American Football
NFL season preview: Five players to watch
With the NFL season fast approaching the excitement is building and predictions flooding in. Here we take a look at five of the players to keep and eye on this season.
Find out our five players to follow below.
Nick Bosa – San Francisco 49ers
Nick Bosa has stolen the headlines before the new NFL season but not for the reasons that he will have wanted as controversy around his contract and whether or not he will stay with the 49ers looms.
Bosa burst onto the scene after being selected second overall by the 49ers in 2019, followed by his efforts to help his team reach the Superbowl in 2020 with his impact emphasised as he was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year for his efforts at the defensive end.
Wherever Bosa ends up playing his football this season he will likely be a standout player and is certainly one to watch on the defensive side of the game.
Ja’Marr Chase – Cincinnati Bengals
Ja’Marr Chase currently plies his trade as a wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Chase entered the NFL after being picked by the Bengals in the 2021 draft, going on to win the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, setting records for receiving yards on his way to a first Superbowl appearance in 2022 where the Bengals fell three points short of the LA Rams.
Chase will be linking up with the incredibly talented Joe Burrows this season and that combination will certainly be exciting.
Justin Herbert – Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert is the only quarterback on our list and at 25 years old he looks set for what could be his best season yet for the Chargers.
He made a big name for himself in college football having won the MVP in the Rose Bowl, which saw him picked sixth in the 2020 draft by LA Chargers.
Herbert has an NFL Offensive Rooke of the Year award to his name but he has moved into much bigger leagues than that and his new contract with the Chargers makes him the highest paid quarterback in the league, so he is one that will be on everyone’s list before the season starts.
Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner – New York Jets
Sauce Gardner is one of the youngest players on the list at just 22 years old and his first season last year was certainly one to remember.
Gardner was selected fourth overall by the Jets in the 2022 draft but even they may not have predicted what was to follow. Gardner would go on to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, but even more impressively was named in the All-pro team, the first cornerback to achieve that feat since 1981.
Gardner may not light up the league with throwing yards or touchdowns but he is one of the most solid defensive players going and will be one to watch for his opposition to try and work out how to get past him.
Justin Jefferson – Minnesota Vikings
Justin Jefferson is far from being an unknown entity or even a rising star and he makes a very strong case for being the best wide receiver in the NFL at the moment.
Jefferson raked in the awards last year as he led receptions and receiving yards which saw him pick up the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award for the 2022 season.
Jefferson was a final candidate for the MVP award last year but fell short to the infamous Patrick Mahomes, so with revenge on his mind Jefferson will be one to watch for all of the major awards this season.
