Which NFC South rookie will have the biggest impact in 2023? Well, you may know our answer, but let’s hash it out with our fellow managing editors.
Join us and our pals—River Wells of Bucs Wire, Matt Urben of Falcons Wire and John Sigler of Saints Wire—as we make our picks.
Bucs Wire: RB Bijan Robinson
Falcons RB Bijan Robinson will likely pick up right where he left off in college. Atlanta probably isn’t going to rely on Desmond Ridder to open up the pass game with his arm talent, so Bijan could be the centerpiece of the Falcons’ offense in 2023. If he is, expect him to make the most of it.
— River Wells
Falcons Wire: RB Bijan Robinson
Bijan Robinson is joining a crowded backfield, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be heavily featured in the Falcons’ run-heavy offense. For reference, Tyler Allgeier was a healthy scratch in last year’s season-opener and he still rushed for over 1,000 yards as a rookie. Robinson is a better pass catcher than Allgeier, which will allow him to make an impact early on.
— Matt Urben
Panthers Wire: QB Bryce Young
It’s tough not to hand this category over to the No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 NFL draft. One of the biggest “what ifs” in the division last season resided under center in Carolina. What if they had a quarterback that actually wasn’t bad? Well, now they do with Bryce Young.
— Anthony Rizzuti
Saints Wire: QB Bryce Young
It’s got to be QB Bryce Young, who the Carolina Panthers moved mountains to acquire. He’s going to play more snaps than any other rookie in this draft class and have more opportunities to impact games, so he’s my pick.
— John Sigler
