Round One recap of the 2023 NFL Draft

There you have it you lovely lot, day one of the 2023 NFL draft is complete! 

I truly hope you have had more sleep than I. I watched until the final pick, as just between you and me, I needed to know where Michael Mayer went, and he hasn’t yet! 

Now, it does feel like the draft sort of began at the number two pick, the Texans. Most of NFL Nation was sure the Carolina Panthers were taking Bryce Young of Alabama. I don’t know about you, but they should have just submitted the pick three weeks ago like they would in the 1984 draft or something, but they were on the clock and made their selection. 

The Texans did the thing that they probably should have done, and scooped up a quarterback in C.J. Stroud. Then they sent the 12th overall pick with the number 33 pick (a first and third in the 2024 draft too) to receive pick 105, and the third overall pick to select linebacker Will Anderson Jnr out of Alabama. 

Another quarterback off the board, Anthony Richardson was selected by the Colts. Followed by another trade with the Seahawks and Broncos. Seattle selected, possibly the top cornerback of this draft, Devon Witherspoon. 

Arizona shifted around the board trading with Detroit, and the Cardinals selected the Ohio State offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. 

Texas Tech defensive end Tyree Wilson was taken by the Las Vegas Raiders, and then the first running back was picked at 8! Bijan Robinson goes to the Atlanta Falcons. 

As great as the running back is, and he really is, I was kind of relieved that the Falcons scooped up Robinson, I am not sure if Bill Belichick could have passed by the elite running back talent, but I think a lot of us really wanted him too!

Super Bowl runners up the Philadelphia Eagles moved up to nab the defensive end out of Georgia, Jalen Carter. 

The Bears mixed it up with trades and took offensive tackle Darnell Wright. Mike Vrabel and the Tennessee Titans picked one of my favourites at 11 in Peter Skoronski the OT from Northwestern. 

More trades than you could have coffee so late at night and the Lions selected Jahmyr Gibbs the running back at 12. Green Bay drafted Iowa defensive end, edge guy, Luke Van Ness and then the Steelers make THAT trade with New England and hopped up to the 14th pick. 

Patriots fans groaned and held their breath as the Steelers had their choice of talent and chose my favourite OT guy in Broderick Jones. This possibly resulted in the Jets being pipped for their guy, we will never truly know, and the Jets selected defensive end Will McDonald out of Iowa State. 

Washington picked cornerback Emmanuel Forbes at 16 and then… the Patriots had a selection. 

They didn’t trade, they stuck and they picked up a dynamic cornerback that you will hear plenty about today! Yes folks, the Patriots selected Christian Gonzalez out of Oregon. 

The Lions got to pick again and took my favourite line backer Jack Campbell, followed by Tampa Bay selecting defensive tackle Calijah Kancey and then the Seahawks started the run on wide receivers taking Jaxon Smith-Njigba at 20. 

22nd, but technically taken 21st because of those naughty Dolphins, was Quentin Johnston, selected by the LA Chargers. 

Hearts became broken in New England as Zay Flowers from Boston College was picked by the Ravens, and rounding out the stint of wide receiver selections was Jordan Addison who was taken by the Vikings. 

The Giants got antsy and moved up in a trade with the Jaguars to select corner back Deonte Banks from Maryland, then the Bills moved to take one of the top tight ends Dalton Kincaid of Utah. 

To those of you that reached out to ask my opinion on this selection, firstly thank you! Secondly, I wasn’t happy. Obviously I want all the good tight ends to go to the Patriots, but seriously now, did he really have to go to the Bills?! Not exactly looking forward to the Patriots having to face that top talent at least twice a season. 

The Cowboys selected the defensive tackle from Michigan Mazi Smith, followed by the Jacksonville Jags finally selecting, where they took Anton Harrison from Oklahoma. 

Myles Murphy went to the Bengals. New Orleans selected defensive tackle Bryan Bresee. The Eagles picked up another mammoth player from Georgia, and drafted Nolan Smith and, finally the evening rounded out with Felix Anudike-Uzomah of Kansas State going to the Kansas City Chiefs!

So there you have it folks, lots of speculation confirmed, or blown out of the water, and so much talent left “on the board” for tonight! I do hope the Patriots select some of those tight ends I am wanting so much but hey, that’s what it is to be a fan right?

On that note, keep smiling you lovely lot, and Go Pats!