Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Grading every rookie from the New Orleans Saints 2023 NFL draft class: How did Bryan Bresee, Kendre Miller, Blake Grupe stack up?
The New Orleans Saints are going to be relying on their young players heavily as other parts of the roster begin to show their age, but how did each of their rookies from the 2023 NFL draft class grade out? Who is off to a good start, and who needs to make up for lost time?
Here’s how we evaluated each Saints rookie now that the 2023 season is behind them:
The Packers got record-breaking production from their rookie class of pass-catchers during the 2023 season.
The Green Bay Packers received more pass-catching production out of rookies in 2023 than any team in recorded NFL history.
A combination of second-round pick Luke Musgrave, second-round pick Jayden Reed, third-round pick Tucker Kraft, fifth-round pick Dontayvion Wicks, undrafted rookie Malik Heath and undrafted rookie Ben Sims led the Packers to some receiving numbers never before seen in Packers or NFL history.
A few things to know on the rookie class of pass-catchers, from either the NFL, the team’s Dope Sheet or our own research:
— The Packers set NFL records for catches by rookies (191) and receiving yards by rookies (2,250).
— Jayden Reed set the Packers rookie record for catches (64). He also became the first Packers rookie to lead the team in catches and receiving yards since Sterling Sharpe in 1988.
— Jayden Reed became the first rookie in NFL history to produce 60 or more catches, 750 or more receiving yards, eight or more receiving touchdowns, 100 or more rushing yards and two or more rushing touchdowns.
— Six different rookies caught touchdown passes, the most by one team in the Super Bowl era.
— Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks became the first rookie pair to both go over 500 receiving yards since 2014.
— Luke Musgrave tied Bubba Franks’ team record for catches by a rookie tight end (34).
— The Packers had four rookies catch at least 30 passes for the first time in team history. It’s the first time this has happened in the NFL since at least 1970.
— Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft became the first rookie tight end duo to each catch at least 30 passes, 350 receiving yards and at least one tight end since Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez in 2010.
— The Packers became the first team to have rookies produce at least 200 receiving yards in four different games during a regular season. The Packers did so in Week 10 (at PIT), Week 11 (vs. LAC), Week 15 (vs. TB) and Week 18 (vs. CHI). The 19 catches for 235 yards by rookies against the Buccaneers were both team records.
— Among players picked in the fifth round or later, Dontayvion Wicks finished second in team history in receiving yards (trailing only Max McGee’s 614 yards). He’s one of only three fifth-round picks or later to produce 500 or more receiving yards in team history, and just the 16th in the NFL since 2000.
Texans rookie QB C.J. Stroud has his first bad game, exits with possible concussion
It’s bound to happen eventually right? The perpetual feel good story that has been CJ Stroud’s season came to a grinding halt this last Sunday against an elite New York Jets defense.
While Stroud has certainly been lights out this season as unquestionably the best rookie in the league and one of the better quarterbacks altogether, it seems he may have hit a rookie wall for at least one game. Against the Jets, Stroud managed to hit on just 10 completions, compiling 91 yards and no touchdowns on the afternoon. The cherry on top is towards the end of the game, the rookie left after suffering a concussion thanks to a hit from Quinnen Williams.
It’s clear that Stroud is a special quarterback who is going to be good for a very long time. The conditions he had to play under against New York were abysmal, with virtually no time to throw the football, pressure on every play, and receivers smothered off the line by aggressive defensive backs. Stroud will no doubt bounce back from this game and hopefully equally so from his concussion. Stroud is going to be a good one for a long time, but this game might have shown some kryptonite for the Houston Superman.
3 Patriots players should be featured more in 2024 and beyond.
There’s no question this season has been brutal to watch for the New England Patriots. They are sitting at 3-10 on the season and considered one of the worst teams in the NFL.
Yet, there are some players who have been bright spots and deserve a larger role next season.
Now, these things could change as it is likely a new regime will be in place next year, and they may move to get their own players through the draft and free agency.
But there are three players in particular that have made the most out of limited playing time and deserve a much larger role in 2024.
Dawand Jones is proving that he clearly should not have fallen all the way into the fourth round
It’s not everyday you see a rookie offensive lineman come in out of the fourth round of a draft and completely dominate. Yet, that is exactly what the rookie for the Cleveland Browns, Dawand Jones, has been able to do.
We have seen multiple elite performances out of Jones, locking down some of the best pass rushers in the entire league such as Nick Bosa and T.J. Watt. In his first 11 games of his career, Jones has given up just three quarterback hits and three sacks on the season for a variety of different signal callers. He is also part of one of the most stable running attacks in the league, one which he is a clear anchor for on the right side of that Cleveland attack.
It’s hard to be successful in the league as a rookie, especially one drafted in the later rounds. It’s even tougher when you are thrown the adversity of blocking for multiple different quarterbacks and losing your top running back. Dawand Jones is proving that he clearly should not have fallen all the way into the fourth round, and is solidifying himself not only as the best rookie offensive lineman from this class, but one of the best tackles in the league.
Dolphins rookie De’Von Achane has huge game in return from injury
Back in early October the NFL lost one of it’s most exciting young rookies in De’Von Achane to a knee injury. Last Sunday Achane made his return against the Washington Commanders, and he did it in one of the best ways possible.
The game between the Commanders and the Miami Dolphins was truly never really that close as the Tua Tagovailoa lead team eventually ran away with the game with a blowout final score of 45-15. While Achane was not heavily involved early, he got more and more touches as the game got out of hand and eventually came away as the Dolphins’ leading rusher.
.@MiamiDolphins @DevonAchane adds more speed to the fastest show in the NFL. #finsup #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/RZgZoa9Gp1
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) December 4, 2023
Achane looked as explosive as ever with 103 yards on 20 total touches, including a pair of touchdowns on the ground. The Commanders clearly had no answer for the overwhelming amount of speed on Miami’s roster, including their exciting rookie running back. It’s fair to expect Achane to continue having a completely bonkers season given he is averaging an absurd 9.5 yards per carry on the year. Miami looks like it hit yet another home run in this addition to the most exciting offense in the NFL.
Ranking the Week 11 rookie quarterback performances, from Stroud to Young
Another week down, another week to evaluate the performances of the multiple rookie starting quarterbacks in the league. We once again saw a mixed bag from all the rookies, but also saw some flashes from some newcomers.
Let’s take a look at each rookie and rank their Week 11 performances from best to worst:
Tommy DeVito looked like how you would expect an undrafted rookie to play in his first start for the Giants
There was certainly an interesting news cycle for the newfound starting quarterback of the New York Giants, Tommy DeVito. He talked about living with his parents in nearby New Jersey. While that storyline was certainly interesting, his play on the field Sunday against the division rival Dallas Cowboys was less so.
It’s truly hard to evaluate what DeVito brings to the table in this completely anemic offense that gave him virtually no shot to succeed. It didn’t help that DeVito was facing off against one of the more ferocious defensive units in the entire league. That being said, DeVito looked almost out of place on the field Sunday as he delivered a middling performance. To his credit, DeVito was able to deliver on a pair of touchdowns, but outside of that, there wasn’t much to be excited about. With just 86 yards passing on 27 attempts, there was clearly nothing working with the undrafted free agent under center.
Tommy Devito touchdown pass to Sterling Shepard. LETS GOOOOOO pic.twitter.com/uo5K9HsQhf
— Bobby Skinner (@BobbySkinner_) November 13, 2023
It’s unfair to pass judgment this early in the young quarterback’s career, and he still has plenty of room to grow, but the entire offense last week left many wondering if this unit could outscore the Alabama Crimson Tide, let alone the Dallas Cowboys. Hopefully, the Giants can figure out a way to put DeVito in a more advantageous position next week against the Washington Commanders and not leave the rookie quarterback out to dry.
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Ranking the Week 10 performances of the 6 rookie QBs who saw action
Another week down, another week to evaluate the performances of the multiple rookie starting quarterbacks in the league. We once again saw a mixed bag from all the rookies, but also saw some flashes from some newcomers.
Let’s take a look at each rookie and rank their Week 8 performances from best to worst:
Bryan Bresee’s midseason grade ranks high among 2023 first-round draft picks. The rookie defensive tackle has been exactly what the Saints hoped for:
This is good to see. Draft Wire’s Jeff Risdon shared his midseason grades for every rookie picked in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft, and he’s got a positive review for New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Bryan Bresee.
Based off the first-year pro’s work so far, Risdon graded Bresee with a B, writing that:
“Bresee brings a lot of energy and activity to the Saints defensive front, though it’s not always pointed in the right direction. The pass rushing has been solid and ever-improving. If he learns to stay disciplined in the run game, Bresee is going to be a very useful player for a long time.”
Better harnessing that energy is something Allen has talked about with Bresee — emphasizing that the rookie needs to maintain a lower pad level and hold up stronger in run defense. Too often he gets moved off the line of scrimmage or pushed aside to open a running lane. But when Bresee is given the green light to get after the passer, he does a great job, and that’s largely why the Saints drafted him.
Just look at his stat line going into Week 10: 11 tackles (7 solo, 3 tackles for loss), 17 pressures (at Pro Football Focus) and 1.5 sacks, plus 5 passes defensed, which are the second-most by a rookie defensive lineman in Saints franchise history. Bresee is impacting passing plays even when he isn’t getting home to the quarterback.
He’s been exactly as impactful a defender as the Saints expected when they called his name on draft day. Let’s see if Bresee can keep this momentum going into the second half of his rookie season.
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