Rams, Pack lead NFL rookie parade … It is almost guaranteed that there will be a lot of tweaking of NFL rosters between now and when the regular season opens next weekend. For now, though, the LA Rams and Green Bay have the largest number of rookies on their current rosters including both players selected at the 2023 draft as well as undrafted free agents. Both teams, in fact, currently have 15 rookies on their 53-man rosters, followed by Tampa Bay and Seattle with 13 and 12 respectively, while Jacksonville and New England have 11 apiece and Arizona and Tennessee 10 each. The Rams come by their total the old fashioned way after all 14 of their 2023 draftees made the opening day roster, along with one undrafted rookie. For its part, Green Bay kept 11 of 13 2023 picks, while also keeping 4 undrafted free agents. On the other hand, Tampa Bay retained almost as many undrafted rookies as 6 UDFAs made the Bucs’ final 53, while they also kept 7 of 8 draft picks.
At the other end of the spectrum, Miami, Baltimore, and Carolina will go into the season with the fewest number of rookies on their respective rosters as each will have only 5 draftees or UDFAs. Miami, in particular is an interesting case in that the Dolphins currently actually have one more undrafted free (3) than 2023 draft picks (2) on their roster. Of course, it didn’t help in Miami’s case that the Dolphins only had 4 picks to begin with after a series of trades for veteran talent, but it is somewhat unusual that a team with only four picks would release two even if they were late rounders. One other rather unusual oddity in all of this is that both kickers currently on the New England roster are rookies selected at the 2023 draft in PK Chad Ryland and P Bryce Baringer, chosen in the 4th and 6th rounds respectively.
