Seahawks and Rams earn top marks in retrospective NFL draft analysis
Seattle and Los Angeles secure A+ grades for building Super Bowl contenders, while Dallas Cowboys face criticism for significant draft failures.
CBS Sports analyst Pete Prisco has conducted a retrospective evaluation of the 2023 NFL Draft, three years after the event, to assess the long-term impact of team selections. The analysis highlights the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams as the most successful franchises, both receiving an A+ grade. The Rams’ success is attributed to securing five starters, notably fifth-round pick Puka Nacua. The Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Philadelphia Eagles also achieved A grades. Conversely, the Dallas Cowboys received a poor grade, with their draft haul described as a significant failure despite retaining eight of their nine draftees on the roster.
It is standard practice for analysts to regrade drafts three years after the event to allow for player development and performance evaluation. The defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks will once again push to win it all this year, while their division rival Los Angeles Rams are right there with them in terms of being considered Super Bowl contenders. In fact, after giving them solid grades immediately after the draft, the new grade for both is A+.
The Seahawks had two first-round picks and hit on cornerback Devon Witherspoon and receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, two of the best in the game at their positions. But they also got three other players in that draft who have started or will start this year. That's great drafting. The Rams landed five starters in that draft, including the steal of the draft by taking receiver Puka Nacua in the fifth round. He is now considered one of the top offensive players in the league. There was a lot more, too. The Rams landed four other starters in defensive linemen Byron Young (third) and Kobie Turner (third) and offensive linemen Steve Avila (second) and Warren McClendon (fifth). That's how you build a winner. They are the only teams to get the A+ grades, but five other teams got A grades. They are the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars and Philadelphia Eagles. All five are playoff contenders and maybe more this season.
Looking back three years after a draft really does show the value in it. So dive in and see how your team did and how I did, with the latter not being great for some of my original evaluations. But at least I can say I am wrong, which many other analysts out there won't do. Of course, they invented the game. Just ask them.
The skinny: They traded down in the first round with the Texans and still landed starting left tackle Paris Johnson Jr., although they could have taken star edge Will Anderson Jr.. They got another first-round pick in 2024 in that trade and used it on edge Darius Robinson, who started 12 games last season but had just one sack. In this draft, they had nine picks and eight are still on the roster, and three are good starters in Johnson, third-round corner Garrett Williams and third-round receiver Michael Wilson. How I did: I liked the pick of edge BJ Ojulari in the second round, but after flashing as a rookie he suffered a devastating knee injury during the 2024 training camp. He played just eight games last season with one sack. I didn't love the Williams pick because he was coming off a knee injury, but he has been a good player. I did like the overall draft and the move to trade down.
