2023 NFL Redraft: Top QBs Shift, Late-Round Picks & UDFA Impact a Transformed Round 1

Three years later, the biggest storyline from the 2023 NFL Draft still starts at the top: What if the Carolina Panthers selected C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans landed Bryce Young ?

In this re-draft, that's exactly what happens -- in part because of the arbitrary rules of this exercise (see below) and because Stroud's early-career brilliance might still make him the safer choice at No. 1 overall. However, Young's steady development over the past year or so makes the Texans' side of the equation far more fascinating than it would've seemed 24 months ago.

The shakeup at the top is just the beginning. From undrafted free agent Jalen Redmond cracking Round 1 to the Eagles targeting a tight end at No. 9, this re-draft has some fun surprises.

As it happens, CBS Sports' Pete Prisco just dropped his three-years-later 2023 NFL Draft regrades last week. While Prisco gave the real-life Dallas Cowboys an "F" after first-rounder Mazi Smith didn't work out, our re-draft aims to fix that, but along the offensive line. And Prisco was right to give an A+ to the Rams and Seahawks for their historic hauls; below, Seattle would be hard-pressed to match that real-life success but still does pretty well with Jahmyr Gibbs and Brian Branch .

Before we get into all 31 picks (remember, the Dolphins lost their first-round selection for tampering violations), here is the breakdown of his re-draft compared to the 2023 first round:

- 16 first-rounders from the original 2023 draft - Eight second-rounders - Five third-rounders - One fifth-rounder - One undrafted free agent

One last thing before we get going -- here are the rules for this little exercise:

- Assume the entire 2023 NFL Draft class is made up of free agents, and we're holding a re-draft based on their real-life NFL careers to date. - Assume all eligible players from the 2023 NFL Draft are healthy as of the re-draft, but prior injury history should be a consideration. - The original team cannot re-draft the player they selected in 2023. For example, the Panthers can't take Bryce Young with the No. 1 overall pick. - Assume the same draft order from the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

OK, let's get to it:

1. Carolina Panthers: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State

C.J. Stroud HOU • QB • #7

Drafted: No. 2 overall by Texans | My final big board: No. 5 View Profile

- Original pick: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

There was a point during the 2023 season that the Panthers may have regretted not taking C.J. Stroud. In the last season-plus, you could argue Young has outplayed Stroud, but if there was a re-draft today with the "you can't select the same player you originally drafted" rule in place, Stroud would be Carolina's pick 10 times out of 10.

2. Houston Texans: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

Bryce Young CAR • QB • #9

Drafted: No. 1 overall by Panthers | My final big board: No. 1 View Profile

- Original pick: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State

See above. Young has probably been the better QB over the past 12 months, and I think both Young and Stroud are going to continue to improve in Year 4. The Texans' roster is stacked, but if you don't have a serviceable QB, it won't matter.

Stroud played out of his mind as a rookie, but I'd like to think Young would have helped Houston advance to the playoffs at least twice in his first three seasons in the universe where they drafted him.

3. Houston Texans: Puka Nacua, WR, BYU

Puka Nacua LAR • WR • #12

Drafted: No. 177 overall by Rams | My final big board: No. 154 View Profile

- Original pick: Will Anderson Jr. , EDGE, Alabama

Will Anderson Jr. was such a good pick here, and the cost, it turns out, was not prohibitive either. But rules are rules, so instead, the Texans get Bryce Young a legit weapon in Puka Nacua .

You might argue that the Texans WR room is pretty deep, but we still don't know when Tank Dell will be 100% -- he was also in the 2023 class, so he's technically a free agent in this exercise ... as is sixth-rounder Xavier Hutchinson -- and I love the idea of Nacua and Nico Collins on the field together.

4. Indianapolis Colts: Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama

Will Anderson Jr. HOU • DE • #51

FL 0 Drafted: No. 3 overall by Texans | My final big board: No. 3 View Profile

- Original pick: Anthony Richardson , QB, Florida

The Colts have tried to improve their pass rush, and I think Laiatu Latu is poised to break out in 2026, but there ain't no way you're passing on Will Anderson Jr. here.

5. Seattle Seahawks: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama

Jahmyr Gibbs DET • RB

Drafted: No. 12 overall by Lions | My final big board: No. 22 View Profile

- Original pick: Devon Witherspoon , CB, Illinois

Man, the Seahawks had such a good 2023 draft, and it'll be hard to match the real-life picks of Devon Witherspoon and Jaxon Smith-Njigba .

But Jahmyr Gibbs isn't a bad start, even with the team drafting Jadarian Price in Round 1 last month. Remember: Zach Charbonnet was injured last season, and more importantly for our purposes, he's a member of the 2023 draft class, so he's technically a free agent.

6. Arizona Cardinals: Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee

Darnell Wright CHI • OT • #58

Drafted: No. 10 overall by Bears | My final big board: No. 24 View Profile

- Original pick: Paris Johnson Jr. , OT, Ohio State

Paris Johnson Jr. was the original pick -- and a great one -- but Darnell Wright has been one of the best offensive linemen in the league the past couple years.

7. Las Vegas Raiders: Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State

Paris Johnson Jr. ARI • OT • #70

Drafted: No. 6 overall by Cardinals | My final big board: No. 19 View Profile

- Original pick: Tyree Wilson , EDGE, Texas Tech

Paris Johnson Jr. can play either right or left tackle, and with new quarterback Fernando Mendoza and Kolton Miller entrenched at left tackle, Johnson will be a right tackle in our scenario here.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Jalen Carter, DL, Georgia

Jalen Carter PHI • DT • #98

Drafted: No. 9 overall by Eagles | My final big board: No. 2 View Profile

- Original pick: Bijan Robinson , RB, Texas

Jalen Carter can take over games when he wants to, and the Falcons have made a concerted effort to get younger and faster on defense.

9. Philadelphia Eagles: Tucker Kraft, TE, South Dakota State

Tucker Kraft GB • TE • #85

Drafted: No. 78 overall by Packers | My final big board: No. 76 View Profile

- Original pick: Jalen Carter, DL, Georgia

Here's what I wrote in my notes on Kraft during the 2023 pre-draft process: "High-end athlete, long frame, long strider who eats up cushion and is a matchup problem both inline and from the slot. Surprisingly good inline blocker who has good hands, a huge catch radius and YAC ability. Battled injuries in 2022. How much do injuries and level of competition affect the evaluation? Still, get Travis Kelce-at-Cincy vibes."

Hey, not bad! And before the knee injury last season, Kraft was quickly becoming one of the best young tight ends in the league.

10. Chicago Bears: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas

Bijan Robinson ATL • RB • #7

Drafted: No. 8 overall by Falcons | My final big board: No. 7 View Profile

- Original pick: Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee

Without Darnell Wright, the offensive line has some things to address, but Ben Johnson isn't passing up on Bijan Robinson here.

11. Tennessee Titans: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois

Devon Witherspoon SEA • CB • #21

Drafted: No. 5 overall by Seahawks | My final big board: No. 8 View Profile

- Original pick: Peter Skoronski , OG, Northwestern

I thought about Jaxon Smith-Njigba here, but the Titans have focused a lot of resources on wide receiver, even if this might be Calvin Ridley 's last season in Nashville. Witherspoon, meanwhile, would start outside (opposite Alontae Taylor ) or in the slot (or both) in this secondary for Robert Saleh.

12. Detroit Lions: De'Von Achane, RB, Texas A&M

De'Von Achane MIA • RB • #28

Drafted: No. 84 overall by Dolphins | My final big board: No. 58 View Profile

- Original pick: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama

Achane isn't Gibbs, but he's not far off. And he gives the Lions some much-needed explosiveness out of the backfield in a world where Gibbs is playing for the Seahawks.

13. Green Bay Packers: Tuli Tuipulotu, EDGE, USC

Tuli Tuipulotu LAC • LB • #45

Drafted: No. 54 overall by Chargers | My final big board: No. 42 View Profile

- Original pick: Lukas Van Ness , EDGE, Iowa

Lukas Van Ness famously never started a game at Iowa, but he certainly looked the part. He has yet to match expectations, something Tuipulotu exceeded pretty early in his NFL career.

14. Pittsburgh Steelers: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon

Christian Gonzalez NE • CB

Drafted: No. 17 overall by Patriots | My final big board: No. 6 View Profile

- Original pick: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia

The Steelers originally traded up for Broderick Jones , who is recovering from a back injury. They also landed Joey Porter Jr . at the top of Round 2. The offensive line appears to be set, even with Jones on the shelf, and Gonzalez, when he's healthy, would be an upgrade over Porter.

15. New York Jets: Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa

Jack Campbell DET • LB • #46

Drafted: No. 18 overall by Lions | My final big board: No. 33 View Profile

- Original pick: Will McDonald IV, EDGE, Iowa State

The Jets ' roster is in pretty good shape. Obviously a lot will depend on Geno Smith , but there's not another quarterback in this class worth selecting this high (and honestly, the next quarterback worth taking a flyer on might legitimately be Tyson Bagent , and that might be in Round 2). Instead, we continue to attack the defense and youth at linebacker with Jack Campbell .

16. Washington Commanders: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

Jaxon Smith-Njigba SEA • WR • #11

Drafted: No. 20 overall by Seahawks | My final big board: No. 12 View Profile

- Original pick: Emmanuel Forbes , CB, Mississippi State

This is a layup. Scary Terry gets some help in the form of one of the best players in the league who somehow slips to pick No. 16 here. McLaurin, Smith-Njigba and Antonio Williams would be A LOT of fun.

17. New England Patriots: Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa

Sam LaPorta DET • TE • #87

Drafted: No. 34 overall by Lions | My final big board: No. 68 View Profile

- Original pick: Christian Gonzalez , CB, Oregon

The Pats desperately need offensive playmakers … pending the AJ Brown trade, of course. Even still, it feels like LaPorta, who tied for the most receiving touchdowns by a rookie tight end in NFL history, would quickly become one of Drake Maye 's favorite targets.

18. Detroit Lions: Byron Young, EDGE, Tennessee

Byron Young LAR • LB

Drafted: No. 77 overall by Rams | My final big board: No. 65 View Profile

- Original pick: Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa

Young has 29 sacks in three seasons, including 12 in 2025 -- which is tied for second among pass rushers from the 2023 class behind  Tuli Tuipulotu . Young is an older player for the 2023 class (he's 28, while Anderson is just 24), but that's not necessarily a bad thing; sure, maybe his ceiling is lower -- but it was already pretty high when he arrived in the league.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kobie Turner, DL, Wake Forest

Kobie Turner LAR • DE • #91

Drafted: No. 89 overall by Rams | My final big board: No. 224 View Profile

- Original pick: Calijah Kancey , DL, Pittsburgh

Kobie Turner was a combine snub, again showing that the combine isn't a prerequisite to not only getting drafted (and Turner was a Day 2 pick) but also being one of the best players in your draft class. Also: this re-draft confirms just how good the Rams' draft haul was -- they

_Originally reported by [CBS Sports](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2023-nfl-redraft-panthers-cj-stroud-texans-bryce-young/)._