2023 NFL Draft takeaways: Quarterbacks go early, often in record-setting event, league sets new trade record

The 2023 NFL Draft is officially closed. With the exception of undrafted free agents being signed to fill remaining roster needs, the majority of the talent acquisition portion of the offseason is over. 

Here are three big takeaways from the past three days in Kansas City:

1. Record set for quarterbacks drafted

Intrigue shrouded the NFL Draft as fans waited to learn where quarterbacks would be taken on the first night. Alabama's Bryce Young (Panthers), Ohio State's C.J. Stroud (Texans) and Florida's Anthony Richardson (Colts) ultimately heard their names called, but that was only an appetizer. Kentucky's Will Levis (Titans) and Tennessee's Hendon Hooker (Lions) joined the party on Day 2. 

In total, 14 quarterbacks were selected, which set a new Common Draft Era record. According to Bud Elliott, Richardson was the first quarterback drafted in the top four off a college team with a losing record since Purdue's Jim Everett in 1985. Three of the first four quarterbacks drafted were by AFC South franchises; an exciting dynamic for the upcoming season and beyond.

The reason for those quarterback selections could be tied to the success of last year's Mr. Irrelevant -- Brock Purdy. Teams are looking to get cheap contributions from the position as salaries soar around the league. 

2. New record set for trades during the NFL Draft

The previous NFL Draft record of 40 trades was broken in the sixth round Saturday. The action started early as Houston moved into the No. 3 overall selection to take Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. Arizona then moved back up to No. 6 overall to select Ohio State offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. Philadelphia moved up one spot to No. 9 overall to secure the first (defensive tackle Jalen Carter) of three Georgia Bulldogs taken by the franchise. 

The entertainment value was through the roof during the league's biggest non-gameday event. 

3. Running backs 'devalued' no longer? 

Not one, but two running backs were taken in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Texas's Bijan Robinson was picked by Atlanta at No. 8 overall followed by Alabama's Jahmyr Gibbs to the Lions at No. 12 overall. It begs the question: Was the position ever devalued or was the talent unavailable? Robinson and Gibbs were the most talented running backs to enter the draft since Saquon Barkley in 2018. 

Meanwhile, the first wide receiver (Ohio State's Jaxon Smith-Njigba) did not come off the board until No. 20 overall. The receiver class was never viewed in a similar light as previous years and the league seemed to validate that notion. 

Check out CBS Sports' updating NFL Draft tracker and Pete Prisco's NFL Draft grades for every first-round pick and also Chris Trapasso's Day 2 gradesAlso, subscribe to the "With the First Pick" podcast for nightly recaps, winners and losers and more from Kansas City.

Thank you for following along with our coverage today and throughout the year. Stay tuned to CBSSports.com for more reaction and analysis in the coming days!

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All 259 picks were graded over the past three days. If you missed any, visit our Draft Tracker to sort by team, position, round and more!

April 29, 2023, 11:06 PM
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Summary on Desjuan Johnson:

"Desjuan Johnson is an undersized interior defender who makes up for it with a quick first step and good grip strength. He can do a better job of stacking and shedding blockers in the run games. Johnson had a 17.2% missed tackle rate in 2022."

April 29, 2023, 11:03 PM
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Summary on Alex Forsyth:

"Alex Forsyth is an interior offensive lineman with good size and active eyes. He plays with good leverage and has good upper body strength to drive defenders off the ball. The lineman is a power/gap scheme specific blocker who needs to do a better job of adjusting his hands and feet once engaged. He does not have ideal top-end speed but does a good job of keeping his hands inside the pads."

April 29, 2023, 11:02 PM
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Summary on Grant Dubose:

"Grant DuBose is a big body, well proportioned and gets off line of scrimmage with some juice. He snatches the ball out of the air and is really good in space; he can make defenders miss in small areas. He's more of a WR/TE hybrid, and maybe that's his role going forward."

April 29, 2023, 11:02 PM
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And that concludes the 2023 NFL Draft! 

April 29, 2023, 11:02 PM
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Round 7, No. 259 -- Los Angeles Rams

Desjuan Johnson, DT, Toledo (#1)
6-foot-3, 275

*Originally from Detroit, Michigan. Johnson was rated a .8305 on a scale to 1.000 by the 247Sports Composite, which equated to the nation's No. 78 strong-side defensive end as part of the 2018 recruiting class. Father, Dion, played football at Kansas.

2018: 17 tackles, 1 sack
2019: 32 tackles, 1 sack
2020: 26 tackles, 2.5 sacks
2021: 70 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 2 FF, 1 FR
2022: 65 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 1 INT 

April 29, 2023, 11:01 PM
Apr. 29, 2023, 7:01 pm EDT
 
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Round 7, No. 258 -- Chicago Bears

Kendall Williamson, S, Stanford (#21)
6-foot, 203

*Originally from Snellville, Georgia. Williamson was rated a .8854 on a scale to 1.000 by the 247Sports Composite, which equated to the nation's No. 41 cornerback as part of the 2018 recruiting class.

2018: 16 tackles, 3 PD
2019: 48 tackles, 0.5 sacks, 1 FR, 1 PD
2020: 32 tackles
2021: 67 tackles, 1 sack, 1 FR, 6 PD 

April 29, 2023, 11:01 PM
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Summary on Jalen Graham:

"Where do you play him? Jalen Graham does a lot of things well, but he's not a high-end athlete."

April 29, 2023, 10:58 PM
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Summary on Gervarrius Owens:

"Gervarrius Owens is a safety with good size, but he lacks proper tackling technique, often arriving head down. He is a good communicator with disciplined eyes that translate to ball production. He has a tendency to close off half the field with a side-pedal technique."

April 29, 2023, 10:57 PM
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Summary on Ronnie Bell:

"Ronnie Bell is a pace-based WR who understands how to change gears to get open. There's some burst/athleticism to his game, but that's not how he'll win in the NFL. He has slippery, subtle contact balance and cutting skill that help him excel after the catch. He's super-willing in that regard, too. He will fight for every yard once he has the ball in his hands. His hands are very reliable, but he doesn't play big down the field or when there's traffic near him. Speed looks average at its very best. He has plenty of inside-out experience, and he ran an assortment of routes in college. He won't be for everyone because he doesn't have wow athleticism, but he understands what it takes to find space in the NFL and maximize every ounce of his physical ability after the catch."

April 29, 2023, 10:57 PM
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Summary on Alex Austin:

"Alex Austin has average top-end speed, but he builds up to it quickly. He has good height for the position and is not afraid to be physical. In fact, he is a bit too handsy through routes downfield. He had a 17.2% missed tackle rate last season."

April 29, 2023, 10:56 PM
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Summary on Spencer Anderson: 

"Spencer Anderson is a lineman with exposure to tackle but is best suited playing on the interior. He lacks the arc speed to challenge NFL rushers and is susceptible to motion across his face. Anderson plays with a strong base and does a good job of adjusting his hands when engaged. He has a good understanding of angles and sealing run lanes. His lateral mobility and recovery speed will present challenges."

April 29, 2023, 10:56 PM
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Summary on Nic Jones:

"Nic Jones is a thinner cornerback prospect with long arms to jam and re-route receivers off the line of scrimmage. He gets a bit stuck at the top of his drop. Jones fights through blocks in space. He needs to do a better job of breaking his feet down in space. A lack of ideal play strength is partially a reason for his 25.0% missed tackle rate last season."

April 29, 2023, 10:56 PM
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Summary on Moro Ojomo:

"Moro Ojomo is a tall, chiseled, lighter defensive tackle with long strides and the best balance through blocker contact I've seen in a long time. He's flexible and absorbs contact like a running back; his legs never stop churning. He has very good first-step quickness and gets skinny through a gap. His bull rush needs work, and his hand work is good but not a true pass-rush planner. He uses push-pull to climb through the line. He understands how to counter off his initial bull rush, holds his own against the run, and constantly hustles. Overall, he's a high-floor DT with a big DE body and some upside because of his unique balance/bendiness."

April 29, 2023, 10:55 PM
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Summary on Brandon Hill:

"Brandon Hill is a fast, aggressive, downhill attacking safety. He played a fair amount of slot corner. He has a clear hitch before changing directions. He's more linear than side to side, but once he realizes where he needs to go, he can get there in a hurry. His zone instincts are average at best. And he's best when he can man up and drive on the football, particularly in-breakers. He's much more of a hard-hitter than someone who can be relied upon to wrap-up consistently. Overall play recognition skills are a tick slow, but he does have quality range to the football on outside rushes because of his speed."

April 29, 2023, 10:55 PM
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Summary on Brayden Willis:

"Brayden Willis is the best blocking TE/FB in class, and it may not be close. He consistently locks up second-level defenders vs. the run and shows the ability to anchor against defensive ends in passpro. He's not particularly athletic as a route-runner but is a consistent dump-off option for the QB."

April 29, 2023, 10:54 PM
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Round 7, No. 257 -- Denver Broncos

Alex Forsyth, OL, Oregon (#78)
6-foot-4, 303
Arm length: 32 3/4"
Hand size: 10 1/4"

2023 NFL Combine results
Vertical jump: 20.5"
Broad jump: 7'11"
Bench press: 29 reps

*Originally from West Linn, Oregon. Forsyth was rated a .8717 on a scale to 1.000 by the 247Sports Composite, which equated to the nation's No. 49 offensive tackle as part of the 2017 recruiting class.  

April 29, 2023, 10:53 PM
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Summary on Isaiah Bolden:

"Isaiah Bolden is likely going to be asked to play a different role in the NFL. He will likely transition to the boundary or be asked to play safety because of his ideal size and speed. Bolden played out of the slot for Jackson State last season, and receivers were able to leverage him at the stem. He does a good job of taking on and shedding blocks but needs to get his feet running sooner in coverage."

April 29, 2023, 10:53 PM
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Summary on Jalen Brooks:

"Jalen Brooks is a bigger wide receiver who has the size and willingness to be an effective blocker in space. He has below-average top-end speed and burst. Production in college has been limited. Brooks sinks his hips and flattens routes across the field, but more physical defensive backs can re-route him."

April 29, 2023, 10:52 PM
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Round 7, No. 256 -- Green Bay Packers

Grant Dubose, WR, Charlotte (#14)
6-foot-2, 201
Arm length: 31 7/8"
Hand size: 9 1/2"

2023 NFL Combine results
40-yard dash: 4.57 seconds
10-yard split: 1.52 seconds
Vertical jump: 35"
Broad jump: 10'5"
3-cone drill: 6.89 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.32 seconds

*Originally from Montgomery, Alabama. Transferred from Miles College after the 2019 season. Worked three jobs, including WalMart, during 2020 season. Tried out for and walked-on at Charlotte at the request of quarterback James Foster.

2019: 8 receptions for 104 yards, 1 TD
2021: 62 receptions for 892 yards, 6 TD; 3 carries for 18 yards
2022: 64 receptions for 792 yards, 9 TD 

April 29, 2023, 10:51 PM
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Round 7, No. 255 -- San Francisco 49ers

Jalen Graham, LB, Purdue (#6)
6-foot-2, 220
Arm length: 33"
Hand size: 9 7/8"

2023 NFL Combine results
40-yard dash: 4.64 seconds
10-yard split: 1.68 seconds
Vertical jump: 30.5"
Broad jump: 9'4"

*Originally from Detroit, Michigan. Graham was rated a .8614 on a scale to 1.000 by the 247Sports Composite, which equated to the nation's No. 57 athlete as part of the 2019 recruiting class.

2019: 37 tackles, 1 PD
2020: 13 tackles, 2 FR
2021: 64 tackles, 1 sack, 1 FF, 2 INT, 1 TD, 7 PD
2022: 52 tackles, 1 sack, 1 FF, 1 INT, 5 PD 

April 29, 2023, 10:50 PM
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Round 7, No. 254 -- New York Giants

Gervarrius Owens, S, Houston (#2)
6-foot, 200

*Originally from Moore, Oklahoma.

2019: 54 tackles, 0.5 sacks, 1 INT, 5 PD
2020: 28 tackles, 2 PD
2021: 52 tackles, 2 INT, 1 TD, 3 PD
2022: 74 tackles, 2 FF, 1 FR, 1 INT, 7 PD 

April 29, 2023, 10:49 PM
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Summary on Anthony Johnson Jr.:

"Anthony Johnson Jr. has great size to play the boundary and average top-end speed to carry routes vertically. He struggles against double moves and routes that cross his face, as well as breaking his feet down in space to tackle. Johnson is a physical player who is willing to make plays in the flat but is also handsy downfield in coverage. He shows good awareness to play in a zone scheme."

April 29, 2023, 10:49 PM
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Summary on Cory Trice:

"Cory Trice excels as a tackler and is an asset in run support. At his size, his NFL future may be at safety, or as a hybrid chess piece; he can sometimes get too handsy in coverage downfield, which will be penalized at the next level."

April 29, 2023, 10:48 PM
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Summary on Max Duggan: 

"Max Duggan is an aggressive downfield thrower with good but not great arm strength. He has toughness galore, and he will take off when he doesn't like what he sees, which led to him shouldering plenty of punishment in 2022. He only has one year of high-caliber productivity. He has a smaller frame, and while he loves to scramble, he's not a high-caliber athlete."

April 29, 2023, 10:48 PM
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Summary on Ryan Hayes:

"Ryan Hayes has been a key cog on one of college football's best offensive lines over the past two years. He is a competitor who drives his feet in the run game. He has good play strength and eyes to pick up loopers. Overall athleticism is limited, and that likely limits him to being power/gap scheme specific. Teams may take issue with arm length if committed to playing him on the corner."

April 29, 2023, 10:47 PM
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Summary on Kenny McIntosh:

"Kenny McIntosh is a compact, north-south style runner with slashing ability; that's when he's most effective. He doesn't have high-level ability to sink his hips and cut laterally to avoid defenders. He runs with serious power and, usually, reckless abandon. He will explode through smaller tacklers. He has plus contact balance but not a true specialist in that regard. He has some pass-catching capability, even down the field. His vision between the tackles is good, but did run through plenty of gaping holes in college. When he's at top speed, he's deceptively fast. He's got low mileage on his legs, which is also a plus."

April 29, 2023, 10:47 PM
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Round 7, No. 253 -- San Francisco 49ers

Ronnie Bell, WR, Michigan (#8)
6-foot, 184
Arm length: 31"
Hand size: 9 1/2"

2023 NFL Combine results
40-yard dash: 4.54 seconds
10-yard split: 1.52 seconds
Vertical jump: 38.5"
Broad jump: 10'
3-cone drill: 6.98 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.15 seconds
Bench press: 14 reps

*Originally from Kansas City, Missouri. Bell was rated a .8349 on a scale to 1.000 by the 247Sports Composite, which equated to the nation's No. 212 wide receiver as part of the 2018 recruiting class.

2018: 8 receptions for 145 yards, 2 TD
2019: 48 receptions for 758 yards, 1 TD
2020: 26 receptions for 401 yards, 1 TD
2021: 1 reception for 76 yards, 1 TD
2022: 62 receptions for 889 yards, 4 TD; 3 carries for 23 yards 

April 29, 2023, 10:45 PM
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Round 7, No. 252 -- Buffalo Bills

Alex Austin, CB, Oregon State (#5)
6-foot-1, 195
Arm length: 31 7/8"
Hand size: 8 1/2"

2023 NFL Combine results
40-yard dash: 4.55 seconds
10-yard split: 1.54 seconds
Vertical jump: 33"
Broad jump: 10'2"
20-yard shuttle: 4.33 seconds

*Originally from Long Beach, California. Austin was rated a .8276 on a scale to 1.000 by the 247Sports Composite, which equates to the nation's No. 172 cornerback as part of the 2019 recruiting class.

2019: 7 tackles, 1 FR, 1 PD
2020: 29 tackles, 1 FR, 2 PD
2021: 48 tackles, 2 INT, 7 PD
2022: 57 tackles, 1 sack, 1 FR, 2 INT, 1 TD, 10 PD 

April 29, 2023, 10:45 PM
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Round 7, No. 251 -- Pittsburgh Steelers

Spencer Anderson, OT, Maryland (#54)
6-foot-5, 330

*Originally from Bowie, Maryland. Anderson was rated a .8506 on a scale to 1.000 by the 247Sports Composite, which equated to the nation's No. 97 offensive tackle as part of he 2018 recruiting class.  

April 29, 2023, 10:44 PM
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