The curtain is about to be lifted on this year's NFL rookies, as the stars from the 2023 NFL Draft class get their first taste of live action during the preseason.
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Roster spots and starting jobs are won and lost during August, and whether it's the first-round draft pick aiming to make an instant impact or a Day 3 selection looking to avoid the Turk come cut down day, there is much at stake during each team's three preseason games.
As the exhibition slate gets underway, these are 10 rookies to keep a close eye on, who have been turning in strong performances throughout training camp this summer:
1. Jalin Hyatt, WR, New York Giants
Jalin Hyatt has been the talk of Giants training camp. At one point, Hyatt was clocked at an unreal 24 mph during a practice rep, underscoring his ability to take the top off a defense. The Giants made a concerted effort to add explosiveness to quarterback Daniel Jones' supporting cast, and landing Hyatt's career 16.4 yards per catch average in 29 career games at Tennessee should create ample opportunities for New York to push the ball vertically in 2023.
2. Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions
Jahmyr Gibbs possesses the rare and coveted combination of explosive speed and elusiveness at the running back position, along with the versatility of being a steady contributor in the passing game that will give him the chance to make an instant impact on the Lions offense.
Gibbs' 2,132 rushing yards and 15 career touchdowns at the University of Alabama and Georgia Tech turned heads. However, at the NFL level, Gibbs' pass-catching ability and 11.8 yards per catch average give him the chance to be a three-down back with explosive upside.
3. Bryce Young, QB, Carolina Panthers
The Panthers didn't waste any time naming No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young the Week 1 starting quarterback. According to NBC Sports' Peter King, Young has impressed head coach Frank Reich and staff as much off the field in meetings as he has on the practice field.
In terms of decision-making, accuracy, and arm-strength, Young seems to look the part of an NFL quarterback. If the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner can show during the preseason that he's up to the task of dictating to NFL defenses at game speed, the Panthers just might have a leg-up on the rest of the NFC South.
4. Sam LaPorta, TE, Detroit Lions
By all accounts Sam LaPorta has caught just about everything thrown his way at Lions camp while looking the part of a reliable weapon in the intermediate passing game, which could prove to be fertile ground for quarterback Jared Goff with field-stretching receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams on the perimeter.
At 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds, LaPorta isn't just physical as a blocker in the run-game, but could be an asset inside the 20 for an offense that finished fourth in red-zone offense in 2022.
5. Joey Porter Jr., CB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Head-to-head reps between Steelers star wide receiver George Pickens and Porter Jr. have been an early highlight from Latrobe, with the former Penn State standout showing he's capable of going up against some of the NFL's more athletic receivers.
Porter's 63.6 passer rating on targets allowed last season likely got him on the Steelers' radar, but his ability to win one-on-one battles in press coverage solidified his status as a second-round pick.
6. Dawand Jones, OT, Cleveland Browns
Dawand Jones is a colossal human, checking in at 6-foot-8 and 375 pounds, and amid a strong start to his rookie training camp, just might develop into one of the Browns' most important offensive players.
According to Pro Football Focus, Jones didn't allow a single quarterback pressure during the Hall of Fame Game against the Jets. If Jones continues to be a steadying force at tackle, it will go a long way towards the Browns being able to keep quarterback Deshaun Watson upright in 2023 and beyond.
7. Sean Clifford, QB, Green Bay Packers
Sean Clifford getting selected by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth-round was one of the biggest surprises of the NFL Draft. However, with plenty of big game experience from his time at Penn State, including a blowout win over Utah in the Rose Bowl, Clifford has looked like he belongs, all throughout the Packers' offseason program.
Green Bay will undoubtedly give plenty of snaps to Jordan Love, but Clifford will get his share of playing time throughout the preseason and has a legitimate chance of locking down the Packers' No. 2 quarterback job if he plays well.
8. Will Anderson, EDGE, Houston Texans
The Texans boldly traded up to No. 3 overall to select Anderson out of Alabama, and the dominant edge rusher is the exact type of tone-setting player new head coach DeMeco Ryans can build a defense and a culture around. Anderson was the definition of a game-wrecker at Alabama, where he collected 37 career sacks, while generating an elite 88.1 true pass-set pass-rush grade from Pro Football Focus in 2022.
9. Zay Flowers, WR, Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens prioritized adding dynamic playmakers in the passing game around quarterback Lamar Jackson this offseason, and even after signing former All-Pro Odell Beckham Jr., rookie Zay Flowers has been one of the most impressive receivers in Ravens camp this summer.
Flowers' fast start comes on the heels of setting career highs with 78 catches for 1,077 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior at Boston College. Thanks to electrifying speed and cut on a dime agility, Flowers has the potential to be a game-breaker capable of elevating the Ravens' vertical passing game.
10. Jalen Carter, DL, Philadelphia Eagles
Jalen Carter's freakish athleticism made him one of the top defensive prospects in this year's class, and he's been wreaking havoc on the interior of the Eagles' dominant offensive line throughout training camp. Carter's explosiveness helped him produce three sacks and 24 pressures last season while garnering a 91.2 run-stopping grade from Pro Football Focus.
It's Carter's versatility as an interior pass-rusher and run-stuffer that give him the chance to become one of the Eagles' cornerstones up front, continuing the organization's philosophy of prioritizing building dominance along both lines of scrimmage.
