The dust has settled on the 2023 NFL Draft and it is time to look back at every team’s haul to assess how they did. The AFC South accounted for some of the biggest moves in this year’s draft and we could potentially see it field three rookie quarterbacks in 2023. Here are my grades for all four teams.
Houston Texans
| Pick | Player |
| 1.2 | CJ Stroud – QB, Ohio State |
| 1.3 | Will Anderson – EDGE, Alabama |
| 2.62 | Juice Scruggs – IOL, Penn State |
| 3.69 | Nathaniel Dell – WR, Houston |
| 4.109 | Dylan Horton – EDGE, TCU |
| 5.167 | Henry To’oTo’o – LB, Alabama |
| 6.201 | Jarrett Patterson – IOL, Notre Dame |
| 6.205 | Xavier Hutchinson – WR, Iowa State |
| 7.248 | Brandon Hill – S, Pittsburgh |
There had been plenty of speculation about whether the Texans would pass on a quarterback but they made the right decision in selecting CJ Stroud. He is a perfect fit for Bobby Slowik’s offense, with the ability to throw in rhythm and work the middle of the field with accuracy and ball placement. In trading up for Will Anderson they acquired another stud, but they paid a heavy price to do so, sending a future first round pick to the Cardinals in the process.
The selection of Juice Scruggs at No. 62 was a little more head scratching, especially as they traded up to get him. Nathaniel Dell could be a sneaky good grab in the third round though and reports suggest his acquisition was something CJ Stroud was especially keen on. Whilst he is significantly undersized he is a smart route runner and one of the best separators in the entire class and should be a good depth option at receiver. Their five picks on day three all felt solid enough, with Henry To’oTo’o in the fifth round looking like very good value. Don’t be surprised if the former Alabama and Tennessee star finds his way into the starting lineup fairly soon.
Grade: B
Indianapolis Colts
| Pick | Player |
| 1.4 | Anthony Richardson – QB, Florida |
| 2.44 | Julius Brents – CB, Kansas State |
| 3.79 | Josh Downs – WR, North Carolina |
| 4.106 | Blake Freeland – OT, BYU |
| 4.110 | Adetomiwa Adebawore – IDL, Northwestern |
| 5.138 | Darius Rush – CB, South Carolina |
| 5.158 | Daniel Scott – S, California |
| 5.162 | Will Mallory – TE, Miami |
| 5.176 | Evan Hull – RB, Northwestern |
| 6.211 | Titus Leo – EDGE, Wagner |
| 6.221 | Jaylon Jones – CB, Texas A&M |
| 7.236 | Jake Witt – OT, Northern Michigan |
We all know that the NFL Draft isn’t won on paper, but if it was the Colts would be hoisting the Lombardi right now. With the resources they had they really could not have done any better. In Anthony Richardson they get their quarterback of the future and a player with the highest ceiling in this year’s class. Their two selections on day two were equally inspired, with Chris Ballard’s focus on freaky athletes continuing with the selection of Julius Brents and Josh Downs.
Their haul on day three continued this trend. In Blake Freeland they get a developmental prospect with outrageous athletic traits. They repeated that four picks later with the selection of Adetomiwa Adebawore, who had been earning some first round buzz in the pre-draft process. Keep an eye on Darius Rush too. It feels like every year we see a day three cornerback turn into a solid starter and with a path to the field it could quite plausibly be his turn in 2023.
Grade: A+
Jacksonville Jaguars
| Pick | Player |
| 1.27 | Anton Harrison – OT, Oklahoma |
| 2.61 | Brenton Strange – TE, Penn State |
| 3.88 | Tank Bigsby – RB, Auburn |
| 4.121 | Ventrell Miller – LB, Florida |
| 4.130 | Tyler Lacy – EDGE, Oklahoma |
| 5.136 | Yasir Abdullah – EDGE, Louisville |
| 5.160 | Antonio Johnson – S, Texas A&M |
| 6.185 | Parker Washington – WR, Penn State |
| 6.202 | Christian Braswell – CB, Rutger |
| 6.208 | Erick Hallett II – S, Pittsburgh |
| 7.226 | Cooper Hodges – OT, Appalachian State |
| 7.227 | Raymond Vohasek – IDL, North Carolina |
| 7.240 | Derek Parish – FB, Houston |
Trent Baalke drafts differently – he made that much clear last year when he selected Travon Walker No. 1 overall. That trend continued this year with a class that whilst talented, was often a little surprising. The selection of Anton Harrison in the first round was a little rich for me given what he put on tape in college, but with the suspension of Cam Robinson and the fact that Harrison has only just turned 21 it is understandable.
The rest of the class was a little stranger, starting coincidentally enough with Brenton Strange in the second round. The Penn State tight end is a solid player but taking him ahead some of the other tight ends that were still on the board was questionable to say the least. The Tank Bigsby pick surprised plenty of people but it was a solid selection that gives the Jaguars a nice complementary weapon for Travis Etienne. The rest of the class felt a little underwhelming, though two later round picks caught my eye. Both Antonio Johnson and Parker Washington have starting potential and could be bargains in the fifth and sixth round respectively.
Grade: C+
Tennessee Titans
| Pick | Player |
| 1.11 | Peter Skoronski – OT, Northwestern |
| 2.33 | Will Levis – QB, Kentucky |
| 3.81 | Tyjae Spears – RB, Tulane |
| 5.147 | Josh Whyle – TE, Cincinnati |
| 6.186 | Jaelyn Duncan – OT, Maryland |
| 7.228 | Colton Dowell – WR, Tennessee-Martin |
The Titans entered the draft as one of the weakest looking rosters in the NFL and desperately needed to add talent wherever they could find it. Whilst they only had six picks, they managed to do just that. Taking Peter Skoronski at No. 11 was an inspired move. He is a polished technician and his tape was easily the best of any offensive lineman in this class. His best future might be at guard, but that isn’t a bad thing for a Titans offensive line that needs help at every spot.
In the second round they stopped the fall of Kentucky’s Will Levis, who could be their quarterback of the future. Whilst the top ten buzz was always too rich for what Levis showed on tape, he has an impressive set of tools and is a great fit in Tennessee’s play action heavy scheme. Getting him at this spot was really smart business from the Titans front office. In Tyjae Spears and Josh Whyle they also managed to land two players who should be able to contribute out of the gates in their rookie season.
Grade: B+
