2023 NFL Draft

Image by David Eulitt/Getty Images

On April 27th, 2023, the National Football League held its 87th Annual Draft. Bryce Young was selected 1st Overall by the Carolina Panthers. 
by Drew Caraway

On April 27th, 2023, the National Football League held its 87th Annual Draft. Bryce Young was selected 1st Overall by the Carolina Panthers. The 2023 Class was certainly special, and could be the best to date, with gems falling and players rising, the Draft was very entertaining. 

1st Round

• 1st: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
• 2nd: CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State
• 3rd: Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama 
• 4th: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
• 5th: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
• 6th: Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
• 7th: Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech
• 8th: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
• 9th: Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
• 10th: Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
• 11th: Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern
• 12th: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama
• 13th: Lukas Van Ness, LB, Iowa
• 14th: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
• 15th: Will McDonald IV, EDGE, Iowa State
• 16th: Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
• 17th: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
• 18th: Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa
• 19th: Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh
• 20th: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
• 21st: Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
• 22nd: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
• 23rd: Jordan Addison, WR, USC
• 24th: Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
• 25th: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
• 26th: Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan
• 27th: Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
• 28th: Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
• 29th: Bryan Bresse, DT, Clemson
• 30th: Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia
• 31st: Felix Anudike-Uzomah, EDGE, Kansas State
• (Miami Dolphins 1st Round Pick forfeited for tampering)

Who Won the Draft? 
Many different perspectives are viewed upon as to who had the best draft. Some say the Philadelphia Eagles, others say the Pittsburgh Steelers. According to The Athletic, the Philadelphia Eagles had the best draft. On the other hand, Sporting News says the Pittsburgh Steelers had the best draft. Both draft classes were incredible, filled with amazing players and tons of upside

Eagles Draft (from The Athletic)

​Steelers Draft (from Sporting News)

photo by Kirby Lee/USA TODAY SPORTS

Draft Dominance
The NFL Draft was nothing short of incredible. Some Colleges exceeded expectations. On the other hand, some conferences were underwhelming. 

Alabama and Georgia were tied for the most picks in the Draft with 10 a piece. The SEC led all conferences with 62 total picks in the draft.
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 Just to put in perspective how impressive that is, the SEC had 23% of picks in this draft. Michigan was 3rd with 9, followed by TCU with 8, and tied for 5th was Penn State, Clemson, Ohio State, Florida, LSU, Pittsburgh, and Oregon, all with 6.

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​ photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Kirby’s Dominance
Over the course of Kirby Smart’s 23 year coaching career, Smart has improved year by year, his most recent achievement being winning Back-to-Back National Championships with the Georgia Bulldogs in 2021 and 2022, whilst in the hunt for his 3rd straight. Smart started blowing up during his time at Alabama, under Coach Saban as his Defensive Coordinator. In 2016, Smart accepted a Head Coaching position at the University of Georgia in hopes of turning the program back around. And that he did. During Kirby Smart’s time at Georgia, UGA has only been unranked once, and it was Smart’s first season with the Bulldogs (via Sports Reference). In the last six years alone, Georgia has produced 15 first round picks, along with a player being drafted at every defensive position.

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​This NFL Draft has tons and tons of Hall of Fame potential. The quarterback class is certainly a special one, with fourteen being drafted in seven rounds of the draft, tied for the most since 2000. Now, fans will just have to wait for the NFL season.

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