Every NFL Roster's Best-Kept Secret Heading into 2023 OTAs
In a 32-team league where every team carries 53 players on the active roster, there's bound to be some quality players that get overlooked.
We are taking in football in an era driven by several stars. From Patrick Mahomes to Tyreek Hill to Micah Parsons and Justin Jefferson, we are living in an era of incredibly top-level talent.
But it takes more than star power for a team to be successful. On each roster, there's at least one important player who deserves a little more credit. They are the best-kept secrets who could wind up being important pieces in 2023.
To lay down some parameters we aren't talking about former first-round draft picks. They tend to get plenty of attention. The same goes for anyone who has been named to an All-Pro or Pro Bowl roster.
Rookies also won't be considered because they have yet to actually play in the league.
With that in mind, here's a look at one unheralded player who deserves a little more shine on each NFL roster.
Arizona Cardinals: LB Kyzir White
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The Philadelphia Eagles defense as a whole got plenty of credit last season. The unit was one of the best in the league and racked up 70 sacks on their way to a Super Bowl berth.
Jonathan Gannon parlayed his work as their defensive coordinator into the head coaching job at Arizona. As he tries to change the culture in Arizona and build a contender he brought two Eagles with him: Zach Pascal and Kyzir White.
The latter was only with the Eagles for a year but his contributions shouldn't go unnoticed. He helped upgrade the linebacking corps in Philly and served as an asset in coverage.
He allowed just 288 yards in coverage on the season and held quarterbacks to a 74.4 passer rating when targeted. He racked up 110 combined tackles on the season and missed just five tackles.
His sure tackling and coverage will be incredibly helpful as Gannon tries to build the defense he wants in the desert.
Atlanta Falcons: LB Kaden Elliss
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It says a lot when a coach tries to bring certain players with him when going from one organization to the other. Much like Jonathan Gannon brought Kyzir White along to Arizona, Ryan Nielsen will bring Kaden Elliss with him as he becomes the Atlanta Falcons' defensive coordinator.
Elliss was a 2019 seventh-round pick for the Saints and only played 196 defensive snaps in his first three seasons. Once he was given an expanded role in 2022, he blossomed.
Elliss is an off-ball linebacker who has proven to be an effective blitzer. He had seven sacks and 10 quarterback hits for the Saints last season.
That's a skill-set the Falcons desperately need. They had one of the league's worst pass rushes last year. While free agent signee Bud Dupree and second-year player Arnold Ebiketie should help there, Elliss can play a role in bolstering that aspect of the defense too.
Baltimore Ravens: OT Morgan Moses
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An offensive tackle who simply shows up every day and does his job well is a valuable commodity in the NFL. It's not one that comes with a whole lot of glamour, though.
Morgan Moses is Exhibit A.
Moses enters his second season with the Ravens having played in every possible game since 2015. He's never earned a Pro Bowl nomination or an All-Pro selection but he's been particularly effective since his departure from the Washington Commanders.
In two seasons with the New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens he only gave up eight sacks while manning the right tackle spot, per Sports Info Solutions.
While his pass protection has been solid, it's what he does in the run game that's really valuable. Head coach John Harbaugh highlighted his ability to pull and it's importance within their offense.
"Morgan [Moses] has done a great job. Morgan is one of the … He does a great job in everything. He's such a dynamic personality, too – enthusiastic guy, loves football. But his pulling has been really something," he told media during the season.
Moses will be well worth his $5.5 million salary cap hit this season.
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Buffalo Bills: DT DaQuan Jones
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The Buffalo Bills went from 11th in rush defense EPA to No. 5 in 2022, going from merely good against the run to elite.
DaQuan Jones had something to do with that. The 6'4" 320-pound defensive tackle was signed in free agency last season and his arrival from the Carolina Panthers gave them more size, strength and depth up front.
Jones was ranked 20th among all the interior defenders graded by PFF. He even chipped in a little bit as a pass rusher with two sacks and 10 quarterback hits.
Jones was a consistent starter for the Tennessee Titans for six seasons before he went to Carolina in 2021. He's the kind of defensive tackle that rarely gets attention. His career high for sacks is just 3.5, and he's typically played around 60 percent of the snaps in a given season.
Von Miller was the star addition to Buffalo's defensive line last season but Jones was, and will continue to be, an important part of the rotation as they chase a Super Bowl.
Carolina Panthers: LB Frankie Luvu
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Demario Davis was a Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro selection for the New Orleans Saints last year with a stat line of 109 total tackles, 6.5 sacks, 10 TFL and an interception.
Frankie Luvu didn't perform much differently with the Panthers with 111 tackles, seven sacks, 19 TFL and an interception.
Luvu is a bit of a late bloomer. He played a part-time role with the Jets for the first three years of his career and didn't get a chance to be a full-time starter until his second season with Carolina.
However, he seems to be taking full advantage now. Al Holcomb, who served as the team's interim defensive coordinator last year, came away impressed.
"I think Frankie Luvu has had a heck of a year," Holcomb told media. "You know, he missed a couple of games early on in the year, but it's the tenacity and the speed in which he plays the game. I think he's been a factor for us in the run game and in the pass game."
Now Luvu will get the chance to show what he can do with rising star defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.
Chicago Bears: OG Nate Davis
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With Justin Fields at quarterback, the Chicago Bears' best path forward on offense is to have a great offensive line that can spearhead a dominant and dynamic rushing attack.
The hope is that Fields will continue to develop as a passer, but the Philadelphia Eagles have laid the groundwork for how to build an offense around a dual-threat quarterback. The Eagles helped Jalen Hurts ascend to a higher level by leaning into the ground game behind a great offensive line and going from there.
To that end, the Bears got a nice upgrade on the interior of the offensive line in Nate Davis. Playing in Tennessee last season, he finished as the 17th-ranked guard by PFF's metrics.
Teven Jenkins showed a lot of promise on the inside after struggling at tackle in his first two seasons. If he can win the left guard spot, the Bears will have two capable players on the inside who can help establish a physical running game.
Davis has never received the accolades of a Pro Bowl or All-Pro guard, but he's been a consistent starter for some good offensive lines during his time in Tennessee. He's the kind of underrated addition that raises the floor of the Bears offense in 2023.
Cincinnati Bengals: LB Germaine Pratt
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The Bengals are a team with a lot of star power. Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins immediately spring to mind when you see those black-and-orange striped helmets.
But Cincinnati's defense doesn't always get the respect it deserves. They were eighth in EPA per play last season, and Germaine Pratt is often the man in the middle of the unit.
The soon-to-be 27-year-old has become a vital part of their defense and the three-year, $20.3 million contract the team signed him to this offseason would show the franchise agrees with that assessment.
Pratt rejoining the Bengals wasn't a foregone conclusion going into the offseason. Both Vonn Bell and Jessie Bates III were also set to be free agents and Pratt had publicly voiced his displeasure with how he was used in the Bengals defense.
Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo made it known he still wanted his linebacker back, though.
"That's Germaine. He's a guy that wants to be out there every snap," Anarumo said, per Jay Morrison of The Athletic. "I love Germaine. I hope he's back, too. He's one of our leaders, and he's a heckuva football player."
Pratt gives them continuity moving forward as the Bengals look to continue to have the kind of defense that can compete with anyone in the AFC.
Cleveland Browns: C Ethan Pocic
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When the Cleveland Browns released center J.C. Tretter last offseason it was a somewhat risky move. After all, he had started 16 games in five straight seasons for them, often grading out as one of the best players at the position.
The decision to release him saved the Browns some money and seemingly set up Nick Harris to take over the role. He was a fifth-round pick in the 2020 draft and was the heir apparent to the role.
The Browns also signed Ethan Pocic to a one-year, $1.2 million contract that wouldn't signify any guarantee that he would start. But when Harris went down for the season in a preseason game, Pocic answered the bell in a big way.
The former Seahawks lineman carried the third-highest grade for any center on PFF last season. Pocic only gave up two sacks all season and was one of the reasons the Browns averaged 4.7 yards per carry.
Browns offensive line coach Bill Callahan has a reputation for getting the best out of his players and Pocic is just the most recent example. A Pro Bowl season could be afoot.
Dallas Cowboys: CB DaRon Bland
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Unless you're a Cowboys fan, when you think about rookie corners from the Class of 2022 it's Sauce Gardner and Tariq Woolen that immediately spring to mind. Perhaps Derek Stingley if you just think of the highest-rated corners coming out of college.
But DaRon Bland was second among all rookies with five interceptions on the season.
Those interceptions weren't just products of the ball being tipped in the air and falling into Bland's hands either. He proved his ability to work as both an inside and outside cornerback. He has strong hands with the ball in the air and earned a role as a fifth-round pick.
The addition of Stephon Gilmore via trade might force Bland to work more as a nickel cornerback this season. While the 32-year-old Gilmore gives the Cowboys another high quality defensive back in Dan Quinn's secondary, it's Bland's versatility that is going to allow them to adapt to any injury that may happen during the 2023 season.
If he builds on his rookie campaign he's going to be a core element of Dallas' secondary for a long time.
Denver Broncos: DL Zach Allen
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The Denver Broncos missed out on retaining defensive tackle Dre'Mont Jones, but the falloff isn't going to be big with Zach Allen coming from the Cardinals to take his place.
It was hard for Allen to get recognition on a defensive line that featured J.J. Watt and a defense that just wasn't very good.
That all worked to obfuscate a breakout season from Zach Allen. The defensive lineman notched five sacks, but it's his underlying numbers that highlight how good he was. According to ESPN, his pass-rush win rate was eighth among all defensive tackles, ahead of Jonathan Allen and Grady Jarrett.
PFF gave him his first career run-defense grade over 60.0 in his career, signaling that his game is rounding out.
The Broncos will need that development to continue. They lost Jones and DeShawn Williams in free agency, paving the way for Allen to come in and showcase his talent from Year 1 with the Broncos.
Detroit Lions: Edge James Houston
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Everyone knows who Aidan Hutchinson is. The 2022 second-overall selection put up 9.5 sacks as a rookie and confirmed the hype for him coming out of Michigan.
But he didn't lead the Lions in sacks on a per-game basis.
That distinction would belong to fellow rookie James Houston. The sixth-round pick took 12 weeks to get on the field, but once he did he made up for lost time. The 6'1", 225-pounder is undersized, but notched eight sacks across the last seven games of the season.
There were only two contests in which Houston didn't have a sack. He had just as many games where he had more than one.
Houston is a bit of a one-dimensional player at this point. His size limited him to just 140 total snaps, but put up incredible production within an important role on the defense as a pass-rusher.
He's the Lions secret weapon moving foward. Opposing tackles don't want to see his speed, bend and burst on passing downs and he's going to continue feasting with Hutchinson on the other side.
Green Bay Packers: CB Rasul Douglas
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Jaire Alexander is a two-time Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro selection. Eric Stokes was a first-round pick in 2021.
Both cast a bit of a shadow on Rasul Douglas, but neither take away from his importance to the defense.
Douglas has been a revelation since the Packers signed him in 2021 free agency. After a rough start to his career with the Philadelphia Eagles and Carolina Panthers, Douglas has become a reliable starter in Green Bay.
He has combined for nine interceptions, returning two of them for touchdowns. In 2021, he allowed a 44.5 passer rating on 64 targets. In 2022, he saw 84 targets and surrendered a passer rating of 88.5 which was still lower than any other full-time cornerback not named Alexander on the roster.
Eric Stokes suffered a season-ending ankle injury nine games into the season and while he's expected to be back in time for the season opener, it's still nice that the Packers can rely on Douglas to keep the secondary going.
Houston Texans: WR Nico Collins
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The Houston Texans' passing attack has not been good. There's no way around that. So it's understandable that Nico Collins' numbers don't jump off the page.
The former third-round pick saw 66 targets in 2022 and came down with 37 of them for 481 yards and two touchdowns. However, according to Player Profiler, Collins was 99th in catchable target rate at only 50 percent.
Some quick math would tell you that means Collins caught at least four targets that weren't even deemed catchable. His true catch rate was ranked fourth in the league. He was second in contested catch rate with 66.7 percent of his catches coming in those scenarios.
In short, Collins has proven his worth as a ball winner. He just hasn't had the kind of quarterback that can help him achieve a breakout season.
Ball placement is one of C.J. Stroud's greatest strengths. He should enjoy having a 6'4", 215-pound receiver with legitimate speed who can make difficult catches.
The Texans have added Robert Woods and Tank Dell this offseason, but don't count out Collins as the team's top receiver.
Indianapolis Colts: CB Isaiah Rodgers
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The Colts might be looking to get younger as they start the Shane Steichen era, but you still don't trade a player like Stephon Gilmore unless you are confident in what you have on the roster.
Isaiah Rodgers had to play a role in that feeling for the Colts. The 25-year-old has looked the part when he's on the field and has played 1,006 snaps since he was drafted in the sixth round of the 2020 draft.
Over the last two seasons, he has given up just 6.6 yards per target. The ball production wasn't great in 2022. He had no interceptions and just three passes defended. However, he made plenty of plays on the ball when he saw 65 targets in 2021.
Rodgers had three interceptions and seven passes defended while giving up a passer rating of 78.1.
A lot of the attention is going to be shifted to second-round pick Julius Brents at the cornerback position. Don't be surprised when it's Rodgers that is generating some buzz when OTA's get started.
Jacksonville Jaguars: RB D'Ernest Johnson
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A healthy Travis Etienne is the lead back for the Jaguars. They also generated some excitement by drafting Auburn's Tank Bigsby in the third round.
However, don't sleep on D'Ernest Johnson making a big impact in the backfield this year.
Johnson was mostly stuck behind Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt in his time with the Browns. He only had four carries for 17 yards this season. But in the rare chance he had when either of them were out of the lineup he shined.
He started two games in 2021. In those games, he rushed for 245 yards on 41 carries. On the year, he averaged 5.3 yards per carry and three touchdowns, giving the Browns yet another explosive runner.
It would be easy to forget all that given that Kevin Stefanski and the Browns did not give him a role this season.
But competing against Bigsby and JaMycal Hasty gives him a much more clear path to playing time in Jacksonville. Expect him to take advantage of it.
Kansas City Chiefs: CB Jaylen Watson
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Don't look now, but the Kansas City Chiefs may have found another functional starter on defense through the draft.
General manager Brett Veach has managed to build a defense chock full of draft picks that have worked out. Finding guys like Jaylen Watson in the seventh round is a big reason why.
Most seventh-round picks are just fortunate to make the roster as a rookie. Watson didn't just do that, he recorded two interceptions in the Chiefs' postseason run to another Lombardi Trophy.
Watson has already been through ups and downs in his career. He played two years of junior college football before transferring to USC in 2019 where he had to redshirt due to academics.
By 2020 he wound up at Washington State where he did enough to get on the Chiefs' radar and get drafted. For him to contribute as much as he did in his first season points to the high potential he carries in Year 2 with the Chiefs.
Las Vegas Raiders: OL Thayer Munford
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The Las Vegas Raiders have been searching for answers along the offensive line for the past few seasons. Four of their draft picks in the 2021 and 2022 NFL drafts were spent on trying to upgrade the group up front.
In 2023, they took a pause on drafting offensive linemen. They made nine picks but did not make a continued investment in the line. They were quiet in free agency too. Justin Murray was the only external free agent they signed and he only appeared in five games for the Bills last season.
In other words, the Raiders are telling everyone they believe the answers to the questions on the offensive line are on the roster.
That likely includes Thayer Munford who was a pleasant surprise as a seventh-round pick last season. He ended up playing in all 17 games last season, making four starts and giving up just one sack, per PFF.
Munford has the length at 6'6", 320 pounds to play outside at tackle but could easily kick inside to play at guard. Essentially, the Raiders likely have their starting right guard and tackle between Munford and Jermaine Eluemunor.
Los Angeles Chargers: S Alohi Gilman
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If Alohi Gilman's trajectory continues into 2023 he's going to be a vital part of the Chargers secondary.
The 2020 sixth-round pick has taken on a little more responsibility every season. In 2022, he started six total games, including the wildcard playoff game in which he registered the third-highest grade of any defender according to PFF.
Last year, Gilman had to battle with Nasir Adderley for playing time. The veteran had the leg up in the competition starting alongside Derwin James and made 15 starts, however, he announced his retirement in March at 25 years old.
If the Chargers didn't believe Gilman was ready to step into a starting role they would have likely targeted a safety early in the draft or signed a veteran in free agency. However, the draft has come and gone and the Chargers didn't target any player worth a look as a starter.
There are still some veterans on the market like John Johnson III, but the Chargers haven't made a move yet. It would appear Gilman is just going to continue to work himself into a bigger role.
Los Angeles Rams: CB Cobie Durant
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The 2022 draft class is already shaping up to be a great one for corners. There are a few that were included in this list as best-kept secrets right now and the secret is already out on players like Sauce Gardner and Tariq Woolen.
Cobie Durant is another one with the potential to blossom into a top-level cornerback. The fourth-round pick from South Carolina State made a good impression in his first season. He was on the field for 13 games and played 33 percent of the defensive snaps in addition to special teams duty.
He showed playmaking ability and strong coverage skills in a relatively small sample size. He snagged three interceptions while giving up just one touchdown, giving him an opponent passer rating of just 52.7.
Durant's fluid movement skills and speed could help him become an elite slot option with the versatility to play on the outside if the situation calls for it.
With Jalen Ramsey off to Miami, the Rams will give him every opportunity to break out in 2023.
Miami Dolphins: CB Kader Kohou
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Kader Kohou was not a secret to opposing teams last season. According to Pro Football Reference, he was the most targeted defender in the league last year with 115 balls thrown his way.
The thing is, it wasn't really an efficient strategy.
Kohou was pressed into action with the Dolphins because of injuries but the undrafted free agent from Texas A&M-Commerce more than held his own. He gave up just 6.1 yards per target in coverage with only three of those targets ending up as touchdowns.
Kohou credited his time at A&M-Commerce with preparing him for life in the NFL because they only played man coverage.
"I was blessed to be just in a man defense the whole time I was at Commerce," he told Jack McKessy of The Draft Network. "We rarely played zone, so you couldn't avoid just playing without good technique because you were playing man every play, so you had to learn the footwork."
Kohou could be even better in 2023 as veteran defensive coordinator Vic Fangio takes over the unit.
Minnesota Vikings: LB Brian Asamoah
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When the Minnesota Vikings released Eric Kendricks in March it didn't just clear $10 million in cap space, it cleared the path of Brian Asamoah to take on a much larger role in the Vikings defense in 2023.
Asamoah was largely a special teamer in his rookie season. The third-round pick didn't really get to play a role on defense until about Week 15 when he logged 21 snaps and played over 25 snaps in the next two games.
In that small three-game sample size he registered 14 total tackles, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He missed just one tackle.
The Vikings obviously have some faith that Asamoah will be able to step into a starting role this season. They released Kendricks and only signed Troy Reeder, a soon-to-be 29-year-old who was a reserve linebacker for the Chargers last year, to replace him.
Asamoah is going to get every opportunity to take a starting role, and he flashed the ability to be an asset for the Vikings defense last season.
New England Patriots: RB Pierre Strong Jr.
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It was difficult for Pierre Strong to find a role in the New England Patriots backfield last season. The South Dakota State back was stuck behind Rhamondre Stevenson and Damien Harris as a fourth-round rookie.
However, he became a special teams ace for the Patriots and looked good in the rare instance when he got the ball, two things that should endear him to head coach Bill Belichick.
Strong was tied with Isiah Pacheco for the fastest 40 time among running backs at the 2022 combine with a 4.38. While he didn't get the same opportunity as Pacheco to lead his team in rushing he did get 100 yards on 10 carries and gained 115 yards on five kick returns.
That's the kind of juice that will make him an effective change-of-pace back with Stevenson in 2023. The Pats did sign James Robinson but he did not look great last season, averaging 3.9 yards per carry in his time with the Jaguars and Jets.
Strong has fresh legs and should be an explosive secondary option as a runner this season.
New Orleans Saints: WR Rashid Shaheed
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Michael Thomas and Chris Olave are the dominant receivers when you think of the New Orleans Saints offense, but Rashid Shaheed started to make a good case that he should be considered part of their core in his rookie season.
An unheralded undrafted rookie out of Weber State, Shaheed didn't even get on the field by Week 6. He took a jet sweep 44 yards to the house. He was sprinkled into the offense here and there until Week 13 when he became a consistent part of the gameplan.
From Week 13 on, Shaheed saw at least four targets per game.
"The first couple of weeks of the season, I was kind of getting a feel for it, getting back to full-speed reps," he said, per Greg Auman of Fox Sports. "It was my first time playing football in about 11 months, and it took me a while. The coaches knew that and tried to ease me back. They gave me a chance to learn the offense and sit back. After that Bengals game, my understanding of the offense has just taken off, and it's been great ever since."
With Derek Carr joining the Saints offense, Shaheed's stock should only rise. Michael Thomas may or may not finally return to form after dealing with serious injuries since 2020, but Shaheed should give them some insurance as they look to find complimentary pieces to support Olave.
New York Giants: WR Isaiah Hodgins
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The New York Giants took a huge step forward in 2022. Brian Daboll taking over the team and providing better structure to the offense helped Daniel Jones have his best season yet and lead the team to a 9-7-1 record.
What makes it even more impressive is the Giants simply didn't have much at wide receiver. Darius Slayton led the way with 724 yards while Richie James and Saquon Barkley were tied for the lead with 57 receptions apiece.
One underrated element of the passing game was Isaiah Hodgins, who was third on the team in yards with 351 on 33 receptions in just eight games.
Hodgins was released by the Bills on November 1 with the Giants successfully claiming him off waivers the next day. It took a few weeks for Hodgins to get acclimated, but by the end of the season he had some strong performances including eight catches for 89 yards and a touchdown on 12 targets against the Vikings in Week 14.
There will be more competition for the 6'3", 201-pound receiver this fall. The Giants drafted Jalin Hyatt and signed Parris Campbell in free agency, but Hodgins has earned the right to be included in the game plan.
New York Jets: Edge Bryce Huff
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Bryce Huff might be a one-trick magician, but that one trick is pretty good.
Huff is quietly one of the most efficient pass rushers in the league. The lightning-quick third-year rusher had the highest pressure percentage of anyone with at least 100 pass-rush reps, per Sports Info Solutions. Huff caused some kind of disruption on 19.4 percent of his 164 pass rush snaps last year.
The problem for Huff is the Jets only really use him in obvious passing situations. He only logged 20 percent of the defensive snaps this season which was down from his first two seasons in the league.
In 2021, he logged 51 percent of the snaps but only had two sacks to show for it.
The fact that they could minimize his role speaks to the kind of depth the Jets have on the defensive line, though. That depth only got better this offseason. The Jets drafted Will McDonald IV in the first round this year, adding another young pass-rusher.
At the very least, Huff could become a somewhat valuable trade chip if the other talent on the Jets defensive front take flight.
Philadelphia Eagles: DT Milton Williams
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It's fairly easy for the Philadelphia Eagles to have some secretly good young talent on the defensive line. They have the deepest group of defensive linemen in the league and it's hard to break out when you're in a position group with Javon Hargrave, Fletcher Cox, Ndamukong Suh and Linval Joseph.
Such was life for Milton Williams last season, but all things considered, the 2021 third-round pick has shown that he has talent in limited opportunities.
Williams played just 219 pass-rushing snaps last season but still managed to chip in four sacks toward the league-leading 70 that the Eagles had last season. In all, he generated 10 pressures while racking up nine tackles for loss, per Sports Info Solutions.
On any other defensive line, there would be a considerable hype train for Williams heading into his third season. Unfortunately for Williams, the Eagles just keep adding talent on the d-line. Drafting Jalen Carter is only going to continue the trend of the Eagles being loaded on the interior.
Then again, Hargrave is headed to San Francisco while Joseph and Suh remain unsigned. There are still opportunities for Williams to break through this year.
Pittsburgh Steelers: DL DeMarvin Leal
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DeMarvin Leal has a lot going for him that would make him a steal as a former third-round pick. He was a 5-star recruit coming out of high school and was the third-ranked player in the country by 247 Sports' composite rankings.
He even had solid production at Texas A&M posting 8.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss in his final season with the Aggies.
There were glimpses of that potential bubbling to the surface in his rookie season, but injuries robbed us of seeing what he could do. He worked his way into the starting lineup by Week 5 but suffered a torn meniscus that landed him on the injured reserve for the next six weeks.
One of the biggest concerns for Leal coming into his rookie season was finding the right role for the 6'4", 283-pounder. He's a bit of a tweener who isn't quite big enough to play on the interior but is big for a standup outside player.
The most important thing he did in his rookie season was prove that he could get on the field. He did that by working his way back into the lineup after the injury, earning another start by Week 17 and playing over 50 percent of the snaps in that game.
Cameron Heyward is 34 years old. Larry Ogunjobi will be 29 this season and has an out in his contract after this year. The Steelers have to replenish their depth in the trenches and Leal could pair with second-round draft pick Keeanu Benton to form a new nucleus on the inside.
Leal didn't register a sack in 2022 but did bat down three passes and notched a few hurries. A full season with good health should change that in 2023.
San Francisco 49ers: OT Colton McKivitz
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The 49ers have a fairly large hole to fill at right tackle. A 6'8", 310-pound hole to be exact after Mike McGlinchey went to the Denver Broncos in free agency.
Judging by the moves the Niners have made this offseason they are confident that the answer is on the roster. San Francisco made nine draft picks but none of them were an offensive lineman, let alone a tackle.
That bodes well for what they think of Colton McKivitz. He'll be the presumptive starting right tackle going into his fourth year. Head coach Kyle Shanahan wasn't shy about telling the media the franchise didn't feel any of their options compared to McKivitz.
"We were going into that draft hoping to find depth and hoping to find some competition, but to go into that draft and think you're going to find someone to start over someone like Colton, or as good as Colton can be and has been, would be very unusual," per David Lombardi of The Athletic.
McKivitz doesn't have a huge sample size to work from, but he was solid last year while working as the team's swing tackle. He only had one blown block on 65 snaps, per Sports Info Solutions.
The 49ers offense relies heavily on zone and play-action which should allow McKivitz to successfully transition into being a starter.
Seattle Seahawks: OG Damien Lewis
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If the Seattle Seahawks offensive line was discussed last season, it was most likely surrounding first-round pick Charles Cross and rookie Abraham Lucas. But it was Damien Lewis who was the team's best lineman.
Lewis has been a starter for three seasons with the Seahawks, but he really stepped up in his third season. He cut his blown block percentage to 1.9 percent after posting figures over three percent in his first two seasons, per Sports Info Solutions. He also reduced his sacks allowed down to two after giving up five and six in his first two seasons.
Lewis' 72.5 grade from PFF was 11th among all the guards they graded last season.
The 6'2", 327-pounder doesn't have the most length, but he's found a way to make up for it as an explosive run blocker who has made real strides in his pass protection. He's a well-kept secret as someone who hasn't been voted to the Pro Bowl or an All-Pro team, but he should be rewarded for his growth when it comes time for a new contract in 2024.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: RB Rachaad White
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Rachaad White may be somewhat known by the fantasy football community but he wasn't exactly a star as a rookie. He was 34th among all running backs in PPR leagues.
That was mostly buoyed by the fact that he had 50 receptions on the season. As a runner, he didn't put up a ton of stats. He averaged 3.7 yards per carry while splitting duties with Leonard Fournette.
Fortunately for White, the Bucs offense is going to look different in 2023. Byron Leftwich is out as offensive coordinator and Dave Canales is coming from the Seattle Seahawks to take his place.
Assistant head coach and run game coordinator Harold Goodwin is a big believer in White's future despite the underwhelming 2022 stat line.
"I would think right now 'Chaad's the lead horse until he's not. As you guys saw last year, he's capable, he can be special," he said, per Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk.
While Tom Brady is gone and the offense's ceiling might be lower, the offensive line has a shot at being better. Shaq Mason and Donovan Smith were veterans who struggled last season and both are gone.
Luke Goedeke should improve in Year 2 and Cody Mauch is a physical prospect coming from North Dakota State. Veteran free agent Matt Feiler is a solid lineman too. If White gets a little better blocking in 2023 he can have a breakout season.
Tennessee Titans: Edge Arden Key
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If anything Arden Key has collected a reputation for being a journeyman in his five years in the league. The 27-year old has already played for three teams, playing for the Raiders, Niners and Jaguars over the last three seasons.
In that regard, Key is known by more than one fanbase.
But he has an opportunity to finally breakthrough as a more well-known entity with his fourth team. The Tennessee Titans desperately need an edge defender who can get to the quarterback and Key has proven his ability to do that over the last two seasons.
As a third-round pick with the Raiders, Key could never establish himself as a starter. He started 10 games as a rookie but only notched one sack and didn't start another game in two additional seasons with the Raiders.
Things finally started to click when the Niners signed him. The franchise has a penchant for getting the most out of edge rushers. Samson Ebukam is just the latest end to cash in with another team after producing in the bay.
Key had 6.5 sacks with the Niners before joining the Jaguars where he posted another 4.5 sacks while playing 41 percent of the snaps.
The Titans let go of Bud Dupree this offseason, opening the path for Key to seize a larger role in the Tennessee defense. With Jeffrey Simmons commanding attention on the inside and Harold Landry III and Denico Autry giving the Titans some power rushers on the outside, Key is going to have the opportunity to fully realize his potential.
Washington Commanders: DT Phidarian Mathis
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The Philadelphia Eagles might have the best defensive line in football but their NFC East rival Washington Commanders aren't far behind.
The former first-rounders are all dangerous when healthy. Chase Young, Montez Sweat, Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen are a dangerous quartet when healthy.
Phidarian Mathis has the ability to be the most prominent of the rotational linemen.
Like Allen and Payne, Mathis spent his collegiate career at Alabama where he showcased his ability to push the pocket and be a disruptor on the inside. He had nine sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss in his final year with the Tide.
Unfortunately, we didn't get to see what he could do in his rookie season. He tore his meniscus in the season opener and ended up missing the rest of the year.
While it's easy to forget about Mathis because of his rookie year ended up he has a good shot to make an immediate impact in Year 2.
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.jpg?w=480 "Commanders Giants Football")
