Who are the new players entering the NFL this 2023 season?

As all football enthusiasts already know, the composition of new players entering the league changes every year through the picks of college football players that the 32 teams make during the NFL Draft, and this year was no exception.

This season’s draft was held outside of Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri, from April 27–29, 2023, and left us with some surprises and heartwarming moments that are well worth recapping in this article. So, without further ado, let’s get right into it!

What did the first round of the NFL Draft look like?

The Chicago Bears originally owned the first pick of the draft, which is something we hadn’t seen since back in 1947 when they picked Bob Fenimore, aka the Blonde Bomber, out of Oklahoma A&M.

However, well before the draft took place, they traded it to the Carolina Panthers for their #9 and #61 picks in the 2023 draft, their first-round pick in 2024, and their second-round pick in 2025, as well as their former first-round pick of the 2018 draft, wide receiver DJ Moore.

Nonetheless, the Panthers had no problem trading all of this because they had one main target in mind, and that target was Alabama’s QB, Bryce Young.

Young holds Alabama’s record for most passing yards in a single game with 559, which is extra impressing considering this college has given birth to exceptional QBs such as Tua Tagovailoa, Jalen Hurts, A. J. McCarron, among others. Besides, he was the recipient of several player of the year awards in 2021, including what most people consider the most relevant one, the Heisman Trophy.

So, for this reason, Carolina went all out and decided to put a huge bet on what could be their next generational quarterback.

Young 1. pic.twitter.com/TqpE1Ke0jI

— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) April 28, 2023

Following Carolina, the second and third overall pick of the draft belonged to one team after a trade with the Arizona Cardinals, and that team was the Houston Texans.

They first selected Ohio State’s QB C.J. Stroud who was considered to be the best pure pocket passer in the 2023 draft class, and then followed it up by selecting Will Anderson Jr., a 6’4″, 253 lbs. linebacker from Alabama with extremely quick hands and an impressive lower-body strength that frequently helps him overpower blockers.

After that it was the turn for the Indianapolis Colts, who also decided to go for a QB, in this case for Anthony Richardson, the 6’4″, 232 lbs. Florida Gator that tested as the most-athletic quarterback in pre-draft measurements in league history.

The Seahawks would complete the first five picks of the 2023 NFL draft by selecting Illinois’ CB, Devon Witherspoon, following the trade they made with Denver to send Russell Wilson to the Mile High City.

Following the first five overall picks, the rest of the first round ended up looking something like this:

6. Arizona Cardinals (from L.A. Rams through Detroit): Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State

7. Las Vegas Raiders: Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech

8. Atlanta Falcons: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas

9. Philadelphia Eagles (from Carolina through Chicago): Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia

10. Chicago Bears (from New Orleans through Philadelphia): Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee

11. Tennessee Titans: Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern

12. Detroit Lions (from Cleveland through Houston and Arizona): Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama

13. Green Bay Packers (from N.Y. Jets): Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa

14. Pittsburgh Steelers (from New England): Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia

15. New York Jets (from Green Bay): Will McDonald IV, EDGE, Iowa State

16. Washington Commanders: Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State

17. New England Patriots (from Pittsburgh): Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon

18. Detroit Lions: Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Calijah Kancey, DT, Pitt

20. Seattle Seahawks: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

21. Los Angeles Chargers: Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU

22. Baltimore Ravens: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College

23. Minnesota Vikings: Jordan Addison, WR, USC

24. New York Giants (from Jacksonville): Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland

25. Buffalo Bills (from Jacksonville through N.Y. Giants): Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah

26. Dallas Cowboys: Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan

27. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Buffalo): Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma

28. Cincinnati Bengals: Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson

29. New Orleans Saints (from San Francisco through Miami and Denver): Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson

30. Philadelphia Eagles: Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia

31. Kansas City Chiefs: Felix Anudike-Uzomah, EDGE, Kansas State.

Remaining draft picks by teams

Now we’ll go over the remaining 228 players that were selected in the following rounds and will be challenging for a spot in the 2023 rosters of their respective teams.

Arizona Cardinals

• Round 2 (No. 41 from Titans): EDGE BJ Ojulari
• Round 3 (No. 72 from Titans): CB Garrett Williams
• Round 3 (No. 94 from Eagles): WR Michael Wilson
• Round 4 (No. 122 from Dolphins): IOL Jon Gaines II
• Round 5 (No. 139 from Broncos): QB Clayton Tune
• Round 5 (No. 168): LB Owen Pappoe
• Round 6 (No. 180): CB Kei’Trel Clark
• Round 6 (No. 213): DL Dante Stills

Atlanta Falcons

• Round 2 (No. 38 from Raiders through Colts): OT Matthew Bergeron
• Round 3 (No. 75): EDGE Zach Harrison
• Round 4 (No. 113): CB Clark Phillips III
• Round 7 (No. 224 from Raiders): S DeMarcco Hellams
• Round 7 (No. 225): IOL Jovaughn Gwyn

Baltimore Ravens

• Round 3 (No. 86): LB Trenton Simpson
• Round 4 (No. 124): DL Tavius Robinson
• Round 5 (157): CB Kyu Blu Kelly
• Round 6 (No. 199): OL Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu
• Round 7 (No. 229 from Browns): IOL Andrew Vorhees

Buffalo Bills

• Round 2 (No. 59): IOL O’Cyrus Torrence
• Round 3 (No. 91): LB Dorian Williams
• Round 5 (No. 150 from Commanders): WR Justin Shorter
• Round 7 (No. 230 from Jets): OT Nick Broeker
• Round 7 (No. 252 from Bucs): CB Alex Austin

Carolina Panthers

• Round 2 (No. 39): WR Jonathan Mingo
• Round 3 (No. 80 from Pittsburgh): EDGE DJ Johnson
• Round 4 (No. 114): G Chandler Zavala
• Round 5 (No. 145): S Jammie Robinson

Chicago Bears

• Round 2 (No. 53 from Ravens): DL Gervon Dexter Sr. 
• Round 2 (No. 56 from Jaguars): CB Tyrique Stevenson
• Round 3 (No. 64): DT Zacch Pickens
• Round 4 (No. 115 from Saints): RB Roschon Johnson
• Round 4 (No. 133 from Eagles): WR Tyler Scott
• Round 5 (No. 148 from Patriots through Ravens): LB Noah Sewell
• Round 5 (No. 165 from Eagles through Saints): CB Terell Smith
• Round 7 (No. 218): DL Travis Bell
• Round 7 (No. 258): S Kendall Williamson

Cincinnati Bengals

• Round 2 (No. 60): CB DJ Turner
• Round 3 (No. 95 from Chiefs): S Jordan Battle
• Round 4 (No. 131): WR Charlie Jones
• Round 5 (No. 163): RB Chase Brown
• Round 6 (No. 206): WR Andrei Iosivas
• Round 6 (No. 217 from Chiefs): P Brad Robbins
• Round 7 (No. 246): CB DJ Ivey

Cleveland Browns

• Round 3 (No. 74 from Jets): WR Cedric Tillman
• Round 3 (No. 98): DL Siaki Ika
• Round 4 (No. 111): OT Dawand Jones
• Round 4 (No. 126 from Vikings): DL Isaiah McGuire
• Round 5 (No. 140 from Rams): QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson
• Round 5 (No. 142): CB Cameron Mitchell
• Round 6 (No. 190): IOL Luke Wypler

Dallas Cowboys

• Round 2 (No. 58): TE Luke Schoonmaker
• Round 3 (No. 90): LB DeMarvion Overshown
• Round 4 (No. 129): EDGE Viliami Fehoko
• Round 5 (No. 169): OT Asim Richards
• Round 6 (No. 178 from Bears through Dolphins via Chiefs): DB Eric Scott Jr.
• Round 6 (No. 212): RB Deuce Vaughn
• Round 7 (No. 244): WR Jalen Brooks

Denver Broncos

• Round 2 (No. 63 from Lions): WR Marvin Mims
• Round 3 (No. 67 from Colts): LB Drew Sanders
• Round 3 (No. 83 from Seattle): CB Riley Moss
• Round 5 (No. 183): S JL Skinner
• Round 7 (No. 257 from Saints): IOL Alex Forsyth

Detroit Lions

• Round 2 (No. 34 from Cardinals): TE Sam LaPorta
• Round 2 (No. 45 from Packers): S Brian Branch
• Round 3 (No. 68 from Broncos: QB Hendon Hooker
• Round 3 (No. 96 from Cardinals): DT Brodric Martin
• Round 5 (No. 152): OL Colby Sorsdal
• Round 7 (No. 219 from Texans): WR Antoine Green

Green Bay Packers

• Round 2 (No. 42 from Browns through Jets): TE Luke Musgrave
• Round 2 (No. 50 from Buccaneers): WR Jayden Reed
• Round 3 (No. 78): TE Tucker Kraft
• Round 4 (No. 116): DL Colby Wooden
• Round 5 (No. 149): QB Sean Clifford 
• Round 5 (No. 159 from Jaguars): WR Dontayvion Wicks
• Round 6 (No. 179 from Texans): DL Karl Brooks
• Round 6 (No. 207 from 49ers through Texans, Jets): K Anders Carlson
• Round 7 (No. 232): CB Carrington Valentine
• Round 7 (No. 235 from Lions): RB Lew Nichols III
• Round 7 (No. 242 from Jaguars): S Anthony Johnson Jr.
• Round 7 (No. 256): WR Grant DuBose

Houston Texans

• Round 2 (No. 61 from Eagles): C Juice Scruggs
• Round 3 (No. 69 from Rams): WR Nathaniel Dell
• Round 4 (No. 109 from Raiders): EDGE Dylan Horton
• Round 6 (No. 201 from Vikings): IOL Jarrett Patterson
• Round 6 (No. 205 from Bills): WR Xavier Hutchinson
• Round 7 (No. 248 from Eagles): S Brandon Hill

Indianapolis Colts

• Round 2 (No. 44 from Falcons): CB Julius Brents
• Round 3 (No. 79 from Commanders): WR Josh Downs
• Round 4 (No. 106 from Titans through Falcons): OT Blake Freeland
• Round 4 (No. 110 from Titans through Cardinals): DL Adetomiwa Adebawore
• Round 5 (No. 138): CB Darius Rush
• Round 5 (No. 158 from Vikings): S Daniel Scott
• Round 5 (No. 162 from Bills): TE Will Mallory
• Round 5 (No. 176 from Cowboys): RB Evan Hull
• Round 6 (No. 211 from Vikings): LB Titus Leo
• Round 7 (No. 221): CB Jaylon Jones
• Round 7 (No. 236 from Buccaneers): OT Jake Witt

Jacksonville Jaguars

• Round 2 (No. 61 from Bears): TE Brenton Strange 
• Round 3 (No. 88): RB Tank Bigsby
• Round 4 (No. 121 from Buccaneers): LB Ventrell Miller
• Round 4 (No. 130 from Bills): DL Tyler Lacy
• Round 5 (No. 136 from Bears): LB Yasir Abdullah
• Round 5 (No. 160 from Giants): S Antonio Johnson
• Round 6 (No. 185 from Jets): WR Parker Washington
• Round 6 (No. 202): DB Christian Braswell
• Round 6 (No. 208 from Eagles): DB Eric Hallett II
• Round 7 (No. 226 from Panthers): OT Cooper Hodges
• Round 7 (No. 227 from Saints): DL Raymond Vohasek
• Round 7 (No. 240 from Ravens): EDGE Derek Parish

Kansas City Chiefs

• Round 2 (No. 55 from Vikings through Lions): WR Rashee White
• Round 3 (No. 92 from Bengals): OT Wanya Morris
• Round 4 (No. 119 from Lions through Vikings): S Chamarri Conner
• Round 5 (No. 166): S BJ Thompson
• Round 6 (No. 194 from Lions): DL Keondre Coburn
• Round 7 (No. 250): CB Nic Jones

Las Vegas Raiders

• Round 2 (No. 35 from Colts): TE Michael Mayer
• Round 3 (No. 70): DL Byron Young
• Round 3 (No. 100 from Chiefs through Giants): WR Tre Tucker
• Round 4 (No. 104 from Texans): CB Jakorian Bennett
• Round 4 (No. 135 from Patriots): QB Aidan O’Connell
• Round 5 (No. 170 from Packers through Jets): S Christopher Smith
• Round 6 (No. 204 from Cowboys): CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse
• Round 6 (No. 203 from Giants): LB Amari Burney
• Round 7 (No. 231 from Patriots): DL Nesta Jade Silvera

Los Angeles Chargers

• Round 2 (No. 54): DL Tuli Tuipulotu
• Round 3 (No. 85): LB Daiyan Henley
• Round 4 No.125): WR Derius Davis
• Round 5 (No. 156): IOL Jordan McFadden
• Round 6 (No. 200): DL Scott Matlock
• Round 7 (No. 239): QB Max Duggan

Los Angeles Rams

• Round 2 (No. 36): IOL Steve Avila 
• Round 3 (No. 77 from Patriots through Dolphins): LB Byron Young
• Round 3 (No. 89 from Giants): DL Kobie Turner
• Round 4 (No. 128 from Giants): QB Stetson Bennett
• Round 5 (No. 161 from Cowboys): EDGE Nick Hampton
• Round 5 (No. 174 from Raiders through Texans): OT Warren McClendon
• Round 5 (No. 175 from Buccaneers): TE Davis Allen
• Round 5 (No. 177): WR Puke Nacua
• Round 6 (No. 182): CB Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson
• Round 6 (No. 189 from Titans): EDGE Ochaun Mathis
• Round 6 (No. 215 from Commanders): RB Zach Evans
• Round 7 (No. 223): P Ethan Evans
• Round 7 (No. 234 from Steelers): S Jason Taylor II
• Round 7 (No. 259 from Texans): DL Desjuan Johnson

Miami Dolphins

• Round 2 (No. 51): CB Cam Smith
• Round 3 (No. 84): RB Devon Achane
• Round 6 (No. 197): WR Elijah Higgins
• Round 7 (No. 238): OT Ryan Hayes

Minnesota Vikings

• Round 3 (No. 102 from 49ers): CB Mekhi Blackmon
• Round 4 (No. 134 from Chiefs): CB Jay Ward
• Round 5 (No. 141 from Raiders through Colts): DL Jaquelin Roy
• Round 5 (No. 164 from 49ers): QB Jaren Hall
• Round 7 (No. 222 from Broncos): RB DeWayne McBride

New England Patriots

• Round 2 (No. 46): EDGE Keion White
• Round 3 (No. 76 from Panthers): S Marte Mapu
• Round 4 (No. 107 from Rams): IOL Jake Andrews
• Round 4 (No. 112 from Jets): MD Chad Ryland
• Round 4 (No. 117): IOL Sidy Sow
• Round 5 (No. 144 from Falcons through Raiders): IOL Atonio Mafi
• Round 6 (No. 187 from Panthers): WR Kayshon Boutte
• Round 6 (No. 192): P Bryce Baringer
• Round 6 (No. 210): WR Demario Douglas
• Round 6 (No. 214 from Raiders): CB Ameer Speed
• Round 7 (No. 245 from Bills): CB Isaiah Speed

New Orleans Saints

• Round 2 (No. 40): EDGE Isaiah Foskey
• Round 3 (No. 71): RB Kendre Miller 
• Round 4 (No. 103 from Bears): G Nick Saldiveri
• Round 4 (No. 127 from Jaguars): QB Jake Haener
• Round 5 (No. 146): S Jordan Howden
• Round 6 (No. 195 from Steelers through Denver): WR A.T. Perry

New York Giants

• Round 2 (No. 57): IOL John Michael Schmitz 
• Round 3 (No. 73 from Browns through Texans via Rams): WR Jalin Hyatt 
• Round 5 (No. 172): RB Eric Gray
• Round 6 (No. 209 from Chiefs): CB Trey Hawkins III
• Round 7 (No. 243): DL Jordan Riley
• Round 7 (No. 254): S Gervarrius Owens

New York Jets

• Round 2 (No. 43): C Joe Tippmann
• Round 4 (No. 120 from Steelers through Patriots): OT Carter Warren
• Round 5 (No. 143): RB Israel Abanikanda
• Round 6 (No. 184 from Raiders through Patriots): LB Zaire Barnes
• Round 6 (No. 204 from Cowboys): CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse
• Round 7 (No. 220 from Cardinals): TE Zack Kuntz

Philadelphia Eagles

• Round 3 (No. 65): OG Tyler Steen
• Round 3 (No. 66): S Sydney Brown
• Round 4 (No. 105 from Arizona through Houston): CB Kelee Ringo
• Round 6 (No. 188 from Saints): QB Tanner McKee
• Round 7 (No. 249 from Chiefs): DL Moro Ojomo

Pittsburgh Steelers

• Round 2 (No. 32 from Bears): CB Joey Porter Jr.
• Round 2 (No. 49): DL Keeanu Benton
• Round 3 (No. 93 from 49ers through Panthers): TE Darnell Washington
• Round 4 (No. 132 from 49ers): EDGE Nick Herbig
• Round 7 (No. 241 from Vikings through Broncos): CB Cory Trice
• Round 7 (No. 251 from Rams): OT Spencer Anderson

San Francisco 49ers

• Round 3 (No. 87 from Vikings): CB Ji’Ayir Brown
• Round 3 (No. 99): K Jake Moody
• Round 3 (No. 101): TE Cameron Latu
• Round 5 (No. 155 from Dolphins): CB Darrell Luter Jr.
• Round 5 (No. 173): EDGE Robert Beal Jr.
• Round 6 (No. 216): LB Dee Winters
• Round 7 (No. 247): TE Brayden Willis
• Round 7 (No. 253): WR Ronnie Bell
• Round 7 (No. 255): LB Jalen Graham

Seattle Seahawks

• Round 2 (No. 37 from Broncos): EDGE Derick Hall
• Round 2 (No. 52): RB Zach Charbonnet
• Round 4 (No. 108 from Broncos): IOL Anthony Bradford
• Round 4 (No. 123): DL Cameron Young
• Round 5 (No. 151 from Steelers): EDGE Mike Morris
• Round 5 (No. 154): IOL Olusegun Oluwatimi
• Round 6 (No. 198): S Jerrick Reed II
• Round 7 (No. 237): RB Kenny McIntosh

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• Round 2 (No. 48 from Lions through Packers): OT Cody Mauch
• Round 3 (No. 82): EDGE YaYa Diaby
• Round 5 (No. 153): LB SirVocea Dennis 
• Round 5 (No. 171 from Rams): TE Payne Durham
• Round 6 (No. 181 from Colts): S Josh Hayes
• Round 6 (No. 191 from Packers through Rams via Texans and Eagles): WR Trey Palmer
• Round 6 (No. 196): EDGE Jose Ramirez 

Tennessee Titans

• Round 2 (No. 33 from Texans through Cardinals): QB Will Levis
• Round 3 (No. 81 from Lions through Cardinals): RB Tyjae Spears
• Round 5 (No. 147 from Lions): S Jordan Howden
• Round 5 (No. 167 from Rams): LB Henry To’oTo’o
• Round 6 (No. 186 from Falcons): OT Jaelyn Duncan
• Round 7 (No. 228): WR Colton Dowell

Washington Commanders

• Round 2 (No. 47): S Jartavius Martin
• Round 3 (No. 97): IOL Ricky Stromberg
• Round 4 (No. 118): OT Braeden Daniels
• Round 5 (No. 137 from Cardinals through Bills): EDGE K.J. Henry
• Round 6 (No. 193): RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. 
• Round 7 (No. 233): EDGE Andre Jones

Even though not all of them may get to see playing minutes for their teams during their first season, these are all the new 259 names that will enter the upcoming 2023 NFL season.