To me, the value of a draft pick is gauged by what you end up getting from a guy relative to his draft position. That value is influenced by a few things, most notably the position the guy plays, the exact spot they are taken in, and the need that pick fills for a team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While overall draft grades range in 2023, I think every team found at least one guy at a potentially good value. Some of the picks aren\u2019t sexy, or well-heralded, but they do have real potential to make an immediate and lasting impact for their new team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s my take on the best-value 2023 draft pick for each NFL squad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arizona Cardinals<\/strong> – Edge BJ Ojulari, LSU – Pick #10 in the 2nd round – After dropping back to take the draft\u2019s best OT in Round 1, the Cardinals used a 2nd round pick received from TEN to select the #4 ranked OLB, who will add immediate pop to one of the NFL\u2019s weakest pass-rushing units.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Atlanta Falcons<\/strong> – CB Clark Phillips III, Utah – Pick #11 in the 4th round – Entering the draft as the #12 ranked CB, Phillips III fell only because of his short stature (5\u20199\u201d). That won\u2019t matter in ATL, where his excellent ball skills and great press coverage will cause headaches for NFC South opponents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Baltimore Ravens<\/strong> – LB Trenton Simpson, Clemson – Pick #23 in the 3rd round – The #1 ranked player at the ILB position fell late into the third. Why? Hype and hierarchy of position types. Simpson has great range and plays very well in space. He will force his way onto the field in Baltimore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Buffalo Bills<\/strong> – OG O\u2019Cyrus Torrence, Florida – Pick #28 in the 2nd round – The intimidating interior lineman lasted this long because his position is undervalued in the NFL, but not in Buffalo, where Torrence will immediately start for the Bills, who have added a future Pro Bowler in the Florida product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Carolina Panthers<\/strong> – OG Chandler Zavala, North Carolina State – Pick #12 in the 4th round – The #3 ranked OG coming into the draft, Zavala is an effective pass blocker with the quickness to get to the edge and drive defenders. Great value for the Panthers to add this near-term starter in the fourth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chicago Bears<\/strong> – DT Zacch Pickens, South Carolina – Pick #1 in the 3rd round – The #6 ranked interior defensive lineman in the draft, Pickens brings length and explosiveness to the 3-Tech, and chops as both a run defender and pass rusher. He\u2019ll start immediately for the weak Bears front seven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cincinnati Bengals<\/strong> – S Jordan Battle, Alabama – Pick #32 in the 3rd round – The #5 ranked Safety coming into the draft, Battle offers ideal size for the position and advanced pedigree with the nation\u2019s top program. He doesn\u2019t need to start for the Bengals to win, but Battle will force the issue in camp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cleveland Browns<\/strong> – OT Dawand Jones, Ohio State – Pick #9 in the 4th round – The absolutely massive Jones was just the 11th OT taken in the 2023 Draft. He doesn\u2019t bend very well but once Jones gets his hands on you, it is game over for most defenders. He will be fun to watch against AFC defenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dallas Cowboys<\/strong> – ILB DeMarvion Overshown, Texas – Pick #27 in the 3rd round – Micah Parsons handles range in the Cowboys\u2019 linebacking core. Overshown\u2019s job will be to play the role of off-ball linebacker. His experience as a converted Safety will help him rise up the depth chart quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Denver Broncos<\/strong> – ILB Drew Sanders, Arkansas – Pick #4 in the third round – The versatile Sanders is strong and instinctive against the run, decent in coverage, and can create power rushing the QB. Sanders is a better player than other LBs selected before him, including Iowa\u2019s Jack Campbell (DET).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Detroit Lions<\/strong> – QB Hendon Hooker, Tennessee – Pick #5 in the third round – Jared Goff\u2019s future with the Lions is uncertain at best beyond the 2024 season. In Hooker, the Lions selected a polished passer and legit running threat. He\u2019ll add a new dimension to the Lions O when he gets his chance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Green Bay Packers<\/strong> – WR Jayden Reed, Michigan State – Pick #19 in the second round – Ranked #6 coming into the draft, the MSU product is an immediate favorite to fill the Slot Receiver role for Green Bay, where his route running and run after the catch skills will add great value for Jordan Love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Houston Texans<\/strong> – ILB Henry To\u2019oTo\u2019o, Alabama – Pick #33 in the fifth round – This pick is just great value for the Texans, who were already having a pretty good draft. The #5 ranked ILB coming in, To\u2019oTo\u2019o is a sure tackler and instinctive pass rusher from the nation\u2019s top college program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Indianapolis Colts<\/strong> – DE Adetomiwa Adebawore, Northwestern – Pick #8 in the fourth round – I legit had\u00a0Adebawore going as early as the end of the first round; he\u2019s that good, on tape and at the combine. Whether he lines up as a DE, an OLB, or a hellaciously fast 3-Tech, he is going to wreak some havoc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jacksonville Jaguars<\/strong> – OLB Yasir Abdullah, Louisville – Pick #1 in the fifth round – Abdullah is a standup OLB likely to move to an off-ball role due to his size. I think Abdullah will prove to be the better player over similarly-sized ILB Ventrell Miller from Florida, whom the Jaguars selected a round earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kansas City Chiefs<\/strong> – Edge Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State – Pick #31 in the first round – The #4 ranked DE coming into the draft, Anudike-Uzomah relentlessly pursues the QB and ball carrier. He is a bit light to take on the run when O-linemen are pulling, but still offers great value for the end of Day 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Los Angeles Chargers<\/strong> – WR Derius Davis, TCU – Pick #23 in the fourth round – Chargers fans, meet your new KR\/PR, brought in specifically to replace the departed DeAndre Carter. On paper, Davis is a diminutive Slot with a limited catch radius. In reality, he\u2019s a threat whenever he touches the ball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Los Angeles Rams<\/strong> – DE Byron Young, Tennessee – Pick #14 in the third round – I wanted to go Georgia QB Stetson Bennett here, but the fourth was too early for him. Needing value out of their limited picks in \u201823, the Rams grabbed the #8 ranked DE to try and replace the newly departed Leonard Floyd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Las Vegas Raiders<\/strong> – TE Michael Mayer, Notre Dame – Pick #4 in the second round – Mayer was easily good enough to go in the first round and may turn out to be the best TE in this year\u2019s draft. He finds soft spots in coverage, blocks very well, and doesn\u2019t lose many jump balls. Great add here for LV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Miami Dolphins<\/strong> – OT Ryan Hayes, Michigan – Pick #21 in the seventh round – Hayes was a two-year starter at left tackle for a Wolverines unit that won consecutive Joe Moore Awards for the best OL in the nation. He slipped only because of his shorter arms, meaning he\u2019ll switch to OG in the NFL. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Minnesota Vikings<\/strong> – S Jay Ward, LSU – Pick #32 in the fourth round – Ward is a smart, versatile, and aggressive defensive back who excels in the press technique. He\u2019ll provide immediate help to a Vikings secondary and special teams unit that was underwhelming in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n New England Patriots<\/strong> – OG Sidy Sow, Eastern Michigan – Pick #15 in the fourth round – This wasn\u2019t a position of need for the Patriots, but Bill Belichick knows you can never have too many big guys. The #5 ranked OG coming in, Sow has good speed for his size, though his NFL pass sets will need work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n New Orleans Saints<\/strong> – RB Kendre Miller, TCU – Pick #8 in the third round – Alvina Kamara\u2019s tenure in NO is winding down and Jamaal Williams is not a long-term solution. In Miller, the Saints get an elusive ball carrier with great balance, though he will need work to become an efficient receiver from the backfield.<\/p>\n\n\n\n New York Giants<\/strong> – WR Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee – Pick #10 in the third round – A true field stretcher, Hyatt\u2019s rare ability as a vertical threat will make it much harder for opposing defenses to double-up on fellow Giants WR Darius Slayton, or stack the line against the running game, bringing immediate value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n New York Jets<\/strong> – C Joe Tippmann, Wisconsin – Pick #12 in the second round – Picking up the drafts\u2019 #1 ranked true Center at this pick was a masterful bit of drafting by the Jets. Tippmann will immediately take over as a starter and provide stalwart pass protection for newly-acquired QB Aaron Rodgers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Philadelphia Eagles<\/strong> – S Sydney Brown, Illinois – Pick #3 in the third round – The #3 ranked Safety in the draft, Philly had to be thrilled when Brown dropped to them. The Canadian-born product can line up deep or in the slot but is at his best playing in the box. Great value here in a position of need for PHI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pittsburgh Steelers<\/strong> – DT Keeanu Benton, Wisconsin – Pick #18 in the second round – Benton will almost certainly immediately take the starting NT job from Montravius Adams to work with Cam Heyward and Larry Ogunjobi, giving the Steelers an outstanding defensive line to start the 2023 season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Seattle Seahawks<\/strong> – C Olusegun Oluwatimi, Michigan – Pick #20 in the fifth round – The Seahawks desperately needed a reliable Center and they may have found one in Oluwatimi, an instinctive player with strong hands and above-average pass-blocking skills, for the interior offensive line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n San Francisco 49ers<\/strong> – WR Ronnie Bell, Michigan – Pick #36 in the seventh round – This is a sneaky good pick by the 49ers. Bell\u2019s exceptional route running and ball skills are his calling card. That will add value to a San Fransisco wide receiver room that will go through a big transition over the next two seasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/strong> – OT Cody Mauch, North Dakota State – #17 pick in the second round – Mauch is a straight mauler on the interior offensive line and Tampa Bay desperately needed one. A mid-second rounder is an excellent value for a guy that has the potential to anchor your line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tennessee Titans<\/strong> – QB Will Levis, Kentucky – Pick #2 in the second round – Up until draft day, there was buzz that Levis could go in the Top-5. That didn\u2019t materialize, so the Titans got their QB of the future on the cheap. Don\u2019t expect Year 1 fireworks, but this was a great value pick for TEN in the second round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Washington Commanders<\/strong> – OG Braeden Daniels, Utah – Pick #16 in the fourth round – Daniels was one of my sleepers heading into the draft, going right about where I thought he would. The #4 ranked OG in 2023, Daniels has rare speed and the agility to perform very well in a zone-blocking system.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" There’s value to be found in all round of the NFL Draft, and these teams certainly found some. Check out value picks for each team here.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":76194,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[797,46],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-76190","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorial","category-nfl-football"],"yoast_head":"\n