Dallas Cowboys +1400

• Mazi Smith (DT – Michigan) – 26^th
• Luke Schoonmaker (TE – Michigan) – 58^th
• DeMarvion Overshown (LB – Texas) – 90^th
• Viliami Fehoko (EDGE – San Jose State) – 129^th
• Asim Richards (OT – North Carolina) – 169^th
• Eric Scott Jr. (CB – Southern Mississippi) – 178^th
• Deuce Vaughn (RB – Kansas State) – 212th
• Jalen Brooks (WR – South Carolina) – 244th

Dallas didn’t do anything sexy in Round 1, selecting nose tackle Mazi Smith. Didn’t fit a major need per se, and there are arguments – especially if you ask our own Matthew Freedman – for a better direction Dallas could have gone. Smith was my 32nd-ranked player on my final big board behind guys who were still available like O’Cyrus Torrence, Brian Branch, Joey Porter Jr., Bryan Bresee, Nolan Smith and Michael Mayer.

Dallas addressed their next top needs at TE and LB on Day 2, but I wasn’t in love with the options they went with. Luke Schoonmaker is your classic old tight-end prospect at 25 years old, that doesn’t offer much after the catch. Thor Nystrom’s player comparison in his top-500 prospect rankings compared Schoonmaker to former Cowboys tight end Dalton Schultz.

Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown is an undersized situational pass-rusher when I think Dallas could have used a more traditional off-the-ball linebacker instead.

EDGE Viliami Fehoko was a nice find late as an additional pass-rusher. Regarding pressures per game, only Tyree Wilson generated more than Fehoko did in 2022 (4.2) among the edge class.

Dallas finally addressed running back in Round 6, adding Deuce Vaughn from Kansas State. It’s hard to look past the sheer dominance Vaughn displayed in his three years at Kansas State. Vaughn totaled over 4,800 yards from scrimmage and 43 TDs en route to a class-leading 35% career college dominator rating

He’s not a bruiser by any means but he could emerge as a nice breather-back for No. 1 rusher Tony Pollard. Vaughn is 5-foot-5, 179 pounds soaking wet.

FINAL DRAFT GRADE: C+

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Denver Broncos +3500

• Marvin Mims (WR – Oklahoma) – 63rd
• Drew Sanders (LB – Arkansas) – 67th
• Riley Moss (CB – Iowa) – 83^rd
• JL Skinner (S – Boise State) – 183rd
• Alex Forsyth (C – Oregon) – 257th

Denver made their first pick in the Sean Payton era with Oklahoma WR Marvin Mims. At an initial glance, I did not like this pick at all. With so little draft capital to work with and players like Tim Patrick, Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton already on the roster, why go with a WR? But under a new regime, there is no telling what incumbents are in the Broncos’ long-term plans. So WR could become more of a pressing need. And at least, Mims (who I liked a lot pre-draft) can fill the deep threat role vacated by the often-injured K.J. Hamler. I can’t knock Denver for selecting Mims, especially if he emerges as Russell Wilson‘s new favorite moonball target.

And besides, Denver addressed their team “needs” with their very next pick. Linebacker Drew Sanders fell all the way to Round 3, with rumors swirling that his interviews went poorly. But he’s the exact hybrid linebacker/pass rusher that Denver needed to add. He finished 4^th in pressures among LBs in the FBS last season.

Denver traded a 2024 third-rounder to move up from 108 to the 83^rd pick to select CB Riley Moss. Somebody needs to tell Denver to stop making trades with the Seahawks because they gave up a decent chuck of value to move up for a cornerback, which isn’t exactly a pressing need for the defense. Not to say that Moss is a bad prospect, but the value was subpar. He’ll have to show out for the Broncos for them to “win” the pick. When targeted last season, Moss generated the 5th-lowest EPA per target and the 12th-highest PFF coverage grade in the 2023 cornerback class. And per Sports Info Solutions, no cornerback generated more total points per game in press coverage than Moss.

Denver also traded away the 196th pick in this draft to New Orleans to acquire tight end, Adam Trautman. Just one of many former Saints (Marquez Callaway, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Tony Jones Jr.) to call Denver home in 2023

FINAL DRAFT GRADE: C+

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Detroit Lions +2200

• Jahmyr Gibbs (RB – Alabama) — 12^th
• Jack Campbell (LB – Iowa) -18^th
• Sam Laporta (TE – Iowa) – 34^th
• Brian Branch (S – Alabama) – 45^th
• Hendon Hooker (QB – Tennessee) – 68^th
• Brodric Martin (DT – Western Kentucky) – 96th
• Colby Sorsdal (OT – William & Mary) – 152nd
• Antoine Green (WR – North Carolina) – 219th

The hate for D’Andre Swift in Detroit was TOO real. Not surprised to see him get traded to the Eagles for a 2025th 4th-rounder. The writing was on the wall with David Montgomery first, and now Jahmyr Gibbs with the 12^th overall pick. Drafting Gibbs 12th was an obvious overpay for a running back that likely would have been available when the 18^th overall pick. Simply put, the Lions should have waited to take Gibbs. And to make matters worse, they followed up the pick with another poor value selection with off-the-ball linebacker, Jack Campbell. Woof. At least they traded back from six to 12 first (adding a high 2^nd-rounder) to make up for the reach on a running back.

The only way Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes can justify the Gibbs selection, is if he truly ends up as the second coming of Alvin Kamara. Recall, that Campbell is very familiar with AK41 from his many years spent with the Saints (’17-’20). I’d have to envision that he will be deployed in a similar fashion with heavy usage as a receiver, while splitting early down work with David Montgomery. Considering the draft capital, I am leaning toward being MORE on Gibbs than off if the fantasy market sours on him. Or if big fantasy media thinks David Montgomery will present actual issues, because there’s no question who the better running back will be. If anything it will come down to which RB earns the red-zone role that Jamaal Williams captured last season that will determine Gibbs’ true upside.

All things considered, landing in Detroit – great offensive line, immobile quarterback – is one of the better spots Gibbs could have gone to for fantasy purposes. And the draft capital invested in him should bury any concern related to Gibbs’ workload based on his 199-pound frame.

Detroit did their best to make up draft value with some of their later picks on Day 2. Snagging YAC-monster tight end Sam Laporta adds another dynamic weapon to an offense that is looking scary with Jared Goff at the helm. But also adding Brian Branch in the second round helps heal the wounds from Round 1 substantially. Branch is a no-doubt first-round talent, and only fell this far because the position he plays has been devalued. Per PFF, Branch missed just four tackles on 170 attempts (2.3%) against the stiffest competition the SEC had to offer.

But the cherry on top of Day 2 for the Lions was the selection of quarterback Hendon Hooker. Drafting a potential first-round quarterback that fell because of injury in Round 3 was a sharp move by the Lions front office. Hooker gives them a long-term answer at QB should Goff revert back into a pumpkin. Because when defenses figure out Goff, his production can tail off REAL quick.

Day 2 would have been nearly perfect for the Lions, but they left it on a slightly sour note with nose tackle Brodric Martin from Western Kentucky. Seemed like a massive reach for a player that was not inside my top 150 and ranked 226^th overall in Thor’s top 500. Martin’s not a bad player with a two-down presence upfront as a 337-pounder defender, but a lack of elite production – 49^th in PFF run defense grade among his class last season – does bring concerns.

FINAL DRAFT GRADE: B

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Green Bay Packers +4000

• Lukas Van Ness (Edge – Iowa) – 13^th
• Luke Musgrave (TE – Oregon State) – 42nd
• Jayden Reed (WR – Michigan State) – 50^th
• Tucker Kraft (TE – South Dakota State) – 78th
• Colby Wooden (EDGE – Auburn) – 116^th
• Sean Clifford (QB – Penn State) – 149^th
• Dontayvion Wicks (WR – Virginia) – 159th
• Karl Brooks (DT – Bowling Green) – 179^th
• Anders Carlson (K – Auburn) – 207th
• Carrington Valentine (CB – Kentucky) – 232nd
• Lew Nicholas III (RB – Central Michigan) – 235th
• Anthony Johnson (CB – Virginia) – 242nd
• Grant Dubose (WR – Charlotte) – 256th

Lukas Van Ness baby. An athletic defensive lineman that is a nice addition to Green Bay’s defensive front. Van Ness’ 37 pressures on true pass sets ranked fourth in the FBS in 2022. And his true pressure rate – Sports Info Solutions’ pressure rate that isolates straight dropbacks, which are more likely to be similar across situations – tied Jalen Carter for the highest mark in the class at 16%.

Packers fans might complain they would have preferred a tight end or wide receiver instead in Round 1, but Van Ness was too good to pass up as my 11^th-ranked player at 13 overall. Van Ness and second-year Georgia DL Devonte Wyatt will fortify the Packers upfront.

The Packers continued their trend of waiting until Day 2 to draft pass-catchers, and they got Jordan Love a new check-down option with Luke Musgrave. A tight end was a BIG need for the Packers, and Green Bay got great value with Musgrave in Round 2. Based on his uber-athleticism, fantasy managers can expect the 6-foot-6 and 253-pound tight end to produce at a much higher level than he did in the college ranks. At the NFL Combine, he posted the following numbers: 4.61 40-yard dash (88th percentile), 36-inch vertical (83rd percentile) and 125 inches broad jump (94th percentile).

But the tight end additions did not stop with Musgrave, as GB also drafted Tucker Kraft. Again, I love it when teams double down on an area of need, as it greatly increases the chances of improving the position room. Especially considering both tight ends dealt with injuries in college.

My favorite receiver that the Packers drafted was Jayden Reed, who was the poster boy of my WR sleeper article. But I didn’t foresee him earning Round 2 draft capital at 50^th overall. I expect the Michigan State product to step in and be the immediate No. 2 WR alongside Christian Watson. Excellent selection by the Packers, who did everything they needed to do to set up Jordan Love in his first year as the full-time starter.

Adding big-play threat Dontayvion Wicks late in Round 5 was just icing on the cake. In 2021, The 6-foot-1 and 206-pound WR was a big-play machine, averaging 21.1 yards per reception (6th in the FBS). He ended the year ninth in yards per route run (3.25) with the 3rd-most downfield catches (18). Grant DuBose in Round 7 was also another shot at trying to find a dynamic playmaker late on Day 3. This past year, the 6-foot-2 and 201-pound WR from Charlotte was his most productive despite questionable quarterback play. He posted a 27% dominator rating with a 28% target share, which was the 10th-highest mark in the class. He also had a solid 3-cone time (63rd percentile) and 10-yard split (76th percentile). His 3-cone time trailed only WRs Smith-Njigba and Iosivas at the 2023 NFL combine.

FINAL DRAFT GRADE: A

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Houston Texans +18000

• CJ Stroud (QB – Ohio State) – 2nd
• Will Anderson (Edge – Alabama) – 3^rd
• Juice Scruggs (C – Penn State) – 62^nd
• Tank Dell (WR – Houston) – 69th
• Dylan Horton (EDGE – TCU) – 109^th
• Henry To’oto’o (LB – Alabama) – 167^th
• Jarrett Patterson (C – Notre Dame) – 201^st
• Xavier Hutchinson (WR – Iowa State) – 205th
• Brandon Hill (S – Pittsburgh) – 248th

Would it be the edge defender, or would it be the quarterback at No. 2 overall? The question everybody wanted to be answered. And Houston couldn’t decide either…so they traded back to No. 3 to get both. The Texans are building the franchise with two foundational pieces on both sides of the ball. However, it should be noted that they paid a hefty sum – a future 2024 first that could be extremely high plus a 2024 third – to acquire Will Anderson Jr., who has a questionable ceiling. The Texans should feel great about their 1^st-round picks. But the price was steep.

On Day 2, I felt the Texans operated on the status quo. They addressed the center position with the addition of Juice Scruggs. Scruggs was a massive riser during the pre-draft process.

And they added another weapon for their new quarterback in WR Tank Dell. In Dell’s final year, he led the nation with 1,399 receiving yards and 17 receiving TDs, bettering his impressive numbers from 2021(1,328 receiving yards and 12 TDs). But the knocks on Dell are obvious. He will turn 24 years old during his rookie season, and he measures in at 5-foot-8 and 165 pounds. But his ability to separate from defenders and create space – 8th in PFF grade versus man coverage – will help him vacuum targets from Stroud. Still, there’s no doubt his size, older age entering the league, and boosted slot usage create doubt about any truly elite ceiling. Especially considering Dell’s disappointing 40-yard dash NFL Combine testing at 4.49 (56th percentile).

On Day 3, Houston went right to pass rusher with Dylan Horton. Horton’s 25% team pressure rate was identical to his new teammate Will Anderson’s at TCU per Sports Info Solutions. They also doubled down at center with Jarrett Patterson later in Day 3.

FINAL DRAFT GRADE: A-

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Indianapolis Colts +10000

• Anthony Richardson (QB – Florida) – 4^th
• Julius Brents (CB – Kansas State) – 44^th
• Josh Downs (WR – North Carolina) – 79^th
• Blake Freeland (OT – BYU) – 106^th
• Adetomiwa Adebawore (DT – Northwestern) – 110^th
• Darius Rush (CB – South Carolina) – 138^th
• Daniel Scott (S – California) – 158^th
• Will Mallory (TE – Miami) – 162^nd
• Evan Hull (RB – Northwestern) – 176^th
• Titus Leo (EDGE – Wagner) – 211th
• Jaylen Jones (CB – Texas A&M) – 221st
• Jake Witt (OT – Northern Michigan University) – 236th

The Colts made the right choice, selecting quarterback Anthony Richardson over Will Levis. His uber-athletic ability with the right coaching staff will help unlock his sky-high ceiling. Wouldn’t surprise me at all to see him become the Day 1 starter with Gardner Minshew as the only competition. He is my favorite longshot bet at +1200 odds to win offensive Rookie of the Year per DraftKings Sportsbook. Richardson’s landing spot is by far the best among the rookie signal callers.

After getting their future franchise quarterback the Colts wisely invested in their cornerback/secondary with Julius Brents. The Kansas State CB allowed the fourth-fewest receptions per game (1.2) in his cornerback class in 2022 while operating strictly as a perimeter CB (85% wide rate alignment per Sports Info Solutions). Brents also tested off-the-charts at the NFL combine with 93rd percentile or better marks in the 3-cone drill, broad jump and vertical jump. The Colts were clearly enamored by Brents’ arm length and wingspan as well — both ranking inside the 98th percentile.

Indy solidified a strong Day 2 showing by grabbing value in the form of WR Josh Downs. I cannot believe Downs fell as far as he did based on how productive he was at UNC. He was my No. 5-ranked WR after he posted the No. 2-highest PFF receiving grade versus man coverage in 2022, as he tormented ACC defensive backs with his savant route running from the slot. He’s the perfect fit inside for the Colts, who are quietly putting adequate weapons in place for Richardson to hit the ground running.

Chris Ballard selected Blake Freeland at the top of the 4^th round, as a bet on traits. The BYU tackle is a freak (a common theme with this Colts 2023 draft class) at 6-foot-8 with sub 5.0 40 speed and 99th percentile broad jump. Freeland was the highest-graded tackle per PFF last season in his class and finished No. 2 per Sports Info Solutions in the fewest blown blocks per game (0.5). Fully expect him to be part of the Colts offense that takes major strides forward in 2023.

And just when I thought the Colts couldn’t do any better, they told me to hold my beer. They finally stopped the Adetomiwa Adebawore slide, taking him at the top of Round 4. Again, Ballard took a shot on another traits player, that some thought could be a late first-round pick. Adebawore tested completely off the charts at the 2023 NFL Combine posting 88th percentile or higher marks in the 40-yard dash (4.49), vertical jump, and broad jump at 282 pounds. His versatility and explosive get-off will help him get after NFL passers.

CB Darius Rush in Round 5 was just another great pick by the Colts front office. The 6-foot-2 CB played strictly on the perimeter and held his own, earning PFF’s 13th-highest coverage grade in the class. With 4.36 speed, Rush is an excellent find for the secondary at the cost of a 5^th-round pick.

RB Evan Hull was another great late-round pick, especially if you ask FantasyPros’ own Derek Brown. The Northwestern product spent the past two seasons owning his team’s backfield as a mega-producer posting back-to-back seasons with a 35% dominator rating. The 5-foot-10 and 209-pound back hauled in 87 passes for 800 receiving yards as a full-blown three-down back while forcing over 100 missed tackles. He led all FBS running backs in receptions and receiving yards in 2022.

FINAL DRAFT GRADE: A+

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Jacksonville Jaguars +2500

• Anton Harrison (OT – Oklahoma) – 27^th
• Brenton Strange (TE – Penn State) – 69^th
• Tank Bigsby (RB – Auburn) – 88^th
• Ventrell Miller (LB – Florida) – 121^st
• Tyler Lacy (DT – Oklahoma) – 130^th
• Yasir Abdullah (EDGE – Louisville) – 136^th
• Antonio Johnson (S – Texas A&M) – 160^th
• Parker Washington (WR – Penn State) – 185^th
• Christian Braswell (CB – Rutgers) – 202^nd
• Erick Hallett (DB – Pittsburgh) – 208th
• Cooper Hodges (OT – Appalachian State) – 226th
• Raymond Vohasek (DT – North Carolina) – 227th
• Derek Parish (EDGE – Houston) – 240th

It was the exact pick that Jacksonville needed to make in Round 1, by acquiring tackle Anton Harrison. Cam Robinson is going through a pending PED suspension and the team lost last year’s starting tackle Jawaan Taylor to the Chiefs in free agency. Harrison played left tackle for the Sooners for three straight seasons, capped off by a great 2022 campaign where he allowed zero QB hits on 447 pass-blocking snaps, per PFF. Overall, his 0.8% blown block percentage ranks third-best in the 2023 tackle class.

Jacksonville added tight end Brenton Strange in Round 2, which seemed like a reach for a position that they didn’t really need to address considering more pressing issues at DL, safety and offensive line. Seems odd to load up on offense by drafting a straight backup tight end after re-signing Evan Engram this offseason. They also added another running back to the fold in Round 3 with Tank Bigsby, which I also did not love. Why blow more picks on running backs when you already have capable guys on the roster?

They need more help on defense (DT, EDGE, S) and elected to not invest any of their Day 2 capital into that side of the ball, opting for backups on offense. And they kicked off Day 3 with the selection of an off-the-ball linebacker who played all of last season with a foot fracture. Woof.

Jacksonville finally added to DL at the end of Round 4, with Tyler Lacy. He’s strictly a run defender without much to offer as a pass rusher. Doesn’t help him that he weighs 279 pounds (3^rd percentile). The Jags kept the theme going of acquiring undersized linemen with the first pick in Round 5. Yasir Abdullah tied Michigan’s Mike Morris for second in the class in sack rate (3.6%) while finishing third among all edge rushers with a 19% pressure rate. But the plus-production is expected with Abdullah taking advantage of his speed and lightweight, measuring at just 237 pounds.

My favorite pick for the Jaguars outside Round 1, was their selection of Antonio Johnson in Round 5. I was shocked that he fell this far, as my 59^th-ranked player. Johnson offers a versatile skillset with experience covering as a slot cornerback combined with sure-tackling. He has been a top-15 PFF-graded run defender for the past two seasons. He also allowed just 3.1 yards per target, which ranks third best in the class. Johnson can also bring the heat as a pass-rusher, boasting the No. 1 pressure rate in the class (44%). He fits exactly what Jacksonville needed at the safety position, and they are head-over-heels about snagging him as late as they did.

FINAL DRAFT GRADE: C-

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Kansas City Chiefs +600

• Felix Anudike-Uzomah (Edge – Kansas State) – 31^st
• Rashee Rice (WR -SMU) – 55th
• Wanya Morris (OT – Oklahoma) – 92^nd
• Chamarri Conner (CB – Virginia Tech) – 119^th
• BJ Thompson (EDGE – Stephen F. Austin State) – 166^th
• Keondre Coburn (DT – Texas) – 194th

In Round 1, KC added pass-rusher Felix Anudike-Uzomah. Anudike- Uzomah took a step back in terms of production in 2022 (just outside top 30 in QB hits/sacks) but his 2021 season should not be forgotten. He finished as PFF’s 21st-highest pass-rusher in the nation with 13 sacks.

The pick is par for the course as a team with not many needs to just go edge, but I thought KC could have gone in several different directions with cornerback and interior defensive line more pressing areas of the defense.

They did address a bigger need in Round 2 with WR Rashee Rice out of SMU. Rice was a super productive WR in college and broke out at an early age. He can be used as a vertical threat and ball winner which should gel with his new quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Anything to get MVS off the field is a plus for the Chiefs offense.

Tackle Wanya Morris gives the Chiefs another depth piece across their OL, with experience playing tackle/guard on both sides of the line. Per Sports Info Solutions, he posted the lowest overall blown block percentage (0.5%) in the 2023 tackle class.

KC kicked off Day 3 with additions at cornerback/safety with Chamarri Conner. The Chiefs hit on a ton of Day 3 secondary pieces last season, and are hoping they can do so again.

FINAL DRAFT GRADE: B-

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