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5 steals from Day 3 of the 2023 NFL draft

By Chris Peterson

Purdue quarterback Aidan O'Connell (16) throws during the first quarter of the Music City Bowl, Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021, at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.Cfb Music City Bowl Purdue Vs Tennessee
Purdue quarterback Aidan O'Connell (16) throws during the first quarter of the Music City Bowl, Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021, at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.Cfb Music City Bowl Purdue Vs Tennessee /
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These five players selected on day three of the 2023 NFL draft could prove to be steals for their respective teams. 

The 2023 NFL draft is now in the books. Let the grades commence as everyone is ready to offer opinions on how the 32 NFL teams did over the three-day extravaganza.

Of course, the only problem with that is that nobody really knows who won or lost the 2023 NFL draft and it’s foolish to suggest otherwise. Players can bust for a number of different reasons and they can also emerge when they aren’t expected to.

Obviously, NFL teams are hoping to find those success stories on day three of the NFL draft and that’s where the best teams and general managers make their headway.

So who did well on day three of the 2023 NFL draft? We aren’t going to look at times, but here are five picks I really like and guys that have a chance to outplay their draft value.

Aidan O’Connell (Raiders, 4th round)

Of all the quarterbacks taken on the third day of the 2023 NFL draft, Aidan O’Connell is my favorite and the one that could have a legit shot to be a starting quarterback one day.

The former walk-on will be coached by Josh McDaniels and there will be plenty of Tom Brady comparisons. O’Connell was a former walk-on but guided Purdue to the Big Ten title game and is a really accurate, intelligent quarterback.

He’ll have time to develop in Las Vegas and his floor is probably quality NFL backup, while his ceiling is potentially an NFL starter. O’Connell is 6-foot-3 and completed 66 percent of his pass with the Boilermakers to go along with 65 touchdown passes (also 30 interceptions).

Las Vegas traded up to get him and it’s possible that the Raiders view him as a guy that can develop into their quarterback of the future. That might be a stretch, but at the very least, he has the look of a dependable backup, which is valuable in its own right.

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