2023 NFL Draft Grades for All 31 First-Round Picks

The first round of the 2023 NFL Draft was as wild as any in recent memory.

The first round of the 2023 NFL Draft was as wild as any in recent memory, as trades and the shock of Kentucky quarterback Will Levis dropping completely out of the first round added to the fervor of 125,000 screaming fans at Kansas City’s Union Station. It was a pretty thrilling ride from start to finish, with 31 picks in total after the Miami Dolphins had their pick taken away.

While we totally understand it will be a few years until we can say for sure whether these picks were inspired or total busts, we can make some way-too-early grades based on the value versus the spot they were drafted and, in the case of one team, how they seem to have blown it from the jump.

Here are our grades for all 31 first-round picks in the 2023 NFL Draft.

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1. Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young, Quarterback

Vasha Hunt / AP Photo

Way-Too-Early Grade: B

Born: July 25, 2001 (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

High School: Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana, California)

College: Alabama

Height/weight: 5-foot-10, 200 pounds

Career highlights: CFP National Champion (2020), Heisman Trophy (2021), Maxwell Award (2021), Davey O’Brien Award (2021), Manning Award (2021), AP College Football Player of the Year (2021), Sporting News College Football Player of the Year (2021), SEC Offensive Player of the Year (2021), SEC Championship Game MVP (2021), Sugar Bowl MVP (2022), two-time All-SEC (2021, 2022)

Bottom line: The Carolina Panthers pretty much gave away the store to get the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and took Alabama’s Bryce Young, the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner.

There aren’t a lot of negatives to taking either player, but Young gets the slight edge here. His level of maturity has truly been something to behold over his two seasons as a starter for Alabama, going 23-4. The big knock on Young is his height, but he seems like a quarterback who can turn the Panthers into a winner within a few years.

Check out Bryce Young’s rookie jersey and all the latest Carolina Panthers gear.

2. Houston Texans: C.J. Stroud, Quarterback

Jay LaPrete / AP Photo

Way-Too-Early Grade: C

Born: Oct. 3, 2001 (Rancho Cucamonga, California)

High School: Rancho Cucamonga High School (Rancho Cucamonga, California)

College: Ohio State

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 214 pounds

Career highlights: Two-time AP All-American (2021, 2022), two-time All-Big Ten (2021, 2022), two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year (2021, 2022), two-time Big Ten Quarterback of the Year (2021, 2022), Big Ten Freshman of the Year (2021), two-time All-Big Ten (2021, 2022)

Bottom line: C.J. Stroud didn’t do himself any favors with his interviews at the NFL Combine when he declared himself the best player in college football the last two seasons (he wasn’t) and picked Michael Vick and Deshaun Watson as two quarterbacks he’s going to model his career after.

Stroud was definitely electric the last two seasons at Ohio State, but it’s worth pointing out that Ohio State quarterbacks are generally not very good when they get to the NFL — a pattern that dates back almost 50 years. The last two Ohio State quarterbacks drafted in the first round, the late Dwayne Haskins (2015) and Justin Fields (2020), were a combined 8-30 in NFL starts through the end of the 2022 regular season.

Check out C.J. Stroud’s rookie jersey and all the latest Houston Texans gear.

3. Houston Texans: Will Anderson Jr., Linebacker

Vasha Hunt / AP Photo

Way-Too-Early Grade: B+

Born: Sept. 2, 2001 (Hampton, Georgia)

High School: Dutchtown High School (Hampton, Georgia)

College: Alabama

Height/weight: 6-foot-4. 243 pounds

Career highlights: CFP National Champion (2020), Lombardi Award (2022), two-time Nagurski Trophy (2021, 2022), Bednarik Award (2022), Lott Trophy (2022), two-time SEC Defensive Player of the Year (2021, 2022), two-time AP All-American (2021, 2022), three-time All-SEC (2020-22), Cotton Bowl MVP (2021)

Bottom line: Will Anderson Jr. has been the dominant defensive player in college football for the last three seasons, but the Texans trading up to get him at No. 3 after selecting quarterback C.J. Stroud at No. 2 puts some unneeded pressure on Anderson to be an All-Pro sooner than later. He’s probably up to the task, but the move was still a stunner on draft day.

There’s little Anderson can’t do on the defensive side of the ball, from playing the traditional linebacker role to rushing the passer to dropping into pass coverage, where he can match up with the NFL’s freakish tight ends.

Check out Will Anderson Jr.’s rookie jersey and all the latest Houston Texans gear.

4. Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Richardson, Quarterback

Phelan M. Ebenhack / AP Photo

Way-Too-Early Grade: C+

Born: May 22, 2001 (Miami, Florida)

High School: Eastside High School (Gainesville, Florida)

College: Florida

Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 232 pounds

Career highlights: None

Bottom line: Sometimes, a player can have such amazing physical attributes and potential that they become a phenomenon heading into the NFL Draft — to the point where people watching them play actually begin to question their own sanity.

Such is the case with Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson, who went 6-6 in his only season as the full-time starter for the Gators and wound up as the franchise savior for the Indianapolis Colts at the No. 4 overall pick.

How’d we get here? Richardson, a Gainesville native, ran a 4.4-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine and has a cannon for an arm. It might be a minute before the Colts see the fruits of this pick, though. He’s definitely a project. A really cool project, but still a project.

Check out Anthony Richardson’s rookie jersey and all the latest Indianapolis Colts gear.

5. Seattle Seahawks: Devon Witherspoon, Cornerback

Illinois defensive back Devon Witherspoon

Doug McSchooler / AP Photo

Way-Too-Early Grade: A

Born: Dec. 11, 2001 (Pensacola, Florida)

High School: Pine Forest High School (Pensacola, Florida)

College: Illinois

Height/weight: 6-foot, 180 pounds

Career highlights: AP All-American (2022), Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year (2022) All-Big Ten (2022)

Bottom line: The big winner of the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft was the Seattle Seahawks, who got not one but two impact players at skill positions — and if you’re looking for an individual who won the draft, that’s probably their pick at No. 5 overall with Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon.

Take into account that Witherspoon didn’t even start playing football until his junior year at Pensacola’s Pine Forest High and was a zero-star recruit out of high school, and you’ll realize this come-up was something we don’t see very often. He also received high praise after the pick by Seattle head coach Pete Carroll, who compared him to no less than Hall of Famer Troy Polamalu, who Carroll coached at USC.

Check out Devon Witherspoon’s rookie jersey and all the latest Seattle Seahawks gear.

6. Arizona Cardinals: Paris Johnson Jr., Offensive Tackle

Ohio State offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr.

Carlos Osorio / AP Photo

Way-Too-Early Grade: B

Born: July 3. 2001 (Cincinnati, Ohio)

High School: Princeton High School (Sharonville, Ohio)

College: Ohio State

Height/weight: 6-foot-6, 310 pounds

Career highlights: AP All-American (2022), two-time All-Big 12 (2021, 2022)

Bottom line: Paris Johnson was a fill-in starter at left guard as a freshman in 2020, the full-time starter at right guard in 2021 and moved to left tackle in 2022, where he was dominant in protecting quarterback C.J. Stroud. And Johnson became an AP All-American in the most important position on the offensive line.

There’s little left to the imagination as to what this pick means to the Cardinals, with reports of quarterback Kyler Murray essentially telling the coaches and executives to pick Johnson Jr. Which is a bad sign, because that dude shouldn’t be making big decisions for the franchise.

Check out Paris Johnson’s rookie jersey and all the latest Arizona Cardinals gear.

7. Las Vegas Raiders: Tyree Wilson, Defensive End

Justin Rex / AP Photo

Way-Too-Early Grade: B-

Born: May 20, 2000

High School: West Rusk High School (New London, Texas)

Colleges: Texas A&M/Texas Tech

Height/weight: 6-foot-6, 275 pounds

Career highlights: AP All-American (2022), All-Big 12 (2022)

Bottom line: Tyree Wilson thrived under new Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire in 2022, as the Texas A&M transfer turned himself into an All-American and surefire first-round pick as the top-rated pure defensive end in this year’s draft class.

That was enough to entice the Raiders to pick him when many thought they would go with a quarterback for the future in Kentucky’s Will Levis.

Check out Tyree Wilson’s rookie jersey and all the latest Las Vegas Raiders gear.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Bijan Robinson, Running Back

Colin E Braley / AP Photo

Way-Too-Early Grade: B

Born: Jan. 30, 2002 (Tucson, Arizona)

High School: Salpointe Catholic High School (Tucson, Arizona)

College: Texas

Height/weight: 6-foot, 220 pounds

Career highlights: Doak Walker Award (2022), AP All-American (2022), two-time All-Big 12 (2021, 2022)

Bottom line: I don’t know if you’ve noticed or not, but running backs aren’t exactly at a premium on NFL teams these days, which makes it kind of an anomaly when a player like Texas star Bijan Robinson plays his way into the first round. In the days leading up to the draft, Robinson seemed to have a tremendous amount of heat and the Atlanta Falcons may have picked a franchise player.

There were two breakout stars last year in regard to rookie running backs with Breece Hall and Kenneth Walker, both second-round picks, and Robinson seems like he could do the same in Atlanta, where expectations will be super low to start.

Check out Bijan Robinson’s rookie jersey and all the latest Atlanta Falcons gear.

9. Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Carter, Defensive Line

Ashley Landis / AP Photo

Way-Too-Early Grade: A

Born: April 4, 2001 (Apopka, Florida)

High School: Apopka High School (Apopka, Florida)

College: Georgia

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 310 pounds

Career highlights: Two-time CFP National Champion (2021, 2022), AP All-American (2022), two-time All-SEC (2021, 2022)

Bottom line: Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter was being talked about as a possible No. 1 overall pick until he was arrested for reckless driving and street racing in an accident that led to the deaths of Georgia football staffer Chandler LeCroy and Georgia offensive lineman Devin Willock.

Carter has denied the allegations, and whatever happens with the case, he’s not likely to do jail time — both charges are misdemeanors. So, when the Philadelphia Eagles picked him at No. 9 overall, it seemed like the biggest steal of the draft and the rich getting richer.

Carter would have been guaranteed around $41 million if he’d have gone No. 1 overall — but he’ll still get about $23 million for falling to No. 9.

Check out Jalen Carter’s rookie jersey and all the latest Philadelphia Eagles gear.

10. Chicago Bears: Darnell Wright, Offensive Tackle

Tennessee offensive lineman Darnell Wright

John Amis / AP Photo

Way-Too-Early Grade: B

Born: Aug. 10, 2001 (Huntington, West Virginia)

High School: Huntington High School (Huntington, West Virginia)

College: Tennessee

Height/weight: 6-foot-6, 335 pounds

Career highlights: All-SEC (2022)

Bottom line: The Chicago Bears needed to find a way to protect their young quarterback, Justin Fields, and Darnell Wright seems like the man for the job at offensive tackle.

Wright fits the bill of what you want out of an NFL offensive lineman — he is massive and powerful and seems to be getting better every year. He could even be a Pro Bowler in a few years with the right coaching.

Check out Darnell Wright’s rookie jersey and all the latest Chicago Bears gear.

11. Tennessee Titans: Peter Skoronski, Offensive Line

Northwestern offensive lineman Peter Skoronski

Kamil Krzaczynski / AP Photo

Way-Too-Early Grade: B

High School: Maine South High School (Park Ridge, Illinois)

College: Northwestern

Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 315 pounds

Career highlights: AP All-American (2022), Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year (2022), three-time All-Big Ten (2020-22)

Bottom line: Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski looks like he could play either guard or tackle in the NFL, and he might end up playing both for the Tennessee Titans after they swooped him up at No. 11 overall.

Skoronski was dominant at Northwestern despite going 1-11 in 2022 when he was still named an AP All-American and the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year. Skoronski won’t be the first NFL offensive lineman in his family, either. His grandfather, Bob Skoronski, played 11 seasons in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers and won five NFL championships, including back-to-back wins in the first two Super Bowls.

Check out Peter Skoronski’s rookie jersey and all the latest Tennessee Titans gear.

12. Detroit Lions: Jahmyr Gibbs, Running Back

Butch Dill / AP Photo

Way-Too-Early Grade: D-

Born: March 20, 2002 (Dalton, Georgia)

High School: Dalton High School (Dalton, Georgia)

Colleges: Georgia Tech/Alabama

Height/weight: 5-foot-9, 200 pounds

Career highlights: AP All-American (2021), All-ACC (2021), All-SEC (2022)

Bottom line: The biggest shock of the first round of the NFL draft — as it was going — was the precipitous drop of Kentucky quarterback Will Levis out of the first round. The second biggest was when the Detroit Lions sucked the air out of the room and selected Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs at No. 12 overall. Even Gibbs couldn’t believe it.

Take into account that the Lions already have two productive running backs on their roster with D’Andre Swift and free agent David Montgomery, who they just signed. The logic here defies the mind, as the Lions could have likely still gotten Gibbs at either No. 18 overall or even at No. 34 overall.

Check out Jahmyr Gibbs’ rookie jersey and all the latest Detroit Lions gear.

13. Green Bay Packers: Lukas Van Ness, Defensive End

Charlie Neibergall / AP Photo

Way-Too-Early Grade: C

Born: July 6, 2001 (Barrington, Illinois)

High School: Barrington High School (Barrington, Illinois)

College: Iowa

Height/weight: 6-foot-5, 275 pounds

Career highlights: All-Big Ten (2022)

Bottom line: The Green Bay Packers stayed true to their brand and provided zero help to their quarterback, now Jordan Love, by selecting Iowa defensive end Lukas Van Ness in the first round and passing on the myriad offensive weapons available.

One thing to keep in mind about Van Ness is that he’s just coming into his own as a football player. In two seasons at Iowa, Van Ness never even started a game but was still a freshman All-American in 2021 and was an All-Big Ten pick in 2022 while putting up 70 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and 13 sacks over two seasons in a limited role.

But let’s be clear, Van Ness not starting makes you wonder more about the Iowa coaching staff — which is super suspect at this point — and not so much his talent.

Check out Lukas Van Ness’ rookie jersey and all the latest Green Bay Packers gear.

14. Pittsburgh Steelers: Broderick Jones, Offensive Tackle

Brynn Anderson / AP Photo

Way-Too-Early Grade: A

Born: May 16, 2001 (Lithonia, Georgia)

High School: Lithonia High School (Lithonia, Georgia)

College: Georgia

Height/weight: 6-foot-5, 310 pounds

Career highlights: Two-time CFP National Champion (2021, 2022), All-SEC (2022)

Bottom line: Broderick Jones was the most sought-after offensive line recruit in the country in 2020 out of Lithonia High School and delivered on that promise as a junior at Georgia in 2022, where he was an All-SEC pick.

Jones impressed at the NFL Draft Combine by running a 4.97-second 40-yard dash, but the more impressive stat for him is probably his time as a starter at Georgia. He took over as left offensive tackle with four games left in the 2021 season and ended his career by starting 19 consecutive games, including two wins in the CFP National Championship Game.

Jones is the perfect protector for second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett — and truly one of the best picks of the entire draft.

Check out Broderick Jones’ rookie jersey and all the latest Pittsburgh Steelers gear.

15. New York Jets: Will McDonald IV, Linebacker

Matthew Putney / AP Photo

Way-Too-Early Grade: C

High School: Waukesha North High School (Waukesha, Wisconsin)

College: Iowa State

Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 240 pounds

Career highlights: Three-time All-Big 12 (2020-22), Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year (2021)

Bottom line: The New York Jets picked a pass-rushing specialist in the first round for the second consecutive year following Jermaine Johnson II in 2022, and Iowa State’s Will McDonald IV could likely compete for reps right away.

The biggest knock on McDonald is his size, as he’s a little light at 240 pounds and can get pushed around at times. If McDonald gets a little stronger, it’s a non-issue, considering that he can make an impact playing without his hand down on the line.

Check out Will McDonald IV’s rookie jersey and all the latest New York Jets gear.

16. Washington Commanders: Emmanuel Forbes, Cornerback

Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes

Vasha Hunt / AP Photo

Way-Too-Early Grade: B

Born: Jan. 13, 2001 (Grenada, Mississippi)

High School: Grenada High School (Grenada, Mississippi)

College: Mississippi State

Height/weight: 6-foot, 166 pounds

Career highlights: AP All-American (2022), two-time All-SEC (2021, 2022), SEC All-Freshman Team (2020)

Bottom line: Some people were surprised the Commanders went with Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes at the No. 16 overall pick since Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez and Penn State’s Joey Porter Jr. were still available, and both rated higher on almost all draft boards.

Forbes is more than suitable right here and a little closer examination shows he may be one of the surprise stars of the draft. Look past the fact that he’s 6-foot and 166 pounds, and focus on the fact Forbes had 14 interceptions in three seasons, returning six of those for touchdowns. Amazing, otherworldly numbers.

Check out Emmanuel Forbes’ rookie jersey and all the latest Washington Commanders gear.

17. New England Patriots: Christian Gonzalez, Cornerback

Oregon defensive back Christian Gonzalez

Andy Nelson / AP Photo

Way-Too-Early Grade: B+

Born: June 28, 2002 (Carrollton, Texas)

High School: The Colony High School (The Colony, Texas)

Colleges: Colorado/Oregon

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 201 pounds

Career highlights: All-Pac-12 (2022)

Bottom line: The son of a former Division I basketball player and the brother of three sisters who were all Division I All-Americans in track and field, Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez had a breakout season in 2022, with 45 tackles, seven pass breakups and three interceptions on the way to All-Pac-12 honors.

Gonzalez transferred to Oregon after two seasons at Colorado and shined at the NFL Combine, where he ran a 4.38-second 40-yard dash to go with a 41.4-inch vertical leap and a broad jump of 11-foot-1.

The Patriots traded down and still got a player some projected to go in the Top 10, and now Gonzalez gets to go learn from arguably the greatest defensive mind in NFL history in New England head coach Bill Belichick.

Check out Christian Gonzalez’s rookie jersey and all the latest New England Patriots gear.

18. Detroit Lions: Jack Campbell, Linebacker

Charlie Neibergall / AP Photo

Way-Too-Early Grade: D

Born: Aug. 22, 2000 (Cedar Falls, Iowa)

High School: Cedar Falls High School (Cedar Falls, Iowa)

College: Iowa

Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 255 pounds

Career highlights: Butkus Award winner (2022), AP All-American (2022), Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year (2022), Big Ten Linebacker of the Year (2022), two-time All-Big Ten (2021, 2022)

Bottom line: The Detroit Lions cemented their status as the biggest losers of the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft by taking Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell with the No. 18 overall pick — one of two picks the Lions had in the top 20.

This isn’t so much of a knock on Campbell’s talent but more on the fact that the Lions could have probably selected him in the second or third round. No team took a bigger L on draft day.

Check out Jack Campbell’s rookie jersey and all the latest Detroit Lions gear.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Calijah Kancey, Defensive Tackle

Pittsburgh defensive lineman Calijah Kancey

Keith Srakocic / AP Photo

Way-Too-Early Grade: B

Born: March 1, 2001 (Miami, Florida)

High School: Miami Northwestern High School (Miami, Florida)

College: Pittsburgh

Height/weight: 6-foot, 280 pounds

Career highlights: AP All-American (2022), ACC Defensive Player of the Year (2022), two-time All-ACC (2021, 2022)

Bottom line: At 6-foot, 280 pounds, Pitt’s Calijah Kancey is not the prototypical NFL defensive tackle. Thank goodness the Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn’t care.

Another former Pitt standout, Aaron Donald, wasn’t typical for size at his position either but has become one of the greatest players in NFL history and arguably the league’s greatest defensive tackle/nose guard who ever played the game.

We should also point out that Kancey was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 despite missing the final two games of the season with a shoulder injury.

Check out Calijah Kancey’s rookie jersey and all the latest Tampa Bay Buccaneers gear.

20. Seattle Seahawks: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Wide Receiver

Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Mark J. Terrill / AP Photo

Way-Too-Early Grade: A

Born: Feb. 14, 2002 (Dallas, Texas)

High School: Rockwall High School (Rockwall, Texas)

College: Ohio State

Height/weight: 6-foot, 198 pounds

Career highlights: Rose Bowl Offensive MVP (2021), AP All-American (2021), All-Big Ten (2021)

Bottom line: The Seattle Seahawks cemented their status as the big winner in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft by taking two impact players with cornerback Devon Witherspoon at No. 5 and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (JSN) at No. 20.

JSN only played three games for Ohio State in 2022 because of a hamstring injury but was the dominant wide receiver in college football in 2021, earning All-American honors and setting the FBS record with 347 receiving yards and three touchdowns in the 2022 Rose Bowl win over Utah. For the season, he had 1,607 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.

The younger brother of Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Canaan Smith-Njigba, JSN has the ideal size for an NFL wide receiver and appeared to have recovered from his injury at the 2023 NFL Combine, even though he didn’t run the 40-yard dash.

Check out Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s rookie jersey and all the latest Seattle Seahawks gear.

21. Los Angeles Chargers: Quentin Johnson, Wide Receiver

Alonzo Adams / AP Photo

Way-Too-Early Grade: B-

Born: Sept. 6, 2001 (Temple, Texas)

High School: Temple High School (Temple, Texas)

College: TCU

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 210 pounds

Career highlights: Two-time All-Big 12 (2021, 2022)

Bottom line: No college wide receiver was more impressive in 2022 than TCU’s Quentin Johnston, who racked up 60 receptions for 1,069 yards and six touchdowns as he helped lead his team to an improbable spot in the CFP National Championship Game. Now, he’s going to get a chance to catch passes from one of the NFL’s best young quarterbacks in Justin Herbert.

Johnston doesn’t play like a traditional wide receiver and seems more like a tight end at times, but the one thing you can’t deny is how productive he’s been or how athletic he is. He registered a 41-inch vertical jump and 11-foot-2 broad jump at the NFL Combine but declined to run the 40-yard dash.

Check out Quentin Johnson’s rookie jersey and all the latest Los Angeles Chargers gear.

22. Baltimore Ravens: Zay Flowers, Wide Receiver

Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers

Mark Stockwell / AP Photo

Way-Too-Early Grade: B+

Born: Sept. 11, 2000 (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)

High School: NSU University School (Davie, Florida)

College: Boston College

Height/weight: 5-foot-9, 182 pounds

Career highlights: Three-time All-ACC (2020-22)

Bottom line: Boston College isn’t exactly a hotspot for college football wide receivers, but Zay Flowers made the most of it, becoming just the second player at his position to earn first-team All-ACC honors in Boston College history and the first wide receiver from the school taken in the first round.

The Baltimore Ravens had quite a day on the first round of the NFL Draft, announcing they’d signed quarterback Lamar Jackson to a five-year, $250 million contract just hours before the draft started. Then, they gifted him with an elite playmaker in the first round.

Check out Zay Flowers’ rookie jersey and all the latest Baltimore Ravens gear.

23. Minnesota Vikings: Jordan Addison, Wide Receiver

Southern California wide receiver Jordan Addison

Rick Bowmer / AP Photo

Way-Too-Early Grade: B+

Born: Jan. 27, 2002 (Frederick, Maryland)

High School: Tuscarora High School (Frederick, Maryland)

College: USC

Height/weight: 6-foot, 175 pounds

Career highlights: Biletnikoff Award (2021), AP All-American (2021), All-Pac-12 (2022), All-ACC (2021)

Bottom line: It’s scary to think of Jordan Addison paired with Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson — this could quickly be one of the NFL’s elite receiver duos.

After he won the Biletnikoff Award in 2021 at Pitt, Addison transferred to USC and was great … when he played. He had 39 receptions for 585 yards and seven touchdowns in just seven games in 2022 because of injuries.

Check out Jordan Addison’s rookie jersey and all the latest Minnesota Vikings gear.

24. New York Giants: Deonte Banks, Cornerback

Nick Wass / AP Photo

Way-Too-Early Grade: C-

High School: Edgewood High School (Edgewood, Maryland)

College: Maryland

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 205 pounds

Career highlights: All-Big Ten (2022)

Bottom line: Maryland native Deonte Banks is a great example of taking one decent year of college football, pairing it with an out-of-this-world NFL Combine performance and turning yourself into a first-round draft pick, with the New York Giants swooping up the athletic freakshow.

Banks battled injuries through his first two seasons at the University of Maryland before finally putting together a full year in 2022 when he had 38 tackles, one interception and eight pass deflections before leaving school early for the NFL Draft.

At the combine, Banks wowed the scouts by running a 4.35-second 40-yard dash to go with a 42-inch vertical leap and a broad jump of 11-foot-4 — all big-time numbers. The stats just make us pause a little bit. We need more production.

Check out Deonte Banks’ rookie jersey and all the latest New York Giants gear.

25. Buffalo Bills: Dalton Kincaid, Tight End

Rick Scuteri / AP Photo

Way-Too-Early Grade: C

Born: Oct. 18, 1999 (Las Vegas, Nevada)

High School: Faith Lutheran High School (Summerlin, Nevada)

Colleges: San Diego (Division III)/Utah

Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 240 pounds

Career highlights: All-Pac-12 (2022), AP All-American (2022), All-PFL (2019)

Bottom line: Dalton Kincaid only played one game in Utah’s pandemic-shortened 2020 season but was a breakout star in 2021, with 36 receptions for 510 yards and eight touchdowns in 2021. Then, he proved to be no fluke with 70 receptions for 890 yards and eight touchdowns in 2022.

Kincaid is just the sort of weapon the Bills and quarterback Josh Allen can put to good use, but he’s not really a tight end and instead more of a wide receiver. He needs to get a little stronger so he can be used in a wider variety of sets. It makes you kind of wonder why he was picked over Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer.

Check out Dalton Kincaid’s rookie jersey and all the latest Buffalo Bills gear.

26. Dallas Cowboys: Mazi Smith, Defensive Tackle

Paul Sancya / AP Photo

Way-Too-Early Grade: B+

Born: June 16, 2001 (Grand Rapids, Michigan)

High School: East Kentwood High School (Kentwood, Michigan)

College: Michigan

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 323 pounds

Career highlights: All-Big Ten (2022)

Bottom line: One of the funnier things we see watching the NFL Draft is the live look-ins on the various war rooms around the NFL celebrating wildly once their picks go in. In the case of the Dallas Cowboys, it seemed like an extended celebration — we realized why once we saw the Cowboys picked Michigan defensive tackle Mazi Smith.

The Cowboys have an elite, possibly generation linebacker in Micah Parsons and just need someone to keep offensive linemen off of him for a split second. Smith is that dude. Great pick.

Check out Mazi Smith’s rookie jersey and all the latest Dallas Cowboys gear.

27. Jacksonville Jaguars: Anton Harrison, Offensive Tackle

Oklahoma offensive lineman Anton Harrison

Charlie Neibergall / AP Photo

Way-Too-Early Grade: C+

Born: Feb. 2, 2002 (Washington, D.C.)

High School: Archbishop Carroll High School (Washington, D.C.)

College: Oklahoma

Height/weight: 6-foot-5, 315 pounds

Career highlights: All-Big 12 (2022), AP All-American (2022)

Bottom line: It should come as no surprise that the Jacksonville Jaguars want to stock up on talented offensive linemen with one of the NFL’s up-and-coming young quarterbacks in 2021 No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence running the show.

Oklahoma’s Anton Harrison is about to get thrown into the fire on a team that wants to be back in the playoffs.

Check out Anton Harrison’s rookie jersey and all the latest Jacksonville Jaguars gear.

28. Cincinnati Bengals: Myles Murphy, Defensive End

Jacob Kupferman / AP Photo

Way-Too-Early Grade: B+

Born: Jan. 3, 2002 (Marietta, Georgia)

High School: Hillgrove High School (Powder Springs, Georgia)

College: Clemson

Height/weight: 6-foot-5, 275 pounds

Career highlights: Two-time All-ACC (2021, 2022)

Bottom line: Myles Murphy dropped like a rock in the first round despite being high on most Big Boards for NFL Draft projections, so this is a high-value pick for the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 28 overall. It was hard to imagine a defensive front in the NFL where Murphy wouldn’t eventually find a spot, and Cincy is no different.

Murphy was dominant from the start at Clemson, where he’s been tagged as a first-round pick from about the moment he stepped on campus. That’s because he was productive in all three seasons at Clemson, finishing his career with 116 tackles, 36.0 tackles for loss and 18.5 sacks, and he had double-digit tackles for loss each year.

Check out Myles Murphy’s rookie jersey and all the latest Cincinnati Bengals gear.

29. New Orleans Saints: Bryan Bresee, Defensive Tackle

Gerald Herbert / AP Photo

Way-Too-Early Grade: B-

Born: Oct. 6, 2001 (Damascus, Maryland)

High School: Damascus High School (Damascus, Maryland)

College: Clemson

Height/weight: 6-foot-5, 290 pounds

Career highlights: ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year (2020), three-time All-ACC (2020-22)

Bottom line: Bryan Bresee has been pegged as a first-round pick since he was at Damascus High School and rated as the No. 1 recruit in the nation before he was a three-time All-ACC selection for Clemson.

One thing that sticks out about Bresee is … for as good as he is, he isn’t very productive when it comes to stats. He only had 64 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss and 9.0 sacks in three seasons, which likely precipitated his drop to the bottom of the first round.

Compare his stats to another Clemson defensive tackle picked in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Christian Wilkins, who had 159 tackles, 36 tackles for loss and 15.0 sacks in his final three seasons.

Check out Bryan Bresee’s rookie jersey and all the latest New Orleans Saints gear.

30. Philadelphia Eagles: Nolan Smith, Defensive End/Linebacker

Chris Carlson / AP Photo

Way-Too-Early Grade: B+

Born: Jan. 18, 2001 (Savannah, Georgia)

High School: IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida)

College: Georgia

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 235 pounds

Career highlights: Two-time CFP National Champion (2021, 2022)

Bottom line: Nolan Smith was a dominant defensive end/linebacker for Georgia on back-to-back national championship teams in 2021 and 2022 despite missing the last few months of his senior season with a torn pectoral muscle. All of this led to him going No. 30 overall to the Philadelphia Eagles as the second Georgia defensive player taken in the first round following defensive tackle Jalen Carter.

While missing games because of injury may have hurt Smith’s draft stock, he got back most of that when the Georgia native ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. It was the second-fastest time for a defensive lineman in the last 20 years.

Check out Nolan Smith’s rookie jersey and all the latest Philadelphia Eagles gear.

31. Kansas City Chiefs: Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Defensive End

Kansas State defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah

Nate Billings / AP

Way-Too-Early Grade: B

Born: Jan. 24, 2002 (Kansas City, Missouri)

High School: Lee’s Summitt High School (Lee’s Summitt, Missouri)

College: Kansas State

Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 255 pounds

Career highlights: AP All-American (2022), Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year (2022), two-time Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year (2021, 2022), two-time All-Big 12 (2021, 2022)

Bottom line: The Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs kicked off the NFL Draft in their backyard by bringing out quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce with the Lombardi Trophy, then finished things off with the final pick of the first round.

The Chiefs turned that pick into the first round’s feel-good story by drafting hometown-hero Felix Anudike-Uzomah, who was born and raised in Kansas City and played college football just a few hours away at Kansas State. Anudike-Uzomah was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2022, as he led the Wildcats to the Big 12 championship.

Check out Felix Anudike-Uzomah’s rookie jersey and all the latest Kansas City Chiefs gear.