Biggest Steals of the 2023 NFL Draft
Josh Frey
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Now that the 2023 NFL Draft has concluded, we are now in the period where, immediately following the draft, the couch GMs come forward and decide which picks were great and which weren’t. We here at PurplePTSD are not immune to such an act, so today, we are going to go over all the biggest steals of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Day 1
R1, P9: DT Jalen Carter (Philadelphia Eagles)
There is an argument to be made that Jalen Carter is the most talented player in this draft. The off-the-field issues, of course, are the cause of his fall outside of the top 5, but re-joining so many of his Georgia teammates in Philadelphia should create a great environment for Carter to thrive.
R1, P17: CB Christian Gonzalez (New England Patriots)
Many folks had Christian Gonzalez as the CB1 of an absolutely loaded draft class at that position. The fact that the Patriots were able to scoop him up at 17 (after trading down!) is ridiculous. He is going to be a star in New England.
R1, P28: EDGE Myles Murphy (Cincinnati Bengals)
Myles Murphy had an argument for being the third EDGE off the board after Will Anderson and Tyree Wilson and potentially going in the top half of the first round. His combination of size and athleticism is as much of a sure-thing as you’ll find at the EDGE spot, so the Bengals being able to get him here as a long-term solution to their pass-rushing puzzle is outstanding.
Day 2
R2, P32: CB Joey Porter Jr. (Pittsburgh Steelers)
Joey Porter Jr. was in the conversation to be a top CB off the board in, again, an extremely deep class. His ridiculous length and physical play fits very well in Pittsburgh, and, you know, the fact that his name is Joey Porter. This is not only an outstanding fit but grabbing a potential star here is terrific value.
R2, P33: QB Will Levis (Tennessee Titans)
The biggest shock of round 1 was Will Levis completely falling out of the round. No one would have batted an eye if the Titans took him at No. 11, so the fact that they were able to make a trade up to No. 33 and take him here is fabulous.
R2, P59: IOL O’Cyrus Torrence (Buffalo Bills)
The interior offensive line is a huge need for the Buffalo Bills, and as a result, there was an argument to be made that O’Cyrus Torrence could have been their pick at No. 27. Instead, they get the top guard prospect with the 59th pick.
R3, P86: LB Trenton Simpson (Baltimore Ravens)
I remain convinced that Trenton Simpson is the most polished linebacker in this draft class. He is an immediate starter that can do just about anything for a defense. This is absolutely a steal for the Ravens in the middle of the third round.
Day 3
R4, P105: CB Kelee Ringo (Philadelphia Eagles)
Say what you will about the personality concerns surrounding Ringo prior to the draft, he is a ridiculous athlete who played very well at times during his time with the Georgia Bulldogs. Similar to Carter, being able to reunite with so many of his Georgia teammates with the Eagles should make his transition to the NFL so much easier.
R4, P132: LB Nick Herbig (Pittsburgh Steelers)
Nick Herbig just screams Pittsburgh Steeler with his play style. He’s a tough linebacker with incredible intelligence and explosive athleticism at the position. Pairing him with T.J. Watt will create nightmares for opposing offenses.
R4, P133: WR Tyler Scott (Chicago Bears)
Tyler Scott may have been considered a reach if he was taken in the second round, but here in the fourth is great value for the Bears. He is a burner out of the slot and should open up so many options for Chicago on offense.
R5, P160: S Antonio Johnson (Jacksonville Jaguars)
Antonio Johnson is a big athletic safety who can play the slot corner role or help in run support for a defense. With so many roles he can fill, Jacksonville is getting a very solid prospect here in the fifth round.
R6, P183: S JL Skinner (Denver Broncos)
JL Skinner suffered a torn pec in February prior to the combine, but if he had been able to participate in that combine, the former Boise State safety likely would have torn it up. Skinner is built like a linebacker with safety speed, in a ‘diet’ version of what we saw in Kyle Hamilton last year. If he can even be 50% of what we’ve seen from Hamilton, this is a terrific pick for Denver.
R6, P187: WR Kayshon Boutte (New England Patriots)
The Patriots find their way onto this list one more time. The talent of Kayshon Boutte is off the charts, but the problems seem to lie in his mental commitment to each play. If any other team were making this pick, it would just be a fine selection with his upside. With the Patriots, it would be surprising if Bill Belichick can’t make a quality receiver out of the LSU product.
R6, P195: WR A.T. Perry (New Orleans Saints)
In a class filled with small, slot receivers, A.T. Perry is an imposing physical presence that was very productive over his time at Wake Forest. He is a tactician with his route-running, and his IQ as a player is notable both in his play and how he carries himself during interviews. If Michael Thomas runs into health problems again, he could very well be the WR2 for New Orleans by the end of the year.
R7, P229: IOL Andrew Vorhees (Baltimore Ravens)
Of course, the fact that Andrew Vorhees likely will miss the entire 2023 season with the ACL tear that he suffered at the combine caused him to fall in the draft. However, there is a legitimate chance that he is a plug-and-play starter in 2024. Getting that quality of player in the seventh round who can play four of the five offensive line positions is outstanding value.
R7, P241: CB Cory Trice Jr. (Pittsburgh Steelers)
There were folks in the NFL Draft universe that had Cory Trice as their CB5 in the entire class. A medical concern caused him to fall nearly entirely out of the draft altogether, but Pittsburgh taking a chance on him here while also pairing him with Joey Porter Jr. could be the biggest steal of this entire class.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.