The preseason is officially here following the Hall of Fame game, which means it’s time to overreact to rookies from across the NFL. All of the fresh, new talent in the league is starting to get incorporated into their respective positions, and these five players have stood out the most based on camp reports.
Now, before we begin, it’s important to take every name on this list with a huge grain of salt. Training camp results don’t always translate to the regular season, especially if a player is dramatically exceeding expectations. After all, it wasn’t that long ago that Terrace Marshall was tearing up the preseason while Ja’Marr Chase looked like he was on a path to the XFL.
5 NFL Rookies That Are Tearing Up Training Camp
Zay Flowers
Zay Flowers was the fourth rookie wide receiver selected in the NFL Draft, and it’s looking like the Baltimore Ravens made a wise investment. With a new offensive coordinator and a wide-open depth chart, the Boston College product has a chance to get on the field right away. Flowers appears to be making the most of this opportunity, as both local and national reporters are taking note of just how uncoverable this guy is.
NBC Sports’ Peter King visited his sixth NFL training camp with the Ravens Wednesday, and his big takeaway:
“The most impressive rookie I have seen in six camps is Zay Flowers. Why? He lines up across from a corner, and unless they literally interfere with him or hold him, he…
— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) August 3, 2023
The Ravens have one of the best tight ends in the game in Mark Andrews, but the rest of the receiving options are completely unproven commodities. If Flowers can step up as a legitimate second option in this passing attack, then Baltimore should be able to go on a deep run in the postseason.
Bryce Young
As the first-overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Bryce Young faces more pressure to succeed than any of the other rookies. So far, the spotlight has not been too bright for the Alabama product, as Young is impressing teammates and coaches alike with both his physical and mental abilities. The quarterback has notably established a connection with newcomer D.J. Chark, and the two could be a lethal duo if this connection carries over into the regular season.
#Panthers 7 on 7 (Bryce’s second drive)
Dime to Chark for TD in back of end zone💰
Complete to Chark for TD💰
Drop by Brown
Complete to Hurst for TD💰 (great ball and grab in tight coverage)END
— Gabe McDonald (@GabeMcDonald_) August 1, 2023
Despite having a reliable quarterback in Andy Dalton, Bryce Young has already earned the Week 1 starting job. While this might seem like a formality, it’s worth noting that fellow top picks C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson have yet to officially win their starting jobs. There is nothing more important to a franchise than having a great quarterback, and Young is well on his way to being the long-awaited heir to Cam Newton.
Devon Achane
Despite the connection throughout the offseason, the Miami Dolphins are not expected to land star running back Dalvin Cook. While there are multiple factors that led us to where we are today, we can’t overlook how Devon Achane’s impressive performance could have impacted Miami’s internal evaluation of the running back position. According to reports out of camp, Achane’s elite speed has been the talk of OTA’s and training camp, and the third-round pick could be in line for a large workload early in the season.
While he likely won’t earn a true three-down workload with Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson in town, Achane could be the 1A in this committee. The biggest knock against Achane as a prospect was his undersized 188-pound build. However, Achane doubled as a track star and needed to keep his weight down. Now that he is fully committed to football, the running back’s weight is up into the 190’s, which will make it easier for him to take an NFL workload.
Quentin Johnston
On paper, the wide receiver trio of Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Quentin Johnston has the potential to be one of the best in the league. If early training camp reports are to be believed, that theory could become reality based on Johnston’s impressive play.
Seeing a lot of Quentin Johnston high-pointing the football in camp.
That's huge if he keeps it up. Thought it was a real weak point of his game at TCU, esp for a guy of his size.
If he's sharpened that skill already he's a steal where they drafted himpic.twitter.com/DdBQeyT8E8
— Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) July 31, 2023
At 6′-3″ and 216 pounds, Quentin Johnston was one of the biggest NFL rookies at his position. However, the tape showed that he rarely used that size to win in contested situations. However, if he has actually learned how to use his build to his advantage, this offense could go up against anyone.
DeMario Douglas
All of the other NFL rookies on this list have Day 1 or 2 draft capital, but New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas has dramatically outplayed his draft status. Selected in the sixth round, the Liberty product has reportedly been the most impressive receiver in training camp. Considering the lack of high-ceiling players on the roster, there is a chance that Douglas works his way into the regular rotation and breaks out as a much-needed depth option for the Patriots passing attack.
Main Photo: Brent Skeen – USA Today Sports
