2023 NFL Draft Grades: NFC South
The NFC South feels like a total crapshoot heading into 2023. Did the 2023 NFL Draft provide us any clarity on who might win that cruddy division? The Chinese farmer always says maybe. Let’s get right to those draft grades to discuss this further!
Atlanta Falcons: F
Round 1: No. 8 overall — Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
Round 2: No. 38 (from Colts via Raiders): Matthew Bergeron, OT, Syracuse
Round 3: No. 75 — Zach Harrison, DE, Ohio State
Round 4: No. 113 — Clark Phillips II, CB, Utah
Round 7: No. 224 (from Raiders) — DeMarcco Hellams, S, Alabama
Round 7: No. 225 — Jovaughn Gwyn, OG, South Carolina
Picking a running back in the first round is foolish. You should never ever do it. Yes, there are outliers but this isn’t one of them. The Falcons suck and Robinson is only going to push this team into mediocre status. A status that will prevent them from finding their next quarterback because we know anybody with a brain knows that Desmond Ridder isn’t that guy.
Frankly, I just don’t buy that Bijan Robinson is this historic draft prospect that everyone else does. I think he’s a couple hairs better than Najee Harris. That’s never going to be worth the 8th pick in the draft. Nor does it make sense given where the Falcons are in their rebuild.
Trading up for Matthew Bergeron is hilarious. Kinda like the player but not enough to move up and give away picks. Zach Harrison, Clark Phillips, and DeMarcco Hellams are really solid selections. All three of those guys I expect to contribute in a positive way. It’s not enough to remove the F grade.
This is what will happen. Atlanta will win more games because of Bijan. By the time he ages, the roster won’t be good enough and they will be stuck with a QB not good enough. You’re basically the Giants without a star head coach. Good luck!
Carolina Panthers: B+
Round 1: No. 1 overall (from Bears) — Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
Round 2: No. 39 — Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss
Round 3: No. 80 — D.J. Johnson, LB, Oregon
Round 4: No. 114 — Chandler Zavala, OG, NC State
Round 5: No. 145 — Jammie Robinson, S, Florida State
I wanted to go higher here but I just can’t. I love the move for Bryce Young and I believe in the talent. The problem is they didn’t totally execute afterward. I’ve seen some positive hype on Jonathan Mingo. I just hope they know that this isn’t the next coming of AJ Brown. He won’t be close to that caliber of player and never showed that in college. He might totally suck but the ceiling is number two WR.
DJ Johnson was also a huge reach. Why are you moving up and giving away more picks for that guy? Do they know they already gave away more than they should have already?
Chandler Zavala and Jammie Robinson push this draft to a B+. Both guys should help them down the line. It should have been an A draft but too many mistakes after the QB selection didn’t help matters.
New Orleans Saints: D
Round 1: No. 29 (from 49ers through Dolphins) — Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
Round 2: No. 40: Isaiah Foskey, DE, Notre Dame
Round 3: No. 71 — Kendre Miller, RB, TCU
Round 4: No. 103 (from Bears) — Nick Saldiveri, OT, Old Dominion
Round 4: No. 127 (from Jaguars) — Jake Haener, QB, Fresno State
Round 5: No. 146 — Jordan Howen, S, Minnesota
Round 6: No. 195 (from Eagles) — AT Perry, WR, Wake Forest
The Sean Payton special bailed them out. They don’t get Bryan Bresee without it. I love Bresee and think he will become a very good player. The rest of the draft just stinks. Isaiah Foskey has no wow factor. Racked up sacks but never see a twitched up guy who’s going to translate to the NFL level.
Kendre Miller in the third round is a huge reach. Not sure what they really accomplished here. AT Perry is an intriguing gamble in round 6. Other than that, the Saints will stink again because that’s what teams who are coached under Dennis Allen do.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: D
Round 1: No. 19 overall — Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh
Round 2: No. 48 — Cody Mauch, OL, North Dakota State
Round 3: No. 82 — YaYa Diaby, DE, Louisville
Round 5: No. 153 — SirVocea Dennis, ILB, Pittsburgh
Round 5: No. 171 (from Packers through Jets) — Payne Durham, TE, Purdue
Round 6: No. 181 (from Colts) — Josh Hayes, CB, Kansas State
Round 6: No. 191 (from Packers via Rams, Texans, Eagles) — Trey Palmer, WR, Nebraska
Round 6: No. 196 — Jose Ramirez, OLB, Eastern Michigan
Maybe the Calijah Kancey thing works. I’d just be very hesitant to call him the next Aaron Donald because he’s an undersized defensive tackle out of Pitt. Never forget how Donald dominated at the Senior Bowl. For me, Cody Mauch saves this draft from being an F. Outside of that I just don’t think they accomplished anything. It would be nice if Trey Palmer panned out but he’s such a bad route runner and has no hands that I wouldn’t count on it. Are fans even excited about this? What do I even need to go over? How Payne Durham will be a backup?
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