The dust has settled on the 2023 NFL Draft. It’s been a week, and I’ve finally had the time to analyze each team’s draft haul. I’ll go division by division, ranking the teams’ draft classes and grading them. At the end I’ll offer my ten favorite draft classes and my ten least favorite.

AFC EAST

Miami only had four picks but they made the most of them. Every one of these guys could have an eventual impact.

MY FAVORITE PICK: Devon Achane, RB, Texas A&M- Pure speed to add to an already super fast offensive skill position group.

MY GRADE: B

I like what Buffalo did here. Kincaid is the best pass catching tight end in the class. I had a first round grade on Torrence, going to the Bills, in fact. Would have liked to seen a running back and secondary help before the seventh round.

MY FAVORITE PICK: Dorian Williams, LB, Tulane- I’m a big fan of fast, athletic linebackers. Williams was one of my favorite players in the draft.

MY GRADE: B

The Jets gave one of their second round picks and did a first round pick swap with Green Bay to acquire Aaron Rodgers. That factors into their grade. Because of the pick swap they missed out on the top offensive tackles, then I felt they reached on McDonald. Found some good day three value.

MY FAVORITE PICK: Joe Tippman, OC, Wisconsin- Tippman should be a steady fixture in the middle of the Jets’ offensive line for years to come.

MY GRADE: B-

New England had their typical reaches and gambles on questionable character, tempered by stellar selections in the first two rounds. Picked a kicker AND a punter, only the lack of a long snapper kept them from the unholy trifecta.

MY FAVORITE PICK: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon- Call it luck, calling it patiently playing the board to perfection. Gonzalez should have been a top ten pick.

MY GRADE: C-

AFC NORTH

Pittsburgh put on a master class of drafting. Moving up ahead of the Jets for the last first round worthy offensive tackle was a smart and relatively cheap move. Joey Porter Jr was a no brainer to kick off the second round, I had him as a possible Steelers’ pick in the first. Really good draft throughout.

MY FAVORITE PICK: Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia- I honestly believe Washington could become the best tight end in this class.

MY GRADE: A+

Baltimore has been a consistently good drafting team for years, ‘23 was no exception. Flowers is the perfect weapon for Lamar Jackson. Simpson is a thumper that will pair well with Roquan Smith. Kelly was a steal in the fifth.

MY FAVORITE PICK: Andrew Vorhees, OG, USC- Vorhees deserved to go higher than the seventh round, despite tearing his ACL at the Combine. He’s a beast that will anchor the offensive line from ‘24 on.

MY GRADE: A

For not having any picks until the third round, Cleveland landed a stellar class. All their picks should contribute immediately, except Thompson-Robinson, who is a nice developmental QB behind Deshaun Watson.

FAVORITE PICK: Luke Wypler, OC, Ohio State- Landing a potential starting center in the sixth round is the definition of steal.

GRADE: A-

Cincinnati ranks last in their division for this draft class only because the other three teams did so well. They bolstered their secondary and pass rush and found a successor to Joe Mixon. I question using two picks on wide receivers when that is arguably their strongest position group.

MY FAVORITE PICK: Chase Brown, RB, Illinois- Do not be surprised if Brown supplants Mixon as the lead back before season’s end.

MY GRADE: B+

AFC SOUTH

Absolutely stellar draft class for Indianapolis. Starting with making the right decision at QB, straight through the seventh round. It’s hard to find a weakness in this class.

MY FAVORITE PICK: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida- I was convinced that Indy was being too conservative in their pursuit of a franchise QB, and also that they’d choose the wrong one. They didn’t. Richardson is a perfect QB for Shane Steichen’s offense.

MY GRADE: A+

Tennessee made the right choice in the first round, then made the move to land their QB in the second. Found some good value after that.

MY FAVORITE PICK: Jaelyn Duncan, OT, Maryland- I had a second round grade on him. He could develop into a plus starter to pair with Skoronski.

MY GRADE: A-

Houston played an exorbitant price to land Will Anderson, but they had plenty of draft capital to burn. They now have the new faces of their franchise on both sides of the ball.

MY FAVORITE PICK: CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State- Despite the pre-draft smoke, the Texans stayed at #2 and took the right QB. I had Stroud as the top QB in the class.

MY GRADE: B+

Even with a plethora of picks, Jacksonville landed a rather unimpressive class. Harrison felt like a reactionary pick after the Cam Robinson suspension. Their entire draft felt like a bunch of reaches.

MY FAVORITE PICK: Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M- I had a second round grade on him and had him ranked as the number three safety.

MY GRADE: C-

AFC WEST

Las Vegas had a solid draft, landing good value throughout. O’Connell could be a perfect backup for Jimmy G.

MY FAVORITE PICK: Jakorian Bennett, CB, Maryland- I think Bennett can become an above average starting cornerback.

MY GRADE: B

Denver didn’t have a pick until the third round because of the Russell Wilson and Sean Payton acquisitions. They then traded into the back of the second for a wide receiver, their deepest position group. Found decent value with their limited picks.

MY FAVORITE PICK: Riley Moss, CB, Iowa- Moss has a chance to become a stellar cornerback in Denver.

MY GRADE: C+

As the defending champions, Kansas City didn’t have any pressing needs. They could afford to reach and gamble. They were more conservative, though. Not a bad draft class, just a little underwhelming.

MY FAVORITE PICK: Wanya Morris, OT, Oklahoma- Morris could develop into a long term starter on the offensive line.

GRADE: C+

Did the Chargers only scout TCU games? Not a terrible draft class, but didn’t help them close the gap with the Chiefs.

MY FAVORITE PICK: Daiyan Henley, LB, Washington State- Another fast, athletic linebacker and one of my favorite players.

MY GRADE: C

NFC EAST

The praise of Howie Roseman and Philadelphia is warranted, in my opinion. This was a great draft class. This is one of the few teams that could take a gamble on Carter, and a perfect landing spot for him. Every pick, save for McKee, will play a role in ‘23.

MY FAVORITE PICK: Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia- Philly got themselves a clone of Haason Reddick at the end of the first. Smith was a top fifteen talent.

MY GRADE: A+

Giants had a good draft. Days one and two were stellar, Gray was great value at the end of the fifth. They took a couple flyers in the seventh.

MY FAVORITE PICK: John Michael Schmitz, OC, Minnesota- Plug and play center that will anchor the Giants’ offensive line for a decade.

MY GRADE: A-

Dallas reached throughout this draft. They got good players, but left better ones on the board.

MY FAVORITE PICK: DeMarvion Overshown, LB, Texas- Have I mentioned that I love fast, athletic linebackers? One of my favorite players in the draft.

MY GRADE: B-

Washington’s ownership is in flux and this draft reflects that. They reached a bunch and didn’t seem to have a coherent plan.

MY FAVORITE PICK: Ricky Stromberg, OC, Arkansas- It was a slight reach, but Stromberg is a decent center and should anchor their offensive line.

MY GRADE: C-

NFC NORTH

The Bears rebuilding is in full swing and it appears smart and evident. Fixed their biggest weakness on offense, strengthened their biggest weakness on defense. Grabbed some real gems on day three.

MY FAVORITE PICK: Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee- With apologies to Roschon Johnson, protecting Justin Fields was the most important thing that needed to happen. Wright does that.

MY GRADE: A

Detroit made two big reaches in the first round, though both are great players. Day two was solid. Day three was a couple of dart throws.

MY FAVORITE PICK: Brian Branch, S, Alabama- Best safety in the class, should have been a first rounder.

MY GRADE: B

Green Bay landed several very good players, but not addressing the secondary until the seventh round and ignoring the offensive line entirely is questionable.

MY FAVORITE PICK: Jayden Reed, WR, Michigan State- Reed was one of my favorite day two receivers.

MY GRADE: B-

Minnesota’s Achilles heel last year was defense, they addressed that with reaches. The offense, however, should be top level.

MY FAVORITE PICK: Jordan Addison, WR, USC- He’ll pair with Justin Jefferson to form a deadly receiver combo.

MY GRADE: C

NFC SOUTH

New Orleans had an overall solid draft. Nothing flashy, but solid value throughout.

MY FAVORITE PICJ: AT Perry, WR, Wake Forest- I had a third/fourth round grade on Perry.

MY GRADE: B+

Tampa Bay did a nice job in jump starting their post- Brady reboot.

MY FAVORITE PICK: Cody Mauch, OT, North Dakota State- He might have to kick inside to guard, but Mauch is a mauler on the offensive line.

MY GRADE: B+

Carolina paid a hefty price, but they landed their franchise QB. Not a bad class with limited picks.

MY FAVORITE PICK: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama- Size concerns aside, Young was the top QB in this class.

MY GRADE: B-

Atlanta drafted like a team on the precipice of a title, not one that hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2017. Bijan Robinson is a great player and the best RB prospect since Saquon Barkley, but running back in the first is a luxury pick, a luxury I’m not sure the Falcons can afford.

MY FAVORITE PICK: Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah- I had a late first/ early second round grade on him.

MY GRADE: C-

NFC WEST

Even without the windfall they gathered from Houston to move back, this was a good haul. Arizona deftly played the board in the first and got the guy they wanted. Strong picks throughout.

MY FAVORITE PICK: Owen Pappoe, LB, Auburn- I had a late third/early fourth round grade on him.

MY GRADE: A

Seattle had another solid draft after last year’s stellar class. Double dipping at running back with Kenneth Walker III entering his second year was a head scratcher.

MY FAVORITE PICK: Derick Hall, EDGE, Auburn- One of my favorite day two edge rushers.

MY GRADE: B+

The Rams had a boatload of picks, 10 on day three. They were basically throwing darts at the board, some hit, others did not.

MY FAVORITE PICK: Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, CB, TCU- Smaller corner, but one of my favorites. Tenacious competitor.

MY GRADE: C

San Francisco didn’t have a pick until the end of the third round and used their second pick on a kicker. They couldn’t make up for that even with a day three home run. They didn’t hit one.

MY FAVORITE PICK: Ji’Ayir Brown, S, Penn State- One of the best safeties in the class. Unfortunately, this was the Niners’ last great pick.

MY GRADE: D+

MY TOP TEN DRAFT CLASSES

1. Indianapolis Colts

2. Pittsburgh Steelers

3. Philadelphia Eagles

4. Chicago Bears

5. Arizona Cardinals

6. Baltimore Ravens

7. New York Giants

8. Tennessee Titans

9. Cleveland Browns

10. Houston Texans

MY BOTTOM TEN DRAFT CLASSES

32. San Francisco 49ers

31. Washington Commanders

30. New England Patriots

29. Jacksonville Jaguars

28. Atlanta Falcons

27. Los Angeles Rams

26. Minnesota Vikings

25. Los Angeles Chargers

24. Kansas City Chiefs

23. Denver Broncos