Top 25 NFL rookies of 2025: Ranking the best first-year standouts

DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 8 overall

Despite coming out of Arizona with extraordinary size and All-American production, McMillan wasn’t immune to skepticism in the pre-draft process. The Panthers refused to overthink the evaluation, though, and they were rewarded with a true WR1. McMillan captured the receiving triple crown among rookie wideouts, leading first-year players at the position in catches (70), yards (1,014) and touchdowns (seven). That output speaks for itself, but the eye test is equally illuminating: This guy just looks the part. A silky smooth route runner with contested-catch ability, McMillan not only fostered Bryce Young’s growth in Year 3 -- he helped Carolina log its first playoff berth in eight seasons and first NFC South title in a decade. A consistent factor from Week 1 through Week 18, McMillan should be named Offensive Rookie of the Year at NFL Honors in February.

DRAFTED: Round 2, No. 33 overall

My colleague Bucky Brooks recently touted the Browns’ rookie class as the NFL’s best this season, underscoring the expansive returns Cleveland received on both sides of the ball. And no one provided more of an impact than Schwesinger, who stuffed the stat sheet from Day 1. Playing linebacker behind a ferocious front spearheaded by Myles Garrett certainly has its benefits, but this rangy playmaker took full advantage, leading all rookies in tackles (146), stops (78) and tackles for loss (11) while also providing 20 QB pressures, 2.5 sacks, three passes defensed and two interceptions. It’s crazy that Schwesinger initially walked on at UCLA and ultimately started just 10 games for the Bruins. He’s an instant star in the NFL and should run away with Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.

DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 9 overall

Some people thought Banks would be best served playing guard in the NFL. Those people were wrong. The highly pedigreed Texas product started all 17 games at left tackle, playing nearly every offensive snap before getting his ankle rolled up on in Week 18. Fortunately, Kellen Moore said in the postgame presser that Banks didn’t suffer a long-term injury, further establishing that New Orleans has a long-term answer on the blind side. The Saints actually tried to address the spot with their first-round pick in the 2024 draft, taking college right tackle Taliese Fuaga and sending him across the formation in Year 1, but apparently that didn’t work out to their liking. Banks’ selection allowed New Orleans to move the mauler back to his natural position on right side, while giving the Saints an agile pass protector at LT. According to Pro Football Focus’ charting, Banks allowed just two sacks from November on.

DRAFTED: Round 2, No. 35 overall

Emmanwori is a challenging player to compare to other rookies, given the hyper-versatile role he plays in Seattle. A safety coming out of South Carolina, the 6-foot-3, 220-pounder has lined up in the back end for the Seahawks a bit, but he spends most of his time in the box or slot. Oh, he also routinely takes snaps as an edge defender.

"We've never really had a player like him, so we are kind of making it up as we go, to a certain extent," Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said last month, via the team website. "I hate to admit that, but we kind of are."

Basically, the ‘Hawks have taken all of that freakish athleticism we saw at the NFL Scouting Combine and weaponized it on all three levels of a wicked defense. Fun stuff.

DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 7 overall

Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey’s first year with the Jets didn't work out, but their first draft pick for the team did! Despite the franchise’s continual suffering -- SEE: NFL’s longest active playoff drought (15 years) and longest active streak of losing seasons (10) -- New York’s actually building a foundation for future success on the offensive line. 2023 second-round pick Joe Tippmann looks like he’s found a permanent home at right guard, 2024 first-rounder Olu Fashanu continues to improve as an athletic blocker on the blind side and Membou gives the Jets a true mauler at right tackle. A beast in the run game, Membou also acquitted himself quite well as a rookie pass protector, holding his own against established QB hunters like T.J. Watt and Jaelan Phillips.

DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 3 overall

Some folks undoubtedly feel this ranking is too high, given Carter’s underwhelming sack total. I actually think it’s too low, given Carter’s overwhelming talent. The No. 3 overall pick isn’t without warts, of course, especially considering he was benched on two separate occasions for behavior that his teammate Dexter Lawrence called “hard-headed."

"Just grow up, really," Lawrence said to reporters back in early December. "I think he loves football and he takes it serious. His approach to the game is really good. Just young stuff that can't happen."

Sexy Dexy’s right: Carter must eliminate the nonsense, or he’ll sabotage a skill set that jumps off the screen. For what it’s worth, the rookie logged 3.5 of his four sacks after the second benching. That’s the kind of response you want to see from a 22-year-old with rare ability. The 6-3, 252-pounder boasts explosiveness you can’t teach. Nothing exhibits this better than Carter’s 48 quick pressures (under 2.5 seconds), the highest total in the entire league.

DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 4 overall

After drafting QB Drake Maye at No. 3 overall in 2024, New England looked to protect his blind side by taking Campbell at No. 4 this past April. Some folks viewed the latter selection as a reach, largely because they questioned Campbell’s reach. (Remember the guy’s arm-length saga?) But Mike Vrabel was always bullish on the prospect’s potential, and his Patriots have reaped the benefits. Campbell’s been a big part of New England’s successful O-line overhaul in 2025. A knee injury sidelined him for December, but he returned to action for the Pats’ pounding of the Dolphins in Week 18. Now, New England’s preparing for its first home playoff game since Tom Brady was at quarterback, with Maye breaking out in an MVP-caliber season. And given the well-documented bond between Campbell and Maye -- they appear inseparable, on and off the field -- it kinda feels like the 22-year-old tackle is the 23-year-old quarterback’s literal bodyguard.

DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 10 overall

I contend that Loveland is the 2025 draft’s biggest riser since midseason. OK, with the possible exception of Tyler Shough, whose rookie campaign essentially began at midseason. But since the beginning of November, these are the top four tight ends in receiving yards:

1. Trey McBride: 818
2. Colston Loveland: 597
3. Kyle Pitts: 584
4. George Kittle: 560

McBride just completed an all-time season, while Kittle’s been one of the league’s best tight ends for a decade. And Pitts has rightfully received ample attention for his post-hype breakout in a contract season. But I think Loveland deserves more shine, and I’m here to supply it. Especially considering the newbie produced that yardage total -- along with seven touchdowns -- on just 47 catches, giving him a robust average of 12.7 yards per grab in this span. Solid run blocker, too.

DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 14 overall

I had questions about how Warren’s superflex game at Penn State would translate to the NFL. Clearly, those questions were unfounded. The Colts deployed the 6-6, 256-pounder in every manner imaginable. Just look at how Pro Football Focus charted his alignment:

• QB: 3 snaps
• Backfield: 63 snaps
• Inline: 459 snaps
• Slot: 271 snaps
• Wide: 103 snaps

Where’s Tyler? Somewhere making plays. Among all tight ends, he ranked sixth in receptions (76), fifth in receiving yards (817), fourth in receiving first downs (42) and second in yards after catch (474). And those numbers would be even more impressive if Daniel Jones hadn’t gotten hurt. This dude’s a big, rollicking mismatch weapon.

DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 12 overall

Javonte Williams just enjoyed a career year in his Cowboys debut, running for 1,201 yards (at a healthy 4.8 per carry) and 11 touchdowns to lift Dallas’ run game from 27th in 2024 all the way to ninth in ’25. This rookie right guard, who famously enjoys taking opponents’ souls, played a big part in the Cowboys' ground gains. A brute-force road-grader at 6-4, 321 pounds, Booker suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 3 that was projected to sideline him for four-to-six weeks, with Jerry Jones telling reporters at the time that the RG could hit IR. Instead, Booker missed three games, then got right back to blowing open holes in a Week 7 beatdown of Washington that saw Dallas eclipse 150 yards on the ground. Unsurprisingly, Booker finished the regular season with PFF’s highest run-blocking grade among rookie linemen.

DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 18 overall

Last season, the Seahawks gave up 54 sacks, tied for the third-most in the league. This season, they’ve cut that total in half, yielding the fifth-fewest sacks at 27. At the same time, Seattle’s rushing offense has gone from ranking 28th in 2024 to 11th in ’25. New offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and quarterback Sam Darnold absolutely deserve praise for these striking gains, but I’m giving a whole heap of credit to Zabel, the most significant addition -- by far -- to an offensive line that still has some holes. The North Dakota State product seamlessly transitioned to the NFL, playing like a seasoned veteran from Day 1. And with the NFC West title and No. 1 overall seed on the line this past Saturday night at San Francisco, Zabel might have played his best game yet. Not only did his performance receive special attention on the ESPN broadcast -- something that isn't exactly common for an offensive guard -- but he was PFF’s highest-graded player in the entire league for the week. 

DRAFTED: Round 3, No. 96 overall

A Day 1 starter for the Falcons, Watts logged the most defensive snaps in this rookie class (1,043 by Next Gen Stats’ count). And he made the extensive play time count, bringing his elite ball production from Notre Dame to Atlanta. After intercepting 13 passes in his final two seasons as a collegian, Watts snagged five picks in Year 1 as a professional, tying for second in the league. With 11 passes defensed (tied for first among rookies) and 92 tackles (fifth), the Falcons rookie basically raced teammate/playmaker extraordinaire Jessie Bates III to the football.

DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 1 overall

Ward’s raw statistics don’t merit this ranking. And neither does his team’s 3-14 record. So, where’s the beef? Well, not to answer a question with a question, but do you remember that all-important eye test I mentioned in the intro? Cam passed it! Not that he was an impeccable watch in Year 1 -- far from it -- but every time out, he did things to make me fall back in love with the tools that made him the No. 1 overall pick in the first place. And frankly, I was pleasantly surprised to see him finish the season with just seven interceptions, given the devil-may-care arm adventurism he routinely undertook in college. That said, 11 fumbles (seven lost) is unacceptable. Lastly, Ward was playing his best football late in the season -- 8:1 TD-to-INT ratio in December -- before suffering a shoulder injury in the season finale. Assuming his shoulder gets right, and Tennessee picks the right head coach, I’m still quite high on Ward's NFL prospects.

DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 19 overall

Egbuka’s debut campaign encapsulated the 2025 Buccaneers as a whole: dynamic in the first half of the season, defunct down the stretch. See for yourself:

DRAFTED: Round 3, No. 67 overall

In 2024, the Bowling Green tight end led major college football in receptions (117) and receiving yards (1,555), but his small-school pedigree, unremarkable physical dimensions and underwhelming 40 time (4.71 seconds) left him on the draft board into Round 3. The Browns bet on his prolific production translating to the NFL, and they’ve been rewarded handsomely. Despite playing with three different quarterbacks in Cleveland’s moribund offense, Fannin finished the season with top-10 marks among tight ends in catches (72), yards (731), yards after catch (352) and touchdowns (six). Whether he’s Mossing DBs in the end zone or bulldozing would-be tacklers in the open field, Fannin’s a highlight-reel player.

DRAFTED: Round 2, No. 40 overall

As somewhat of a Spencer Rattler truther, I questioned New Orleans’ decision to bench him in favor of their second-round pick, speculating at the time that “we haven't seen the last of Rattler this season.” Toss that onto the DUMB TAKES pile. Shough took the starting reins in Week 9 and ran with them, guiding a 1-7 team to a 5-4 record under his watch. The Saints visibly rallied around the 26-year-old rookie, whose seven-year, three-school college career was marred by injuries. He sure looked alright in the Big Easy, playing a clean, efficient brand of football that makes me excited about what he could be in Year 2 under Kellen Moore. I underestimated his athleticism and his arm talent -- both of which were on display in Sunday’s season finale at Atlanta -- and will try to be less ageist going forward.

DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 31 overall

The only thing keeping Campbell from a higher slot on this list? Well, it’s actually a person, and his name is Nakobe Dean. After suffering a serious knee injury last January, the veteran linebacker missed the opening stretch of this season, allowing Campbell to start the first eight games. The rookie acquitted himself quite well in that span, forcing a red-zone fumble in a four-point win over Dallas, snagging a late end-zone pick in a six-point win over Tampa Bay and totaling the fourth-most tackles among rookies (45). Then Dean returned to the lineup, significantly reducing Campbell’s snaps. But Dean suffered a hamstring injury early in Week 16, throwing Campbell back into the mix to lead the Eagles with 22 tackles over the past three games. His dead sprint to recover a fumble set up Philadelphia’s only touchdown in a 13-12 win at Buffalo in Week 17. When Campbell’s on the field, good things happen.

DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 5 overall

Back in May, Graham talked to reporters about the challenges of adjusting to Cleveland’s attack-front defense. As Graham detailed at the time, he was asked to play more laterally at Michigan, but the Browns wanted him to penetrate upfield. Once the regular season kicked off, that transition took some time, but the former wrestler eventually found his footing and improved as the season progressed, particularly after the Week 9 bye. Over the final nine weeks of the regular season, per Next Gen Stats, Graham ranked third among all rookies in run stops (behind off-ball linebackers Carson Schwesinger and Cody Simon) and QB pressures (behind edge rushers Abdul Carter and James Pearce Jr.). No other rookie defensive tackle came close to his production in either category during that span.

DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 25 overall

Dart drips moxie. He’s a playmaker with his arm and legs, as best evidenced by a dynamic prime-time performance alongside fellow rookie Cam Skattebo in a shocking October beatdown of the Eagles. So, why do I only have him as the third-best rookie QB and 19th overall player on this list? Because I’m afraid he doesn’t know how to -- or worse yet, doesn’t care to -- protect himself. The 6-2, 223-pounder became far too familiar with the blue tent in Year 1, and despite all the carnage, he repeatedly scoffed at any suggestion that he needed to change his play style. This is not sustainable, and I hope New York’s next coach can help him understand that. If he can stay upright and continue to hone the finer points of quarterbacking, Dart has the makeup of a really fun player.

DRAFTED: Round 3, No. 84 overall

In 2024, Todd Bowles couldn’t stop gushing over a third-round rookie nickelback. In 2025, Todd Bowles couldn’t stop gushing over a third-round rookie nickelback. Tampa time is a flat circle. Tykee Smith was the apple of Bowles’ eye last season, but the Buccaneers moved him to safety and drafted Parrish to man the NB spot. The new guy more than held his own in the slot -- and he did a fine job on the outside when pressed into service by injuries. In fact, Bowles just said Parrish was Tampa’s best overall corner in ’25. I don’t disagree.

DRAFTED: Round 2, No. 38 overall

Henderson was an explosive playmaker at Ohio State, but injuries often held him back. He's yet to miss a game in New England, though, providing the Patriots with the kind of fireworks they sorely lacked in recent years. Henderson had four runs of 40-plus yards in the regular season -- only Jahmyr Gibbs had more with six -- including a 65-yard change-of-direction touchdown against Buffalo and a 69-yard back-breaker score against Tampa Bay. This isn’t just a speed merchant, either; the 5-10, 202-pounder isn’t opposed to lowering his shoulder for the tough yards. This second-round pick looks like a home run in more ways than one.

DRAFTED: Round 2, No. 39 overall

Burden just moves differently. That’s really the best way to put it. When the ball is in his hands, I sit up in my chair. And just like Colston Loveland, he took off in the second half of the season: Since Week 10, Burden leads all rookie wideouts in catches (34), yards (481), yards after catch (249) and first downs (23). With Burden, Loveland and first-year back Kyle Monangai joining last season’s rookie duo of Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze, Ben Johnson has young offensive firepower to scorch earth for years to come.

DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 22 overall

I said it before, and I’ll say it again: My colleague Lance Zierlein supplied the best description of this beastly back's play style:

He runs like a downhill truck whose brake lines have been cut.

Hampton’s listed at 220 pounds, and I think he packs at least 50 into each thigh. Fittingly, the man leg-churned his way to Kyle Brandt’s “Angry Runs” scepter in Week 4. It was really a remarkable run. On third-and-1, Hampton was squarely contacted a yard short, but he bulldozed through that tackle attempt -- and three more -- for an 18-yard gain. But he suffered a fractured ankle one week later, forcing him to miss six games. He returned to play all four December contests and ultimately finished the season with the fourth-highest missed tackle rate (29.8%, per NGS) among all NFL backs with at least 100 carries. Unfortunately, it appears that ankle is barking again in advance of Los Angeles’ playoff opener at New England. Hopefully, the missed practice is precautionary, because a really enticing Sunday night matchup isn’t as fun without Hampton involved.

DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 6 overall

I’m probably ranking Jeanty too low, especially given his plight on the league’s worst team. It’s hard to play running back when nobody blocks for you. Of Jeanty’s 975 rushing yards, 863 came after contact -- a whopping 88.5%. The man did yeoman’s work just getting the ball back to the line of scrimmage. And with 55 catches, including five that went for touchdowns, he reminded everyone of the receiving ability he showcased in his penultimate season at Boise State. I still believe in Jeanty’s all-around talent, and sincerely hope the Raiders give him an offensive line to put it on full display.

DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 26 overall

Atlanta clearly went into last April’s draft hell-bent on boosting a pass rush that had been lacking for years (decades?). After pouncing on edge rusher Jalon Walker at No. 15 overall, the Falcons gave up their 2026 first-rounder in a trade with the Rams, allowing them to double down on the position by taking Pearce at No. 26. And after finishing the 2024 campaign with the second-fewest sacks in the league (31), Atlanta posted the second-most in 2025 (57), setting a new franchise record in the process. Consequently, with the final spot on this list, it felt necessary to spotlight one of the Falcons' two edges. Walker’s definitely the more complete player, but his production was limited by injuries in Year 1. And in the spirit of everything you just read, Pearce feels like the proper pick. Yes, he’s kind of a one-trick pony, but what a trick it is! In the final nine weeks of the season, Pearce racked up 10 sacks. Only two players had more sacks in that span: five-time Pro Bowler Danielle Hunter (11) and freshly minted sack king Myles Garrett (13).