Table of Contents
Pick 3 – Houston Texans – Will Anderson Jr. EDGE, Alabama
In a wildly surprising move, the Houston Texans shook things up early when they traded with the Arizona Cardinals to move up from the #12 spot, all the way to #3 to draft a player that many believed the Texans were considering taking with their #2 overall draft pick. Instead, the Texans were able to have their cake and eat it too, when they drafted Will Anderson Jr., just one pick after drafting QB CJ Stroud. Anderson Jr. is one of the best EDGE prospects we have seen in any recent draft and should assuredly be a fixture in both the NFL and IDP fantasy leagues for many years to come.
Pick 5 – Seattle Seahawks – Devon Witherspoon CB, Illinois
Devon Witherspoon is an impressive athlete with an aggressive play style. For a team that touted “LOB” (The Legion of Boom) at one time, Witherspoon would have fit perfectly in that defense, and will fit perfectly in this defense as well. A willing tackler with good ball skills, size and speed, this pick really made a lot of sense for the Seahawks who could once again have one of the most stout defensive secondaries in the NFL.
Pick 7 – Las Vegas Raiders – Tyree Wilson EDGE, Texas Tech
In a bit of a puzzling move, considering their need in the secondary, and the current roster at the Edge position, the Raiders selected Tyree Wilson. The landing spot may mean less to Wilson than it does to someone like Chandler Jones. The situation will be interesting to watch unfold. On one hand, there will be tremendous value in Tyree being able to learn from a player like Jones, who Wilson has often been compared to. On the other hand, it will be interesting to see how this plays into the Raiders rotation. Tyree Wilson feels far too talented to be sitting on the sidelines and will surely find the field enough to be a fantasy relevant asset in year 1.
Pick 9 – Philadelphia Eagles – Jalen Carter DT, Georgia
The Eagles were on the move when they traded with the Chicago Bears to move up one spot, to the 9th overall pick, and draft Jalen Carter. Arguably one of the best players in the NFL Draft, Carter will fit perfectly into this defense. A versatile player who is exceptionally athletic for his size and has the ability to play inside out, Carter should be on the field often for the Eagles and could quickly emerge as one of the league’s top interior defenders. The Eagles have a good amount of veteran leadership to offer Jalen as he develops into a professional both on and off the field. There is no denying the talent he brings and the Eagles, who are coming off of a Super Bowl appearance, have added a tremendous player to an already potent defense.
Pick 13 – Green Bay Packers – Lukas Van Ness EDGE, Iowa
The Green Bay Packers elected not to draft a QB, seemingly reiterating their confidence in Jordan Love. Instead, the Packers passed on offense altogether and used the #13 overall pick to draft the talented, relentless edge rusher Lukas Van Ness. While Van Ness is a talented young player who probably deserved a 1st round grade, going as high as #13 was quite a surprise; especially considering some of the other names left on the board at the Edge position. This didn’t feel like a position of great need for the Packers, but there must have been something that they loved about Van Ness. He is an explosive defender that plays with a high motor and consistently gives great effort. This feels like a pick that could end up as a really great call, or one that left a little to be desired. Only time will tell…
Pick 15 – New York Jets – Will McDonald IV EDGE, Iowa State
After trading for Aaron Rodgers and moving down two places in the NFL Draft, the Jets elected to address the defensive side of the ball by drafting Will McDonald IV from the Iowa State Cyclones. McDonald IV is a lean, athletic edge rusher who was very productive during his time at Iowa State. With Carl Lawson struggling to stay healthy and Jermain Johnson a bit of an unknown, the Jets added yet another promising piece to their defense in hopes of creating disruption along the defensive front. McDonald will need some polish, but is a talent that brings tremendous upside to the table for the Jets defense.
Pick 16 – Washington Commanders – Emmanuel Forbes CB, Mississippi State
The Commanders have addressed a glaring need in their secondary by adding Emmanuel Forbes of the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Forbes is a player who is a bit undersized when compared to others at his position, but he plays fearlessly. His ball skills are arguably the best in the class and, despite the size disadvantage, he is a willing tackler that isn’t afraid to sacrifice every part of his frame in order to make the tackle. He plays with confidence and has a good feel for the field. He shows the ability to change direction well and has great recovery speed and range in zone coverage. He will be an immediate starter for the Commanders and will help them shore up a secondary that desperately needed help.
Pick 17 – New England Patriots – Christian Gonzalez CB, Oregon
The Patriots landed an incredible talent that will be a Day 1 starter when they drafted Christian Gonzalez. He is believed to be one of the most complete defensive backs in the draft and should be a great compliment to the Patriots secondary. Gonzalez feels like one of the best candidates to become a pro bowl caliber corner in this class. He has good size, length, speed, and a fluidity that jumps off the screen. He is as smooth as butter in coverage, knowing just how to position himself to stay tight in coverage in both man and zone coverage. Though he is not known to be the most physical player at the position in this class, his coverage skills are enough to push him into the conversation for being the #1 defensive back in the draft class. Patriots fans should be excited for this pick.
Pick 18 – Detroit Lions – Jack Campbell LB, Iowa
After shocking the NFL Draft and selecting Jahmyr Gibbs #12 overall, the Lions yet again made a selection that left many of us wondering what in the world they were sipping in that war room. The Lions selected Jack Campbell at #18 overall. To be fair, despite my well documented love for Malcolm Rodriguez, I always said this was a real possibility. That the Lions would draft a LB who could easily replace Malcolm in the middle of the defense, and that’s precisely what happened here. Campbell is an exceptional talent at the position. He was consistent, he’s experienced, he has the physical tools needed to be a durable option for the defense. All of those things said, this did feel like it was a bit of a reach on the part of the Lions, as Jack Campbell wasn’t projected until the late 1st or early-mid 2nd. If the Lions felt their need at LB was so critical, a trade down here would’ve made more sense. Regardless, they get a talented player in Campbell who should help their defense out immediately.
Pick 19 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Kalijah Kancey DT, Pittsburgh
In a bit of a surprise, the Buccaneers elected to pass on addressing the QB position any further and draft Kalijah Kancey at #19 overall. Despite the concerns many have about the presence of Vita Vea, the Bucs may have drafted Kancey for his rare ability to play inside out. He is quick and explosive and with a frame like his, he will be a nightmare to defend. While he could play the 1 or 3 technique, he could also effectively rush the QB and set the edge. I think this will end up as a surprisingly good pick for a defense that already looks solid.
Pick 19 – New York Giants – Deonte Banks CB, Maryland
If the Giants, who traded up one spot to make the selection, were looking for speed and explosive athleticism, they have found exactly that in Deonte Banks. He could be a nice addition for this defense who desperately needed to address the secondary after the loss of James Bradberry. Deonte Banks will bring a nice skillset in coverage and has shown to be a willing tackler at times. Banks’ stock took a hit because of the durability concerns and limited experience. Despite that, the pick feels like a bit of a gamble for the Giants who will be counting on Banks’ athleticism to translate into useful production.
Pick 26 – Dallas Cowboys – Mazi Smith DT, Michigan
Mazi Smith is no consolation prize. Despite the swirling rumors that the Cowboys would draft a flashy name or a sexy positional player, the Cowboys instead selected a player who will anchor this defensive front and generate enough attention to help players like Micah Parsons wreak havoc. Smith brings ideal size and has exceptional strength to go along with it. He was positionally under-appreciated, despite being the 3rd DT drafted. His talent is truly that good and the need for a DT of this caliber was of high priority for this defense. Coaches and players alike, including Micah Parsons whose reaction to the news was intense, are excited for the arrival of Mazi Smith who will contribute Day 1.
Pick 28 – Cincinnati Bengals – Myles Murphy Edge, Clemson
The Bengals made a safe selection when they drafted Myles Murphy with the 28th pick. Murphy has the NFL size that few possess and should play a more traditional edge rusher role for this defense. Despite his big frame, his athleticism is not to be taken lightly. Murphy could have an uphill battle to immediate playing time given the presence of Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard, two established veterans who have been reliable and productive pieces for this defensive front.
Pick 29 – New Orleans Saints – Bryan Bresee DT, Clemson
The Saints took a second consecutive Clemson Tiger off the board when they drafted Bryan Bresee. With a need to address the DT position, this pick makes sense and Bresee could end up paying off. His athleticism is superb for his position, but his availability has been a concern that will likely need to be left in the past if he plans to be a fixture in the defensive front. The Saints took a bit of a gamble and it will be interesting to see how they’ll feel about this selection in the future.
Pick 30 – Philadelphia Eagles – Nolan Smith EDGE, Georgia
Nolan Smith’s descent on draft day was a travesty. He is an exceptionally skilled player with freakish athleticism. He fits the profile of a new age edge rusher and will be a great fit for the Eagles if they plan to have a sustainable plan for their defense. Of course, the presence of Hassan Reddick does make things interesting, Nolan Smith has the skillset to find his way on the field regardless. So why did he fall so far? One of the concerns would have to be durability. The injuries that have kept Smith off the field so often have made teams reluctant to take Smith where he likely would have gone if not for those injuries. The Eagles once again get great value by drafting a Georgia Bulldog late.
Pick 31 – Kansas City Chiefs – Felix Anudike-Uzomah EDGE, Kansas State
The Chiefs kept things rolling for the run on defenders by taking a 4th consecutive defensive player, Felix Anudike-Uzomah. After drafting George Karlaftis last season, the Chiefs signaled that bolstering their defensive front is still a high priority. Anudike-Uzomah is a player who will need a little polish, but has the upside to blossom into a consistent threat in the NFL. He plays with good leverage, balance, power, and makes good use of his hands. He does a lot of things well and will benefit greatly from having Chris Jones creating disruption and drawing attention to the middle of the defensive line.
Thank you for reading the 2023 NFL Draft Day 1 Recap: Defense
For more great Fantasy Football conversations, be sure to check out RotoHeat’s Discord & Facebook Group. You can catch all our video content on YouTube. Be sure to subscribe and click the notification bell to ensure you don’t miss any of our other great content! If you are looking for one-on-one fantasy advice, feel free to message me on Twitter.
