Another NFL Draft is in the books, and this one was one of the more compelling draft weekends in recent memory.
The amount of uncertainty in this draft class created unpredictability, keeping everyone on their toes for each pick. There were plenty of storylines that emerged from this draft over the weekend.
Houston Texans use aggression to grab cornerstones on both sides of the ball
Heading into the draft, it was obvious that the Texans were in need of a quarterback, but reports surfaced that Houston was more inclined to take a pass rusher at second overall.
It seemed that Will Anderson and Tyree Wilson were the likely candidates for the pick leading up to the day of the draft. However, hours before the draft there were inclinations that the Texans were leaning towards selecting C.J. Stroud. Then moments before the draft, Stroud’s odds of being selected second overall skyrocketed to -2000, making it obvious that Houston was going in that direction.
As reported, the Texans were seriously interested in Anderson, but that seemed like it was out the door after using the second pick on Stroud. Suddenly, the Texans were suddenly back on the clock.
Houston traded up to the third pick with the Arizona Cardinals and ultimately selected Anderson. It was a great pick for Houston, getting two of the top prospects in the entire draft. The only problem I had with this move was the compensation the Texans gave up.
In addition to trading the 12th overall pick, the Texans sent the 33rd pick, 2024 first-round pick, and 2024 third-round pick.
The Texans clearly believe that Anderson is a franchise-altering player, but giving up what they did was steep, to say the least. Not only did Houston give up a 2024 first-round pick, but a pick that is owned by the Texans. Houston had two first-round selections in 2024 due to the Deshaun Watson trade. I would have much rather given up the pick formerly owned by the Browns.
Arizona now has a chance of possessing two top-10 picks in 2024. Kyler Murray is coming off a torn ACL and the Texans are rebuilding. I do believe Houston is a candidate to win six to seven games this upcoming season, but the Texans will most likely end up with a bottom-10 record in 2023.
Once again, the Eagles knock the NFL Draft out of the park
For those who don’t remember how the Eagles had a top-10 in the first place, the Saints traded up in the 2022 draft to take Chris Olave. Somehow, Philadelphia convinced New Orleans to cough up a 2023 first-round pick in the trade.
The Eagles continued their 2022 draft success into this year’s draft. Like last year, the strategy this year was to allow immense talent to fall into their laps. The Eagles did move up one spot to select defensive tackle Jalen Carter. Before the draft, Carter was universally viewed as a top-five pick, but off-the-field issues, and not being in the best shape at his pro day altered the way teams viewed him.
There was doubt that he would be picked inside the first 10 spots, but the Eagles stopped his slide, trading up to ninth overall with the Bears, and picking the former Georgia defensive tackle. Philadelphia was not done getting great value at their picks.
At pick 30, the Eagles got another first-round steal by selecting pass rusher Nolan Smith out of Georgia. There is a common theme with players that the Eagles select – they are all defensive stars that went to Georgia. In 2022, the Eagles ended up with Jordan Davis and Nakobe Dean. In addition to picking Carter and Davis, the Eagles would also select former Georgia defensive back Kelee Ringo in the fourth round.
Even after all that, Philadelphia had one more former Georgia Bulldog it was interested in. That would be running back D’Andre Swift. The Lions selected Jahmyr Gibbs in the first round, signaling the end of Swift’s tenure in Detroit. The Eagles gave up a 2025 fourth-round pick and pick 219 in the 2023 NFL Draft – a cheap price for a very talented running back that is only 24 years old.
Coming off a Super Bowl loss has not deterred the Eagles’ front office from assembling the best overall roster in the NFL. It is looking like the Eagles will be making a return to the Super Bowl.
Seahawks continue recent NFL Draft success
2022 was a great year for the Seattle Seahawks. After making one of the best trades in NFL history by shipping Russell Wilson off to Denver for multiple picks and players, Seattle was still able to make the playoffs with Geno Smith.
Because of that trade, Seattle positioned itself with a top-five pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, while also having its own pick at 20th overall.
The Seahawks used those two picks to grab arguably the best cornerback (Devon Witherspoon) and best wide receiver (Jaxon Smith-Njigba) in the draft class.
Witherspoon is a hard-hitting, ballhawk cornerback that also is great in pass coverage. Seattle is adding the former Illinois defensive back to a group led by Tariq Woolen. Seattle now has a cornerback tandem that should be able to contain the top pass-catching option on opposing teams.
The Smith-Njigba selection reminded me of when the Cowboys picked CeeDee Lamb in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Lamb was entering a receiving room with Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup. It was a head-scratching decision by Dallas at the time because there were other needs on the roster. Now, Lamb is the clear WR1 on the Cowboys.
Smith-Njigba will be the WR3 heading into the 2023 season behind DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. There is a chance he is the WR2 by the end of the season, as Lockett will be 31 years old in September.
Why this pick is sneakily smart is the fact that Smith-Njigba will be able to operate from the slot because of Metcalf’s and Lockett’s ability to play on the outside. With so much attention on those two, the 21-year-old receiver should cut up defenses in the middle parts of the field.
In addition to accumulating an extra first-round pick in 2023 from the Wilson trade, the Seahawks also possessed an extra second-round selection. Seattle would grab Auburn defensive end Derrick Hall at pick 37. Hall should be able to help the Seahawks’ pass rush in 2023.
A puzzling pick at 52 caused many to wonder what the thought process was in the selection. Taking running back Zach Charbonnet did not seem to make a lot of sense, as the team selected Kenneth Walker a year ago in the second round.
Seattle’s running back position has been marred by injury in recent years, and that was prevalent last year with Rashaad Penny going down with a fractured fibula against the Saints.
Charbonnet not only gives insurance if Walker suffers an injury, but he also provides a potentially powerful 1-2 punch in the backfield with Walker.
After giving Smith a three-year, $105 million extension in the offseason, Seattle is giving the 32-year-old quarterback every opportunity to succeed. The offense should be more than formidable in 2023.
The NFC West seems to be the 49ers and everyone else, but because of Seattle’s strong offseason, and San Francisco’s glaring question mark at quarterback, there is a world where Seattle can win the division this upcoming season.