Live 2023 NFL Draft Grades: Round 2

These Live 2023 NFL Draft Grades will be posted minutes after each pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Follow @walterfootball for updates.

2023 NFL Draft Grades - Round: Picks 1-16 | Picks 17-32 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | NFL Draft Team Grades

Pittsburgh Steelers: Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State – A+ Grade
An A+ grade to kick off Round 2. This is amazing value. Joey Porter Jr. was under consideration for the Steelers’ No. 17 overall pick had one of the top four offensive linemen not been on the board. Porter fills a huge need, and he should continue his father’s great legacy in Pittsburgh.

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Tennessee Titans: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky – B Grade
The Titans caught a falling quarterback last year in Malik Willis, so they’ll be hoping that this signal-caller pick is more successful. It’ll be difficult for Levis to be worse than Willis, but he has an extremely low floor. Levis has major flaws in his game and couldn’t beat out Sean Clifford at Penn State. Some believe Levis fell, but I had him at this very pick in my mock draft, so I don’t think this is a value selection. It’s fine though.
Detroit Lions: Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa – B Grade
Iowa tight ends have worked well for the Lions before, so why not draft another one? I think Michael Mayer would have been the better pick, but LaPorta is a dynamic receiving threat who will make the offensive even more explosive.

Las Vegas Raiders: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame – A Grade
The Raiders lost their top two tight ends from last year, including Darren Waller, who was traded to the Giants. They had a huge void at the position, but that’s no longer the case. Michael Mayer is a steal here, as he could have gone in the late teens or early 20s without any complaints.
Los Angeles Rams: Steve Avila, G/C, TCU – B+ Grade
If you watched the Rams at all last year, you know how dreadful their offensive line was. The poor blocking gave Matthew Stafford no chance, and then Stafford got hurt and missed the second half of the season. Steve Avila will be a nice boost up front, and he can play both center and guard, which will be very helpful for a team with numerous holes on the offensive line.

Seattle Seahawks: Derick Hall, DE/OLB, Auburn – C+ Grade
Derick Hall doesn’t have great athleticism and upside, so I thought he should have been slated in the third round. I don’t think this is terrible value, however, and Hall fills a big need for a team that couldn’t get to the quarterback last year.
Atlanta Falcons: Matthew Bergeron, OT/G, Syracuse – B+ Grade
I slotted Matthew Bergeron at the end of my final mock draft. He’s a versatile player who can play tackle and guard, and he was terrific at the combine. The Falcons really needed offensive line help, as they went to the Super Bowl in 2016 because they had an elite blocking unit. The offensive line had been hurting ever since.

Carolina Panthers: Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss – B+ Grade
The Panthers overpaid Adam Thielen and also signed D.J. Chark, but they still needed a No. 1 receiver. Jonathan Mingo could qualify as such. He’s a huge receiver and a great route runner. I would have preferred Jalin Hyatt, but I still like this pick.
New Orleans Saints: Isaiah Foskey, DE, Notre Dame – A- Grade
The Saints could have gone with Keion White, but Isaiah Foskey is a great option as well. Foskey is very athletic and should help a pass rush that was horrific last year. With Marcus Davenport gone and Cameron Jordan on a sharp decline, someone like Foskey was needed.

Arizona Cardinals: B.J. Ojulari, DE/OLB, LSU – B+ Grade
In the past couple of offseasons, the Cardinals lost Chandler Jones and J.J. Watt. Think they needed to address their pass rush? There was interest in Nolan Smith in the first round, but another SEC edge rusher makes sense in the second frame. Ojulari was always in the second round in my mock updates, so this pick makes a ton of sense.
Green Bay Packers: Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State – A- Grade
The run on tight ends continue! Luke Musgrave is a prospect who drew lots of acclaim from scouts even though he wasn’t as productive as expected at Oregon State. He makes sense as a high-upside player for the Packers, and No Cookie Jordan Love should make good use of him. The Packers really needed a play-maker, and Musgrave as one of the best of those still on the board.
New York Jets: Joe Tippman, C/G, Wisconsin – A Grade
The Jets finally get their offensive lineman. They missed out on all the tackles in the opening round, but they still obtained a prospect who could have been chosen at the end of the opening frame. Joe Tippman can play center and guard, so he’ll be extremely helpful in a potential Super Bowl run. Aaron Rodgers has to be happy about this.
Indianapolis Colts: Julius Brents, CB, Kansas State – A- Grade
The Colts traded away Stephon Gilmore to the Cowboys, so cornerback was an obvious need. Julius Brents is a huge cornerback (6-3) who had plenty of fans during the pre-draft process. I like that Indianapolis traded down twice to acquire him.

Detroit Lions: Brian Branch, S, Alabama – A+ Grade
Brian Branch’s fall finally ends. He should have been taken off the board 20 picks ago, so I can’t blame the Lions for leaping up 10 spots to select him. Branch is a very versatile defensive back who can play anywhere in the secondary, so he’ll be a great fit for a secondary that needed one more piece. This is a great value selection, so I’m willing to give it an A+.
New England Patriots: Keion White, DE, Georgia Tech – A Grade
The Patriots have numerous expiring contracts at defensive end in the next couple of years, so they had to find a pass rusher for the long haul. Keion White had a slight chance to be a first-round pick, so I think this is a great value pick for Bill Belichick, who is having a great draft thus far.
Washington Redskins: Quan Martin, S/CB, Illinois – B+ Grade
I had Quan Martin going one pick earlier, but he makes a lot of sense for the Redskins, who are finally resolving their major secondary issues. Martin can play both safety and cornerback, but with Emmanuel Forbes in the fold, putting Martin at safety is a logical fit.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Cody Mauch, G, North Dakota State – B Grade
I’m not sure why the Buccaneers moved ahead of the Steelers for Cody Mauch, given that Pittsburgh drafted an offensive lineman yesterday. Still, this is a solid pick. The Buccaneers had a huge need on the offensive line, and Mauch is a rock-steady, plug-and-play guard.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Keeanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin – B+ Grade
The Steelers have had issues stopping the run ever since Ryan Shazier suffered a brutal injury. This is not a linebacker pick, but Keeanu Benton will certainly help the team’s efforts to stop the rush. Benton is a nose tackle with upside, so I like this pick for Pittsburgh.
Green Bay Packers: Jayden Reed, WR, Michigan State – D Grade
Well, at least the Packers are drafting a receiver. Jayden Reed is an explosive receiver, but he’s small. I had him slotted in the fourth or fifth round. I think this is a reach, but it’s not an overly egregious one. Still, you have to wonder about drafting Reed with Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman available.
Miami Dolphins: Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina – B Grade
I think the Dolphins should have drafted an offensive lineman, given that they used a resource to acquire Jalen Ramsey. Still, a talented cornerback will be useful in the two matchups against Josh Allen and Aaron Rodgers. Smith is a very talented player, but fell because of some character concerns.
Seattle Seahawks: Zach Charbonnet, RB, UCLA – D Grade
I don’t understand this pick. Kenneth Walker had a tremendous rookie year, so a running back was one of the last things the Seahawks needed. I like Zach Charbonnet as a receiving back, but the Seahawks pretty much wasted this selection.
Chicago Bears: Gervon Dexter, DT, Florida – B+ Grade
Gervon Dexter is a lengthy, quick and strong defensive tackle with plenty of upside. The Bears lost Akiem Hicks recently, so a replacement was needed. I had Dexter pegged around this range, so this seems like a solid choice.
Los Angeles Chargers: Tuli Tuipulotu, DE, USC – A Grade
Tuli Tuipulotu is an explosive player who could have gone earlier than this. The Chargers already have two stud edge rushers, but you can never have enough players to rush the passer, especially in the AFC. Besides, Khalil Mack won’t be around for very long, so Tuipulotu will start a couple of seasons.
Kansas City Chiefs: Rashee Rice, WR, SMU – C- Grade
The Chiefs traded up, so they must have gone after one of the Tennessee receivers. Apparently not. Rashee Rice projects as a solid No. 2 receiver in the NFL, unlike Jalin Hyatt. Given how many talented receivers were still available, I don’t know why Kansas City thought it had to trade up, especially for this player.
Chicago Bears: Tyrique Stevenson, CB, Miami – B Grade
The Bears desperately needed a second cornerback, and they selected a prospect who was once slotted in the first round. Tyrique Stevenson, however, slipped because of character concerns. However, he’s a talented, big corner who should provide an upgrade at the position.
New York Giants: John Michael Schmitz, C, Minnesota – A Grade
I’m shocked the Giants didn’t draft a receiver, given their huge need at the position. Then again, they also had a huge need at center, and John Michael Schmitz is someone who could have been drafted 15-20 picks earlier than this. I love the value and need fill.
Dallas Cowboys: Luke Schoonmaker, TE, Michigan – C+ Grade
The Cowboys are paying the price for passing on the talented tight end at the end of the first round. All of the second-round tight ends were off the board, so the Cowboys had to settle for a lesser prospect at the position. This is an OK choice, but it seems like Dallas’ draft could have gone much better.
Buffalo Bills: O’Cyrus Torrence, G, Florida – A+ Grade
Wow, what value! Charlie Campbell slotted O’Cyrus Torrence to the Bills – in the first round! I had Torrence to the Chiefs a few picks later. Torrence is the No. 2 guard in the class after Peter Skoronski, so the Bills are getting an incredible bargain at the end of the second frame. Torrence will be essential for the Bills, who had to bolster their interior blocking.
Cincinnati Bengals: D.J. Turner, CB, Michigan – A- Grade
I had this pick slotted to the Bengals, who love drafting players from big-time schools who played in huge games. D.J. Turner, who obviously qualifies, ran the fastest 40 at the combine. He has huge upside, which the Bengals need when they’re battling all the elite passing offenses in the AFC.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Brenton Strange, TE, Penn State – MILLEN Grade
This is a strange pick. Brenton Strange is someone I had late third round at the very earliest. Strange, who has nice run-after-the-catch ability, is a reach here, but not necessarily an egregious one. What really gets me is that tight end is the last thing the Jaguars needed. With lots of other holes on the roster, Jacksonville should have gone elsewhere. This is our first Millen of the weekend.
Houston Texans: Juice Scruggs, C, Penn State – C- Grade
The Texans had to move up for a center and not a receiver? Really? Juice Scruggs isn’t even a great value here. I think he’s a solid prospect and fills a need, but I don’t get why Houston gave up a resource for him.
Denver Broncos: Marvin Mims, WR, Oklahoma – C Grade
I don’t understand why these teams are trading up for receivers right now when there are so many talented players at the position still available. Marvin Mims isn’t Jalin Hyatt, but he’s super fast. This could mean that one of Courtland Sutton or Jerry Jeudy will be traded.