Every year, the NFL draft gives each National Football League team a chance to add a new generation of players to their roster before the preseason game starts. It helps these teams improve their chances of winning by drafting the best college football stars in the nation.
Therefore, the NFL draft is also one of the most awaited events in the NFL each year on top of the regular season games and the Super Bowl itself. And this year, like any other year in the past, a new generation of great players entered the big scene.
Below, let’s get to know this new generation of fantastic football players who made the cut on the NFLPA’s rising stars of the NFL this 2023.
Anthony Richardson (QB)
Colts’ quarterback Anthony Richardson is leading the list of NFLPA’s rising stars. It will undoubtedly impact the team’s NFL odds as the preseason is drawing near. Richardson is a four-star recruit from Eastside High School and played for the Florida Gators, where he showcased his fiery playmaking skills.
Richardson even proved his abilities to the public during the historic NFL combine performance, where he showed his true potential. As a result, he is now considered the rawest of all four top QB prospects, making him a player to watch out for.
Drafting Richardson is one of the greatest achievements of the Colts this year. They now have one of the promising quarterbacks of the new generation of NFL on their roster. What the Colts must do now is to foster Richardson’s talents so that he can reach his highest potential.
Bijan Robinson (RB)
Next on the list is Atalanta Falcons’ running back Bijan Robinson. Robinson is named one of the most sought-after running back prospects of today. He has demonstrated outstanding performances since joining the Texas Longhorns in 2020. But it was not until 2022 that he showed the world what he’s capable of.
The 2022 season was the peak of his college football career as a receiver, averaging 16.5 yards per reception and 1.52 yards per route run. His 16.5 yards per reception is ranked number two among the running backs in college football with at least ten receptions.
The PFF, or the Pro Football Focus, was impressed by his performance in the final season and gave Robinson a 95.2 grade. With this, he became the nation’s second-ranked RB after Michigan Wolverines’ Blake Corum.
Bryce Young (QB)
Now, let’s talk about the third rising star, Bryce Young, a quarterback drafted by the Carolina Panthers this season. Young also started his college football career in 2020 when he played for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Even during his college football career, Young showed his skills in football when he went 23-4 in two seasons as Alabama’s starting QB, winning two bowl games. He also put up over 8,300 passing yards with 80 touchdowns against 12 interceptions.
That said, Bryce Young was named the best quarterback in the 2023 draft. He was also identified as a player with a high football IQ, excellent arm strength, anticipation, and accuracy in his games.
C.J. Stroud (QB)
The name C.J. Stroud might be familiar as he already made a significant impact in football during his college days. He has been one of the top players in college football, which is why he already established a name even before entering the NFL.
Stroud played his college football as a quarterback under the Ohio State Buckeyes and was drafted by the Houston Texans this year. During his college football career, Stroud was named a quarterback of the year in two seasons and two-time Big Ten Conference Offensive Player of the Year.
On top of that, he also became a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist. During his career with the Buckeyes, Stroud produced 8,123 yards with 85 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. This and all his college football career achievements vaulted him on the draft board. He was even named as one of the top QBs in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR)
The fifth rising star this season is Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The Seattle Seahawks drafted him and came as pick 20 in round 1. Smith-Njiba played college football as a wide receiver for Ohio State.
He is known to be a reliable, agile, smart, and productive receiver during his college football days. His productivity was highlighted in 2021 when he had 96 receptions for 1,600 yards and nine touchdowns. His teammates know that they can rely on him when it comes to catching the ball. He is also a fantastic route runner who is savvy and detailed.
All of these characteristics of Smith-Njiba is the one that put him in the number five spot on the NFLPA’s rising star list this season. Smith-Njiba still has more to offer, which is why he is someone to watch out for this coming NFL season.
New Generation Of Promising Players
The NFL draft each year gives us a new set of promising players that will make history in the NFL. These five players mentioned above are the new players who display exceptional skills in football, making the 2023 NFL season more exciting to watch.
