Alabama quarterback Bryce Young was the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft on April 27. But Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young is not No. 1 on the NFL Players Association’s Rising Stars list.

The NFLPA released the 2023 Rising Stars lineup on Thursday afternoon. Compiled by NFL Players Inc., the marketing and licensing entity of the NFLPA, the Rising Stars feature 10 rookies and 10 veterans expected to have an impact on retail sales of officially licensed player merchandise this year to the extent that they will compete to break into the NFLPA’s Top 50 Players Sales rankings.

MORE NFL:

· BEARS SAFETY EDDIE JACKSON GRATEUL TO MAKE IT BACK TO THE FIELD

· BRYCE YOUNG COMPLETES HIS FIRST NFL OFFSEASON PROGRAM

· SPAIN PARK’S MIKE JACKSON ‘STEPPED UP TO THE CHALLENGE’ WITH SEAHAWKS

Among the rookie Rising Stars, Young was ranked third behind Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson and Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson. The Colts used the fourth pick in the 2023 NFL Draft to obtain the Florida quarterback, and the Falcons spent the eighth selection on the Texas running back.

RELATED: HEIGHT NOT HURTING BRYCE YOUNG AT PRACTICE, CAROLINA COACH SAYS

The NFLPA said the rankings are based on factors that contribute to early sales popularity, including “on-field performance, early demand for content and marketing from NFLPA partners, fantasy-league status, collegiate name, image and likeness deals, the players’ existing reach to a massive audience of fans, participation in Rookie Premiere, product submissions from over 90 NFLPA licensees, support from team fan bases and emerging talent in strong markets.”

Former Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr. ranked sixth among the rookie Rising Stars. Anderson joined the Houston Texans as the No. 3 selection in the NFL Draft on April 27.

RELATED: PASS RUSHER TO PASS RUSHER, J.J. WATT EXCITED ABOUT WILL ANDERSON JR.

Also among the rookies were Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud at No. 4, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba at No. 5, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers at No. 7, New York Giants wide receiver Jalin Hyatt at No. 8, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison at No. 9 and Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. at No. 10.

To be on the veteran Rising Stars list, players could not have appeared on any quarterly or year-end NFLPA Top 50 Player Sales List, which is the only verified ranking of all officially licensed products from retailers.

The veteran Rising Stars included former Hoover High School star George Pickens at No. 5 and former Alabama All-American Patrick Surtain II at No. 7. A wide receiver, Pickens is entering his second season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. A cornerback, Surtain is entering his third season with the Denver Broncos.

RELATED: GEORGE PICKENS HAS HIGH GOALS FOR HIS SECOND NFL SEASON

RELATED: WHO’S THE BEST NFL DEFENSIVE BACK FROM ALABAMA?

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is No. 1 among the veteran Rising Stars, followed by New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson at No. 2, Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard at No. 3, Jets running back Breece Hall at No. 4, New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave at No. 6, Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders at No. 8, Chicago Bears wide receiver D.J. Moore at No. 9 and Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love at No. 10.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady retired at No. 1 on the NFLPA Top 50 Players Sales rankings. Nine players from Alabama high schools and colleges made the top 50 for sales of officially licensed products from March 1, 2022, to Feb. 28, 2023:

· Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (Alabama), No. 5

· New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (Alabama), No. 19

· Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama), No. 24

· Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (West Alabama), No. 27

· Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs (Alabama), No. 28

· Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (Alabama), No. 36

· Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (Alabama), No. 37

· Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (Alabama), No. 41

· Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (Alabama), No. 46.

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.