While a good number of NFL GMs are more than thrilled with how the 2023 Draft played out, there’s no question that several others wish they could have a complete do-over.
If we went back a year ago in a time machine, how would the first round play out? Let’s dive into a re-draft of the star-studded 2023 NFL Draft class.
1. Carolina Panthers (From Chicago Bears): C.J. Stroud
Bryce Young can’t take all the blame for his disastrous rookie year, but the Panthers wouldn’t hesitate to take CJ Stroud in a re-draft.
Stroud won Offensive Rookie of the Year honors after throwing for 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns against only five interceptions. He led the Houston Texans to the AFC South and a wild-card round win over the Cleveland Browns.
Young has time to grow into a star, but Carolina wouldn’t retake the risk in this re-draft. They play it safe and take the best QB available.
2. Houston Texans: Bryce Young
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We know, we know. Young had a tough rookie year in Carolina. But compare his situation to what Stroud had in Houston, and you’ll understand why we’d go with Young here.
Young would have a rising star at head coach in DeMeco Ryans. And a nice set of weapons in Nico Collins, Tank Dell, Dalton Schultz and Devin Singletary. And he’d play behind a stout o-line that allowed 18 less sacks than Carolina in 2023.
Even if Young flopped in his rookie year with Houston, the long-term upside would be worth taking a chance on in this re-draft.
3. Houston Texans (From Arizona Cardinals): Will Anderson Jr.
No change here. The Texans moved up via the Arizona Cardinals and took the Alabama edge-rusher with the No. 3 pick in the 2023 NFL draft. And boy did they hit the jackpot here.
Anderson Jr. won Defensive Rookie of the Year honors after tallying seven sacks and 10 tackles for a loss. Furthermore, he was third in ESPN’s pass rushes win rate among edge rushers and second in run-stop win rate.
Zero chance they’d re-do this pick, folks.
4. Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Richardson
Injuries limited Richardson to just four games in his rookie year, but there was a lot to like on his game tape. As such, we can’t help but retain the Colts’ original first-round selection in this exercise.
Richardson threw for 577 yards and three touchdowns while racking up four rushing scores in the four games he appeared in. His upside is sky-high, and we expect him to emerge as a true franchise-changing signal-caller in Indianapolis, PROVIDED he stays healthy.
5. Seattle Seahawks (From Denver Broncos): Jalen Carter
Devon Witherspoon was a great pick at No. 5, but the Seahawks pass defense was a weakness due to the lack of help around him and Riq Woolen. The point is that it takes more than one elite corner to build a good secondary.
So in this re-draft, let’s give Seattle Jalen Carter — who would shore up this team’s need for an elite interior pass-rusher and run-stopping force. He logged six sacks in Philly despite playing in a limited role, with Pro Football Focus grading him at 89.8 on the year — the second-best mark among rookies behind only De’Von Achane.
6. Arizona Cardinals (From Detroit Lions): Puka Nacua
Second-year tight end Trey McBride was the only Cardinal to hit 600-plus receiving yards last season. So yeah, receiver help is needed badly here.
Arizona wastes no time taking Los Angeles Rams star Puka Nacua — the No. 177 selection of the 2023 NFL draft. Nacua set the rookie records in receptions with 105 and in receiving yards with 1,486.
An offense with Nacua, McBride, James Conner and Kyler Murray looks like a top-10 unit on paper, no?
7. Las Vegas Raiders: Devon Witherspoon
Tyree Wilson was largely ineffective in his rookie year, yet the Raiders still put out a top-10 scoring defense for the first time in 22 years.
This unit would be a top-five group with Witherspoon. The Seahawks star finished with a 2023 PFF grade of 84.1, placing fourth among corners. This is the exact weapon Vegas would need to slow down Patrick Mahomes and the plethora of elite QBs in the AFC.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Bijan Robinson
Gahh. We know how much running backs are devalued, and we know how widely panned this pick was at the time.
But even though Arthur Smith couldn’t figure out how to use Robinson properly, he finished with 1,463 yards of offense and eight touchdowns.
Now that we know the Falcons have their new star QB in Kirk Cousins, the Robinson pick looks a lot better in hindsight. This Atlanta offense is going to go OFF in 2024.
9. Philadelphia Eagles (From Chicago Bears): Christian Gonzalez
Gonzalez was a beast for the New England Patriots in his four-game appearances, and it’s a darn shame he suffered a season-ending injury in Week 4.
The Eagles had the league’s second-worst pass D in 2023, and it contributed to their embarrassing late-season collapse. So in this do-over, Howie Roseman takes the big-bodied shutdown corner to ensure his pass D isn’t carved up like turkey again.
10. Chicago Bears (From Philadelphia Eagles): Kobie Turner
The offensive line was a need here, but Peter Skoronski, Paris Johnson Jr., and Darnell Wright—Chicago’s initial pick—all had tough rookie years.
Rams star Kobie Turner led all rookies with nine sacks last season. Please excuse us for dreaming of a Turner-Montez Sweat pass-rushing tandem that would help this Chicago D regain its elite form.
The o-line can be addressed in the 2024 free agency or the draft.
11. Tennessee Titans: Will Levis
We liked what we saw from Levis as a rookie in Tennessee last year. In a do-over, there’s absolutely NO WAY he would slip to them in round two.
So the Titans keep it safe and get their hopeful franchise QB here instead of retaking Peter Skoronski. Knowing they added Calvin Ridley and Tony Pollard in 2024 free agency, the Titans can feel confident in Levis taking that next step in 2024.
12. Detroit Lions (From Arizona Cardinals): Jahmyr Gibbs
Just about everybody hated this pick for the Lions in the 2023 NFL draft. Again, the RB position is devaluing more and more each year, plus they already had an RB1 in David Montgomery.
But obviously, Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes envisioned something that the naysayers didn’t. Despite missing two games and playing second-fiddle to Montgomery, Gibbs racked up 1,261 yards of offense and 11 total touchdowns.
Gibbs was pivotal in helping the Lions win their first division in 30 years…and their first playoff game in 32 years. They dropped a heartbreaker to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC title game, but it was just the start of something special in Motown.
And Gibbs will play a huge role in that.
13. Green Bay Packers (From New York Jets): Sam LaPorta
Jordan Love had a nice set of “good” set of pass-catchers last year, but none of them were Pro Bowl-caliber. Here’s their chance to pull off the double-whammy by getting a future superstar in Sam LaPorta WHILE ALSO thwarting him from shining with the division rival Lions.
LaPorta had 89 receptions for 889 yards and ten touchdowns on a star-studded Detroit offense. He could’ve easily emerged as Love’s favorite target in a young and deep Green Bay offensive unit.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers (From New England Patriots): Broderick Jones
No change here for Pittsburgh’s original selection. The o-line was the main problem heading into last year’s draft, and the Steelers knew that year one would include growing pains for Jones.
He was rock-solid as a rookie and hasn’t come close to hitting his full ceiling. The Steelers were right to think long-term, so they kept the selection the same in this exercise.
15. New York Jets (From Green Bay Packers): Peter Skoronski
The Jets’ pathetic o-line put Aaron Rodgers under duress during his first drive with his new team, and it culminated with a tragic season-ending Achilles tear.
With a mulligan, GM Joe Douglas doesn’t even consider neglecting the o-line. Skoronski had an up-and-down rookie year, but he’d be a way better option than any other starting tackle the Jets used in 2023.
16. Washington Commanders: Joey Porter Jr.
Emmanuel Forbes had a very frustrating rookie year in DC. There’s time for him to grow into a star, but the Commanders would surely be more keen on Joey Porter Jr. in this spot.
Porter Jr. appeared in 11 games last year and still racked up 10 pass breakups. Per Pro Football Reference, Porter Jr. had allowed just a 47.6 passe rating when targeted — and just one TD in coverage.
Yep, that’s the guy Washington’s awful defense needs.
17. New England Patriots (From Pittsburgh Steelers): Jordan Addison
The Patriots’ offense was unwatchable in 2023, and the lack of playmaking receivers was a major reason why. SO NOW imagine if Bill Belichick changed that with a re-do.
Addison caught 70 passes for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns despite not having Kirk Cousins for most of the year in Minnesota. Despite playing third-fiddle to TJ Hockenson and Justin Jefferson,
Sounds like a capable WR1 in Foxborough to us!
18. Detroit Lions: Brian Branch
Branch somehow fell to the Lions in round two at No. 45 overall, and the do-it-all defensive back played a vital role in the team’s 2023 renaissance.
With Branch on the board in the 2023 NFL draft, Detroit takes no chances. They select Branch now and hope their initial pick at 18, Jack Campbell, is still available in round two.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tyree Wilson
We know Wilson had a rough rookie year in Las Vegas, but we’d like to think that Todd Bowles would unlock his potential immediately.
The fierce and scrappy Wilson would be tailor-made for the Bucs’ ultra-aggressive and blitz-heavy defense, and working with Vita Vea and Lavonte David would be a nice luxury for Wilson’s development.
20. Seattle Seahawks: Paris Johnson Jr.
With Seattle in a retooling phase, they think long-term and take the initial No. 6 pick of the 2023 NFL draft. Johnson Jr. was inconsistent at best in his rookie year with Arizona, but the Seahawks would be foolish to pass on the chance to pair Johnson Jr. with another potential long-term cornerstone and offensive tackle in Charles Cross.
21. Los Angeles Chargers: Zay Flowers
We now know that 2023 was the last year for Keenan Allen and Mike Williams in Chargers uniforms, so this should be an easy pick for LA.
Quentin Johnston was a non-factor in his rookie year. This exercise lets LA fix the mistake by taking Zay Flowers — who caught 77 passes for 858 yards and five TDs in the Baltimore Ravens’ rush-first offense.
22. Baltimore Ravens: Jaxon Smith-Njigba
The Ravens struck gold with their first-round pick of Flowers…but he’s not available in this re-draft!
So instead, John Harbaugh and company roll the dice on Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Without fighting DK Metcalf or Tyler Lockett for targets, JSN could easily emerge as the new top-pass catcher for Lamar Jackson and company.
23. Minnesota Vikings: Rashee Rice
Minnesota is obviously thrilled that a 2023 NFL draft re-do isn’t possible since they aced the Jordan Addison pick. But they have to choose SOMEONE in this imaginary exercise.
Rashee Rice played a pivotal role in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl championship season, catching 79 passes for 938 yards and seven touchdowns. Rice would be the perfect running mate for Justin Jefferson in Minny.
24. New York Giants (From Jacksonville Jaguars): Tank Dell
The Giants’ QBs were once again let down by the lack of an explosive pass-catcher, with the Darren Waller trade and Jalin Hyatt third-round selection not panning out as hoped.
Tank Dell was a beast for the Texans in year one, racking up 47 receptions for 709 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games before suffering a season-ending injury. Dell would immediately slot in as the Giants’ No. 1 receiver.
25. Buffalo Bills (From Jacksonville Jaguars) Tyrique Stevenson
The Bills bid farewell to mainstays Tre’Davious White, Micah Hyde, and Jordan Poyer as part of their makeover on defense.
Since hindsight is a luxury here, they take the best remaining corner in Tyrique Stevenson — a ball-hawking sensation who had four picks, 16 pass breakups, and two forced fumbles for the Bears last season.
26. Dallas Cowboys: Darnell Wright
Dallas lost future Hall of Fame offensive tackle Tyron Smith in free agency. They didn’t know this would be the case a year ago, so Jerry Jones thought long-term by snagging Smith’s successor in Wright.
The Bears’ youngster had a frustrating rookie year in Windy City, but learning from Smith and Zack Martin would make Wright NFL-ready for 2024.
27. Jacksonville Jaguars (From Buffalo Bills): Josh Downs
The Jaguars now know that Calvin Ridley wasn’t going to re-sign in 2024, so they quickly plan for a replacement by stealing Josh Downs from the Colts — who snagged the North Carolina product with the No. 79 pick.
Downs caught 68 passes for 771 yards and two TDS with Gardner Minshew as his primary QB. Imagine what Downs would do with Trevor Lawrence slinging it to him.
28. Cincinnati Bengals: Byron Young
To clarify, we’re talking about the RAMS Byron Young—not the Raiders’ Byron Young, who was also fittingly a third-round pick last year.
The Rams’ Byron Young emerged as a superstar with eight sacks and two forced fumbles in his rookie year. He’d be the perfect sidekick for Trey Hendrickson, who sorely needs some pass-rushing support in the Jungle.
29. New Orleans Saints (From Denver Broncos): Ivan Pace Jr.
The Vikings hit a grand slam when they signed Pace as an undrafted free agent out of Cincinnati. In a do-over, he’s a first-round pick.
Pace, like Saints star Demario Davis, is a do-it-all workhorse who flies all over the field. Having flourished as a run-stopping force and prolific pass-rusher, Pace would be a perfect addition to a Saints’ front seven led by Davis and Cameron Jordan.
30. Philadelphia Eagles: De’Von Achane
The lightning-fast Achance had 800 rushing yards and eight rushing scores despite missing six games for the Miami Dolphins in his rookie year. Now imagine if he got to run behind the league’s best run-blocking unit.
D’Andre Swift was solid in his one-year stop with the Eagles. But they took a calculated risk signing the oft-injured Saquon Barkley. So how about saving valuable dollars here by taking Achane, who would be a dream fit in a Jalen Hurts-DeVona Smith-AJ Brown-led offense?
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Jayden Reed
The Chiefs would not have won the Super Bowl without Rashee Rice last year. The rest of the wide receiver room was just so maddening to watch.
With Rice unavailable here in the 2023 NFL re-draft, the Chiefs take the best option available in Jayden Reed — who put up 793 yards and eight touchdowns with the Packers last year. Surely, he’d be even more dynamic with Patrick Mahomes throwing him the ball.
