The 2023 rookie class, as it turns out, was loaded with star power.
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From an MVP caliber quarterback to several defensive backs who might already be among the top players at their respective positions, and explosive running backs to boot, there was value throughout the 2023 NFL Draft.
After a season that was dominated by young players making strong debuts, FanBuzz Senior NFL Insider Matt Lombardo lists his 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team.
Offense
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QB - C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
C.J. Stroud's rookie season was so impressive that the No. 1 overall pick could wind up receiving MVP votes. Stroud is a franchise-altering figure for the Texans, and played a starring role in lifting Houston from perennial laughingstock to legitimate Super Bowl contender. While leading the Texans to the AFC Divisional Playoffs, Stroud finished eighth in the NFL in passing yards and 13th in passing touchdowns while completing 63.9 percent of his passes with 23 touchdowns to just five interceptions. Stroud is the reason optimism has never been higher for the Texans' future.
RB - Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
There might not be a more elusive or explosive open-field runner in the league than Jahmyr Gibbs. A fluid runner with an impressive combination of speed and agility, Gibbs finished his rookie season rushing for 945 yards and 10 touchdowns. Despite the Lions seeming to ease him into the running back rotation and splitting carries throughout the season with veteran David Montgomery, Gibbs was a consistent contributor in 2023 while proving capable of taking on an expended role as one of the Lions' focal points next season.
RB - De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins
Achane burst onto the scene, carving out a role in a crowded backfield alongside Raheem Mostert, and fitting right in with the explosiveness of the Dolphins' dynamic offense. Despite battling through injuries that sidelined him for six weeks, A'chane still rushed for 800 yards with eight touchdowns. Perhaps most impressive about A'chane's rookie season is that he quickly developed a reputation as a home run threat every time he touched the football, averaging 7.8 yards per carry.
WR - Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
Puka Nacua's rookie season was nothing short of historic, and C.J. Stroud is likely the only roadblock keeping him from winning Offensive Rookie of The Year. Nacua quickly forged a strong chemistry with quarterback Matthew Stafford, keeping the Rams' offense afloat in Cooper Kupp's absence and proving capable of being a No. 1 wide receiver, even once the veteran returned. The former fifth-round pick now owns the NFL records for receptions by a rookie, 105, and receiving touchdowns, with six. Expect Nacua to take on an even more significant role next season.
WR - Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers
The Packers' revolving injuries at wide receiver cleared the way for Jayden Reed to quickly build a strong chemistry with quarterback Jordan Love, and ultimately finish the season as the Packers' leading receiver. Underscoring just how strong Love's connection was with Reed in 2023, the Packers' signal caller posted a 123.1 passer rating when targeting the former second-round pick. Catching 64 passes for 793 yards with eight touchdowns, Reed proved that he belongs on the field and high in Love's target hierarchy, even when Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs are healthy.
TE - Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions
Sam LaPorta is a throwback of a player who might also be the future of the tight end position. One of the Lions' most reliable red-zone weapons, LaPorta also feasted over the middle of the field while gaining the trust of quarterback Jared Goff, who posted a 111.9 passer rating when targeting him. LaPorta's reliable hands are only rivaled by his smooth route-running as his best traits. Look for LaPorta to quickly enter the conversation among the elites at the position.
OT - Darnell Wright, Chicago Bears
Whatever direction the Bears go in at quarterback, the franchise appears to have a franchise left tackle entrenched along the offensive line for years to come. After being chosen No. 10 overall in last spring's draft, Darnell Wright produced a 66.0 run-blocking grade at Pro Football Focus, while allowing seven sacks but looking dominant for much of his rookie campaign.
OG - O'Cyrus Torrence, Buffalo Bills
O'Cyrus Torrence developed into a road-grader up front for a running game that very nearly powered the Bills into the AFC Championship Game. But, Torrence was also a stalwart in pass-protection, where he only allowed three sacks.
C - Joe Tippman, New York Jets
The Jets' offensive line has been a work in progress for the better part of a decade, but New York might have found its long-term solution at center. Tippman was dominant in the run-game, clearing the way for Breece Hall, while only allowing three sacks after being chosen in the second-round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
OG - Steve Avila, Los Angeles Rams
Avila was a perfect scheme fit for the Rams, and stepped right in as a dominant presence along the interior. As a rookie, Avila only allowed two sacks while garnering a 61.1 overall grade from PFF.
OT - Dawand Jones, Cleveland Browns
Dawand Jones is an absolute behemoth, checking in at 6-foot-8 and 375 pounds. As it turns out, the former Ohio State standout is also agile enough to leverage his size to neutralize some of the NFL's premier pass-rushers. Jones only allowed three sacks and three total quarterback hits, while earning a stalwart 73.0 pass-protection grade from Pro Football Focus.
Defense
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EDGE - Will Anderson Jr., Houston Texans
Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio's bold and aggressive move to trade up to No. 3 overall in last spring's draft to select Anderson paid immense immediate dividends. Anderson logged seven sacks and was a quarterback-pressure machine, finishing with 59 as a rookie, despite only appearing in 15 games. In Stroud and Anderson, the Texans have franchise centerpieces at two of the most vital positions on a roster.
EDGE - Byron Young, Los Angeles Rams
Byron Yong's explosive first step and acceleration helped him frequently take up residence in opposing backfields, while causing nightmares for quarterbacks in his sight. Young capped his rookie season with 61 total tackles along with eight sacks, a pair of forced fumbles, and 19 quarterback hits while offering plenty of optimism that he can be a cornerstone of the Rams' defense for years to come.
DL - Jalen Carter, Philadelphia Eagles
Jalen Carter was every bit as dominant as many expected he would be when he landed in the heart of a talented and disruptive Eagles defensive line. Carter's unique blend of explosive speed, strength, and instincts helped him immediately become one of the league's most disruptive defenesive linemen. Finishing his rookie season with 46 total tackles and six sacks, Carter played well enough to carve cement his status as a building block of the Eagles' front-seven. Given his skill-set, Carter's rookie production may wind up serving as a floor for what to expect from the former Georgia standout for years to come.
DL - Kobie Turner, Los Angeles Rams
The Rams found a dynamic and disruptive playmaker to pair alongside Aaron Donald, in Kobie Turner. The third-round pick posted 11 sacks, 36 tackles for loss and generated 48 total pressures as a rookie. In the NFC West that features explosive offenses anchored by dominant running games and some top quarterbacks, Turner is a worthy counterpunch along the Rams' front.
LB - Jack Campbell, Detroit Lions
Despite some initial criticism for drafting a linebacker with a top-20 selection, the Lions found a dynamic playmaker and quarterback of the defense in Jack Campbell. Campbell was all over the field as a rookie, and proved to be a worthy complement to the pass-rush presence generated by Aidan Hutchinson while posting 95 total tackles, two sacks, and one pass-breakup. Based on his rookie season, Campbell is the type of player who has perennial Pro Bowl potential, especially playing in the heart of a hyper-aggressive defense.
LB - Ivan Pace, Minnesota Vikings
Few players in the 2023 class outperformed their draft positioning more than Ivan Pace, who signed with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent last spring. Pace played like he was a magnet to the football, posting 102 total tackles with 2.5 sacks and one interception, while garnering the confidence of defensive coordinator Brian Flores and the Vikings' coaching staff.
CB - Joey Porter Jr., Pittsburgh Steelers
As the season went along, Joey Porter Jr. improved exponentially with each passing week, quickly developing into one of the stingiest cornerbacks in the NFL. Porter Jr., who slid out of the first round after a stellar career at Penn State, followed in his legendary father's footsteps as a dominant force on the Steelers' defense, producing 41 total tackles with one interception. According to Pro Football Focus, quarterbacks posted a meager 65.9 passer rating when targeting Porter Jr.
CB - Devon Witherspoon, Seattle Seahawks
One of the more physical and aggressive cornerbacks in the 2023 class, Witherspoon emerged as a rookie as a critical piece of a burgeoning Seahawks defense. Returning his lone interception of his rookie campaign 97 yards for a touchdown, Witherspoon also produced 79 total tackles while also being sent as a heat-seeking missile on corner blitzes, the No. 5 overall pick in last year's draft added three sacks. Witherspoon's versatility from playing lockdown cornerback to his ability to rush the passer off the edge make him one of the most dynamic young players at the position in the entire league.
S - Ji'Ayir Brown, San Francisco 49ers
Ji'Ayir Brown was a bit of a late bloomer, only contributing on San Francisco's defense after Week 12, but quickly proved that he belonged on one of the league's top units. Brown finished the season with 35 total tackles, two interceptions, and four pass breakups, while adding a pivotal pass breakup along the goal line in the NFC Championship Game. The former Penn State standout looks the part of a steady contributor on one of the most talented secondaries in the sport and should walk into a starting role in 2024.
S - Brian Branch, Detroit Lions
Brian Branch didn't waste any time making an immediate impact. Branch intercepted Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and took it to the house in the regular season opener, and was off to the races from there. Finishing his rookie campaign with 74 total tackles, one sack, three interceptions, 13 pass breakups and eight tackles for loss, Branch was essentially a Swiss-Army knife in the Lions' secondary. On a young defense that's loaded with talent at all three levels, Branch is among the most gifted and looks like an All-Pro caliber talent in the making.
