Las Vegas Raiders +5500

• Tyree Wilson (Edge – Texas Tech) – 7^th
• Michael Mayer (TE – Notre Dame) – 35^th
• Byron Young (DT – Alabama) – 70^th
• Tre Tucker (WR – Cincinnati) – 100^th
• Jakorian Bennett (CB – Maryland) – 104^th
• Aidan O’Connell (QB – Purdue) – 135^th
• Christopher Smith (S – Georgia) – 170^th
• Amari Burney (LB – Florida) – 203^rd
• Nesta Jade Silvera (DT – Arizona State) – 231st

Would have preferred Christian Gonzalez for the Raiders in Round 1 because their secondary is in rough shape. Still, Tyree Wilson opposite Maxx Crosby is going to be a fierce combination. Let’s just hope Wilson’s medicals check out.

Las Vegas followed up Round 1 with another player that some mocked as a top-15 player pre-draft with tight end Michael Mayer. The Notre Dame product surprisingly fell out of Round 1 altogether and the Raiders jumped up a few spots with Indianapolis to snag him for the price of a Day 3 pick. This past season he caught 5.6 passes per game as his team’s featured weapon. Mayer offers the complete package at the tight end position.

The Raiders added a run-stuffer on their defensive line in Round 3 which they desperately needed to do. Young finished the 2021 season as PFF’s fourth-highest-graded run defender among the defensive line.

But the worst pick they made – and my vote for the stone-cold worst selection on Day 2 – was Tre Tucker. Tucker was my 30th-ranked WR and looks more like a special teams contributor than an integral piece on offense. Fantasy managers should ignore the draft capital bump Tucker will likely get after being heavily over-drafted. Why LV didn’t take on his superior teammate Tyler Scott is beyond me.

Finally, in Round 4 the Raiders addressed their atrocious secondary, with the great selection of Jakorian Bennett. He ran a 4.3 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine while jumping out of the building with a 91st percentile vertical jump/95th percentile broad jump. Because Bennett’s production was eerily similar to teammate Deonte Banks last season, the Raiders got a steal in Round 4.

They also got a quarterback to back up the injury-prone Jimmy Garoppolo with Aidan O’Connell. O’Connell finished second in his draft class in passing yards per game (291) while displaying above-average accuracy as a thrower from the pocket. With a super quick release, the Purdue signal-caller finished inside the top-4 quarterbacks in catchable target percentage and on-target rate per Sports Info Solutions. Don’t be surprised to see the Raiders turn to him if Jimmy G suffers another injury. Worthy of an SFLEX roster spot in my opinion.

FINAL DRAFT GRADE: B-

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Los Angeles Chargers +2500

• Quentin Johnston (WR – TCU) – 21^st
• Tuli Tuipulotu (EDGE – USC) – 54^th
• Daiyan Henley (LB – Washington State) – 85^th
• Derius Davis (WR – TCU) – 125^th
• Jordan McFadden (IOL – Clemson) – 156^th
• Scott Matlock (DT – Boise State) – 200th
• Max Duggan (QB – TCU) – 239th

Is Quentin Johnston the perfect fit for the Chargers? Yes. He’s big and fast enough to be a downfield weapon for Justin Herbert. He’s overrated as a contested-catch WR but underrated as a YAC machine. Could see him in line for big games should Mike Williams/Keenan Allen miss any time in 2023.

LA addressed defense on Day 2, but I do not think they did it in the best way. This team has been destroyed against the run year after year, and the picks they made suggest that won’t change in 2023. Tuli Tuipulotu is an undersized pass rusher (266 pounds, 0^th percentile). Not a need whatsoever. And LB Daiyan Henley weighs 225 pounds (5^th percentile).

LA so badly needs a defensive tackle and somebody to man the slot against the high-powered offenses in the AFC.

But they went in a different direction in Round 4, drafting another TCU wide receiver, Derius Davis. I like the approach behind the pick of a speedy wideout with elite return ability. However, it might have been a reach. And he also doesn’t help the major needs on defense.

Outside QJ (who is extremely boom-or-bust) the Chargers laid an egg with this draft class.

FINAL DRAFT GRADE: C

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Los Angeles Rams +6000

• Steve Avila (IOL – TCU) – 36th
• Byron Young (EDGE – Tennessee) – 77th
• Kobie Turner (DT – Wake Forest) – 89^th
• Stetson Bennett (QB – Georgia) – 128^th
• Nick Hampton (EDGE – Appalachian State) – 161^st
• Warren McClendon (OT – Georgia) – 174^th
• Davis Allen (TE – Clemson) – 175^th
• Puka Nacua (WR – BYU) – 177^th
• Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson (CB – TCU) – 182^nd
• Ochaun Mathis (EDGE – Nebraska) – 189th
• Zach Evans (RB – Ole Miss) – 215th
• Ethan Evans (P – Wingate) – 223rd
• Jason Taylor II (S – Oklahoma State) – 234th
• Desjuan Johnson (EDGE – Toldeo) – 259th

The Rams’ biggest need was on their offensive line, and they wasted no time addressing the position. LA selected Steve Avila, who led all guards in the class in run behind percentage (47%) and yards before contact to their gap per game (48.9) per Sports Info Solutions.

They also hit another need along the defensive line by adding Tennessee’s Byron Young in Round 3. Young finished this past season tenth in pressures per game. Kobie Turner finished as PFF’s No. 1-graded run defender in the 2023 class last season.

The Rams got a nice value pick late on the offensive line with OT Warren McClendon. He’s not a supreme athlete like his teammate Broderick Jones, but he was productive posting the lowest pass-block rate (0.8%) in the 2023 tackle class. Definitely a better run-blocker overall, and he benefitted as a right tackle versus playing on the left side of the formation. When in doubt, cross your fingers and draft a Georgia Bulldog.

I also wouldn’t be surprised to see 5^th-round Clemson tight end Davis Allen carve out a role for the Rams. Tyler Higbee is a potential salary cap casualty, and L.A. is in a total rebuild.

Puka Nacua aka “Discount Deebo Samuel” could also emerge as a legitimate option on a Rams WR depth chart that has virtually no established players outside Cooper Kupp. Nacua finished his BYU tenure strong as PFF’s second highest-graded WR in the nation (90.1) due to his impressive efficiency on per route run basis. He was targeted on 38 percent of his routes in 2022 and posted the second-highest targets above expectation in his class per Sports Info Solutions.

Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson helps the Rams secondary, which desperately needs more bodies. The TCU defender is slight, but he can man the slot with the best of them. Hodges-Tomlinson compiled the most forced incompletions and tied for first in yards allowed per coverage snap among his CB classmates (0.5) He has a chance to thrive as a projected slot CB (he’s very small at 5-foot-8 and 178 pounds) with sure-tackling a big part of his game.

RB Zach Evans was also a nice addition to the Rams backfield that is barren behind Cam Akers. I’d bet Evans can win the No. 2 job in training camp. His best-case scenario for fantasy purposes was to land on a weak RB depth chart.

FINAL DRAFT GRADE: B-

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Miami Dolphins +2500

• Cam Smith (CB – South Carolina) – 51^st
• Devon Achane (RB – Texas A&M) – 84^th
• Elijah Higgins (WR – Stanford) – 197th
• Ryan Hayes (OT – Michigan) – 238th

Miami finally got into draft action starting in Round 2, going with cornerback Cam Smith. The Dolphins didn’t need another cornerback, but you can never have too many guys that can cover in the arms race AFC. Smith was my fifth-ranked CB, so I love the value of him at 51st overall. In 2021, he earned PFF’s second-highest coverage grade in the FBS. And over the last two seasons, Smith has broken up 15 passes.

The Dolphins followed up the selection of Smith, with running back Devon Achane in Round 3. And it’s the most perfect fit you could ask for. Achane’s elite track speed in an outside zone running offense is going to terrify defenses. The Dolphins are going to overpower their opponents with the sheer speed that have up and down the roster. Wheels up.

Miami selected WR Elijah Higgins in Round 6, but I am very curious to see if they try to move him to tight end. It would help, considering they didn’t add any tight ends of consequence during the draft.

FINAL DRAFT GRADE: B+

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Minnesota Vikings +4000

• Jordan Addison (WR – USC) – 23^rd
• Mekhi Blackmon (CB – USC) – 102^nd
• Jay Ward (CB – LSU) – 134^th
• Jaquelin Roy (DT – LSU) – 141^st
• Jaren Hall (QB – BYU) – 164th
• DeWayne McBride (RB – UAB) – 222nd

The Vikings needed a WR3, and Jordan Addison fits the bill as a perfect compliment to Justin Jefferson. He can win downfield and offers the ability to play inside/out. Considering the Vikings have been trotting out a declining Adam Thielen for the past few years, Addison as the No. 2 will provide an immediate spark to an offense looking for more playmakers outside of Jefferson. Could easily see the Jefferson-Addison combination mimicking other top WR duos like DK Metcalf–Tyler Lockett and A.J. Brown–DeVonta Smith.

With the last pick in the third round, Minnesota addressed its secondary with Mekhi Blackmon. The USC cornerback can get his hands on the ball and is a sure-tackler – lowest missed tackle rate per Sports Info Solutions – but lacks top-end physical traits. Fifth-round pick Jaquelin Roy helps plug the defensive interior as a nose tackle, while Jay Ward provides more depth in the secondary.

The Vikings ended the draft with one of my favorite sleeper running backs, DeWayne McBride. He ranks first in the class in career yards per play (4.18) for being so efficient anytime he is on the field. His production is captured in his PFF grades, with him finishing second, eighth, and third, in PFF grading the last three seasons, respectively. Aside from being a complete afterthought in the passing game, McBride checks off a lot of boxes you want to see from a smaller school prospect, and he easily saved his best for last as a junior, finishing second in the FBS in rushing yards (1702, 155 yards per game), second in yards after contact per attempt (4.6) and fifth in dominator rating (35 percent) among the 2023 draft class. Per PFF, his 36 percent missed tackle rate ranks third all-time since the data started being tracked.

FINAL DRAFT GRADE: B-

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New England Patriots +5500

• Christian Gonzalez (CB – Oregon) – 17^th
• Keion White (Edge – Georgia Tech) – 46^th
• Marte Mapu (LB – Sacramento State) – 76^th
• Jake Andrews (C – Troy) – 107^th
• Chad Ryland (K – Maryland) – 112^th
• Sidy Sow (IOL – Eastern Michigan) – 118^th
• Atonio Mafi (IOL – UCLA) – 144^th
• Kayshon Boutte (WR – LSU) – 187^th
• Bryce Balinger (P – Michigan State) – 192^nd
• Demario Douglas (WR – Liberty) – 210^th
• Ameer Speed (DB – Michigan State) – 214th
• Isaiah Bolden (CB – Jackson State University) – 245th

The Patriots got a 2023 4th Rounder (120th overall) to go down three spots and got arguably the best CB in the draft with Christian Gonzalez. A++ move by Bill Belichick to just go BPA at a premium position (while also screwing over the Jets by taking them out of the offensive tackle range). Gonzo also fills a need, and his versatile skill set will be great in the Patriots defense.

In the second round, New England added a pass-rusher with Keion White, who posted a 2.9% sack rate in 2022 — identical to Alabama’s Will Anderson — while finishing 9th in the class in pressure rate over expectation (4.2%) per Sports Info Solutions. White’s an enticing size/speed specimen at 6-foot-5 and 285 pounds with an elite athletic profile. He’s also hardly a finished product after starting his career at Old Dominion as a tight end before switching to defensive end and transferring to Georgia Tech in 2021.

Linebacker Marte Mapu was likely a reach for the Patriots in Round 3, but it wouldn’t be a normal draft night for them if they didn’t do so. NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah stands by Mapu as one of his favorite players in the draft. I am not as convinced considering his size at 221 pounds that he can be a Day 1 contributor at linebacker. But with speed (something that has been lacking on the Patriots defense) he can at least add to special teams, which Belichick always values in incoming prospects. It’s also interesting that Thor Nystrom listed Mapu as a safety in his final big-board rankings (105^th overall) comparing him to notorious Patriots killer, Bernard Pollard.

Still, I would have much preferred the Patriots add more bodies on the offensive line instead in Round 3, although the talent pool in that area was dried up by the time they were selecting. And they would more than makeup for it later in the draft.

In Rounds 4 and 5, New England added a plethora of depth to the interior. They have had a lot of success developing Day 3 linemen into legitimate starters.

Jake Andrews is a former wrestling champion with experience at both guard and center. Essentially 2023’s version of long-time Patriots guard, Stephen Neal. Sidy Sow is an above-average athlete at 323 pounds, and stands his ground in the face of rushers. He finished fourth in the lowest overall blown block percentage (1.1%) per Sports Info Solutions. Sow also has a ton of experience starting 55 career games at Eastern Michigan. Mafi finished with the lowest blocking percentage (0.7%) among all guards in the class. They all won’t hit, but NE just needs one to pan out for it to be a success.

After monopolizing the interior offensive line market, the Patriots finally drafted a skill position on the offensive side of the ball in the 6^th round with LSU’s Kayshon Boutte. It’s the ultimate boom-or-bust pick that I love teams to take chances on in the later rounds.

In 2020, Boutte led LSU with 76 targets, converting his volume into a 22% dominator rating at age 18. In his last game played, he caught 14 balls for 308 receiving yards and three TDs. Terrace Marshall Jr. would enter the NFL the following year, cementing Boutte’s status as the team’s alpha WR1 in 2021 when he posted another 22% dominator rating in just six games played. When you consider the games that Boutte was healthy in, his dominator rating skyrockets to 41%.

But the ankle injury he suffered seriously took its toll on Boutte, who failed to show the same elite playmaking ability he did his first two seasons at LSU in 2022. Although he tied a bow on his college career strong against Georgia, commanding a season-high 11 targets for 107 yards and one touchdown.

If Boutte is finally back to 100% health as an NFL rookie, he will undoubtedly be a steal when we look back at this class. The 5-foot-11 and 195-pound wide receiver will not even be 21 years old by the time he is drafted. However, his poor testing brings major concerns about work habitats and his attitude. He finished last in the vertical jump (2nd percentile) and second to last in the broad jump (30th percentile) at the NFL Combine. The former Tiger also underwhelmed with a 4.50 40-time at 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds. His massive fall since his freshman season is the reason, he was available in Round 6.

New England had needs at both kicker/punter and got arguably the best at each position. Chad Ryland has a booming leg – 80% hit rate on attempts over 40 yards (60% on 50-yarders). Punter Bryce Balinger led the nation in yards per punt (49.0) and net yards per punt (45.7).

FINAL DRAFT GRADE: A-

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New Orleans Saints +3500

• Bryan Bresee (DT – Clemson) – 29^th
• Isaiah Foskey (DT – Notre Dame) – 40^th
• Kendre Miller (RB – TCU) – 71^st
• Nick Saldiveri (IOL – Old Dominion) – 103^rd
• Jake Haener (QB – Fresno State) – 127^th
• Jordan Hodwen (S – Minnesota) – 146^th
• A.T. Perry (WR – Wake Forest) – 195th

The Saints needed to revamp their defensive line, and potentially got a STEAL with the 29^th pick. Clemson’s Bryan Bresee can transition smoothly into the front and impose his will after he showed out a year removed from torn ACL injury. His 12% pressure rate and pressures per game ranked inside the top five among his 2023 DT class, while his quick pressure rate tied for first. Quick pressure rate is the percentage of pass rushes that resulted in a player generating pressure on a QB in 2.5 seconds or less per Sports Info Solutions. Back in 2020, prior to his injury, Bresee won ACC rookie of the year. In his two fully healthy college seasons, Bresee has been a top-21 PFF-graded interior pass-rusher (including his highest grade in 2022) at 6-foot-5 and 300 pounds.

New Orleans doubled down on DL in Round 2, with the addition of Notre Dame’s Isaiah Foskey. He has 23 sacks over the last two seasons. I love it when teams double down on areas of need in the draft because there’s no guarantee that one rookie will fix the problem.

Although I would have preferred New Orleans went the CB or OL route in Round 3, the looming Alvin Kamara suspension puts running back firmly on their list of priorities. And I am a big fan of TCU’s Kendre Miller, who is my favorite sleeper rusher in the 2023 draft class.

The bell cow back rushed for nearly 1400 yards at 5-foot-11, 215 pounds (identical to Bijan Robinson), and his size is enticing in addition to the efficiency he displayed on a per-play basis at the college level. Miller’s career of 3.14 yards per play ranks fourth best in the class. He’s explosive with the ball in his hands, as indicated by his 21 rushes of 15-plus yards last year (tied for the fifth-highest in the class).

Miller is an ideal 1-2 punch fit with veteran Jamaal Williams should Kamara miss anytime.

NO traded up to the top of Round 4 to boost their offensive line, with Nick Saldiveri. The Old Dominion product finished the 2022 college season as PFF’s third-highest graded pass-blocker (85.1) as the team’s starting right tackle. He will likely kick inside for the Saints.

The Saints added a quarterback. Jake Haener is a seasoned and experienced college QB, that should be able to deliver in spot-start duties based on his above-average accuracy. His completion rate and catchable target percentage rank No. 1 in the 2023 QB Class. He also finished third in passing yards per game (290) in his third and final season at Fresno State.

FINAL DRAFT GRADE: B+

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New York Giants +4000

• Deonte Banks (CB – Maryland) – 24^th
• John Michael Schmitz (C – Minnesota) – 57^th
• Jalin Hyatt (WR – Tennessee) – 73^rd
• Eric Gray (RB – Oklahoma) – 172^nd
• Tre Hawkins (CB – Old Dominion) – 209^th
• Jordan Riley (DT – Oregon) – 243rd
• Gervarrius Owens (S – Houston) – 254th

The Giants gave up 25, 160 and 240 to move up one spot swapping one spot with Jacksonville. Big Blue had to get a shutdown perimeter cornerback as part of Don Martindale’s defense, and Deonte Banks fits the bill. His versatility, sure-tackling and strong measurables – 92nd percentile 40-yard dash, 97th percentile vertical jump and 98th percentile broad jump – will provide instant impact. Banks finished this past season eighth in yards per coverage snap (0.7) and fifth in pass-breakups per game among the 2023 CB class.

I was all over center John Michael Schmitz as a potential 1^st-round target, so I was ecstatic at the value the Giants got selecting him in Round 2. He’s an immediate long-term starter and boosts the efficiency of the interior OL. JMS started 35 games at the college level and finished third among centers in his class in positive run when behind rate per Sports Info Solutions.

WR Jalin Hyatt going in Round 3…highway robbery. Absolutely love the selection, pairing Daniel Jones with another big-play WR weapon. New York apparently was willing to take Hyatt with their Round 2 pick, but rolled the dice hoping he would come back to them. After so many years of poor drafting, Big Blue has improved drastically under the new regime over the past two seasons.

FINAL DRAFT GRADE: A

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