2023 NFL Draft Grades: NFC West
With the 2023 NFL Draft complete, theScore's NFL editors hand out their initial grades for each team's incoming rookies.
NFC
EAST | NORTH | SOUTH | WEST
AFC
EAST | NORTH | SOUTH | WEST
Arizona Cardinals
Grade: A
Monti Ossenfort's debut draft was a resounding success. The player haul itself is quite strong, with Johnson, Ojulari, and Williams all being major talent additions at positions of significant value. Wilson was also a sneaky-nice pick late on Day 3, giving the Cardinals a talented big-body target to replace DeAndre Hopkins. But the real genius was moving back to No. 12 from No. 3 before moving back up to No. 6 and acquiring Houston's first-rounder in 2024 in the process. The Cardinals and Texans will be among the favorites to post the NFL's worst record next season. Having both of those first-round picks for a draft expected to be headlined by Caleb Williams and Marvin Harrison Jr. is about as good as it gets for a rebuilding team.
Los Angeles Rams
Grade: B+
The Rams got to take a high-volume approach to this draft after years of shipping out picks for veterans. Not having a first-rounder takes some of the shine away from this group, but there's a lot to like about what Los Angeles was able to do. Avila is an immediate starter at guard who could have been a Day 1 pick. Turner, Young, and Hampton should all be major additions to a defensive front that needed some support for Aaron Donald. Bennett is one to watch, too. He may only end up being a career backup, but he consistently exceeded expectations en route to consecutive national titles at Georgia.
San Francisco 49ers
Grade: D+
The 49ers love doing weird things in the draft. It's hard to knock them too much, because it never seems to hold them back, but taking kickers in the third round is tough to justify. An otherwise unspectacular class is propped up by the addition of Brown early in the third round. The Penn State product brings unique playmaking traits to the defense's back end. His ball production should translate well to the NFL with a terrifying group of pass-rushers doing their thing up front.
Seattle Seahawks
Grade: A-
The Seahawks had another extremely Seahawks draft - either way you interpret that statement is probably correct. The first round was a dream haul. Pairing Witherspoon with 2022 rookie sensation Tariq Woolen could give Seattle the NFL's premier young cornerback duo. Smith-Njigba is arguably the draft's best receiver, and he's a particularly strong fit as a slot specialist alongside DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Day 2 was a bit of a different story, with Seattle bizarrely using another valuable pick on a running back despite Kenneth Walker's sensational rookie season, but Charbonnet was certainly worthy of being drafted where he was. Overall, this is a fun group that should have a key role in Seattle's continued success.