1) Anthony Richardson, QB, Indianapolis Colts
Are you prepared? The Colts are. We haven’t seen a quarterback this dynamic enter the league since Cam Newton. Richardson can run previous gamers, by way of them, or hurl the ball 60 yards downfield.
In Indy, he’s landed with the best coach for his sport. Shane Steichen was the architect of the Eagles’ vaunted power-spread offense, which helped faucet into Jalen Hurts’ potential.
Richardson could by no means attain the down-to-down consistency of Hurts – and he actually gained’t in his first 12 months within the league – however he’ll carry electrical energy to a flaccid Colts roster. Each week will probably be field workplace.
2) Jalen Carter, DL, Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles have probably the most loaded roster within the NFL. In Hurts, they’ve an entire quarterback. Their offensive and defensive strains are overwhelming. They’ve a top-tier tight finish. AJ Brown is likely one of the sport’s true field-tilters at large receiver. They’ve one of many high cornerback duos within the league. The one lingering query mark: The backbone of the protection.
The Eagles are counting on first- and second-year gamers to be impression items in the course of the defensive position and at linebacker. There will probably be rising pains, however Philly are banking that the whole lot will coalesce by the postseason.
Carter is pivotal. He was the perfect participant in faculty soccer final season. On a protection dripping in expertise, he’s nonetheless an outlier – a participant with superhuman quicks, measurement, and power. Carter will take time to regulate to the every-down rigors of the league, however the spotlight performs will probably be there from the off. If he can discover his footing by the mid-point of the season, the Eagles will probably be assured they will run by way of anybody within the NFC.
3) Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons
Robinson hype has reached a fever pitch, and for good motive. Robinson is the type of again who can flip should-be lifeless performs into optimistic ones – and who can flip any daylight right into a landing. He’ll carry the torch for the brand new period of operating back-receiver hybrids, which may assist finish the plight of operating again pay.
Arthur Smith and the Falcons are betting on a model of ‘positionless’ soccer to hold the offense, with receiver Drake London, tight finish Kyle Pitts, and Robinson capable of flip-flop between the ability positions. It’s tantalizing in principle. In follow, it’ll come right down to how effectively Robinson can alter to the league as each a runner and receiver.
4) Bryce Younger, QB, Carolina Panthers
Questions on Younger’s measurement and tap-dancing type, and whether or not they can translate to the NFL, will probably be ever-present this season. The early showings for Younger in preseason – which counts for little – have been encouraging. Younger suits the pattern of the place quarterback play is at and the place it’s heading, and he’s surrounded by sufficient expertise (and an excellent teaching workers) that he may very well be an above common starter from the soar.
Placing win-the-division stress on a rookie quarterback is unfair. However the NFC South is awful, and the Panthers’ protection could wind up being the perfect single unit within the division.
5) CJ Stroud, QB, Houston Texans
Quietly, the Texans have executed their rebuild brilliantly. After addressing considerations on protection 12 months in the past, and plugging in one of many league’s high defensive gurus as head coach this offseason, they turned their consideration to the offense.
Houston have poured loads of assets right into a proficient, younger offensive line that may develop with Stroud. They’ve simply sufficient playmaking expertise across the younger quarterback to make his soar to the professionals simpler.
The Texans are nonetheless a few years away from having the ability to compete. However they are going to actually be higher this 12 months. Stroud’s ceiling is unsure in comparison with the likes of Younger and Richardson, however he has landed in a great place to indicate what he may change into.
6) Dalton Kincaid, TE, Buffalo Payments
The Payments traded as much as get Kincaid with the twenty fifth total choose this 12 months, they usually’ll need him to supply. This model of the Payments is weaker than the one which began 2022 with such hope – a number of of the workforce’s most vital gamers are beginning to creak, and the offensive line has weaknesses. The Payments will roll this 12 months so far as Josh Allen is ready to carry them.
Exterior Allen and Stefon Diggs, the Payments lack a real difference-maker on offense. They want Kincaid to be that man. The historical past of rookie tight ends is tough; it’s a tough place to grasp, with a degree of complexity on the professional degree lacking within the faculty sport. However Kincaid profiles as somebody who could make the leap shortly. He’s functionally a large receiver, somebody who is usually a mismatch menace in the course of the sector.
Kincaid could by no means be the all-around, three-way menace (receiver, blocker, flex piece) that offenses crave. However in his rookie season, the Payments solely want him to be a plus receiver to offer this offense an opportunity to go toe-to-toe on the high of the AFC.
7) Cam Smith, CB, Miami Dolphins
Jalen Ramsey’s harm was a troublesome blow for the Dolphins’ protection. Exterior the cornerback room, the unit is as deep as any within the NFL. With Vic Fangio becoming a member of because the workforce’s new defensive coordinator, they added the excessive priest of a method that has taken over the league.
With Ramsey down for not less than just a few months, there’s stress on Smith to step in straight away. Smith is a strolling, speaking gambler. He’s a uncooked cornerback with an idiosyncratic type. However he additionally simply so occurs to be a turnover machine. Smith lives in assault mode. In subbing out Ramsey for Smith early on, the Dolphins will probably be buying and selling out some consistency for volatility. With the opposite items on protection, that gained’t be a foul factor.
8) Jalin Hyatt, WR, New York Giants
Hyatt has deadly velocity. We’re speaking is-my-TV-OK quick. The Giants are in determined want of a discipline stretcher on offense in the event that they’re to return anyplace near replicating final season’s success. Hyatt doesn’t have to be a top quality or constant receiver for the Giants this 12 months. He simply must serve up two splash performs a sport to carry worth to Brian Daboll’s offense.
9) Ivan Tempo Jr, LB, Minnesota Vikings
Nervous concerning the Vikings protection? Concern not: Tempo is on the case.
OK, fear just a bit bit – perhaps greater than somewhat. It’s onerous to discover a workforce with a extra ill-fitting roster to the philosophy of their coach. Brian Flores, the workforce’s new DC, is an evangelist for all-out-pressure. The Vikings cornerback room is a barren wasteland of spare components. Until Flores has had a persona transplant, the Vikings secondary will probably be in hassle.
The burden will fall on the remainder of the protection to make up the distinction – to stress quarterbacks at one thing bordering on a league-leading degree that it offsets the rickety secondary.
There will probably be loads of stress on the linebacking corps to assist make up that chasm. Step up Tempo, a bowling ball in linebacker clothes. He’s the uncommon undrafted participant who’s set to play a bit of snaps in his rookie 12 months. He’s prone to begin, and if not, not less than play two of the three downs. That’s onerous on an undrafted rookie. But when the Vikings’ protection goes to be midway this season, they are going to want him to be an impression piece early and sometimes.
