The NFL’s Top Defensive Rookies from 2023

By Frank W. Gillespie | Posted 2 months ago
The NFL’s Top Defensive Rookies from 2023

The fanfare surrounding Super Bowl LVIII has come and gone, and the Kansas City Chiefs have retained their crown. The 2023-24 NFL season was chock full of intrigue, drama, and high-quality entertainment. There was no shortage of rookie standouts, on both sides of the ball, and this article pays homage to 2023’s top defensive phenoms.

Here are the five most outstanding defensive rookies from this past NFL season: 

1. Will Anderson: DE, Houston Texans

The Houston Texans have done extremely well recently regarding their draft picks. Quarterback C.J. Stroud won Offensive Rookie of the Year (OROY), and now edge rusher Will Anderson has won Defensive Rookie of the Year (DROY) honors. The Texans traded up to acquire Anderson with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and it paid immediate dividends. Anderson terrorized the league right out of the gate.

The former Alabama Crimson Tide tackle-machine tallied 45 tackles (including 10 for a loss) and seven sacks, while whipping up a 17.3% QB pressure rate with 64 total QB pressures (both tops among NFL rookies). Anderson beat out several other talented candidates to win DROY, and projects to be an Edge Menace for years to come. 

 

2. Jalen Carter: DT, Philadelphia Eagles

Eagles’ rookie defensive tackle Jalen Carter was Anderson’s most serious competition for DROY, receiving just 29 points less while finishing second. Carter, the No. 9 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, started the season sizzling but cooled off a bit down the stretch. A shining star in Philadelphia’s generally disappointing defensive ranks, Carter finished with 33 tackles, six sacks, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. Carter’s fumble recovery against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 14 went for a touchdown.

3. Kobie Turner: DT, Los Angeles Rams

Rams’ DT Kobie Turner is looking like a steal for Los Angeles at pick 89 in the 2023 NFL Draft. Turner led the Rams (and all rookies) with nine sacks, tying three-time Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) Aaron Donald for the rookie record in L.A. The Washington, D.C. native also racked up 57 total tackles, and 16 QB hits. Turner finished third in DROY voting, but this three-word response says a lot about the young man’s character and work ethic: “Back to work.” Was Turner robbed? Turner, Puka Nakua, and Matthew Stafford all failed to win in the award categories they were nominated in, but the Rams are resilient, dangerous, and seemingly back on the rise.

4. Devon Witherspoon: CB, Seattle Seahawks

Seahawks’ cornerback Devon Witherspoon had a very different response to being “snubbed” in the DROY race. Witherspoon, the fifth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, posted a grinning demonic emoji in response to placing fourth in DROY voting. Seattle’s secondary is likely feeling disgruntled and disrespected with regards to defensive rookie awards. Last season, fellow Hawks’ CB Riq Wooden finished third in DROY voting, behind New York Jets’ CB Sauce Gardner and Detroit Lions’ DE Aidan Hutchinson. 

During an excellent rookie campaign, Witherspoon amassed 79 tackles, three sacks, one forced fumble, and one interception (which was returned 97 yards for a touchdown). Witherspoon is the only defensive rookie to be named to the Pro-Bowl this year. 

5. Joey Porter, Jr.: CB, Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers have to be ecstatic about Joey Porter Jr.’s production in his first season. Starting only 11 games, Porter Jr. posted 43 combined tackles and one interception. Most impressive of all, Porter Jr. proved that he is already one of the best cover corners in the entire league. In fact, Porter Jr. led the entire league (as a rookie) in the shadow rate category. The Porter DNA bleeds black and gold, as Joey Porter Sr. won Super Bowl XL with the Steelers in 2006. Porter Jr. handed the ball from his first career interception to his father, and the city of Pittsburgh hopes to reap the rewards of legacy. 

  

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