From the potential of trading up, to having the capital to put together a watershed draft, these 10 teams in the 2023 NFL Draft are the most interesting.
We are ever so close to the 2023 NFL Draft, and the months of speculation, evaluation, and wading through gobs of information trying to decipher what’s real. Everything will play out over the next few days, and while some teams might fumble the bag, others will rise from a strong draft and elevate themselves either to a contender or over the top.
The Most Interesting Teams In The 2023 NFL Draft
For these 10 teams listed here, they provide the most intriguing storylines. It isn’t shallow like “will the Packers finally draft a first round WR” or “how much will they invest at position X”. It’s more along the lines of pushing themselves over the top, trading around like madmen, or finding that player or two to reach the mountaintop. Let’s dive in to the 10 most interesting teams in the 2023 NFL Draft.
1. Houston Texans
Let’s get this one out of the way. Whether you buy into Lance Zierlein’s connections and the recent rumors or not, the Houston Texans dictate the 2023 NFL Draft. We (probably) know what’s happening at pick one with Carolina, but there’s no player that leads the way right now.
If it isn’t quarterback, the two players are Texas Tech’s Tyree Wilson and Alabama’s Will Anderson. Wilson is a big edge rusher with great disruptive capabilities in attacking gaps. His explosiveness creates that disruption, as does his ability to change direction and generate power from an impressive leverage point at contact. He can play on all three downs and win effectively. Anderson’s production is off the charts, and his ability to win with power, technique, and dominate as both a pass rusher and run defender is the reason he’s included among the top players in the class overall.
Anderson should be selected of the two (in this writer’s opinion, anyway) but if it’s true that the Texans don’t like the quarterbacks outside of Bryce Young, it gets even more interesting at pick 12. Yes, one of the quarterbacks could be available there, and maybe it’s less of a strenuous risk to take them there (for some reason), but maybe DeMeco Ryans wants to double down on defense. Another pass rusher in Myles Murphy or Lukas Van Ness? Or, pairing Anderson with Nolan Smith? Good night. But also, what if a top corner falls there? Pairing Derek Stingley Jr. with Christian Gonzalez would be incredible.
The, the Houston Texans, in wild fashion, could go the route of trading for Trey Lance or Mac Jones. There are connections to both New England and San Francisco in Houston’s building, and maybe that’s the route for them.
It’s easy to see them prioritize either side of the football. Imagine going from the potential of C.J. Stroud, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Darnell Washington, and Luke Wypler to Anderson, Gonzalez, Jack Campbell, and Sydney Brown. Either way, the Texans are building something to watch and might do some absolutely gnarly things come draft time.
2. Detroit Lions
Again, this one has some of the foundation sitting with the amount of draft capital. The Lions have picks 6, 18, 48, 55, and 81 on the first two days of the 2023 NFL Draft. That is a plethora to finish up filling the holes and finding value across the board to boost a team that can potentially win the NFC North.
The elephant in the room is quarterback. Yes, Jared Goff has been solid, but eventually, the Lions have to find that guy to truly elevate themselves into the “win the Super Bowl” conversation. Could C.J. Stroud get them there, operating behind a phenomenal offensive line and distributing to Amon-Ra St. Brown, taking shots down to Jameson Williams, and (hopefully) finding a quality tight end to target? He could! Is it worth swinging on Anthony Richardson? It could be, and he could get a year to sit like several in the draft sphere believe he needs.
If they don’t look quarterback and roll with Goff, two helpful players on defense are what’s been the consensus. Devon Witherspoon is an insanely popular pick that would help flip an attitude switch on defense. Jalen Carter could gel well up front with Alim McNeill, Aidan Hutchinson and company. If they want an edge like Myles Murphy or Lukas Van Ness with more size and power, that’s a direction that could happen.
Then there’s the wild card. There has been talk about the offensive tackle run starting earlier than expected. Could Detroit grab Peter Skoronski to fill out their guard spot and be an emergency tackle? We can’t rule anything out. If not, though, O’Cyrus Torrence at 18 isn’t egregious either.
Looking beyond round one, there will be others to target. Cody Mauch could be their guy at guard. Jalin Hyatt would further energize the receiver room, as would a Sam LaPorta or Luke Musgrave.
There’s so much the Lions can do to get better across the board, and it could be the draft we look back on and praise Brad Holmes and company.
3. Seattle Seahawks
Another team with excellent draft capital in the 2023 NFL Draft (four picks in the top 51) can maneuver about the board as they please (should they find trade partners of course). The Seattle Seahawks have really pushed it out there with the quarterbacks in this class, making the selfie rounds at every pro day.
Would Arizona actually move to let Seattle take a quarterback? Probably not, but a quarterback could fall to them at pick five. Both Anthony Richardson and Will Levis are great fits for Seattle and the Geno Smith contract doesn’t have ridiculous commitment parameters.
Instead, there’s a chance that the Seahawks will have two of Anderson, Wilson, and Carter on the board at pick five. Tyree Wilson is exactly the player that the Seahawks front office has typically loved, a true disruptor up front that helps the pass rush immediately. Seattle might be the best organization for Jalen Carter as well.
At 20, things could get truly wild. They could be in on Torrence there as well as they look to complete the offensive line overhaul. If Seattle wants to be the first to get to a center, John Michael Schmitz is waiting. Corner could be in play too. Joey Porter Jr., Deonte Banks, or (WILD CARD ALERT) Julius Brents to play opposite Tariq Woolen. Don’t rule out Jaxon Smith-Njigba either as the heir apparent to Tyler Lockett.
Nose tackle, corner, receiver, even tight end are positions to watch for with the Seahawks as they work into Friday. After one great overhaul, they are in position for another just a year later.
4. Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings made quite the noise last year in the draft, as new general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah moved back twice within the division, securing a ton of picks and addressing the secondary early by selecting both Lewis Cine and Andrew Booth. There will be high expectations for both in year two after missing games in 2022.
Minnesota doesn’t have much capital after trading for T.J. Hockenson, but the rumor/hypothetical of moving up for a quarterback is there. If someone like Stroud or Richardson falls, maybe Adofo-Mensah and company make the move, ultimately deciding early that 2023 is the last season for Kirk Cousins.
The Hendon Hooker projection is there too, but trading down is something the Vikings could do, especially with teams like the Bills and Chiefs who could look to secure a certain prospect. Hooker could still be the pick in that scenario, or they recoup some assets for defensive back, defensive line, and a WR2. All of those are needs for Minnesota, and 23 and 87 isn’t enough at the moment with a team at a crossroads after a 13-win season. Finding that identity will be crucial for this Vikings team.
If they stay and select and it isn’t Hooker, Brian Branch would fit tremendously in an aggressive Brian Flores defense. If it’s a true boundary corner, Cam Smith is a great fit too, as are any of the top four should they reach them.
5. Cincinnati Bengals
It might seem weird to have an AFC Championship participant here, but the Cincinnati Bengals are fascinating ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft. Cincinnati’s aggressiveness to attack the offensive line need has been impressive so far after the Super Bowl loss to Los Angeles. Their latest addition, Orlando Brown, solves left tackle. But, La’El Collins positional questions put a potential need at right tackle in the spotlight. If Darnell Wright or Anton Harrison fall, either would be great selections. But maybe they go real big at the bookends and grab Dawand Jones.
Otherwise, could an aggressive move at a skill position happen in round one? Absolutely! Michael Mayer would be a great addition to be the reliable guy over the middle of the field for a long time. Darnell Washington would really ignite an improving run game. Speaking of the run game, losing Samaje Perine and the Joe Mixon issues make running back important. Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs in round one shouldn’t surprise.
Corner is the other need here as well. Emmanuel Forbes might end up a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, as could Michigan’s D.J. Turner.
So why are the Bengals so interesting? It’s the idea of finding the missing piece on offense, whatever they consider it to be, and getting it and others with their first three selections. It could be all offense to compete with Kansas City. Throw some punches to reach the peak.
6. Buffalo Bills
For the Buffalo Bills, the divisional round loss to the Bengals was a reality check. They’ve been a fun team, and they felt poised to get it done after unseating the reigning champs on opening night. The Von Miller addition was great to the defense, but without him, the defensive line didn’t generate enough push. The offensive line got bullied up front as well.
The Bills have to enter the 2023 NFL Draft with a realigned focus to find an identity in the trenches outside of Miller being a closer. That should start at pick 27. If it’s a tackle like Anton Harrison or Dawand Jones to firm up one of the bookends, that’s an excellent start. If not, a guard spot is open. Torrence getting here would be value, but Steve Avila is another that would make sense and has gotten some first-round buzz.
The defensive line really hits a sweet spot around this spot. If they want a pass rusher, Will McDonald would be a creative rusher with the arsenal to get to the quarterback and the length and power to sit and leverage versus the run. The interior is interesting too. Bryan Bresee is likely falling this far, and if Buffalo believes in his health, the ceiling is extremely high. A run stuffer like Mazi Smith could work here too. If they want versatility, Keion White and Adetomiwa Adebawore also make sense.
This should find its way all over the board for Buffalo in the 2023 NFL Draft. Guard, tackle, and center insurance should be on their mind, as should everywhere on the defensive line. Don’t get bullied anymore in important spot. Be the bully. Change the philosophy. Now is the time.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers
It was a bit of shock and awe in the 2022 draft when the Steelers selected Kenny Pickett instead of Malik Willis, but it’s already turning out to be the right call. Pickett played very well down the stretch, and now he’s got some more help. Isaac Seumalo helps out the interior of the offensive line. Allen Robinson gives Pickett another pass catcher.
Pittsburgh is usually pretty transparent with their draft board, but this year has been a different story. The rumor mill is swirling with the potentially trading up with Chicago to secure a tackle or cornerback Christian Gonzalez.
If they don’t get that option, tackle is still in play at 17, even though many figured it might just be off the table. The name to watch at 17 is Darnell Wright, as well as Anton Harrison. If it’s corner, Cam Smith, Deonte Banks, and the great story of selecting Joey Porter Jr. is possible. Jones has to be on the table at 32 to be the right tackle of the future.
With so many directions to go on offense and defense, the Steelers can let the 2023 NFL Draft come to them, or they can maneuver around and get their guys throughout the first two days of the draft.
8. Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears and Ryan Poles masterfully made the move back to pick nine in the 2023 NFL Draft, and landed so much draft capital over the next two seasons, along with a WR1 in D.J. Moore. It’s a great first step to helping out Justin Fields to get a true evaluation. Moore can win vertically, and that’s how Fields likes to attack as a passer.
At pick nine, the Bears have to now focus on the trenches. If they like either Paris Johnson Jr. or Broderick Jones, that has to be the pick. Both are hyper-athletic for the position, with great upside in the run game and great recovery skills in pass protection. Both need to work on the finer points of technique, especially with their hands often getting too wide. If the Bears would rather go safe, Peter Skoronski has some flexibility and can let the Bears trot out their best five.
Picks 53, 61, and 64 will be huge. Those could also all be trenches. If a center is still there, like Luke Wypler and Olu Oluwatimi, one of those picks should be used to solidify the very important center position. Then, it’s off to the three technique and edge rusher. Plenty of guys will be available, but Gervon Dexter and Keeanu Benton should be the guys to target. Dexter’s power is limitless, and he does it without good pad level. Benton is wicked explosive with violent hands to shed blocks. The edge rushers there, Zach Harrison, Isaiah Foskey, and Derick Hall, would all be able to start quickly and make an impact in Chicago.
Like Buffalo, Chicago must establish a strong identity in the trenches, and the 2023 NFL Draft will allow them to do so. They just have to take advantage.
9. Tennessee Titans
What the Tennessee Titans will do in the 2023 NFL Draft is anyone’s guess. The rumor that the Titans are interested in the quarterbacks has been there for a couple months now, and the opportunity is there to trade up for one with the Arizona Cardinals.
Mike Vrabel has taken hold as the decision maker under the owner. Yes, there’s a GM, but it’s Vrabel’s show. Clearly, he disagreed with just about everything that Jon Robinson did in 2022, and Robinson was ousted midseason. The front office really doesn’t back Malik Willis at all, and starting Josh Dobbs after two weeks in the building over Willis should really tell all.
If they move up for a quarterback, like the Vikings, it’s for Stroud or Richardson. Either can sit behind Ryan Tannehill for a season and take over in 2024.
If it isn’t quarterback, offensive line must be a focus. They’ve put capital into offensive line, but haven’t yielded results. Skoronski would be a safe option for them at pick 11 to give them a strong talent at tackle or guard. There has been talk about Jaxon Smith-Njigba, but Vrabel should be sticking with the big guys early. We will see though. The quarterback move up is sizzling.
10. Atlanta Falcons
In the last two drafts, the Atlanta Falcons have thrown a bit of caution to the wind. Kyle Pitts was the fourth pick in the 2021 draft. Drake London was picked eighth in 2022. Now, even with some pressure to get another edge rusher to get after the quarterback, it could be “positional value be darned” again in the 2023 NFL Draft. Bijan Robinson continues to be rumored to Atlanta at pick eight, because Arthur Smith wants to run, run, run. Robinson getting 15-20 carries a game with Allgeier supplanting him with 10-15 more is exactly how you keep things off of Desmond Ridder’s shoulders.
But, if it isn’t Robinson at pick eight, there will be options for them. Nolan Smith is the popular selection right now, as he has the star by him as a Georgia guy, something that general manager Terry Fontenot talked about this offseason. Smith plays with impressive power as a run defender and hand usage to counter as a pass rusher. Maybe they get Jalen Carter, and one of the corners could still be enticing for them even after acquiring Jeff Okudah.
What’s going to be real interesting for the Atlanta Falcons in the 2023 NFL Draft is the depth with smaller receivers, edge rushers, and some value for guards and defensive tackles on day two. They can address a lot of their remaining holes this way. Josh Downs, Tyler Scott, or Marvin Mims give the Falcons a different type at receiver. Felix Anudike-Uzomah would be a great addition at edge rusher. There are so many options for these guys to potentially lift themselves to NFC South champs in 2023.