The 25 best rookies from the 2023 NFL season

It's hard to imagine how Stroud could have played better in his rookie season, leading the Texans to the AFC South division title. The likely Offensive Rookie of the Year looks like a superstar in the making.

Dell was a steal in the third round out of Houston, making teams regret overlooking him in the draft. He caught  47 passes for 709 yards and seven touchdowns before a season-ending injury after only 11 games played.

The Rams have done it again, finding a steal at wideout in the draft. Nacua immediately stepped in as the team's top target when Cooper Kupp was injured, showing elite hands as a fifth-round pick. He set the rookie record for receiving yards and catches in a season and likely would have been the Offensive Rookie of the Year if not for C.J. Stroud standing in his way.

The speedy Gibbs struggled to find regular snaps early in the season, but was otherwise as advertised. The first-round pick had over 1,200 yards from scrimmage and led the league in yards per carry for much of the year.

Addison stepped up as an important part of Minnesota's offense despite injuries to Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson. The first-round pick averaged nearly 60 yards per reception and scored 10 touchdowns.

Atlanta's use of the eighth overall pick in the draft was head-scratching at times, but Robinson still showed why he was drafted so highly. He neared five yards per rush and accumulated well over 1,000 yards from scrimmage.

Drops were a problem for Rice as they were for the entire Chiefs receiving corps, but he emerged as a go-to receiver for Patrick Mahomes. The second-round pick was very efficient overall and became Mahomes's go-to WR in the postseason.

Achane's speed shot him up draft boards, and he was the perfect fit for Mike McDaniel's offense. The third-round pick had three consecutive 100 yard games early in the season before going down with injury but still managed to transform Miami's offense when he played.

Baltimore revamped their receivers with Flowers and Odell Beckham Jr. Flowers was efficient as a top target for Lamar Jackson, averaging better than 50 yards per game.

Iowa's reputation as a tight-end factory continues with LaPorta, who was terrific in his rookie season. The second-round pick scored 10 touchdowns as a key Red Zone target.

It seemed like only a matter of time before Levis would replace Ryan Tannehill under center for the Titans. The strong-armed quarterback had mixed results when he got his chance but was a solid rookie contributor overall with plenty of flashy plays the team can build around.

Smith-Njigba has been stuck as Seattle's third receiver behind DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, but he still had a strong rookie campaign. The Ohio State alum regularly made highlight reel catches while averaging nearly 40 yards per game.

From undrafted rookie to fan favorite, DeVito successfully replaced Daniel Jones going 3-1 in his first four starts. The luster eventually wore off late in the year, but Devito's magic could allow him to maintain an NFL roster spot for years to come.

The Packers haven't been shy about drafting wideouts in recent years, and might have finally struck gold with Reed. The second-round pick emerge as a top option for Jordan Love, averaging more than 40 yards receiving per game and also showing his ability as a runner.

O'Connell had problems with turnovers in his rookie campaign, but the fourth-round pick is now in the conversation to be the Raiders starting quarterback in 2024. He helped the team gain momentum after the firing of Josh McDaniels and showed a strong arm while running the offense late in the year.

The likely Defensive Rookie of the Year, Carter was a terror on the interior for Philly. He did well in replacing Javon Hargrave, no small task for a first-year player.

The Texans paid a big price to trade up for Anderson in the draft, but he looks worthy so far. The big pass rusher looks like the next big thing for Houston's defense.

Seattle now has a wealth of young talent at cornerback, with Tariq Woolen emerging last year and fifth overall pick Witherspoon this season. He was a lockdown corner and playmaker in his rookie season, with a pick-six and three sacks through his first 12 games played.

Detroit desperately needed help in the secondary, and Branch was able to emerge. Through his first 12 games played, he had 63 tackles and three interceptions as a top safety in the NFC.

Baltimore's running back committee continues to march on, with Mitchell its newest arrival. The son of former Raven Anthony Mitchell, Keaton showed flash when he got his opportunity in November and became a key part of the team's running game before being lost for the year.

Kancey drew some comparisons to Aaron Donald as a dominant pass rusher out of Pitt. The high praise isn't warranted quite yet, but Kancey shows the foundation with four sacks through his first 10 games played.

Buffalo craved a No. 3 target for Josh Allen, and Kincaid progressed into that late in the year. The tight end was highly efficient when targeted, averaging five catches per game through his first 12 contests.

Porter was a strong rookie contributor and chip off the old block as the son of the former Steelers linebacker. The 32nd overall pick in the draft looks like a long-term answer at corner for Pittsburgh.

The 5-foot-8 Douglas has surprisingly emerged as New England's most productive receiver this season, recording 44 catches for 517 yards through Week 16. The sixth-round pick looks like a major steal and part of the team's future.

Young's rookie season could have gone better, but he was constantly running for his life behind a poor offensive line in Carolina. The former Heisman Trophy winner out of Alabama still showed some flashes as the Panthers try to build around him.