2023 NFL Draft: Favorite Day 3 pick from each team

While the first two days of the NFL Draft grab most of the headlines, Day 3 is where the great teams can separate themselves from the pack. If you need an example, just look at the Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs. They got huge contributions from their 2022 Day 3 class that was headlined by Isaih Pacheco and two cornerbacks, Joshua Williams and Jaylen Watson that both played big time snaps and combined for three interceptions and a touchdown in the playoffs . Let’s take a look at my favorite Day 3 pick from each team!

Carolina Panthers make the most of their limited draft capital

Day 3 Draft Class:
R4 (114): Chandler Zavala, G, NC State
R5 (145): Jammie Robinson, S, Florida St.

Favorite Pick: Chandler Zavala

Despite only having two picks on Day 3, I thought the Panthers found two potential immediate impact players in Zavala and Robinson. Zavala was a guy that I really liked throughout the process in a relatively weak IOL class. The medicals were crucial for him, but the Panthers obviously felt comfortable with them.

Zavala should be able to come in right away and compete for a starting spot right away or serve as a depth piece on the interior. Carolina fans should be excited about watching Zavala alongside his former teammate Ikem Ekwonu.

Atlanta Falcons beef up their secondary on Day 3

Day 3 Draft Class:
R4 (113): Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah
R7 (224): DeMarcco Hellams, S, Alabama
R7 (225): Jovaughn Gwyn, G, South Carolina

Favorite Pick: Clark Phillips III

Throughout the process Phillips III was a player that I knew I’d be writing up as a favorite pick of mine. At 5’9 and 184 lbs, it was a given that Phillips III was going to be pushed down draft boards. Don’t let his size mislead you though, Phillips III can play. Just check out this clip of him breaking up a pass against his new teammate, Drake London.

Despite his small stature, he had 30 pass deflections and 9 interceptions in 31 games over three years at Utah.  When we look back on this draft, I have a feeling Phillips III will be one of those players that everyone says should’ve gone much higher.

New Orleans Saints grab their next short quarterback

Day 3 Draft Class:
R4 (103): Nick Saldiveri, OL, Old Dominion
R4 (127): Jake Haener, QB, Fresno St.
R5 (146): Jordan Howden, S, Minnesota
R6 (195): A.T. Perry, WR, Wake Forest

Favorite Pick: A.T. Perry

After the first five quarterbacks, Haener was my next quarterback on the board, but I can’t look past the value the Saints got on A.T. Perry. When I was studying Perry, I saw a lighter version of Courtland Sutton. He’s not nearly as strong as Sutton, but he has the length and better build up speed.

I haven’t heard what caused Perry to slide, but I had a 3rd-4th round grade on Perry, so the fact the Saints were able to snag him in the 6th is a huge steal in my book.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers select a couple of former Panthers

Day 3 Draft Class:
R5 (153): SirVocea Dennis, LB, Pittsburgh
R5 (171): Payne Durham, TE, Purdue
R6 (181): Josh Hayes, CB, Kansas St.
R6 (191): Trey Palmer, WR, Nebraka
R6 (196): Jose Ramirez, EDGE, Eastern Michigan

Favorite Pick: SirVocea Dennis

Tampa didn’t have my favorite draft by any means, but I think SirVocea Dennis has a chance to play a long time in the league. He’s a bit undersized at 6′ and 226 lbs, but he’s able to overcome that with elite athleticism.

What really sets Dennis apart is his football IQ. Everyone raves about the mental make-up of this guy. When you combine athleticism with high IQ, you have a recipe a long successful career. With Lavonte David nearing the end of his career, his future replacement might be in place now.

Houston Texans stack up value picks on Day 3

Day 3 Draft Class:
R4 (109): Dylan Horton, EDGE, TCU
R5 (167): Henry To’oTo’o, LB, Alabama
R6 (201): Jarrett Patterson, C, Notre Dame
R6 (203): Xavier Hutchinson, WR, Iowa St.
R7 (248): Brandon Hill, S, Pittsburgh

Favorite Pick: Xavier Hutchinson

This was tough as I really liked this Day 3 class from Houston. I thought they got solid value with To’oTo’o and Patterson, but Hutchinson really stood out to me.

He’s a strong route runner that shows excellent body control when the ball is in the air. He’s got enough athleticism and solid size to make it as a possession WR in the league. His game reminds me of Michael Gallup and I think there’s a chance he’s one of C.J. Stroud’s favorite targets by the end of the year.

Indianapolis Colts prioritize elite athleticism on Day 3

Day 3 Draft Class:
R4 (106): Blake Freeland, OT, BYU
R4 (110): Adetomiwa Adebawore, DL, Northwestern
R5 (138): Darius Rush, CB, South Carolina
R5 (158): Daniel Scott, S, California
R5 (162): Will Mallory, TE, Miami
R5 (176): Evan Hull, RB, Northwestern
R6 (211): Titus Leo, EDGE, Wagner
R7 (221): Jaylon Jones, CB, Texas A&M
R7 (236): Jake Witt, OT, Northern Michigan

Favorite Pick: Adetomiwa Adebawore

The Colts clearly prioritized athleticism with their entire draft, but especially so on Day 3.

I thought the Colts crushed this draft as I liked what they did the first two days and they took some of my favorite sleepers on Day 3 like Darius Rush, Daniel Scott, and Jake Witt, but getting Ade Ade in the 4th round is crazy. While the 1st round hype was a bit too much for my taste, I had a 2nd round grade on him and thought he’d for sure here his name on Day 2.

He’s a bit of a tweener as he might be a bit too stiff to play on the edge, but slightly undersized for inside. This guy can play though and would expect any good defensive coordinator to find a role for him. His game reminded me of stiffer Rashaan Gary. Home run draft for Indy.

Jacksonville Jaguars build their depth with volume

Day 3 Draft Class:
R4 (121): Ventrell Miller, LB, Florida
R4 (130): Tyler Lacy, DL, Oklahoma St.
R4 (135): Yasir Abdullah, EDGE, Louisville
R5 (160): Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M
R6 (185): Parker Washington, WR, Penn St.
R6 (202): Christian Braswell, CB, Rutgers
R6 (208): Erick Hallett II, S, Pittsburgh
R7 (226): Cooper Hodges, G, Appalachian St
R7 (227): Raymond Vohasek, DT, North Carolina
R7 (240): Derek Parish, FB/DL, Houston

Favorite Pick: Antonio Johnson

It’s almost like the Jaguars were just picking names off my “My Guys” list (Bigsby, Washington, and Johnson).

So deciding which one to pick was tough, but I was overly high on Antonio Johnson throughout the process. I have a soft spot for versatile safeties like him that can play in the box, in the slot, and deep.

When I was watching Johnson, I saw a lot of Jayron Kearse, who has flourished under Dan Quinn as a tight end eraser and near the line of scrimmage. If the Jaguars use him in a similar fashion, he should outperform this draft spot with ease.

Tennessee Titans revamp their offensive line

Day 3 Draft Class:
R5 (147): Josh Whyle, TE, Cincinnati
R6 (186): Jaelyn Duncan, OT, Maryland
R7 (228): Colton Dowell, WR, UT Martin

Favorite Pick: Jaelyn Duncan

I almost went with Josh Whyle here, but Jaelyn Duncan in the 6th has the potential to be one of the steals of the draft. Duncan has all the tools at his disposal, it’s just whether or not he can put it all together. There was some chatter that he might’ve fallen in the draft due to some character concerns, which his trainer Duke Manyweather kind of alluded to:

If there’s anyone that can get the best out of Duncan, it’s Manyweather. Just look at what he’s done with Trey Smith in Kansas City and Terrance Steele and Tyler Smith in Dallas, just to name a few. He’s also been working out alongside the 11th overall pick and his new teammate, Peter Skoronski, which can’t hurt.

Arizona Cardinals invest in their defense

Day 3 Draft Class:
R4 (122): Jon Gaines II, G, UCLA
R5 (139): Clayton Tune, QB, Houston
R5 (168): Owen Pappoe, LB, Auburn
R6 (180): Kei’Trel Clark, CB, Louisville
R6 (213): Dante Stills, DT, West Virginia

Favorite Pick: Kei’Trel Clark

I thought the Cardinals had a really strong first two days of the draft, but their Day 3 wasn’t necessarily my cup of tea. I liked the Gaines and Pappoe picks, but they went around where they were expected to go. Kei’Trel Clark was a guy that really caught my attention at the combine with his movement skills.

He’s undersized at 5’10 and 181 lbs with shorts arms, but that didn’t stop him from making plays on the ball in college (34 pass deflections and 5 interceptions). However, he has the mental makeup and athleticism to overcome his size and there’s a chance we see him emerge as a starting corner in this defense.

Los Angeles Rams said “Give us those picks”

Day 3 Draft Class:
R4 (128): Stetson Bennett, QB, Georgia
R5 (161): Nick Hampton, EDGE, Appalachian St.
R5 (174): Warren McClendon, OT, Georgia
R5 (175): Davis Allen, TE, Clemson
R5 (177): Puka Nacua, WR, BYU
R6 (182): Tre’Vius Tomlinson, CB, TCU
R6 (189): Ochaun Mathis, LB, Nebraska
R6 (215): Zach Evans, RB, TCU
R7 (223): Ethan Evans, P, Wingate
R7 (234): Jason Taylor II, S, Oklahoma St.
R7 (259): Desjuan Johnson, EDGE, Toledo

Favorite Pick: Zach Evans

For a team that likes to trade away draft picks, the Rams sure loaded up on them this year and I think it’s going to pay off in the end. For only having one pick inside the top-75 picks, I thought the Rams crushed it and added some much needed talent. There was several guys that stood out to me on Day 3 like Hampton, Allen, Nacua, and Tomlinson, but Zach Evans has been one of my favorite players tp scout this year.

Based on talent, I had a 2nd-3rd round grade on Evans, but I figured the character red flags would push him down or completely remove him off boards. I love Evans’ ability to one cut and burst through a hole with physicality and balance. He doesn’t have the pass catching chops like Tony Pollard, but his ability to eat up space in a hurry and produce big plays were similar.

Seattle Seahawks grab two Wolverines in a row

Day 3 Draft Class:
R4 (108): Anthony Bradford, G, LSU
R4 (123): Cameron Young, DT, Mississippi St.
R5 (151): Mike Morris, EDGE, Michigan
R5 (154): Olusegun Oluwatimi, C, Michigan
R6 (198): Jerrick Reed II, S, New Mexico
R7 (237): Kenny McIntosh, RB, Georgia

Favorite Pick: Olusegun Oluwatimi

Is Olu Oluwatimi a perfect prospect? No, but there’s just something about him that gives me that gut feeling he’s going to pan out to a solid starter for a long time. Olu has an impressive resume that includes being a 2x All-American, Rimington Award winner (best center), Rimington finalist, and Joe Moore Award (best team OL).

He’s probably only going to be a center throughout his career, but he’s incredibly smart and has enough strength to make it in the league. Really like this pick from Seattle in the 5th round.

San Francisco 49ers takes a shot on a Juszczyk replacement

Day 3 Draft Class:
R5 (155): Darrell Luter Jr., CB, South Alabama
R5 (173): Robert Beal Jr., EDGE, Georgia
R6 (216): Dee Winters, LB, TCU
R7 (247): Brayden Willis, TE/FB, Oklahoma
R7 (253): Ronnie Bell, WR, Michigan
R7 (255): Jalen Graham, LB, Purdue

Favorite Pick: Brayden Willis

If you had to pick the perfect team to select Brayden Willis, it would probably be Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers. Willis lined up all over the field at Oklahoma as he spent time as a fullback, tight end (inline and detached), and wildcat quarterback.

He’s got a lot of work to do if he wants to be a full time TE, but he’s capable. He’s an excellent blocker in the run game and he’s flashed upside with the ball in his hands as he caught 75 passes for 998 yards and 13 touchdowns during his time at Oklahoma. We could be looking at a potential Kyle Juszczyk replacement down the line.

Denver Broncos join the party late on Day 3

Day 3 Draft Class:
R6 (183): JL Skinner, S, Boise St.
R7 (257): Alex Forsyth, C, Oregon

Favorite Pick: JL Skinner

While I didn’t have many options to choose from here, I actually liked both of these picks for Denver. Much like with Antonio Johnson, I have a weakness for these tall lanky safeties (Skinner is 6’4 and 209 lbs).

He’s going to have to add some weight, but there’s definitely a role in the league for a guy with his length and athleticism. Play him in the box and let him cover tight ends and he’s going to be a very productive player for the Broncos.

Kansas City Chiefs look to continue their Day 3 success

Day 3 Draft Class:
R4 (119): Chamarri Conner, S, Virginia Tech
R5 (166): B.J. Thompson, EDGE, Stephen F. Austin
R6 (194): Keondre Coburn, DT, Texas
R7 (250): Nic Jones, CB, Ball St.

Favorite Pick: Keondre Coburn

While it’s not a sexy pick, I think Kansas City could have something here. Coburn is never going to put up big numbers, but at 6’1 and 332 lbs, he’s a bit of a bowling bowl in the middle of the trenches.

He doesn’t have the desired arm length, but his natural leverage due to his height helps him. If he can help open up rushing lanes for Chris Jones and keep blockers off Nick Bolton, then he is well worth the 6th round pick spent on him.

Los Angeles Chargers load up on Horned Frogs

Day 3 Draft Class:
R4 (125): Derius Davis, WR, TCU
R5 (156): Jordan McFadden, OL, Clemson
R6 (200): Scott Matlock, DT, Boise St.
R7 (239): Max Duggan, QB, TCU

Favorite Pick: Jordan McFadden

Tom Telesco made a comment Thursday night on The Pat McAfee Show about how much pro talent TCU had and they ended up selecting three Horned Frogs, but it was McFadden that caught my attention.

McFadden is only 6’2, but if he moves inside to guard like many except, it shouldn’t be much of an issue, especially with his long arms. There might be some growing pains playing a new position, but give him a year and I think the Chargers will have a solid starter on their hands.

Las Vegas Raiders add some nice pieces to the secondary

Day 3 Draft Class:
R4 (104): Jakorian Bennett, CB, Maryland
R4 (135): Aidan O’Connell, QB, Purdue
R5 (170): Christopher Smith, S, Georgia
R6 (203): Amari Burney, LB, Florida
R7 (231): Nesta Jade Silver, DT, Arizona St.

Favorite Pick: Christopher Smith

I thought the Raiders did a really good job with their first three picks with Tyree Wilson, Michael Mayer, and Byron Young, but they kind of lost me after that. I did like their selection of Christopher Smith on Day 3 though.

Smith might be a bit undersized for how physical he likes to play, but he has all the intangibles you’re looking for. He’s smart, plays with anticipation, and is an outstanding leader. You can never have too many of those players in my opinion.

Chicago Bears crush Day 3 of the draft

Day 3 Draft Class:
R4 (115): Roschon Johnson, RB, Texas
R4 (133): Tyler Scott, WR, Cincinnati
R5 (148): Noah Sewell, LB, Oregon
R5 (165): Terrell Smith, CB, Minnesota
R7 (218): Travis Bell, DT, Kennesaw St.
R7 (258): Kendall Williamson, S, Stanford

Favorite Pick: Tyler Scott

The Bears came out firing on Saturday as I thought they got great value with all of their first four picks. Picking a favorite was tough, but I have to go with my guy Tyler Scott.

Scott had a 2nd-3rd grade on my board. Despite his small stature, all he did was produce big plays at Cincinnati. He’s never going to be a WR1, but there’s a Tyler Lockett style to his game and I think he’ll become one of Justin Fields’ favorite targets.

Detroit Lions have a quiet Day 3 after an exciting first two days

Day 3 Draft Class:
R5 (152): Colby Sorsdal, OL, William & Mary
R7 (219): Antoine Green, WR, North Carolina

Favorite Pick: Colby Sorsdal

Argue the position value and order in which they took them, but the Lions loaded up on good players the first two days, but were left with just two picks on Saturday.

It might take a year or two, but the Lions might be onto something here with Sorsdal. He has an interesting blend of size and athleticism to go along with a mean streak. Maybe he’ll never be a starter, but he could turn into a valuable swing tackle down the line.

Green Bay Packers load up on weapons for Love

Day 3 Draft Class:
R4 (116): Colby Wooden, DL, Auburn
R5 (149): Sean Clifford, QB, Penn St.
R5 (159): Dontayvion Wicks, WR, Virginia
R6 (179): Karl Brooks, DL, Bowling Green
R6 (207): Anders Carlson, K, Auburn
R7 (232): Carrington Valentine, CB, Kentucky
R7 (235): Lew Nichols, RB, Central Michigan
R7 (242): Anthony Johnson Jr., S, Iowa St.
R7 (256): Grant DuBose, WR, Charlotte

Favorite Pick: Grant DuBose

Add Karl Brooks as an honorable mention here, but I’m rolling with DuBose. This draft lacked size at the receiver position, but DuBose has plenty of it at 6’2 and 200 lbs.

He’s not the fastest guy, but he runs solid routes for a guy his size and possesses fantastic body control and natural hands. He’s also very physical after the catch and has special teams experience. I like DuBose’s chance of making the Packers roster and cracking the rotation.

Minnesota Vikings spend Day 3 in Baton Rouge

Day 3 Draft Class:
R4 (134): Jay Ward, S, LSU
R5 (141): Jaquelin Roy, DT, LSU
R5 (164): Jaren Hall, QB, BYU
R7 (222): DeWayne McBride, RB, UAB

Favorite Pick: DeWayne McBride

I figured McBride could slide a bit due to his lack of production in the passing game (more career fumbles than receptions), but I thought his pure rushing abilities would get him selected higher.

McBride has incredible balance and pairs outstanding vision with patience between the tackles. His running style reminded me of Devontae Booker coming out of college, but he has a ways to go in the passing game.

Baltimore Ravens target the Pac-12 on Day 3

Day 3 Draft Class:
R4 (124): Tavius Murphy, LB, Ole Miss
R5 (157): Kyu Blu Kelly, CB, Stanford
R6 (199): Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, OT, Oregon
R7 (229): Andrew Voorhees, G, USC

Favorite Pick: Kyu Blu Kelly

The Ravens are always one of my favorite teams to follow in the draft as they always do such a good job of letting the board fall to them. They didn’t have as many picks as usual, but I thought they got some good value, headlined by Kyu Blu Kelly.

Kelly has everything you look for in a corner with solid size (6′ and 191 lbs), length, and athleticism. Outside of questions about his recovery speed, there’s a lot to like about Kelly. He was one of the better corners at the Senior Bowl and I think the Ravens got a future starter in the 5th round.

Cincinnati Bengals add weapons for Burrow

Day 3 Draft Class:
R4 (131): Charlie Jones, WR, Purdue
R5 (163): Chase Brown, RB, Illinois
R6 (206): Andrei Iosivas, WR, Princeton
R6 (217): Brad Robbins, P, Michigan
R7 (246): D.J. Ivey, CB, Miami

Favorite Pick: Andrei Iosivas

The Bengals had one of the most underrated drafts of the weekend I feel like. They got great value on Day 2 as I pointed out here, but I thought they crushed Day 3 as well. I liked Charlie Jones and Chase Brown, but betting on the upside of Andrei Iosivas in the 6th round was my favorite of the bunch.

He’s going to be a project, but all the pieces are there. He’s 6’3 and 205 lbs with 4.43 speed and jumps out of the gym. If he can put the pieces together, the Bengals could have something special on their hands which is what Day 3 is all about.

Cleveland Browns invest in the trenches

Day 3 Draft Class:
R4 (111): Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio St.
R5 (126): Isaiah McGuire, EDGE, Missouri
R5 (140): Dorian Thompson-Robinson, QB, UCLA
R5 (142): Cameron Mitchell, CB, Northwestern
R6 (190): Lukę Wypler, C, Ohio St.

Favorite Pick: Dawand Jones

Despite not picking until the 3rd round, the Browns should be very happy with their weekend. Based on talent alone, Dawand Jones might be one of the biggest steals of the draft. Emphasis on “biggest” as Jones is 6’8 and 374 lbs.

Jones’ sheer size and length give him such an advantage over his defender and can help cover up some of his deficiencies. So why did he fall so far? Apparently the medicals were pretty rough as he’s dealt with a multitude of different injuries. If he can stay healthy, the Browns got a massive steal here as he was one of our best offensive lineman left on the board entering Day 2!

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1652351568081977346?s=20

Pittsburgh Steelers add to a strong first two rounds

Day 3 Draft Class:
R4 (132): Nick Herbig, EDGE, Wisconsin
R7 (241): Cory Trice Jr., CB, Purdue
R7 (251): Spencer Anderson, G, Maryland

Favorite Pick: Cory Trice

The Steelers absolutely crushed the first two days of the draft and followed that up with a solid Day 3. Trice was someone that I was pretty high on and thought he could hear his name at the end of Round 3 or early Round 4. Instead the Steelers scooped him up in the 7th round.

Trice is long and lanky (6’3) but has incredible change of direction for someone his height. Between him and Joey Porter Jr., the Steelers are putting together a secondary that is reminiscent of the Legion of Boom.

Dallas Cowboys provide one of the best moments of the weekend

Day 3 Draft Class:
R4 (129): Villiami Fehoko Jr., DL, San Jose St.
R5 (169): Asim Richards, OL, North Carolina
R6 (178): Eric Scott Jr., CB, Southern Miss
R6 (212): Deuce Vaughn, RB, Kansas St.
R7 (244): Jalen Brooks, WR, South Carolina

Favorite Pick: Deuce Vaughn

Come on now, this one was an easy choice! Watching Chris Vaughn get to call his son and tell him the Cowboys were drafting him was one of the best moments of the entire draft.

Don’t get it twisted, Dallas didn’t just draft Deuce cause his dad is on the staff, Deuce can ball. His role at the next level is hard to project at 5’5 and 179 lbs, but all he did was produce huge numbers at Kansas State.

New York Giants add a versatile piece to their backfield

Day 3 Draft Class:
R5 (172): Eric Gray, RB, Oklahoma
R6 (209): Tre Hawkins III, CB, Old Dominion
R7 (243): Jordan Riley, DT, Oregon
R7 (254): Gervarrius Owens, S, Houston

Favorite Pick: Eric Gray

The Giants were big winners on Day 2, but I thought they put together a solid Day 3 as well. My favorite pick of the bunch was Eric Gray. He’s probably never going to be an every down back, but I love his fit next to Saquon as a change of pace.

He’s not the biggest guy, but he’s capable of running between the tackles. He’ll be able to contribute right away in the passing game as well as he had 99 catches in college. Saquon has struggled with injuries throughout his career and Gray should be able to help take some of that workload off his plate.

https://twitter.com/PFF_College/status/1652392737130307585?s=20

Philadelphia Eagles continue to add pieces from Georgia

Day 3 Draft Class:
R4 (105): Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
R6 (188): Tanner McKee, QB, Stanford
R7 (249): Moro Ojomo, DT, Texas

Favorite Pick: Kelee Ringo

After the first round, Eagles’ fans shouldn’t care how the rest of the draft went. They had limited resources on Day 3, but I think they got good value on all three selections.

Ringo had a ton of hype heading into this season, but he just never quite lived up to the hype. His technique can be a bit of a mess and he can struggle to find the ball, but you’re just betting on traits. He’s got fantastic size and athleticism, he just hasn’t put it all together. He’s only 20 years old, so he’s got plenty of time to learn.

Washington Commanders add some toughness on Day 3

Day 3 Draft Class:
R4 (118): Braeden Daniels, OL, Utah
R5 (137): K.J. Henry, EDGE, Clemson
R6 (193): Chris Rodriguez Jr., RB, Kentucky
R7 (233): Andre Jones Jr., EDGE, Louisiana

Favorite Pick: Chris Rodriguez Jr.

The correct pick here is probably Braeden Daniels, but I can’t help myself, I loved watching Chris Rodriguez on tape. There’s so many instances where it takes five to six defenders to drag him down.

He’s capable of stepping in right away and handling a full workload and has a nose for the end zone (35 career touchdowns). He’s not a special talent by any means, but you have to respect his physicality and toughness. His skillset reminds me of Joshua Kelley coming out, but hopefully Washington uses him better than the Chargers have with Kelley.

Buffalo Bills add some depth pieces on Day 3

Day 3 Draft Class:
R5 (150): Justin Shorter, WR, Florida
R7 (230): Nick Broeker, G, Ole Miss
R7 (252): Alex Austin, CB, Oregon St.

Favorite Pick: Nick Broeker

Another team with limited resources on Day 3, but the Bills made the most of them. While Broeker doesn’t have the desired measurables, he has a skillset that should allow him to stick around the league for a long time.

Broeker has experience at tackle and guard and he plays with a mean streak that is fun to watch. He’s been durable during his time at Ole Miss and his play strength is above average. He probably won’t be a pro bowler any time soon, but he should stick around as a low level starter or a trusted swing lineman.

Miami Dolphins have a small but intriguing draft class

Day 3 Draft Class:
R6 (197): Elijah Higgins, WR, Stanford
R7 (238): Ryan Hayes, OT, Michigan

Favorite Pick: Elijah Higgins

With only four total picks and two on Day 3, Miami added four solid players. Higgins is unlike any receiver the Dolphins currently have as he’s 6’3 and 235 lbs.

He might have to transition into more of a detached TE, but he could be a big bodied weapon that this offense is currently lacking. His route running is a work in progress and he had more drops than touchdowns, but he’s the type of athlete you take a shot on in Round 6.

New England bolsters their special teams

Day 3 Draft Class:
R4 (107): Jake Andrews, C, Troy
R4 (112): Chad Ryland, K, Maryland
R4 (117): Sidy Sow, G, Eastern Michigan
R5 (144): Antonio Mafi, G, UCLA
R6 (187): Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU
R6 (192): Bryce Baringer, P, Michigan St.
R6 (210): Demario Douglas, WR, Liberty
R6 (214): Ameer Speed, CB, Michigan St.
R7 (245): Isaiah Bolden, CB, Jackson St.

Favorite Pick: Kayshon Boutte

I thought Patriots came out as one of the biggest winners of the draft as I loved their first two picks and think they added a lot of talented players. While I loved the guards that they added, taking a shot on a player like Kayshon Boutte in the 6th round is my type of draft pick.

Boutte’s journey has been a roller coaster. He had a monster freshman season and started off hot in sophomore season before breaking his ankle. Then everything fell apart. He had a down junior season, had the incident before the bowl game, and then a disappoint redraft. If the Patriots can find the freshman/sophomore version of Boutte, they hit a home run.

New York Jets get Rodgers a couple intriguing weapons

Day 3 Draft Class:
R4 (120): Carter Warren, OT, Pittsburgh
R5 (143): Israel Abanikanda, RB, Pittsburgh
R6 (184): Zaire Barnes, LB, Western Michigan
R6 (204): Jarrick Bernard-Converse, CB, LSU
R7 (220): Zack Kuntz, TE, Old Dominion

Favorite Pick: Zack Kuntz

Warren and Abanikanda were both really solid picks, but picking up Zack Kuntz in the 7th is fantastic value. He’s a work in progress as a tight end, but the athletic traits are off the charts.

Letting Kuntz sit and learn behind Tyler Conklin and C.J. Uzomah will be beneficial, but banking on elite athletic traits in the 7th round is a great value in my eyes.