The 1st round of the 2023 NFL Draft is officially in the books, and it unfolded as always, with quite a lot of surprises. Let’s dive into what happened last night while analyzing who are, in my opinion, winners and losers and why.
Winners
Houston Texans
#2 pick: C.J. Stroud (QB, Ohio State)
#3 pick: Will Anderson Jr. (EDGE, Alabama)
In C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr., the Texans secured a top-5 offensive prospect and arguably the top defensive player in the draft. Even though they sacrificed a 2024 first-round pick in order to move up and secure Anderson Jr. (they’ll still pick in the first-round pick next year), adding two fantastic football players and two elite leaders able to change the culture in Houston, something they needed to do since quite a lot of time, was simply perfect. Now the Texans have their franchise quarterback and also a terrific edge rusher, who, under DeMeco Ryans, definitely has the chance to reach his ceiling and become one of the most dominant edge rushers in the whole NFL.
Seattle Seahawks
#5 pick: Devon Witherspoon (CB, Illinois)
#20 pick: Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR, Ohio State)
Seattle crushed last year’s draft, and they for sure put themselves in position to do it again this year. By adding potential shut-down corner Devon Witherspoon, they’ll be able to put him opposite rookie sensation Tariq Woolen and have a young, exciting, athletic, and productive duo of cornerbacks. With Tyler Lockett having an opt-out in his contract in 2024, the Seahawks snagged Jaxon Smith-Njigba as the first pass catcher out of the board. A receiver who can play the slot/Z type of role in which Lockett usually plays, he’s a perennially open and technically advanced pass catcher who will be productive right away. The message is clear, Seattle wants to contend in 2023 and they’ll also have a top-3 receiving core in the NFL to help Geno Smith.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba's elite ball skills, ball tracking ability and body control are on full display on this catch against Utah.
His natural talent catching the ball is truly high-level. pic.twitter.com/RKE7aUzHbX
— Luca Sartirana (@SartiranaLuca) January 14, 2023
Philadelphia Eagles
#9 pick: Jalen Carter (IDL, Georgia)
#30 pick: Nolan Smith (EDGE, Georgia)
How is that even possible? Is there really a better GM than Howie Roseman at drafting? The Eagles came away with my #2 and #6 ranked prospects overall in the 2023 NFL Draft and now can count on 3/4 of the 2021 Georgia Bulldogs defensive line that dominated College Football. Jalen Carter fell down a bit, and Roseman didn’t think twice about adding him. He finished his first-round masterclass by securing Nolan Smith at the end of the first. In Jordan Davis, Jalen Carter, and Nolan Smith, Philadelphia has three athletic freaks who are all incredibly technically advanced. The Eagles want to return to the Super Bowl and, this time, secure the Lombardi Trophy. This, for sure, is a move in the right direction.
Three games in and Georgia junior EDGE rusher Nolan Smith has already tied his career high in sacks (2.5).
He has a lethal first step and does a tremendous job of maintaining balance through contact. He's set for a breeakout sophomore campaign. pic.twitter.com/DLjYYv56sa
— Luca Sartirana (@SartiranaLuca) September 22, 2021
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New England Patriots
#17 pick: Christian Gonzalez (CB, Oregon)
Gonzalez was a top-2 cornerback prospect and, at least to me, a top-10 overall player in the whole class, and the Patriots were able to land him at 17, with also Emmanuel Forbes going before him (?). Gonzalez reminds me a lot of Broncos star Patrick Surtain II; he’s a phenomenal athlete with great eyes and footwork. Belichick has been a machine throughout his career at developing defensive backs, and Gonzalez really has the tools to become a dominant shutdown corner. New England also needed help on offense, but Gonzalez’s talent was too relevant to let him slip down even more. The Patriots will have one of the best secondary defenses in 2023.
Los Angeles Chargers
#21 pick: Quentin Johnston (WR, TCU)
A match made in football heaven. The Chargers desperately needed more weapons in order to help Justin Herbert, and Quentin Johnston was the one that fitted the Chargers best in terms of skillset. Now they have an über-athletic big-bodied receiver who’s a YAC machine as well as a dominant deep threat. It’s hard to find a pass catcher who, skillset-wise, goes along Justin Herbert’s arm that well. Johnston will be an impact player right away alongside Mike Williams and Keenan Allen. It was exactly what the offense and Herbert needed. A true home run of a pick.
Just make sure to already be on the Quentin Johnston train. Next year it will be too late. pic.twitter.com/cdV8lcRJN1
— Luca Sartirana (@SartiranaLuca) April 7, 2022
New Orleans Saints
#29 pick: Bryan Bresee (IDL, Clemson)
Bresee had to deal with injuries and wasn’t particularly productive at Clemson, but his raw talent is one of the best in the class, and what he does athletically at his size is incredibly impressive. The Saints are a fantastic landing spot in which he can develop: he has Ndamukong Suh-type potential as a dominant run-stopping 3-technique who can also be a one-man wrecking crew in pass rush. Talent-wise, the Saints got a steal.
Other solid picks:
Minnesota Vikings
#23 pick: Jordan Addison (WR, USC)
The Vikings just lost Adam Thielen and immediately replaced him with a slot/Z receiver, who, just like Thielen, is a true technician and fantastic route runner who’s dominant in the short and intermediate areas of the field while being able to handle a large volume of targets. He’ll slide in alongside Justin Jefferson and be a centerpiece of Minnesota’s offense quite early.
Dallas Cowboys
#26 pick: Mazi Smith (IDL, Michigan)
While still being raw technically, Mazi Smith can play pretty much everywhere on the defensive line: he can take snaps as an edge, as a nose tackle or as a 3-technique. He’s a fantastic athlete who just needs to put together his tools in order to become also productive, Dan Quinn could for sure be the right man in order to make it happen.
Teams that should have done better with their picks
Detroit Lions
#12 pick, Jahmyr Gibbs (RB, Alabama)
#18 pick, Jack Campbell (LB, Iowa)
The Lions were on a great streak in the last couple of seasons in the draft, but this year, at least in my opinion, they came away with a couple of questionable picks. I’ve never been high on Jahmyr Gibbs, his lack of efficiency as a runner worries me, and I think he’s more a game-breaker than a workhorse back. My comp for him was D’Andre Swift, a player he’s going to share the backfield with now. Campbell is a solid prospect who will probably help the Lions right off the gate, but the value of the linebacker position isn’t at an all-time high, and with all the better prospects still on the board it feels like a reach.
New York Jets
#15 pick: Will McDonald IV (EDGE, Iowa State)
McDonald IV was certainly productive in college and brings to the table a solid athletic profile, but overall he isn’t particularly advanced as a pass rusher, and I feel like there were much better prospects on the table overall, but even at the EDGE position. Robert Saleh will need a step forward from 2022 first-round pick Jermaine Johnson who struggled with injuries, and now brings in another pass rusher to develop in McDonald IV. My feeling is just that they could’ve done much more with that pick.
Washington Commanders
#16 pick: Emmanuel Forbes (CB, Mississippi State)
Forbes has been a ballhawk in college, but at 166 pounds, betting on an outlier of this caliber this early, especially with Christian Gonzalez still on the board, it’s risky and doesn’t make much sense to me. This is one of the biggest head-scratchers in the draft.
Kansas City Chiefs
#31 pick: Felix Anudike-Uzomah (EDGE, Kansas State)
The Chiefs secured an EDGE in George Karlaftis last year but still decided to add more talent to the trenches by going for Anudike-Uzomah. The Chiefs are always somewhat conservative with their picks, and after a Super Bowl, doing a bit more of a bold move and going for a running back (Zach Charbonnet?) or even going for an immediate starter (Brian Branch) or high-upside talent (Drew Sanders), could’ve made sense. Even remaining at the EDGE position, Keion White and Adetomiwa Adebawore possess more upside than Anudike-Uzomah and would’ve been more interesting picks, in my opinion.
