Best Value Defensive Players Of The 2023 NFL Draft Class
Undertaking the task of assessing and evaluating talent can prove to be quite challenging. There’s never such a thing as a can’t-miss kind of talent, and chances are that you’ll find a bust rather than one of the best safeties of all time when you’re looking at defensive players.
However, even though we should be extremely cautious when it comes to talking about guys who haven’t even made their professional debuts yet, the 2023 NFL Draft class featured some impressive talent on the defensive side of the field.
It’s still quite early to tell how their careers could pan out. But judging by their college careers, the projections, the film, and the fit on their current teams, we’ll take a look at what we believe to be the five best defensive players in this class.
5. Jack Campbell - 18th pick, LB, Detroit Lions
Even though it might take him a while to get up to the speed of the game in the NFL, and he might get caught out of position at times, Jack Campbell’s physical traits made him a worthy gamble for Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions, which obviously needed much help on defense.
Campbell has great size for his position, not to mention impressive ball skills for an LB. He’s impressive when it comes to the point of attack, and he’s a physical specimen who won’t shy away from contact, often excelling against the run.
4. Tyree Wilson - 7th pick, DE, Las Vegas Raiders
Even though he didn’t play for a defensive-oriented program by any means, Tyree Wilson quickly rose in most draft boards for his ability to break havoc as an unblockable force. His physicality and raw power made him the lone bright spot in an otherwise unimpressive defense.
The Texas Tech product is an elite power rusher who’ll collapse the pocket in the blink of an eye. He’s mobile, agile, fast, and strong enough to handle double teams quite well, and he has a great nose for the football and the rival QB.
3. Devon Witherspoon - 5th pick, CB, Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks didn’t need to add much to their already-impressive secondary defense. And while some argue that Christian Gonzalez was a better prospect than Devon Witherspoon, they actually went with a more natural fit and chose the latter, which was no mistake at all.
The Illinois product might be a bit of a question mark at this point. But he’s an elite athlete with great hands and excelled in man coverage throughout most of his college career. He’s a bit undersized, but he makes up for it with an impressive leaping ability.
2. Will Anderson Jr. - 3rd pick, DE, Houston Texans
Will Anderson Jr. drew some legit consideration at the No. 1 and No. 2 picks, and chances are he would’ve gone first-overall in any class but this one, especially if Jalen Carter fell as he did. That’s the kind of unique talent DeMeco Ryans and the Houston Texans landed.
Anderson Jr. is a disciplined athlete with a never-ending drive and an outstanding nose for the quarterback. He was excellent against the run during his time with the Alabama Crimson Tide and should be an early frontrunner for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
1. Jalen Carter - 9th pick, DT, Philadelphia Eagles
The only reason why Jalen Carter fell all the way to the 9th spot was because of his off-field controversies. His involvement in a fatal car crash and questionable work ethic drove some teams away, but he’s got first-ballot Hall of Famer potential from a football standpoint.
Carter is perhaps the most complete defensive player in his class. His combination of raw power, strength, size, and natural instincts could make him a force of nature, assuming he stays focused and keeps football as his No. 1 priority.