The downside of sticking it out through five hours of Day 3 NFL Draft coverage to watch (literally) a bunch of NFL hopefuls get drafted is explaining to your family why you chose to do that over spending time with them.
The plus side, of course, is the memories created when your favorite team drafted that player you liked who might see the field in year three. Nobody can take those away from you.
The NFL Draft officially (mercifully?) concluded on Saturday evening, as the groundwork has officially been laid for offseason programs and training camp. All of our favorite players who narrowly missed hearing their names called on Day 2 now have homes after Saturday, as we look forward to watching them cut their teeth at the NFL ranks.
Day 3 brings an interesting twist to it, in that the immediate fantasy upside for these players tends to be less frequent. In many cases, the fantasy upside is non-existent. Still, opportunities to one day contribute to an NFL roster will be had by several of these players. As we head into dynasty drafts and best ball tournament lobbies, here are some situations to be aware of after the third and final day of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Tune Time in the Desert
The Cardinals used the 139th overall pick on Houston quarterback Clayton Tune, who brings with him an impressive resumé to the pro ranks. During his career with the Cougs, Tune accounted for 11,994 yards, 104 touchdowns, and 41 interceptions through the air while adding another 412-1248-15 on the ground. Far from a mobile threat, Tune steadily improved as a passer throughout his career and showed a good knack for reading the field.
It’s unlikely Kyler Murray is ready to go in Week 1, and the only players standing in Tune’s way are 36-year-old Colt McCoy, Jeff Driskel, and David Blough. It’s not farfetched to think Clayton Tune could force McCoy into retirement and subsequently be handed the reigns in Arizona until Murray is fully healed.
Patriots Drafted a Kicker With 112th Overall Pick
I highly doubt Bill Belichick‘s selection of Maryland kicker Chad Ryland will be mentioned as his crowning achievement at his Hall of Fame induction ceremony. But if you find yourself in a best ball lobby and in need of a late-round kicker to round out your earlier selections, Ryland is all but a lock to be the Pats’ Week 1 starter provided he doesn’t kick his way out of a job in camp. For those playing in points per hangtime leagues, you’d be interested in knowing Belichick also selected a punter in the sixth round, becoming the first team since 2000 to draft both a kicker and punter in the same class.
Bears Make Bijan’s Backup, aka Roschon Johnson, First RB Drafted on Day 3
My best ball teams were in absolute shambles after Johnson failed to hear his name called on Day 2. Fortunately, the Bears selecting him with the 115th overall pick offers a glimmer of hope. While Robinson won’t be competing for RB1 duties this offseason, the path to touches could be an injury away -- apologies for diving right into the grim reality. The Bears parted ways with David Montgomery this offseason and signed D’Onta Foreman to a one-year $3 million deal, pairing him with incumbent Khalil Herbert. The Bears never committed to a lone bell cow in 2022, with Montgomery and Herbert receiving a near 50/50 split of the touches when both were active. While it will likely be the Foreman/Herbert show to open the season, Johnson could see a share of the work if either were to ever miss time.
A spreadsheet warrior who popped in several efficiency metrics (3.99 YCO/ATT, 35.5% MTF rate), Johnson displayed a high-end skill set despite limited work at Texas. He may be already the best receiving back in Chicago’s backfield after posting a 56-420-3 line with the Longhorns throughout his career. In addition to his receiving prowess, he’s proven to be a more than capable pass blocker. Perhaps a third-down role gets him on the field despite Herbert and Foreman being in his way.
Rams Select Two-Time National Champ Stetson Bennett
It’s unlikely Bennett wins anybody a fantasy championship anytime soon, but he’s an intriguing dynasty stash behind Matthew Stafford. Entering his age-35 season with an injury history that would rival any modern-day gladiator, Stafford is anything but a sure thing to make it through the 2023 season. Even if he appears in the majority of the Rams’ games, Bennett is a prime candidate to see the field at some point.
The Rams have nobody of note to challenge Bennett for the QB2 job heading into camp, making it his to lose this summer. The former Bulldog has shown a knack for making plays with both his arm and his legs and has a reliable target in Cooper Kupp whenever he is thrown into the fire. Of the three quarterbacks taken in Round 4 (Bennett, Jake Haener, and Aidan O’Connell), it’s Bennett I’d be most interested in stashing on my taxi squad.
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Bengals Find Perine (Joe Mixon?) Replacement in Illinois’ Chase Brown
Brown truthers rejoiced when the Bengals called his name in the fifth round, presumably giving him the first crack at the RB2 role vacated by Samaje Perine.
While he’s far from an elite receiving back, Brown did catch 58 passes for 521 yards and three touchdowns in college, with 27 of those receptions coming in his final season. He has work to do as a pass protector but should be a serviceable replacement for the now-departed Perine. He’s more than capable of spelling soon-to-be 27-year-old running back Joe Mixon on early downs, and could be locked into an early down role should Mixon ever miss time.
Of course, Mixon’s up-and-down offseason coupled with a pre-June 1 cap savings of $7.261 million could spell his end even sooner than expected with Brown now in the building. Brown could have rookie-year upside in all fantasy formats.
Colts add Northwestern’s Evan Hull to Backfield
This should go without saying, but Zack Moss is officially on notice. Acquired by the previous regime in Indy, Moss is nothing more than a carryover piece of a roster that head coach Shane Steichen is looking to rebuild. Hull became a darling of both the film and fantasy communities with his impressive combine numbers and a productive two-year stretch at Northwestern that included a rushing line of 417-1922-12 and a receiving line of 88-800-4.
Hull’s rushing acumen coupled with his receiving upside suggests a three-down role is in his future should Jonathan Taylor ever miss time, however, he can be a liability in pass protection.
Former Five-Star Receiver Heads to Foxborough
A former five-star recruit from the 2020 class, Boutte’s star has fallen a long way since his true freshman season (45-735-5) in Baton Rouge. Boutte saw his 2021 campaign (38-509-9) limited to just six games due to an ankle injury and was a shell of himself in his third season under new head coach Brian Kelly.
Once thought to be the potential WR1 of this class, Boutte’s underwhelming combine coupled with a lack of production in 2022 has left scouts wondering whether or not he’ll ever regain his old form. He’s well worth a flier in dynasty leagues but is unlikely to be on the redraft radar any time soon.
The fact Boutte is now a rookie wide receiver in New England is already a red flag in its own right.
Deuce Vaughn‘s Dad Drafts Deuce Vaughn
In one of the more touching moments of the NFL Draft, Deuce Vaughn‘s father, Chris Vaughn, a scout for the Dallas Cowboys, called up his son to let him know he was being drafted by the Dallas Cowboys.
Chris Vaughn: “This is Dad. …You want to come to work with me next week?”
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) April 30, 2023
Deuce Vaughn: “I wouldn’t mind that at all.”
Special moment between father and son in Cowboys’ draft room during sixth round. Video via @dallascowboys. pic.twitter.com/L2aChgjcpC
What exactly are the Cowboys getting in the 5-foot-5, 179-pound running back from Kansas State? I’ll let Lawrence Jackson explain.
Deuce Vaughn is set perform at his pro day tomorrow — Getting ahead of whatever he runs in the 40-yard dash to remind folks he can ball.
— 𝘓𝘢𝘸𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘑𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘑𝘳. 🎟️ (@LordDontLose) March 30, 2023
▪️THE guy — his production is crazy
▪️Never takes the big hits
▪️Gets yards that ain’t there
▪️Does what an “every-down” back does
🔊🗣️ pic.twitter.com/Jfxzlt0JtG
