Ollie Butler-Henderson’s Rookie of the Year candidates

The 2023 NFL Draft has been and gone. But this year is no different to any other years, where come September we will settle down and watch in great anticipation the rookie class of 2023. 

Notably the rookies from Alabama and Georgia will be players to keep a keen eye on, each having 10 players drafted respectively (the latter mostly by the Philadelphia Eagles). I do think that this class of rookies will massively improve the quality of a lot of rosters overall, with most teams filling their needs with some great talents.  

Before I delve into my offensive and defensive rookies of the year, I must give an honourable mention to Zay Flowers from Boston College. I made it very evident on my podcast ‘the third and long podcast’ that I was keen for him to join my beloved New England. Although I was sad he didn’t end up a pat, I do like this pick for Baltimore, and despite lining up on an offence that’s heavy on the run game, I can still see him getting a decent number of receipts alongside OBJ and Mark Andrews.

The Offense, the positions that usually earn the most points, gets the most jersey sales, and if successful earns the big bucks (as we have seen in recent weeks) are up first. Here is my pick of the best offensive rookies, and later defensive, from the 2023 draft, and my contenders for Rookie of the Year.

Offensive Rookie of the Year candidates

1. Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons

In the final days leading up to the draft the much-hyped Bijan Robinson was hotly tipped to go high in the first round, but when Atlanta drafted Bijan at #8 I did initially think ‘wow’, they took him high (it was 2:30 in the morning here in the UK!).

But then a few hours sleep and several cups of tea later upon reflection, I thought it was a good solid pick. In 2022, Atlanta drafted Tyler Allgeier in the 5^th round, and whilst an impressive player stat wise (rushed for 1035 yards in his rookie season), he isn’t as skilled, quick, or as big as Bijan. 

Robinson is very similar in statue to Cordelle Patterson, but what puts him ahead of him is his explosion, the ability to stop/start his runs and his ability to finish the play. Atlanta will be designing new plays with Bijan’s ability to catch passes.

Check out his catch against Iowa state from last season. it’s a catch a wide receiver would be proud of. 

2. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seattle Seahawks

JSN is very close for me when it comes to selecting my offensive rookie of the year, in fact in my opinion him and Bijan are streets ahead of the rest as we close in on rookie mini camps.

Whilst JSN missed most of the 2022 season with an ankle injury, it didn’t stop the Seahawks selecting him at 20, with him being the first wide receiver off the board. In a 2021 Ohio State team that included Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson, JSN was the team leader with 95 receptions and 1606 yards plus nine touchdown, so I as not surprised at all to see him picked as the first WR.

Despite being behind DK Metcalf and Tyler locket, he will easily be Geno Smith’s third primary target, and I do see him getting a lot of the ball. He has the ability to slow the game down and his route running, and the way he comes out of his breaks gives Seattle something different to complement what they already have. 

3. Bryce Young, QB, Carolina Panthers

You are probably thinking that I am mad in selecting Bryce Young as third on my list, but I do have my reasons.

Yes, he was the number one overall pick in the draft, and yes the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner. But Heisman Trophy winners rarely win rookie of the year on either the offence or defence side. The last time a Heisman trophy winner won Offense rookie of the year was Kyler Murray in 2019, and before that Robert Griffin III in 2012.

There is a reason. The Panthers went 7-10 last season, and it wasn’t purely down to the QB. They were weak on the offensive side of the ball more generally, and I can’t see Bryce having the same kind of impact that say a Brock Purdy had when he came on in week 13. 

4. CJ Stroud, QB, Houston Texans

Personally, I think if the Texans drafted Stroud next season (giving themselves a further 12 months to develop as a team), he would have been the favourite for offensive rookie of the year. 

But the Texans had the second worst record last season, and it wasn’t fully on Davis Mills. I don’t think their wide receiver corps is good enough to support Stroud, and whilst I do think the Nick Caserio has done a decent job in this draft, there are no standout weapons for Stroud to utilise, to show his key strength which is his accuracy. 

I do believe that CJ, will have a very good and long future in this league, with his excellent touch vision and ability to move around the pocket which will keep him out of trouble. When the offensive line has improved, we will then see the best from CJ, just not this season.

5. Jalin Hyatt, WR, New York Giants

Hyatt is the wide receiver New York have been searching for since OBJ left in 2018. In the 2022 season Hyatt recorded 67 receptions for 1267 yards, and 12 touchdowns including 207 yards, from five catches all going for TDs against Alabama. 

With his 40-yard dash time at 4.30, this will stretch defences and we can see then see the arm strength of Daniel Jones. Along with his top speed, his acceleration and stop/start route running, he will cause the DBs all kinds of trouble. If he can improve his route running tree, he can be a real threat inside and out for years to come. 

So over to the dark side of the ball, being a former defensive back myself when I played for the Worcestershire Black Knights, I have always had a soft spot for defensive players and as the old saying goes defence wins championships. So in saying that here is my pick of the best defensive rookies from the 2023 draft, and my contenders for Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Defensive Rookie of the Year candidates

1. Christian Gonzalez, CB, New England Patriots

Now some may think me biased here, but I genuinely think Christian is an excellent first round draft pick and will thrive in a Belichick defence. 

Bill Belichick will know how to get the best out of Christian’s explosion out of his stance, and the effortless working across the field as well as downhill press. He has the ability to stick to a wide receiver like glue taking out WR1s from the game, he can be as effective as Sauce Gardner was last season in New York.

I am sure BB can have him performing very quickly and this will allow Christian to post the same kind of numbers in did in his last season at college level, where in Oregon he recorded 35 Tackles, seven passes deflected, and four interceptions with two of them being returned to the house. 

2. Devon Witherspoon, CB, Seattle Seahawks

Many people were surprised when Devon was selected at pick number five. But this is a very smart play by Seattle (who stole this player from under the Lion’s noses). Being lined up alongside Tariq Woolen in their secondary will cause problems for QBs all game long. 

Woolen had a brilliant 2022 season, and the addition of Witherspoon, who has the ability to break on the wide receiver routes even before the receiver knows it’s coming), it will hugely compliment Seattle’s defensive strategy. Devon is a hard-hitting defender who loves a tackle, you only have to watch his tackle against Indiana, where he managed to knock the ball and the player off his feet.

I can see him having the same kind of season as he did in Illinois in 2022. 

3. Jalen Carter DT, Philadelphia Eagles

Carter was wildly coveted as one of if not the best player available entering the draft. A wrecking machine in college, the Georgia standout had great ability in hurrying every QB that he faced. His ability to penetrate and get to the back field is as impressive as the likes of Aaron Donald and Chris Jones.

Although the Eagles were already the second best defence last season, with DC Jonathan Gannon moving to take the Arizona HC role, I’m not convinced the defence will be as good this season, could this impact what could be an outstanding season for Carter? I’m not convinced.

4. Brian Branch, S, Detroit Lions

There is a reason this young man was touted to be a first-round pick, even the first DB off the board. I was shocked as were many to see that Branch went in well into day two of the draft, ending up being a steal for the Lions (kudos for being the only player that returned to the green room day 2 to be there in person when he was drafted). 

The real bonus is that he has the skills to line up in both the strong and free safety positions, and his ability to blitz, will be a joy to the Detroit faithful. In an Alabama defence he managed to collect 3 sacks last season.

His skills in the secondary were second to none at college level, he is as comfy in zone coverage as he is in man coverage averaging 8 PDs a season, and last season was a career high 90 tackles, and yes, he can also punt the ball.

5. Nolan Smith, EDGE, Philadelphia Eagles

I won’t lie, I almost went with the ‘safe’ option of Will Anderson, but I think he may be heavily marshalled by the majority of O-Line’s he’ll come up against in the league in the league. So, I landed on Nolan Smith and my reasons for taking Nolan is simple really, it’s his speed. 

Despite being 6ft 3 and 237 LBS, he still managed to clock a 4.58 in the forty-yard dash, and he has the ability to drop into coverage and pick up the crossing routes. In a defence which last season had 4 players who registered at least 10 sacks each, they have added another player who has the ability to rush the passer registering 12.5 sacks in his 4 seasons in Georgia. 

–

So whilst they are yet to kick or throw a ball for their respective NFL teams, you heard it here first your 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year is…. Bijan Robinson, and your 2023 Defensive Rookie of the Year is …..Christian Gonzalez.  

Ollie is one of four hosts of ‘The Third and Long Podcast’ a franchise wide UK based podcast, which airs live on the off season every Thursday at 8:30pm on Facebook Live and YouTube, and every Monday and Thursday during the season. Follow us on Twitter @3rdandlongukpod.