2023 NFL Draft Day 1 Recap: Offense
Table of Contents
Pick 1 – Carolina Panthers – QB Bryce Young
The 5-foot-10 Young has all the qualities of a franchise quarterback except size. Young will step in as the Panthers starter in Week One, and will look to get the most out of his mediocre offensive weapons led by Adam Thielen, DJ Chark, and Miles Sanders. Bryce Young should be a top-3 QB in your rookie fantasy drafts this season.
Pick 2 – Houston Texans QB CJ Stroud, Ohio State
Stroud is an exceptionally accurate passer, completing just under 70% of his passes at Ohio State the past two seasons. Stroud accomplished this by throwing to elite wide receivers, the question now at the NFL level throwing to the likes of Nico Collins, John Metchie, and Robert Woods for the Texans will CJ be as proficient? Stroud will join Bryce Young as a top-3 QB in your rookie fantasy drafts this season.
Pick 4 – Indianapolis Colts – QB Anthony Richardson, Florida
Richardson is the ultimate boom-or-bust prospect in this draft. In his first and only season as a starter in Florida, Richardson showed us his potential as well as why some are concerned that he is not NFL game ready. Look for the Philadelphia RPO-heavy style offense in Indy with Richardson and Jonathan Taylor as Shane Steichen’s 1-2 punch. Anthony Richardson along with Young and Stroud will round out the top-3 QBs in this season’s rookie drafts.
Pick 8 – Atlanta Falcons – RB Bijan Robinson, Texas
The most complete RB to enter the draft in years heads to Atlanta to join, recent first-rounders Drake London, and Kyle Pitts. Bijan is a generational talent with exceptional balance and elusiveness. In addition to his elite running ability, Robinson possesses smooth route running skills and above-average hands. Robinson will be the 1.01 in all rookie drafts regardless of format this season.
Pick 12 – Detroit Lions – RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama
In a bit of a stunner, the Detroit Lions add Gibbs with pick 12. Gibbs has some of the best lateral agility in college football, making him a tough back to bring down, and he is arguably the best pass-catching back in this draft. He joins a suddenly crowded backfield in Detroit with David Montgomery and D’Andre Swift. This landing spot may work against Gibbs’ rookie ranking post-draft, but he should remain a top-5 pick in a 1 QB format.
Pick 20 – Seattle Seahawks – WR Jaxon Smith-Nigba, Ohio State
The Seahawks add the most talented WR in this year’s draft class in Jaxon Smith-Nigba. JSN joins DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. He is used to playing with top-talent pass catchers during his time at Ohio State. JSN excels in the intermediate passing games and turns quick passes into solid gains with his yards after the catch ability. He’s a great addition for Geno Smith and the Seahawks. Smith-Nigba should be a top-3 pick in 1QB leagues.
Pick 21 – Los Angles Chargers – WR Quentin Johnston, TCU
The Chargers add Johnston to a WR room that already has Mike Williams and Keenan Allen. Johnston gives the Chargers another big outside target for Justin Herbert. Johnston is a prototype X receiver with the speed to stress defenses vertically and the size to win balls in the air. He should excel in an offense led by Herbert and new OC Kellen Moore. Quentin Johnston is a top-5 WR in this draft class.
Pick 22 – Baltimore Ravens – WR Zay Flowers, Boston College
Baltimore has quickly gone from a team starving for pass catchers to a WR room with depth. Flowers, is a dynamic player, capable of working both inside and outside and attacking all levels of the field. He leaves Boston College as the school career leader in all three major receiving categories and he will provide Lamar Jackson with another dependable target in the middle of the field.
Pick 23 – Minnesota Vikings – WR Jordan Addison, USC
With the departure of Adam Thielen, the Minnesota Vikings felt the need to add another WR to help take the pressure off, Justin Jefferson. Minnesota got themselves a good one here. Addison is an exceptional route runner that excelled at both Pittsburgh and USC. The 2021 Fred Biletnikoff Award winner will run out of the slot for the Vikings and will be a top WR selection in your rookie drafts this season.
Pick 25 – Buffalo Bills – TE Dalton Kincaid, Utah
In what has been labeled a strong Tight End class, Dalton Kincaid is the first off the board to the Buffalo Bills. This is a great landing spot for Kincaid and likely pushes current TE Dawson Knox off the fantasy radar. Kincaid has great hands, tracks the ball well, and has a large route tree for a TE. This should be the first TE off the board in your rookie drafts.
Thank you for reading the 2023 NFL Draft Day 1 Recap: Offense
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