Proceed with Caution 2023: Defense

Like with the previous articles this section will list what these articles are for and how I did last year. For those who don't care, feel free to jump down to the players I picked. Remember, this is titled "Proceed with Caution" because I'm not telling you to avoid drafting them outright, I'm merely suggesting you don't throw all your eggs into their baskets. I'd consider my pick successful if they finished below the top 10 for QB, TE and D, and below the top 20 for RB and WR. Last year I went 1 for 3 (Miami).

Los Angeles Chargers: I'm over the hype that surrounds this unit seemingly every preseason. Staley couldn't get this loaded defense into a top ten finish last year, yet somehow he kept his job. Most of this unit remains the same, but I'm unwilling to buy in again.

Los Angeles Rams: The talk around them has cooled off, but even after the Ramsey trade I saw people talking about this defense still being one of the top units in the league. Leonard Floyd is also gone as is A'Shawn Robinson, Greg Gaines and Nick Scott. Aaron Donald is one man. He's a beast of a man, but he's no Bugs Bunny. Temper the expectations and avoid this defense on draft day.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Bucs kept most of their defensive core together, and they're division gives hope for a high finish, but you have to keep their own offense in mind. Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask don't give me a whole lot of confidence in how this offense is going to perform. And if the offense can't keep the defense on the sideline, or worse, if they put the defense in bad situations from turnovers, then there's a pretty good chance Tampa's defense finishes bottom five.