With the 2023 NFL Draft behind us, we continue to break down every team’s draft picks over the 3 day event, giving player projections and opinions on team fits as we go division by division through the NFL.
Next up, one of the weakest divisions in the league – the NFC South
Atlanta Falcons:
1(8) RB Bijan Robinson, Texas
2(38) OG Matthew Bergeron, Syracuse
3(75) DE Zach Harrison, Ohio State
4(113) CB Clark Phillips, Utah
7(224) S DeMarcco Hellams, Alabama
7(225) OG Jovaughn Gwyn, South Carolina
The Falcons picked an elite offensive talent in the top 10 for the 3rd consecutive year, as Bijan Robinson now joins Kyle Pitts and Drake London in Atlanta. The Falcons were incredibly productive in their run game last year, and the addition of an elite talent at running back cements that identity for Atlanta, so fantasy commissioners might have to be leery of Pitts’ usage for another season.
Robinson is more than capable of being a full time 3-down back in year one with his ability to run both inside and outside, and make plays in the passing game. There’s no doubting Robinson will be a star in the NFL, but with the Falcons already getting excellent production from Cordarelle Patterson and Tyler Allgeier, this seems like an odd pick for a team that is littered with holes throughout it’s roster.
Grabbing Bergeron, the 1st of 5 Canadians taken in this year’s draft, fills one of these many holes. Bergeron is one of the best run blockers in the draft. He fits like a glove for the run first identity Atlanta has built over the past couple seasons. Bergeron spent his college career at tackle, but will likely transition to guard at the NFL level. He’s athletic enough to get up to the second level and take on linebackers after he finishes his primary assignment. The Falcons grabbed an aggressive, athletic and talented blocker that will step into the locker room on day 1 as a perfect compliment to the Falcon philosophy.
However, Atlanta didn’t begin to address the defense, which was abysmal last season, until the 3rd round. DE Zach Harrison is a versatile edge rusher, but probably won’t move the needle as much as the Falcons need him to as he was projected to go around the 5th round. He has the physical tools to occasionally create advantages early in the rush but lacks the playmaking urgency to take advantage of them. His length and strength are certainly intriguing, but Atlanta will have to find a way to light his fire if he is to become more than just a rotational end.
CB Clark Phillips, while supremely talented, is undersized. His ball skills and quickness could lead him to having a very successful career as a nickel cornerback, as he’s a natural born playmaker. He’s reportedly a voracious student of the game who uses aggressive angles to search for takeaways. He’s everything a coach wants in a player, but unfortunately his stature might limit him and his production will fluctuate week to week depending on matchups.
S DeMarcco Hellams has a reputation as a strong special team player, and that alone will likely earn him a roster spot. He has good size and anticipation, but to stay on the field on a more regular basis he’ll need to work on staying deeper than the deepest target, as he doesn’t have the foot speed to make up ground once he gets beat. He remains a fairly consistent tackler, although he doesn’t always take the best angle to the runner, and has the size to cover tight ends.
G Jovaughn Gwyn is a solid football player. A tenacious run blocker, he can operate in multiple schemes and has a firm base. Unfortunately at 6’2” and 297 lbs there are concerns that Gwyn may even be too small to play guard. He’ll likely be asked to try his hand at center, where he will still be undersized, but if he can prove he can snap the ball he has enough talent and technique to at least compete for a roster spot.
Atlanta are certainly going all in on their run heavy approach, but their draft strategy is questionable at best. Robinson seems like a luxury pick that teams who are on the brink of competing for the Super Bowl can afford to make, which the Falcons certainly are not. Taking an elite defender, or even better, trading back and acquiring more draft assets to help this squad would have probably been the wiser choice. As exciting as it will be to watch Robinson perform, the defensive struggles for Atlanta look like they will continue, and they will be in the hunt for a top 5 pick next season.
Carolina Panthers:
1(1) QB Bryce Young, Alabama
2(39) WR Jonathan Mingo, Ole Miss
3(80) OLB D.J. Johnson, Oregon
4(114) OG Chandler Zavala, NC State
5(145) S Jammie Robinson, Florida State
Carolina decided early not to let the draft fall to them and made an aggressive move with the Bears to move up from #9 to #1 and give new head coach Frank Reich his franchise quarterback in Bryce Young. The Panthers have been searching for a replacement franchise quarterback since the departure of Cam Newton. While you can’t question the skill of Young, his size will always be a question mark until he can prove he can handle the rigours of a full NFL season.
That being said, his game tape is impressive. He’s a full field reader who oozes confidence. He’s good at protecting the ball, having limited turnovers throughout his college career, with enough arm strength to make all the necessary throws. He has the athleticism to extend plays both inside and outside of the pocket, showing poise when under duress. His intangibles set him apart from everyone else in this draft class, and it will be exciting to watch him develop in the NFL with Carolina.
The Panthers then used their 2nd round pick to try and beef up their wide receiver room after moving former WR1 D.J. Moore in the trade for the 1st overall pick. Jonathan Mingo is a smooth receiver that has ideal size and strength, and, like young, has all the intangibles and traits to become a star in the NFL. Mingo joins fellow Ole Miss alum D.K. Metcalfe and A.J. Brown as a second round pick, so there’s some college pedigree there as well.. He does his best work out of the slot and has the physical style of game to make contested catches when his lack of pure speed doesn’t create enough separation. His skillset will make life easier on Young early on in both of their careers, and could blossom into a dominant partnership going forward.
The Panthers moved up to select OLB D.J. Johnson, a big, explosive edge rusher who would have likely gone earlier if it wasn’t for his lack of experience and obvious flaws in his technique. His impressive combine rose him up draft boards, but he’ll need to be coached up to perform at the NFL level. His bull rush is elite, led by his impressive hand work, but he doesn’t possess many alternative pass rushing moves. Johnson might need more work than most 3rd round picks, but has a solid base giving him a very high ceiling if the Panthers coaches can sharpen his toolset.
Chandler Zavala at the worst should be a strong swing guard for the Panthers in year 1, while competing for a starting job throughout his career. He has limited athleticism which results in him often being a step slow while getting out of his stance as a move blocker, but possesses above average talent as a run blocker. He already has NFL level power, plays with heavy hands and uses his wide base to be successful in both run and pass blocking situations. He may struggle picking up speedier linebackers coming in on a blitz, but his experience and drive will always earn him a roster spot.
S Jammie Robinson can compete for defensive snaps right away. He’s a tough, downhill safety who has good anticipation and burst to provide quick closure to make plays in the passing game. He lacks ideal measurables and had an unimpressive combine, which likely took him off of a lot of team’s draft lists, but he’s a feisty defender who’s success will be determined by how the team opts to utilize him.
The Panthers clearly believed that the roster is strong enough that they can compete for the Super Bowl if they finally secure their franchise quarterback. With limited draft capital, they were able to shift their franchise in a new direction, and we will have to wait and see if the results merit the cost.
Bryce Young is making an early impact 💪 pic.twitter.com/LLACjGyVb0
— ESPN Fantasy Sports (@ESPNFantasy) May 17, 2023
New Orleans Saints:
1(29) DT Bryan Bresee, Clemson
2(40) DE Isaiah Foskey, Notre Dame
3(71) RB Kendre Miller, TCU
4(103) OG Nick Saldiveri, Old Dominion
4(127) QB Jake Haener, Fresno State
5(146) S Jordan Howden, Minnesota
6(195) WR A.T. Perry, Wake Forest
Saints fans probably aren’t overly excited as the team had to use yet another 1st round pick on a defensive lineman after Marcus Davenport and Payton Turner both failed to make an impact, but Bryan Bresee has immense upside at their biggest position of need.
A healthy and focused Bresee immediately helps fix the Saints horrible run defense, as he played all over the line for Clemson in 2022. However, his injury history is a concern, and due to his injuries is lacking in game experience. He’s a burly yet athletic defender who has subtle hand fighting that will put pressure on blockers, but will need to improve his shed technique before he is able to consistently make more plays in the backfield. Bresee should continue to progress at his position and become a good run defender with the ability to disrupt the pocket in his first few NFL seasons.
The Saints doubled down on attempting to fix their defensive line by snagging DE Isaiah Foskey in the second round. The solid, lean edge rusher has long arms and ran a decent 4.58s 40 at the combine, and showed excellent ball hunting instincts by forcing 7 fumbles over his final 2 seasons in college. Foskey will need to use his hands more effectively and work on being a batter anchor as an edge setter in the run game. But like Bresee, there’s a feeling that his best football is still ahead of him. He has some limitations to his game, but it isn’t hard to envision Foskey as a full time starter as a 4-3 defensive end in the future.
In the third round, the Saints probably reached to get a new backup/potential replacement for Alvin Kamara with RB Kendre Miller. He’s a powerful and sturdy runner, but had ball security issues, fumbling 6 times, and was unable to work out at the combine due to a knee injury. His lack of explosiveness may limit him to becoming a grinder against NFL defenses, but he does possess the size and strength to keep runs moving through contact. He also doesn’t bring much to the pass game, limiting himself to maxing out as a 2 down back.
G Nick Saldiveri didn’t allow a sack last season, and has a good center when he’s blocking, but didn’t play against elite competition at Old Dominion. He has potential to be a nice option as a swing guard in his first year, but it’ll be interesting to see how he holds up against NFL rushers. He was a 3-year starter and has good size and length, and his athleticism makes him an ideal scheme fit in an offense that focuses on zone blocking and having their guards pulling to make blocks. He’s a highly intelligent player and despite playing tackle in college, will be best served proving he can move to the interior of the line and give the Saints a valuable swing tackle/guard who can even potentially play center.
QB Jake Haener has high football IQ, but below average size and arm strength and has limited mobility, so there probably isn’t much hope that he becomes more than a solid clipboard holder. He was projected as a 6th round pick, so the Saints must have seen something they like to take him in the 4th round. Don’t expect much from the former team captain at the NFL level.
S Jordan Howden is a savvy free safety with good instincts and play recognition who’s quick to diagnose the run. He will get exposed at the NFL level due to his lack of acceleration and needs to improve his tackle technique, so the ceiling on his game is fairly low. He might be able to carve out a role as a special teamer, with a chance to earn snaps as a 2-deep safety, but he probably could have been signed as an UDFA after the draft.
WR A.T Perry is the definition of high ceiling, low floor as he has quick feet and good size, but is erratic which leads to inconsistency from play to play. He was once viewed as a day 2 draft pick so taking a flier on him in the 6th round is a nice move by the Saints. He’s been highly targeted and productive over his past 2 seasons, is crafty and physical in the early stages of his routes and shows a ton of room for growth in his game. He has potential to become a dangerous WR2/3 if he can put it all together, and this might be the Saints best value pick of the entire draft if they can help him work out his issues on the field.
The Saints probably wish they could have added more high end offensive weapons, but did fairly well to start to fix their defensive line woes. In a wide open division, that might be just enough to sneak into the playoffs, particularly now that they have a new QB running the show in Derek Carr
Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
1(19) DT Calijah Kancey, Pittsburgh
2(48) OG Cody Mauch, North Dakota State
3(82) DE YaYa Diaby, Louisville
5(153) LB SirVocea Dennis, Pittsburgh
5(171) TE Payne Durham, Purdue
6(181) CB Josh Hayes, Kansas State
6(191) WR Trey Palmer, Nebraska
6(196) LB Jose Ramirez, Eastern Michigan
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers went all in when they got Tom Brady, and it yielded them a Super Bowl, so mission accomplished. Now with Brady retiring for (probably?) the last time, the team is now in a full fledged rebuild, with holes throughout the roster and players making it known they aren’t interested in being a part of what looks to be a long, tough season.
1st round pick Calijah Kancey thrived in 2022 as an interior pass rusher with 30 hurries, and combined for 14.5 sacks and 27.5 tackles for loss over the past 2 seasons. Unfortunately at 6’1” and only 281 lbs with short arms, the Bucs will have to adjust their defensive scheme to allow Kancey to use his quickness to become a productive player. He was the top rated defensive tackle in the athletic testing, has good productivity and strength, but taking a player who is so hit or miss at the NFL level is a big risk for a team in need of day 1 starters to fill out their roster.
Taking OG Cody Mauch in the second round was exactly what the Bucs needed. After cutting Donovan Smith and having their line get destroyed by injuries last year, Tampa Bay opted for a tough, nasty lineman who absolutely crushed the 3-cone drill, which for offensive lineman is a key test to show their lateral quickness. Mauch began his college career as a tight end, switched to defensive end, then put on 40 lbs to move to offensive line where he earned a scholarship and started 37 games at left tackle. He’s still learning the game, and with proper NFL coaching he should be able to clean up his footwork and technique. But his drive and willingness to compete will make it difficult to keep him out of the lineup. He will likely start out at guard, but once he adjusts to the speed of the NFL, the Bucs may have their starting tackle of the future.
DE YaYa Diaby is another player that had to fight to get to a major college program, and it paid off as he broke out in 2022 with 9 sacks, 14 tackles for loss and 19 hurries. He has good size for an edge rusher at 6’3” 263 lbs, and showed impressive speed with a 4.51s 40 at the combine. Diaby should step right in and make an impact as a rotational pass rusher for the Bucs, something the team desperately needed.
LB SirVocea Dennis has a propensity to take chances, and plays the game faster than his combine testing shows due to his outstanding play recognition and instincts , but he doesn’t have the size or overall athleticism to become a stand out starter. Dennis will settle in nicely into a backup/special team role for the team.
TE Payne Durham helps fill the depth chart behind projected starter Cade Otton, and with his willingness to be a productive blocker, if he adds a little more strength in this offseason, he can carve out significant snaps and even contribute with his potential to make tough catches. He lacks the speed to threaten the seam and the ability to beat coverages underneath, but every team needs a reliable blocking tight end, and Durham can give them that.
Josh Hayes is a surprise pick in the 6th round. He’s athletic and has good speed for man-coverage duties but lacks the ideal frame for the NFL and missed too many tackles over his college career. There’s a chance he can bulk up and transition to safety, but he will likely max out as a special teamer.
6th rounder Trey Palmer is an intriguing addition to the wide receiver room as his athleticism and speed is something that no other receiver on the roster possesses. He led the FBS in 2022 with 3 catches of 70 plus yards, but his route running is very raw and will have to work on his ball skills. Nevertheless, he has potential to be an explosive player at the next level.
LB Jose Ramirez might be a hidden gem as an outside edge rusher taken in the 6th round. He’s below average in run defense which might hurt him early in his career to earn snaps, but plays with a high motor and has natural pass rush ability that can’t be taught.
The Bucs took some decent players to help fill out the depth chart, and a few others who can become key players in the future, but there’ll be a lot of pressure on the coaching staff to turn the potential into productivity. Not coming out of this draft with a sure thing high end talent hurts, but the Bucs will likely have a high pick next year and with the base they built in this draft will be able to move the club in the right direction.
-Devon Gallant
Twitter: @DevGallant
Photo: The University of Alabama. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.