With the NFL preseason looming, it gives us a chance to look at every NFC team’s new look roster for the 2023-24 NFL season.
It is also the most exciting time to look at how the 2023 NFL draft class acclimatizes to the step up from college football. With that in mind, here are a few players to watch out for during preseason and the regular season who might have a part to play in the NFC.
I have tried to steer clear of the first two days of the draft, and so I will be looking at players who were selected in round four or later.
NFL outlook: Which offensive rookies in the NFC will make an impact?
QB: Clayton Tune, Arizona Cardinals
With an injury to Kyler Murray and a coaching change looming large over the Cardinals’ season, they decided to take a shot on Clayton Tune, the QB from Houston, with the No. 139 selection of the draft.
Given that Murray may be out for the first few weeks of the regular season, leaving Josh McCown as the starter, Jonathan Gannon may look towards his rookie backup as a replacement if McCown struggles to start the season.
Tune impressed at the collegiate level, passing for over 4000 yards and 40 touchdowns in his final season as a Cougar. He has the mold of a “game manager” at the next level. not someone who can elevate a supporting cast, but can get the job done when called upon. That could end up being vital as the Cardinals look to navigate what could end up being a slightly bleak year in Arizona.
NFC offensive rookies to watch: RB Eric Gray, New York Giants
Even though Saquon Barkley has signed a new contract keeping him in New York for another season, he has a long and well-known injury history and has spent a lot of his career sidelined. If that were to happen, it would leave Matt Brieda as the starter, who has never really been a lead back in his NFL career.
Eric Gray could then seize the opportunity as a rookie running back and play a lot of downs behind a developing Giants offensive line.
As the starter at Oklahoma in 2022, Gray racked up over 1300 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground, while also having over 200 receiving yards as well. His elusive running style prompted the Giants to take a stab at him in the fifth round, and he could be the answer to any injury woes for the G-Men next year.
NFC offensive rookies to watch: WR Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
While the Rams’ receiver room looks quite good on the surface, there is a scope for injuries or just bad form to hurt a slightly inexperienced (outside of Cooper Kupp) room.
Puka Nacua, a 5th-round pick out of BYU, is listed as just behind Van Jefferson on the depth chart and has all the talent in the world to earn a starting role as a rookie.
Nacua impressed as a dual-threat weapon at BYU, with over 1700 all-purpose yards and 10 all-purpose touchdowns over his final two years in Utah.
The threat that he poses both on the ground and through the air is something that should work incredibly well with Sean McVay as his head coach and could lead to him bursting on the scene early in his NFL career.
NFC offensive rookies to watch: TE Payne Durham, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
With a new quarterback at the helm in Tampa Bay, there is a chance that the Buccaneers might have a step back in 2023, and new starter Baker Mayfield will need all the help he can get to navigate through 2023 unscathed.
A strong WR core is already there for him, but the TE room is weaker and Payne Durham might get a lot of chances to impress in 2023.
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As one of the primary weapons at Purdue in 2022, Durham had over 500 receiving yards and 6 receiving touchdowns, as he was a semifinalist for the Mackey Award in college football.
With a safe pair of hands and a secure run blocker, Durham should find his way onto an NFL field very quickly with his profile and should make an instant impact for the Bucs in the NFC.
NFC offensive rookies to watch: OL Asim Richards, Dallas Cowboys
Tyron Smith is getting up there in age, and we saw this in the injury that he suffered last season. If this was to happen again, it would prompt sophomore Tyler Smith to kick out to tackle and leave a hole for Asim Richards to fill across from Zack Martin as a guard.
Primarily a tackle in college, Richards was drafted in the fifth round by the Cowboys, but he does have the flexibility to kick inside at the next level.
He played over 1000 snaps for North Carolina in 2022 and conceded only 3 sacks over the season. His length, raw strength, and natural leverage give him a bucketload of potential which should be realized if given chances to prove himself over the next few seasons.