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The season is almost among us, and I’m excited to bring you the top NFL rookies to watch out for in 2023. Rookies sometimes play massive roles on teams in year one, and it’s good to be aware of who those players may be. These are rookies that I expect to either break out or be crucial parts of one’s team. These aren’t the best rookies but the talented ones situated best to succeed. The list was not made in any particular order. I included five bigger names and five smaller names. Please use code TREYSCHNEIDER on Underdog Fantasy to match your deposit up to $100. Gamble responsibly and leave your feedback on Twitter @FBIntellect.
The Green Bay Receiving core was very depleted before the draft. However, they drafted three guys that will help this Receiving core. Luke Musgrave was one of them, a Tight End out of Oregon State. He’s a very intriguing athlete, as he’s 6’6 and hit 20 mph at the senior bowl. His 1.54 split time ranks in the 95th percentile. The catch with Musgrave is he only started in two games in 2022 due to injury. In those two starts, however, he looked promising as a Receiver. His size and strength would suggest he could also become an excellent blocker. He’s the best receiving Tight End the Packers have and should be in for a big season.
New England desperately needed a true number-one Corner heading into the off-season. Well, they landed one in the draft with Christian Gonzalez, and it happened to be some of the year’s best value. Gonzalez is this rare athletic freak with impressive production to back his testing numbers up. At 6’1″ with 32″ arms, Gonzalez ran a blistering 4.38. In addition, he put up a 41.5″ vertical and a 133″ broad jump. Someone his size shouldn’t be so fluid and be able to flip his hips so quickly. He has all the potential in the world and is already relatively refined. Expect Gonzalez to be a stud early on, and he may eventually become a household name.
After the massive Tremaine Edmunds departure, Buffalo found themselves in need of a new Mike Linebacker. I’d imagine they were hoping to land Jack Campbell, but he was gone, and they opted for a much more raw but also more physically gifted player later on in the draft. Dorian Williams has excellent length paired with elite range and athleticism, similar to Edmunds. Williams is far behind Edmunds but could become a similar player someday. He isn’t the listed starter, although he’ll likely take over as a starter soon. With the development Buffalo has gotten out of some of their players, I’d expect Williams to be a key starter in no time.
If you read any of my mock drafts, you probably know by now that I wasn’t high on Dalton Kincaid. It’s not that I didn’t like him, but I’d just push back on him being a top-20 prospect. He fell to the end of the first for a reason, but luckily the Bills were a fantastic landing spot for him. As a big-bodied Slot, his skillset can be lethal in Buffalo. He’s fast and has exceptional moving skills paired with a big body. As he’s too quick for Linebackers and too big for Slot defenders, it makes him a mismatch nightmare. Ken Dorsey will know precisely how to use him. I expect a lot of crossers and quick-hitting routes that get him open in space. He and Josh Allen will be a pleasure to watch.
Michael Wilson was genuinely one of the most talented Receiver prospects available. It’s just injuries are a massive factor, and he has some red flags in that regard. However, if he can stay healthy, Wilson will be a surprisingly dependable Receiver. His release package is rare for a prospect. Just watch his senior bowl footage. In addition, he can run a full route tree. His ball skills must improve, but he has the size to do so. He isn’t a special athlete, but like Davante Adams, he wins with impeccable route running. On a team that just lost Hopkins, the Cards will need someone to step up, and I’d bet it’d be Wilson.
This one is more obvious, but some underestimate what kind of impact he’ll have on day one. Robinson is arguably the favorite to go number one in fantasy, which is bonkers for a rookie. He’s on a team that loves running the ball and has excellent run blocking. I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to see him have 2000 total yards in year one. He has every trait you could ever ask for in a back. As a Receiver, he is incredibly talented. Not only is he a reliable outlet target, but there are clips of this guy making Odell-like catches. What he can do as a Receiver can be matched by few. We all know Bijan will be awesome, but some will still be surprised to see such dominance from a rookie.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t do a comprehensive deep dive on Tyrique Stevenson because no 2022 all-22 was available. I was able to look at his 2021 film and was impressed. I’ve heard even better things about his 2022 film; his combine turned out pretty well too. He has a man coverage skillset and is excellent at jamming guys at the line. His zone coverage ability isn’t ideal for a starter, but Eberflus is excellent at teaching these guys quickly. If he develops some zone instincts, don’t be surprised to see him get paid someday. Stevenson is projected to start next to Jaylon Johnson and could have a terrific season in 2023.
I had to include an offensive Lineman in this, and Paris Johnson Jr. likely has a stellar rookie campaign. Kyler Murray vouched for him, and I’d bet he doesn’t disappoint him. Reportedly, he’s killed it in training camp, and everything signals he’ll be a stud from day one. His athleticism, paired with his length, gives him an elite upside. Johnson’s arm length measured at 36 1/8, which is the 92nd percentile. He can handle bend well, in addition to being able to anchor down against a bull rush. Out of anybody in the class, Johnson was the best overall run blocker. While it wasn’t the flashiest pick, he’ll probably live up to the expectations and be a critical asset for Arizona.
Sydney Brown was drafted 66th overall by Philly, and he is a highly athletic Safety. He comes from the highly touted Illinois secondary and played an enormous role in their defense. While being a big, athletic, and rangy Safety, he lacks coverage instincts. That said, he can develop and has had excellent training camp reports. He’s very physical playing in the box and was generally successful defending the run. However, I’d prefer him back deep, as that’s where his best upside is. He is ideal for the split safety system they use in Philadelphia.
There are several reasons to expect Jaxon Smith-Njigba to have an outstanding rookie year. He’s a very pro-ready player and is exactly what Seattle needed on offense. Furthermore, he reportedly has had a pleasing training camp. They already had a dynamic perimeter duo but lacked a true Slot. JSN is one of the best pure Slots to come out in a while. He’s extraordinarily explosive and agile. His three-cone was one par with Julian Edelman. Additionally, he has very sure hands, although he doesn’t have a great catch radius. While DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett will draw a lot of attention, JSN likely flourishes in the Slot.
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