Final Rookie Stock Watch 2023: C.J. Stroud Locks Up OROY

With the season over, it’s time to take full stock.

For this version of stock watch, we’re not looking solely at what happened over the past week, but rather the entire 17-game body of work.

Of course, C.J. Stroud and Puka Nacua deserve special mention for their work this year. Conversely, Bryce Young has struggled mightily in his maiden voyage with the Carolina Panthers.

The top two picks of the 2023 draft have seen very different success levels this season.

Thomas Shea/USA TODAY Sports (left); Bob Donnan/USA TODAY Sports (right)

But who else makes our list? Let’s take one more look. 

Rising

C.J. Stroud, QB, Houston Texans

Stroud has been awesome this season, leading the Texans to 10 wins and an AFC South title. The first-year quarterback threw for 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns against only five interceptions despite myriad injuries around him. A phenomenal start to his career.

Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams

By catching four passes for 41 yards, Nacua broke the all-time rookie receiving record, held previously by Bill Groman of the Houston Oilers in 1960. All told, Nacua was the biggest surprise of the year, catching 105 passes for 1,486 yards and six scores.

Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions

Gibbs came up short of the 1,000-yard mark, finishing with 945. Still, the Alabama product notched 1,231 all-purpose yards and 10 scores, helping the Lions win their first division title since 1993. Going into the postseason, Gibbs and veteran David Montgomery will be a nasty backfield combo.

Sam LaPorta, TE, Detroit Lions

Detroit will need to adjust without LaPorta in the postseason.

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LaPorta had a brilliant campaign for the Lions, but it may have ended on a brutal note as he was carted off in Week 18 with a knee injury. On the year, the second-round pick caught 86 passes for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns, all tops among rookie tight ends.

Rashee Rice, WR, Kansas City Chiefs

Rice was inactive in Week 18, with the Chiefs having wrapped up the AFC West title and the third seed. In 16 games, Rice led all Kansas City wideouts with 79 catches, 938 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Despite all of the Chiefs’ issues on the outside, Rice has been a stud.

Kobie Turner, DL, Los Angeles Rams

Has anybody been better than Turner and gotten less fanfare in this rookie class? Turner came to the Rams as a third-round pick and racked up nine sacks along with 15 pressures and eight tackles for loss, helping Los Angeles reach the postseason in a surprise run.

Jalen Carter, DT, Philadelphia Eagles

Carter has been tremendous for the Eagles. Although the defense has taken several steps back, Carter is a star after notching six sacks as a rookie on the interior. A controversial pick due to his off-field issues, Carter has stayed out of the headlines and played at a Pro Bowl level.

Devon Witherspoon, CB, Seattle Seahawks

Witherspoon was selected to the Pro Bowl last week.

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Witherspoon was the first corner drafted in April, and he lived up to expectations. The Seahawks got a star who recorded an interception, a touchdown, a forced fumble and 79 total tackles. Seattle can build around Witherspoon going forward.

Will Anderson Jr., edge, Houston Texans

Anderson has been excellent all year long, totaling seven sacks despite being injured down the stretch. Furthermore, Anderson recorded six of those sacks over his final seven contests, including a pair of two-sack outings against the Titans and Broncos in December.

Holding Steady

Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons

Robinson could easily be in the risers category, but Gibbs gets the nod instead for his game-to-game consistency. Of course, some of that can be attributed to now fired coach Arthur Smith, who gave Robinson just 214 carries on the season. Ultimately, Robinson finished with 976 rushing yards, 487 receiving yards and seven scores.

Jordan Addison, WR, Minnesota Vikings

Addison was a first-round pick in April.

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Addison was brought in to be a second receiver next to Justin Jefferson but was thrust into a larger role after the 2022 Offensive Player of the Year went out with a hamstring injury. Addison responded well with 911 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, his yardage total being third among rookie wideouts (behind only Nacua and Rice).

Zay Flowers, WR, Baltimore Ravens

Flowers has become the No. 1 option for the AFC’s top seed, and not by default. Coming out of Boston College, the first-year receiver hauled in 77 receptions for 858 yards and five touchdowns. If the Ravens are going to make a Super Bowl run, Flowers will have a huge say.

Christian Gonzalez, CB, New England Patriots

Gonzalez played only four games this season before injuring his shoulder and going on IR, but he’s clearly a star in the making. While the Patriots have ample work to do this offseason, Gonzalez is a pillar they can build around defensively. 

Falling

Bryce Young, QB, Carolina Panthers

Young has been playing within a turbulent Panthers team that saw its coach fired midway through the season.

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The Panthers were rancid this season, and Young was part of the mess. In 16 starts, Young threw for a hideous 2,877 yards and 11 touchdowns with 10 interceptions. While Young’s story is far from written, there’s no arguing how rough his first campaign was.

Tyree Wilson, edge, Las Vegas Raiders

Wilson was drafted to play alongside Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones, but Jones never saw the field after being released in September following a domestic violence charge. As for Wilson, he struggled to find his footing after being the No. 7 pick, amassing only 3.5 sacks.

Will McDonald IV, edge, New York Jets

Much like Wilson, McDonald was selected in the first round and was expected to be a rotational piece early. Instead, he played in 15 games but totaled only three sacks along with 13 tackles. With Bryce Huff hitting free agency, McDonald should see more action in 2024.