The NFL draft is really just a crapshoot, but some teams hit the jackpot with their picks. So here are the 10 best NFL rookies for the 2023 season.
C.J. Stroud:
The stats speak for themselves: 4,108 passing yards, 23 touchdowns to five picks, and a 100.8 passer rating. Quarterbacks often struggle in their rookie NFL seasons, though C.J. Stroud is recording a historic rookie season despite few playmakers on offense. While most young QBs wait until receivers find open space to throw the ball, Stroud throws before receivers break, anticipating separation rather than waiting for it. He also avoids throwing to the flat (1-10 yards from scrimmage), giving receivers more space to improvise and decreasing the chance of interceptions. Stroud's beyond-stellar rookie performance has turned the Texans from a joke to a playoff team.
Puka Nacua:
Without star receiver Cooper Kupp for much of the season, the Rams had to use lemons to make lemonade, and Puka Nacua was the water and sugar that made the lemonade taste good. The Rams had no first-round draft picks for this season, but who needs first-round picks when you can get a superstar receiver in the 5th round? Rookie 5th-round pick Puka Nacua has shocked the NFL world with over 1,000 yards and 77 receptions to keep the Rams' offense intact. Nacua's strategy of looking deep and then curling back has embarrassed defenders and has made him quickly become one of the NFL's best slot receivers and a candidate for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Will Anderson Jr:
The Texans gave up a lot to get defensive end Will Anderson Jr and it has certainly paid off. Will Anderson Jr has displayed plenty of talent in his first season, recording seven sacks, 22 QB hits, and ten tackles for loss in 2023. Anderson's potent combination of speed and strength could make him the next Von Miller or Nick Bosa. His high-quality pass rushing has also helped turn the Texans' defense from a bottom-tier group to an above-average squad in just one season.
Jahmyr Gibbs:
The Lions had more pressing needs at the defensive back position, so picking running back Jahmyr Gibbs in the first round sparked quite the controversy. Gibbs didn't get many carries early in the season, but he stepped up in a big way when starting RB David Montgomery missed four games with a chest rib bruise. Gibbs's explosive and speedy running style made opposing defenses brace for a big play every time he got the ball. Considering that Jamhyr Gibbs rushed for nearly 1,000 yards this season despite a slow start and a split backfield, he should be one of the league's most prominent backs for years to come. Gibbs has also proven crucial to Detroit's aerial attack, recording 316 receiving yards in 2023.
Tyrique Stevenson:
The Bears' defense has massively improved throughout the 2023 season, and the production of rookie cornerback Tyrique Stevenson definitely contributes to that improvement. Stevenson's elite rookie campaign has been overlooked, but the stats don't lie: 4 interceptions, 16 passes defended, and two forced fumbles on the season. And the fact that Stevenson recorded most of those Pro-Bowl caliber numbers in the latter half of the season shows just how impactful the lockdown corner can be in the coming years.
Sam LaPorta:
It's quite remarkable that the Lions drafted three of the NFL's best _ rookies in 2023. But unlike Jahmyr Gibbs, Sam LaPorta displayed a great deal of production early in his rookie campaign. Detroit's young tight end quickly became an essential pass-catcher to an elite Lions' offense, leading the team to its first NFC North title in 30 years. LaPorta has already become a top-five tight end in football in just one season, ranking fifth in receiving yards among all tight ends. Sam LaPorta could very well become the NFL's best at that position in the future, with the NFL's current best tight ends in Travis Kelce, George Kittle, and Evan Engram nearing the end of their primes.
Devon Witherspoon:
The Seahawks received an extra first-round pick by trading away Russel Wilson, and they used that pick wisely by drafting the young, elite cornerback Devon Witherspoon. Witherspoon has shown plenty of promise in his first season, recording the 5th most passes defended with 16 and returning an interception 97 yards for a touchdown. The rookie corner's physicality and ability to make plays in any coverage have been greatly appreciated on an otherwise struggling Seattle defense.
Bijan Robinson:
The Falcons made a highly controversial move by picking a running back as the eighth overall pick despite already having a 1,000+ yard rusher in Tyler Allgeier. But Bijan Robinson was the only Falcons' offensive player who didn't underperform during the 2023 season. Robinson proved his dual-threat ability by racking up 976 rushing yards and 487 receiving yards in his rookie season. Bijan Robinson will be one of the NFL's best dual-threat running backs in the coming years, but hopefully, he gets to play for a more functional offense in the future, whether that is the Falcons or not.
Byron Young:
Despite not having a first-round pick, the Rams somehow have two of the best rookies in the NFL, the second being linebacker Byron Young. The young pass rusher has put up some impressive stats to start what should be a long and successful NFL career: 8.0 sacks, 22 QB hits, and two forced fumbles. Pass rushers don't usually hit their primes until their second or third season, making Young's rookie campaign a promising sign of what's to come. Bryon Young's stellar pass rushing has also kept a young and inexperienced defense afloat after losing Jalen Ramsey and Bobby Wagner in the prior offseason.
Brian Branch:
In 2022, the Lions' defense ranked dead last in nearly every category, but it improved considerably this past season, partly thanks to the impressive rookie performance of Brian Branch. The rookie safety started his season by picking off Patrick Mahomes for a 50-yard touchdown, and Branch continued his dominance through the next 17 weeks. Brian Branch recorded three interceptions, 13 passes defended, and 74 tackles in what was a very productive rookie season.
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