Every NFL season, there's always a handful of players who didn't live up to there lofty expectations on draft day, and this season has been no different. Here are the 6 NFL rookies that already look like busts for the 2023 season:
Quentin Johnston:
With the injuries of receiver Mike Williams and running back Austin Ekeler, Chargers' rookie wideout Quentin Johnston needed to step up and become the deep threat that the Chargers had envisioned. But that has not happened. Johnston has failed to be much of a game-changer, with just 356 yards on 51 receptions this season, which is subpar for a first-round pick. Dropped passes have been a major problem for Johnston, and it's cost the team multiple games, including a 23-20 week 12 loss to the Packers. There's no sugarcoating Quentin Johnston's lack of production in his first season, but the Chargers have only used Johnston to catch deep passes, so he might provide more for this offense if he takes on a different role. But only time will tell if that happens.
Bryce Young:
Many were skeptical of quarterback Bryce Young's NFL success after the draft, including me, due to his size and lack of progression in reads. And he has certainly justified that preseason skepticism during his rookie season. There is no way to rationalize Bryce Young's disastrous first season: 59.4 completion percentage, 2,359 yards, nine touchdowns to 9 picks, and a 72.2 passer rating. Young is not quite ready for the NFL, as he doesn't look at many reads before throwing, is careless with the football, and doesn't know when to cut his losses.
However, Bryce Young's underwhelming performance is partly out of his control: His offensive line is abysmal, and he has few playmakers to give the ball to. Young should have been the backup during his rookie season to prepare for the NFL but was instead thrown to the wolves, lowering his confidence.
Bryan Breese:
The Saints suffered many hits at the defensive tackle position during free agency, so they needed rookie Bryan Breese to display some production and revive this pass rush. Considering that Bryan Breese is on this list, he obviously didn't live up to the lofty expectations. Breese has just 3.5 sacks and 8 QB hits, which is quite underwhelming for a pass rusher taken in the first round. This disappointing rookie season has decently contributed to the Saints' pass rush being a bottom-10 group, ranking 27th in sacks.
Tyree Wilson:
I was a bit perplexed when the Raiders drafted a pass rusher in the first round, considering that they needed much more help in the secondary. And while the Raiders' defense has notably improved from last season, Tyree Wilson is not the reason for it. Wilson has a mere 2.5 sacks on the season and just 4 QB hits, which is more than enough evidence to consider him a bust thus far. The Raiders have swung and missed again in finding an elite pass rusher to go along with Maxx Crosby after signing the veteran Chandler Jones last season.
Paris Johnson Jr:
The Cardinals definitely needed an offensive tackle in the draft, and they still need one because Paris Johnson Jr. has been a bust so far. Through his rookie season, Paris Johnson Jr has a woeful eight sacks allowed and a 55.8 player grade. There are unfortunately very few statistics for offensive linemen, so there isn't much to say about Paris Johnson Jr's disappointing rookie season. But it is certain that the Cardinals completely whiffed on their first-round pick.
Lukas Van Ness:
There certainly have been a great deal of disappointing rookie pass rushers this season, and Lukas Van Ness is yet another. The Packers should have drafted a receiver in the first round, as they needed much more help in that department. That proved correct, as Lukas Van Ness hasn't done much for this middle-of-the-pack defense. Van Ness has played more snaps than most rookies this season, but only three sacks, 21 tackles, and 7 QB hits to show for it. His opening performance against the Bears showed some promise, but Van Ness has mostly zeros in the sack column since then.
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