The top NFL Rookie of the Year candidates are about to embark on their first training camps as professionals.
No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young continues to impress leading up to camp. He’s currently QB1 with the Carolina Panthers over veteran Andy Dalton. The second overall pick, C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans should also earn the starting quarterback job.
These two are the obvious favorites NFL Rookie of the Year rankings on the offensive side of the ball. The same thing can be said about Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon and Texans edge rusher Will Anderson on the defensive side.
Without further ado, let’s check in on our top NFL Rookie of the Year candidates for the upcoming 2023 season.
2023 NFL Rookie of the Year candidates (offense)
Honorable mention
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seattle Seahawks
- Dalton Kincaid, TE, Buffalo Bills
- Quentin Johnston, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
- Rashee Rice, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
5. Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions
Running backs find it an easier transition from college to the NFL compared to every other skill position. Rookies Kenneth Walker, Travis Etienne and Dameon Pierce all finished within the top-14 in rushing a season ago.
Despite shocking many by selecting Gibbs No. 12 overall back in April, there is absolutely no reason to believe he won’t make an immediate impact in Detroit. The former Alabama standout recorded 1,370 total yards at a clip of seven yards per touch a season ago. His dual-threat ability (44 catches in 2022) is only going to help Gibbs’ stock in catching passes from Jared Goff.
4. Anthony Richardson, QB, Indianapolis Colts
By all accounts, Anthony Richardson was super impressive during the Colts’ offseason program after they made the former Florida star the No. 4 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. It has him slated to start over veteran Gardner Minshew Week 1. New Colts head coach Shane Steichen touched on the competition back in late May.
“We’ve been splitting [reps between Richardson and Minshew]. Anthony’s getting some reps with the ones, Gardner’s getting reps with the ones, and that’s how we’re rolling right now,” Steichen said.
With an offensive-minded head coach and some solid skill-position talent around him, Richardson is set up to succeed out of the gate. It makes him one of our top NFL Rookie of the Year candidates.
Related: 2023 NFL schedule
3. Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons
Speaking of running backs, Robinson was viewed as a generational talent heading into the 2023 NFL Draft. That’s why Atlanta bucked a major trend and selected the former Texas standout No. 8 overall.
- Bijan Robinson stats (2022): 1,894 total yards, 6.8 yards per touch, 20 TD
Robinson has that rare combination of speed and power. It makes him a major threat between the hashes and out on the perimeter. He also displayed an ability to catch the ball during the pre-draft process despite not being used much in that area with the Longhorns.
2. C.J. Stroud, QB, Houston Texans
Sometimes, we have to take reports from a team during the offseason with a grain of salt. But what we’re hearing coming from Houston heading into training camp is something else. First-year Texans head coach DeMeco Ryan told reporters during OTAs earlier in the offseason that Stroud’s performance was “very eye opening.”
At this point, the No. 2 pick in this year’s NFL Draft is competing with Davis Mills for the QB1 job. However, it seems highly unlikely that this will be much of a competition. Remember, Houston benched Mills last season. It has no real reason to play him with the team still in the midst of a rebuild.
1. Bryce Young, QB, Carolina Panthers
For months leading up to the 2023 draft, Young was seen as the consensus No. 1 quarterback. There was very little drama surrounding the first pick after Carolina acquired it in a blockbuster trade with the Chicago Bears. The former Heisman winner was going to be the pick. For good reason.
- Bryce Young stats (Alabama): 66% completion, 8,356 passing yards, 87 total TD, 12 INT
Playing in a pro-style offense against elite-level SEC defenses sets Young up to excel out of the gate. Carolina also added a number of skill-position targets for the youngster, including wide receivers Adam Thielen and DJ Chark. With the youngster already impressing, we envision Young being the top NFL Rookie of the Year candidate throughout the 2023 season.
Related: Sportsnaut’s NFL power rankings heading into training camp
2022-23 NFL Rookie of the Year candidates (defense)
Honorable mention
- Will McDonald, EDGE, New York Jets
- Nolan Smith, LB, Philadelphia Eagles
- Joey Porter Jr., CB, Pittsburgh Steelers
5. Jalen Carter, DT, Philadelphia Eagles
Carter was seen as the top defensive prospect in the class until shortly before the 2023 NFL Draft. An off-field issue coupled with the former Georgia standout showing up to his Pro Day out of shape dropped him to Philadelphia at nine.
What we do know is that the defensive tackle boasts a unique combination of power and athleticism from the interior of the defensive line. We expect the defending NFC champs to utilize him a whole lot as a rookie, especially after Pro Bowler Javon Hargrave departed to the San Francisco 49ers in free agency.
4. Christian Gonzalez, CB, New England Patriots
Another player who fell down the draft board this past spring, the Patriots got an absolute steal in Gonzalez. Per Pro Football Focus, Gonzalez gave up just 39 completions while intercepting four passes for Oregon last season.
New England utilizes young cornerbacks more than most teams in the NFL. We don’t expect that to change in 2023 with the future of Jack Jones completely up in the air due to some serious gun charges.
3. Devon Witherspoon, CB, Seattle Seahawks
We saw it last season in Seattle. Cornerback Tariq Woolen was a top NFL Rookie of the Year candidate throughout the season. He excelled big time under defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt. There is absolutely no reason to believe that Witherspoon can’t follow suit.
Selected No. 5 back in April, the former Illinois standout showed out big time during the Seahawks’ off-season program. He should start opposite Woolen as a rookie, leading to a new iteration of the famed “Legion of Boom” in the Pacific Northwest.
2. Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Las Vegas Raiders
First off, the Raiders were a disaster rushing the passer outside of what Pro Bowler Maxx Crosby did a season ago. He recorded 12.5 of their 35 sacks. Free-agent addition Chandler Jones was nowhere to be found. Out on the edge, there is not another returning member of the Raiders who recorded a single sack for the team in 2022.
Enter into the equation the ultra-athletic Wilson. The former Texas Tech star jumped up the draft boards big time leading up to the annual event due to his measurables. It also must be noted that he recorded 27.5 tackles for loss and 14 sacks in his final two seasons with the Red Raiders.
Related: Sportsnaut’s NFL Playoff and Super Bowl predictions
1. Will Anderson, EDGE, Houston Texans
Houston shocked the football world by trading up to No. 3 for Anderson after selecting Stroud with the second pick in the draft. Perhaps not on the level of fellow edge rushers Nick Bosa and Chase Young in previous drafts, Anderson still has the skill set to dominate out of the gate. He showed that with Alabama over the past couple seasons.
- Will Anderson stats (2021-22): 48 tackles for loss, 27.5 sacks
Those are some absolutely absurd numbers. Now set to make his debut for a Texans team that recorded just 39 sacks a season ago, the expectation is that Anderson will make an immediate impact. It has him as our top NFL Rookie of the Year candidate on the defensive side of the ball.
Revisiting the 2022 NFL Rookie of the Year
Two New York Jets teammates in that of wide receiver Garrett Wilson and cornerback Sauce Gardner earned NFL Rookie of the Year honors last season.
Wilson, the No. 10 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, recorded 83 receptions for 1,103 yards despite disastrous QB play in Jersey.
Meanwhile, Gardner shockingly earned All-Pro honors at cornerback as a rookie. Opposing quarterbacks completed just 54% of their passes with a QB rating of 62.7 when targeting him.
Past NFL Rookie of the Year winners
- 2022: Garrett Wilson, Sauce Gardner
- 2021: Ja’Marr Chase, Micah Parsons
- 2020: Justin Herbert, Chase Young
- 2019: Kyler Murray, Nick Bosa
- 2018: Saquon Barkley, Shaquille Leonard
- 2017: Alvin Kamara, Marson Lattimore
- 2016: Dak Prescott, Joey Bosa
- 2015: Todd Gurley, Marcus Peters
- 2014: Odell Beckham Jr., Aaron Donald
When is the NFL Rookie of the Year announced?
The 2023-24 NFL Rookie of the Year will be announced during the league’s annual awards show on the weekend of the Super Bowl, February 11.
Who will emerge as the early ROTY candidates during the2 2023-24 NFL season?