Getty Image / Michael Owens
A week ago, we were in the midst of the 2023 NFL Draft. 259 players were selected by the 32 NFL teams in the hope that they would positively influence their franchises, some as rookies.
Of course, some of those players will actually make those teams much worse, like JaMarcus Russell did for the Oakland Raiders after being selected first overall in 2007. But, some will make their teams much better very soon.
We have some recent examples of this, too. Wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase went fifth overall to the Cincinnati Bengals in 2021, and the down-on-their-luck franchise went from picking in the top five to just one play away from winning the Super Bowl that same season, due in large part to a massive season from the rookie.
There are many examples of rookies have monster seasons in the NFL. And, CBS Sports came out with a list of the best rookies of all time.
The top five is star-studded, with it being, in order, from 5-1, Eric Dickerson, Earl Campbell, Lawrence Taylor, Randy Moss, and Gale Sayers. Those five are all in the Hall of Fame, obviously. And, Lawrence Taylor, who starred with the New York Giants as an outside linebacker, has an argument to be the greatest football player of all time.
There are some recent entries, too. Ja’Marr Chase, Ezekiel Elliott, and Micah Parsons are the three rookies that were in the NFL Draft in the past five years. The top quarterback on the list is Ben Roethlisberger. The Miami (OH) quarterback led the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 15-1 record in his rookie year before losing in the AFC Championship Game. One year later, he was a Super Bowl Champion.
This past draft class was not considered a very strong one at the top, though it had a lot of depth. But, maybe Bryce Young, Will Anderson, Bijan Robinson, or someone else will have an all-time great rookie season.