With six weeks complete, the NFL is one-third of the way through the season, and it is about time when rookie standouts start to emerge for teams around the league. Many of these rookies are playing a part in their team’s better-than-expected performances as often seen in the NFL. A good rookie can completely change a team’s outlook on their hopes for the coming seasons. From solid early first-rounders to Day three picks that are outperforming expectations out of the gate, below is a ranking of the top ten rookies thus far. Some things to note, in this ranking, draft position is valued, value for the pick is a key point in evaluating a team’s draft, so it should be considered on an individual level as well. Moreover, this list is meant to judge mostly current performance, it is not necessarily saying that the players are definitely going to have the best careers long-term over some players left off the list. With that out of the way, lets make like Drake and start from the bottom.
10. Christian Gonzalez, Patriots, CB
It honestly pains me to have Christian Gonzalez this low on the list after his outstanding performances to start the season that earned him the title of September Rookie of the Month. It can be hard to pinpoint which stats make the most effective cornerback since it is such a complex position where getting burned one time can completely ruin an otherwise great game. When you look at the receivers that Gonzalez has shut down like Tyreek Hill and Garrett Wilson, that speaks for itself. He has a sack and an interception putting him at a playing level in a similar vein to Sauce Gardner’s DROY performance last year. The reason he is not in the top five of this list and is sitting this low is that he has been placed on IR and will be missing the rest of the season, so his impact on the team will be limited to the contributions he made in September. The one game that the Patriots played without him was a 34-0 blowout loss that shows how important Gonzalez is to their defence and therefore it just would not feel right to leave a dominant rookie like this out of the top ten. I fully expect him to pick up where he left off when he returns in 2024.
9. Will Anderson Jr., Texans, DE
As the first defensive player off the board in the draft, it is a shame that Will Anderson Jr. could not find his way to higher on this list. He is still the best edge rusher out of this past year’s rookie class and has looked like a consistent NFL DE so far. He has had a solid start to his season with a sack and more than a handful of QB pressures but has yet to have a game where he has been a gamebreaker. His best game was definitely his promising week one game where he had four tackles from the edge and added a sack on Lamar Jackson, but since then he has been a solid edge rusher without another standout game. He has played well enough and looked like enough of a threat to stay a top-ten rookie as of now. Though, the Texans will be hoping that his breakout game comes sooner or later and the pressure he’s put on quarterbacks will turn into some more sacks for him as the season goes progresses.
8. Bijan Robinson, Falcons, RB
To start the season Bijan Robinson was one of the most highly anticipated rookies coming into the league and he has shown us why. He looks elite and has made his fair share of defenders look silly with his quick feet and sharp cuts. He has a solid 401 rushing yards to pair with his 189 receiving yards and looks like he will be a top-tier three-down back in the coming years. However, his drawback starting his rookie campaign has been his struggle to find the endzone on the ground. This is due in part to the impact of sharing the ball out of the backfield with Tyler Allgeier along with a downtick in his rushing efficiency with fewer than 50 rushing yards in three of his last four games against Detroit, Houston, and Washington. Look for Bijan to improve, especially if his percentage of snaps increases in the future as he develops this season.
7. Brian Branch, Lions, CB
Brian Branch has unfortunately missed the last two games as a result of an ankle injury sustained in the primetime game against Green Bay. He should be returning soon, and will likely play again in week seven, which is good news for Detroit considering how well he has performed out of the gate in the first four weeks. After week four, his 25 total tackles and assists were tied for the lead on his team, which is impressive as a cornerback, even from the slot position. He has shown great play recognition and physicality on run plays (think of that huge hit he tagged Bijan Robinson within week three), contributing to his high tackles number. Moreover, he has been good in coverage with a 50-yard pick that he returned for a touchdown against Mahomes and the Chiefs. He already looks like a sound NFL slot corner, which is good value for a rookie second-round pick. He will be returning with a vengeance and will look to continue to fight his war of attrition against opposing offences.
6. Devon Witherspoon, Seahawks, CB
Devon Witherspoon has lived up to his expectations as a top-five draft pick and the second defensive player off the board after Will Anderson Jr. Seattle has not been shy about using his both in coverage and in blitz plays right away, a role in which he has thrived. He has two tackles for a loss and two sacks after week six, along with an interception that he took to the house for 97 yards. Considering his rocky training camp due to injury issues, this hot start is even more impressive. Teams are challenging him in coverage, and he is standing up to the test with seven pass defences as well. This versatility and high utilization mean that he is likely to put up some of the best rookie defensive numbers by the end of the season. For this reason, along with the fact that he has been healthier and more available, I have him ranked just slightly above Brian Branch so far, and I believe that given his opportunities in Seattle, it will remain that way this season.
5. Sam LaPorta, Lions, TE
Sam LaPorta has been one of the most impressive rookies so far this year from his tight end position, which is not usually the case for rookie tight ends. He is playing a majority of the snaps, which shows the coaching staff’s trust in him to run block along with threatening in the passing attack, something that is not usually seen with rookie tight ends. To build on top of that, he has had outstanding offensive stats. After week five, he was on pace to be top three all-time in rookie tight end receiving yards after Kyle Pitts and hall-of-famer Mike Ditka. Currently sitting on 325 receiving yards along with breaking the franchise record for most 30+ yard catches in a single season already, he is showing to be a true vertical threat for the Lions. NFL.com had LaPorta ranked number one in the league among tight ends going into week six, showing that he is one of the rookies that is no longer only being compared to other rookies. Instead, he is being held to the standard of the rest of the league, a great sign for Detroit, who are definitely happy with their second-round selection thus far.
4. De’Von Achane, Dolphins, RB
One of the big surprise rookies this season, De’Von Achane, has been phenomenal for Miami. After Christian McCaffrey, Achane looks like the best three-down running back in the league right now. He is leading the lead in yards per carry by a landslide, with an average of 12.1, and at the time of his injury, he was second only to McCaffrey in rushing yards with 460. His versatility and the dynamic offence of Miami are helping to provide room for this success on the ground, and the only reason he is not in the top three rookies so far is because of this injury that will have him out until atleast after the trade deadline. The best ability is availability, but the league will be on notice again when he returns from injury later in the season.
3. Jalen Carter, Eagles, DT
As a fan of great defence, it would have been painful for me if the top three rookies were all on the offensive side of the ball. Thankfully for me (and I’m sure some of you too), Jalen Carter has been an absolute stalwart on defence in the trenches for Philadelphia this season. He has three and a half sacks along with four tackles for loss and two forced fumbles, leading all rookies in the first two categories. In a position that has a limited number of elite-level players, he is looking to cement himself as one of those few soon. He is extremely quick, and it shows in his ability so far to consistently win against pass blocks and apply pressure to the quarterback. He has shown some individual game brilliance as well in week five when he had four tackles and two sacks, which is a game-changing performance for a team to get from the defensive tackle position. If he can continue to put in performances like he has been to start the season, he will surely be a frontrunner for defensive rookie of the year come the end of the 2023-2024 campaign.
2. Puka Nacua, Rams, WR
Puka Nacua is by far the biggest steal of the 2023 draft. A fifth-round pick, it is expected that he will be a fringe player and that it will take some years before he becomes a potential starter. He is tied for the league lead in receptions with Ja’Marr Chase, and after week five was second in the league in receiving yards, only behind Tyreek Hill. He has shown that he has the potential to be a true WR1 in his outstanding week four performance in which he had nine catches on ten targets for 163 yards and a touchdown. He was the primary target given Cooper Kupp’s injury, and he took his opportunity and ran with it. Now with Kupp’s return, it remains to be seen how this will change his performances and opportunities. In week six, when Kupp made his return, he was the second choice after Kupp and put in a solid performance, but as of this point in the season, I think he deserves this number two spot on the list, especially when considering he was a fifth-round pick.
1. C.J. Stroud, Texans, QB
The number one spot on this list is going to C.J. Stroud for a list of reasons. To start, he has captained an offence that had fairly low hopes and questions about the wide receiver room going into the season. Impressively, Stroud has helped them average over 25 points per game since week two. He broke the record for most passes thrown without an interception to start his career, and considering one of the biggest difficulties for rookie quarterbacks in this league is ball security, this is a massive accomplishment. He also threw for 1,212 passing yards in the first four weeks, which is the second most for any rookie all time, passing Andrew Luck and sitting behind Cam Newton. He has been a big part of the resurgence of the Texans, who have a legitimate opportunity to make the playoffs as of now, having already matched last year’s win total within the first six weeks. Therefore, he easily secures the top spot amongst rookies as of now and is the frontrunner for offensive rookie of the year if he keeps this momentum going.
Honourable Mentions
Some players have been playing well that do not crack the top ten as well. One such player is Anthony Richardson, the Colts’ rookie quarterback. He has looked very good on the ground and performed well in the passing game as well, but the season-ending surgery he is getting takes him out of consideration for this list. He has shown flashes, and the potential is clearly there for him to be a top quarterback one day if he can stay healthy despite his playing style. Another player that deserves mention is Tank Dell, the wide receiver for the Texans who has shown himself to be a great playmaker in open space and a deep ball threat with his blistering speed. He has added another dimension to the Texans’ offence along with the emergence of Nico Collins and a good season from veteran Robert Woods as well. Another receiver who deserves some recognition is Zay Flowers for the Ravens. He has shown himself to be a reliable option for Lamar Jackson because of injuries to some of his compatriots in the wide receiver room in Baltimore. Finally, some defensive players that have stood out are Kei'Trel Clark and Henry To’oTo’o. The cornerback for the Cardinals and the linebacker for the Texans is first and second amongst rookies in tackles despite them both being day three draft picks. Their presence on their teams who had less than stellar defenses last season is clear because of the opportunities that they have been given so far in the season.
Written By: Journalist Kenneth D'Souza
Works Cited
The. (2023). 2023 NFL rookie review: How are the 31 first-round draft picks faring? The Athletic. https://theathletic.com/4777500/2023/08/16/2023-nfl-draft-first-round-rookie-review/
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