The curtains are starting to close on the 2023 NFL Draft, but there is still no shortage of storylines to keep watch of. The league’s second-biggest spectacle (show) must go on.
Friday night was no exception.
We had a mocked (both literally and in draft analysis) quarterback finally find an NFL home. We had a son follow in his legendary father’s footsteps on the same exact team. And we even had conversations making fun of Aaron Rodgers — because we can’t help ourselves (and perhaps neither can the Packers).
Here are For The Win’s winners and losers from Day 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Winners
Will Levis' long wait comes to an end
Levis was the story of the first round of the draft for an unfortunate reason. He was supposed to go super early and was even invited to the green room until the broadcast started to capture his clear uneasiness with every shot.
On Friday, that was no longer an issue, as the Tennessee Titans rescued Levis and more or less anointed him as the future of their franchise. With all due respect to the 34-year-old Ryan Tannehill and the still-raw sophomore Malik Willis — the Titans surely didn’t trade up for Levis to keep him on the bench long.
So, while Levis had to endure embarrassment to start the draft, he’s probably going to be the starting quarterback of an NFL team really quickly.
What a welcome twist of fate.
Pre-order Will Levis Titans jerseyThe Pittsburgh Steelers and the Porters bridging a father-son NFL legacy
The fit for Porter Jr. in Pittsburgh is great! We don’t have to break that down here. The Steelers got a steal in the Penn State product. Full stop.
Porter Jr. going to Pittsburgh means he’s following in his dad’s footsteps. You know, the former Steelers great who won Super Bowl 40 in Steel City. I don’t often get emotional over sports anymore, and when I do, I find myself it’s been linked more to tragedy and unnecessary adversity than anything.
But Porter Jr. becoming a Steeler just like his dad was a hard pivot: A happy father-son moment I’m sure the two are still glowing about. There are few things in this world stronger than a father-son bond. To see it come together like that on the NFL stage was so touching.
Another solid day for Justin Fields and the Bears
After drafting Darnell Wright to be Justin Fields’ new bodyguard in the first round, the Bears didn’t touch offense on Day 2. You might think, if they went all defense, how does that help Fields?
Oh, dearest readers, something must be said about trying to build a complete team for the face of your franchise. While it’s not the precise approach I would’ve taken, it’s hard to argue for a better class of upside and immediate impact talent through two days than Chicago’s 2023 draft class.
After the Bears drafted potential world-wrecker Gervon Dexter, sticky cornerback Tyrique Stevenson and another defensive line piece in Zachh Pickens, it’s clear they were taking a patient approach to this draft. Fill needs where you can, fill in the gaps as they come and stay true to your athletic thresholds. The Bears are increasingly becoming one of the more explosive and long teams in the league on both sides of the ball.
And the less work Fields has to do carrying Chicago’s roster on his back, the more he’s free to be their Super-Man. That should be bone-chilling if you’re the opposition.
Losers
The San Francisco 49ers "kick" all the caution to the wind
Picture this.
You’ve played in three of the last four NFC title games. You came just short of a Super Bowl four years ago with largely the same core of players. You’re a premier team with a rabid fan base on the verge of breaking through for the first time in almost 30 years.
So, what do you do when Day 2 of draft the starts to wrap up? Take a position player who plays most of the snaps every game, right? No, no. Now’s the time for a kicker. Jake Moody, come on down!
If I were to strip away all context about positional value, the 49ers just acquired the 2021 Lou Groza Award winner. In recent years, he was one of the best kickers in college football.
But a KICKER!? I have no idea what ran through the minds of John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan. No earthly idea. But I’d be seriously intrigued to learn how they talked themselves into someone that appears 12-15 times a game and isn’t guaranteed to make an impact. The departure of the formerly steady Robbie Gould is no excuse. I don’t want teams to so much as even look at kickers until the draft is winding down on Saturday afternoon.
Jared Goff's future with the Detroit Lions
After revitalizing his career, the Lions seem to think so lowly of Goff that Friday saw them take a flier on a rookie quarterback who can rent a car by himself. Someone who’s only three years younger than 28-year-old Goff right now. Three!
Look, maybe Hendon Hooker turns out to be a terrific pro, and the Lions using a third-round draft pick on him becomes a stroke of brilliance. But I can’t imagine Goff was happy to see a low-ceiling quarterback like Hooker become his competition. If Detroit was to draft a developmental quarterback while still committing to Goff for the time being, it would’ve made more sense to take on a project.
Instead, Goff’s days in Detroit seem numbered after he finally found some steadiness again. There’s no way the Lions keep their 25-year-old rookie on the bench for long.
Goff’s leash just got that shorter with offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.
Aaron Rodgers loses his unofficial passive-aggressive war with the Green Bay Packers
For years, we made jokes about the Packers appearing to refuse to draft any receiver help for Rodgers while he still wore the green and gold. After they finally rid themselves of his exhausting drama, the Packers may have shown a little spite on Day 2 of the draft.
First, with a pick they got from the Rodgers’ trade to the New York Jets (No. 42 overall), they took safety valve, Luke Musgrave. Later, near the tail end of the third round, they selected Tucker Kraft — another competent pass target. In one evening, the Packers seemingly did more to support Jordan Love than they ever did for Rodgers over the last half-decade.
I no longer blame the Packers for this schism and applaud them if they were really trying to spite Rodgers from afar.
Kenneth Walker III loses ground in the Seattle Seahawks' backfield for some reason
Last season, former second-round pick Kenneth Walker III was an Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate. He was the engine that propelled the Seahawks and Geno Smith in a surprising season where they earned a playoff berth. The young tailback proved to be flat-out impossible to bring down at times as he plowed his way through front sevens. After years of missing Marshawn Lynch, it looked like Pete Carroll had found his de facto replacement in Walker III.
About that.
On Friday, Seattle utilized another second-round draft selection on a running back, this time on Zach Charbonnet — the uber-productive runner and receiver from UCLA. I’m still mentally grasping at straws, trying to figure out what the deal is here.
The Carroll Seahawks have never done well with a back by committee. In the years since they lost an effective Lynch, the team transitioned to a Russell Wilson-centric offense. It was only when Smith had someone like Walker III that Seattle regained its trademark physical efficiency.
Now, they’re most likely going to limit Walker III’s touches while also keeping Charbonnet out of rhythm on a platoon basis. Adding Charbonnet, where he wasn’t remotely needed, makes no sense at face value and only harms the potential of one of the more underrated young weapons in football.
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