The well-worn lines surface every April: What an unpredictable draft! There’s no consensus! Good luck with those mocks set in sand! But, really … the 2023 NFL draft seemed impossible to predict. Just hours before the draft, quarterback Bryce Young at No. 1 overall to Carolina felt like the only certainty. General managers were calling to move up or (mostly) down with little hint as to why. Many teams had 14 or 15 players graded as first-rounders, leaving a wide variance as to how each stacked the latter half of the first round.

Subterfuge is part of the drafting game, as much as selections and hugs from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, but this year seemed to elevate the shock value. For example, several league execs were predicting Houston would take a defensive player at No. 2 overall. Instead, GM Nick Caserio called an end-around — selecting quarterback C.J. Stroud with the second pick, only to move up nine spots to get pass-rusher Will Anderson Jr., the player many thought was atop his board, at No. 3.

The draft featured three on-the-clock trades in the top 10 and three more later in Round 1 (not counting the deals that were worked out before the draft). The only thing missing on Day 1 was a blockbuster deal involving a veteran player, though the Eagles tried to satisfy that two days later by acquiring running back D’Andre Swift from the Lions.

What was predictable: Nothing reveals a team’s big-picture plans quite like the draft, and this year was no different. Instead of reacting to the week’s results on short notice, we let the draft breathe. Then we made calls to bring you post-draft nuggets on all 32 teams, including intel from on-the-clock decisions, background on key picks, Day 1 strategy, stats and trends, sleepers and pick reactions from league execs and scouts.

Jump to:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN
NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH

NFC EAST

The Dan Quinn effect is a real thing in Dallas. The Cowboys have one of the NFL’s deepest defenses yet still spent their first- and third-round picks on defensive help. When Quinn has a vision for a player, Dallas typically sees that through by selecting him if available. That’s the case with Michigan defensive tackle Mazi Smith and Texas linebacker DeMarvion Overshown.

The Cowboys were closely watching Mississippi State corner Emmanuel Forbes, who went No. 16 overall to Washington. At 26, with Tight end Dalton Kincaid off the board, Dallas was deciding between Smith and Syracuse offensive tackle Matt Bergeron. It opted for defense, believing an interior run defender with ability to push the pocket could be a missing piece. And don’t sleep on Overshown’s ability to play early. He’s a well-known hitter, but Dallas thinks he can develop into an all-down linebacker because of his speed.

---

The Giants leaned on their own analysis of how the draft would play out to locate cornerback help in the late first round. They eyed Maryland’s Deonte Banks but had to be strategic — three corners had gone off the board by the 17th pick, and New York forecasted that, even with a four-man receiver run to come, Banks very well could be gone if they sat tight at No. 25. The Giants believed Kansas City and at least one other team was looking to move up. So they swung a deal with Jacksonville to move up one spot.

The Giants believe they got two impact corners in the draft — sixth-round corner Tre Hawkins III from Old Dominion is more than a flier, he’s a true sleeper to push for playing time.

---

Editor’s Picks

2 Related

A big part of the Eagles’ draft was the acquisition of Lions running back D’Andre Swift for a fourth-round pick and a swap of seventh-rounders, and the expectation is Swift will upgrade the Eagles’ backfield receiving game. Swift is a slick route-runner with 156 catches the past three years. Throwing to backs hasn’t been Philly’s game, as no Eagles tailback had more than 29 targets a year ago. Expect that to change. The Eagles could try to do a short-term extension with Swift, too, though the player appears set to hit 2024 free agency. He has missed at least three games in each of his first three seasons and will be seeking a fully healthy campaign.

---

Emmanuel Forbes as CB2 was a mild surprise for mock drafters who had Christian Gonzalez going higher, but Forbes gained steam as the pre-draft process played out. NFL coaches agreed that, assuming his slim frame (6-foot-1, 180 pounds) isn’t a major issue, his playmaking will translate. Mississippi State coach Zach Arnett considers Forbes an “interception machine” after watching him nab 14 picks over three years. “The best ball skills I’ve seen as a coach,” Arnett told me. Washington expects some growing pains as Forbes learns to cover the likes of CeeDee Lamb and A.J. Brown twice per year. But the Commanders believe the long-term play will yield elite results.

NFC NORTH

Offensive tackle Darnell Wright, the Bears’ No. 10 overall pick, told local media that offensive line coach Chris Morgan “kicked my ass, if we’re being honest” during a pre-draft workout. That early April session in Knoxville, Tennessee — with GM Ryan Poles, a former Boston College offensive tackle, in attendance — showed Wright’s resolve and ability to work through discomfort, which Chicago noted. Wright thrived in pre-draft workouts, including a stellar combine performance, and was perhaps the most gifted tackle in the class, though some teams had maturity concerns. The Bears were good with Wright’s character, believing he worked his way through a bumpy early college career. The Bears wanted to trade back to acquire additional draft capital leading up to the draft, believing Jalen Carter might be there to entice Philly at No. 10.

---

The Lions faced questions about value after taking running back Jahmyr Gibbs No. 12 overall despite also holding the 18th pick (which they used to take Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell). Would Gibbs have been there at 18? Was an off-ball linebacker a reach in the top 20? I’ve talked to several NFL execs who loved Detroit’s draft, which felt like a “2001 throwback.”

“They said the hell with value and just took good football players,” an NFC exec said. “That guy [Gibbs] is a player. When they tee it up on Sunday, I don’t think anyone will care where he was taken. And those players very much fit Dan Campbell’s toughness approach.”

The Lions did leverage the Gibbs pick to get a fourth-rounder out of Philadelphia in the D’Andre Swift trade.

The Lions took Iowa’s Sam LaPorta as TE2 (No. 34 overall) because, as one scout said, “He can play multiple spots, he’s smart and he’s faster than [Michael Mayer],” who was picked No. 35 by the Raiders.

---

Packers’ drafts are notable for the reliance on wide receivers in the second round, and Michigan State’s Jayden Reed joins a lineage including Christian Watson, Davante Adams, Randall Cobb and Greg Jennings. But another second-round pick — Oregon State tight end Luke Musgrave — also has major upside. According to one AFC scout, Musgrave might have had Dalton Kincaid-like buzz had he not missed most of the 2022 season because of a left knee injury.

“With his measurables, he could have pushed for the first round with more productivity,” the scout said. Musgrave has pedigree, too. His uncle is former NFL quarterback Bill Musgrave, who’s on the Cleveland Browns‘ staff. Luke’s mother, Amy, was part of the U.S. developmental ski team in the 1980s. His father, Doug, was an Oregon quarterback in the early 90s.

---

The Vikings received multiple calls while on the clock at No. 23 but ultimately chose to stay with Jordan Addison, who was, based on fit, perhaps the top receiver on Minnesota’s board, a natural complement to Justin Jefferson as an inside-out threat and route-runner.

Minnesota loves third-round corner Mekhi Blackmon‘s attitude — he plays like a starter, even if he’s not ready there. But it believes he can work into one, assuming he gets stronger.

Don’t sleep on the Jaren Hall selection in the fifth round — Minnesota did a lot of work on the QB class. Some expected Hall to go higher on Day 3. He’s the ideal developmental QB who might push Nick Mullens for the No. 2 spot behind Kirk Cousins. Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell knows how to evaluate quarterbacks, so they wouldn’t have made this pick unless they believed Hall might have something to build on.

NFC SOUTH

Taking a running back at No. 8 overall isn’t trendy, but some teams I’ve talked to think Bijan Robinson at No. 8 signifies a boiling point. The logic goes like this: Teams typically draft first-rounders with the second contract in mind. Is the player in question a long-term solution at the position? But because longevity is a factor in the devaluing of running backs (along with the surplus of good backs on Day 2 or 3 of the draft), taking the second contract off the table and embracing the possibilities with an elite back can be freeing.

“What you’ll see from teams like [Atlanta and Detroit] is, take an RB in the first round, then turn around and take another one in 3-4 years and don’t worry about the silly stuff,” an NFL personnel director said. That requires conviction in a team’s plans for a special back, which the Falcons have here. The Falcons were high on Robinson and a number of players near the top of the first round, a group that includes Illinois cornerback and No. 5 pick Devon Witherspoon. But the conviction on Robinson was strong.

“He’s a true unicorn,” an NFL offensive coach said. “He changes everything they do.” As for quarterback, I’ve talked to a few people who believe Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud might have been the only passers Atlanta would have thought twice about had they dropped to No. 8. But, overall, the Falcons were pretty set on building around Desmond Ridder.

---

As Carolina zeroed in on Bryce Young over the past two months, the chances of the Panthers trading back from No. 1 slowly dwindled. But they never got an aggressive offer from a team wanting move into the top spot anyway. Houston would have been the logical suitor. Most around the league believe the Texans liked Young the best. But the Texans surrendered the chance at Young by beating the Colts in Week 18. Las Vegas once explored a trade with Chicago before the Bears traded out, with the Raiders attempting to jump from No. 7 to 1, but Carolina made the strongest move and Las Vegas never explored a deal with the Panthers.

One other note on Carolina’s process: Quarterback Anthony Richardson performed well in interviews. Young was the guy, but Carolina was definitely intrigued by Richardson, who made a case for second in the pecking order.

Don’t sleep on the Chandler Zavala addition in the fourth round. The Panthers need starting offensive line help because of injury, and Zavala has impressive physical traits. His bench press (30 reps), vertical (32.5 inches) and 40 time (5.01) at NC State’s pro day ranked highly among guards in the pre-draft process.

---

Saints GM Mickey Loomis said pre-draft that running back Alvin Kamara‘s potential suspension wouldn’t influence which players the Saints draft. But the flexibility third-round back Kendre Miller out of TCU provides the position isn’t lost on the team. New Orleans ranked Miller highly in the running back class, believes in his game and loves the promise, once he figures out the pass-catching and pass-blocking components. He’s already a vicious downhill runner, and though the Saints are eager to see him in action, they will likely take it easy with him in offseason workouts and leading up to training camp while he recovers from his meniscus injury. But New Orleans might need Miller sooner than expected.

---

What to know for the 2023 NFL draft

• See all 259 picks » | Team by team »
• Kiper’s grades » | McShay’s best picks »
• Reid/Miller: 22 questions off the draft »
• Kiper ESPN+ recaps: Day 1 » | Day 2 »
• Team analysis » | Scouting reports »
• Read more on the 2023 draft »

North Dakota State’s Cody Mauch is the latest in the Bucs’ long line of small-school linemen drafted by the club. Before taking Mauch in the second round this year, Tampa chose Central Michigan’s Luke Goedeke in the second round last year, Humboldt State’s Alex Cappa in the third round of 2018 and Hobart’s Ali Marpet in the second round of 2015. While Goedeke started eight games last year and is in line to start this season, Cappa and Marpet combined to start 147 career games for Tampa. And Ryan Jensen, originally drafted by the Ravens, is an honorary member of this club as a Colorado State-Pueblo alum.

Despite having three entrenched starters at wideout, the Bucs will have a plan for intriguing sixth-rounder Trey Palmer. Tampa is hopeful Palmer can pick up some of the slack left by Scotty Miller, who signed with Atlanta this offseason.

NFC WEST

The word entering the draft was Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort sought to accumulate volume — particularly in the middle rounds — to improve a thin roster. That mission was satisfied on the first two nights of the draft. Ossenfort’s first four trades included the acquisition of four third-rounders (this year and next), a fourth-rounder and two fifth-rounders. In 2024, the Cardinals will enjoy additional third-rounders from the Texans and Titans, along with a fifth-rounder from Philadelphia (that’s not counting the additional first-rounder from Houston).

That’s impressive work from Ossenfort, who satisfied several needs, including at quarterback — it wouldn’t be shocking if fifth-round passer Clayton Tune found a way to play early. Kyler Murray likely won’t be back for Week 1 and Colt McCoy, who suffered concussion symptoms late last year, will be limited in offseason work. The Cardinals also have David Blough on the depth chart. But many scouts had Tune as QB6 in this class, with plus upside.

---

GM Les Snead’s presence loomed large on the Stetson Bennett selection in the fourth round. Snead was intrigued by the quarterback early in the pre-draft process, and did a lot of legwork leading up to taking Bennett in the fourth round — higher than many teams expected. Based on talent, the selection was not a reach: Some teams had Bennett ranked as QB6 based on the tape. Character/maturity concerns were on file for many teams, but one league exec pointed out the Rams aren’t afraid to bet on players they believe in and look “more at the wiring, the look in their eye” than other risk-averse teams might.

Coach Sean McVay watched the tape of Bennett and liked what he saw. One concern for McVay this offseason as it relates to quarterbacks was roster priority — McVay knew the Rams had many positional needs, probably more than in the past, and only so many picks to fill them. But he knew that they had to fill the quarterback room (Matthew Stafford was the only passer on the roster as of two weeks ago), and L.A. trading back twice in order to acquire nine Day 3 picks made taking a quarterback that much easier.

---

The 49ers got a starting-level safety in Penn State third-rounder Ji’Ayir Brown, but some scouts see him as more of a true, downhill-driving safety than a replacement for Jimmie Ward, who excelled in nickel corner coverage. Teams I’ve talked to think San Francisco might want to add a slot corner to balance out the secondary. But Penn State coach James Franklin isn’t putting a limit on what Brown can do. “Does a lot of things well, great instincts, smart football player, makes plays on the ball, tremendous leader, charismatic leader and aligned with the staff,” Franklin told me.

---

I’ve talked to multiple teams who wonder if the Seahawks now have the best receiving trio in the NFL after placing Jaxon Smith-Njigba alongside DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. The Seahawks did not expect Smith-Njigba to be there at No. 20, thinking he’d go somewhere in the teens. Seattle has had an up-close look at Cooper Kupp over the years, and Smith-Njigba has a similar skill set as an elite slot receiver who can also move to the outside.

I never got the sense Seattle was poised for a major QB move in the draft. Anthony Richardson would have been tempting. But as was pointed out to me, the Seahawks were pretty excited about replenishing the roster to win now. That played out in the second round — they see Auburn pass-rusher Derick Hall as an immediate starter type because of his combination of effort, physicality and speed, so that selection felt more crucial than straining for Will Levis or Hendon Hooker, despite all the QB homework they did on the pro-day circuit.

AFC EAST

The Bills’ trade-up to select Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid at No. 26 signifies much more than playmaking depth. It also opens up schematic possibilities — the Bills can use more 12 personnel (one back, two tight ends) in 2023, the second season under offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey. Buffalo ranked 31st in 12 personnel on first downs last year (8%), compared to seventh in 11 personnel (65%) with one back and one tight end. That should change, with Dawson Knox the inline tight end and Kincaid the “move” option, a vertical threat who can block on the outside.

This move, plus the free agency addition of power back Damien Harris, offers multiple dimensions for a Buffalo offense that was stagnant at times late last year. The Bills didn’t set out solely to take a tight end — Kincaid was the highest player on their board late in the first — but the byproduct is Kincaid and second-round guard O’Cyrus Torrence can help ease the burden on Josh Allen.

One other Buffalo note: Watch for third-round linebacker Dorian Williams to make an immediate impact. Buffalo needs a starter to replace Tremaine Edmunds. Williams is an explosive player (4.49 speed at 228 pounds) who was considered a late-bloomer at Tulane: He weighed around 190 pounds when he enrolled in 2019.

---

Get your favorite live sports, stories and originals with ESPN+, Disney+ and Hulu. Upgrade to a Disney Bundle plan and start streaming something for everyone today!

The Dolphins scanned the tight end position early in the draft. My sense is if Luke Musgrave or Sam LaPorta were available at No. 51 overall, the Dolphins — who lost Mike Gesicki this offseason and could use a do-it-all player in coach Mike McDaniel’s offense — would have had something to seriously consider. They were intrigued by both players. The Dolphins believe South Carolina cornerback Cam Smith has potential to be elite, so perhaps they would have made that pick anyway. But Miami’s low draft capital — four picks after a tampering charge and various trades — prevented it from getting a true difference-maker at the tight end position on Day 2.

---

The Patriots hit the trifecta on draft night — traded back to acquire more capital, still selected a top corner at No. 17 (Christian Gonzalez) and thwarted the divisional rival New York Jets in the process. Many around the league suspected the Jets, picking No. 15 overall, were eyeing Georgia offensive tackle Broderick Jones, who went to Pittsburgh at No. 14 because of New England’s trade. The Jets’ legwork for some of the top tackles, Jones included, was not a secret. When I asked an AFC exec whether the Jets should be frustrated with Pittsburgh, the exec jokingly countered, “They should be mad at the Patriots. They knew what was going on.”

---

Don’t sleep on seventh-round tight end Zack Kuntz, whose 94 athleticism score (out of 100) ranks seventh among all tight ends who have entered the league since 2003, according to Next Gen Stats. “He’s 6-foot-7 and can fly vertically,” said a veteran NFL scout of the former Penn State player who transferred to Old Dominion. “Seems to be past some of the immaturity that plagued him at Penn State.”

The Jets’ tight end room is pretty deep: C.J. Uzomah and Tyler Conklin are entrenched as starters, Kenny Yeboah is far from a throwaway and Jeremy Ruckert was a third-round pick a year ago. But if Kuntz can flash early, perhaps New York could move one of its four tight ends in the preseason.

AFC NORTH

Here’s one to file away: Absent a Lamar Jackson deal by the start of the draft, I believe, after asking around, that the Ravens would have considered quarterback Will Levis with the 22nd overall pick. Finalizing a deal for Jackson before Thursday night was prudent for Baltimore, which could implement the possibility of drafting a passer as leverage. After the draft, leverage would shift to Jackson, potentially weakening the chance at a deal, because Baltimore’s QB options would be scarce … unless they selected one on Day 1 or 2. This is a moot point after Jackson and Baltimore agreed to terms on a five-year, $260-million extension a few hours before the draft kicked off. Had that not gone down, the QB option could have been tempting — and Levis was the best option at 22.

---

Cincinnati wanted to add backfield juice through free agency and the draft, and fifth-round running back Chase Brown certainly qualifies. At the Senior Bowl, Brown recorded the fastest speed for a running bank (20.56 mph) and the second-most explosive efforts among the position (63). As of now, Cincinnati’s backfield appears set with Joe Mixon, Brown and Trayveon Williams. Mixon’s future has been cloudy because of his $9.4 million salary, but Cincinnati’s decision to draft a running back on Day 3 and not earlier suggests it’s comfortable keeping a lead back.

No talks intensified, meanwhile, around offensive tackle Jonah Williams, who requested a trade in March. The expectation as of now is he will remain a Bengal.

---

The Browns took the ideal chance with fourth-round offensive tackle Dawand Jones, whom some scouts consider to have first-round ability. Jones’ stock reportedly tumbled after his team interviews, and some teams had character concerns. Here’s what I’ve been told: Cleveland knows he’ll need some maturing to succeed at the next level, but it definitely doesn’t have a “bad guy” label on him and believes he’ll work at it and acclimate well. He’s a soft-spoken 21-year-old, and the Browns aren’t knocking him for the fact that he doesn’t come across as a glass-eating mauler that traditional scouts prefer. They see Day 1 upside that translates to the NFL level, and if it doesn’t pan out, Cleveland risked only a Day 3 pick. His weight (6-foot-8, 359 pounds) is something the Browns will monitor but isn’t a major concern.

---

The first draft of the Omar Khan era at GM was strong, and the biggest upside in the lot came in the third round with tight end Darnell Washington. “I had him as a late-first-round talent,” an NFC scout said. “He really moves well for his size.” Washington’s draft outlook was clouded by knee concerns, though the exact concern is unknown. “It’s laughable — he’ll end up playing at least eight years,” the scout said

“At No. 33 overall, the Steelers had four serious suitors to move up but opted to take corner Joey Porter Jr. It’s not hard to see why coach Mike Tomlin would want this to happen — Tomlin’s son, Dino, played high school ball with Porter in the Pittsburgh area, and Tomlin has seen him develop on the field for most of the past decade.

AFC SOUTH

Theories abound about how Houston maneuvered the top of the draft to acquire C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr., and here’s one that was brewing in the green room on Day 1: The Texans, in their efforts to get Anderson, took the quarterback first to water down Arizona’s options to trade out of the third pick, thus neutralizing teams that might have wanted Stroud. That way, GM Nick Caserio could at least try to get a better deal at No. 3 while saving face with the QB of the future and making first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans happy with a cornerstone defensive player. Sure, they gave up a lot (sending No. 12, No. 33 and future first- and third-round picks for No. 3 and a third-round pick), but from a practical standpoint, it’s like Houston moved up to get a quarterback.

---

Two names loomed large in the evaluation of Colts QB Anthony Richardson. Scouting executive Morocco Brown did a ton of recon work on Richardson, who worked out pre-draft with quarterbacks coach Danny Johnson in Jacksonville. Richardson’s agent, Deiric Jackson, said Brown traveled to Florida almost weekly to check on Richardson’s progress.

And from the coaching side, Shane Steichen had a convenient Richardson ally in Brian Johnson, who worked with Steichen in Philadelphia and replaced him as playcaller this offseason. Johnson, a former University of Florida assistant, recruited Richardson out of Gainesville High School and wholly believes in him as a “ridiculous” NFL talent. So, if any two coaches knew the power of using Richardson in a run-pass option attack with shades of Jalen Hurts, it’s Johnson and Steichen. Indy did a lot of homework on Will Levis, who had some fans in the Colts’ building, but Brown, Johnson and others who have watched Richardson up close see the superstar potential.

---

Offensive tackle Anton Harrison was the player Jacksonville would have taken at No. 24 overall but got three spots later after swaps with New York and Buffalo. Harrison was widely considered the fifth-best offensive lineman in the draft, and at least one team in the back end of the first round was prepared to take him or even trade up for him.

Here’s the intel I got on the pick: Jacksonville sees a lot of its former right tackle, Jawaan Taylor, in Harrison — plays well with his upper body, good feet for pass protection, had perceived run-block issues but is capable in the right scheme compared to what he was asked to do at Oklahoma. The looming PED suspension for Cam Robinson is a factor here, but Jacksonville still doesn’t know how many games Robinson will miss, according to one person with the team.

---

The Titans used all six draft picks on offensive players, the fourth team in the common draft era to use all of at least five picks on that side of the ball. The others were the 2014 Buccaneers (six), 1997 Chiefs (six) and 1985 Browns (seven). That plan doesn’t always pay off in the short term. The Bucs went from 32nd to 30th in total offense after the offensive-exclusive draft, from 277 to 292 yards per game, but fell in year-over-year scoring, from 18.0 to 17.3. Tennessee ranked 28th in scoring last season (17.5 ppg), and running back Derrick Henry and quarterback Ryan Tannehill are entering the final years of their contracts.

The Mike Vrabel-Will Levis pairing is among the most intriguing of draft season. This could be a personality fit. Some scouts labeled Levis as serious, almost robotic. Who’s more serious about his football than Vrabel? Levis has the kind of toughness and work ethic that should appeal to Vrabel.

AFC WEST

The Broncos’ double-down on receiver was among one of the more underplayed storylines of the offseason. Denver attracted legitimate trade interest in both Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton but passed, with the feeling that it needed high-end returns to move those players. Now, with the addition of second-round receiver Marvin Mims, four receivers on the two-deep have first- or second-round pedigree spanning multiple regimes (the fourth being 2020 second-rounder KJ Hamler), from John Elway to George Paton and, now, the influence of Sean Payton.

While third-round corner Riley Moss could compete for a starting spot opposite Pat Surtain, Denver believes Damarri Mathis developed into a solid starter last year, so he won’t be easy to unseat. Certainly Denver could find a way to use both, plus slot corner K’Waun Williams.

---

Patrick Mahomes‘ group workouts in Texas loomed large in the Chiefs’ evaluation of draft-eligible wideouts. Details are scarce, but apparently Mahomes, during his workouts with current NFL players, invited draft prospects to come by, too. So many players came in and out that even the Chiefs might have had a hard time keeping track. First-round picks Zay Flowers and Quentin Johnston made it, and both were gone by the time the Chiefs picked 31st overall. But SMU’s Rashee Rice also attended, and word is he formed a nice connection with Mahomes. Credit to these receivers for getting to Mahomes — in some cases on their own dime, in a setting not sanctioned by NFL teams — to make an impression (and, in Rice’s case, gaining the coveted Mahomes stamp of approval).

---

The sense I get is Tyree Wilson might have been tops on the Raiders’ defensive board, with Will Anderson Jr. and Devon Witherspoon in the mix, too. Anderson and Witherspoon being gone made taking Wilson, the long-armed pass-rusher out of Texas Tech, an easy call at No. 7. Some teams had concerns over Wilson’s Lisfranc injury, and although Wilson did not suffer any setbacks in the recovery process, he didn’t work out at all pre-draft and teams had to feel comfortable with the medical. Many teams reached by ESPN before the draft classified Wilson as a mild risk, and that’s probably where the Raiders sat with it. Las Vegas cross-referenced all its information in the days leading up to the draft. Assuming Wilson stays healthy, he might have the highest upside of anyone in the draft.

---

The Chargers had planned for the wide receiver options at No. 21 overall — Jaxon Smith-Njigba already off the board and the trio of Zay Flowers, Quentin Johnston and Jordan Addison potentially available. They prioritized yards after catch in the process, and research showed Johnston, the eventual pick, was elite in that area. Flowers’ tape was considered impressive, but a 5-foot-9 receiver in an offense in which Keenan Allen is a fixture in the slot might have been a tough fit. Addison had a natural Chargers connection in wide receivers coach Chris Beatty, who coached him at Pitt. But Johnston’s combination of high-end traits and size won out.

The TCU tape was fruitful for L.A. There’s a “watch what we got here” vibe around fourth-round Horned Frogs receiver Derius Davis. The Chargers believe they got the best dual returner in the draft.