It is finally here the 2023 NFL Draft. Day one is complete and now it is time to grade how each team did in the first round.
No.1 Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young, QB, University of Alabama
This was a safe pick by the Panthers. Young was not as impressive as he was in 2021 yet still threw for 3,238 yards 32 touchdowns and five interceptions. Still there are legitimate concerns about his height as well.
As for Carolina to move up to no.1 to take Young, the grade here is a C.
No.2 Houston Texans: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State University
For Stroud being taken here it is a bit surprising since his agent is also Deshaun Watson’s.
Obviously general manager Nick Caserio did not find that a factor. Still it is somewhat surprising that the Panthers did not take him. Stroud has the size and strength to become a solid NFL quarterback. His 2021 season was his best year when threw for 4,435 yards, 44 touchdowns to only six interceptions.
Grade here is a B+
No.3 Houston Texans: Will Anderson Jr, OLB, University of Alabama
Texans made the first trade of the night. When Anderson talked about DeMeco Ryans it seemingly was a done deal. Houston did not wait around for him to fall to no.12 to do so.
The Alabama pass rusher immediately helps improve a young defense that has talent. 2021 was a great year for Anderson Jr, as he recorded 101 tackles including 31 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks, and three passes defended.
For Houston making a huge splash to acquire Anderson Jr from the Arizona Cardinals, the grade here is an A.
No.4 Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Richardson, QB, University of Florida
Richardson was one of the high-risers in the draft, yet at no.4 is a huge reach for a quarterback that has little experience. Only 13 starts overall for him and his touchdown to interception ratio was concerning at 24 to 15.
Grade for the Colts here is an F.
No.5 Seattle Seahawks: Devon Witherspoon, CB, University of Illinois
Secondary help was needed in Seattle and Witherspoon provides that. In 2022, he had three interceptions, 14 passes defended, and 41 tackles including two-and-a-half for a loss.
With this being a somewhat surprising selection here, the Seahawks get a B- here.
No.6 Arizona Cardinals: Paris Johnson Jr, OT, Ohio State University
Quarterback Kyler Murray made a comment about how he would like to have Johnson blocking for him. He gets his wish, quite possibly the best selection of the draft so far.
Grade for the pick is an A+.
No.7 Las Vegas Raiders: Tyree Wilson, DE, Texas Tech
The Raiders defense got significantly better with the selection of Wilson. Will also make Maxx Crosby much more dangerous.
At Texas Tech in 2022, Wilson recorded 61 tackles including 14 tackles for loss, seven sacks, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble. Grade for this pick by the Raiders is an A.
No.8 Atlanta Falcons: Bijan Robinson, RB, University of Texas
A bit of a reach here yet the Falcons definitely needed to improve running the football.
By selecting Robinson, Atlanta gets the best running back in the draft. In 2022, he placed 9th in the Heisman voting, ran for 1,580 yards on 258 carries, averaged 6.1 yards per carry, and ran for 18 touchdowns. He also caught 19 passes for 314 yards and two touchdowns.
Grade here is a B.
No.9 Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Carter, DT, University of Georgia
It comes as no surprise the Eagles selected Carter. He fits their defensive scheme perfectly.
Philadelphia did trade up one spot to take him. During the 2022 season, Carter recorded 32 tackles including seven for a loss, three sacks, three passes defended, and two forced fumbles. Grade for the Eagles here is an A.
No.10 Chicago Bears: Darnell Wright, OT, University of Tennessee
A name that moved up the boars, Justin Fields is definitely happy with this pick. To say the Bears offensive line struggled to protect is an understatement. Wright is likely to start right away as well.
Great pick for the Bears. Grade is an A.
No.11 Tennessee Titans: Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern
A bit of a surprise that Skoronski was still available here for the Titans. A great pick since oft injured Taylor Lewan got released.
Grade here is an A+
No.12 Detroit Lions: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, University of Alabama
The Lions did need a running back as Jamaal Williams signed elsewhere after an excellent 2022 season. D’Andre Swift has been a bit of a disappointment as well. So, it made sense to go that direction, yet taking Gibbs here is a big reach.
In 2022, Gibbs ran for 926 yards on 151 carries, did average 6.1 yards per carry and scored seven touchdowns. He also caught 44 passes for 444 and three touchdowns.
For Detroit here the grade is a D.
No.13 Green Bay Packers: Lukas Van Ness, DE, Iowa
Surprisingly here the Packers did not add another weapon at wide receiver for Jordan Love, now that Aaron Rodgers got traded to the New York Jets.
Instead, Green Bay elected to improve their much maligned defense from 2022. Van Ness will provide an instant impact. So, with that being said the grade for this selection is a B.
No.14 Pittsburgh Steelers: Broderick Jones, OT, University of Georgia
After the Steelers moved up, many believed Joey Porter Jr was the obvious choice, yet that was not the case.
Instead, Pittsburgh elected to improve their offensive line. Jones will definitely help with that. He definitely was a surprising choice yet a great one. Grade here for the Steelers is an A.
No.15 New York Jets: Will McDonald IV, OLB, Iowa State
McDonald IV is the type of outside linebacker that Robert Saleh needed and the Jets get him.
His best season was in 2021 with the Cyclones. When he recorded 36 tackles with 13 for loss, 11.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, and two passes defended. Overall grade for the Jets here is a solid B+.
No.16 Washington Commanders: Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
The secondary for the Commanders needed a boost and Forbes provides exactly that. One of the better corners in the draft, this is a great selection for Washington.
Forbes was stellar in 2022 with six interceptions with three returns for touchdowns, 10 passes defended, and 46 tackles including one for a loss. Grade for the Commanders selection here is an A.
No.17 New England Patriots, Christian Gonzalez, CB, University of Oregon
Surprisingly Gonzalez lasted this long. He was viewed as one of the top cornerbacks in the draft. Patriots get a steal here.
In 2022, Gonzalez recorded four interceptions, seven passes defended, and 50 tackles with one for a loss. The grade for the Patriots here is an A+.
No.18 Detroit Lions: Jack Campbell, ILB, Iowa
Lions make up for their selection by taking one of the best linebackers in the draft in Campbell.
2021 was his best season for Iowa where he recorded 140 tackles with three-and-a-half for loss, one sack, two interceptions with one returned for a touchdown, two fumble recoveries with one that went for a touchdown, and one forced fumble.
With this selection the Lions get a B-.
No.19 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Calijah Kancey, Defensive Tackle, Pittsburgh
A bit surprised that it took this long for Kancey to get drafted. He is one of the better defensive players in this draft and is an absolute steal for the Buccaneers.
During the 2022 season he recorded 31 tackles including 14.5 for loss, and seven-and-a-half sacks. Grade for Tampa Bay here is an A.
No.20 Seattle Seahawks: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
The best wide receiver in the draft is off the board. Again another player that did not go sooner. Smith-Njigba also makes life easier for D.K. Metcalf.
Seahawks will possibly have one of the best tandems at wide receiver as well. Grade for this pick is an A.
No.21 Los Angeles Chargers: Quentin Johnson, WR, TCU
Excellent pick for the Chargers. The second-best receiver in the class and he lands in their laps. Also, gives Justin Herbert an extra weapon in case of injuries to his wide receivers as last year Mike Williams and Keenan Allen both missed time.
Grade for this pick an A.
No.22 Baltimore Ravens: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
A great day for the Ravens got even better. Lamar Jackson now has a new weapon in Flowers.
Grade for the selection is an A.
No.23 Minnesota Vikings: Jordan Addison, WR, USC
With Adam Thielen gone, the Vikings needed his replacement. Addison provides that and takes pressure off Justin Jefferson who is among the best wide receivers in the National Football League.
This grade is also an A.
No.24 New York Giants: Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland.
Surprisingly the Giants elected to not take a wide receiver here. A cornerback was taken instead, Banks definitely fills a need in the secondary. At Maryland in 2022, he recorded on interception with eight passes defended, 38 tackles with a half tackle for loss, and half a sack.
The grade for this Giants pick is a C+.
No.25 Buffalo Bills: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
A bit of a surprising pick here for the Bills, yet an outstanding one. Josh Allen gets a big target in Kincaid.
Also, it gives Buffalo one of the better combinations when it comes to tight ends in the NFL with Dawson Knox who had 517 yards and six touchdowns in 2022. Grade for this pick is an A.
No.26 Dallas Cowboys: Mazi Smith, Defensive Tackle, Michigan
It seems like the players the Cowboys were rumored to have interested already got taken.
Yet Smith is a solid addition to the defensive line of the Cowboys. For Michigan in 2022 he recorded 48 tackles with two-and-a-half for loss, a half sack, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Grade for the pick is a B.
No.27 Jacksonville Jaguars: Anton Harrison, OT, University of Oklahoma
The Jaguars really improved in 2022 and know the importance of keeping Trevor Lawrence protected. Harrison is an excellent choice to fill that need.
Overall grade for the selection is an A-.
No.28 Cincinnati Bengals: Myles Murphy, DE, Clemson
Cincinnati needed another rusher and Murphy provides that.
This is a great selection by the Bengals. In 2022, only two players on the roster recorded over three-and-a-half sacks, Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard. For Clemson in 2022, Murphy recorded 40 tackles with 11 tackles for loss, six-and-a-half sacks, two passes defended, and a forced fumble.
No.29 New Orleans Saints: Bryan Bresee, Defensive Tackle, Clemson
Back-to-back Tigers get taken. Bresee is a tremendous addition to the Saints defense.
For Clemson in 2022 he saw limited action yet recorded 15 tackles including five-and-a-half for loss, three-and-a-half sacks, and two passes defended. His stock grew during the combine and made the 2023 All-Combine team.
Grade for this selection is a B-.
No.30 Philadelphia Eagles, Nolan Smith, OLB, University of Georgia
The Eagles have done a great job of replacing the departed Javon Hargrave, as not only did Carter fall, Smith was available at no.30.
Smith’s athleticism is off the charts. Yet he also only played in eight games in 2022 after tearing a pectoral muscle. When he played he recorded 18 tackles including seven for loss, three sacks, and a pass defended.
Grade for this is a C+.
No.31 Kansas City Chiefs: Felix Anudike-Uzomah, DE, Kansas State
A great selection at the end of the first round for the Chiefs. Anudike-Uzomah recorded 46 tackles with 11 for loss, and eight-and-a-half sacks, two forced fumbles, and a pass defended. His 2021 season was more impressive as he finished that season with 50 tackles including 14.5 for loss, 11 sacks, and an even more impressive six forced fumbles.
Grade for the selection: A+