NFL Analysis
7/22/24
17 min read
2023 NFL Re-Draft: Who Would Every Team Take 1 Year Later?
It's only been one year since the 2023 NFL Draft took place, but some teams surely have some level of buyer's remorse. We saw fifth-round wide receiver Puka Nacua break rookie records, undrafted linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. total 102 tackles, and much more. Our 2023 re-draft will reflect the early results of this talented class.
Pretend we're erasing what we know about this most recent draft class as we complete this one-round re-draft. How much different would the 2023 NFL Draft play out if teams knew how the season would go?
Let's find out.
2023 NFL RE-DRAFT
1. CAROLINA PANTHERS – C.J. STROUD, QB, OHIO STATE
Original Pick: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
It's doubtful C.J. Stroud would've had as outstanding of a season as he did in Houston had he instead landed in Carolina. However, Stroud is clearly the more talented passer at this point, boasting elite accuracy, strong mental processing, and overall pocket maneuverability. He'd be the slam dunk No. 1 pick in a re-draft.
2. HOUSTON TEXANS – ANTHONY RICHARDSON, QB, FLORIDA
Original Pick: Will Anderson, EDGE, Alabama
Houston didn't get this selection wrong, but locking in their quarterback before they traded up with Arizona makes more sense in this mock.
Anthony Richardson looked incredibly promising in the four games he played before injuries shortened his season. In retrospect, Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik would've dialed up some tremendous plays highlighting Richardson's strong arm and rare athleticism.
3. HOUSTON TEXANS – WILL ANDERSON, EDGE, ALABAMA
Original Pick: Stroud
Producing seven sacks in 15 games, Will Anderson successfully matched expectations as he won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2023.
His immediate impact in DeMeco Ryan's defense bodes well for his upside and continued evolution into a star pass-rusher. It's hard to imagine he'll ever fall further than the fourth overall pick in future re-drafts.
4. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS – JALEN CARTER, DT, GEORGIA
Original Pick: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
Character concerns pushed Jalen Carter down the board further than his talent indicated. The best pound-for-pound athlete in the draft, Carter's rare explosiveness and impact as an interior lineman will always be highly valued.
With six sacks and two forced fumbles as a rotational contributor, Carter's trajectory is pointed sky-high.
5. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS – DEVON WITHERSPOON, CB, ILLINOIS
Original Pick: Witherspoon
Some picks were perfect at the moment and need not be changed. Devon Witherspoon brought playmaking and a tenacious attitude back to the Seattle secondary. His high energy and versatility have already made him incredibly important to the future of this defensive unit.
6. ARIZONA CARDINALS – PARIS JOHNSON, OT, OHIO STATE
Original Pick: Johnson
There might have been better Day 1 blockers in the class over Paris Johnson, but few played left tackle and have the traits to continue flourishing. Johnson's natural athleticism and feel for the position will continue to bloom in the coming years.
Few teams have needed offensive line help as much as Arizona, so there's no need to take their franchise left tackle away.
7. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS – PUKA NACUA, WR, BYU
Original Pick: Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech
Although the flashes of athleticism are intriguing for Tyree Wilson's future, he's still an unknown ball of traits with little refinement. Instead, the Raiders nab a record-breaking rookie who totaled 105 catches for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns.
Alongside Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, and Michael Mayer, the Raiders would have a strong surrounding cast with both short-term and long-term upside.
8. ATLANTA FALCONS – CHRISTIAN GONZALEZ, CB, OREGON
Original Pick: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
Calling Bijan Robinson a miss would be unfounded, but the value of selecting him eighth overall was always questionable. The Falcons still lack a quality second cornerback, so addressing that massive hole would be a wiser addition.
Christian Gonzalez's torn labrum ended his season early, but his size, ball skills, and comfort in multiple schemes have his outlook as bright as any corner in this class.
9. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES – JOEY PORTER JR., CB, PENN STATE
Original Pick: Jalen Carter, IDL, Georgia
Carter is long gone and should've been off the board back on draft day. Instead, the Eagles proactively added cornerback help right before Darius Slay and James Bradberry showed rapid signs of aging later in the year. Joey Porter Jr.'s physicality and sticky man coverage traits would've been tremendous in Philadelphia.
10. CHICAGO BEARS – Anton Harrison, RT, Oklahoma
Original Pick: Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
Chicago didn't necessarily get it wrong by taking Darnell Wright, who was promising in Year 1. But Anton Harrison is the more naturally gifted pass blocker and could flip to left tackle if Braxton Jones doesn't improve. Harrison allowed two fewer sacks and committed four fewer penalties in 2023.
11. TENNESSEE TITANS – PETER SKORONSKI, OG, NORTHWESTERN
Original Pick: Skoronski
There's no reason to change this pick for Tennessee, as Peter Skoronski delivered everything asked of him as a rookie. Tennessee's offensive line needed an injection of high-level skill and athleticism, and Skoronski met those expectations.
Taking Bryce Young in this re-draft would also be a consideration, but landing Will Levis in the second round again is a fine alternative, given what we saw last year.
12. DETROIT LIONS – BIJAN ROBINSON, RB, TEXAS
Original Pick: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama
Although the Detroit Lions were hammered for trading down for Jahmyr Gibbs, adding a high-end back to the offense made a ton of sense.
Gibbs is a great fit, but Robinson is already one of the top five backs in the NFL. He brings better rushing ability, consistency, and just as much receiving production as Gibbs.
13. GREEN BAY PACKERS – DAWAND JONES, OT, OHIO STATE
Original Pick: Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa
It's understandable why the Packers would add the athletic ball of energy, Lukas Van Ness, but he's still a rotational presence entering Year 2. Instead, upgrading the left tackle spot that Rasheed Walker filled as a second-year player would be welcomed.
Dawand Jones was fantastic for Cleveland in limited duty, and there's optimism that Jones will flip sides eventually to become a dominant blindside pass-blocker.
14. PITTSBURGH STEELERS – BRYCE YOUNG, QB, ALABAMA
Original Pick: Broderick Jones, RT, Georgia
There's no way around that Bryce Young struggled mightily as a rookie, but he would've had a higher chance of succeeding in a more stable environment with some playmakers.
Meanwhile, Pittsburgh needed a more dynamic and fast-thinking quarterback to make anything Matt Canada drew up seem viable. Young still wouldn't have been a star right away in Pittsburgh, but his talent would've been more on display in a better situation.
15. NEW YORK JETS – TANK DELL, WR, HOUSTON
Original Pick: Will McDonald, EDGE, Iowa State
The idea of only taking premium positions in the first round sounds nice until your depth chart is overloaded. The New York Jets added talent to a position of strength instead of providing Garrett Wilson with a viable co-star.
If Tank Dell can stay healthy, his otherwordly agility and clean route-running will force defenses to send extra help in his direction whenever possible.
16. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS – BRODERICK JONES, OT, GEORGIA
Original Pick: Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
There's still plenty of time for Emmanuel Forbes to become a good player, but the Washington Commanders overlooked the massive red flag of his thin frame to bank on his ball skills. He had 11 pass breakups and one interception in 14 games but was also a complete sieve in coverage.
Instead, Broderick Jones would answer a massive long-term hole at either tackle spot and boost one of the worst offenses in the league.
17. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS – ZAY FLOWERS, WR, BOSTON COLLEGE
Original Pick: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
Zay Flowers gave the Baltimore Ravens a spark of speed and agility that was sorely lacking in their offense. New England, which has had a woeful cast of receiving talent for years, would've benefitted more from a dynamic playmaker over a cornerback.
Flowers caught 77 passes for 858 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie.
18. DETROIT LIONS – SAM LAPORTA, TE, IOWA
Original Pick: Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa
Detroit unquestionably did well to add as much talent in the early rounds of the 2023 draft, but the order they selected players might've been wrong.
Finding a star at tight end is especially difficult, but Sam LaPorta proved to be excellent as a second-rounder. He'd easily be worth taking even higher in a re-draft after he caught 86 passes for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns.
19. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS – CALIJAH KANCEY, DT, PITTSBURGH
Original Pick: Kancey
An ultra-fast and flexible defensive tackle, Calijah Kancey has the burst and balance needed to be a major headache for blockers throughout his career.
His rookie season included four sacks, 10 tackles for loss, and 12 QB hits. The duo of Kancey and Vita Vea should be even more effective in the coming years.
20. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS – Byron Young, EDGE, Tennessee
Original Pick: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
Taking a flier on Jaxon Smith-Njigba as a complementary piece to DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett made some sense, but it was risky considering his athletic profile and injury issues throughout 2022.
JSN was solid as a rookie but might've been over-drafted. Instead, Seattle adds the explosive Byron Young, who totaled eight sacks and 19 QB hits last year.
21. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS – Steve Avila, C, TCU
Original Pick: Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
We'll see whether Quentin Johnston is even an NFL-caliber player this fall. For now, the Chargers would've been better off taking anyone else at all.
Steve Avila was excellent at guard for the Los Angeles Rams as a rookie and would fill in as the center of the future had he landed with the other franchise in LA.
22. BALTIMORE RAVENS – JORDAN ADDISON, WR, USC
Original Pick: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
Losing out on Flowers in this re-draft is tough, but the Ravens add a similar playmaker in Jordan Addison. With 70 receptions, 911 yards, and 10 touchdowns, Addison proved capable of being at least a high-end No. 2 pass-catcher.
The concern with Addison comes off the field, as he was recently arrested under suspicion one year after being arrested for excessive speeding and reckless driving.
23. MINNESOTA VIKINGS – JAHMYR GIBBS, RB, ALABAMA
Original Pick: Jordan Addison, WR, USC
Minnesota might not even take Addison again if they had the chance due to his off-field actions. With that option removed, going with a dynamic playmaker who replaces Dalvin Cook makes sense.
Gibbs was electric in a somewhat contained role with Detroit in 2023, so giving him a full workload would be fun.
24. NEW YORK GIANTS – Rashee Rice, WR, SMU
Original Pick: Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
There are a lot of holes across the Giants' roster, so simply re-drafting Deonte Banks would make sense as he posted encouraging enough coverage stats. Instead, though, the Giants' offense still needs a makeover. Rashee Rice proved to be a fantastic threat after the catch, giving the Giants more opportunities to create easy offense for the woeful unit.
25. BUFFALO BILLS – DALTON KINCAID, TE, UTAH
Original Pick: Kincaid
Dalton Kincaid's first season was promising enough to justify the Bills taking him here. He caught fire in the last two weeks of the year and into the playoffs, so the arrow is pointing way up from a stat line that included 73 receptions for 673 yards and two touchdowns.
Kincaid might end up being one of the league's most important x-factors this fall.
26. DALLAS COWBOYS - KEEANU BENTON, DT, WISCONSIN
Original Pick: Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan
Dallas correctly identified the need for trench help at defensive tackle, but they whiffed at the player. Mazi Smith looked a few years away from being ready for a big role, whereas former Wisconsin nose tackle Keeanu Benton brought a grown-man's skill set to Pittsburgh right away.
Benton's ability to handle both double teams and penetrate into the backfield is impressive.
27. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS – DARNELL WRIGHT, RT, TENNESSEE
Original Pick: Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
A tremendous mauler in the run game and stout pass blocker against power rushers, Darnell Wright is a prototypical right tackle.
He's a pure right tackle only, though, and he's overly reliant on his strength more than nimble feet and refined hand placement on passing plays. He's solid but falls a bit compared to more impactful pass blockers.
28. CINCINNATI BENGALS – Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa
Original Pick: Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
The Bengals tend to address future roster needs at least one year before they need to, so it's hard to be too critical of the addition of Myles Murphy.
He'll likely take over as a starter if Trey Hendrickson is traded or walks in free agency, but last year was nothing special. Instead, with a more athletic option in Van Ness offers a higher upside to develop.
29. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS – Kobie Turner, DT, Wake Forest
Original Pick: Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
This was a questionable pick because Bryan Bresee was coming off a season of poor play following an ACL tear; as a rookie, he at least hit 4.5 sacks.
However, four of those came against the New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers lines, so it remains to be seen as to what Bresee can be. Kobie Turner has no such questions after the third-rounder racked up nine sacks, 57 tackles, and 16 QB hits.
30. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES – BRIAN BRANCH, S/SCB, ALABAMA
Original Pick: Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia
Philadelphia's Georgia obsession hasn't worked out as well as many expected, and Nolan Smith thus far looks like a miss. Brian Branch was routinely mocked to Philadelphia here because of their immense need at the position.
Pairing him with Joey Porter Jr. as first-rounders would've simply executed what Philadelphia did in the 2024 draft, but one year earlier.
31. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS – Jayden Reed, WR, Michigan State
Original Pick: Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Edge, Kansas State
Rice and the other top receivers are off the board, but Kansas City surely would've loved Jayden Reed in this re-draft. A speedy, versatile threat who is a good version of Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore, Reed's explosiveness would've made him an Andy Reid favorite.
I still have hope that Felix Anudike-Uzomah will be a useful role player, but Kansas City panicked a bit with the lack of clearly standout edge rushers after him.
