Here’s how the first-round selections in the 2023 NFL Draft measured up against FanSided’s 2023 NFL Draft Big Board featuring the Top 50 players.
The first round of the 2023 NFL Draft didn’t go exactly as planned, but then again, it never does.
Some picks were predictable for valid reasons, such as the Carolina Panthers choosing Bryce Young to revitalize their franchise. Others, on the other hand, were shocking, often involving unexpected trades. C.J. Stroud was a lock in Houston, yet the Texans went even further by boldly trading up for Will Anderson Jr. Somehow, the Eagles landed Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith, a rare feat for a team that just went to a Super Bowl.
The Texans and Eagles stunned with their brilliance, but other teams stunned onlookers in confusion. The Lions seemed to reach for Jahmyr Gibbs, a move which was contextualized by their decision to trade D’Andre Swift. Still, Jack Campbell, the only first-round player who wasn’t a Top 50 prospect, also seemed like a reach with Drew Sanders and Trent Simpson available.
2023 NFL Draft Grades: Rating every first-round pick by value
What factors into how well a team drafted is the player themselves, the team’s needs, the team’s scheme for that particular position, and what the team had to do in order to acquire that player.
It’s why the Vikings receive a C+ for taking Jordan Addison, even though Addison is a phenomenal player who is guaranteed to boost their offense. It’s also why the Texans earned an A+ for drafting C.J. Stroud but a B+ for drafting Will Anderson Jr. — they had to give up so much draft capital just to land Anderson, even if he’s considered to be the best edge rusher in the draft.
Just like the art of drafting, the art of draft grading is an imperfect science, but there’s context as to why each grade was marked the way it was. Draft grades will be irrelevant come fall, but for now, here’s how the first-round picks come across, even in light of later round selections in the draft.
1. With the first overall pick, the Carolina Panthers select…
When the Carolina Panthers traded up for the No. 1 overall pick, it was all but certain that they’d draft their quarterback of the future here. That quarterback was most likely Bryce Young, and on Thursday, they confirmed that Young would be the one to revitalize their franchise.
The quarterback situation has been dire in recent seasons, with the Panthers cycling through secondhand quarterbacks like Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield to no avail.
The trade was costly, as the Bears landed wide receiver D.J. Moore and four draft picks in exchange, but it was the necessary price to land a talent like Young. As the “most NFL-ready quarterback in the draft”, Young draws Drew Brees comparisons in stature and in processing and execution. With this, the Panthers are prepared to shape their future.
2023 NFL Draft Grades: Rating every first-round pick by value
2. With the second overall pick, the Houston Texans select…
The Texans unfortunately earned their No. 2 overall pick this year after an abysmal 3-13-1 season. After two seasons with Davis Mills, the Texans decided to move on and select C.J. Stroud, a vaunted Ohio State quarterback who was certain to go early in the first round. Stroud is talented, but he’s still experiencing some of the hiccups common for young quarterbacks, such as fully reading the field. Stroud is already slated to be a skilled pro, but he’ll benefit from further development in the NFL.
The only question here would be how well the Texans can make the most of Stroud, as Davis Mills put up promising rookie numbers yet still lost the overwhelming majority of games. If the Texans can turn around their dysfunctional franchise with Nick Caserio and DeMeco Ryans at the helm, they can certainly get the best out of what Stroud has to offer.
3. With the third overall pick, the Houston Texans select…
If the Texans didn’t trade the No. 6 and No. 33 overall picks for Will Anderson Jr., this would have be an A+ selection. Anderson Jr. is the best player available in the NFL Draft, and any team fortunate enough to land him made a wise choice in snagging him.
Like Stroud, Anderson is poised to transform the franchise, and it means the Texans took the best available offensive and defensive players with their two picks.
But in order to land Anderson at No. 3, they traded their No. 6 pick, their No. 33 pick in the second round (which the Cardinals flipped again and were still able to land BJ Ojulari), and their first-round and fourth-round picks in 2024.
That’s a lot of draft capital, even for someone like Will Anderson Jr. He’s a fantastic player, and it was a necessary trade to make in order to get him, but every draft is still a gamble — and the Texans gave up four rolls of the dice for one player.
2023 NFL Draft Grades: Rating every first-round pick by value
4. With the fourth overall pick, the Indianapolis Colts select…
Giving the Colts a “D” for drafting Anthony Richardson may seem drastic, but considering the past season for the Colts and where Richardson is developmentally, this was not the most prudent decision to make with the No. 4 overall pick.
While Richardson has been hailed as one of the most gifted athletes to enter the league, the fact that his development as a quarterback is so inconsistent is a significant concern.
Richardson enters the NFL with even fewer snaps in college and fewer starts than Trey Lance, who was widely critiqued for his dearth of experience. If teams need to determine whether or not Richardson is “a functionally accurate passer“, he should not be drafted with the No. 4 overall pick.
This pick would also receive a better grade if Richardson wasn’t slated to start for the Colts, but he’s expected to take over the franchise in 2023. That puts a lot of pressure on Richardson and his ability to develop fundamental skills, and it will also put pressure on the organization if he does poorly. Colts general manager Chris Ballard made it known that it could take “two, three years” for Richardson to become good.
Richardson may have a potentially high ceiling, but with Will Levis and Hendon Hooker still available, Richardson was the biggest gamble: one that the unstable Colts organization will likely fumble.
5. With the fifth overall pick, the Seattle Seahawks select…
As the highest-ranked cornerback among the Top 50, Witherspoon was drafted by the ideal destination in Seattle. With his excellent ability to predict routes, Witherspoon is more suited for a zone scheme, and Seattle knows how to get the best out of zone cornerbacks like Richard Sherman.
The Seahawks have needed to shore up their secondary for years, and drafting Tariq Woolen last year made an immediate impact in that regard. Woolen ended the 2022 regular season with six interceptions. and that’s the kind of turnover ratio fans can expect from Witherspoon.
By taking Witherspoon at No. 5, they have Woolen, Witherspoon, Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs to comprise a fearsome secondary. Seattle’s defense hasn’t looked this strong in a decade, and Seahawks fans remember well what that looked like.
2023 NFL Draft Grades: Rating every first-round pick by value
6. With the sixth overall pick, the Arizona Cardinals select…
The Cardinals swapped with the Lions to climb back up and select Paris Johnson Jr., and if they had remained at No. 12, it’s likely he wouldn’t have been available.
The key to getting the most out of Kyler Murray is bolstering their offensive line, and while the Cardinals have several areas of need, drafting an offensive lineman early is easily the safest choice to make. With Johnson, the Cardinals can be certain they’ll upgrade their protection for Murray.
Johnson offers versatility, with experience at right guard and left tackle. The Cardinals already have D.J. Humphries at left tackle, and if they want Johnson to play guard, Peter Skoronski was still available.
Johnson has been considered one of the nation’s best offensive linemen for years, and his athleticism has allowed for him to cover up errors in technique while transitioning between positions. While this was a solid pick for the Cardinals, trading up for him when they have a left tackle and with a better-graded guard available knocked their draft grade slightly.
7. With the seventh overall pick, the Las Vegas Raiders select…
Edge rusher is a top commodity in any draft, and with Will Anderson Jr. already off the board, Tyree Wilson was the next best candidate.
Picking with their own pick at No. 7, the Raiders beef up their pass rush, which already features Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones.
Considering that they have two edge rushers, it may seem like the position wasn’t a top priority, but Jones is getting older. After a season or so of veteran tutelage, Wilson can learn a from Jones while honing his own game.
Additionally, both Wilson and Jones have become celebrated for their incredible reach, so Jones is uniquely suited to teach Wilson some new moves. But it’s not as if Wilson isn’t NFL-ready, making this pick a savvy one for a worthwhile price.
2023 NFL Draft Grades: Rating every first-round pick by value
8. With the eight overall pick, the Atlanta Falcons select…
At No. 8, the Falcons likely landed the best player to come out of the NFL Draft this season.
Robinson may have come in at No. 3 on the on Top 50 list, but it’s not for a lack of talent. Young and Anderson are slated to be transformative, but Robinson also has the potential to carry a team on his back.
As previously described, Robinson is a “genuine plug-and-play running back who can enhance any NFL offense.” It’s still up for debate whether or not the Falcons organization will be able to support Robinson with a complimentary system or turn him into Atlanta’s Barry Sanders, but taking him at No. 8 without a trade immediately electrifies their offense.
9. With the ninth overall pick, the Philadelphia Eagles select…
Jalen Carter and his representation bet that they wouldn’t fall out of the Top 10 in the 2023 NFL Draft, and they just made the cut at No. 9. Carter could have fallen based on how his year is going so far, or because teams prioritized other needs instead. Whatever the reasons are, the fact that the Eagles drafted him at No. 9 bodes well for Carter and Philadelphia.
When Carter starts, he’ll line up beside Fletcher Cox, a veteran tackle who can only add to Carter’s already explosive game. Carter’s a projected Pro Bowler joining an Eagles defense that broke records last season and went all the way to the Super Bowl. Eagles general manager Howie Roseman made valuable acquisitions in order to set up the Eagles for success, and this is another.
2023 NFL Draft Grades: Rating every first-round pick by value
10. With the tenth overall pick, the Chicago Bears select…
Bears fans watched with horror last season as Justin Fields struggled to uplift the Bears enough for a few wins, but all Chicago could manage were three victories in 2022.
Bears general manager Ryan Poles is still rebuilding, which is why his decision to trade back from No. 1 and then trade back from No. 9 was incredibly forward-thinking. Poles managed to eventually turn that top pick into a 2023 second-round pick, first-round and fourth-round picks in 2024, and a second-round pick in 2025.
With all that, Poles was still able to draft the best offensive tackle tackle in the draft and give Fields some much-needed protection.
11. With the 11th overall pick, the Tennessee Titans select…
By the second round, the Titans would clarify their future quarterback plans by drafting Will Levis, but in the first round, they needed to make sure they spent their No. 11 pick wisely.
As predicted, Levis would still be available later on, but Peter Skoronski was the top-rated offensive guard, meaning he would go sooner rather than later. Using their own pick, the Titans drafted Skoronski and shored up their offensive line, especially after letting go of Taylor Lewan earlier this year.
Already, Skoronski is listed as the starting left guard, which is a wise choice considering that Skoronski is more suited to play guard than tackle. All in all, it’s an ideal pick by Tennessee.
2023 NFL Draft Grades: Rating every first-round pick by value
12. With the 12th overall pick, the Detroit Lions select…
Initially, this pick was graded as a C+, but in light of the Lions’ recent trade sending D’Andre Swift to the Eagles, this pick is boosted up to a B-.
Onlookers were puzzled as to why the Lions would draft Gibbs with the No. 12 pick when they had D’Andre Swift, but the trade sheds light on their ultimate plan. With Swift gone, the Lions took the best running back that was still available.
With so many Lions players being recently suspended, it didn’t seem like running back was the greatest area of need, but now they have Gibbs to utilize as a safety valve, which can immediately make their offense more dynamic.
Gibbs is a valuable addition that the Lions can wield to boost their offense, although the team has been overwhelmed by the recent suspensions.
13. With the 13th overall pick, the Green Bay Packers select…
With the two other top-ranked edge rushers gone, taking Van Ness at No. 13 is a solid addition by the Packers.
Drawing Rashan Gary comparisons, Van Ness is an exceptional pass rusher offering size and athleticism, plowing through offensive lines with a Herculean bull rush.
He still has room for growth with his technique, but as their first pick in the draft, it was prudent for the Packers to bolster their defense with Van Ness.
2023 NFL Draft Grades: Rating every first-round pick by value
14. With the 14th overall pick, the Pittsburgh Steelers select…
The Steelers needed to build a “Pickett Fence”, and with Broderick Jones, they took the best offensive tackle available.
Knowing that the Jets needed an offensive tackle as well, the Steelers swapped their first-round spot with the Patriots to take Jones, a decision that was worth the investment.
Jones used his size at Georgia to overpower opponents, but at the NFL level, he’ll need to refine his technique, such as nailing his timing in pass protection.
There was no other truly viable option for the Steelers — they needed an offensive tackle — and by just trading up two spots, they were able to land a starting tackle and immediately begin forming that Pickett fence.
15. With the 15th overall pick, the New York Jets select…
With Broderick Jones gone, the Jets decided to go with Will McDonald IV. Ranking at No. 47 among the Top 50 and No. 8 at his position, taking McDonald here appears to be a reach.
McDonald has proven to be explosive at Iowa State, but one of the primary concerns is how he’ll match up facing an offensive line in the NFL featuring more substantial blockers.
Considering that players like Nolan Smith, Myles Murphy and other more established edge rushers from larger schools were still available, time will tell whether or not the Jets made the right move in choosing McDonald over other available rushers.
However, McDonald will be an ideal fit for their scheme, as he can line up wide and chase around divisional opponents like Josh Allen.
2023 NFL Draft Grades: Rating every first-round pick by value
16. With the 16th overall pick, the Washington Commanders select…
Only time will tell why Emmanuel Forbes was taken by the Commanders at No. 16, but as it currently stands, it seems that Washington could have taken another cornerback at this point.
The fact that Forbes is skilled at playing zone and man coverage is a major benefit, the main critique being about how his slender frame will match up against NFL receivers. At this pick, the Commanders could have taken Christian Gonzalez, Deonte Banks or even Joey Porter Jr., who wasn’t drafted by any team on Day 1.
Pre-draft rankings don’t predict the future, and perhaps Forbes will ultimately be the best fit for Washington. Considering that the Commanders had alternate, potentially improved options at No. 16 weighs slightly against this selection.
17. With the 17th overall pick, the New England Patriots select…
This is a fantastic selection, partially because the Patriots need a cornerback like Gonzalez, and partially because Gonzalez wasn’t expected to be available at this point.
Funnily enough, the Patriots seemed to relish ruining the first round for the Jets, but in doing so, they were able to pick up a fourth-round pick, trade back and still manage to draft Gonzalez.
Gonzalez is athletically gifted and fluid in his coverage, and with Bill Belichick coaching up his technique, he could easily become the most successful cornerback in this class.
Even though the Patriots did need an edge rusher (which they drafted later anyway in Keion White), this was the perfect pick at No. 17.
2023 NFL Draft Grades: Rating every first-round pick by value
18. With the 18th overall pick, the Detroit Lions select…
Jack Campbell came in at No. 51 in the Top 100 NFL Draft prospects, barely missing the cutoff for the Top 50 players available on Thursday night. However, Campbell was one of the best linebackers available, ranking behind the only linebacker in the Top 50, Drew Sanders.
The Lions could have drafted Drew Sanders instead, who ranked at No. 27 on the list and has widely been considered to be the best linebacker available this year. They also passed on Trenton Simpson, a speedy linebacker with experience playing inside and outside.
For reasons of their own, the Lions preferred Campbell, a choice that is confounding paired with the reality that Sanders wasn’t taken in the first round. Sanders offers the full package as a linebacker, being able to line up inside and outside — a rare trait at the position. It speaks to Sanders’ versatility, and it’s not as if Sanders is lacking in strength and size.
This is less about Campbell being a poor choice and more about the Lions having a better one in either Sanders or Simpson.
19. With the 19th overall pick, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers select…
Last year, one of the biggest critiques of the Buccaneers’ was their defensive line no longer being the juggernaut it once was. With Vita Vea, Ndamukong Suh and Jason Pierre-Paul, the Bucs were an entirely different unit. Now, with just Vea, they needed to shore up this unit.
The Buccaneers could have taken Bryan Bresee instead, but Kancey was still a highly-graded player at No. 24. The main critique about Kancey is his relatively small size at 6’1″, but he’s proven to work within his physical limits and remain an explosive player.
The Buccaneers are in the middle of a massive rebuild, especially without Tom Brady, but this was a solid pick at No. 19.
2023 NFL Draft Grades: Rating every first-round pick by value
20. With the 20th overall pick, the Seattle Seahawks select…
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…
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.
2023 NFL Draft Grades: Rating every first-round pick by value
22. With the 22nd overall pick, the Baltimore Ravens select…
Giving the Ravens a “B” isn’t reflective of Flowers as a player: he’s the second highest-graded wideout in the Top 50. While some critiques have centered on the fact that the Ravens could have taken Jordan Addison instead, Addison is ranked No. 30 while Flowers is ranked No. 23. The real concern here is whether or not Flowers is an ideal fit for the Ravens offense.
In the past, Lamar Jackson has benefitted from tight end Mark Andrews, while wide receivers haven’t really flourished in their current offense. Marquise Brown left the team saying they “didn’t really need” him, while Rashod Bateman told Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta to “stop pointing the finger at us” when DeCosta said the team needed better receivers.
Brown and Bateman are both talented, and Brown had almost the same amount of yards in 2022 and 2020 with four less games for the Cardinals. Also, it should be noted that the Ravens drafted Brown with the No. 25 overall pick in 2019 and drafted Bateman with the No. 27 overall pick in 2021. That’s two other wide receivers drafted in the first round within five drafts — that is not a good sign for Baltimore.
All that being said, and the fact that the Ravens signed Odell Beckham Jr., means they could have drafted another valuable player instead of a wide receiver. Flowers is great, but he may not be able to fulfill his potential in Baltimore.
23. With the 23rd overall pick, the Minnesota Vikings select…
Jordan Addison is an A+ player, and the Vikings will genuinely benefit from adding him to their offense.
That being said, that’s partially the problem with the Vikings, which was dramatically exemplified last season. Kirk Cousins and Co. can manage an air raid offense that puts points on the board, but without a significant defensive investment, the Vikings fell flat against more well-rounded teams.
Adam Thielen did leave, but drafting a linebacker or cornerback here would have been more prudent. With the way their offense currently runs, a few stronger defensive players would have more of an impact than a star wide receiver.
2023 NFL Draft Grades: Rating every first-round pick by value
24. With the 24th overall pick, the New York Giants select…
This is a winning pick for the Giants, who drafted the highest-graded remaining cornerback on the board. They did have to trade with the Jaguars in order to land him, and perhaps they didn’t need to, considering the subsequent picks.
That aside, Deonte Banks already has the makings of a top cornerback, although he does struggle to play catch up once he misses a step in coverage. Still, Banks has the fundamentals that others are still trying to develop at this stage, and it’s likely that getting his best game out of him won’t be difficult.
The Giants face the likes of Terry McLaurin, AJ Brown, Devonta Smith and CeeDee Lamb, and Banks will be ready for them.
25. With the 25th overall pick, the Buffalo Bills select…
Apt comparisons to Dalton Kincaid would be Hayden Hurst and Travis Kelce. If the Bills did manage to draft their own Kelce, that would make their Chiefs rivalry fiercer and their offense more formidable.
Time will tell how Kincaid will fare, but as of now, this is a smart pick by Buffalo. They can now run two tight end sets with Dawson Knox, giving them even more passing options for Josh Allen.
One knock on the Bills’ score is that they could have drafted Michael Mayer instead, who’s considered to be a better draft value, but Kincaid’s traits may be better suited for what the Bills want in a tight end. As of now, there’s not much of a run game, therefore Mayer’s blocking abilities won’t be sorely missed.
2023 NFL Draft Grades: Rating every first-round pick by value
26. With the 26th overall pick, the Dallas Cowboys select…
Already, Mazi Smith is gracing the Cowboys depth chart as the starting left defensive tackle, which is a bit surprising considering that he was expected to be a Round 2 draft prospect. What’s also surprising is that the Cowboys could have drafted Bryan Bresee instead.
That aside, it’s good that the Cowboys addressed this position and picked someone to bolster their defensive line. Smith is still struggling with some of his development, but he wields the size, athleticism and footwork that make him a leading prospect at the position.
The Cowboys drafted Smith for a reason, and he slots into a defense that’s already fairly star-studded. It’s a solid decision by the Cowboys, and over time, Smith is expected to develop into a force on the defensive line.
27. With the 27th overall pick, the Jacksonville Jaguars select…
The great thing about this pick is that the Jaguars traded back twice and still landed Anton Harrison, an offensive tackle who can protect Trevor Lawrence in the years to come. The Jaguars loaded up on a fourth-round pick, a fifth-round pick and a seventh-round pick in two separate trades, which adds value to the Harrison pick.
While the team could have addressed their defensive needs with players like Myles Murphy, BJ Ojulari or Joey Porter Jr., Harrison was the highest-graded offensive tackle available.
Harrison may not possess athleticism in the way that other top players do, but he has the size, length and skills to overcome any physical limitations. For a team that could use an offensive tackle, Harrison is a worthwhile long-term investment.
2023 NFL Draft Grades: Rating every first-round pick by value
28. With the 28th overall pick, the Cincinnati Bengals select…
Myles Murphy is an A+ player who should have been drafted much sooner, and with that alone, this would seem like an A pick.
But the Bengals just lost Hayden Hurst, and with this pick, they could have really made a difference by drafting Michael Mayer. After all, Mayer was the expected pick here if he was still available.
The departure of Jessie Bates III also left a gaping hole, and it’s a shame that Brian Branch fell out of the first round, especially when so many teams could have used an exceptional talent like Branch. As if this wasn’t enough, they could have also drafted Joey Porter Jr. to address cornerback needs.
The Bengals could have addressed more pressing needs with the above players, but instead, they did take the best edge rusher still available. Time will tell whether or not the Bengals were right to prioritize Murphy over other options, but on his own, Murphy is a stellar acquisition.
29. With the 29th overall pick, the New Orleans Saints select…
One of the most curious aspects of the first round is why players like Bryan Bresee and Nolan Smith fell to where they did, but as it stands, the Saints won the lottery with Bresee falling all the way to No. 29.
Bresee has the build and intuition to excel at defensive tackle in the NFL, and while he needs to sharpen his rush and block-shedding skills, he’s already a serious threat to the pocket who knows how to apply pressure.
The offense has been bolstered by the addition of Derek Carr, and with Bresee on defense, the Saints rebuild is trending in an even more positive direction.
2023 NFL Draft Grades: Rating every first-round pick by value
30. With the 30th overall pick, the Philadelphia Eagles select…
It’s odd that Nolan Smith fell to No. 30, but ignoring any possible issues that would lead to that, it seems like most teams simply picked the wrong edge rusher.
Smith is on the smaller side, which may have caused teams to be hesitant in drafting him, but he was able to wreak havoc at Georgia as he won two championships. Smith has been better at run blocking than rushing the passer, yet he’s been able to work on his speed throughout college and improve the weaker aspects of his game.
The encouraging thing about Smith is that he’s already begun the journey of addressing his weaknesses, which makes it seem like he’d be a ready addition to any roster.
The fact that the Eagles drafted him after taking Jalen Carter and upgraded their defense even more makes the Eagles seem like first-round magicians. Like the Texans and Seahawks, the Eagles seemed to steal the first round with two phenomenal selections.
31. With the 31st overall pick, the Kansas City Chiefs select…
As the last selection in the first round, the reigning Super Bowl champions weren’t left with many options. Most of the edge rushers were taken by this point, but BJ Ojulari was still available.
Ojulari was graded higher in the Top 50, but teams evaluate according to their specific needs, meaning they may go for a less-developed player who fits better on their roster. Anudike-Uzomah is an explosive player, but he still needs to refine his fundamentals a bit before he can be a leading edge rusher in the NFL.
Even with that taken into account, the Chiefs could have drafted Jalin Hyatt or Joey Porter Jr. here instead. There may have not been as many options at No. 31, but there were still a few options that create enough doubt that this was the best selection here.