The 2023 NFL Draft kicked off with the Carolina Panthers selecting Bryce Young as the number one pick. There were trades in the top ten picks with the Houston Texans getting back-to-back picks at #2 and #3. Here’s what happened the rest of the night:
1. Panthers: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
2. Texans: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
3. Texans: Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama
4. Colts: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
5. Seahawks: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
6. Cardinals: Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
7. Raiders: Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech
8. Falcons: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
9. Eagles: Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
10. Bears: Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
11. Titans: Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern
12. Lions: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama
13. Packers: Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa
Grade: B-
14. Steelers: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
15. Jets: Will McDonald, LB, Iowa State
16. Commanders: Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
17. Patriots: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
18. Lions: Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa
19. Buccaneers: Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh
20. Seahawks: Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Grade: B
The Seahawks needed to get help at the receiver spot and they are getting a guy some consider the best in the class. I don’t, but he’s a good player. He will help Geno Smith a bunch to go with D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.
21. Chargers: Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
Grade: C
They needed to get a young receiver, but I think Jordan Addison would have been a better pick. Johnson is a big receiver, but he has issues catching the football at times. I get the pick with Justin Herbert and age creeping in, but I think there were better options and maybe better positions to take.
22. Ravens: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
Grade: B
They needed to get a young receiver for their new offense under Todd Monken. I like Jordan Addison more, but this is a good move. Flowers is a really good player who was hurt by bad quarterback play at Boston College.
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23. Vikings: Jordan Addison, WR, USC
Grade: A
He is my favorite receiver in this class. He will be a perfect complement to Justin Jefferson, He is a great route runner. Needs to get a little bigger since he weighs 175 pounds, but that will happen.
24. Giants: Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
Grade: B+
He’s an impressive man-cover player who will fit in perfectly with Wink Martindale’s defense. Banks is a cocky player who played his best against good players. I like this pick.
25. Bills: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
Grade: C
This is a strange pick when you consider they have Dawson Knox and have a few more pressing needs. Kincaid is a good player, but the position doesn’t make sense and they traded up to get him.
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26. Cowboys: Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan
Grade: A
Smith is another one of my favorite players. He’s a power player who can hold up against the run, but I think he will be a better pass rusher than people expect. He just needs to keep his weight in check.