2023 NFL Draft tracker, takeaways: Round 1 picks by team, grades, analysis, order, projections

See how things transpired in Round 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft

By Josh Edwards

The first round of the 2023 NFL Draft provided peak entertainment as trades and surprising selections littered Thursday night. Two running backs, three quarterbacks and zero wide receivers were taken in the first dozen picks. If you missed any of the action, check out the live blog below and be sure to return Friday night for more coverage of Day 2.

Below are some of the biggest takeaways from Round 1:

Check out CBS Sports’ updating NFL Draft tracker and Pete Prisco’s NFL Draft grades for every first-round pick. Also, subscribe to the “With the First Pick” podcast for nightly recaps, winners and losers and more from Kansas City.

1. Will Levis odd man out after three QBs taken in top five

Carolina selected Alabama’s Bryce Young No. 1 overall as expected. However, Houston selected a quarterback of its own in Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud. Two picks later, Indianapolis took the third quarterback: Florida’s Anthony Richardson. An early run on the position may have created a frenzy to move up the board for the remaining quarterback, but that was not the case. Pick after pick came and went but when the night had concluded, Levis — and Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker — were still available. 

2. Eagles walk away big winners on Day 1

After selecting Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis and Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean last year, Philadelphia added two more from that National Championship defense. After trading up one spot, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman selected arguably the best prospect in the entire draft: defensive tackle Jalen Carter. With their second selection in the first round, the Eagles selected another ex-Bulldog. Edge rusher Nolan Smith will give them some additional pass rush capability in their bid to return to the Super Bowl.

3. Texans trade back up to No. 3 overall after selecting C.J. Stroud

For just the third time in the common draft era, a singular team made two of the first three selections in the NFL Draft. Houston picked Stroud at No. 2 overall before moving up from No. 12 overall to select Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. First-year head coach DeMeco Ryan lands a building block on each side of the ball. Alabama is the first school with the first offensive (Bryce Young) and defensive player (Will Anderson Jr.) off the board since Michigan State in 1967.

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Follow along each night of the draft as CBS Sports has you covered with all of the selections and buzz regarding your favorite team. Once the dust settles, fans will find updated team needs and a fresh mock draft on the website in preparation for Day 2.