The 2023 NFL Draft is in our rearview mirrors and it’s very bittersweet for me. I love the process of the NFL Draft. From watching the tape to grading the players and everything in between. However, we now move past it and start to focus on the next class and more. That said, I like to cap my final piece on the 2023 NFL Draft with my favorite pick of each team. Let’s jump in!
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Favorite 2023 NFL Draft Pick of Every Team
Here are my favorite picks for all 32 teams.
Arizona Cardinals
Round 3 | 72nd Overall: Garrett Williams, CB, Syracuse
This was a very good selection by the Cardinals for a variety of reasons. They desperately need secondary help and they get a player that could have been a top-50 pick, had he not tore his ACL in 2022. While Williams wasn’t able to workout at his Pro Day or the Scouting Combine, he’s a player that was always consistent on tape. He was always under control and flashed the click-and-close ability when working back to the football. There’s potential for him to be a solid number two corner in the NFL and for the Cardinals, he could become their top choice at the position.
Atlanta Falcons
Round 2 | 38th Overall: Matthew Bergeron, OT, Syracuse
Picking Bijan Robinson would be too easy for me. He’s going to be very good for Atlanta. Another player that has a lot of potential is Matthew Bergeron. The 6-foot-5 and 311 pound tackle is a very coachable prospect that just needs some refinement with his foot speed and technique. He displays a snatch-trap technique that needs more development but he’s a promising prospect that has the potential to start at either tackle or guard for Atlanta.
Baltimore Ravens
Round 3 | 86th Overall: Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson
My top linebacker from the 2023 NFL Draft slipped quite a ways down the board. Not sure if it was due to interviews or medical concerns but Simpson is a player with loads of potential. He’s got good range and is a great athlete. His tackling technique needs to become more consistent but there’s potential for him to be a successful WILL in the NFL. He wore multiple hats in the Clemson defense but the Ravens should be able to give him a simplified role where he can work in space and consistently attack downhill. Wouldn’t surprise me if he became one of the better day two picks from this year’s draft.
Buffalo Bills
Round 1 | 25th Overall: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
I really don’t think there was a better landing spot for Kincaid than Buffalo. He doesn’t have to be rushed into a starting role, he can fully heal from his back injury and when the time is right, the Bills can unleash him as their future tight end. Kincaid was the most sure-handed pass catcher in the draft and should provide big slot ability while also playing in-line for Buffalo. He’ll also provide the capability of operating over the middle of the field for Josh Allen. Also, this gives them assurance at the position as Dawson Knox was banged up in 2022.
Carolina Panthers
Round 2 | 39th Overall: Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss
Honestly, I like what the Panthers did in this year’s draft. The addition of Chandler Zavala being reunited with college teammate Ikem Ekwonu should do wonders for the left side of their offensive line. That said, they needed a pass-catcher in their offense after trading away D.J. Moore and they selected one of the bigger risers at the position with Jonathan Mingo. At 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, Mingo looks like a prototypical ‘X’ receiver but he’s more than that. He’s versatile and should move all around the Panthers new-look offense. With them being projected to move to more of an RPO style offense, I think we’ll see plenty of targets thrown towards Mingo in the short areas of the field.
Chicago Bears
Round 2 | 56th Overall: Tyrqiue Stevenson, CB, Miami (FL)
It’s hard not to like what the Bears did in the NFL Draft. They got a tone setter up front with Darnell Wright and I think the combination of interior defensive lineman they selected on day two should find ways to make an impact. That said, there’s potential for Tyrqiue Stevenson to become a starter in a secondary that already boasts plenty of talent. Sliding into the mix of Kyler Gordon, Eddie Jackson, Jaquan Brisker and Jaylon Johnson, there’s much to be desired with this Bears secondary. I love the physicality that Stevenson plays with and he’s consistently competitive at the catch point.
Cincinnati Bengals
Round 1 | 28th Overall: Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
Another team that had a solid draft. As much as I wanted to add Jordan Battle to this, I’ve got to go with Myles Murphy from Clemson. He was a top-5 player in the 2023 NFL Draft on my board and it’s so odd to me that he fell this far down the board. He’s got good length and a terrific blend of speed and power to his game. He’ll fit nicely alongside D.J. Reader and B.J. Hill and it should help him be freed up from the combo blocks he saw in college. The talent at edge rusher for the Bengals runs deep with Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard under contract. However, the Bengals could opt-out of the Hubbard contract after this season and Hendrickson is set to hit the market again in 2024.
Cleveland Browns
Round 3 | 74th Overall: Cedric Tillman, WR, Tennessee
The talent at wide receiver runs deep in Cleveland. They’ve got Elijah Moore, Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones at the top of the depth chart. However, DPJ is set to be a free agent after this season and if the price tag gets too high, the Browns might not be willing to pay it. That said, Tillman has an intriguing skill-set due to his size, body control and route running ability. He was the best Tennessee receiver on my board and I think the future for him in Cleveland could be just as productive as DPJ, if not more productive. If it weren’t for concerns of the high ankle sprain that Tillman played through in 2022, he would have gone a round sooner and potentially could have snuck into the backend of the first round.
Dallas Cowboys
Round 6 | 212th Overall: Deuce Vaughn, RB, Kansas State
Watching the draft video of Deuce getting the phone call from his father, Chris, on the 3rd day of the draft is all of the feels. His father, Chris, is a scout for the Cowboys and it was awesome to see the Cowboys draft Deuce Vaughn. While he’s undersized for the position at 5-foot-5 and 179 pounds, he plays much bigger and has a tremendous amount of heart when he’s on the field. Whether it’s on special teams or as a pass-catcher, I think Vaughn can become a compliment to Tony Pollard in the Cowboys offense.
Denver Broncos
Round 3 | 83rd Overall: Riley Moss, CB, Iowa
With a secondary led by Patrick Surtain II and Justin Simmons, there wasn’t any glaring need there. However, the Broncos add a talent depth piece in Riley Moss and it wouldn’t be surprising if he carves out a role on specific down and distances and special teams. He’s got 4.45 speed as an instinctive corner that has played a ton of football during his career (2600+ snaps). Meanwhile, he’s been productive with 11 interceptions over the last four seasons. I think Moss might fit better as a safety in the Broncos defense but he’s athletic enough to wear multiple hats.
Detroit Lions
Round 2 | 45th Overall: Brian Branch, DB, Alabama
We knew it wasn’t a great safety class but it was very surprising to see Brian Branch available this late in the draft. Even though he doesn’t have blazing speed, his 4.58 time in the 40 is doable and most importantly, he’s a versatile chess piece. Putting him in a defense that features Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Kerby Joseph, Tracy Walker and Cam Sutton should do wonders for Branch. He could become a stud in Detroit.
Green Bay Packers
Round 3 | 78th Overall: Tucker Kraft, TE, South Dakota State
This was a pretty good tight end class so I understand why Kraft might have lasted this long in the draft. However, he went to a perfect landing spot to be featured as a pass-catcher. With Kraft, he can provide plenty of production after the catch and should be reliable over the middle of the field. His blocking technique is far from perfect but he’s aggressive and willing. The combination of Kraft with Luke Musgrave should give Green Bay a great 1-2 punch at tight end.
Houston Texans
Round 6 | 205th Overall: Xavier Hutchinson, WR, Iowa State
The obvious answers would be CJ Stroud and Will Anderson but I’m going to go deeper down the board. I was a bit surprised that Xavier Hutchinson from Iowa State lasted as far into day three as he did. At 6-foot-2 and 203 pounds with a 6.91 time in the 3-cone drill, there’s much to be desired. He showed the ability to sink his hips and fluidly break to the middle of the field. Meanwhile, he had some nice run after-the-catch ability. With the Texans needing pass-catchers, it wouldn’t surprise me if Hutchinson became a productive one that builds rapport with Stroud.
Indianapolis Colts
Round 1 | 4th Overall: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
Do I really have to pick one? I think the Colts won the draft with just about every single pick. That said, I’ll go with their new franchise quarterback. It’s a gamble as Richardson only has 13 career starts but there’s potential for it to pay off in a big way. Richardson has a huge arm with terrific mobility but the way he navigates in the pocket really separates him from most rookies that enter the league. Getting to work with Shane Steichen and his RPO-based offense should do wonders for him. There’s potential that he takes a massive step forward.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Round 1 | 27th Overall: Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
There were rumors that Harrison could have been selected as 12th overall to a team such as the Raiders. That was when the Raiders were exploring trade down scenarios from the 7th pick to the 12th pick. However, that didn’t happen and Harrison ended up falling into the lap of the Jaguars. With Jawaan Taylor gone and Cam Robinson suspended, it’s expected for Harrison to be a plug-and-play tackle. He’s got good length (34 ⅛” arms) with active hands and an aggressive play style. It wouldn’t be surprising if he becomes the team’s long-term answer at left tackle.
Kansas City Chiefs
Round 4 | 119th Overall: Chamarri Conner, DB, Virginia Tech
I liked a lot of what the Chiefs did during this year’s draft but I really think they found something with Chamarri Conner. He’s an explosive athlete with a 40.5” vertical and can run the 40-yard dash in 4.51 seconds. Whether he’s playing safety or covering the slot, I love the aggressive style of play he possesses. His speed will get tested and he’ll miss tackles but he’s physical at the catch point and could make life difficult for tight ends.
Las Vegas Raiders
Round 2 | 35th Overall: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
One of the more overlooked prospects during the 2023 NFL Draft was Michael Mayer from Notre Dame. Consistently productive and a skilled route runner, he can provide a team the plug-and-play ability at tight end. The Raiders moved on from Darren Waller and needed another weapon in the passing game. They’ll get that here with Mayer, who should be able to produce consistently underneath with stick routes, on mesh concepts and he’ll be a weapon in the red-zone.
Los Angeles Chargers
Round 5 | 156th Overall: Jordan McFadden, IOL, Clemson
Late to the process on McFadden, I really liked what I saw from him. Even though he’s only 6-foot-2, he’s got 34” arms and held his own at left tackle in the ACC. He’ll probably be more of a guard in the NFL but he goes to an ideal spot with the Chargers. With McFadden, he consistently displayed the ability to torque defenders and was impressive with reach blocks and how he operated in space. There’s potential for him to be a starter down the road.
Los Angeles Rams
Round 3 | 77th Overall: Byron Young, EDGE, Tennessee
With how the Rams roster is structured, it wouldn’t be surprising if Young became a starter sooner rather than later. There’s a ton of potential within his game and it all starts with his explosiveness and motor. He’ll need to get stronger with his lower half so he’s not knocked off his path as easy during his pass-rush but he could be a successful pass-rusher from the jump. It’s rare to have a 25-year old rookie be a key piece to a rebuild but the Rams are in position to do that as Young has a lot to offer them off-the-edge.
Miami Dolphins
Round 3 | 84th Overall: Devon Achane, RB, Texas A&M
For a team that only had four picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, it’s hard not to like what the Dolphins were able to do. My favorite is Achane at this spot. There’s much to be desired with his skill-set in the Dolphins offense. He’s got breakaway speed and is a perfect fit for their zone offense. He runs hard and should create plenty of mismatches with an offense that already features Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill.
Minnesota Vikings
Round 1 | 23rd Overall: Jordan Addison, WR, USC
My top ranked receiver in the 2023 NFL Draft was Jordan Addison and he went to a perfect landing spot in Minnesota. Addison is a terrific route runner and should be heavily featured in the short and intermediate areas of the field. Meanwhile, he’ll compliment Justin Jefferson well in their offense. Addison doesn’t have breakaway speed and isn’t overly explosive but he plays harder than he tested and could easily be a candidate for OROY in the NFL.
New England Patriots
Round 1 | 17th Overall: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
The Patriots draft was very Patriot-like. They got their guys and had a few different players fall into their laps. None better than my top ranked corner in the 2023 NFL Draft with Christian Gonzalez at 17th overall. There have been questions about Gonzalez and his “love” for the game but I do believe the Patriots will get the best out of him. He’s got the speed and fluidity to run with receivers, meanwhile, he’s got the desired length to consistently compete at the catch point.
New Orleans Saints
Round 6 | 195th Overall: A.T. Perry, WR, Wake Forest
Shoutout to my colleague, D-Bro, because his team crushed it this year. It was hard for me to narrow this down to one player but I’ll go with Perry out of Wake Forest. Reason being is that he might get a chance to start as a rookie. There’s some uncertainty on the receiver depth chart after Chris Olave and Michael Thomas so Perry should get a chance to earn his spot. He’s been highly productive over the last two years despite a high number of drops. He tracks the ball well and works efficiently over the middle of the field. He’s got the size and athletic ability to play inside or outside and ultimately, I like that Derek Carr is throwing him the ball.
New York Giants
Round 5 | 172nd Overall: Eric Gray, RB, Oklahoma
It’s hard not to like what the Giants did with their draft, especially the first four picks they had. While I’d love to go into detail about Deonte Banks and why he was the correct pick, I will say that Eric Gray is sneaky good for them. He’s going to compliment Saquon Barkley well and he gives them an alternative if a contract extension stalls. For Gray, he doesn’t have breakaway speed and isn’t as dynamic as Barkley. However, he’s a great pass-catcher and makes some of the more impressive cuts of any running back in this class. He should be an efficient option for an offense that just needs more weapons.
New York Jets
Round 4 | 120th Overall: Carter Warren, OT, Pittsburgh
Almost went with their first round pick of Will McDonald but instead, I’m going to go with the value play. Had it not been for the torn ACL, we would have been talking about Carter Warren as a day two pick all day long. He’s an athletic tackle that plays patient and consistently displays good footwork in pass protection. For a team that needed help at offensive tackle, they get a great option for depth with the potential to eventually start.
Philadelphia Eagles
Round 3 | 65th Overall: Tyler Steen, OT, Alabama
I can’t pick all of them and the first rounders are layups. I need to go into detail about Tyler Steen from Alabama because he’s a perfect fit for the Eagles offense. He’s a strong offensive lineman that has the length to consistently lock out and torque defenders. His anchor will get tested from time to time but he finds ways to sink his feet into the ground and hold his own against the opposition. With his thick frame, there’s potential for Steen to move to guard and it wouldn’t surprise me if he started there for the Eagles as a rookie.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Round 2 | 49th Overall: Keeanu Benton, IDL, Wisconsin
Another team where I can’t pick all of their selections. Like the Eagles, the Steelers had a great draft and things are good in the state of Pennsylvania. With this selection, I love the addition of Benton to this Steelers defensive line. He should be a plug-and-play starter for them. He plays with great leverage and is explosive off-the-snap. Meanwhile, he showcases the ability to win with push-pull moves and swim moves. Putting him next to Cameron Heyward should do wonders for his career and this defensive line.
San Francisco 49ers
Round 5 | 173rd Overall: Robert Beal Jr., EDGE, Georgia
Maybe I’ll be wrong but I didn’t particularly love what the 49ers did in the draft. I think they found some nice depth pieces but I think there’s limitations on the potential of each pick. That said, Robert Beal Jr., flashed when he was given snaps at Georgia. He’s an intriguing height-weight-speed player for their defense and fits the type of pass-rushers they look for. I love the power he plays with and he almost has 35” arms that make it easy for him to create separation consistently. He’s a developmental prospect but I like his fit with the 49ers for that development.
Seattle Seahawks
Round 1 | 20th Overall: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
The Seahawks also had a great draft with tons of value and immediate impact players. One of those players could very well be JSN from Ohio State. He plays faster than he tested and his 6.57 time in the 3-cone drill supports that. I love what he provides with pre-snap motions of jet and orbit motions. There could be some mismatch potential there if the Seahawks use him properly. He’ll fit nicely between Metcalf and Lockett and should provide immediate contributions out of the slot. Health will be the biggest concern with him but the pressure of not having to be a number one receiver should help with his transition to the NFL.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Round 1 | 19th Overall: Calijah Kancey, IDL, Pittsburgh
If there was anywhere that I felt like Kancey should go in the draft, this was the spot. He’s an outlier at only 281 pounds for a defensive lineman but he’s so quick and explosive between the tackles. He fires off the ball with ease and always has a plan of attack whenever he’s threatening the backfield.Pairing him with Vita Vea should allow him many 1-on-1 opportunities with guards and centers. I’d expect Kancey to be versatile and productive in this Buccaneers defense from day one.
Tennessee Titans
Round 1 | 11th Overall: Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern
I like what the Titans did but didn’t love what they did. Much of that will lean on the success of quarterback Will Levis. I like his fit in Tennessee and I see the potential with him but their wide receiver room is putrid. However, Skoronski with the 11th overall pick is a great selection. He provides guard and tackle flexibility for a team that desperately needs it. His 32 ¼” arms might force him to move to guard but Skoronski is a technician and had the best overall technique of any tackle in the class. I could see him sticking at tackle for the Titans.
Washington Commanders
Round 2 | 47th Overall: Jartavius Martin, CB, Illinois
It’s rare to see a team double-down at defensive back but that was the Commanders biggest area of need in the draft so it made sense. While I like the fit of Forbes, I do believe that Jartavius Martin could provide an immediate impact as their nickel. Martin is versatile with 4.46 speed and a 44” vertical. Highly explosive and productive (3 interceptions and 11 pass breakups in 2022), he’s got fluid hips to turn and run with receivers while having the aggressiveness needed to disengage from blocks to contribute in stopping the run.
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