NFL coaches, executives and general managers hope that every year the draft brings a few players who will make an impact on their respective teams. Some rookies may need some time to adjust, but there are a few first-year players who are already being regarded as blue-chip performers based on their immediate contribution. Given some time to survey the landscape, here are 11 rookies who are earning rave reviews for their performance and production so far in 2025: OFFENSEJaxson Dart, QB, New York GiantsThe electrifying rookie quickly made his mark as a dual-threat with dynamic playmaking skills and pizzazz. Dart’s big-play mentality excites the Big Apple with the rookie accounting for 17 total touchdowns (10 passing, 7 rushing), while posting a 62.7 percent completion rate and a 93.5 passer rating. The former Ole Miss standout did it all while showing a tantalizing mixture of athleticism with arm talent, which should encourage Giants to allow the rookie to toss the ball around the yard. Dart may need to change his style of play due to his injury history, but the Giants now have a franchise quarterback who has the tools to bring a resurgence to New York. Jaxson dart was a franchise quarterback found by the Giants. Emeka Egbuka WR, Tampa Bay BuccaneersEgbuka was the latest Ohio State product who has taken the league by storm. He is a talented route runner and has the potential to make big plays. The 6-foot-1, 205-pounder has been spectacular as the Buccaneers’ WR1, with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin sidelined with various injuries. The rookie has six touchdowns and an average of 15.9 yards for each catch. He also has three 100-yard performances in ten games. Egbuka has also started to defeat double coverage and bracket concepts that are designed to limit his effect on the perimeter. With the rookie pass catcher beginning to figure out how to dominate against “slow down the WR1” tactics, the Buccaneers’ young playmaker could emerge as an unstoppable force when opponents are forced to account for Evans and Godwin when the former Pro Bowlers return to action. Tyler Warren, TE, Indianapolis Colts Part of Daniel Jones’ success can be attributed to Warren’s dominance inside the numbers. The rookie tight end has been sensational as a chain mover in the Colts’ ball control offense. Warren, the designated playmaker in an offense with many playmakers on the perimeter and the backfield, is averaging 12,3 yards per reception with three touchdowns. The rookie tight-end is a matchup nightmare to defensive coordinators across the league. Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Carolina Panthers The 6-foot-5, 212-pound pass catcher has been as good as advertised as the Panthers’ No. The Panthers’ No. 1 option for the passing game is Tetairoa McMillan. McMillan finished the season with at least five catches despite tilted coverage. T-Mac is a jump ball expert with superior size and jumping ability. He has consistently caught 50-50 balls while in traffic in crucial moments. McMillan, a dominant WR1 who has big-play characteristics, is what the Panthers need on the outside. Tetairoa MacMillan is a revelation for Carolina. TreVeyon Henderson, RB, New England Patriots After a slow start, Henderson has started to deliver the splash plays the Patriots envisioned when selecting him with the 38th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The 5-foot-10 and 202-pounder, who has shown burst in both his running and receiving abilities, is averaging 102 scrimmageyards over the last four games. With opponents sitting back in softer coverage to take away Drake Maye’s deep ball, Henderson’s ability to produce plays as a lead back and check-down option could help the Patriots move the chains down the stretch. DEFENSE Carson Schwesinger, LB, Cleveland Browns The UCLA product is a tackling machine Jim Schwartz wanted in the middle of his ultra-aggressive defense. Schwesinger is a playmaker who has excellent diagnostic skills. He patrols the box with the knowledge of a 10-year veteran and understands blocking schemes and concepts with the wisdom of a grizzled coaching. With a frontline that commands attention due to Myles Garrett’s dominance at the point of attack, the rookie linebacker has quickly developed into a key contributor on one of the league’s most disruptive defenses. Carson Schwesinger is a solid choice for the Browns. Nick Emmanwori, S, Seattle Seahawks Seattle coach Mike Macdonald has unleashed the rookie safety on opponents ill-equipped to deal with a 6-foot-3, 220-pound hybrid linebacker-safety in the box. Emmanwori is reminiscent of the “Legion of Boom’s” legendary Kam Chancellor, as he leads a defensive unit that causes chaos on all levels. The rookie’s versatility as a pass rusher and coverage specialist enables the Seahawks to utilize various personnel packages, blitz concepts, and simulated pressures to keep quarterbacks and play callers guessing from snap to snap. As Emmanwori becomes more comfortable in his role as a designated playmaker, the Seahawks’ defense is starting to look like the dominant units of the 2010s that fueled a series of championship runs. Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr., LBs, Atlanta FalconsThe impact of the Falcons’ rookie linebackers demands a two-for-one spot on this list. Walker and Pearce’s athleticism, and their pass-rushing abilities have energized defenses. Raheem Morris and Jeff Ulbrich use the two as freakishly athletic defensive players with their combination of speed and quickness that overwhelms blocking blockers. They are used in blitzes, games, and blitzes for generating consistent pressure on the edges. With Walker and Pearce ranking first and third, respectively, in sacks among rookies, the Falcons’ first-year tandem deserves to split a spot on this list. Abdul Carter, EDGE, New York Giants Carter would not earn a spot on this list if box score scouting were a key component of the evaluation, but the film suggests the Giants’ rookie pass rusher is progressing nicely as a dynamic defender. The Penn State product, who was drafted third overall in 2025, displays exceptional quickness and burst from the edge. However, he is a one-trick horse as a passrusher. Armed with a dominant signature move as a speed rusher, Carter’s explosiveness is a problem for heavy-legged pass protectors at the line of scrimmage. Abdul Carter has reverted to the dominant player that he was while at Penn State. Malaki Starks, S, Baltimore RavensThe Ravens’ defensive resurgence coincides with Starks taking on more responsibilities in the back end to accommodate Kyle Hamilton’s move to hybrid linebacker. With the All-Pro spending more time in the box, the rookie has excelled as the deepest defender in some of the Ravens’ single-high safety coverages. After snagging a pair of interceptions over the past three games, Starks’ impact as a centerfielder has helped the Ravens get back on track defensively. Bucky Brooks, an NFL analyst with FOX Sports, is a well-known name in the NFL. He also analyzes games for NFL Network as well as co-hosting the “Moving the Sticks Podcast”. Follow him on twitter @BuckyBrooks.
2025-11-21 15:42:32
The Blitz: They Might Be Rookies, But These 11 Players Are The Real Deal
