There a lot of varied immediate opinions on results of the 2023 NFL Draft, just like any NFL Draft. Sporting News, per usual, got bold while analyzing every pick in Rounds 1 through 3 and ranking and grading all 32 teams' draft classes.
Some takes, however, are hotter than others, in terms of too much negativity about actual good picks and too much questionable praise for shakier selections.
That's where The Sporting News is stepping in again post-draft and sift through the noise to break down the worst of these overreactions:
MORE 2023 NFL DRAFT:
Full results | Team-by-team grades | Biggest steals
Worst overreactions from 2023 NFL Draft
"Will Levis is a bust for falling out of the first round and the Titans made a bad pick in the second round"
There's a perception that Levis suffered an embarrassing freefall in the 2023. But the reality is, he ended up right where he should have.
When Bryce Young (Panthers), C.J. Stroud (Texans) and Anthony Richardson (Colts) went as the top three QB prospects in the first four picks, there was no team desperate for the position in the rest of the first round, including the Titans at No. 11 and the Buccaneers at No. 19.
The Titans got a top offensive lineman in Peter Skoronski instead and the Buccaneers opted not to take a QB at all, with Baker Mayfield serving as the bridge in 2023. But in Round 2, with the Lions, Raiders and Rams looming, the Titans saw Levis becoming a value and jumped into No. 33 to take him.
Levis is a good fit in what is a revamped offense now full of key young pieces. Skoronski should start and dominate at left guard, while running back Tajae Spears are tight end Josh Whyle are ideal complements to what they had in Derrick Henry, Treylon Burks and Chigoziem Okonkwo.
Levis was the fourth-best QB through the whole process and was picked that way just beyond the first-round border. There's nothing shameful about that and he landed with team set up to better support him. Levis, Young, Stroud and Richardson all have the talent, schemes and personnel to all succeed.
There's no arguing that all four landed in the right spots for their specific skill sets and experience. Not of all of them will be elite with high ceilings, but Levis should come through on high floor soon.
"Bijan Robinson was a great pick for the run-heavy Falcons at No. 8 overall"
Robinson became the 11th running back taken in the first round since 2016, before Jahmyr Gibbs (Lions) went four picks later to make it an even dozen. Looking back, there have been mixed results and considerable durability issues from that group.
The Falcons were the third-best rushing team in the NFL last season, averaging just shy of 160 yards per game. They also were fourth in yards per attempt ith a robust 4.9. They still have outstanding run blocker, which led to strong rushing production combined for rookie Tyler Allgeier, converted wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson and others. Their backs also combined for 50-plus receptions.
When considering that, the Falcons made a luxury pick at a position of strength. Robinson can be a special three-down versatile workhorse back, but also consider Allgeier, a fifth-rounder, and Patterson combined for almost 2,000 scrimmage yards last season. Robinson can make the Falcons only so much better in the backfield, while the opportunity cost was not tapping into high-level help at cornerback or their defensive front.
Atlanta is hoping Robinson will be Henry in Arthur Smith's offense and everything can play off that. Their bigger offensive concern is whether Desmond Ridder is ready to be a franchise QB and not having enough supporting weapons after Drake London and Kyle Pitts in the passing game. The Eagles, Lions and Bills made a ton more pre-drafted sense for Robinson, because they were loaded elsewhere and could afford to put a cherry on top. The Falcons went Robinson before scooping up the ice cream.
MORE: 15 worst value picks from the 2023 NFL Draft
"The Packers really showed Jordan Love the love Aaron Rodgers didn't get in the draft"
There's a tendency to get enamored with big-picture volume in the draft, to just keep adding to a particular narrative. Green Bay was case in point with the idea that GM Brian Gutekunst loaded up to help his young QB.
The Packers ended up with two tight ends (Luke Musgrave, Tucker Kraft) to fill their biggest offensive need. They also took three wide receivers (Jayden Reed, Dontavyion Wicks, Grant DuBose). They also added another QB (Sean Clifford) and running back depth (Lew Nichols). Offensive skill accounted more for than half of their 13 total picks.
But the Packers needed more to streamline things for Love, vs. just going rookie-heavy for his support, especially how given how hey are also counting a lot on second-year wide receivers Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs. Through all that, they somehow missed on improving offensive line depth.
The Packers are going to back to piling up a lot of dirt and hoping by having more options, they can sift out a few gems. Gutekunst also did this with the '18 and '22 classes. In five previous drafts, he has drafted only two Pro Bowlers.
"The Patriots came through with another great draft for Bill Belichick"
The one thing that some draft analysts have doing is believing the Patriots can do wrong in April because of Belichick being one of the best all-time personnel men. But also since 2018, he has drafted only two Pro Bowlers, former punter Jake Bailey and somehow, QB Mac Jones. The offensive track record has been bad of late, from N'Keal Harry to last year's top two picks, Cole Strange and Tyquan Thornton.
After cornerback Chrisitan Gonzalez luckily to fell to them and versatile Keion White also being a good defensive pick, it was a bunch of reaches, including offensive line, a kicker and a punter. The only thing that made the Patriots' draft look good is the fact the Bills, Dolphins and Jets also didn't fare well in the division.
MORE: The 17 best value picks from the 2023 NFL Draft
"The 49ers had a terrible draft, including taking a kicker in the third round"
No, this isn't about blinding praising John Lynch for his drafting, no matter what. But the 49ers are a loaded team with limited holes and, with no pick until the first round, they worked on strong depth for their defensive front seven and their specialized offensive positions for Kyle Shanahan, tight end and fullback.
The 49ers needed a big-time young safety and got the ideal potential starter next to Talanoa Hufanga in Ji'Ayir Brown. They needed more range and clutch kicking to upgrade from Robbie Gould and got it in Jake Moody. Coming away with two impact players plus rounding out the roster was more mission accomplished than missteps.
"The Lions reached for Jahmyr Gibbs at No. 12 and had a bad overall draft"
After the 49ers, depending on their QB situation, and the Cowboys, in their own division, the Eagles' biggest threat to be dethroned as NFC champions comes from Detroit. The Lions were a playoff-caliber team last season at 9-8 and their aggressive free-agent upgrades under GM Brad Holmes was a sign they believe they can win much bigger in 2024.
Considering that, the Lions jumping on Gibbs and grabbing do-everything linebacker Jack Campbell a little early to fill their most glaring immediate needs was smart. They continued to do that with tight end Sam LaPorta and safety Brian Branch before still being able to address the QB near future with Hendon Hooker. The Lions drafted like heavy NFC North favorites, which is exactly what they should have done.
MORE: Breaking down 2023 NFL Draft picks by college
"The Cardinals were smart to keep trading down and stockpile all that talent"
The Cardinals are in contention for the worst team in the NFL in 2023 and after some trading with the Texans, there's a chance they could end up with the No. 1 and No. 2 overall draft picks in 2024.
First-rounder Paris Johnson Jr. will be a welcome upgrade at offensive tackle soon, but by trading down to stockpile, they missed out on great values right in front of them for their rebuild, starting by letting Houston grab Will Anderson instead at No. 2. They also took Johnson instead of either Tyree Wilson or Jalen Carter, despite the chance of them also being cornerstone front seven pieces.
For their particular needs, the Cardinals needed to draft. Instead they ended up chasing a little lesser talent then they could have, especially on defense. They also threw away three offensive picks on reaches for wide receiver Michael Wilson, guard Jon Gaines II and quarterback Clayton Tune. No one knows what Arizona can do in '24 and beyond. They might ace some future drafts with new GM Monti Ossenfort, but this initial class ended up underwhelming.
"The Chiefs didn't have the draft they needed to help their Super Bowl defense"
The Chiefs went edge rusher first with local product Felix Anudike-Uzomah. Then it was wide receiver Rashee Rice, offensive tackle Wanya Morris and safety Chamarri Conner. There was some rather direct about that approach in the methodical filling of needs under Brett Veach and Andy Reid.
The team released Frank Clark and didn't re-sign JuJu Smith-Schuster, Orlando Brown Jr., Andrew Wylie and Juan Thornhill. In free agency, they replaced one tackle with Jawaan Taylor and filled linebacker with Drue Tranquil.
The Chiefs have excelled with reloading with youth to replace veterans they couldn't sign. They did it last year at cornerback after losing Charvarius Ward. They did it before when being gutted on the interior offensive line. Looking for the new drafting version of the formerly dynastic Patriots with their new version of Tom Brady? Keep looking toward Kansas City.
MORE: How 'Brock Purdy Effect' led to record run of QBs taken in 2023 NFL Draft
"All those teams who took quarterbacks are smart because of Brock Purdy"
Copycat league? Let's more call it the lemming league. Ok, those small rodents really don't follow each other and jump off cliffs in big groups, but that myth leads to the reality that NFL teams will try to make something work that won't work just because another team did it well.
After Young, Stroud, Richardson, Levis and Hooker, nine more quarterbacks were drafted. Once more with Principal Rooney feeling ... NINE quarterbacks. That's ridiculous, including Stetson Bennett going too early (fourth round, Rams) and both Clifford (fifth round, Packers) and Max Duggan (seventh round) being taken at all.
Some made sense from a developmental perspective, such as Dorian Thompson-Robinson (fifth round, Browns) and Jaren Hall (fifth round, Vikings). Some didn't at all, such as Tune (fifth round, Cardinals) and Tanner McKee (sixth round, Eagles).
The 49ers needing 2022 Mr. Irrelevant Purdy as a No. 3 QB after both Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo went down and then seeing him succeed was a rare situation for a team with a superior offensive system in which many QBs can excel. Forget the 49ers creating a paradigm — they just created paranoia.
"The class of wide receivers can't match the impact of the 2022 class"
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Seahawks), Zay Flowers (Ravens) and Jordan Addison (Vikings) all needed to wait until after pick No. 19 to hear their names, but their games all landed in ideal situations. Quentin Johnston (Chargers) may also end up being a key deep threat for his team soon.
From Day 2 picks, Rice (Chiefs), Marvin Mims (Broncos), Josh Downs (Colts), Tank Dell (Texans) and Jalin Hyatt (Giants) all could have massive big-play roles for their teams as rookies, too.
Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave and the rest are a tough act to follow. But there are many wideouts with the talent and opportunity to get on the map for immediate returns.
