2022 NFL Preseason: 7 Players who made a name for themselves in Week 1

NFL preseason Week 1 star no. 2: George Pickens, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

All offseason word coming out of Steelers training camp was how impressive George Pickens was. He missed time in the spring last season which dropped his stock to the second round. Make no mistake about it, Pickens is a stud in the making. He’s a deep threat with excellent body control and suddenness to his route running you don’t always see from players his height.

In his first outing as an NFL player, Pickens showed out. He’s a willing run blocker who could dominate. During the game against the Seahawks, he showed bully tendencies as a run blocker.

In the passing game, he showed why he’s a ready-made downfield target. The 6-3 195-pound rookie wideout has star potential. If he’s given the opportunity, he could shine as a top target for either Mitchell Trubisky or Kenny Pickett. He finished the game with three catches for 43-yards and including a 23-yard touchdown where he caught a pass on one of the better corner prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft.

1. Boye Mafe, Edge, Seattle Seahawks

Boye Mafe was a star in college and his week one preseason is indicative of the type of player Pete Caroll expects him to be. Mafe was known for his flashes or brilliance, where he’d dominate with his explosiveness and rare athletic traits. Saturday, he was that and more. The second-round pick got to the quarterback quite a bit and managed two sacks.

He added a forced fumble to his resume, showing he’s capable of making game-changing plays. When it’s all said and done, we could be looking at a player who’ll have his name in the defensive rookie of the year conversation.