NFL Draft 2023 - Round 3

Grade: B

The Bears are really looking to upgrade the athleticism and quickness in their defensive line rebuild but it’s a little odd they took Pickens after just getting the similar Dexter in the previous round out of the SEC.

(from Houston)

Grade: B

The Eagles were good to think about the future of right tackle beyond Lane Johnson with a versatile young developmental backup, but taking Steen over Dawand Jones and other better-value tackles was slightly odd. Steen is a great athlete for pass protection but needs to improve run blocking to start.

(from Arizona)

Grade: B-

The Eagles go back to making a pick with the immediate future in mind to help replace C.J. Gardner-Johnson but Brown is a little bit of a reach. Brown does have the physical and versatile coverage to help them inside.

(from Indianapolis)

Grade: A+

The Broncos make a terrific pick to fill a need with a disruptive upfield linebacker with solid run-stopping and rare pass-rushing skills. Sanders had the talent to be a late first-rounder.

(from Denver)

Grade: A

After the Lions made their early picks to help put them over the top as new NFC North favorites and sleeper conference title contenders, they were smart to also not neglect the near future at QB with Hooker about to be groomed well behind Jared Goff with his big arm and strong, accurate pocket passing.

(from L.A. Rams)

Grade: A

The Texans needed a mighty mite speedster to add a unique big-play element to their passing game and stay local to get C.J. Stroud another young weapon.

Grade: A

The Raiders maybe could have waited until the end of this round to get Young, but they didn’t want to chance it as he was the ideal run-stuffing target to upgrade their major weakness at tackle.

Grade: D

The Saints get a grinding power back but it’s an odd reach for a Day 3 back with more explosive options still on the board and the fact they also signed former Lion and Packer Jamaal Williams in free agency.

(from Tennessee)

Grade: B+ 

The Cardinals get a decent value here to help them replace Byron Murphy Jr. with a corner who fits Jonathan Gannon’s scheme well with his physicality for his size and ability to cover well inside or outside.

(from Cleveland through Houston and L.A. Rams)

Grade: A+

The Giants had a desperate need for a big-play wide receiver to help Daniel Jones and Hyatt is the ideal vertical threat in the offense of Mike Kafka and Brian Daboll..This is a steal of a pick on a strong Day 2 for New York.

(from N.Y. Jets)

Grade: B

The Browns have Ameri Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones for Deshaun Watson, but given Watson’s big-play arm, they made it back-to-back Volunteers wideouts, knowing Tillman also has some of Hyatt’s field-stretching abilities.

Grade: A

The Falcons finally make a pick in the wheelhouse of their defensive needs vs. offensive luxury with a big-frame pass rusher with some dominant upside.

(from Carolina)

Grade: D

Mapu, as one expects from a Patriots secondary pick, is a versatile cover man, but the small-school prospect lacks any special qualities in terms of athleticism and is a massive reach for a late Day 3 option.

(from New England through Miami)

Grade: B-

Young is a unique rusher because of his strength and physicality that also make him an asset vs. the run, but he still needs to develop more explosiveness in his moves.

Grade: C

The Packers made a curious move here to get Kraft after also drafting Luke Musgrave in the second round, because they are similar players. They are hoping that one pays off as a key intermediate athletic target for Jordan Love, but it came at the expense of defensive needs.

(from Washington)

Grade: A+

The Colts get ridiculously good value in an upgrade over free-agent departure Parris Campbell. Downs is an open-field after-the-catch dynamo with also straight up big play ability stretching the field. This is a great get with Anthony Richardson’s big arm in mind to play well off Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce.

(from Pittsburgh)

Grade: C

The Panthers were good to think about getting a power-based complement for Brian Burns. It’s an average move because Johnson is more of a mid-Day 3 pick than a late Day 2 one.

(from Detroit through Arizona)

Grade: A

The Titans make another great offensive skill value pick with Spears, the ideal explosive diminutive dashing change-of-pace to complement Derrick Henry and can turn into an Alvin Kamara-like receiving-forward feature back in a couple seasons.

Grade: C

The Buccaneers reach a bit for hybrid outside presence for their 3-4 as Todd Bowles will need to figure out the best fit for Diaby, who’s caught between being a power defender and sometimes flashy pass rusher.

(from Seattle)

Grade: B

The Broncos needed some good cornerback depth behind Pat Surtain II in Moss, who gives them a nice combination of smarts, size and strengths to make plays on the ball, inside or outside. He also can play safety.

Grade: A

The Dolphins can't rely on Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. staying healthy. Achane has great upside as a dynamic change-of-pace back who can excel as a compact runner in their zone-blocking scheme.

Grade: A+

The Chargers needed to get more active on the second level everywhere to make big plays for Brandon Staley. Henley has great speed to stop the run and also has shown some great upside for coverage.

Grade: A+

The Ravens also land an active playmaking linebacker in the physically imposing and rangy Simpson, who could have gone either in the late first round or early second round. Baltimore is loaded with him possibly playing outside to help Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen dominate.

(from Minnesota)

Grade: A

The 49ers made a great pick here with the intention of helping to replace Jimmie Ward, who followed DeMeco Ryans to Houston. Brown is a perfect fit with Talanoa Hufanga with his toughness, quickness and big-play flair in coverage.

Grade: B

Bigsby adds a pure power back to a strong backfield that includes receiving-forward dynamo Travis Etienne and newcomer swing backup D’Ernest Johnson. The Jaguars are working on their version of the Browns 1-2 punch backfield with Etienne and Bigsby.

(from N.Y. Giants)

Grade: B

The Rams get a good all-around tackle for their rotation to groom behind Aaron Donald. He also carries some pass-rush upside if he can get better with hand and feet technique in that area.

Grade: B

The Cowboys have some great upfield linebacker play led by pass-rushing and havoc-wreaking Micah Parsons, but get good value here in the speedy and quick Overshown, made to help them a lot in pass coverage.

Grade: C

The Bills hope they have their replacement for Tremaine Edmunds with Williams’ athletic and aggressive run-stopping to complement second-level coverage ace Matt Milano, but Williams needs some work to be more than a situational backup.

(from Bengals)

Grade: A

The Chiefs nailed their Creed Humphrey pick from the same program and now get great value with a good all-around rising blocker to help offset the loss of right tackle Andrew Wylie in free agency.

(from San Francisco through Carolina)

Grade: A+

The Steelers get an absolute steal in one of the draft’s top tight ends who fell to them. He can be a strong complementary run blocker to Pat Freiermuth before giving them some literally massive upside as a receiver to prompt more usage of 12 personnel to help Kenny Pickett.

(from Philadelphia)

Grade: C-

Wilson is an intriguing size-speed-strength prospect for the outside but he’s more developmental as his explosiveness and versatility are still limited.

(from Chiefs)

Grade: A+

The Bengals lost starting safeties Jessie Bates III (Falcons) and Vonn Bell (Panthers) in free agency. The well-rounded Battle is a great fit with his speed and quickness, which allow for a ton of plays in coverage.

(Compensatory) (from Arizona)

Grade: D

The Lions had been making good win-now or upside picks (Hendon Hooker) before this stumble after trading up for another pick. A development late-round run-stopping nose doesn’t do much to move the needle now or later.

(Compensatory)

Grade: A-

Stromberg has an interesting blend of strength and athleticism. Although he needs development as a backup, the Commanders will be hoping he can battle Nick Gates right away for starting center duties.

(Special compensatory)

Grade: A+

The Browns make a great value pick, filling a literal big need for a massive run-stopping tackle. Ika moves very well for his size, using his strength to full advantage.

(Special compensatory)

Grade: B

The 49ers wanted to go for a younger, bigger leg to replace Robbie Gould and he should maintain the accuracy and reliability while giving them much-needed longer range.

(Special compensatory) (from Kansas City through N.Y. Giants)

Grade: D

The Raiders went old-school with their drafting of a wide receiver, being attracted most by Tucker’s pure speed and quickness while trying to add more of a big-play element to their offense. He could just easily struggle to make plays and not hold up because of his size.

(Special compensatory)

Grade: C-

The 49ers add a smart and versatile blocking tight end who fits their scheme well behind George Kittle but Latu has much to do to have any kind of value as a receiver. This becomes a reach given limitations that had pushed Latu down the draft board.

(Special compensatory) (from San Francisco)

Grade: D

The Vikings needed more corner help but decided not to stop the strange freefall of Kelee Ringo and reached deep into Day 3 for a limited physical, aggressive cover man.