NFL Rookie Impact Series Observations & Preseason All Rookie Team
Our 2023 NFL Draft Rookie Impact Series is over. What did we learn? Who will benefit most? Which players stand to make the most impact? Let’s dive in!
In terms of overall impact, three teams tied with a high score rating of 76, including the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints.
The Falcons score benefited greatly from their selection of Bijan Robinson who was given an individual impact rating of 8.9, the highest score of any rookie player. However, Atlanta also added two potential offensive line starters in Matthew Bergeron and seventh round steal Jovaughn Gwyn. Plus, the talented Clark Phillips III who should emerge as their nickelback.
For Carolina, number one overall pick Bryce Young is expected to alter the trajectory of the entire organization. They wasted little time finding him a new top target with second round pick Jonathan Mingo and added some protection with guard Chandler Zavala. New Orleans made their way to the upper echelon of rookie impact due to their shrewd Day Three selections. Both guard Nick Saldiveri and safety Jordan Howden are expected to make significant impact but keep an eye on A.T. Perry who is eerily similar to another former Saints seventh round selection from back in the day, Marques Colston.
It should be noted that the Pittsburgh Steelers came in right behind the top three teams with an impact rating of 75. In fact, they may need to lean on rookies more so than others, as we projected a total of 52 combined starts amongst their draft class. On the other end of the spectrum, three teams combined with a low rookie impact rating of 67, including the Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Remember, it’s important to keep in mind that these scores reflect the impact that rookies will make during the 2023 NFL season. Many times situations, schemes, injuries and depth charts could determine playing time, or usage. These scores do not take into account long-term impact, nor do they factor in the undrafted rookie free agents who signed following the NFL Draft.
Based on our rookie projections, we have created the 2023 All Access Football NFL Preseason Rookie Team:
POS PLAYER TEAM PROJECTION
QB Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers | Projection: 2,988 passing yards, 15 touchdowns.
FB Derek Parish, Jacksonville Jaguars | Projection: 201 total yards, three touchdowns.
RB Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons | Projection: 1,601 total yards, 11 touchdowns.
WR Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings | Projection: 1034 receiving yards, seven touchdowns.
WR Jaxson Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks | Projection: 877 receiving yards, seven touchdowns.
TE Michael Mayer, Las Vegas Raiders | Projection: 510 receiving yards, five touchdowns.
OT Paris Johnson, Arizona Cardinals | Projection: 17 games started.
OG Cody Mauch, Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Projection: 17 games started.
C Jon Gaines, Arizona Cardinals | Projection: 14 games started.
OG O’Cyrus Torrence, Buffalo Bills | Projection: 17 games started.
OT Peter Skoronski, Tennessee Titans | Projection: 17 games started.
K Jake Moody, San Francisco 49ers | Projection: 26-of-30 field goals, 128 points.
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DL Calijah Kancey, Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Projection: 46 tackles, six sacks.
DL Jalen Carter, Philadelphia Eagles | Projection: 40 tackles, five sacks.
DL Bryan Bresee, New Orleans Saints | Projection: 28 tackles, three sacks.
LB Will Anderson, Houston Texans | Projection: 65 tackles, eight and a half sacks.
LB Jack Campbell, Detroit Lions | Projection: 78 tackles, one sack.
LB Drew Sanders, Denver Broncos | Projection: 65 tackles, two and a half sacks.
LB BJ Ojulari, Arizona Cardinals | Projection: 44 tackles, six sacks.
CB Emmanuel Forbes, Washington Commanders | Projection: 50 tackles, five interceptions.
CB Devon Witherspoon, Seattle Seahawks | Projection: 52 tackles, two interceptions.
S Brian Branch, Detroit Lions | Projection: 50 tackles, two interceptions.
S Jammie Robinson, Carolina Panthers | Projection: 38 tackles, two interceptions.
P Brad Robbins, Cincinnati Bengals | Projection: Pro Bowl.
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