2023 NFL Draft Grades: Rating every first-round pick by value
By Kinnu Singh
2023 NFL Draft Grades: Rating every first-round pick by value
20. With the 20th overall pick, the Seattle Seahawks select…
No. 16 in Top 50. Positional Ranking: 1. Ohio State. player. 36. WR. Jaxon Smith-Njigba. A+
Unsurprisingly, the Seahawks kicked off a trend of drafting wide receivers by taking Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the highest-graded wide receiver in the NFL Draft. The fact that the Ohio State product got more yards than Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave when they shared the field together in college speaks volumes.
The Seahawks already have DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, but there’s no loss in taking the strongest wideout in the draft. Especially by prioritizing Witherspoon, Smith-Njigba is lagniappe on an increasingly fortified Seahawks roster.
21. With the 21st overall pick, the Los Angles Chargers select…
Positional Ranking: 5. WR. TCU. Quentin Johnston. C-. 13. No. 33 in Top 50. player
If the Chargers wanted height, it makes sense that they’d draft Quentin Johnston over Jordan Addison and Zay Flowers. Johnston stands at 6-foot-3, right between a 6-foot-2 Keenan Allen and a 6-foot-4 Mike Williams. Addison is 5-foot-11; Flowers is 5-foot-9.
Like most of the players drafted in the first round, Johnston is an excellent athlete who needs to sharpen his game, especially with securing contested catches. Paired with Justin Herbert, Johnston could readily realize his full potential, and perhaps he’s better suited for what the Chargers plan in 2023.
Even if Johnston is the receiver for them, what’s concerning is that the Chargers have had more pressing needs to address. They could have drafted another cornerback or pass rusher, especially in a round where those positions tend to go quickly.
Johnston is a gifted athlete, but perhaps the Chargers should have addressed a different need or traded back for more capital.