming on paper, Tuli Tuipulotu should end up being a really solid pickup for the Chargers as needed depth off the edge. College production doesn’t translate 100 percent of the time but he had 13.5 sacks last year for the Trojans.

On Day 3, the Chargers went out and picked a couple of Johnston’s TCU teammates in Derius Davis and Max Duggan, so it will be interesting to see what the vision is there.

You don’t like to focus on what a team did not do in a draft but I don’t really like the fact that the Chargers missed out on tight ends in such a deep class. That feels like a mistake.

Grade: C-

Baltimore Ravens

• 22. Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
• 86. Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson
• 124. Tavius Robinson, EDGE, Ole Miss
• 157. Kyu Blu Kelly, CB, Stanford
• 199. Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, OT, Oregon
• 229. Andrew Vorhees, OL, USC

The biggest story leading up to and during the 2023 NFL Draft for the Baltimore Ravens was obviously the team’s ability to get a long-term deal done with quarterback Lamar Jackson. That disturbing saga went on far too long and it was tough to watch it unfold in real-time with Jackson asking for a trade and all of that drama.

Ultimately, all is well that ends well, right? The Ravens got their guy locked in, and then they went out and got him a couple of big-time weapons. They added Odell Beckham Jr. in free agency. They went out in the first round of this draft and added Zay Flowers, one of the top downfield threats in the class.

It’s not a coincidence that the Flowers selection comes just one year after the team traded Hollywood Brown to Arizona…

I think Flowers is much more dynamic than Brown as an overall receiver, though. I think when you talk about his ability to track the ball downfield, that’s what really stands out about this player of course on top of the fact that he has that big-time speed.

When you look at the rest of this draft for the Ravens, it’s a little atypical in the fact that not everyone was sitting around at the end of Day 3 saying, “Wow, the Ravens really killed this draft,” which is typically the case.

Getting Trenton Simpson with their second pick was a solid value, and seventh-round pick Andrew Vorhees could end up being the gem of this class if he can come back healthy next season.

Perhaps the best value was Stanford cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly, who had over 20 passes broken up in his time with the Cardinal.

Grade: B

Minnesota Vikings

• 23. Jordan Addison, WR, USC
• 102. Mekhi Blackmon, CB, USC
• 134. Jay Ward, DB, LSU
• 141. Jaquelin Roy, DL, LSU
• 164. Jaren Hall, QB, BYU
• 222. DeWayne McBride, RB, UABe

It’s impossible not to be intrigued by the possibility of Jordan Addison joining Justin Jefferson with the Minnesota Vikings. Addison, the former Biletnikoff Award winner, jumps into a Vikings receiver room which just lost veteran Adam Thielen this offseason (Panthers) and certainly needed a bit of a jolt given that fact.

Addison does a little bit of everything well at the position. He’s got the ability to create separation with his route running ability, and why did the Vikings make this pick with perhaps a bigger “need” at cornerback? You’ve got to do all you can to keep the pressure off of someone like Justin Jefferson.

Addison is going to help do that.

The Vikings ended the second day of the draft by taking Mekhi Blackmon, one of Addison’s teammates there at USC on the other side of the ball. Blackmon was a third-round pick so he should be expected to get on the field rather quickly. With his size and shorter arms, expect him to play some in the slot.

On Day 3, the Vikings took back-to-back teammates on the LSU defense in Jay Ward and Jaquelin Roy before landing BYU quarterback Jaren Hall, who quite frankly lasted further into Day 3 than I and many others expected. I don’t think Hall is the heir apparent to Kirk Cousins, by any means, but he’s an interesting option with some upside there.

Grade: C+

New York Giants

• 24. Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
• 57. John Michael-Schmitz, OL, Minnesota
• 73. Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee
• 172. Eric Gray, RB, Oklahoma
• 209. Trey Hawkins III, CB, Old Dominion
• 243. Jordon Riley, DL, Oregon
• 254. Gervarrius Owens, S, Houston

The New York Giants made the playoffs last year, the first year with Brian Daboll as the team’s head coach. They re-signed Daniel Jones in free agency, franchise tagged Saquon Barkley, and brought back/brought in a bunch of receivers to help the cause of pushing the offense forward.

I can’t say I love the commitment to Daniel Jones for the Giants, but I respect the faith in him and the coaching staff’s ability to get the best out of him.

In this draft, the Giants needed a receiver or corner in the first round, and I think they got one of the best in Deonte Banks. Banks is going to start immediately for New York and gives that team an athletic freak at a premium position that they can really build around.

In round two, the Giants got another steal with John Michael Schmitz on the interior offensive line. Some felt like he was the top overall interior lineman in this draft and it’s hard to argue with that. Immediate starter.

Out goes Kenny Golladay, in comes Jalin Hyatt as the new big-bodied receiver for the G-men. This is a massive upgrade, in my eyes, and Hyatt was someone I had projected at 29 to the Saints in my final mock draft. Huge value here, and quite frankly, the Giants got huge value with all of their top three picks.

After the Hyatt pick, Giants fans had to wait nearly 100 selections for Eric Gray, one of my favorite backs in this draft and a guy who is going to be able to contribute immediately on all three downs.

When you hit home runs on your top four picks, the late-round guys are just icing on the cake. Lots of people are talking about the Steelers’ draft and the Eagles’ draft, and for good reason, but I would say the Giants are not far behind.

Grade: A

Buffalo Bills

• 25. Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
• 59. O’Cyrus Torrence, OL, Florida
• 91. Dorian Williams, LB, Tulane
• 150. Justin Shorter, WR, Florida
• 230. Nick Broeker, OL, Ole Miss
• 252. Alex Austin, CB, Oregon State

The Buffalo Bills got a little aggresive in round one, jumping the Dallas Cowboys to get one of Daniel Jeremiah’s top 10 players in the class, Dalton Kincaid. If it weren’t for his back issues, perhaps Kincaid would have landed much higher than pick no. 25 overall.

As it stands, the quips of those analyzing the draft on live TV are accurate: “How could the rest of the NFL let Josh Allen get Dalton Kincaid?”

It’s a question we’ll all probably be asking for the next handful of years, so long as both guys stay healthy. The Bills have been relying way too much on Allen, and don’t take that the wrong way. Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis are nice, of course, but the Bills’ offense needed another player like Kincaid to come in and create for Allen. Dawson Knox and Isaiah McKenzie were tied for third on this team in targets last season (65 apiece) and someone like Kincaid is an upgrade in the area of third-most-targeted.

In round two, the Bills landed O’Cyrus Torrence. I mocked him to Buffalo in round one so many times I can’t help but feel at least partially responsible for speaking that into existence.

Beyond those top two picks, though, nobody really stands out all that much from this Bills class. Dorian Williams is a solid pick and a tackling machine who can really run. The Bills lost Tremaine Edmunds in free agency (Bears) and Williams can help replace him as well as rack up special teams snaps.

Grade: C+

Dallas Cowboys

• 26. Mazi Smith, DL, Michigan
• 58. Luke Schoonmaker, TE, Michigan
• 90. DeMarvion Overshown, LB, Texas
• 129. Viliami Fehoko Jr., EDGE, San Jose State
• 169. Asim Richards, OT, North Carolina
• 178. Eric Scott Jr., CB, Southern Mississippi
• 212. Deuce Vaughn, RB, Kansas State
• 244. Jalen Brooks, WR, South Carolina

Looking at the Dallas Cowboys’ draft as a whole, I think the term “unconventional” comes to mind. The Cowboys started off this year’s draft by taking one of the strongest dudes on the defensive line you’re likely to ever see in Michigan’s Mazi Smith. This is a man who takes pride in what he has accomplished as a weight room warrior, and he brings that ability to the field by moving offensive linemen back with ease.

Smith is going to be an upgrade for the Cowboys’ run defense, there’s no question about it.

In the second round, the Cowboys saw a run on tight ends happening and they got in on the fun, taking Michigan’s Luke Schoonmaker for back-to-back Wolverines in their class. I think a lot of people were disappointed to see their teams passing on Darnell Washington on day two, but there were some concerns there with the health of his knee, apparently.

Schoonmaker is a tremendous athletic profile and is going to slot as a starter for the Cowboys when you consider the departure of Dalton Schultz in free agency.

On Day 3, the Cowboys went after a couple of deep sleepers, starting with Viliami Fehoko Jr., another player who really excels at stopping the run.

The wild card of this class will be DeMarvion Overshown, staying in the state of Texas and trading his Longhorns for a Star. Overshown is a former safety who landed in a great spot with defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.

The Cowboys surprisingly traded a 2024 fifth-round pick to jump into the top end of round six so they could grab cornerback Eric Scott Jr. out of Southern Mississippi.

One of the coolest picks of this Cowboys draft is 5-foot-5 running back Deuce Vaughn. Vaughn’s dad is a scout with the Cowboys.

Grade: B

Jacksonville Jaguars

• 27. Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
• 61. Brenton Strange, TE, Penn State
• 88. Tank Bigsby, RB, Auburn
• 121. Ventrell Miller, LB, Florida
• 130. Tyler Lacy, DL, Oklahoma State
• 136. Yasir Abdullah, LB, Louisville
• 160. Antonio Johnson, DB, Texas A&M
• 185. Parker Washington, WR, Penn State
• 202. Christian Braswell, CB, Rutgers
• 208. Eric Hallett II, S, Pittsburgh
• 226. Cooper Hodges, OL, Appalachian State
• 227. Raymond Vohasek, DL, North Carolina
• 240. Derek Parish, FB, Houston

For a team coming off of a playoff appearance, this NFL Draft class feels abnormally large (13 players). First things first, we need to discuss the top pick, Anton Harrison, an offensive tackle out of Oklahoma.

Jaguars left tackle Cam Robinson is going to serve a suspension to start the 2023 season (missing out on nearly $900K per week) and Harrison could be starting quicker than some might have expected to open his NFL career. He’s one of the youngest players in the class and one of the most talented. Protecting Trevor Lawrence is of paramount importance and the Jaguars obviously understand that. How they sort out their best five when Robinson is off of his suspension with Harrison and Walker Little in the mix doesn’t matter. You need to have a strong OL to compete in January.

This massive class by the Jaguars included a tight end in round two — Brenton Strange out of Penn State — who can be a nice blocking type to pair with Evan Engram. Perhaps the most exciting pick outside of the first two rounds for the Jaguars was the selection of Penn State wide receiver Parker Washington.

The Jaguars have really revamped their receiver room the last couple of seasons and Washington is a Day 3 pick who could prove to be a Day 2 value when all is said and done.

Overall, this draft class for the Jaguars is massive. Is there a ton of star power in it? Not really, but that doesn’t matter. They landed a lot of players who could play key roles for a playoff team.

Grade: C+

Cincinnati Bengals

• 28. Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
• 60. DJ Turner, CB, Michigan
• 95. Jordan Battle, DB, Alabama
• 131. Charlie Jones, WR, Purdue
• 163. Chase Brown, RB, Illinois
• 206. Andre Iosivas, WR, Princeton
• 217. Brad Robbins, P, Michigan
• 246. DJ Ivey, DB, Miami

Are the Cincinnati Bengals going to be able to establish themselves as the best team in the AFC this year after the Chiefs won the Super Bowl last season? We’ll have to wait and see, but if anyone is on the same level as KC as an overall team right now, I feel like it’s Cincinnati.

They have such a loaded roster on both sides of the ball, and I was interested to see what they were going to do in this draft without many real pressing areas of need, at least from my seat. I think they approached the draft from that perspective and just got a bunch of really good football players.

Given the context of the Bengals’ roster right now, this might be one of my favorite classes in the league.

Myles Murphy in round one was a really solid pick and overall value. He’s got great size and athleticism for a 4-3 defensive end and I think is a great fit in Lou Anarumo’s defense.

You then follow up that pick with the selection of DJ Turner one year after taking his old Michigan teammate, Dax Hill, in round one. And overall, just love the way the Bengals have reloaded their secondary in recent years, even after losing Jessie Bates (Falcons) in free agency. In the last two drafts, they’ve now added:

• Dax Hill (S)
• Cam Taylor-Britt (CB)
• DJ Turner (CB)
• Jordan Battle (S)

It wouldn’t surprise me if all of those guys were starters in the near future.

Offensively, I love the depth the Bengals added at the skill spots. Charlie Jones was one of #MyGuys in this draft as a former Iowa Hawkeye transfer who exploded at Purdue. His production ramped up with the Boilermakers, but Jones was always that player at Iowa as well, he just didn’t have a fourth-round pick at QB spreading him the ball.

Jones is also one of the best return men in this draft.

Overall, I think the Bengals did really well in this draft. I could argue they got two borderline first-round values with Murphy and Turner. The depth of this class is solid with Chase Brown as the cherry on top of a class Bengals fans should be excited about and proud of. The only thing this class is missing is a tight end, which was the one thing I think the Bengals should have made non-negotiable. They also could have used a tackle.

Grade: A-

New Orleans Saints

• 29. Bryan Bresee, DL, Clemson
• 40. Isaiah Foskey, EDGE, Notre Dame
• 71. Kendre Miller, RB, TCU
• 103. Nick Saldiveri, OG, Old Dominion
• 127. Jake Haener, QB, Fresno State
• 146. Jordan Howden, S, Minnesota
• 195. AT Perry, WR, Wake Forest

The New Orleans Saints made one of the biggest blockbuster moves of the 2023 offseason by signing quarterback Derek Carr as the team’s new franchise QB. Carr’s inclusion in this Saints lineup I think propels this team into the distinction of “best” in the NFC South, although the Panthers may be nipping at their heels.

Maybe even the Falcons.

After free agency, though, it was clear that the Saints needed to add to the defensive front. They went out and addressed the losses they sustained in free agency by adding some really talented players with their top two picks in Bryan Bresee of Clemson and Isaiah Foskey of Notre Dame.

Those two guys are big, athletic, strong, and fit well with what the Saints and head coach Dennis Allen like to do on that side of the ball.

Not a lot of people were talking about TCU’s Kendre Miller in this class, but he could end up being one of the best running backs of a really strong group at that position. He’s got that one-cut ability and vision with the ball in his hands to find a crease and attack it.

Arguably my favorite pick of this class for the Saints, though, is Old Dominion offensive lineman Nick Saldiveri. Saldiveri was a right tackle at ODU but projects to the interior at the next level, and I think he’s going to start for a long time.

How did the Saints manage to get AT Perry so late?

One pick that needs to be discussed is the Saints’ trade up to get Jake Haener, an interesting selection, to say the least. The Saints brought in Carr, they brought back Jameis Winston, and now they’ve got a developmental option in Haener, who reminds me a little of Gardner Minshew.

Overall, this class for the Saints screams “solid” but I don’t know that it’s spectacular. They made some really good picks on guys who aren’t likely to sell a ton of jerseys in Bresee, Foskey, and Saldiveri, but those guys are going to all end up being hits from this class in my opinion.

Grade: B

Kansas City Chiefs

• 32. Felix Anudike-Uzomah, EDGE, Kansas State
• 55. Rashee Rice, WR, SMU
• 92. Wanya Morris, OT, Oklahoma
• 119. Chamarri Conner, DB, Virginia Tech
• 166. BJ Thompson, EDGE, Stephen F. Austin
• 194. Keondre Coburn, DL, Texas
• 250. Nic Jones, CB, Ball State

The Kansas City Chiefs are the reigning Super Bowl champions. Brett Veach is coming off of not only an outstanding year for his team, in general, but also one of the better draft classes he’s ever had, which is saying something.

The Chiefs are just loaded from top to bottom, and every team probably cringes when these guys are on the clock, thinking, “How is it that they are actually going to potentially get better here?” But it happens annually.

The Chiefs started off this draft with a bit of a wild card option off the edge in Felix Anudike-Uzomah, a player who fits their brand of defense in that he plays fast, he plays aggressive, and he’s got athletic traits.

Rashee Rice is another stud receiver added to the mix for this Chiefs team, which is ushering in a new era at the position. They’ve said goodbye the last couple of years to Tyreek Hill, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Mecole Hardman (among others) and they now have a group that includes Skyy Moore, Kadarius Toney, and Rashee Rice. When it comes to offensive skill guys, the Chiefs know what they are doing.

They also obviously love former Oklahoma offensive linemen. They previously had Orlando Brown Jr. at left tackle, they have Creed Humphrey at the center spot, and now they’ve got Wanya Morris. I think Morris could be one of the gems of this class and a starter for them at tackle as a rookie.

Chamarri Conner wasn’t an overly recognizable name on Day 3 but he’s going to make an impact. One area the Chiefs have done a tremendous job of identifying young talent in recent years is in the defensive backfield, and Conner is legit:

Overall, I feel like the Chiefs did better and better as this draft went along. I don’t love their top pick compared to some of the other guys they got and I think they could have done even better there.

Grade: C+

Los Angeles Rams

• 36. Steve Avila, OG, TCU
• 77. Byron Young, EDGE, Tennessee
• 89. Kobie Turner, DL, Wake Forest
• 128. Stetson Bennett, QB, Georgia
• 161. Nick Hampton, EDGE, Appalachian State
• 174. Warren McClemdon Jr., OT, Georgia
• 175. Davis Allen, TE, Clemson
• 177. Puka Nacua, WR, BYU
• 182. Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, CB, TCU
• 189. Ochaun Mathis, EDGE, Nebraska
• 215. Zach Evans, RB, Ole Miss
• 223. Ethan Evans, P, Wingate
• 234. Jason Taylor II, S, Oklahoma State
• 259. Desjuan Johnson, DL, Toledo (Mr. Irrelevant)

To say it has been a slow offseason for the Los Angeles Rams would be an understatement. The most excitement I’ve seen from the franchise all offseason was when they showed the war room during the Draft when the Rams were selecting quarterback Stetson Bennett.

By the way, that’s the pick here that’s going to steal all of the headlines, isn’t it? Bennett joins the Rams and fellow former Georgia Bulldog Matthew Stafford in the Rams’ QB room, and for good reason. Bennett started and played extremely well for Georgia the last couple of years and has proven himself to be a dual-threat at the position. He had 27 passing TDs last year along with 10 rushing touchdowns.

The Rams saw up close and personal in 2022 just how important a quality backup can be. They desperately needed someone to come in and help last season when Stafford was dealing with injury, and unfortunately, Baker Mayfield didn’t get there until it was too late.

Now, Bennett comes in and gives you a chance to hopefully win some games in the event Stafford misses time again.

At the top of this class, you can’t help but love Steve Avila, one of the top interior linemen in this draft. Avila can play guard or center and that is an area the Rams struggled last year after the departure of Austin Corbett after the Super Bowl.

Byron Young, like Stetson Bennett, will be one of the oldest rookies in the NFL but this guy comes screaming off the edge. He ran a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash and posted a 1.54 10-yard split. They added even more juice off the edge with Appalachian State’s Nick Hampton on Day 3, another guy with a 1.55 10-yard split and some big-time burst.

Grade: B-

Miami Dolphins

• 51. Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
• 84. Devon Achane, RB, Texas A&M
• 197. Elijah Higgins, WR/TE, Stanford
• 238. Ryan Hayes, OL, Michigan

The Miami Dolphins were huge winners of the 2022 offseason when they added Tyreek Hill to their offensive arsenal. That move proved to be a massive difference-maker for the roster overall.

In 2023, it’s hard to argue that any team got better defensively than the Dolphins did. They brought in Vic Fangio as their defensive coordinator and quickly followed that up by trading for Jalen Ramsey.

This draft class is the smallest in the NFL at only four players, but who cares? The Dolphins really have the pieces.

Cam Smith was undoubtedly hand-selected by Fangio and adds to the cornerback room. Fangio has a philosophy that there are 96 starting corners in the NFL including guys who play nickel, and he doesn’t think there are 96 guys to fill those slots. It makes so much sense that the Dolphins’ top pick was a corner and Cam Smith can play right away.

Devon Achane joins the Mike McDaniel track team and adds even more dynamic speed to the Miami offense.

If you factor in the addition of Jalen Ramsey this draft is probably an A for the Dolphins, but just looking at these picks here, I think it’s a decent haul overall even for just having four selections.

Grade: B-

Denver Broncos

• 63. Marvin Mims, WR, Oklahoma
• 67. Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas
• 83. Riley Moss, CB, Iowa
• 183. JL Skinner, DB, Boise State
• 257. Alex Forsyth, OL, Oregon

The Denver Broncos came into this draft without picks in rounds one or two, but new head coach Sean Payton made good on his historical trends of being aggressive. Even with only five picks in this draft, the Broncos still traded up twice on Day 2, and somehow still ended up with five total selections.

Payton has traded up in every draft he’s been part of since 2011.

The Broncos’ top pick was Marvin Mims out of Oklahoma, and although a lot of Broncos fans were surprised by this, receiver was an underrated need of this team and has been for the last couple of years. The Broncos have names at receiver, but not much consistent production. KJ Hamler’s offseason pectoral injury solidified the need for a burner in Sean Payton’s offense, and Mims is exactly that.

Drew Sanders was a nice value in round three, and provides the Broncos immediate help on special teams while offering upside as a hybrid off-ball linebacker and pass rusher.

Riley Moss was a fun pick in round three and gives Denver some much-needed depth at outside corner. Pat Surtain II is one of the best in the league already but opposite him, who is starting? Damarri Mathis? Riley Moss could come in and start as a rookie after playing over 2,600 snaps at Iowa.

On Day 3, the Broncos got a good value in JL Skinner who tore his pectoral in the pre-draft process. If not for that, the 6-foot-4 heat-seeking missile out of Boise State might have been a top-100 pick.

The reasons for the Broncos not picking until 63 overall are Russell Wilson and Sean Payton. If Payton can fix Russ he can fix the Broncos and put this team in contention in the AFC. If Russell Wilson is truly no longer the guy we knew for 10 years in Seattle, it’ll be Jarrett Stidham season.

As for these picks, I like what the Broncos did and I think they managed to get strong value at each pick.

Grade: B+

Cleveland Browns

• 74. Cedric Tillman, WR, Tennessee
• 98. Siaki Ika, DL, Baylor
• 111. Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State
• 126. Isaiah McGuire, EDGE, Missouri
• 140. Dorian Thompson-Robinson, QB, UCLA
• 142. Cameron Mitchell, CB, Northwestern
• 190. Luke Wypler, C, Ohio State

For not having a first or second-round pick, I actually quite like this draft class overall. I think the Browns have one of the rare sets of draft picks that you could almost just shuffle around in any order, and you would probably be able to say, “Hmm. The Browns got nice value at every turn.”

The top pick of this class is the big-bodied wide receiver Cedric Tillman out of Tennessee. Tillman was an unstoppable force in the 2021 season for Tennessee, but he and other key members of that program struggled with injuries in 2022 and he obviously fell into round three because of it. The Browns really needed to upgrade at receiver this offseason and I love what they did making the move for Elijah Moore with the Jets, then following it up with Tillman.

Deshaun Watson certainly won’t be lacking for talent at the skill positions to spread the ball to.

Getting the duo of linemen from Ohio State was a huge win for the Browns. Dawand Jones and Luke Wypler both projected as future starters in the NFL and we’ll likely have to wait and see on both of those projections, but you get solid offensive line depth at a seriously discounted rate.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson is an interesting flyer at QB for a team that has already taken a shot on former third-round pick Kellen Mond as well as bringing back Josh Dobbs, but QBs are valuable currency and I like DTR’s physical attributes.

Overall with this draft, there’s nothing to immediately love. There are question marks. If you factor in the Elijah Moore trade, it’s much more exciting. As for the picks themselves, how can you hate on any? Especially with no first or second-rounder.

Grade: B

San Francisco 49ers

• 87. Ji’Ayir Brown, DB, Penn State
• 99. Jake Moody, K, Michigan
• 101. Cameron Latu, TE, Alabama
• 155. Darrell Luter Jr., CB, South Alabama
• 173. Robert Beal Jr., EDGE, Georgia
• 216. Dee Winters, LB, TCU
• 247. Brayden Willis, TE, Oklahoma
• 253. Ronnie Bell, WR, Michigan
• 255. Jalen Graham, LB, Purdue

For not having a pick until late on day two, the 49ers had about the type of NFL Draft you might have expected. They kicked off this class by trading up for Penn State safety Ji’Ayir Brown, and after the departure of Jimmie Ward in free agency, you can bet that he’s going to play as a rookie.

Shortly after that selection, the 49ers went and took themselves a kicker with the 99th overall pick, a move that sent some shockwaves through the NFL community. Moody is the highest-drafted kicker since Roberto Aguayo in 2016. He is one of just 49 kickers to be drafted at all since the year 2000 when the Raiders infamously made Sebastian Janikowski a first-round pick out of Florida State.

The list of kickers selected within the top 100 overall picks is extremely short. Moody has joined a list that includes the likes of Mike Nugent, Janikowski, and Nate Kaeding. You’re just not going to see this very often, which is kind of fun, to be honest.

And look, kickers have a huge impact on your team’s overall season outcome. But because some of the best ones are found in the undrafted free agent heap, you can’t help but wonder if the 49ers made the best use of their draft capital here. I personally am in favor.

As for the rest of the 49ers’ draft after Jake Moody, there are few recognizable names at all. And yet, few teams scout as well as the 49ers. Few teams know how to identify talent for their coaching staff as well as this one.

But all anyone is going to remember/think about is the kicker, right?

Grade: C