Don’t Miss Out On These 5 Mexican NFL Players This Season

The 2023 NFL season is underway, and while Latino NFL players are still underrepresented in the league, there are a couple of players to keep an eye on. According to a report by the Institute of Diversity and Ethics in Sport, there were just 12 players in the NFL who identified as Latino in 2021, but the number went up to about 20 in 2022.

NFL players with Mexican heritage to watch this season:

Chris Olave — Wide Receiver, New Orleans Saints

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The only Latino player picked in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Chris Olave is one of the most exciting young players to watch this season. He was a standout at Ohio State and is expected to make an immediate impact for the Saints.

In the 2022 season, he made quite an impact with an impressive 72 receptions, racking up over a thousand yards and scoring 4 touchdowns. Those stats alone were remarkable, but this season he’s poised to ascend to the ranks of the NFL elite. In fact, some experts are going as far as predicting his debut appearance in the Pro Bowl.

What’s particularly intriguing is that Olave is just 23 years old. It’s safe to say he’s at the beginning of an exciting journey, and the New Orleans Saints are eagerly anticipating that he might potentially become the next Latino superstar in the league.

Malcolm Rodriguez — Linebacker, Detroit Lions

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Malcolm Rodriguez, a member of the 2022 NFL Draft class, made an indelible impression on the Detroit Lions during his rookie campaign. He displayed his skills in 16 games, with 15 starts to his name. His inaugural season yielded impressive statistics, including one sack, 87 tackles, two passes defended, and one forced fumble.

These numbers are noteworthy for any player, but they’re particularly remarkable for someone chosen in the sixth round of the draft, defying all expectations. As he enters his second season, Rodriguez is poised to become a cornerstone of the Lions’ defense, even amidst heightened competition in the linebacker position. If he continues to build on the promising start he had last season, there’s a strong possibility that he could evolve into one of the NFL’s premier linebackers in the coming years.

Rigoberto Sanchez — Punter, Indianapolis Colts

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After enduring a season-long absence due to a torn Achilles, Rigoberto Sanchez is now fully recovered and poised to reclaim his status as one of the NFL’s most reliable punters. Sanchez has been a key part of the Colts since 2017, boasting a resume adorned with multiple AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.

Notably, he holds the record for the longest punt in Colts history, a remarkable 79-yard kick achieved during a victorious clash against the 49ers in 2021. While the punter position may not always steal the spotlight, Sanchez’s exceptional skills and reputation as a consistent performer have made him a standout talent in the league.

Matt Corral — Quarterback, New England Patriots

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The upcoming season appears a tad uncertain for Matt Corral, who originally joined the NFL ranks as a third-round pick of the Carolina Panthers in the 2022 draft. Unfortunately, his journey with the Panthers took an unexpected turn when he lost the backup QB competition and was subsequently waived by the team.

However, 24-year-old Corral recently found a new home after being claimed off waivers by the New England Patriots.

It’s worth noting that quarterbacks typically require a couple of years to truly acclimate to the NFL, and now Corral has the opportunity to do so in one of the most supportive environments for quarterback development in the league, right in New England.

Chris Steele – Cornerback, Seattle Seahawks

Born in Los Angeles, California, on September 27th, 2000, Chris Steele proudly embraces his Mexican-American heritage, as his mother’s family hails from Michoacán, the same Mexican state where he spent his formative years. After a setback in the 2022 NFL Draft, Chris Steele’s determination and resilience brought him to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad, though he didn’t see any action on the field that season.

However, 2023 gave him new opportunities as he joined the Seattle Seahawks for the upcoming NFL season. The former USC Trojans cornerback showcased his skills with 12 passes defended and three interceptions during his time at USC, proving he has the potential to make a significant impact if given the chance. Standing at a formidable six feet tall and possessing impressive speed, Steele has the physical attributes and football IQ to emerge as a reliable cornerback in the 2023 season.