One of the fun parts of a new National Football League season is seeing which rookies take off – especially the unexpected ones. Here’s a look at 5 rookies you should watch out for.
Jalen Carter, Defensive Tackle, Philadelphia Eagles. Carter, coming off back-to-back National Championships with the Georgia Bulldogs, was considered by many to be the best player in the 2023 NFL Draft. But his involvement in an apparent street race after the Bulldogs secured their second championship, which resulted in the death of one of his teammates, made teams wary of taking him. The Eagles, who have a penchant for drafting Georgia players, picked him up with the Ninth overall pick, right after their loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl. Carter joins a crowded and talented defensive line. But NFL teams can never have enough defensive tackles and he's a special talent. He's expected to make a lot of noise this year and beyond.
Jordan Addison, Wide Receiver, Minnesota Vikings. Addison was the best wide receiver in college football in 2021, when he earned consensus All-American honors and won the Fred Biletnikoff Award, given to college football's best wideout. That was when he was with Pittsburg. In May 2022, he announced he was transferring to USC where he balled out for new USC Head Coach (and college football offensive wizard) Lincoln Riley. Minnesota picked up Addison with the 23rd Overall Pick, with the intention of using him to replace Adam Thielen (who left the Vikings to join the Carolina Panthers) and pairing him with Vikings WR Justin Jefferson, who some say is the best receiver in the NFL right now. So, yeah, Addison, a stud in his own right, is going to be big this year, playing opposite Jefferson.
Will Anderson, Linebacker, Houston Texans. Anderson was the Texans' second of two picks the team had among the first three in the NFL Draft. But while their first pick, quarterback C.J. Stroud, is getting all of the attention as the new face of the team, it's Anderson who is expected to make the biggest impact on the team. Houston had to trade a ton of draft capital to select Anderson, and he's probably going to be worth all of it. He has the chance to become a truly elite pass rusher in the NFL. He had 34.5 sacks over the last three seasons in college at Alabama.
Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Defensive End, Kansas City Chiefs. The defending Super Bowl champs are masterful on offense. Their defense is their weak link - and, for the moment, their best defensive player, Defensive Tackle Chris Jones, is holding out for a bigger contract. That makes the Chiefs' first round selection out of Kansas State, Anudike-Uzomah, all the more valuable. He plays on the d-line where Jones' presence is going to be missed, especially if he holds out through Week 8 of the regular season, as he's been threatening. Anudike-Uzomah is a rawer prospect, but he's going to be thrown into the fire with Jones out.
Bryce Young, Quarterback, Carolina Panthers. The No. 1 Overall Pick in the NFL Draft, Young had to make this list, if only because he was the top selected player and plays the most important position in the game. He's gonna start as a rookie Week 1 for new Head Coach Frank Reich, a former NFL QB himself who has shown skill at coaching players at his old position. Young, a Heisman Trophy winner, is considered mature and smart. But he is a little undersized and he's a rookie, playing for a team that's frankly not very good. He's gonna get every chance to succeed - the Panthers spent too much on him to give up on him quickly - but he's probably in for a long season.
