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Five non-QB rookies that are standing out this season

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison. Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Five non-quarterback rookies that are standing out in NFL this season

By Adam Gretz | Last updated 11/14/23

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is the runaway front-runner for the NFL's offensive rookie of the year as he has completely transformed the team and turned them into an immediate contender in the AFC South.

But he is not the only rookie standing out this season, and it is not just quarterbacks that can impact a team. So let's take a look five non-quarterback rookies that are having big years.

Jordan Addison, wide receiver, Minnesota Vikings. Addison was the fourth wide receiver off the board in the first round and it looks like the Vikings were able to get a steal with him at the No. 23 overall pick. The initial plan for the Vikings was for him to be a complement to superstar Justin Jefferson.

But with Jefferson sidelined in recent weeks Addison has had to step up as the Vikings' top target and he has immediately excelled. He has already caught 45 passes for 603 yards and seven touchdowns. His seven touchdowns top all rookies through 10 weeks, while his yardage total is tops among the four first-round wideouts.

Puka Nacua, wide receiver, Los Angeles Rams. Speaking of steals at wide receiver, nobody managed to get a bigger steal than the Rams with Nacua in the fifth-round. Forget being one of the top rookie wide receivers. He has simply been one of the top wide receivers in the NFL regardless of status.

His 64 receptions are 11th in the NFL while his 827 yards are sixth. He has also caught two touchdowns and made a handful of highlight reel plays.

PUKA NACUA what a catch! pic.twitter.com/61x2SxcVcp https://t.co/QSuoTzONps
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 22, 2023

Sam Laporta, tight end, Detroit Lions. The Lions had three of the first 34 picks in the 2023 and hit a couple of home runs with running back Jahmyr Gibbs, linebacker Jack Campbell and LaPorta. LaPorta is the one that is going to the attention here for becoming such a matchup problem in the middle of the field and filling the void left by last year's trade of T.J. Hockensen to Minnesota.

He has caught 47 passes for 470 yards and four touchdowns while looking like an emerging star at tight end. He is second on the Lions in catches and yards, while tied with Amon-Ra St. Brown for the team lead in receiving touchdowns.

Jalen Carter, defensive line, Philadelphia Eagles. Carter was arguably the most talented player in the 2023 NFL Draft but dropped several spots due to some off-field concerns following his career at Georgia and a bad pro day performance. The Eagles took him at No. 9 overall and landed another potential star on their defensive line.

He has already proven to be an impact pass rusher, recording four sacks and seven quarterback hits through the first 10 games, while also registering five tackles for loss. Alongside last year's first-round pick, Jordan Davis, the middle of the Eagles' defensive line is set for years.

Devon Witherspoon, cornerback, Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks desperately needed to overhaul their defense this offseason and took a big first step toward that with the selection of Witherspoon at No. 5 overall. As good as Carter has been in Philadelphia, Witherspoon might be the most impactful defensive rookie in the NFL.

He has made an impact all over the field for Seattle, recording a 97-yard pick-six, two sacks, 12 pass defenses, two tackles for loss and three quarterback hits. Seattle's defense is still a work in progress and has some flaws, but they appear to have a lockdown corner for the next decade in Witherspoon.

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