Most hyped duos post-NFL Draft
With the conclusion of the 2023 NFL Draft, it’s time to look at what impact the selections will have on their respective teams and teammates. In this case, I’m picking out the most hyped duos heading into the summer.
Yes, all of my choices come from first rounders this year. There is a reason these guys were drafted so high and who am I to question NFL General Managers?
Zach Wilson is showing off that No.2 overall talent riding the bench behind a Hall of Famer in New York, Baker Mayfield is a generational talent on his (wait, 1, 2, 3, 4)… fourth squad in just under as many years and Deshaun Watson is a great role model to lead a franchise. Oh wait…
Probably best to move on from quarterbacks and look at the pairs which that I think are most exciting off the back of the draft:
Zay Flowers & Odell Beckham Jr. – Baltimore Ravens
From a potential horror show of an offseason, not bringing back Lamar Jackson in one of the worst front office decisions seen in recent years, the Baltimore Ravens have gone and hit three home runs. Bring in OBJ, sign back your franchise quarterback and draft Flowers to soup up an already juiced up offense.
Drafting a potential stud in Zay Flowers to complement OBJ underneath, while opening up coverage for Mark Andrews, there’s potential for this Ravens offense to get going early. Add into that the return of Lamar Jackson and a healthy JK Dobbins the ground attack will be fierce.
Expect Flowers to line up all across this offense, taking handoffs and making plays on shallow crossing routes.
Devon Witherspoon & Tariq Woolen – Seattle Seahawks
Get ready to enjoy the second coming of the “Legion of Boom”. Long gone are Kam Chancellor et al., but with the pick of Devon Witherspoon, Pete Carroll has created a no fly zone in Seattle.
His new teammate Tariq Woolen was a runaway success in his first year, snagging 6 picks. With the selection of the Illinois University standout at #5, Woolen can expect some premier help on the other side to continue the growth of a Seahawks team in the ascendency in 2023.
Jordan Addison & Justin Jefferson – Minnesota Vikings
Put any receiver with Justin Jefferson and they are going to know full well they are going to play second fiddle in a Cousins-Jefferson bromance. Having said that Jordan Addison has shown throughout the draft process that he has the potential to prove there might just be room for a love triangle in Minnesota.
If Addison can take advantage of the receptions that fall his way off the back of Jettas being double covered every play he could see a LOT of yardage in his first year.
Let’s face it the Vikings have a hell of a track record for drafting wide receiver gems in the late first round, see Randy Moss and Jefferson, it doesn’t look like they are done yet.
Jalen Carter & Fletcher Cox (& Nolan Smith) – Philadelphia Eagles
Is there anything better than a pair of destructive defensive tackles wrecking a game? Philly took the best player on the board at the #9 overall pick, and boy does that make their defensive line scary.
Then they added a Georgia Bulldog at No.30 overall in Nolan Smith, this line just became stacked with talent.
Only a few months removed from a Super Bowl defeat at the hands of the Chiefs, the Eagles have invested in two men that will chase down Patrick Mahomes and his often superhuman talents. Pair them both with Fletcher Cox and the young buck-veteran combination could well reap its rewards.
Under the wing of Cox, expect to see Carter and Smith make an instant impact on this Philly defense.