- Aaron Donald’s rookie marketing campaign may stand the take a look at of time: His elite 90.2 PFF general grade that 12 months was the bottom of his decade-long NFL profession.
- Some new faces after 2024: Brian Thomas Jr. and Bucky Irving put collectively the highest rookie seasons within the PFF period for the Jaguars and Buccaneers, respectively.
- Subscribe to PFF+: Get entry to participant grades, PFF Premium Stats, fantasy soccer rankings, all the PFF fantasy draft analysis instruments and extra!
Estimated Reading Time: 14 minutes
Every season, NFL rookies are available and play at a excessive stage from Day 1. Whether it’s the extremely touted early-round prospects or the late-round gems, a crew’s success usually comes right down to the contributions of its rookie class.
Last 12 months, PFF’s top-graded cornerback was rookie Cooper DeJean (86.3). Quarterback Jayden Daniels (90.6), edge defender Jared Verse (89.3), large receiver Malik Nabers (86.7) and tight finish Brock Bowers (85.1) additionally had distinctive rookie campaigns however nonetheless didn’t high the listing of highest-graded rookies for his or her respective groups over the previous 20 years.
Let’s take a look at each crew’s highest-graded rookie within the PFF period, courting again to 2006.
JUMP TO A TEAM:
ARZ | ATL | BLT | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND | JAX | KC | LVR | LAC | LAR | MIA | MIN | NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF | SEA | TB | TEN | WSH
Arizona Cardinals: LB Daryl Washington, 2010 (86.9)
After being chosen out of TCU within the second spherical of the 2010 NFL Draft, Washington was the Cardinals’ highest-graded defender as a rookie. His 40 defensive stops ranked fourth amongst his teammates, although he performed simply 518 snaps for the 12 months. He earned excessive PFF grades throughout the board, significantly in run protection and protection.
Grades, superior statistics and extra: Available in PFF Premium Stats
Atlanta Falcons: WR Drake London, 2022 (83.2)
The Falcons chosen London eighth general within the 2022 NFL Draft, and he made a right away influence within the NFL. London’s 83.2 PFF general grade ranked eleventh out of 113 qualifying large receivers in 2022. He led the crew in receptions (72), yards (866) and touchdowns (4) and dropped simply two passes all season lengthy.
Grades, superior statistics and extra: Available in PFF Premium Stats
Baltimore Ravens: S Dawan Landry, 2006 (89.9)
Landry was a Day 1 starter on the most effective protection in soccer as a fifth-round select of Georgia Tech. He was elite in run protection and protection, the place he intercepted 5 passes, broke up 4 others and didn’t enable a landing all season.
Grades, superior statistics and extra: Available in PFF Premium Stats
Buffalo Bills: CB Tre’Davious White, 2017 (89.4)
White’s 89.4 PFF general grade as a rookie was good for fifth amongst 120 qualifying cornerbacks that 12 months. He allowed a catch on simply 48.1% of passes thrown his approach and was among the many league leaders with 17 mixed interceptions and go breakups. Most impressively, White utterly shut down his opposition 3 times, permitting zero catches in every of these outings.
Grades, superior statistics and extra: Available in PFF Premium Stats
Carolina Panthers: CB Richard Marshall, 2006 (88.1)
Marshall surrendered only one landing in protection in his rookie marketing campaign whereas intercepting three passes and breaking apart seven others. His 57.9 passer score when focused ranked within the high 10 amongst all cornerbacks in 2006.
Grades, superior statistics and extra: Available in PFF Premium Stats
Chicago Bears: C Cody Whitehair, 2016 (87.5)
Despite ending the 12 months 3-13, the 2016 Bears fielded probably the greatest offensive traces within the league, rating within the high 10 in crew PFF pass-blocking grade (84.4) and run-blocking grade (78.6).
Second-round choose Cody Whitehair began each sport at heart as a rookie, and his 87.5 PFF general grade ranked third amongst 38 qualifying facilities for the season.
Grades, superior statistics and extra: Available in PFF Premium Stats
Cincinnati Bengals: WR Ja’Marr Chase, 2021 (85.3)
Chase was broadly thought to be probably the greatest large receiver prospects in latest reminiscence forward of the 2021 NFL Draft and instantly cemented himself as one of many sport’s greatest early on. Including the playoffs, Chase ranked second amongst all large receivers with 49 explosive performs (15-plus yards) and third in yards per reception (17.5) as a rookie in 2021.
Grades, superior statistics and extra: Available in PFF Premium Stats
Cleveland Browns: T Joe Thomas, 2006 (84.9)
Thomas went down as probably the greatest offensive tackles in NFL historical past, and that was obvious from Day 1. He didn’t enable a sack over 607 pass-blocking snaps as a rookie and let up no multiple stress in 10 of his 16 video games that season.
Grades, superior statistics and extra: Available in PFF Premium Stats
Dallas Cowboys: EDGE Micah Parsons, 2021 (89.7)
Back in 2021, Parsons’ 92.9 PFF pass-rush grade led the league and his 21.3% pass-rush win fee ranked third. He additionally ranked among the many league leaders with 58 defensive stops and helped remodel a Dallas protection that had positioned close to the underside of the league only a 12 months prior.
Grades, superior statistics and extra: Available in PFF Premium Stats
Denver Broncos: EDGE Von Miller, 2011 (90.0)
The Broncos completed the 2010 season 4-12, their worst file since their 2-7 strike-shortened season of 1982. They had been instantly again within the playoffs the next 12 months, thanks largely to Von Miller, whom they chose second general within the 2011 NFL Draft.
Miller’s 90.0 PFF general grade ranked third amongst 93 qualifying edge defenders, and he helped change the tradition in Denver as an elite difference-maker as a rookie.
Grades, superior statistics and extra: Available in PFF Premium Stats
Detroit Lions: G Larry Warford, 2013 (85.1)
Warford began each sport at proper guard as a rookie for the Lions in 2013. Across 694 pass-blocking snaps, he allowed simply 15 pressures (and no sacks) for the 12 months. In an offense headlined by star large receiver Calvin Johnson and quarterback Matthew Stafford, Warford was an unsung hero within the trenches for Detroit.
Grades, superior statistics and extra: Available in PFF Premium Stats
Green Bay Packers: CB Casey Hayward Jr., 2012 (91.5)
Hayward was a lockdown cornerback as a rookie in 2012, giving up only a 29.3 passer score when focused — the bottom for any cornerback within the league that season. He didn’t enable a single landing in protection and picked off six passes whereas breaking apart 12 others. Hayward’s 2012 season was arguably probably the most dominant we’ve seen by a rookie cornerback courting again to 2006.
Grades, superior statistics and extra: Available in PFF Premium Stats
Houston Texans: QB C.J. Stroud, 2023 (83.1)
Houston chosen each the Offensive Rookie of the Year (Stroud) and Defensive Rookie of the Year (Will Anderson Jr.) in 2023, serving to the crew go from worst to first within the AFC South in only one season. Stroud struggled early within the season however was the seventh-ranked quarterback in PFF general grade from Weeks 9-18.
Grades, superior statistics and extra: Available in PFF Premium Stats
Indianapolis Colts: TE Dwayne Allen, 2012 (85.9)
The Colts drafted quarterback Andrew Luck first general within the 2012 NFL Draft after which doubled up on tight ends in Rounds 2 (Coby Fleener) and three (Allen). Allen was the extra productive participant as a rookie, ending fourth on the crew in targets (70), receptions (49) and yards (572) and third in touchdowns (three). His 84.4 PFF run-blocking grade ranked among the many high 10 tight ends for the season, as effectively.
Grades, superior statistics and extra: Available in PFF Premium Stats
Jacksonville Jaguars: WR Brian Thomas Jr., 2024 (82.0)
2024 featured a terrific large receiver rookie class, with 4 gamers (Malik Nabers, Ladd McConkey, Brian Thomas Jr. and Marvin Harrison Jr.) rating among the many high 30 large receivers in PFF general grade for the 12 months.
Thomas’ 1,282 receiving yards ranked third within the NFL, and he was the focus of an offense that didn’t get a lot manufacturing behind him. His receiving metrics had been up there with the most effective of them, with top-five marks in yards after the catch (572) and yards per route run (2.45). Thomas and 2025 second-overall choose Travis Hunter at the moment are set to type one of many NFL’s most explosive large receiver duos for years to return.
Welcome to the NFL, Brian Thomas Jr 🐆
pic.twitter.com/uz48NgTtAD— PFF (@PFF) September 8, 2024
Grades, superior statistics and extra: Available in PFF Premium Stats
Kansas City Chiefs: C Creed Humphrey, 2021 (91.8)
Humphrey joined a Kansas City offense stuffed with expertise, together with future Hall of Famers Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce. He instantly established himself as an elite participant, incomes a league-best 91.8 PFF general grade at heart as a rookie. He was significantly dominant as a run blocker, incomes a 93.1 PFF run-blocking grade.
Grades, superior statistics and extra: Available in PFF Premium Stats
Las Vegas Raiders: EDGE Khalil Mack, 2014 (86.9)
When the Raiders drafted Mack fifth general within the 2014 NFL Draft, it marked the primary time a participant from the Buffalo Bulls had been chosen within the first two rounds of a draft. Mack made a right away influence, along with his 86.9 PFF grade rating third amongst 99 qualifying edge defenders. He was particularly dominant in run protection, the place his 90.3 PFF grade was tops on the place.
Grades, superior statistics and extra: Available in PFF Premium Stats
Los Angeles Rams: DI Aaron Donald, 2014 (90.2)
How good was Aaron Donald? Well, his 90.2 PFF general grade in his rookie season of 2014 was the bottom of his decade-long profession. He led all inside defenders in PFF general grade for seven straight years from 2015 to 2021. With three Defensive Player of the Year awards and eight first-team All-Pro choices, there’s a really sturdy argument that Donald is the best defensive participant to ever play within the NFL.
Grades, superior statistics and extra: Available in PFF Premium Stats
Los Angeles Chargers: EDGE Joey Bosa, 2016 (86.6)
Bosa was the primary of 5 Ohio State gamers drafted within the first spherical of the 2016 NFL Draft. He racked up 59 quarterback pressures regardless of lacking the primary 4 weeks with a hamstring harm. His 86.6 PFF general grade was good for eighth place amongst 111 qualifying edge defenders that season.
Grades, superior statistics and extra: Available in PFF Premium Stats
Miami Dolphins: T Jake Long, 2008 (88.4)
The 2008 Dolphins joined the 1999 Colts as the one two groups in NFL historical past to have a 10-win enchancment from the earlier season. No. 1 general choose Jake Long was an enormous motive why: He didn’t enable a sack over the ultimate 13 weeks of the season and was dominant as a run blocker for Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams and the wildcat offense.
Grades, superior statistics and extra: Available in PFF Premium Stats
Minnesota Vikings: WR Justin Jefferson, 2020 (90.4)
The Vikings chosen Jefferson with the twenty second general choose within the 2020 NFL Draft as a part of a commerce that despatched Pro-Bowl large receiver Stefon Diggs to the Buffalo Bills. Both Jefferson (90.4 PFF general grade, second) and Diggs (90.2, fourth) ranked within the high 5 on the place in PFF grade that 12 months, so it was a deal that many thought-about to be a win-win on the time.
Jefferson ranked third within the league with 36 explosive performs of 15-plus yards and established himself as one of many premier deep threats within the NFL, scoring 4 touchdowns on targets thrown 20-plus yards down the sector in 2020.
Grades, superior statistics and extra: Available in PFF Premium Stats
New England Patriots: T Sebastian Vollmer, 2009 (91.0)
Vollmer joined an already formidable offensive line in New England as a second-round choose within the 2009 NFL Draft. He made begins at each left and proper deal with as a rookie, and his 92.6 PFF run-blocking grade was the best amongst all tackles that season.
Grades, superior statistics and extra: Available in PFF Premium Stats
New Orleans Saints: RB Alvin Kamara, 2017 (90.4)
Kamara joined quarterback Drew Brees and a stacked Saints offense as a third-round choose in 2017. His 90.4 PFF general grade ranked first amongst 58 qualifying operating backs that season. He was a game-changer each on the bottom and thru the air, main the league within the proportion of carries that went for a primary down or landing (28.9%) and missed tackles compelled per try (0.23).
Kamara additionally led all operating backs in numerous receiving classes, together with explosive performs (23), missed tackles compelled (30) and yards per route run (2.76).
Grades, superior statistics and extra: Available in PFF Premium Stats
New York Giants: WR Odell Beckham Jr., 2014 (90.8)
Beckham’s 2014 season was probably the greatest in NFL historical past for a rookie large receiver. Despite lacking the primary 4 video games of the 12 months with a hamstring harm, he caught 91 passes for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns.
From Weeks 9-17, the LSU product recorded a minimum of 90 yards in each sport, passing the 100-yard mark seven instances. His 3.14 yards per route run and 14 compelled missed tackles within the second half of the season led all large receivers.
Grades, superior statistics and extra: Available in PFF Premium Stats
New York Jets: CB Sauce Gardner, 2022 (87.9)
The Jets earned a 37.9 crew PFF protection grade in 2021, thirtieth within the NFL. One 12 months later, they drafted Sauce Gardner fourth general, and he helped flip them into an elite protection unit, one which completed the 2022 season with the third-best crew PFF protection grade within the league (89.6).
Gardner allowed a catch on simply 45.2% of the targets thrown his approach and a 53.5 passer score when focused in protection on his solution to a position-best 87.9 PFF general grade.
Grades, superior statistics and extra: Available in PFF Premium Stats
Philadelphia Eagles: DI Jalen Carter, 2023 (87.4)
The Eagles traded up one spot to pick out Carter — the No. 2 general participant on the PFF Big Board — at ninth general within the 2023 NFL Draft. Carter’s 87.4 PFF general grade ranked sixth amongst 130 qualifying inside defenders. He was best as a go rusher, the place he ranked fifth at his place in win fee (17.2%).
Grades, superior statistics and extra: Available in PFF Premium Stats
Pittsburgh Steelers: WR Santonio Holmes, 2006 (80.1)
Holmes didn’t see the sector a lot early on in his rookie season, taking part in simply 94 snaps by means of the primary 5 video games, however earned an every-down position because the marketing campaign progressed. That season, 41 of his 49 receptions (83.6%) resulted in a primary down.
San Francisco 49ers: EDGE Aldon Smith, 2011 (90.5)
Smith displayed elite pass-rushing traits as a rookie, proving that he was worthy of a top-10 choice within the 2011 NFL Draft. He led all edge defenders in pass-rush win fee (18.6%) and stress fee (20.3%). He was no slouch in opposition to the run, both, as he ranked among the many high 20 edge defenders in PFF run-defense grade.
Grades, superior statistics and extra: Available in PFF Premium Stats
Seattle Seahawks: QB Russell Wilson, 2012 (90.6)
When rating rookie quarterbacks within the PFF period, Russell Wilson is on the high. The 2012 third-round choose completed his first season in Seattle with a 90.6 PFF general grade, second greatest amongst 37 qualifying quarterbacks. Wilson made unimaginable throws with out placing the ball in peril, evidenced by his 36 big-time throws and simply 10 turnover-worthy performs for the season.
Grades, superior statistics and extra: Available in PFF Premium Stats
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: RB Bucky Irving, 2024 (90.8)
Irving didn’t have as a lot quantity as different high operating backs early within the 2024 season however was a workhorse down the stretch, main the NFL in yards after contact per try (3.93) and forcing 62 missed tackles within the course of. He earned elite PFF grades as a runner (90.0) and a receiver (90.5) for the NFC South champion Buccaneers.
Grades, superior statistics and extra: Available in PFF Premium Stats
Tennessee Titans: WR A.J. Brown, 2019 (81.8)
Brown shortly established himself because the go-to possibility within the Titans’ passing sport, a rookie who was an enormous play ready to occur. He led all receivers with 20.5 yards per reception and 9.4 yards after catch per reception in 2019.
Grades, superior statistics and extra: Available in PFF Premium Stats
Washington Commanders: RB Alfred Morris, 2012 (91.0)
Washington drafted Morris within the sixth spherical of the 2012 NFL Draft, and he wasn’t named the beginning operating again by coach Mike Shanahan till the day earlier than their season opener. He went on to have an unimaginable rookie season, ending second in dashing yards (1,613) and dashing touchdowns (13). His 57 explosive runs (15-plus yards) ranked second behind Adrian Peterson, the league’s MVP that season.
Grades, superior statistics and extra: Available in PFF Premium Stats