NFL rookie jersey numbers 2023: Bryce Young, Anthony Richardson, other draft picks get their numbers

The 2023 NFL Draft has concluded, leading to the next step for the league's incoming rookie class: getting their jersey numbers assigned to them.

It's a small step in their NFL journeys, but an important one: Depending on how well they play in their respective careers, they can make the number they wear an iconic part of their legacy. And if you don't think it's important to the players, just look at Aaron Rodgers, who declined to wear Joe Namath's famed No. 12 jersey after he got traded to the Jets ahead of the draft.

So, who will wear what moving forward? Several teams have already released their rookie players' numbers, and the likes of Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, Will Anderson Jr. and more will certainly be worth monitoring, among other notable 2023 rookies.

The Sporting News is tracking the most notable rookie jersey numbers as they are announced. Follow along below:

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Here are the new jersey numbers for some notable names in the class of 2023, with explanations for select choices below.

The Panthers on Tuesday announced Young will wear No. 9, the same number he wore at Alabama. Current Panthers quarterback Matt Corral — who posted a cryptic message after Carolina drafted Young — formerly wore the jersey. He will now wear No. 2, the same number he wore at Ole Miss and in high school.

Bryce Young to wear No. 9 https://t.co/peXncPBVht

Though unconfirmed by the Colts, Richardson on Friday said he already knew what number he was going to wear for the Colts.

"I’m looking to get No. 5," Richardson said (via the Indianapolis Star). "That was the first number I had playing football in Miami, whenever I was little. I feel like that's what set the foundation for me."

Richardson will drop the "1" from his No. 15 Florida jersey, which briefly earned him the AR-15 nickname in college. He eventually distanced himself from that moniker so as not to be associated with assault-style rifles.

Witherspoon, the second defensive player taken in the draft, will wear No. 21 with the Seahawks. The number he wore at Illinois, No. 31, has already been claimed by running back DeeJay Dallas. He will revert back to the No. 21, which he wore at Pine Forest High School (Pensacola, Fla.).

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The Falcons on Tuesday announced Bijan Robinson, the highest-selected running back of the NFL draft since Saquon Barkley went No. 2 overall in 2018, will wear the No. 7 jersey in Atlanta:

There's something about that #7 pic.twitter.com/bNjLj7los8

That number formerly belonged to kicker Younghoe Koo, whose new number has not yet been updated. Notably, it's also the number franchise icon Michael Vick wore during his Falcons career.

Smith-Njigba, the top overall receiver of the 2023 draft, will wear No. 11 in Seattle. It's the same number he has worn throughout his football career dating back to Rockwall High School (Texas) and Ohio State University. The number was recently freed up after Marquise Goodwin signed with the Browns in free agency.

Gibbs will wear No. 26 with the Lions after wearing No. 1 in high school and college. Detroit gave veteran cornerback Cameron Sutton the No. 1 jersey after he came over from the Steelers as a free agent. Sutton most recently wore No. 20 in Pittsburgh.

Likewise, Gibbs' new Detroit teammate Hooker will have a different look with No. 12. He wore No. 5 at Tennessee and No. 2 at Virginia Tech, but both those numbers also went to free-agent newcomers in Detroit: C.J. Gardner-Johnson will wear No. 2 and David Montgomery gets No. 5.

It was clear Joey Porter Jr. wouldn't be wearing his father's No. 55 with the Steelers because the two play different positions. Instead, the rookie corner apparently is set to wear No. 24 as a nod to his father's longtime Pittsburgh teammate Ike Taylor. Per ProFootballTalk, Taylor told the "Minus Three Podcast" that Joey Sr. said his son had chosen Taylor's number.

The Titans on Wednesday announced Levis will wear No. 8 in Tennessee. He wore the No. 7 at both Kentucky and Penn State, where he began his college career; that number currently belongs to 2022 third-round pick Malik Willis, against whom Levis will compete to back up — and potentially replace — starter Ryan Tannehill. Of note: Former No. 2 overall pick Marcus Mariota also wore No. 8 for the Titans.

The Texans on Thursday released the rookie jersey numbers for its 2023 class, including No. 2 overall pick C.J. Stroud. The former Ohio State signal-caller will wear No. 7 in Houston — the same number he wore as a Buckeye.

Anderson also received his jersey number on Thursday: No. 51, the same worn by Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus.