2023 NFL ‘All-Draft Pick Team’: Our favorite selections at each position

Boston, MA - October 8: Boston College Eagles WR Zay Flowers runs for a short gain after catching a 1st quarter pass. BC lost to Clemson, 31-3. (Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
By Diante Lee and Nick Baumgardner
May 8, 2023

In the months leading up to the 2023 NFL Draft, we noted how odd and interesting this class was going to be. Then draft weekend happened and, at some positions and spots on the board, you saw exactly what we were talking about. The number of truly elite prospects this year — those without any clear flaws — could be counted on … well, Will Anderson Jr. might have been it. This was, in so many ways, an eye-of-the-beholder draft.

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Where did we find the most beauty? Here are our favorite picks — 11 on offense, as chosen by Nick Baumgardner; 11 on defense, as selected by Diante Lee.

Offense

Quarterback

Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers, (Round 1, No. 1 overall)

No need to overcomplicate it. Young’s mind is NFL-ready and has been for at least a full season. This was the easy pick for a team that still has work in front of it, but the Panthers also had some encouraging moments late last year. They’ll have a new direction under Frank Reich that seems to fit well with Young’s quick-read, quick-release style. If Young can stay healthy, he should be great in his new role.

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Running back

Roschon Johnson, Chicago Bears (Round 4, No. 115)

I could’ve picked Bijan Robinson here and been fine with it, as I think Atlanta’s selection of him — an elite-tier player — is plenty fine. However, we can’t simply ignore positional value, and this was a solid RB class with good depth. After losing David Montgomery in free agency, Chicago got a cheaper but younger and very effective between-the-tackle option in Johnson, Robinson’s former backfield mate at Texas. He should pair well with the speedy Khalil Herbert.

Eric Gray, New York Giants (Round 5, No. 172)

When everyone departed from the Senior Bowl, I told myself that this would be a draft in which a back like Gray would get pushed into Day 3. He probably should have had a third- to fourth-round grade, but I also wouldn’t have taken him much higher than the fourth given all the RB talent. In another year (and maybe even last year), he’s a third-round pick easy.

The Giants, who still have the best three-down RB1 in the game, added a terrific change-of-pace option in Gray. The Oklahoma product can catch, has wiggle and runs low to the ground.

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Wide receiver

Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens (Round 1, No. 22)

This was a strange receiver class, with depth in the middle and not a lot of sparkle at the top. Flowers, though, was a first-round grade on more boards than people realized, and his combination of toughness, speed and general football character is the perfect fit in Baltimore. Things are looking up again for the Ravens.

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Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers (Round 2, No. 50)

I love both Flowers and Reed for similar reasons. Reed, like Flowers, is small and simply does not care. He’s got legit breakaway speed and runs everything with a lot of explosion. There’s improvement needed, but he also blocks on the perimeter with an outstanding mindset.

Putting Reed in Matt LaFleur’s offense gives me Amon-Ra St. Brown vibes.

Tight end

Darnell Washington, Pittsburgh Steelers (Round 3, No. 93)

The medical concerns on Washington clearly resulted in a tumble, and Washington’s massive frame does bring added cause for worry.  However, in what could turn out to be a generational tight end class, Washington is the most NFL-ready blocker, and I’m not sure it’s close. The Steelers are adding an offensive tackle who can run routes and catch. That’s what happened here. If Washington’s health holds, this is a slam dunk.

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Offensive tackle

Matthew Bergeron, Atlanta Falcons (Round 2, No. 38)

My immediate thought after seeing the Bears take Darnell Wright at No. 10: Would Bergeron be able to slip in the first round? He missed out, barely, but I’d have had no problem with it. He was one of those fringe first-/second-round prospects.

In Atlanta, Bergeron can step in as a guard right now on an already athletic and improving offensive line — with Bijan Robinson running behind it. His potential as a future tackle is not only insanely valuable, it’s legit.

Tyler Steen, Philadelphia Eagles (Round 3, No. 65)

This should be fun. Steen is a powerful, explosive former defensive lineman who matriculated from Vanderbilt to become Alabama’s starting left tackle in 2022. He has technical work in front of him, notably with his feet and general finish consistency. However, the Eagles have the best offensive line coach in the NFL (Jeff Stoutland). At the very least, Steen will be a valuable swing lineman.

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Guard

Anthony Bradford, Seattle Seahawks (Round 4, No. 108)

At 6-foot-4 and 337 pounds with length, Bradford is one of the more powerful offensive linemen in this class, regardless of position. Once he engages, his finish can be pretty great. The concerns are that he’s all power and nothing else and that he probably can’t be trusted for too long at tackle. He has work to do, but as a guard who cannot be bullied, he fits on an NFL line right now.

Sidy Sow, New England Patriots (Round 4, No. 117)

The second Quebecer to make this list (Bergeron being the other), Sow is a mauler (6-4, 323) who’s long enough (33 5/8-inch arms) to do more. He posted a 5.07-second 40-yard dash and a 32-inch vert as a former powerlifter. He’s played tackle, but he’s best inside as a thumping guard who goes after people in pass protection.

He’s an older prospect (25 in June), but he’s also played a ton (55 starts) and could outperform his draft slot quickly.

Center

Luke Wypler, Cleveland Browns (Round 6, No. 190)

I was surprised to see Wypler fall to the sixth round. However, it speaks to the risk he took as a third-year prospect who was athletically ready to be drafted but could have benefitted from another year of school. If Wyper had longer arms (31 5/8 inches) and had more power, he’d have been a Day 2 pick. Still, this could look great in two years.

Honorable mention: Seattle snagging Michigan’s Olu Oluwatimi in the fifth.

Defense

Edge

Will Anderson Jr., Houston Texans (Round 1, No. 3)

Ladies and gentlemen of The Athletic, we have to put down the trade-value charts for one moment and focus our energy on the player: Anderson still may be the most underrated prospect in this class. The calling card of a DeMeco Ryans defense is relentless effort from the front four, and Anderson’s game embodies that. Putting Anderson in a full-time edge role — allowing him to tear up the field and use his length to convert speed to power — will give him a chance to make an immediate impact in the passing game.

If Anderson delivers and Derek Stingley Jr. is healthy, Houston will have checked off premium defensive positions in consecutive drafts.

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Derick Hall, Seattle Seahawks (Round 2, No. 37)

Hall has all the traits you’d look for in an edge with a high ceiling: legitimate 4.5 speed, a slim frame at 250-plus pounds and long arms. He can develop several different pass-rushing styles thanks to the foundation his speed provides. He also can be used to drop into coverage on occasion, is an adequate run defender and plays with a high motor. I expect Hall to start right away, and for Seahawks defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt to challenge him to develop a full repertoire.

Defensive tackle

Jalen Carter, Philadelphia Eagles (Round 1, No. 9)

Carter has it all as a prospect — and he’s got it made with the situation into which he was drafted. His explosiveness and pass-rushing chops will give him third-down value, especially on a defense that just lost Javon Hargrave. Carter has an impressive combination of anchor, hands and agility as a run defender, and he won’t have to shoulder the load alone as he shares snaps with Jordan Davis and Fletcher Cox.

Carter was arguably the most talented player in the class and joins a defense that put up gaudy backfield-production numbers last season.

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Keeanu Benton, Pittsburgh Steelers (Round 2, No. 49)

Speaking of Hargrave (who started his career in Pittsburgh), the Steelers have been looking for agile, versatile interior defenders to place around Cameron Heyward. Larry Ogunjobi was a smart addition last year, but bringing in young players who have some knowledge of the aggressive 3-4 defensive philosophy Pittsburgh runs was necessary.

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Benton was a key piece of stunts, twists and slants at Wisconsin, and his foot speed on the interior makes him an interesting piece of Pittsburgh’s pass-rushing stable. He has good hands, and his play reflects a high football IQ. He doesn’t have the most play strength, but it’s not a critical flaw, and his tools cover for him more often than not. Expect him to be more of a rotational player than starter early, and for him to succeed on obvious passing downs.

Linebackers

Trenton Simpson, Baltimore Ravens (Round 3, No. 86)

The Ravens love their archetypes at certain positions, and Patrick Queen has to be looking at Simpson as his obvious heir apparent.

Simpson is in a perfect space to maximize his strengths. With Roquan Smith diagnosing the run game and taking on the more difficult coverage responsibilities, Simpson can be the rangy sideline-to-sideline athlete he is. Simpson is an adept blitzer, too, and puts his 4.4 speed to use to plug gaps or tear off the edge. It may not happen immediately, but Simpson is primed to take over the second LB spot in Baltimore, and we may see him used in special third-down pressure packages.

Marte Mapu, New England Patriots (Round 3, No. 76)

Mapu in New England brings great warmth to the linebacker spirit I still have in my heart, and I can’t wait to see what he looks like in Bill Belichick’s defense.

At 6-3 and a shade under 220, Mapu is a terrific click-and-close tackler in the run game, ranging out on the perimeter to make stops. In an era of offense dominated by outside zone and the spread, adding length and agility to the second level will help the Patriots close passing windows quickly. Mapu is always in sixth gear, and while his relentlessness can be refined, it will help him beat runners and receivers to their spots. He may need to add some weight and strength to his frame to stand up to the punishment of the NFL game, but he doesn’t back down from taking on blocks and fitting the run.

Hybrid/slot defender

Brian Branch, Detroit Lions (Round 2, No. 45)

Branch is the smartest defensive back in this class, and he’ll find himself playing beside another versatile, high-IQ player in C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Branch was undoubtedly a first-round prospect, had it not been for an underwhelming combine, but he gets to the ball as quickly as the elite athletes due to his feel for the game. He’s also an adept tackler who’s comfortable stopping ball carriers in one-on-one situations on the perimeter and logged double-digit tackles for loss in 2022 — a nod to his value as a blitzer.

I’m interested to see how he holds up in man coverage against the better slots in the NFL. If he’s capable of it, then Detroit found a huge steal in the top 50.

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Cornerback

Julius Brents, Indianapolis Colts (Round 2, No. 44)
Darius Rush, Indianapolis Colts (Round 5, No. 138)

I thought about Christian Gonzalez and Deonte Banks, but the player-scheme fits with both are so evident and have been so well-covered that we can get back to them another time. Instead, an ode to Colts defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, who is committed to building the “Legion of Boom” no matter where he goes.

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Brents is a humongous corner at 6-3 and nearly 200 pounds, and his agility and length make him perfect for the Colts’ Cover-3 scheme. Rush is another tall corner (6-2), and his slight frame belies his 198 pounds. His calling cards are his speed and fluidity as he sprints to cover. There are some hangups with each player — top-end speed for Brents; discipline in coverage for Rush — but Bradley’s defense is good for hyper-focusing on particular skill sets instead of demanding a full repertoire of coverage skills.

The Colts have lacked talent on the defensive perimeter, and the pair of Brents and Rush gives them immediate options. If both players are good, that would slot defender Kenny Moore significantly more valuable, too. I love the potential, and I’m just as desperate as Bradley to prove that this style of defense can exist in the modern game.

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Safety

Jordan Battle, Cincinnati Bengals (Round 3, No. 95)

Lou Anarumo has steadily climbed the ranks as a defensive coordinator, so much so that he should draw legitimate consideration as the next hot head coaching name in 2024. He’s done so by prioritizing versatility and calling his defense in specific accordance to what he expects from his opponents. His scheme requires players who are comfortable doing multiple jobs, and Battle is exactly that.

He’s not the most explosive athlete, but Battle is excellent at denying throwing windows and showing up in run support, thanks to how well he diagnoses an offense’s intentions. Battle has good ball skills, he’s a punishing tackler, and he can play just as well from deep as near the line of scrimmage. With the holes to fill in Cincinnati’s safety room, he’s likely to see immediate action.

Antonio Johnson, Jacksonville Jaguars (Round 5, No. 160)

The Jaguars needed depth and a future contingency for Rayshawn Jenkins as he approaches his age-30 season. Johnson is a good fit.

His game is a throwback to the strong-safety archetype of old: a true thumper in run support and a good tackler. Defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell can use more dependable players around the second level, and Johnson fits well in a defense that can blitz from all angles and likes to play zone. There won’t be instant gratification, but I trust that Jacksonville will be happy to have Johnson grow into a future role.

(Photo of Zay Flowers: John Tlumacki / The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

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