NFL Analysis
2/17/25
22 min read
Re-Drafting 2023 NFL Draft After 2 Years
The 2023 NFL Draft may not have produced as many promising stars at the quarterback position as the 2024 class, but it has more than a few emerging stars who will be entering their third NFL season in 2025.
A re-draft is a great way to look back at a draft class to evaluate if players lived up to their draft billing while highlighting unheralded prospects who have taken the league by storm. This isn't meant to criticize teams or players but rather be a thought experiment to imagine what the NFL would look like if these teams got a do-over.
Without resetting trades for draft picks or altering the final draft order, let's dive into a full first-round re-draft for the 2023 NFL Draft.
Note: Miami forfeited its first-round pick.
Re-Drafting The 2023 NFL Draft
1. Carolina Panthers 
Original Pick: Bryce Young, QB
New Pick: C.J. Stroud, QB
The Carolina Panthers spent significant resources to move up to the No. 1 pick. What if they had used that on Stroud instead?
It's more than likely that the rookie-year results would have been the same, but Stroud's ceiling as a pro so far looks significantly higher than Young's, even if the latter showed signs of being a starting-caliber quarterback in the back half of the 2024 season.
2. Houston Texans
Original Picks: C.J. Stroud, QB
New Picks: Jalen Carter, DT
With Stroud off the board, GM Nick Caserio gives new head coach DeMeco Ryans an elite defensive pairing.
Ryans already turned the Houston Texans defense into one of the best units in the league, but adding Carter would make things that much harder for opposing offenses. He's quickly become one of the most unguardable interior defenders in the NFL and could take Houston's defense to another level.
3. Houston Texans 
Original Pick: Will Anderson Jr., EDGE
New Pick: Will Anderson Jr., Edge
After taking a potential superstar on the defensive interior, the Texans can stick with their original pick and take one of the league's most talented young EDGEs in Anderson.
The pressure numbers have stayed consistent, but Anderson focused on converting those pressures into sacks in a big way in 2024. He finished the regular season with 11 sacks, then added another 3.5 in two playoff games to show that he can step up in big moments.
Anderson looks like he's set up for a breakout 2025 season, and the Texans should be thrilled with their pick, even with the opportunity to take someone else in this redraft.
4. Indianapolis Colts
Original Pick: Anthony Richardson, QB
New Pick: Christian Gonzalez, CB
Richardson's struggles with accuracy and staying healthy through two seasons could have the Indianapolis Colts questioning their decision to take the young quarterback. However, there are no other franchise-altering quarterback prospects on the board, so the Colts can use this pick to focus on building up a disappointing defense.
Christian Gonzalez suffered a season-ending shoulder injury as a rookie but has had such an impact through two seasons that he's already been named a second-team All-Pro. He's emerging as a top-tier coverage corner, and that's something that the Colts have had on the outside for a long time.
5. Seattle Seahawks
Original Pick: Devon Witherspoon, CB
New Pick: Devon Witherspoon, CB
The Seahawks get to reunite with their original draft pick in this re-draft. While he's no longer viewed as the top cornerback from this class, he's still had quite the impact in Seattle.
Witherspoon has filled the stat sheet for two seasons, generating 177 total tackles with 25 pass breakups, 4.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, and an interception. His fearless play style gets him burnt at times, but he's the perfect cornerback to develop under new head coach Mike Macdonald as the rest of the defense continues to be built out.
6. Arizona Cardinals
Original Pick: Paris Johnson Jr., OT
New Pick: Paris Johnson Jr., OT
There are so many fun weapons still on the board for the Arizona Cardinals, but the offensive line has seen such a positive impact from Johnson at left tackle that they might be inclined to stick with their original pick to protect Kyler Murray.
It took a little bit for Johnson to find his footing at the NFL level, but he looked like a premier left tackle by the end of his sophomore season. In 14 games last season, he allowed just 23 pressures, nearly halving his sacks and pressures allowed from the previous season.
It's not a flashy pick, but Johnson took such a big step forward this past season that the Cardinals would be wise to keep him in Arizona.
7. Las Vegas Raiders
Original Pick: Tyree Wilson, EDGE
New Pick: Brian Branch, SAF
It's a shock that things went so poorly for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023, considering the talent on the roster. Josh Jacobs and Davante Adams were still with the team, and Jimmy Garoppolo was hoping to have a major impact at quarterback.
That didn't end up happening, but considering the Raiders' roster at the time, a talented safety like Branch would have had a much bigger impact on their defense than Wilson. Branch made his first Pro Bowl in 2024 and has already racked up seven interceptions and 29 pass breakups over two seasons.
8. Atlanta Falcons
Original Pick: Bijan Robinson, RB
New Pick: Bijan Robinson, RB
The jury is still out on whether Robinson is the best running back in this draft class. However, considering the workload, play style, and prospect that he was coming out of Texas, he remains the right pick for the Atlanta Falcons, given the success he's had in Atlanta.
In two seasons, Robinson has already racked up 2,432 yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground while adding another 918 yards and five scores off of 119 catches. He's elusive but also has the physical toughness to take on a huge workload without missing a game through two seasons.
9. Philadelphia Eagles
Original Pick: Jalen Carter, DT
New Pick: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB
Before Saquon Barkley became the first player to reach 2,500 rushing yards in a single year (regular season and playoffs), the Philadelphia Eagles had a disappointing situation at running back.
D'Andre Swift may have broken 1,000 rushing yards in his one season for Philadelphia, but he didn't have the impact that they were hoping for behind such an elite offensive line. With Carter not on the board in this re-draft, the Eagles could take a true home-run threat in Jahmyr Gibbs, who could quickly take the league by storm by running behind arguably the best offensive line in football.
10. Chicago Bears
Original Pick: Darnell Wright, OT
New Pick: Puka Nacua, WR
For as solid as Wright has been at right tackle for the Chicago Bears, it would be too hard to let Puka Nacua slip this far.
Nacua has become Sean McVay's perfect chess piece, and if utilized properly, he could have been the same in Chicago as a safety blanket for Justin Fields. On top of being an electric playmaker, he's also a tremendous blocker who can add another dimension to the run game, making a mobile quarterback like Fields even more dangerous before becoming a favorite target for Caleb Williams in 2024.
11. Tennessee Titans
Original Pick: Peter Skoronski, OL
New Pick: Bryce Young, QB
The Tennessee Titans took Will Levis in the second round of the 2023 draft, but taking a sliding Bryce Young with the 11th pick would allow them to focus on other positions for the rest of the draft.
Young's slip in this re-draft is more about the ascension of talent to come out of the 2023 class, more than it is about his early-career struggles. Tennessee may not be the best landing spot for him, but the Titans were in clear need of a quarterback in the 2023 offseason, and Young could end up having a better start to his career throwing to weapons like DeAndre Hopkins with Derrick Henry still in the backfield for one more year.
12. Detroit Lions
Original Pick: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB
New Pick: De'Von Achane, RB
The Detroit Lions are disappointed about losing Gibbs in this re-draft until they get a chance to replace him with another electric home-run threat in Achane.
When Tua Tagovailoa has been healthy in Miami, Achane has been one of the most exciting running backs in the NFL. He already has 23 total touchdowns and nearly 2,500 yards from scrimmage in two seasons while catching 105 passes out of the backfield. That's exactly the kind of playmaker Ben Johnson could have turned into a star by splitting touches with David Montgomery.
13. Green Bay Packers
Original Pick: Lukas Van Ness, EDGE
New Pick: Rashee Rice, WR
The Green Bay Packers haven't taken a wide receiver in the first round since Javon Walker back in 2004. That changes in this re-draft, especially because Green Bay has multiple options to choose from at the position.
Given their preference for body type and play style at wide receiver, the Packers take Rice in this position. Before his season-ending knee injury, Rice had been averaging an incredibly efficient 2.35 yards per route run to start his NFL career. He's a big-bodied target who is lethal after the catch and could have quickly become a favorite target for Jordan Love.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers
Original Pick: Broderick Jones, OT
New Pick: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR
One of the biggest problems with the Pittsburgh Steelers offense the last couple of seasons has been its over-reliance on George Pickens in the passing game. Another reliable weapon in the slot would open up a lot, regardless of the quarterback situation.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba was the league's most heavily utilized slot receiver in 2024, resulting in a 100-catch season for 1,130 yards and six touchdowns. A slot that can handle that kind of target share would force defenses to stop paying so much attention to Pickens, potentially allowing him to become a more dominant vertical weapon.
15. New York Jets
Original Pick: Will McDonald IV, EDGE
New Pick: Darnell Wright, OT
The Aaron Rodgers era in New York flamed out so quickly, but things might have been different if the New York Jets had built a more reliable offensive line upon his arrival.
A re-draft with Darnell Wright at right tackle would have allowed Mekhi Becton to kick inside to guard. Left tackle is still a bit of a question mark in this scenario, but if the offensive line holds a bit longer to avoid an Achilles tear for Rodgers, the course of their franchise could look drastically different today,
16. Washington Commanders
Original Pick: Emmanuel Forbes, CB
New Pick: Nolan Smith, EDGE
The 2023 Washington Commanders still have Montez Sweat and Chase Young, but both pass rushers ended up becoming trade pieces at the deadline. If that had been the plan heading into the season, then the Commanders could use this re-draft to take a successor out on the edge like Smith.
Now a Super Bowl champion, Smith took a big step forward in 2024. He had just one sack and nine pressures as a rookie but finished 2024 with 10.5 sacks through the regular season and playoffs to go along with 50 pressures.
Washington could have stashed Smith to start his NFL career, learning behind two experienced and talented EDGEs before being thrown out there full-time in the second half of his rookie season.
17. New England Patriots
Original Pick: Christian Gonzalez, CB
New Pick: Zay Flowers, WR
New England's original pick is long gone at this point, and with the roster's state heading into 2025, they could really take a swing at any position, simply looking for impactful players to add to the roster.
Zay Flowers would be an ideal weapon for Drake Maye down the road. He's already a Pro Bowler and saw a huge step up in his efficiency with his first 1,000-yard season and 2.25 yards per route run in 2024. While he'd have to sit through some brutal quarterback play in 2023, that patience could allow Flowers to play with a young and emerging star in Maye the next season, giving the young quarterback a potential star wideout during his rookie year.
18. Detroit Lions
Original Pick: Jack Campbell, LB
New Pick: Sam LaPorta, TE
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes doesn't care about positional value, but he likely cares about losing out on a star tight end for his offense in this redraft.
The Lions didn't take LaPorta until the 34th pick in 2023, but he's unlikely to make it that far in this re-draft. Instead of letting another team take him in the next 15 picks, the Lions keep their immensely impactful weapon in Detroit so he can have an All-Pro season as a rookie with 86 catches for 889 yards and 10 scores.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Original Pick: Calijah Kancey, DT
New Pick: Kobie Turner, DT
For as exciting as Kancey has looked in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense, Kobie Turner's ascension in just two years makes him the more appealing target for the Buccaneers in this re-draft.
Turner didn't go until the 90th pick back in 2023 but has become an impactful three-down player in the league. He already has generated 17 sacks, 112 pressures, and 83 defensive stops in just two seasons, and looks like one of the biggest steals of the real-life 2023 draft class.
That's a first-round pick as far as production, and it feels like he's only scratching the surface of what he's capable of in the NFL.
20. Seattle Seahawks
Original Pick: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR
New Pick: Jayden Reed, WR
After losing out on their star slot in this re-draft, the Seattle Seahawks still wind up with another impactful weapon in the slot in Jayden Reed.
Reed has been a versatile player for the Packers during the last two seasons. He has caught 119 passes for 1,650 yards and 14 touchdowns while rushing for another 282 yards and three scores on just 31 carries. While he's not the biggest weapon, he's physical and fearless, and it's easy to see why the Packers have trusted him so early in his career.
Without Smith-Njigba to take on such a huge workload in the slot, Reed could end up being an even bigger name in Seattle simply off of target share alone.
21. Los Angeles Chargers
Original Pick: Quentin Johnston, WR
New Pick: Jordan Addison, WR
Johnston has widely been considered one of the more disappointing first-round picks of the 2023 class, but the Los Angeles Chargers can still get Justin Herbert an exciting deep threat by taking Addison.
Addison has thrived in Minnesota alongside Justin Jefferson, catching 136 passes for 1,815 yards and 19 touchdowns. This past season, Sam Darnold posted a 114.6 passer rating when targeting Addison on passes 20-plus yards downfield, making him the ideal deep threat option for Herbert.
22. Baltimore Ravens
Original Pick: Zay Flowers, WR
New Pick: Cody Mauch, iOL
Losing out on Flowers is a big blow to Baltimore's offense, and the top tier of receivers is already off of the board in this redraft.
Instead, the Baltimore Ravens can focus on a long-term successor for guards John Simpson and Kevin Zeitler, who left after the 2023 season. Mauch needed a year in the league to get acclimated before showing drastic improvement in 2024 for Tampa Bay. Sitting behind two strong veteran guards as a rookie before starting as a second-year player in Baltimore makes a lot of sense for both sides.
23. Minnesota Vikings
Original Pick: Jordan Addison, WR
New Pick: Calijah Kancey, DT
Losing out on their long-term WR2 means that the Minnesota Vikings need to look elsewhere. Brian Flores can always use more pass rushers, especially on the interior of his defense, making Kancey a fun selection.
While he's undersized, Kancey still has 85 pressures and 11.5 sacks in two seasons. He's still not an every-down player at the NFL level, but his pass-rushing juice could be a real asset for Flores to keep quarterbacks guessing even more about where pressure is coming from on obvious passing downs.
24. New York Giants
Original Pick: Deonte Banks, CB
New Pick: Anthony Richardson, QB
Who is a better successor to Daniel Jones in New York than Anthony Richardson?
Both quarterbacks are physically imposing dual-threat quarterbacks, but Richardson adds a more explosive element to the offense. This kind of slide takes the pressure off of Richardson to start right away, allowing him to sit behind Jones while learning from a head coach in Brian Daboll, who had experience developing a similar young quarterback in Josh Allen.
25. Buffalo Bills
Original Pick: Dalton Kincaid, TE
New Pick: Tucker Kraft, TE
Kincaid was supposed to unlock a key part of Buffalo's offense, and while he's been solid, he hasn't exactly been the kind of weapon you the Bills were hoping for from a first-round tight end.
Kraft could be a much more dynamic choice with this first-round pick. Along with being a YAC monster that defenders struggle to bring down, he's a versatile blocker in the run game, capable of sealing rush lanes as an in-line blocker, in the backfield, or in the slot.
That's an ideal piece for Josh Allen and James Cook, making Buffalo's offense that much more dangerous.
26. Dallas Cowboys
Original Pick: Mazi Smith, DL
New Pick: Byron Young, EDGE
The Dallas Cowboys are still waiting for Smith to have a positive impact at the NFL level, so instead of taking an interior defender, they can take a productive EDGE.
While he's not a complete player yet, Young has found a lot of success rushing the passer in two seasons, generating 15.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and 105 pressures. He would at least be a rotational defensive end behind Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence early in his career before being a full-time starter.
27. Jacksonville Jaguars
Original Pick: Anton Harrison, OT
New Pick: Peter Skoronski, OL
It's hard to say that Harrison has been a disappointment for the Jacksonville Jaguars at right tackle after allowing just nine sacks and 58 pressures in two seasons. However, the Jaguars might benefit from more help on the interior by taking Skoronski instead.
Skoronski brings a bit more position versatility as a former college left tackle with the 313-pound frame to handle playing on the inside. He's also only allowed nine sacks in his first two seasons but could be slotted into multiple positions to help Jacksonville figure out its long-term plans upfront, knowing that it can move its first-round pick just about anywhere up front.
28. Cincinnati Bengals
Original Pick: Myles Murphy, EDGE
New Pick: Will McDonald IV, EDGE
Murphy still hasn't gotten on the field enough to warrant a first-round pick, but McDonald could be a huge upgrade at the spot while being a consistent pass rusher alongside Trey Hendrickson.
After a quiet rookie season, McDonald took a massive step forward in 2024, racking up 10.5 sacks with 61 pressures. He's still getting comfortable as a consistent run defender, but he's such a reliable pass rusher that he'd be an instant upgrade over Murphy for the Cincinnati Bengals.
29. New Orleans Saints
Original Pick: Bryan Bresee, DT
New Pick: Keeanu Benton, DT
The New Orleans Saints are still waiting for more consistent performances from Bresee, but this redraft gives them a chance to take a more impactful interior defender in Benton.
A second-round pick by Pittsburgh, Benton has been a solid three-down player. He's not an every-down contributor, yet he's still had 47 pressures and 41 defensive stops in less than 1,200 snaps to start his career. That's the kind of rock-solid option the Saints can be happy with this deep into the first round.
30. Philadelphia Eagles
Original Pick: Nolan Smith, EDGE
New Pick: Gervon Dexter, DL
After being unable to land either Carter or Smith, the Eagles can at least come away with some kind of impactful defender in the trenches by taking Dexter late in the first.
Dexter wasn't an instant impact player like Carter, but he's steadily improving into a three-down defensive lineman for the Bears. He significantly cut down on his missed tackles in 2024 while generating 39 pressures and 24 defensive stops.
Other players are possible here, but the Eagles need to get some kind of contribution on the interior of their defense after losing two key parts of their Super Bowl defense.
31. Kansas City Chiefs
Original Pick: Felix Anudike-Uzomah, EDGE
New Pick: Jack Campbell, LB
The middle of Kansas City's defense has been arguably its biggest weakness in recent seasons. Jack Campbell changes that pretty quickly.
Campbell has been an impactful linebacker for Detroit in his two NFL seasons. In addition to 226 total tackles, he has a missed tackle rate of just 8.0 percent and 75 defensive stops. He's still improving in coverage but is so instinctive and has the sideline-to-sideline range that it should come with time.
Given the remaining players available, Campbell is an awfully strong pick to land with the final first-round selection.
