The first round of the 2023 NFL Draft has come and gone, and surprises were plentiful.
The Houston Texans jump started their rebuild by investing in two top-3 picks — that came at a cost to their future draft considerations. The Atlanta Falcons leaned hard into their run-first philosophy by drafting Bijan Robinson eighth overall despite the presence of Tyler Allgeier. The Detroit Lions had two Day 1 selections and drafted two guys most people thought wouldn’t be taken until Day 2.
As always, the actual draft made pundits look stupid. Now’s our time to reflect on since-scattered draft boards and figure out who’s left — and who could have the biggest impact. With round one out of the way, it’s time to see who the best remaining players will be once the Pittsburgh Steelers are on the clock with the 32nd overall pick Friday night.
1
CB Joey Porter Jr.
School: Penn State
Who is he? Big corner with the chops to excel in press coverage or zone. Porter is a physical, rangy defensive back who can be left to his own devices on an island without getting burned.
Potential fits: Raiders, Colts, Cardinals, Lions
2
QB Will Levis
School: Kentucky
Who is he? Divisive quarterback who looks the part and got more efficient in 2022 despite losing vital supporting pieces. His slide through Day 1 was a brutal statement about how NFL teams view his future — and now his closest pro comparison feels a lot more like Drew Lock.
Potential fits: Rams, Raiders, Titans
3
S/CB Brian Branch
School: Alabama
Who is he? Sticky defensive back capable of handling multiple positions in the secondary. You need him as an over-the-top safety? Great! Want someone to cover the slot? Perfect? Heck, you can even stick him outside and he’ll be a deterrent on short passes and long.
Potential fits: Raiders, Steelers, Cardinals, Colts
4
TE Michael Mayer
School: Notre Dame
Who is he? Bruising tight end whose physical profile doesn’t match the sheer impact he had on the field. He’s got strong hands and great vision downfield — whether that’s spotting holes in coverage or finding angles to run away from faster defenders.
Potential fits: Raiders, Panthers, Seahawks, Packers
5
TE Luke Musgrave
School: Oregon State
Who is he? Tight end with all the chops to be a receiving threat despite a limited college resume. Injury cut his 2022 short after one-plus impressive games for the Beavers, but he’s got the physical profile to be a devastating presence up the seam and a quarterback’s best friend in the red zone.
Potential fits: Raiders, Panthers, Seahawks, Packers
6
CB Kelee Ringo
School: Georgia
Who is he? Ballhawk cornerback who rises up in big moments but may move to safety in the NFL. Either way, he’s got a penchant for big plays in big moments and the athleticism to recover from whatever rookie mistakes might follow him into the league.
Potential fits: Vikings, Eagles, Buccaneers, Falcons
7
TE Darnell Washington
School: Georgia
Who is he? A tight end you built in NCAA Football ’13, then discarded for looking too video game-ish. Washington is massive, fast and brings a ludicrous catch radius to the NFL. He could be a mismatch machine in the right offense.
Potential fits: Packers, Lions, Seahawks, Raiders
8
WR Jalin Hyatt
School: Tennessee
Who is he? Burner who excelled in a wide spread offense and should immediately stretch the field as an NFL deep threat. Hyatt was a big reason why the Volunteer offense worked the way it did — and he’s got the game speed to consistently frustrate defenses and command safety help at the next level.
Potential fits: Rams, Panthers, Saints, Patriots
9
LB Trenton Simpson
School: Clemson
Who is he? Instinctive off-ball linebacker who does a little bit of everything well and won’t get lost in coverage. He’s uncommonly fast (4.4-second 40-yard dash time) and hits runners like a missile.
Potential fits: Bears, Falcons, Texans, Giants
10
OG O'Cyrus Torrence
School: Florida
Who is he? Enormous interior lineman who plays mean and has the strength to move defensive tackles off their mooring. He’s still learning to use that size effectively, but when he’s on he’s a straight-up monster.
Potential fits: Broncos, Jaguars, Bills, Jets
