2023 NFL Draft Central

With the second pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Houston Texans selected Ohio State University quarterback C.J. Stroud.

Two-time Heisman Trophy finalist, Big Ten offensive player of the year and Big Ten quarterback of the year C.J. Stroud was the first Buckeye drafted this year, with the Houston Texans taking the talented signal caller with the 2nd overall pick. Stroud is now the highest drafted quarterback in Ohio State history, the fourth-highest (tied) drafted player in school history, and the third consecutive Ohio State starting QB to be selected in the first round. [ FULL RELEASE ]

 

Illinois All-American Devon Witherspoon was selected No. 5 overall by the Seattle Seahawks in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft on Thursday night. Witherspoon is the 21st first-round pick in Illinois history, the seventh top-10 pick, and the highest-drafted defensive back in program history.

Witherspoon joins an elite group of Illini to be drafted in the top 5. Only Jeff George (No. 1, 1990), Kevin Hardy (No. 2, 1996), Simeon Rice (No. 3, 1996), Dick Butkus (No. 3, 1965), and Joe Rutgens (No. 3, 1961) were selected higher than Witherspoon at No. 5. [ FULL RELEASE ]

With the sixth pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals selected Ohio State University offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr.

The Arizona Cardinals’ selection of 2022 consensus All-American Paris Johnson with the No. 6 overall pick gives Ohio State multiple Top 10 selections in one draft for the seventh time overall and for the third time in the last eight drafts. Most recently, Ohio State had Top 10 picks Chase Young (No. 2 to Washington) and Jeff Okudah (No. 3 to Detroit) in 2020 and it had three Top 10 picks in 2016: Joey Bosa (No. 2 to San Diego), Ezekiel Elliott (No. 4 to Dallas) and Eli Apple (No. 10 to the NY Giants). [ FULL RELEASE ]
 

With the 11th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Tennessee Titans selected Northwestern University offensive lineman Peter Skoronski. 

The three-year starter at left tackle becomes Northwestern's 185th player ever selected in the draft and the school's highest selection since 1983. Skoronski is the ninth player selected in the top-15 and the 11th player picked in the first round in program history. The latest in a long line of legendary Northwestern offensive tackles, he becomes the the fifth Wildcat OT drafted in the top-15 and the second such selection in the last three years after Rashawn Slater went 13th overall in 2021.

Skoronski is one of the most decorated players in Northwestern history. This past season, he became the first unanimous First Team All-American in program history and 15th consensus All-American. He also became the first Wildcat to be named Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year by the Big Ten. [ FULL RELEASE ]
 

University of Iowa defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the first round of Thursday’s NFL Draft. Van Ness was the 13th player picked overall. He is the 16th defensive lineman selected in the Kirk Ferentz era.

The selection of Van Ness gives the Iowa football program a first round selection in four of the last five drafts.

Van Ness (6-foot-5, 269-pounds) is a native of Barrington, Illinois. He earned second-team All-Big Ten honors from both league coaches and media in 2022 while playing both end and tackle. He was named Big Ten special teams Player of the Week for his play against Iowa State, where he recorded two blocked punts. His season totals included 38 tackles and a team-leading 11 tackles for loss. He shared the team lead with 6.5 sacks. [ FULL RELEASE ]
 

University of Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell was selected by the Detroit Lions in the first round of Thursday’s NFL Draft. Campbell was the 18th player picked overall. He is the 10th linebacker selected in the Kirk Ferentz era.

With the selection of Campbell and defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness (Green Bay, 13th pick) the Iowa football program has two players selected in the first round of the NFL Draft for the first time since 2019 when tight ends T.J. Hockenson (8th) and Noah Fant (20th) were selected.

It is just the fourth time in program history that two Hawkeyes have been selected in the first round of the NFL Draft (1986, 1997, 2019). Iowa football has had a first round selection in four of the last five NFL Drafts.

Campbell (6-foot-5, 246-pounds) is a native of Cedar Falls. He started all 13 games in 2022, leading the Hawkeyes with 128 tackles, two interceptions, one forced fumble, one caused fumble and a safety. [ FULL RELEASE ]

With the 20th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks selected Ohio State University wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. 

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the record-setting receiver for Ohio State in 2021 who missed the majority of 2022 with an injury, was the third Buckeye selected in the first round of the draft, by Seattle with the 20th overall pick. Smith-Njigba is the third Ohio State receiver taken in the first round in the last two drafts, after Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave went to the NY Jets and New Orleans in 2022, respectively, with the Nos. 10 and 11 picks. [ FULL RELEASE ]

University of Maryland defensive back Deonte Banks was selected by the New York Giants in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft on Thursday night. Banks was chosen No. 24 overall, becoming the highest Terrapin draft pick since D.J. Moore also went No. 24 overall in 2018.

Banks is the 18^th player in program history to be selected in the first round. Over the last six NFL Drafts, Maryland has had three first round selections (DJ Moore, Darnell Savage Jr.), the fifth most of any Big Ten program.

With Banks' selection, Maryland has now had a player chosen in six straight and 27 of the last 29 NFL Drafts. The Terps have also had a defensive back selected in four of the last five drafts (Nick Cross, Antoine Brooks Jr., Savage Jr.). [ FULL RELEASE ]

The Dallas Cowboys selected University of Michigan defensive tackle Mazi Smith with the 26th pick of the 2023 NFL Draft held Thursday (April 27) in front of Kansas City's Union Station. This is the fifth straight draft that a Wolverine has been selected in the first round (2019-current).

Smith became the third Wolverine selected in the first round by the Cowboys, joining defensive ends Kevin Brooks (eighth pick, 1985) and Taco Charlton (28th pick, 2017).

The Cowboys used their first-round selection to pick on the East Kentwood High School product from Grand Rapids. Smith is the 11th Wolverine chosen by the Cowboys and becomes the first U-M player selected since defensive end Taco Charlton and cornerback Jourdan Lewis in the 2017 draft. [ FULL RELEASE ]
 

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