Be ready to witness new talents that will light football stadiums when rookies show their skills come preseason of the American Football Conference 2022-2023 NFL games. Here are some promising rookies that will display their wares from the American Football League.
American Football Conference
Kansas City Chiefs: Wide Receiver Skyy Moore
The Kansas City Chiefs saw its 111 receptions and 9 touchdowns blown off together with WR Tyreek Hill in a trade.
The Chiefs released Hill in exchange for a 2022 first-round pick previously acquired from the San Francisco 49ers, a 2022 second-round pick, two fourth-round picks, and a 2023 sixth-round pick last March 23, 2022.
Hill inked a four-year, $120 million extension, including $72.2 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL.
Kansas City will have difficulty in finding a replacement for Hill. The Chiefs will have to rally behind their best pick to fill the shoes of their former wideout.
The team chose Skyy Moore to mend the gap left by Hill. Moore cannot produce as much as the departed wide receiver. In time, he will be stacking the numbers needed to put Kansas City into the upper level of competition.
The Western Michigan University rookie has the speed and route-running expertise that excel based on the scouting data the Chiefs have.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes will have a new target for his missiles when the regular season begins. The Chiefs have several wide receiver recruits and Moore can distinguish himself from the rest with his skillset.
Pittsburgh Steelers: WR George Pickens
The Pittsburgh Steelers went for WR George Pickens in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Picken is a product of the University of Georgia where he helped the Bulldogs secure the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship in 2021.
The year before during their Spring practice, he suffered a torn ACL that resulted in missing his junior year NCAA Football competition.
Despite Pickens’ physical blemished health history, there were no “limited athleticism” descriptions in his scouting report. The wide receiver displayed brilliant performances early in training camp.
Pickens possesses positive traits in Hilton being the right pick for Pittsburgh.
Firstly, he is tall enough with long arms for the post. Secondly, he trusts his arms and hands which provide him with a wide catching range. Thirdly, Pickens is a physical and competitive player who is a willing blocker that plays with an attitude.
Fourth, Pickens can consistently sink at the top of his routes. And fifth, he can twitch with the ball in his hands and can make a defender miss with a quick spin or juke. His moves allow him to consistently turn sharply on routes with ease.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have the capacity to choose their wide receivers well than other NFC franchisees can. Considering Pickens’ injured history, they still went for him.
The Steelers have the confidence that Pickens will recover and develop his route-running prowess. And when he does, he will be a weaponized option for the Steelers’ offense with plenty of room to hone his talent.
Houston Texans: DB Jalen Pitre
The Houston Texans got Baylor University product, Defensive back Jalen Pitre from the 37th overall pick in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft Pick.
Pitre is all over the gridiron making plays and his flexibility will be very consistently useful closer to the line of scrimmage.
The former Baylor Bears joined the Texans together with Cornerback Derek Stingley from the Louisiana State University Tigers. Pitre is a very versatile player that the Tigers utilized in their defenses and will work well in tandem with Stingley.
Jalen Pitre will bring his college experience to the Texans as has skills in covering his man with good breaking with the ability to sink his hips to transition. He plays best in short bursts and intermediate passages.
Pitre can also grab the ball in the air like a hawk allowing him to catch the leather away from his body. With his capability on short bursts, Pitre adds blitzing to his skillset where he can bend and slip through lines to make plays. His flexibility will help to bring the ball to the endzone and score for the Texans.
New York Jets: TE Jeremy Ruckert
The New York Jets chose Tight End Jeremy Ruckert drafted 101st overall in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Together with Ruckert is Tight End C.J. Uzomah, who played for the Cincinnati Bengals last season. He has career-highs of 49 receptions, 493 receiving yards, and five touchdowns.
Playing with Ruckert is also TE Tyler Conklin, who signed a 3-year contract with the Jets worth $21 million last March 18, 2022.
Ruckert hails from the Ohio State University Buckeyes where he played from 2018 to 2021. He has good height and will be an effective tight end for the Jets’ offense. His college post is as a good and willing blocker who is willing to fight and get his head across the opposing team.
The former Ohio State Buckeye plays competitively and is a tough player to handle. Scouts rate him as an above-average player who flashes and sinks on his passages at above-average speed. He will be essential to WR Chris Olave and WR Garrett Wilsons’ routes.
Cleveland Browns: EDGE Alex Wright
Edge Alex Wright was the best pick the Cleveland Browns had after having no first and second-round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft. The six-foot-five, 271-pounder is the 76th overall pick and has the opportunity to learn from the best DEs in Myles Garret and Jadeveon Clowney.
Wright is a former University of Alabama Birmingham Blazer who forfeited his senior year to join the 2022 Draft. The former Blazer has the ability to rush the passer and is a perfect fit for the Browns’ defense.
These rookies are presently showing what they got in the NFL preseason. Indeed they have what it takes to electrify the gridiron with their styles of play. Fans are in for a treat.