Green Bay Packers
#18 Green Bay Packers - CB Trent McDuffie (Washington)
BT53 Rank: 16th overall
The Packers over the past two seasons have made legit investments in the corner position, adding Patrick Surtain last year and McDuffie this season. McDuffie has a high floor and is someone who can play inside or outside, and in man or zone. With the Packers defensive scheme it’s likely that McDuffie starts at nickel this season and gives the team a physical tough presence from the nickel spot. Solid player, good positional value.
#24 Green Bay Packers - C Tyler Linderbaum (Iowa)
BT53 Rank:12th overall
Linderbaum is arguably the best center prospect to come out in the past decade. Despite only being around 300 pounds, he has incredible athleticism and tape. The value of this pick is absolutely outstanding, getting the 12th rated player at pick 24. The two issues that come up are similar to what happened with Baltimore with this selection. Linderbaum creates an interesting system fit with Green Bay. The team has zone blockers in Armstead and Linderbaum. They have power blockers in Nelson and Brown, and combo guys with Eichenberg and Risner. It’s an interesting scheme mixture they have there. You can also make the argument that center isn’t exactly worth a first round selection analytically, but Green Bay has never focused on that, taking a guard and a running back in round one before and they’ve won 3 Super Bowls. Overall this is a really good selection.
#67 Green Bay Packers - LB Christian Harris (Alabama)
BT53 Rank: 60th overall
Rumors are flying that the Packers had assistant GM’s make this selection. Harris is a really solid player and should provide good depth at a position that they need depth. He can play in the nickel if they decide to keep Baker at safety this season, or they can let him play some will in their system.
#88 Green Bay Packers - DT Perrion Winfrey (Oklahoma)
BT53 Rank: 53rd overall
Winfrey is an ideal 3 technique and the team was looking to add depth on the interior of their defensive line. Winfrey isn’t someone who is going to be a dynamic run defender but he is a penetrator as a 3T. With Williams and DJ Jones and now Winfrey, they are going to be an interesting 3 man rotation at DT.
#112 Green Bay Packers - CB Coby Bryant (Cincinnati)
BT53 Rank: 77th overall
Another solid pick for the Packers, notice a theme? Green Bay decided to add more corner depth which is always a good thing. You have to wonder if this is an indictment on Greedy Williams. Regardless though, Bryant could develop into a starting caliber player in time.
#136 Green Bay Packers - QB Sam Howell (UNC)
BT53 Rank: 20th overall
This was one of the more shocking picks of the entire draft class. Howell was someone who had a first round grade at quarterback, but instead he fell all the way to the end of round 4 in the 3GML draft. The Packers must really not like Drew Lock in this situation and it has to be an indictment on the 3rd year QB. The Packers look like they are going to try the volume approach at the QB position and are hoping to throw stuff against the wall to see what sticks. The only issue and question I have with this pick is the team now has 3 first round picks for next year… Howell looks like he’d likely be the 3rd QB regardless.
#173 Green Bay Packers - LB Darian Beavers (Cincinnati)
BT53 Rank: 127th overall
Good value here and Beavers is likely going to be a quality special teams player and someone who could take on the Sam role in this defense. With a late pick, this is the type of player to target, someone who on the low end is going to be a quality special teamer and on the high end could end up as a low end starter in time.
The other and maybe most important piece in all this draft situation though is that they added a 3rd first round pick for 2023. In doing so this is the perfect hedge for the Tua situation, in which Green Bay obviously feels is important given their adding of Howell. If Tua succeeds they have 3 major draft assets to use to continue to add pieces, if he fails they have the ammo to move up.
OVERALL GRADE: A
The Packers ended up with 3 of the top 20 players in this class AND added a first round pick in 2023. They also grabbed 3 more top 77 players and grabbed pieces that are very Packers esque picks. They are big program guys, with high floors at good values. The only issue that BT53 has with the Packers overall draft strategy over the years is that they don’t typically draft analytically important positions. They’ve taken two guards, an off ball linebacker, a nose tackle, a safety, now two centers (counting Risner), and a running back all in the draft’s top 34 picks.
This was a really impressive haul for Green Bay.
San Francisco 49ers
#43 San Francisco 49ers - DT Travis Jones (Connecticut)
BT53 Rank: 49th overall
The 49ers needed DT help and went out and got a guy with serious upside as a run stuffing early down player. The thing people don’t get here though is Jones also offers some upside as a pass rusher. The team went to fix a need and find someone who could play right away. The odds are Jones starts for them from day 1.
#63 San Francisco 49ers - LB Chad Muma (Wyoming)
BT53 Rank: 58th overall
Muma is an ultra athletic guy again with legit upside. The 9ers are the best team in the 3GML universe at drafting players for their scheme. The team has serious needs at linebacker and odds are again that Muma starts immediately for them. The 49ers decided this year to go out and get players who could help them immediately. While both these guys have room for growth, it would shock me if Muma and Jones don’t start immediately for the 9ers.
#95 San Francisco 49ers - TE Jeremy Ruckert (Ohio St.)
BT53 Rank: 79th overall
Ruckert is a really impressive scheme fit and this feels like an underrated need for the 49ers. Currently the team only has David Njoku for one more season, and Tommy Tremble who is much more of a move tight end. Ruckert will AGAIN be someone who comes in and plays right away. The 49ers were quietly solving issues throughout this class.
#103 San Francisco 49ers - T Zach Tom (Wake Forest)
BT53 Rank: 82nd overall
Another pick, another really good scheme fit for a player that is both versatile and has upside. Tom is the only player in this class who can play all 5 positions at the next level, that carries legit value. The 49ers needed offensive line depth and a developmental interior guy. Tom is a really solid player and having a 6th lineman that can play every spot is crazy valuable.
#139 San Francisco 49ers - DE Kingsley Enagbare (South Carolina)
BT53 Rank: 62nd overall
Enagbare was this teams’ best draft pick in 2022. Enagbare falling all the way to the 4th round in the 3GML draft is insanity to me. The 49ers were looking for edge depth and found a really quality player late int he process. Getting the 62nd best player at pick 139 is the definition of a steal.
#149 San Francisco 49ers - CB Zyon McCollum (Sam Houston St.)
BT53 Rank: 111th overall
McCollum’s size and speed are enticing picks and in round 5 it’s the perfect spot to take a flier on a player. While he’s a developmental guy, at worst McCollum projects as one of the best kick coverage guys in the class. He was a good value pick here, getting him a full round past when he should have gone.
#159 San Francisco 49ers - LB Damone Clark (LSU)
BT53 Rank: 78th overall
Clark was a borderline second round pick even at off ball linebacker before he was injured. Clark is going to redshirt as a rookie, which is a phenomenal thing to get him late in the 5th round. Clark can run sideline to sideline. The 49ers love getting athletic linebackers on their roster, it’s definitely a type they enjoy.
GRADE: B
Without having a first round pick this is about as good as you can expect from the 49ers. The team did a really impressive job of filling team needs and adding quality depth. Without a pick in the first it’s really tough to get much more value than what they did. They 49ers do a nice job each and every season of sticking to their board and finding quality value. They did it again in 2022. In a season after they won the NFC with a rookie quarterback, they were aggressive in free agency and are even better moving into 2023.
HOUSTON TEXANS
#45 Houston Texans - QB Malik Willis (Liberty)
BT53 Rank: 28th overall
The Texans had to be thinking about Willis hard at pick 32, but instead they moved back not once, but twice to add Willis with pick 45. He may play as a rookie, but there’s a legit chance that Willis gets to sit and develop. He’s an incredible runner with massive upside. Getting him at 45 was incredible value.
#98 Houston Texans - CB Tariq Woolen (UTSA)
BT53 Rank: 33rd overall
Woolen fell super far in this class due to the fact that he’s raw as can be and has only played two seasons of cornerback at a lower level. The Texans are set at corner for the next 2-3 seasons but why not take a big swing here, Woolen has immense upside. At worst taking him with a 3rd round comp pick, Woolen could be an incredible special teams talent. 6’4 guys don’t run 4.25, he’s a unicorn even if it’s just on special teams.
#123 Houston Texans - HB Isaiah Spiller (Texas A&M)
BT53 Rank: 59th overall
Spiller is someone who can step right in and give the Texans a 3 down back. While he lacks the home run speed that you’d want out of a running back, he is someone who has good vision, patience, and power. With Spiller and Carter they could have their duo in Houston for the next few seasons.
#130 Houston Texans - TE Isaiah Likely (Coastal Carolina)
BT53 Rank: 65th overall
Likely is a bit of a strange scheme fit here as Houston really needed a more powerful blocker, but Likely’s versatility is intriguing. The Texans utilized some movement based full backs and H-Backs last year with Jaylen Samuels and he could easily fill that role. Likely’s RAC ability is plus and while the schematic fit isn’t perfect, he was really good value at 130.
#133 Houston Texans - G Darian Kinnard (Kentucky)
BT53: 89th overall
Kinnard can play guard or right tackle and he is one of the better run blockers in this entire class. Houston tried hard this offseason to get better at power running. They added La’el Collins and Patrick Ricard to be able to run downhill better. Kinnard doesn’t have to start right away on this team, and can develop and get better pass protecting technique before he’s asked to play more snaps. Houston loves versatile lineman and this guy keeps with their theme of power running improvement.
#144 Houston Texans - P Matt Araiza (San Diego St.)
BT53: Punter #1
Araiza set the NCAA record with 52 yards per punt and 17 punts of over 60 yards last season. While Araiza isn’t the world’s most accurate punter, as he did put 16 touchbacks in the endzone last year, he has the biggest leg I’ve ever scouted. Araiza would have led the NFL in yards per punt and would have been second in net average if he were in the league. The Texans just added an insane weapon.
#245 Houston Texans - WR Justyn Ross (Clemson)
BT53: 88th overall
The fact that Ross would have gone undrafted if the Texans hadn’t taken him is complete insanity. Ross was a first round pick after his freshman season, or at worst a round two guy. The injury to his neck caused a massive drop in value. This is the exact type of swing you take at the end of a draft.
The Texans also added a second round pick in 2023 which is exceptionally valuable. Houston started this draft with just 4 picks and only 1 in the first 69 selections and ended up with 7 quality picks, and an additional second round pick in 2023.
GRADE: A-
The Texans have to feel ecstatic about this draft. While they didn’t get a ton of highly rated players going into a draft with only 2 picks in the top 130 they didn’t have much to work with. Houston ended up with 2 of the top 33 players, and 6 of the top 90 players in this entire class. They also added the Punt God and a second round pick in 2023. Going in with one of the lowest amounts of draft capital in the NFL and coming out with the team’s QB of the future, a second round pick, and a lot of pieces for depth and upside gives the Texans a high quality draft.
