The Best and The Worst of Round 1

Best Picks

Nolan Smith EDGE UGA – Going to the Philadelphia Eagles at pick #30 is the biggest steal of the 2023 First Round, being the #2 EDGE in the class and #7 overall player on the big board with the comps to Hassan Reddick, which the Eagles already have this pick could not be any more of a dream landing spot. Also, the Eagles have now added 4 players from the 2022 Georgia Bulldog front 7.

Will Anderson Jr EDGE ALABAMA/ C.J. Stroud QB HOU – The Houston Texans surprised everyone when they traded up from 12 to 3, to snatch up the highest rated player on the board at the number 3 pick, while adding C.J. Stroud the QB of the Future for the Houston Texans, in which is the #2 overall player on the board. The knocks on these moves are first for the trade collateral given up to acquire Will Anderson, however in such a subpar class in terms of game changing talent, their is no safer pick than Anderson Jr, which DeMeco Ryans will find the ways to get the most out of him. C.J. Stroud the knock is his low cognitive test scores, but anyone who watched him play the best game of his career vs the best defense he had ever seen, he did everything he could but win the game, the talent and the will is there and sometimes that’s all it takes.

Dalton Kincaid TE UTAH – Dalton Kincaid the # 1 Overall Tight End in the 2023 class, and 14th Overall player on the board going #25 to an offense in the need of more reliable weapons, outside of Stefon Diggs for Josh Allen. Kincaid will be an immediate upgrade to Dawson Knox and may be the #2 option for Josh Allen as early as next year, his size and smooth route running with a large catch radius will be a problem for opposing teams for years to come.

Honorable Mentions: Receivers Quentin Johnston (#22 to the Chargers ; #10 on the big board and Jaxon Smith-Njigba (#21 to the Seahawks ; #9 on the big board), Jalen Carter (#9 to the Eagles; #3 on the big board), and Peter Skoronski (#11 to the Titans; #1 Offensive Lineman, # 5 Overall on the board)

Worse Picks

Jordan Addison WR USC – This pick looks great, while looking at the accolades, 2021 Biletnikoff Award winner, tons of big plays, super flashy. However (the WR8 ; #57 Overall), During that 2021 season his Quarterback was the only QB selected in the 1st round of the 2022 NFL Draft, he was playing in the ACC while 26 percent of his catches, 31% of his yards, and 58% of his touchdowns came in three games versus Western Michigan, New Hampshire and ACC Companion Virginia. While he could had stayed, he jumped shipped to play for Lincoln Riley and play with 2022 Heisman Trophy Winner, and projected 2024 #1 Draft Pick Caleb Williams. Was underwhelming in 2022 and doesn’t have the moves like Zay Flowers out of Boston College to create the same separation and will struggle against larger NFL corners.

Jack Campbell LB Iowa – Jack Campbell (LB2; 44 Overall) is a great player, has the instinctiveness you look for in a Middle Linebacker, and showed his athletic ability scoring a 9.98 out of ten, which ranks 6 out of 2652 LB from 1987 to 2023. The problem is he a linebacker in the traditional sense, as the value of linebackers in todays NFL is dwindling as Linebacker/Safety or Nickel corners are becoming more important and game changing of an element for an NFL defense. So the Lions are getting a safe player they aren’t taking a player with much upside at pick #18.

Honorable Mentions: Anton Harrison (#27 Jacksonville Jaguars ; OT26, #47 Overall), Deonte Banks (#24 New York Giants ; CB7, #39 Overall)