After months of build-up, the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft flew by on Thursday night. There were trades, there were shockers, and there was chaos like only the NFL can produce. Although we won’t truly feel the impact of these draft picks for a few years, it’s only fair that we give out some draft night grades and evaluate how each team performed.
- Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
The Panthers grab the best quarterback in the class to set Frank Reich up for success in his first year with the team. Bryce Young is all about playmaking, quick processing, and creativity. His size and weight will be concerns until they’re not, but subtle pocket movements and an innate ability to dip pressure will only serve him well in the NFL.
Grade: A+
- Houston Texans: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
For a while, it seemed like the Texans were going to pass on a quarterback here and draft a defensive player. However, they swerved everyone to draft one of the best quarterbacks in college football over the last two years. Stroud is a pure pocket passer. He wins with accuracy, big A anticipation, and quick decision-making. The Texans get their quarterback.
Grade: A-
- Houston Texans (via Arizona Cardinals): Will Anderson, EDGE, Alabama
The Texans make a splash by trading No. 12, No. 33, a 2024 1st, and a 2024 4th to the Cardinals to trade up to grab the best pass rusher in the class. Will Anderson is all about speed, power, and bend. Could he be a little bigger? Maybe, but he’ll still wreak havoc in offensive backfields for years to come.
Grade: B+
- Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
Never have we seen an athlete quite like Richardson at the quarterback position. Think Cam Newton with Josh Allen’s arm, but also more explosive. That’s the hype that surrounds Richardson. He’s inexperienced and might benefit from a redshirt year, but if he hits, then he might have a higher ceiling than any other player in the draft.
Grade: A+
- Seattle Seahawks: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
Everyone and their grandmother had the Seahawks pegged to take Jalen Carter, but they took the best cornerback on the board to pair with Tariq Woolen. Witherspoon is a tough son of a gun. He can bump and run, stay patient in zone, press at the line, and is a dog in the run game.
Grade: A-
- Arizona Cardinals (via Detroit Lions): Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
A priority move for the Cardinals as they trade back into the top 10 to draft Paris Johnson Jr. A real fluid mover with loooong arms, Johnson Jr. excels as a pass-blocker but has the athleticism to play in space and as a run-blocker. He also has the positional versatility to line up inside in a pinch.
Grade: A
- Las Vegas Raiders: Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech
Length, strength, and tools. Tyree Wilson has the raw traits to be an exceptional pass rusher for the Raiders. He’s a little stiff and needs to improve his pass-rushing plan, but physically it’s all there. The fact he had 14 sacks over the last two years without dipping into his bag too much speaks volumes. Pair him alongside Maxx Crosby and pray for opposing quarterbacks.
Grade: A-
- Atlanta Falcons: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
The conversation surrounding positional value has quieted down when it comes to Bijan Robinson. He’s a blue-chip prospect for one, and one of the best running backs to walk into the NFL in a long time. He’s explosive, shifty, and an instinctive runner who will make the Falcons’ offense one of the most dynamic units in the NFL.
Grade: B+
- Philadelphia Eagles (via Chicago Bears): Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
Off-field and character concerns aside, Jalen Carter might be the most talented player in the draft. Period. He’s a game-wrecker on the defensive interior, using an explosive first step, raw power, and an array of moves to foil offensive linemen. Men his size shouldn’t be that elusive, and that quick. The Eagles can’t keep getting away with this.
Grade: A+
- Chicago Bears: Darnell Wright, T, Tennessee
Wright plays with a chip on his shoulder. He wins at the line of scrimmage with raw power and grip strength mixed with heavy hands that can displace defenders with ease. Dropping him into that Bears offense where he can affect the running game just as much as the passing game is a real plus.
Grade: B
- Tennessee Titans: Peter Skoronski, OL, Northwestern
Peter Skoronksi is the most technically refined offensive lineman in the class. Everything about his game screams plug and play starter. He has the positional versatility to play all five positions, but his arm length projects a permanent move inside. Wherever he lines up, Skoronski can be special.
Grade: A+
- Detroit Lions (via Arizona Cardinals): Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama
Wow. Didn’t see this one coming. Gibbs is an electric athlete with explosiveness and a sudden burst. On top of that, he’s an excellent pass-catcher and has rightly been compared to Alvin Kamara. Another player to add to a high-powered offense, but this feels a little high.
Grade: C
- Green Bay Packers (via New York Jets): Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa
Van Ness wasn’t a starter for Iowa, but he was the most disruptive defender on the team. Currently a one-trick pony with a devastating bull rush, Van Ness wins with twitch and violence unlike many players can. He’ll need to diversify his portfolio to succeed in the NFL, but all of the tools are there.
Grade: B+
- Pittsburgh Steelers (via New England Patriots): Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
The Steelers had to jump the New York Jets to get Broderick Jones and he’s well worth the pick. Jones is an athlete at the tackle position but built like a titan. With power, violence, and explosiveness, Jones can be the franchise left tackle the Steelers have been searching for.
Grade: A-
- New York Jets (via Green Bay Packers): Will McDonald IV, EDGE, Iowa State
Will McDonald IV is all about bend and length. His wingspan makes him an impressive tackler and his twitch allows him to attack offensive linemen at speed. He might never be more than a situational rusher, but he joins an impressive Jets defense.
Grade: C
- Washington Commanders: Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
The first thing that sticks out about Emmanuel Forbes is his size. At 166 lbs, he’s an anomaly in every sense of the word. Corners with that sort of frame just don’t exist in the NFL, but he’s proven to be a ballhawk and his length makes him an ideal disruptor of passing lanes. Adjusting and becoming an impact player in the run game might be a challenge, but Forbes is good enough in coverage to dispel those concerns early on.
Grade: B+
- New England Patriots: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
This is a steal for the Patriots. Christian Gonzalez was expected by many, including this writer, to land in the top 10. He has everything you want from a cornerback. He’s an imposing figure in man coverage, has the movement skills of a player much smaller than him, and has excellent play strength.
Grade: A
- Detroit Lions: Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa
Jack Campbell epitomizes what Detroit wants from its defenders. He plays hard and strong, sorts through trash, and hits like a throwback linebacker. The difference is, he has the ability to play in zone coverage and do it well.
Grade: C+
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Calijah Kancey, DT, Pitt
If you’ve paid attention to Calijah Kancey throughout the draft process you’ll know he’s been compared to Aaron Donald. Both are undersized three techniques with explosiveness and, of course, both came out of Pitt. Kancey is an excellent gap shooter, but projecting a role because of his size is tough. He might suit better as a 4i.
Grade: B
- Seattle Seahawks: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
Jaxon Smith-Njigba isn’t an athletic freak, but he’s the safest receiver in the draft. Primarily a slot receiver with twitch and excellent route-running, Smith-Njigba joins an already loaded receiver room with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, but he gives the Seahawks a completely different dimension. The Seahawks have knocked the first round out of the park.
Grade: A
- Los Angeles Chargers: Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
This is a team full of power forwards at receiver. Johnston has the highest ceiling of any receiver in the draft because of his blend of size, speed, and ability to create after the catch. Johnston will have to play to his size more, but they don’t make receivers like him often. He’s special.
Grade: B+
- Baltimore Ravens: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
The icing on the cake that is bringing back Lamar Jackson. Zay Flowers is a complete receiver despite his size. He has elite separation, explosiveness, and the ability to flat out outrun defenders after the catch. The Steve Smith comparisons are lofty, but it’s not hard to see why they exist.
Grade: A-
- Minnesota Vikings: Jordan Addison, WR, USC
A crisp route-runner who excels at creating separation at the top of his routes, Jordan Addison’s game is predicated on creating and then winning, in space. He can play inside, he can play outside as a Z, and he projects as a really nice No. 2 beside Justin Jefferson. Solid pick.
Grade: B
- New York Giants (via Jacksonville Jaguars): Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
Banks is an uber-athlete for his size. He’s sticky in coverage, a hard-nosed tackler, and has seamless recovery speed. All of the tools a true number one corner should have. The New York Giants add a highly competitive cornerback to a team that needed some more talent in the secondary.
Grade: A-
- Buffalo Bills: (via Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Giants): Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
The rich get richer. Dalton Kincaid is the purest pass-catching tight end in the class. Smooth hands and a proven route-runner, Kincaid doesn’t have the usual tight end size, but he attacks the ball and is a willing blocker – a necessary trait. He’ll be a big part of the Bills offense from day one.
Grade: B+
- Dallas Cowboys: Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan
The Cowboys struggled against the run in 2022. Well, Mazi Smith can help fix that. A massive gap-eater with insane strength, Smith is your typical nose tackle. He does the dirty work, takes on double teams, and makes life easier for everyone else on the defensive line.
Grade: B
- Jacksonville Jaguars (via Buffalo Bills): Anton Harrison
After two trade-downs, the Jaguars stick at No. 27 and draft Anton Harrison. With the news of Cam Robinson potentially being suspended, breaking on Wednesday night and losing Jawaan Taylor in free agency, it only makes sense that the Jaguars target an offensive lineman. Harrison is nimble and has excellent hands in pass protection. He can play either side of the offensive line too.
Grade: B+
- Cincinnati Bengals: Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
Myles Murphy is a freaky athlete and an absolute steal for the Bengals at No. 28. His physical tools jump out on film – his burst for his size is unprecedented and is violent on contact. If he can put it all together, he could be one of the best edge rushers in the NFL.
Grade: A
- New Orleans Saints (via San Francisco): Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
Bryan Bresee has battled injuries over the last two seasons, but when he’s healthy he’s a difference-maker. A quick-footed 300 lbs defensive tackle, Bresee wins with speed and versatility. He can line up anywhere along the defensive line. Keep him healthy and Bresee can be one of the best players in the class.
Grade: A-
- Philadelphia Eagles: Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia
How have the Eagles landed Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith in the first round? Howie Roseman does it again. Smith is undersized for an edge rusher, which might contribute to his fall, but he can do it all. He’s excellent against the run, has real bend, and boy can he fly. What a pick for the Eagles. The Georgia Eagles. The Philadelphia Bulldogs.
Grade: A+
- Kansas City Chiefs: Felix Anudike-Uzomah, EDGE, Kansas State
The Chiefs end the first round by bringing in a hometown boy in Anudike-Uzomah. He’s a do-it-all edge who can contribute against the run, attack the quarterback, and do it with a quick first step and tremendous bend.
Grade: B-
-Thomas Valentine
Twitter: @tvalentinesport
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