Drake London

Drake London might finally be able to shed his reputation as a productive receiver in spite of terrible quarterback play. London was otherworldly for the Trojans in 2021 prior to his season-ending ankle injury, putting up 88 receptions for 1,084 yards despite playing in only eight games. He likely would have won the Biletnikoff Award, which is given to the nation’s best wide receiver, if he had stayed healthy for a full season. He did all that amid a messy quarterback situation involving an underperforming Kedon Slovis being eventually benched for an inexperienced Jaxson Dart.

Last season, he put together a solid rookie season for the Atlanta Falcons, hauling in 72 receptions for 866 yards and four touchdowns despite more quarterback changes. Starter Marcus Mariota was benched, leaving an inexperienced Desmond Ridder to helm the offense.

This season, however, the Falcons are far more confident in Ridder, having named him the starter way back in March. They’ve also retooled their offense. First-round draft pick Bijan Robinson joins Tyler Allgeier and Cordarrelle Patterson, forming a dangerous three-headed attack that could prove to be one of the best backfields in football. With new weapons to take the attention off of him and a steady quarterback, London is primed for a breakout sophomore season that can lead the Falcons to new heights in a weak NFC South.

Robert Woods

The 2021 Super Bowl Champion wide receiver is heading into the 2023 season with a fresh start. In his 2022 season, Woods came off a season-ending injury only to find himself traded into a tumultuous quarterback situation in Tennessee. Woods racked up a career-worst 527 yards with just 53 catches as the Titans stumbled to a 7-10 record. The Titans released him this offseason.

Luckily, Woods found a new home with the Houston Texans who have every reason to be more optimistic about their team than at any point in recent years. Former No. 2 overall pick and Ohio State superstar CJ Stroud was named the Texans’ starting quarterback this preseason. There are high hopes in Houston he could be their answer to a franchise quarterback search they have embarked on since trading away Deshaun Watson. With a new head coach in defensive-minded DeMeco Ryans, another top draft pick in former Alabama star Will Anderson Jr. and former second-round pick John Metchie III coming off his cancer battle to make his NFL debut, Woods can use his veteran experience to lead an improved Texans team to a turnaround season in a weak AFC South.

Jordan Addison

There are not many better situations for a young wide receiver than the one that Jordan Addison finds himself in. Following a superstar college career during which he won the Biletnikoff award at Pitt in 2021 and was the No. 1 wide receiver for USC’s high-octane offense in 2022, Addison was nabbed by the Minnesota Vikings with the 23rd overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft.

He joins a wide receiving room that already possesses arguably the best wide receiver in football, Justin Jefferson, who is sure to gather most of the defensive attention. Opposite of Jefferson and with the always-solid veteran star Kirk Cousins at the quarterback position, Addison has every opportunity to develop into the best rookie wide receiver in the league this season and help the Purple and Gold go on a deep playoff run. 

Tuli Tuipulotu

Saying that Tuipulotu was a welcome sight for Trojan fans in 2022 would be an understatement. Tuipolotu was a consistent, excellent defender who set an example for the kind of production that Lincoln Riley and Alex Grinch are working toward for the entire defensive unit. Tuipulotu led the nation with 13.5 sacks, vaulting him up the draft prospect rankings all the way into the second round. He was selected 54th overall by the Los Angeles Chargers.

L.A. football fans should be thrilled he’s staying home. And, so should Tuipulotu. Similarly to Addison, he is entering a system he should flourish in. The Chargers defense is stacked with stardom at the linebacker/edge rusher position, including perennial Pro Bowlers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack, as well as Eric Kendricks and Kenneth Murray Jr. He’ll also have the pleasure of J.C. Jackson, Asante Samuel Jr. and Derwin James Jr. backing him up in the deep secondary. With future Hall of Famers around him, a comfortable, close-to-home environment, an experienced coach and a team that should look to make a deep playoff run in 2023, Tuipolotu is poised for lots of growth toward eventual superstardom.

JuJu Smith-Schuster

One of the best moments for USC football from a marketing standpoint in 2022 can be attributed to JuJu Smith-Schuster. The star wide receiver credited the way USC developed him for his ability to handle the media attention that the NFL and specifically the Super Bowl brings. Of course, he then went out and played a significant role in winning the big game, racking up seven catches for 53 yards and drawing a big holding call that set up the game-winning score for the Chiefs. It wasn’t as glamorous of a stat line as scoring the game-winning touchdown, but it undeniably helped the Chiefs hoist the Lombardi.

Now, he hopes to reestablish himself as “The Guy,” heading into the season as the assumed No. 1 wide receiver for the New England Patriots. The Pats aren’t the perennial Super Bowl favorites they once were, and the AFC East is as tough as it’s ever been, so Smith-Schuster will need to play his presumed No. 1 wideout role for the team to be successful. All eyes will be on him in New England this season.

Sam Darnold

Stop me if you’ve heard this before: Sam Darnold was ousted from his starting job last season. Darnold, who took over for the Panthers in week 12 of last season, led the team to a 4-2 record while throwing for seven touchdowns and only three picks. This offseason he was replaced by No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young. It’s been a rough go so far for the former third-overall pick as he’s been let go by two franchises already: the Panthers and the Jets.

But, despite two ugly tenures for two franchises that were in states of disrepair, the future may be the brightest it’s ever been for the former USC star quarterback. Darnold found perhaps the best possible landing spot: a loaded San Francisco 49ers team. Darnold will begin the season backing up seventh-round sensation Brock Purdy, as he beat out former No. 3 overall pick Trey Lance for the backup job. If Darnold stays happy, healthy and ready to play, he could turn out to be the best insurance policy in the league for an oft-injured team. Darnold’s squad is loaded with talent and regardless of his exact role, he should play an important part in chasing a Super Bowl with the Niners in 2023.