Now that the 2023 NFL season is in the books, we can look back and see which teams got it right and which ones got it wrong with their first-round picks in the 2023 NFL draft. We decided to use the 2023 draft order, removing all trades for his re-draft. Now let’s get to fixing all the mistakes the NFL made last spring.
1 - Carolina Panthers - QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
The Panthers got it wrong with Bryce Young while Stroud was a star as a rookie.
2 - Houston Texans - QB Anthony Richardson Jr., Florida
After missing out on Stroud, the Texans land Anthony Richardson Jr. who flashed elite traits prior to his injury.
3 - Arizona Cardinals - EDGE Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
The Cardinals originally got offensive tackle Paris Johnson but instead opted for edge defender Will Anderson Jr. who took the league by storm.
4 - Indianapolis Colts - QB Will Levis, Kentucky
With Richardson off the board but a quarterback still the top need, we went with former Kentucky quarterback Will Levis.
5 - Seattle Seahawks - WR Puka Nucua, Stanford
The Seahawks drafted cornerback Devon Witherspoon in the original draft and have no regrets. We switched it up since they selected a wide receiver with the No. 20 pick the first time around so we upgrade that pick here.
6 - Detroit Lions - RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama
The Lions moved back in the original draft to land Gibbs but his impact was significant enough we will go ahead and give him to them here as well.
7 - Las Vegas Raiders - DL Jalen Carter, Georgia
After seemingly wasting a pick on Tyree Wilson, the Raiders make a huge correction with Jalen Carter.
8 - Atlanta Falcons - DT Kobie Turner, Wake Forest
It was tough to pass up Bijan Robinson here to the Falcons again but Kobie Turner was just too much of a disruptive force on the Interior defensive line.
9 - Chicago Bears - OT Dawand Jones, Ohio State
Darnell Wright had a great year for the Bears but we switched it up to Dawand Jones because he was the top rookie offensive tackle of the year.
10 - Philadelphia Eagles - CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
After missing out on Jalen Carter, the Eagles get a bargain with Devon Witherspoon still on the board.
11 - Tennessee Titans - OT Broderick Jones, Georgia
The Titans love Peter Skoronski but swap him out here for Broderick Jones at a greater position of need.
12 - Houston Texans - WR Tank Dell, Houston
The Texans still land Dell but have to take him here to be sure.
13 - Green Bay Packers - S Brian Branch
The Packers made a mistake with Lukas Van Ness but corrected that mistake with defensive back Brian Branch who was impressive last season.
14 - New England Patriots - WR Rashee Rice, SMU
Hopefully getting a receiver like Rice can make on of the Patriots quarterbacks serviceable.
15 - New York Jets - OL Joe Tippmann, Wisconsin
The Jets did OK with Will McDonald but this time around they have to take Joe Tippmann to be sure they have him on the team after a strong season.
16 - Washington Commanders - EDGE Byron Young, Tennessee
Emmanuel Forbes was up and down as a first-round pick so we went with edge defender Byron Young who was great as a rookie and poised to be a star on a Washington team in 2024.
17 - Pittsburgh Steelers - CB Joey Porter Jr., Penn State
Pittsburgh loses out on Broderick Jones here but makes sure to secure Joey Porter Jr. to solidify the cornerback spot.
18 - Detroit Lions - TE Sam LaPorta, Iowa
Sam LaPorta was huge for the Lions last season and they would gladly take him in the first to be sure they get him again.
19 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - RB Bijan Robinson, Texas
Calijah Kancey had a very good rookie season but there’s no way the Bucs can pass up the elite potential of Bijan Robinson at running back.
20 - Seattle Seahawks - DL Keeanu Benton, Wisconsin
The Seahawks can always use more big bodies up front and Keeanu Benton came on strong last season as a rotational player.
21 - Los Angles Chargers - WR Jordan Addison, USC
The Chargers missed on Quintin Johnston in the last draft but in this do over land Jordan Addison who is a gifted playmaker.
22 - Baltimore Ravens - WR Zay Flowers, Boston College
One team that gets to repeat last year’s pick are the Ravens with the playmaking Zay Flowers at wide receiver.
23 - Minnesota Vikings - RB De'Von Achane, Texas A&M
The Vikings offense needs a playmaker to pair up with Justin Jefferson and Achane’s speed and athleticism are too much to pass on.
24 - Jacksonville Jaguars - DL Calijah Kancey, Pitt
Once Kancey was healthy last season, he showed why he drew comparisons to Aaron Donald in the pre-draft process.
25 - New York Giants - WR Jayden Reed, Michigan State
Deonte Banks was solid last season but the Giants need a playmaker in the slot and Jayden Reed was tremendous last season.
26 - Dallas Cowboys - TE Dalton Kincaid, Utah
We loved Dalton Kincaid going into the 2023 NFL draft and we suspect the Cowboys did as well so it makes sense they don’t pass on him here.
27 - Buffalo Bills - WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
We considered offensive guard O’Cyrus Torrence here as the Bills did select him later in the draft but after missing on Dalton Kincaid, they must add a playmaker on offense for Josh Reed.
28 - Cincinnati Bengals - OT Peter Skoronski, Northwestern
Skoronski played mostly guard as a rookie but has starter potential at tackle as well where the Bengals need help.
29 - New Orleans Saints - OL O'Cyrus Torrence, Florida
The Saints would gladly trade the choice of Bryan Bresee for Torrence who was a star at guard as a rookie.
30 - Philadelphia Eagles - DL Karl Brooks, Bowling Green
The Eagles went cornerback early and came back with defensive line and Karl Brooks who came on strong late in his rookie season.
31 - Kansas City Chiefs - WR Josh Downs, North Carolina
With Rashee Rice long gone, the Chiefs fill that void with Josh Downs who proved to be very reliable as a rookie with 68 receptions.
