{"id":53461,"date":"2023-04-28T17:41:52","date_gmt":"2023-04-28T16:41:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fiveminutesspare.com\/nfl\/?p=53461"},"modified":"2023-04-28T17:41:52","modified_gmt":"2023-04-28T16:41:52","slug":"2023-nfl-draft-round-one-grades-who-came-top","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fiveminutesspare.com\/nfl\/2023-nfl-draft-round-one-grades-who-came-top\/","title":{"rendered":"2023 NFL Draft Round One Grades Who Came Top?"},"content":{"rendered":"

1 CAROLINA PANTHERS<\/strong>:<\/strong> QB BRYCE YOUNG, ALABAMA<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Grade: A<\/strong><\/p>\n

Carolina moved up to No. 1 for a reason \u2013 to grab their future franchise quarterback. To us, Young is Kyler Murray with a better work ethic and attitude. Nothing is guaranteed in the NFL but this looks like a solid pick.<\/p>\n

2 HOUSTON TEXANS: QB\u00a0C.J. STROUD, OHIO STATE<\/h2>\n

Grade: A<\/strong><\/p>\n

We thought they might decide to pass on a QB here in favour of Will Anderson but as it turned out they decided to double-dip and get him anyway. Davis Mills was never the answer under centre, so this is a solid pick.<\/p>\n

3 HOUSTON TEXANS\u00a0(VIA\u00a0AZizona): EDGE\u00a0WILL ANDERSON JR., ALABAMA<\/h2>\n

\u00a0Grade: B+<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Texans got their man but paid an exorbitant price. Anderson should mature into a regular All-Pro but giving up this year’s picks 12 & 33 (33 is almost a first this year given the Dolphins forfeited theirs) and their 1st<\/sup> & 3rd next year is a lot! Still, maybe they will strike lucky with the 4th<\/sup> rounder they got back.<\/p>\n

4\u00a0INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: QB\u00a0ANTHONY RICHARDSON, FLORIDA<\/h2>\n

Grade: B+<\/strong><\/p>\n

The ultimate boom or bust pick. This will either look inspired or boneheaded in three years\u2019 time depending on how the Colts handle things. He doesn\u2019t look ready to step into the starting role but if given enough time to learn he could be better than Lamar Jackson.<\/p>\n

5\u00a0SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: CB\u00a0DEVON WITHERSPOON, ILLINOIS<\/h2>\n

Grade: A+<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Seahawks took advantage of the run on QBs to snag arguably the best DB in the draft. We would have gone with Gonzalez but Witherspoon looks like a sure thing.<\/p>\n

6\u00a0ARIZONA CARDINALS\u00a0(VIA\u00a0DET): OT\u00a0PARIS JOHNSON JR., OHIO STATE<\/h2>\n

Grade: B+<\/strong><\/p>\n

Solid pick and even better given the extra draft capital they have acquired from the trades.<\/p>\n

7\u00a0LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: EDGE\u00a0TYREE WILSON, TEXAS TECH<\/h2>\n

Grade: C<\/strong><\/p>\n

Maybe a little high especially given there were arguably better options available<\/p>\n

8\u00a0ATLANTA FALCONS: RB\u00a0BIJAN ROBINSON, TEXAS<\/h2>\n

Grade: C-<\/strong><\/p>\n

Great player but they could probably have traded down and still got him.<\/p>\n

9\u00a0PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: DL\u00a0JALEN CARTER, GEORGIA<\/h2>\n

Grade: A+<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are a few off-field issues but whatever he is worth the risk here. Arguably the top player in the draft and one that should help anchor the Eagles’ line for several years.<\/p>\n

10\u00a0CHICAGO BEARS: OT\u00a0DARNELL WRIGHT, TENNESSEE<\/h2>\n

Grade: C+<\/strong><\/p>\n

Then needed OL help but we rate Skoronski higher.<\/p>\n

11\u00a0TENNESSEE TITANS: OL\u00a0PETER SKORONSKI, NORTHWESTERN<\/h2>\n

Grade: A<\/strong><\/p>\n

Great pick as Skoronski can play tackle or guard.<\/p>\n

12\u00a0DETROIT LIONS\u00a0(VIA\u00a0ARZ): RB\u00a0JAHMYR GIBBS, ALABAMA<\/h2>\n

Grade: D+<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gibbs is a solid prospect but the 12th<\/sup> pick?<\/p>\n

13\u00a0GREEN BAY PACKERS\u00a0(VIA\u00a0NYJ): EDGE\u00a0LUKAS VAN NESS, IOWA<\/h2>\n

Grade: B<\/strong><\/p>\n

This may not go down well with GB fans, however, with Gary injured and Smith hitting 31 it is a solid pick. He has the size and athleticism to be special in a year or two.<\/p>\n

14\u00a0PITTSBURGH STEELERS\u00a0(VIA\u00a0NE): OT\u00a0BRODERICK JONES, GEORGIA<\/h2>\n

Grade: C<\/strong><\/p>\n

Not sure the Steelers needed to trade up to get him. They need a Corner badly and there were a couple of good ones still available.<\/p>\n

15 NEW YORK JETS\u00a0(VIA\u00a0GB): EDGE\u00a0WILL MCDONALD IV, IOWA STATE<\/h2>\n

Grade: C+<\/strong><\/p>\n

Not sure the Jets really needed to go D here but as the best Tackles were gone it sort of makes sense.<\/p>\n

16\u00a0WASHINGTON COMMANDERS: CB\u00a0EMMANUEL FORBES,\u00a0 MISSISSIPPI STATE<\/h2>\n

Grade: B+<\/strong><\/p>\n

We had Forbes going in this range but were surprised that they took him over Gonzalez<\/p>\n

17\u00a0NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS\u00a0(VIA\u00a0PIT): CB\u00a0CHRISTIAN GONZALEZ, OREGON<\/h2>\n

Grade: A+<\/strong><\/p>\n

Trading down and still getting arguably the best corner in the draft. What’s not to like especially given DB was a huge need.<\/p>\n

18\u00a0DETROIT LIONS: LB\u00a0JACK CAMPBELL, IOWA<\/h2>\n

Grade: B<\/strong><\/p>\n

Campbell is big strong and quick. The Lions are quietly assembling a pretty good defense.<\/p>\n

19\u00a0TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: DL\u00a0CALIJAH KANCEY, PITTSBURGH<\/h2>\n

Grade: B<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Buccs need to improve their pass rush and he should contribute from day one.<\/p>\n

20\u00a0SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: WR\u00a0JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA, OHIO STATE<\/h2>\n

Grade: A+<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jaxon Smith-Njigba is a steal here. Geno Smith must be rubbing his hands!<\/p>\n

21 LOS ANGELES CHARGERS: WR\u00a0QUENTIN JOHNSTON, TCU<\/h2>\n

Grade: B+<\/strong><\/p>\n

Has a bit f DK Metcalf look about him \u2013 big and strong. If he can stop dropping passes this could look like a very good move.<\/p>\n

22\u00a0BALTIMORE RAVENS: WR\u00a0ZAY FLOWERS, BOSTON COLLEGE<\/h2>\n

Grade: C+<\/strong><\/p>\n

Small but beautifully formed he will complement the Ravens’ existing WR room.<\/p>\n

23\u00a0MINNESOTA VIKINGS: WR\u00a0JORDAN ADDISON, USC<\/h2>\n

Grade: B+<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Viking’s offense should be fun to watch this year. Addison & Justin Jefferson could make a formidable pairing.<\/p>\n

24\u00a0NEW YORK GIANTS\u00a0(VIA\u00a0JAX): CB\u00a0DEONTE BANKS, MARYLAND<\/h2>\n

Grade: C+<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Giants needed help here but not sure they needed to trade up to get him<\/p>\n

25\u00a0BUFFALO BILLS\u00a0(VIA\u00a0JAX): TE\u00a0DALTON KINCAID, UTAH<\/h2>\n

Grade: A+<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Bills must be delighted at getting Kincaid here. The small trade-up was worth it.<\/p>\n

26\u00a0DALLAS COWBOYS: DL\u00a0MAZI SMITH, MICHIGAN<\/h2>\n

Grade: C+<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Cowboys need a run-stopper and maybe Smith is the answer. We are not too sure especially this high.<\/p>\n

27\u00a0JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: OT\u00a0ANTON HARRISON, OKLAHOMA<\/h2>\n

Grade: A-<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fills a need and they also added some extra draft picks by trading back.<\/p>\n

28\u00a0CINCINNATI BENGALS: EDGE\u00a0MYLES MURPHY, CLEMSON<\/h2>\n

Grade: B-<\/strong><\/p>\n

Myles Murphy could be great but similarly could be a bust. Worth a punt here and we think he will progress.<\/p>\n

29\u00a0NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: DL BRYAN BRESEE, CLEMSON<\/h2>\n

Grade: B<\/strong><\/p>\n

Versatile D linemen are always worth adding and although the Saints have needs all over this sort of makes sense.<\/p>\n

30\u00a0PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: EDGE\u00a0NOLAN SMITH, GEORGIA<\/h2>\n

Grade: A+<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Eagles must have been surprised to see him fall this far. Their defense should be special again in 2023 and Smith will play his part.<\/p>\n

31\u00a0KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: EDGE\u00a0FELIX ANUDIKE-UZOMAH, KANSAS STATE<\/h2>\n

Grade: C<\/strong><\/p>\n

Anudike-Uzomah has progressed nicely season by in college but it\u2019s a little surprising to see him go in round one. Still, the Chiefs are stacked so have the luxury of adding more pass rush.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

1 CAROLINA PANTHERS: QB BRYCE YOUNG, ALABAMA Grade: A Carolina moved up to No. 1 for a reason \u2013 to grab their future franchise quarterback. To us, Young is Kyler Murray with a better work ethic and attitude. Nothing is guaranteed in the NFL but this looks like a solid pick. 2 HOUSTON TEXANS: QB\u00a0C.J….<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,2,3,7,34,24,29,39,108],"tags":[280,129],"class_list":["post-53461","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-afc-east","category-afc-north","category-afc-south","category-afc-west","category-nfc-east","category-nfc-north","category-nfc-south","category-nfc-west","category-nfl-draft","tag-2023-nfl-draft","tag-nfl-draft"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fiveminutesspare.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53461","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fiveminutesspare.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fiveminutesspare.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fiveminutesspare.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fiveminutesspare.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53461"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.fiveminutesspare.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53461\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":53462,"href":"https:\/\/www.fiveminutesspare.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53461\/revisions\/53462"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fiveminutesspare.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53461"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fiveminutesspare.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53461"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fiveminutesspare.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53461"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}