The 2023 season has come and gone and some of the rookies have shined in their first full season in the NFL. Getting through a full season in the NFL can be tough, but fulfilling when an athlete succeeds on the field. Other rookies didn’t do as well but still have time to turn things around in 2024.
Here are five NFL rookies who look like Hall of Famers and five NFL rookies who look like busts.
Looks Like A Hall Of Famer – C.J. Stroud
Stroud had an impressive rookie season, as he helped the ailing Houston Texans steal first place in the AFC South from the Jacksonville Jaguars, and helped the team return to the playoffs for the first time since the 2019 season. Stroud also helped the Texans advance to the AFC Divisional round, where they lost a tough battle to the Baltimore Ravens 34-10. Stroud threw 23 touchdowns against five interceptions and looks to improve and help the Texans advance further in the playoffs for years to come.
Looks Like A Bust – Bryce Young
Young had a disastrous first season in the NFL. Stroud had no help in the Carolina Panthers’ offense, outside of Chuba Hubbard and veteran Adam Thielen in a woeful 2023 season. The team is a complete mess with a lot to fix on all sides of the ball. Rumors circulated about former Panthers head coach, Frank Reich, wanting to draft C.J. Stroud over Young, but team owner David Tepper vetoed Reich’s decision and he went with Young. Tepper gave up a king’s ransom (traded the 2024 first-round pick and DJ Moore to the Chicago Bears) to get Young into the Panthers. As dysfunctional as Tepper has been, he and Dan Morgan, the new general manager and president of football operations, need to draft more talented weapons for Young to work with, for a stronger 2024 season.
Looks Like A Hall Of Famer – Puka Nacua
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Nacua took the NFL by storm, in his first season in the NFL. Nacua was drafted in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and didn’t look back as he helped the Los Angeles Rams win 29-23 in an overtime clash with the Indianapolis Colts, in week four of the regular season. Nacua caught 105 passes for 1,486 yards and earned a nod to the Pro Bowl. Nacua also broke the receiving yards record by a rookie, which was previously held by, then Houston Oilers wide receiver Bill Groman, who had 1,473 receiving yards in 1960. Hopefully, Nacua continues to shine in the Rams’ offense, and form a dangerous wide receiver duo with Cooper Kupp for years to come. Matthew Stafford returning in 2024 will also be a positive for Nacua.
Looks Like A Bust – Quentin Johnston
Johnston was drafted 21st overall, by the Los Angeles Chargers, who looked to solidify their offense with more speedy firepower. Johnston only had one 1,000-yard season at Texas Christian University, TCU, which was back in 2022 when the team reached the College Football National Championship, and was demolished 7-65 by the Georgia Bulldogs. Johnston didn’t get his first touchdown in the NFL until week 10 of the regular season, in a 38-41 loss to the Detroit Lions. Johnston finished his rookie season with 38 receptions for 431 yards and scored only two touchdowns. Johnston needs to step it up in year two, if he wants to live up to expectations- in the NFL.
Looks Like A Hall Of Famer – Zay Flowers
Flowers, who went 22nd overall to the Baltimore Ravens, had a very productive rookie campaign. He and Lamar Jackson had excellent performances in the regular season, under Todd Monken’s offense. Flowers caught 77 receptions for 858 yards and scored five touchdowns, in the 2023 season. Jackson has his number two pass catcher with Flowers, behind Mark Andrews, for seasons to come. The Ravens look to dominate the AFC North, now and in the foreseeable future.
Looks Like A Bust – Emmanuel Forbes
The Washington Commanders drafted Forbes, 16th overall in the 2023 NFL draft, hoping he would help the team out in the defensive backfield. Instead, Forbes struggled in deep coverage and only hauled in one interception, in the season. Forbes was also burned by talented wide receivers like A.J. Brown and DJ Moore. Forbes was benched after being torched by Moore in the Commanders week five, 20-40 Thursday Night meltdown, against the Chicago Bears. Regime change is coming to Washington, as the Commanders are on the search for a new head coach, after they fired Ron Rivera. Will Forbes step it up in 2024? We’ll just wait and see.
Looks Like A Hall Of Famer – Sam LaPorta
LaPorta is a second-round steal for the Detroit Lions, and had an awe-inspiring rookie season. LaPorta hauled in 86 receptions for 889 yards and scored 10 touchdowns on the year in Ben Johnson’s offense. He also earned a nod to the Pro Bowl, and broke the NFL’s record for receptions for a rookie tight end. The record was previously held by Keith Jackson, when he had 81 receptions in 1988. LaPorta and Amon-Ra St. Brown have formed an elite wide receiver- tight end pass catching duo.
Looks Like A Bust – Tyree Wilson
The Las Vegas Raiders were looking to create a solid defensive front led by Maxx Crosby. The Raiders thought adding Tyree Wilson, could help. Instead, Wilson struggled and didn’t start any games with the Raiders. He finished the 2023 season with 29 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery. It also doesn’t help that the Philadelphia Eagles’ Jalen Carter and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Calijah Kancey who went a few picks after Wilson are already producing stronger numbers across the board. Although Wilson has not produced the greatest of numbers, he has time to turn things around in the 2024 season.
Looks Like A Hall Of Famer – Devon Witherspoon
Witherspoon looked incredibly elite, in his rookie season with the Seattle Seahawks, as he looks to create a new and strong defensive backfield in the secondary. Witherspoon’s shining moment, came in the Seahawks’ week four Monday Night Football 41-3 victory over the New York Giants, when he intercepted Daniel Jones, for a 97-yard pick-six. Wilson also had two sacks in that game. Wilson earned a Pro Bowl nod, and looks to add more Pro Bowl nods, as he continues to improve in the 2024 season. Watch out for Witherspoon opposing wide receivers and quarterbacks.
Looks Like A Bust – Mazi Smith
Smith was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys, 26th overall, in the 2023 NFL Draft. However, Mazi had a slow rookie season, as he had 13 tackles and a single sack. He started in three out of 16 games he played. Defensive tackles do take time to develop in the NFL, but just for comparison, the Cincinnati Bengals’ defensive end Myles Murphy played in 14 games, had 20 tackles, and three sacks to finish the 2023 season. Smith still has time to develop, in year two. The Cowboys still have a good defense, led by Micah Parsons, that looks to cause some damage for years to come, in the NFC East.
