We’re nearly two months into the 2023 NFL season, so there’s been plenty of time to evaluate every first-round pick.
As always, many rookies have come as advertised. Some have met or exceeded expectations, while others have been colossal disappointments thus far.
Mid-season rookie report card is now in session, so let’s grade all 31 first-round picks based on what we’ve seen so far.
1. Bryce Young: C-
Young looked every bit like a rookie QB in his first three games, but he finally showed some promise with a 3-TD outing in the Panthers’ Week 5 blowout loss to the Detroit Lions.
This was always going to be a learning year for Young and the rebuilding Panthers. His only real weapon is 33-year-old Adam Thielen, who’s playing his best football in years.
The goal for Carolina is to evaluate Young’s weaknesses now, then focus on repairing them next year. An improved supporting cast and much needed offensive line would go a long way for the kid, too!
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2. CJ Stroud: A+
Stroud has been far-and-away the best rookie QB thus far. The dude set a new record for most career pass attempts to start a career without throwing an interception at 191.
Stroud is displaying grade-A accuracy and decision making. He has formed terrific chemistry with Nico Collins and fellow rookie Tank Dell, who should be one of football’s top receiving duos for years to come.
Houston got it right with Stroud. And the best part? He hasn’t even peaked yet.
3. Will Anderson Jr. B+
Anderson hasn’t exactly stuffed the stat sheet, and his pass-rushing game hasn’t yet translated over to the pros.
But he’s been a beast against the run, and Anderson Jr.’s dominance there has been pivotal in the Texans’ rapid turnaround on defense under DeMeco Ryans. Pro Football Focus graded Anderson Jr. at an impressive 80.3 on the season through six weeks.
4. Anthony Richardson: B
Anderson’s dazzling rookie year unfortunately ended after just four games, as he required season-ending shoulder surgery after suffering the injury in Week 5 against the Tennessee Titans.
But what an impression he left in those four games. Richardson completed 59.5 percent of pass attempts for 577 yards, three touchdowns and one interception to go along with four rushing scores.
The future has arrived in Indy, alright. Let’s just hope he’s healthy and back to full strength for 2024.
5. Devon Witherspoon: A+
Witherspoon was the consensus top defensive back entering the 2023 draft, and he’s played every bit like it.
In his first four games, Witherspoon had one interception, seven pass defenses and a pair of sacks. He made a statement in the club’s Week 6 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, allowing just three catches for 14 yards in coverage.
Move aside, fellow star Tariq Woolen. You’re no longer Seattle’s top corner.
6. Paris Johnson Jr.: D-
It’s been a rough go for Johnson Jr. in The Desert. He’s taking too many penalties and has been a major liability in the run-blocking game.
Yeah, Kyler Murray would have masked some of the issues on this o-line, but the Arizona Cardinals had high expectations for Johnson Jr. He hasn’t gotten it going at all as a pass-blocker, either. There’s clearly a lot of polishing to do between now and the start of next season.
7. Tyree Wilson: F
What a disappointment Wilson has been in Sin City. The weekly stat sheets show a lot of zeroes, and PFF is no fan whatsoever.
Through the Las Vegas Raiders’ first six games, Wilson had a gross 33.7 grade. In other words, he’s causing way more harm than good just by being on the field. Is a spot on the bench in the works?
8. Bijan Robinson: A+
Robinson has come completely as advertised in Atlanta. He’s on pace for over 1,100 rushing yards and more than 1,600 total yards of offense.
Now we see why the Falcons wanted him so badly despite the presence of Tyler Allgeier. This guy is the next big thing at running back, alright.
9. Jalen Carter: A+
Even though he’s only playing about half of the Eagles’ defensive snaps, Carter has been an absolute menace in the trenches.
He had 3.5 sacks in his first five games, good for a ridiculous PFF grade of 91.8. It’s simply unfair that he fell to the Philadelphia Eagles of all teams. He’s going to be a problem for a longggggg time.
10. Darnell Wright: C+
Wright has struggled in pass protection and needs to cut back on the penalties. But he’s been terrific in run-blocking, and his performances there are a key reason why Chicago’s ground game remains one of football’s best.
We thought Wright was a bit of a reach here for the Bears on draft day, but he’s been better than expected. If he can just refine his pass-blocking game, he’ll be a future All-Pro.
11. Peter Skoronski: B
Skoronski has been one of the few positives on a sluggish Tennessee team that’s not doing much right offensively. The Titans took a risk by starting the ex-Northwestern offensive tackle at guard, but Skoronski has embraced the challenge.
Entering Week 7, Skoronski was PFF’s highest-graded rookie guard. He’s been inconsistent as a pass-blocker but is dominating in the run-blocking — a key reason why Derrick Henry is still dominating even on a lousy Tennessee club.
12. Jahmyr Gibbs: D-
No clue why the Lions drafted Gibbs when they already had David Montgomery, who’s been an absolute beast out of the backfield.
When Gibbs is healthy, the Lions are barely featuring him in the offense. Like, why? The Lions are gonna win the NFC North and all, great. But using a first-round pick on an RB that you were never gonna use much is still mind-boggling to us.
Gibbs isn’t getting an “F” because it simply isn’t his fault that the Lions aren’t using him. He’s almost impossible to evaluate right now.
13. Lukas Van Ness: C-
The Packers had enough playmakers in the front seven going into the draft, so we remain curious behind their decision to take Van Ness here.
Van Ness is only seeing about one-third of the Packers’ defensive snaps. There aren’t any stats that jump out, and the advanced statistics and metrics don’t paint a good picture of him, either.
Another kid who’s got a lot of work to do if he’s to become a star in this league.
14. Broderick Jones: B
The Steelers are using Jones in a rotational role, but he’s been more than steady as a pass-blocker — and we all know that a bright future lies ahead for this young man in Steel City.
Pittsburgh was smart to not rush his development. He’s been very serviceable as a rotational piece and just might end up a permanent starter before his rookie season concludes.
15. Will McDonald IV: F
The Jets didn’t need more pass-rushers, but they couldn’t help but take Iowa State standout Will McDonald IV anyway.
Not sure why they were obsessed with him. McDonald is seeing less than a fifth of the Jets’ defensive snaps and keeps putting up “donuts” in the box scores. It’s easy to overlook McDonald’s rookie struggles and lack of production, though, since the Jets defense has been lights-out this year.
16. Emmanuel Forbes: F
Not to be captain obvious, but it’s not a good look when you’ve been benched multiple times to begin your NFL career.
Forbes was absolutely humiliated by Bears’ star wideout DJ Moore in Week 5 on Thursday Night Football. Not only are the Commanders foolish in tasking him to match up with the opposition’s top wideout, but they should probably bench him for now and start the guys who give them the best chance to win.
17. Christian Gonzalez: B
Gonzalez was a rock in the Patriots’ secondary before unfortunately suffering a season-ending shoulder injury against Dallas in Week 4.
Gonzalez had one interception, three pass defenses and one sack while allowing a passer rating of just 86.1 when targeted per Pro Football Reference. PFF also had him graded at a tremendous 80.8.
It’s a shame that his rookie year ended abruptly, but this is a superstar in the making. The Patriots have a goodie here.
18. Jack Campbell: B-
The Lions are using Campbell in a rotational role, and it’s serving him well. The Iowa product has been a force in Detroit’s immovable object that is the run defense,
Campbell is struggling to get after the QB and has been a minor liability in the passing game, but he was always going to be a project as a surprise first-round pick. His dominance in the ground game makes up for the other short comings.
19 Calijah Kancey: C
Kancey is tough to evaluate because he missed three games with a calf injury.
But he had a great outing in the Bucs’ Week 6 loss to Detroit. Per PFF, Kancey had six QB pressures to go along with a sack — against arguably football’s top offensive line, no less.
But we gotta see more of him on the field for a more fair evaluation.
20. Jaxon Smith-Njigba: C
Smith-Njigba is also difficult to grade. His stats reflect those of a No. 4 or 5 receiver on a team’s depth chart…but it’s also not his fault that Seattle is taking it slowly with him
Smith-Njigba is only seeing a little more than half of Seattle’s offensive snaps. And of course, his slice of the pie can only be so big with DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Kenneth Walker serving as Geno Smith’s main weapons.
But that four-catch, 48-yard game against a stingy Cincinnati defense in Week 6 was a sign of what he can do. Let’s see if they get him more involved down the stretch.
21. Quentin Johnston: F
A giant disappointment here. No way to sugar-coat it.
Even with Mike Williams, the Chargers’ top wideout, suffering a season-ending ACL tear in Week 3, Johnston is nowhere to be found on the field.
With Williams out, it’s hard to comprehend two things: 1) how the Bolts aren’t getting Johnston more involved in the offense and 2) how he himself isn’t getting open when opposing defenses are focused on Keenan Allen.
22. Zay Flowers: A
What a savvy move by the Ravens to pair Lamar Jackson with the crafty Boston College product. Flowers has emerged as the Ravens’ new go-to pass-catcher — even over star tight end Mark Andrews.
Flowers is in line to hit 1,000 yards receiving as a rookie. What more could Baltimore have asked of him?
23. Jordan Addison: C+
Addison has been a nice fill-in for Adam Thielen, Minny’s longtime WR2 who was cut this past offseason.
He’s been a serviceable complement to superstar Justin Jefferson, who was having another explosive season before landing on the IR.
With Jefferson out a while, Addison has the perfect chance to pile up his stats. Bottom line: Minny’s got a scary-good young receiving duo in place for years to come.
24. Deonte Banks: C+
Not much has gone right for the Giants this year, but Banks sure looks like a nice long-term foundational piece for this club to build around.
He’s not a pure shutdown corner…yet…but Banks has mostly held his own despite not having a whole lot of help in the secondary. Through the Giants’ first six games, he allowed just a 48.3 completion percentage when targeted, per Pro Football Reference.
25. Dalton Kincaid: C-
The Buffalo Bills remain an offensive juggernaut, so it’s easy to forget about Kincaid’s lack of production as a rookie. Still, a team in win-now mode surely expected better than what they’ve gotten.
Kincaid isn’t getting open and averaging roughly seven yards per catch. Good thing the Bills have Dawson Knox as their main tight end, huh?
26. Mazi Smith: D-
We didn’t like this pick for Dallas to start with. They have enough playmakers on the defensive line, and Smith was a big-time reach in the first round here.
The Michigan product, who’s seeing about one-quarter of the Cowboys’ defensive snaps, is struggling to generate pressure and hasn’t stood out in any way as a run-stopper. Another 2023 draftee with a long, long way to go.
27. Anton Harrison: C-
Harrison struggled early to begin his career, but he’s come around as a reliable blocker for Trevor Lawrence on the Jaguars’ offensive line.
Harrison is struggling as a run-blocker, but you wouldn’t know it with Travis Etienne Jr. going full beast mode. Harrison has experienced his fair share of rookie mistakes like all offensive linemen, but he certainly looks like someone who could grow into a reliable long-term starter.
28. Myles Murphy: D
Murphy is seeing very limited playing time on defense and in the special teams department.
You won’t see much in his personal statistics, and Murphy’s advanced metrics don’t stand out. Like so many other pass-rushers on this list, Murphy is a work in progress who shouldn’t expect much playing time this year.
29. Bryan Bresee: C-
Bresee has been solid for the Saints as a pass-rusher in a limited role, but the good folks at Pro Football Focus hate his run defense. Through six games, his run defense was 46.3.
Bresee can’t expect to finish the year as a starter if he doesn’t clean that up. The Saints are definitely doing the right thing in just using him as a rotational pass-rusher.
30. Nolan Smith: D
This was always going to be a year of learning for Smith. The Eagles only had football’s best front seven a year ago and just added Jalen Carter to the mix, after all.
Smith has seen few defensive snaps and is mostly being used on special teams. Nothing about his play has jumped out yet, but you just gotta trust the process that is the Eagles’ way of slowly-but-surely developing him.
31. Felix Anudike-Uzomah: C+
The defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs have been using Anudike-Uzomah in a rotational role.
Such is life for the rookie when KC has an elite defense led by star pass-rushers Chris Jones and George Karlaftis. But in his limited action, Anudike-Uzomah has generated his fair share of pressure and should be a menace in Steve Spagnuolo’s blitz-happy defense for years to come.
KC is taking it slow with him, and understandably so. But his game tape sure leaves good reason for long-term optimism.
Who do you think has been the most impressive NFL rookie in 2023 so far?
