Rookies to Watch in Week 2 of NFL Preseason
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The first week of the 2023 NFL preseason is officially in the books, and Thursday night's game between the Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles will kick off the second full slate of exhibition matchups.
Last week featured plenty of impressive performances from this year's rookie class, many of them coming from unlikely prospects instead of the big-name players who were selected at the top of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Preseason games might not officially "count" when it comes to wins and losses, but they can be vital when it comes to finding out which young players are ready to make an immediate and significant impact at the next level.
Here are a handful of rookies to keep an eye on during the second week of NFL preseason games:
Raiders QB Aidan O'Connell
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Derek Carr is gone, but there was still a No. 4 carving up opposing defenses in the Raiders' preseason opener last week. O'Connell, a fourth-round pick out of Purdue, completed 15 of his 18 pass attempts for 141 yards and a touchdown in a 34-7 win over the 49ers.
He showed poise and efficiency, making sound decisions and taking care of the football. Considering Jimmy Garoppolo's injury history, the Raiders might need O'Connell to play like that at some point during the regular season, so let's see if he can do it again this week.
Cowboys RB Deuce Vaughn
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The smallest player in the entire 2023 NFL draft class came up huge for the Cowboys in his preseason debut. Vaughn tallied 50 yards rushing on just eight carries, averaging a whopping 6.2 yards per attempt, and adding a touchdown on the ground.
Ezekiel Elliott is gone, and Tony Pollard is coming off a season-ending injury while playing this year on the one-year franchise tender. Vaughn appears to be the front-runner to back up Pollard, which could be an even bigger role if the latter can't stay healthy.
Texans WR Tank Dell
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Another playmaker who makes up for his lack of size with explosiveness and savvy, Dell looked like the best player on the field at times during Houston's preseason opener against the Patriots. He led the team with five receptions for 65 yards, including a juggling touchdown catch.
A third-round pick out of Houston, Dell has big-play ability that Houston will want to take advantage of early and often this season. He's obviously building chemistry and trust with quarterback C.J. Stroud, which should bode well for his target share in the regular season.
Jets DE Will McDonald IV
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The most impressive first-round pick of the preseason so far might be McDonald, who was criticized by some (myself included) as perhaps one of the bigger reaches at the top of this year's draft at No. 15 overall.
McDonald showed off his impressive pass-rushing technique during his first preseason game, stringing together multiple moves to put consistent pressure on the opposing quarterback. He's got impressive length and explosiveness off the ball, and it won't be surprising if this week's opponent gives a little more help to the tackle on his side.
