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All the best photos from the rookie season of the Packers’ impressive 2023 draft class.
The Green Bay Packers selected 13 players in the 2023 NFL draft. Of the 13, 11 were on the 53-man roster for most or all of the season. And of those 11, 10 were important contributors to a team that went 9-8, advanced to the postseason and were minutes away from an NFC title game berth.
Here’s a collection of the best photos from the rookie season of the Packers’ impressive 2023 draft class:
The Bucs had some solid production from their rookie draft class in 2023 — see how we graded it at the end of the year?
The Buccaneers’ 2023 draft class was not the splashiest, but it would be hard to argue that it wasn’t one of the most impactful. Five of their drafted rookies played at least 500 snaps, more than any other team in the NFL. Much of Tampa Bay’s success including their postseason run is owed to the contributions of their rookie class.
Here are the season grades for the Bucs’ 2023 draft class:
The Patriots’ rookies got their first look at the team’s six Lombardi Trophies
The 2023 New England Patriots rookies recently got a first-hand look at the team’s six Super Bowl trophies. The trophies were shown to the players by owner Robert Kraft at an event introducing them to Patriots culture, which includes standing up against antisemitism.
Kraft spoke to the rookie class about uniting and bringing people of all backgrounds together.
The rookie class got a look at the Super Bowl trophies and rings from each of the Patriots’ six championship wins, following the discussion. Kraft hopes the new crop of talent can help New England add to their championship collection.
“I love this team. The most important thing to me is that we win,” said Kraft. “But just as important to me is that we build relationships in the community and represent this brand and you, individually in the community, to do things that bring people together.”
“The better you do, the more good you will do everywhere.”
Robert Kraft explains to the rookie class what it means to #StandUptoJewishHate.@StandUp2JewHate | #ForeverNE pic.twitter.com/lEPC0dDjqI
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) June 27, 2023
The Patriots are currently on a break, before returning to Gillette Stadium for training camp. The first practice open to the public is scheduled for July 26.
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Max Duggan had nothing but good things to say about Derius Davis.
The Chargers loved what they saw out of the TCU Horned Frogs offense last season, and drafted their quarterback Max Duggan and two of his receivers, Quentin Johnston and Derius Davis.
The team rose to prominence as a gritty Big 12 contender that made the College Football Playoff and national championship game in a Cinderella story that fans won’t forget any time soon.
For his part, Duggan seemed thrilled to reunite with his college teammates in Los Angeles during his comments to the media after practice at the Chargers’ rookie minicamp.
Though Johnston was a known commodity by many fans who follow the draft, his counterpart Davis flew under the radar a bit during the scouting process, but Duggan made it clear that he helped make the Horned Frogs’ offense click.
“D.D. was a huge threat for us [at TCU], whether it was in special teams, punt return, kick return,” Duggan explained. “Then, obviously, he was a big threat for us as a receiver, too. He can do a lot of things, obviously. His speed is what he’s known for, but he’s savvy. He knows how to run routes. He knows how to set people up with leverage. He’s a great worker and he’s going to be a good one.”
While he won’t be much of a contributor on offense early on, Davis is the favorite to be the return man, as he was arguably the best in college football in this department.
In his collegiate career, Davis returned five punts for a touchdown in just 44 attempts. He averaged 15.0 yards a return. Davis also has experience in kickoff returns, as he had one touchdown in that department and averaged 29.6 yards a return in 2021.
Brandon Staley is focused on getting his first-year players acclimated to life in the NFL.
The Chargers will rely on their veterans to help lift the team to a playoff victory next season. But they are also banking on the contributions from their 2023 draft class too.
Head coach Brandon Staley had a clear message for the team’s first-year players at rookie minicamp last week.
In speaking to reporters, Staley made clear that the development of knowledge and familiarization with the team’s schemes would be a top priority during this phase of the offseason program.
“There’s a lot of learning to do, so everything you’re doing this weekend, you’re doing something for the first time,” He explained. “Just learn as much as you can, work as hard as you can. We’re just going to try and make this a big-time teaching camp for them so that when they get started with the veterans on Monday, they feel like, ‘Hey, I’m one of us.'”
As the Chargers’ rookies continue picking up what the coaches put in front of them this week, fans can expect that the team will get a clearer idea of who might be ready to contribute right away and who might need some time to get comfortable.
Staley and his staff are getting their first look at their newest crop of talent firsthand, and incremental progress is their goal at this juncture.
Kayshon Boutte is the first Patriots rookie to agree to terms on his NFL contract.
The New England Patriots have reportedly agreed to terms with the first rookie from their 2023 NFL draft class.
That player just so happens to be wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, who is one of the most intriguing prospects of the Patriots’ 12 picks. ESPN’s Mike Reiss reported the news on Thursday night.
Per Reiss, it’s a four-year, $4.027 million deal for the sixth-round draft pick.
Boutte was believed to be a first-round talent at one point, but an ankle injury, a dip in on-field production and underwhelming NFL Scouting Combine numbers hurt his draft stock significantly.
First Patriots draft pick to agree to terms: WR Kayshon Boutte.
Sixth-round pick from LSU expected to land four-year, $4.027 million deal.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) May 4, 2023
The former LSU standout has a lot to prove, but there’s no denying the eye-popping talent when turning on the tape. Boutte has the potential to be the steal of the draft if he’s able to find some consistency.
His arrival could pay off in a big way for the receiver-needy Patriots.
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Many of Tampa Bay’s picks scored high marks for their last collegiate season.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted eight new rookies in the 2023 NFL draft, and as with all NFL hopefuls, they showcased some impressive play at the college level.
Many of Tampa Bay’s picks are athletically gifted, but many, like first-round pick [autotag]Calijah Kancey[/autotag] and second-round pick [autotag]Cody Mauch[/autotag], also proved their worth playing the position on the college gridiron. Pro Football Focus has grades for each draft pick in their most recent season, and you can check out what they were below:
Introducing the Green Bay Packers’ draft class for 2023:
The Green Bay Packers made 13 picks during the 2023 NFL draft. The class started with Iowa’s Lukas Van Ness in the first round and finished with Charlotte’s Grant DuBose in the seventh round.
Introducing the full Green Bay Packers’ draft class for 2023:
