One day, names on paper will become careers. They’ll include statistics and accolades, letting us know exactly how the 2023 NFL draft played out.
But for now, there’s no certainty. All we can do is guess, and so let’s attempt to project how the 16 AFC teams did over three days in Kansas City.
Let’s start from the bottom and end with our favorite AFC class.
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16. Denver Broncos
The Broncos didn’t have a pick until the end of the second round, which they used on a receiver (Marvin Mims Jr.)—arguably the biggest strength Denver has on its entire roster. It also failed to address a glaring issue at edge, with Baron Browning and the often-injured Randy Gregory expected to carry the burden.
Denver will finally have its first-round pick back next year after trading away three of them across the past two years in deals for quarterback Russell Wilson and coach Sean Payton. That's good news, because the roster desperately needs an infusion of top-end talent.
15. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins had only four picks and didn’t make their first selection until the second round, so this grade was always going to be low. Miami found some depth at running back, receiver and offensive line, while also adding a corner to a veteran room headlined by Jalen Ramsey and Xavien Howard.
If the Dolphins can get some special teams help out of the quartet in 2023, it’s a win, because outside of third-round back Devon Achane, it’s tough to envision much offensive or defensive production coming from anybody else in the early going.
14. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars could have made a nice move in the loaded AFC with a strong draft class, but this year’s draft feels like a lost opportunity. Offensive tackle Anton Harrison should start right away after Jacksonville lost Jawaan Taylor in free agency, but the rest of this group is underwhelming.
Tight end Brenton Strange had only 755 receiving yards across four years at Penn State, and, while third-round running back Tank Bigsby was productive at Auburn, he will only be a complement to star back Travis Etienne. However, the Jaguars got good value on Day 3 with receiver Parker Washington and safety Antonio Hamilton.
13. Los Angeles Chargers
This isn’t necessarily a poor job by general manager Tom Telesco, but there is a litany of variables that could affect how the draft class plays out. For instance, first-round receiver Quentin Johnston is a nice combination of size (6'3", 208 pounds) and speed, but his production was spotty at TCU. How will he produce once Keenan Allen or Mike Williams is no longer around, with a serious cap issue looming in 2024?
It was also surprising to see Los Angeles pass completely on corners and running backs, considering the struggles we saw from J.C. Jackson before his season-ending knee injury in October, and the fact that Austin Ekeler’s contract has one year left.
12. Las Vegas Raiders
Ranking this Raiders class really comes down to how you view drafts. If you’re about early value, then general manager Dave Ziegler deserves high marks for getting edge rusher Tyree Wilson and tight end Michael Mayer. On the other hand, Las Vegas continuously failed to address a glaring need at corner while also neglecting the offensive line completely.
Ultimately, this class could pan out. Mayer could replace Darren Waller at a much cheaper price, while Wilson and fellow edge rusher Maxx Crosby may prove destructive to Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert in the AFC West. But if the Raiders strike out on another first-round pick? There are ample questions in the later rounds.
11. Cleveland Browns
The Browns didn’t have a pick until the third round but still found nice value immediately in Tennessee wide receiver Cedric Tillman. He’ll join a talented room of pass catchers, including Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones. Cleveland also took a local product in Ohio State’s Dawand Jones, a right tackle checking in at 375 pounds whom many believed could be a top-50 selection.
Still, without choices in the first two rounds, Cleveland was left to hunt for value, walking away without anybody who could be seen as an immediate, impact player. Not a bad class on paper, but it might not bear much fruit in 2023.
10. New York Jets
After trading for Aaron Rodgers just a few days before the draft, general manager Joe Douglas knew he had to upgrade a shaky offensive line. Douglas didn’t land the top-tier tackle he might have wished for, but he did successfully upgrade the front, selecting center Joe Tippmann out of Wisconsin and third-round tackle Carter Warren out of Pittsburgh.
In the first round, Douglas attempted to add some pass rush by selecting Will McDonald IV. McDonald played five years at Iowa State and totaled 34 sacks. The Jets are hoping traits equate to production at the next level. Frankly, it’s a bit of a risky pick but with clear upside.
9. New England Patriots
This was quintessential Bill Belichick. The Patriots ended up selecting 12 players—eight of which were traded at least once. The Patriots found tremendous value in corner Christian Gonzalez and potentially did so again with edge rusher Keion White in the second round.
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However, New England also drafted a kicker and punter in the fourth and sixth rounds, respectively. Considering all the offensive needs for the Patriots, those picks felt like wasted opportunities. But New England also took three interior offensive linemen, which could swing how we look at this draft in a few years.
8. Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals loaded up on defense early, using their first three picks to nab an edge rusher in Myles Murphy, corner DJ Turner II from Michigan and Alabama safety Jordan Battle. All three should play immediate snaps for Cincinnati, especially after the secondary lost some pieces in free agency. Murphy will rotate in with Sam Hubbard, Trey Hendrickson and Joseph Ossai.
In the later rounds, Cincinnati found both depth and value. A name to watch is running back Chase Brown, who could threaten veteran Joe Mixon for carries. Brown ran for 1,643 yards and 10 touchdowns at Illinois last season.
7. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs had a solid draft, using the first three rounds to satisfy their biggest needs. Kansas City found 21-year-old edge rusher Felix Anudike-Uzomah in the first round, a Kansas State product with 19.5 sacks over the past two years. One round later, general manager Brett Veach moved up for SMU receiver Rashee Rice, who totaled 1,355 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns last year.
Kansas City also found excellent values in Oklahoma right tackle Wanya Morris, Virginia Tech safety Chamarri Conner and others. It wasn’t a flashy draft for the Chiefs, but it filled plenty of needs.
6. Buffalo Bills
After a few mediocre drafts, Bills general manager Brandon Beane might have done well this spring. By trading up two spots in the first round, Buffalo nabbed Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid, who some feel has Pro Bowl potential as a receiving threat. One round later, Beane found more value in Florida guard O’Cyrus Torrence, who should be a starter as a rookie.
The big question is how much did Buffalo get on Day 3? Receiver Justin Shorter and corner Alex Austin project as special teams contributors right now, but could either become playmakers later in their rookie deals?
5. Tennessee Titans
This class will largely be defined by how Will Levis turns out. Tennessee took a talented, versatile offensive lineman in Peter Skoronski at No. 11 before nabbing Levis in the second round. If Levis excels as the starting quarterback in 2024 and beyond, the Titans will have their future.
Staying with the offense, Tennessee found an ideal complement to Derrick Henry in running back Tyjae Spears, who scored 21 touchdowns in his senior season with Tulane. With Henry getting a bit older, Spears could help prolong the Pro Bowler’s career. Finally, sixth-round tackle Jaelyn Duncan from Maryland is a nice value with upside.
4. Baltimore Ravens
Very few teams know who they are—and draft accordingly—like the Ravens. Baltimore has long been a physical team that plays with an edge, and first-round receiver Zay Flowers matches the mentality despite a diminutive frame of 5'9'' and 182 pounds. In the third round, Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson could prove to be one of the draft’s biggest steals, as he was projected by some to be a top-50 choice.
Finally, watch for fifth-round corner Kyu Blu Kelly. With Marcus Peters being a free agent, there’s upheaval on the depth chart for Baltimore. Kelly was a star at Stanford and has enough traits to be a potential starter in Charm City.
3. Indianapolis Colts
After wading through quarterback purgatory since the shocking retirement of Andrew Luck before the 2019 season, the Colts hope they finally have their guy. Taking Anthony Richardson fourth, Indianapolis is going all-in on the pairing of coach Shane Steichen and Richardson to turn things around.
In later rounds, the Colts found talent to surround Richardson with, including receiver Josh Downs, tight end Will Mallory, running back Evan Hull and others. The pressing concern is the offensive line, which wasn’t addressed (save for fourth-rounder Blake Freeland and seventh-rounder Jake Witt). Will that group submarine everything else?
2. Houston Texans
The Texans desperately needed to jump-start their moribund franchise in this draft, and they certainly did it. Houston shocked the NFL world by trading up from No. 12 to No. 3, giving it consecutive picks that turned into quarterback C.J. Stroud and edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. While the cost to move up involved a 2023 second-rounder and a ’24 first-round choice, the price is justified if Stroud and Anderson reach their potential.
Additionally, Houston found a hometown kid in receiver Tank Dell. Dell, who played his college ball in Houston with the Cougars, registered 2,727 receiving yards and 29 touchdowns over the past two years.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers should be thrilled, having landed three players whom many believed were first-round picks entering the draft. Pittsburgh traded up with the Jets at No. 14 to select Broderick Jones from Georgia, giving second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett some blindside protection. Next, it was corner Joey Porter Jr., providing the Steelers with a young running mate alongside Patrick Peterson.
In the third round, general manager Omar Khan took Georgia tight end Darnell Washington, a 6'7'' red zone threat who profiles as an exceptional blocker. If Pittsburgh sees even a few of these picks reach their potential, this could be a pivotal class for the future.
