With the 2023 NFL Draft now over, it’s time for the next step for the newly selected rookies: choosing their jersey numbers.
It’s a small decision in their NFL career, but a big one. Choosing your jersey number is always an important moment for rookies. Especially since depending on the magnitude of their performance, this number can become emblematic and inseparable from their heritage: a bit like Dan Marino’s 13 or Brett Favre’s 4. Witness to the importance of this number: the refusal of Aaron Rodgers, recently traded to the New York Jets, to wear Joe Namath’s famous No. 12. So who will wear what next season? Let’s discover together the numbers of the best picks of the 2023 Draft like Bryce Young, Anthony Richardson or Devon Witherspoon.
Number 9 for Bryce Young
The Panthers, who selected Bryce Young with the first pick of the 2023 Draft, have already announced that the former Alabama will wear number 9. The current quarterback of Carolina, Matt Corral, therefore changes his number to back to 2, the number he wore at Ole Miss and in high school. A modification however requested by Corral before the Draft and which is not linked to the arrival of Young in the workforce.
Bryce Young to wear No. 9 https://t.co/peXncPBVht
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) May 2, 2023
Anthony Richardson innovates with the 5
Although this information is not confirmed by the Colts, Anthony Richardson has already decided on the number he was going to wear in Indiana. “I’m looking to get number 5,” the fourth draft pick announced, “that was the first number I had playing football in Miami when I was a kid. I feel like that’s what laid the groundwork for me.” Thus, the new Indianapolis quarterback drops the 15 he wore in Florida, a number that earned him the nickname AR-15 in college. By entering the big league, he logically chose to abandon this flocking to no longer be associated with an assault rifle.
Notable Seahawks rookies have made their picks
Devon Witherspoon, the second defensive player selected in the Draft behind Will Anderson Jr., will don a No. 21 jersey with the Seattle Seahawks. Indeed, the number he wore in Illinois, 31, is already taken by running back DeeJay Dallas. The rookie cornerback therefore turned to the number he wore at Pine Forest High School in Florida.
Seattle’s second pick in the first round, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, meanwhile, is lucky to keep his favorite number 11. Lucky since the previous holder, Marquise Goodwin, signed up with the Cleveland Browns during free agency. The Seahawks wide receiver sported the 11 on his back from Rockwall High School in Texas to Ohio State University.
Bijan Robinson plays Michael Vick
With the 8th draft pick, the Falcons chose Bijan Robinson. The former Texas has thus become the highest selected running back since Saquon Barkley, 2nd in 2018. A lot of expectations are therefore based on the native of Tucson, Arizona. This does not seem to scare him since he chose to wear the famous number 7, the one made famous by franchise icon Michael Vick. Until last year, No. 7 in Atlanta was owned by South Korean kicker Younghoe Koo.
There’s something about that #7 pic.twitter.com/bNjLj7los8
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) May 2, 2023
Change of number for Jahmyr Gibbs
Jahmyr Gibbs, the second running back selected during this Draft 2023, opted for number 26. The former teammate of Bryce Young in Alabama was deprived of 1, his number in high school and university, by veteran Cameron Sutton. The cornerback, who arrived in Detroit as a free agent, had recently used No. 20 in Pittsburgh.
AJ
Passionate about US sports, especially the NBA and the Boston Celtics, but like Arsène Wenger I have all of Arsenal.
2023-05-03 04:00:00
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