NFL rookie rankings at midseason: Jayden Daniels holds the throne, but Brock Bowers flies up the board

DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 2 overall

Daniels’ dynamism is apparent, but his preternatural calm might be the secret sauce. He oozes a quiet confidence you can’t fake, backing it up with clutch play in big spots. In terms of total EPA (expected points added), here are Next Gen Stats’ top six quarterbacks on third/fourth down through Week 9:

1. Patrick Mahomes: 38.5 EPA
2. JAYDEN: 36.5
3. Joe Burrow: 22.5
4. Josh Allen: 22.4
5. Kirk Cousins: 20.7
6. Lamar Jackson: 14.5

That’s a hell of a list -- and the rookie ranks No. 2. Which helps explain why he stays No. 1 here.

DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 13 overall

Outside of a shocking win at Baltimore in Week 2, Las Vegas hasn’t had much to feel good about this year. But the Raiders clearly nailed the 13th pick of April’s draft. Forget about comparing this guy to fellow rookies at his position -- Bowers leads all tight ends in targets (73), receptions (57), yards (580), yards after the catch (300) and receiving first downs (28). First-team All-Pro is in play.

DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 19 overall

With the seventh-most pressures in the league through Week 9 -- 39, per Next Gen Stats -- Verse is the type of edge rusher you feel all game long. And he’s taken his disruption to another level since the Week 6 bye. Over his past three games, Verse has piled up 19 pressures, nine QB hits and 2.5 sacks. A true power player off the edge, the 6-foot-4, 260-pounder has no trouble bullying pedigreed left tackles. And when a tight end draws the blocking assignment? Yeah, get ready to take a ride back into the quarterback’s lap.

DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 22 overall

In his Toledo days, Mitchell primarily played off coverage with his eyes on the quarterback, initially leading many to believe he’d fit best in a zone scheme. But then he put on a show at the Senior Bowl, excelling in the one-on-one reps that simulate press-man coverage. Over Mitchell's first four NFL games, Pro Football Focus charted him taking just six total snaps in press. During the past four games, though, his snap count in this coverage has exploded. In last week’s win over the Jaguars, Mitchell logged a season-high 20 snaps in press, with Trevor Lawrence refusing to target him even once. At this point, I’m trying to figure out what this size/speed/swag combo can’t do.

DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 6 overall

Nabers sprinted out the gates of his rookie season, commanding serious consideration for the No. 1 spot in these rankings at the quarter mark. But then a concussion sidelined him for couple weeks, and he hasn’t produced at the same Pro Bowl level over the past three games. Now, through Week 9, the rookie still ranked second among all receivers in targets (84) and receptions (55), but drops have been a bit of an issue in recent games. And he’s become a squeaky wheel of late, calling out his play-caller and signal-caller over the past few weeks. Something tells me this Sunday’s Munich meet-up with Carolina’s defense will help smooth things over.

DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 23 overall

Thomas is nipping at the heels of his former college teammate, Malik Nabers, giving LSU three of the top six rookies. This raises an obvious question: With Jayden Daniels throwing the ball to Nabers and Thomas, how did the 2023 Tigers ever lose? Well, the 108th-ranked defense didn’t help. But I digress. Thomas is big, fast and smooth, possessing the ability to torch defenses on smoke screens or beat ‘em over the top. As mentioned in this space last time, the route-running and feel against zone coverage are much further along than most pre-draft scouting reports indicated. In a dominant showing on the international stage in Week 7, Thomas had his way with a talented young cornerback in Christian Gonzalez, beating the second-year Patriot with deep speed and physicality.

DRAFTED: Round 2, No. 51 overall

Don’t get hung up on the four-slot drop here. Frazier had his ankle rolled up on in Week 6, forcing him to miss the last two games, so the slight downgrade is more of a product of other rookies leapfrogging him during his absence. But Pittsburgh’s pivot appears poised to return in this Sunday’s marquee matchup against the 7-2 Commanders. Good news for Najee Harris, who has fueled Pittsburgh’s three-game win streak with three straight 100-yard outings.

DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 5 overall

Bull-rushed into oblivion on a sack this past Sunday, the rookie right tackle experienced a “Welcome to the NFL” moment. But when said moment comes courtesy of Myles Garrett, it’s more like “Welcome to the club.” Just ask Rashawn Slater. Los Angeles’ highly regarded left tackle surrendered two sacks to Garrett in a three-snap span. For the most part, Alt’s been as advertised: a technically sound 6-foot-8 wall.

DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 4 overall

The pedigreed pass catcher has experienced a roller-coaster ride in Year 1. After a dud debut caused a minor freakout, Harrison immediately bounced back with four catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns in the first 12 minutes of his second NFL game. Over the next month, though, his production waned, and then he was knocked out of a game early due to a concussion. In a narrow win at Miami in Week 8, he authored another boffo stat line (6/111/1), flummoxing the Dolphins with an expanded route tree. But this past Sunday, he caught just two of five targets, coughing the ball up on one. The spike weeks scream FRANCHISE X RECEIVER, but the inconsistency demonstrates a franchise and receiver still working to get on the same page. 

DRAFTED: Round 3, No. 89 overall

The nickel position, which routinely approaches a starter’s share of snaps in today’s NFL, remains generally underappreciated. But not in these rankings! Smith is the first of three NBs to make the cut, and honestly, I feel guilty not spotlighting a fourth. (You deserve better, Beanie Bishop Jr.)

Smith does a little bit of everything for the Bucs, which is why it feels like he’s everywhere. The (stuffed) stat sheet doesn’t lie: 42 tackles, five passes defensed, three forced fumbles, two tackles for loss, two QB hits and an interception.

DRAFTED: Round 3, No. 70 overall

The physical defensive back provides useful versatility -- and enviable accountability. In the wake of last Sunday’s 27-22 loss to the Commanders, Phillips was beside himself, per beat writer Patricia Traina, due to a pair of subpar snaps. The first came on a Terry McLaurin touchdown that initially appeared to be on Giants CB Deonte Banks. Not according to Phillips.

"We're playing a technique. I'm supposed to take the underneath. We're supposed to switch on McLaurin. Yeah. I'm supposed to do that. That's, that's me,” Phillips said. “I gotta be better for this team, for [Banks], for this organization."

The second was a missed tackle that allowed Washington to convert a third-and-18 (and eventually score another TD).

"If I get that tackle on that third down, that doesn't happen," Phillips said. "I'll take it on the chin; I don't care. I gotta be better. I gotta be better on my details. I gotta grow up."

Don’t be too hard on yourself, Dru! You’re playing -- and acting -- like a seasoned vet.

DRAFTED: Round 2, No. 34 overall

One of the biggest questions for receivers transitioning from college to the pros: Can you handle press-man coverage from an NFL cornerback? Well, McConkey -- who’s been splitting time inside and outside, just like he did in college -- has run 31 routes against press. The results? Five catches (on five targets) for 108 yards and two touchdowns, producing a perfect passer rating (158.3) for Justin Herbert when he targets the rookie against this coverage. Anyone who told you Ladd was a limited, slot-only wideout was lying.

DRAFTED: Round 4, No. 125 overall

The Oregon back had a lot of fans after he initially declared for the 2024 draft, but many were spooked by shoddy athletic testing at the NFL Scouting Combine. The shame is that Irving chose not to participate in the three-cone drill and short shuttle, exercises that could’ve showcased his breathtaking stop-start ability. Even on the NFL gridiron, Bucky stands out. The elusiveness is eye-popping, mixing supreme vision with video-game jump cuts.

DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 7 overall

Sitting at 2-6 with a first-year head coach and major questions at quarterback, Tennessee is clearly a team in transition, to put it kindly. But the No. 7 overall pick gives Titans fans something to be excited about -- and not just because he’s clearly an excitable fella (SEE: last week’s Mic’d Up footage). With the college right tackle settling into his new assignment on the blind side, the Titans have a promising young OL duo on the left, between Latham and last year’s first-round pick, LG Peter Skoronski.

DRAFTED: Round 3, No. 86 overall

In the previous edition of these rankings, I spotlighted Trent Williams’ lavish praise for Puni. Well, the first-team All-Pro left tackle was at it again in the intervening weeks: “I don't think there is a ceiling for how good he can be,” Williams said to NBC Sports Bay Area. 

Williams isn’t the only veteran on San Francisco’s offensive line waxing poetic about the rookie right guard, either. KNBR’s Larry Krueger asked Jon Feliciano if he’s surprised by Puni’s instant impact, and the 10th-year pro didn’t hesitate: “No, no shot. He came in here and really worked his tail off, and absolutely no ego. If I ever, you know, tell him anything and try to help him along, he’s always ears wide open.”

DRAFTED: Round 4, No. 111 overall

Free-agent signee Xavier McKinney leads the NFL with seven takeaways, but he isn’t the only safety addition paying immediate dividends in Green Bay. In fact, the Packers have a pair of rookies logging serious snaps in the secondary. While second-rounder Javon Bullard was the higher draft pick, Williams is the one playing at the higher level thus far. The Oregon product actually has missed the last game and a half due to a hamstring injury, but prior to that, he established himself as a playmaker against the pass and run. His picture-perfect punchout against Arizona is teach tape. 

DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 14 overall

Fuaga was a dominant right tackle at Oregon State, and his run-game demolition has carried over in his NFL transition to the blind side. The pass blocking, though, has been more touch-and-go. He struggled on the Thursday Night Football stage back in Week 7, giving up a bushel of pressures and sacks to Vance Joseph's attacking Broncos defense. But then he bounced back nicely against the Chargers in Week 8. While Bud Dupree technically beat him for a sack, Saints QB Jake Haener kind of rolled right into it. And in 16 pass-blocking snaps against Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack, Fuaga didn’t give up a single pressure or sack, per NGS.

DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 1 overall

I squeezed Caleb in at No. 25 in the initial rookie rundown a month ago, pointing to some intoxicating flashes as rationalization for his inclusion. And then the No. 1 overall pick promptly rewarded my belief in him with his two best games of the season. In back-to-back blowouts of the Panthers and Jaguars, Williams completed 74.1 percent of his passes while compiling a 6:1 TD-to-INT ratio and 129.2 passer rating. Unfortunately, he followed that up with a pair of duds in back-to-back road losses to the Commanders and Cardinals, completing less than 50 percent of his passes while basically authoring just one true touchdown drive. Perhaps I’m a Caleb apologist, giving him a little bump in these rankings, but I still believe he’s operating in an adverse environment.

DRAFTED: Round 2, No. 38 overall

I already talked about the nice young duo Tennessee has cooking on the offensive line. The Titans also have a talented tandem in their defensive front. Jeffery Simmons is a bona fide game wrecker squarely in his prime in Year 6 -- and now he’s flanked by a 6-4, 366-pound block eater. Sweat doesn’t offer much as a pass rusher at this point, but he’s a monstrous run stuffer in a league that has trended back to the ground game. 

DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 3 overall

New England lorded over the league for the first two decades of this millennium, but in the year 2024, the Patriots have one of the worst rosters in the NFL. That’s why some folks wanted the franchise to slow-play the No. 3 overall pick, fearing that throwing him into the fire with a lackluster supporting cast could get him burned. But Jerod Mayo gave Maye the starting reins in Week 6, and the football-watching world is better off for it. Not that he’s taken the league by storm like Jayden Daniels -- far from it -- but Maye’s raw traits jump off the screen. He throws lasers on and off platform and basically has become New England’s run game of late. Not to mention, he just provided an epic thrill ride of a play this past Sunday, scrambling around for nearly 12 seconds before delivering a game-tying touchdown pass with no time remaining on the clock.

DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 12 overall

Nix threw four picks in the first two weeks of the season and left a lot to be desired this past Sunday. In related news, Denver lost all three of those games. But in between, the Broncos won five of six contests, with the rookie quarterback playing solid football:

• Nix in Weeks 3-8: 64.7 comp%, 8:1 TD-to-INT ratio, 199 rushing yards, 3 rushing TDs.

The man with the most starts in college football history (61) was viewed as a fine fit in Sean Payton’s offense, given his quick processing, precision passing and functional athleticism. But it feels like he didn’t get enough credit for the explosiveness in his arm and legs.

DRAFTED: Round 2, No. 45 overall

The second-round pick missed the entire preseason with a hip injury, leading to a slow start in September. But he’s come on like a house on fire over the past five games. Despite being in a rotational role largely limited to passing downs, the rangy Cooper still leads all rookie linebackers with 44 tackles, and he’s shown promise in coverage. But he’s truly a menace when Jeff Hafley turns him loose to get after the quarterback, having already posted 2.5 sacks.

DRAFTED: Round 2, No. 40 overall

DeJean was nitpicked during the pre-draft process last spring, facing questions about his positional/scheme fit in the NFL. Thus far, the Iowa cornerback is making those concerns look foolish. A hamstring injury delayed his ascension up the depth chart, but he’s provided a major boost to the Eagles’ secondary since replacing Avonte Maddox as the starting nickel in Week 5. His ability to shadow and stuff Ja’Marr Chase on a fourth-and-1 swing pass was eye-opening.

DRAFTED: Round 2, No. 39 overall

Last year, Les Snead replenished Los Angeles’ defensive front with two instant-impact rookies in OLB Byron Young and DT Kobie Turner. This year, the Rams general manager appears to have done it again -- only this time, he streamlined his savvy by taking two studs from one school. We already went over Jared Verse above, but his Florida State teammate is really coming on as an interior pass rusher. Fiske is running circles around all other rookie DTs in the QB-pressure department, with 26 by PFF’s count, and he just posted his first two-sack game this past Sunday.

DRAFTED: Round 5, No. 166 overall

Tracy leads all rookie running backs with 442 yards rushing. Pretty impressive for a guy who spent most of his six-year college career playing wide receiver. But that yardage figure is even more remarkable when you consider the Giants didn’t give him more than five carries in a game until October. Veteran back Devin Singletary’s groin injury opened the door for the new guy to carry the load, and now that Tracy has put his explosive game on full display, I don’t see New York going back to Wally Pipp.