Every year, we see new players rise to stardom. It can be a rookie like Malik Nabers, who became one of the best receivers in the league in his rookie year. It can be someone few expected, like Amon-Ra St. Brown making the jump from a good receiver to a two-time All-Pro. Usually, it’s a first-round pick from the year prior who didn’t play much or didn’t produce as expected. We have two players who fit the bill from last year’s Draft in Dallas Turner and Marvin Harrison Jr..
I’ll try my best not to just pick every team’s first-round pick from 2024 or 2025, but in most cases, it will end up that way. Not to spoil, but is there a better choice on the Jaguars’ roster than Travis Hunter?
Unless it’s a player going into their third or fourth year, it’s hard to choose players picked outside the first two rounds. No one goes into the season expecting a late Day 3 player to instantly be one of the best in the league. It’s great when it happens, but it’s surprising nonetheless.
Our boss made a great video about breakout players a few days ago. If you want a more in-depth analysis, I recommend checking it out (he also has other great videos, too).
I’m also putting a lot of faith in the 2025 Draft class, so there will be some rookies on this list.
Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR
When you’re the 4th overall pick and the son of a Hall of Famer, expectations will be sky-high. Harrison Jr. had an up-and-down rookie season, just like almost every rookie has. He had excellent games, like the ones against the Rams in Week 2 and Dolphins in Week 8. He also had quieter games, like against the Packers in Week 6. He also put great things on tape as a rookie, making it just a matter of time for him to be in the mix for one of the best receivers in the league.
Atlanta Falcons: Xavier Watts, DB
The first rookie on the list, Watts was one of my favorite defensive backs in the Draft. A very opportunistic player, he should benefit from an improved Falcons’ pass rusher. With a knack for making plays when the ball is in the air and the ability to help make plays in the run game, Watts can quickly solidify himself as a playmaker.
Baltimore Ravens: Nate Wiggins, CB
One of the youngest players on the list, Wiggins won’t turn 22 until the end of August. And what he did as a 21-year-old rookie was impressive. He started only 6 games in 2024, but as the Ravens look to get younger in the secondary, Wiggins should start the season as the CB1. If he can improve on what he did, he will emerge as a bona fide cornerback.
Buffalo Bills: Christian Benford, CB
Benford is already a great player, but the fact that he’s so underrated puts him on this list. Until he’s widely considered one of the best cornerbacks in the league (something he is), he will continue to be undervalued. Benford can stick in coverage against almost every wide receiver and is great in run support. It’s just a matter of time for him to earn his first All-Pro.
Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young, QB
Bryce Young started his career as terribly as he could. The Panthers tried to help by investing in the offensive line ahead of his second season. And he started 2024 even worse, later being benched for Andy Dalton. After Dalton had an injury, Young came back and was a different player.
The addition of rookie Tetairoa McMillan will give Young a very good target, especially in the red zone. Young finally showed some flashes, now he needs consistency.
Chicago Bears: Rome Odunze, WR
The only knock on Odunze’s evaluation last year was that he had Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers in the same class, but he was a complete player. The WR3 last year, Odunze still put up more than 700 yards and 54 receptions. With Keenan Allen gone and Ben Johnson running the offense, Odunze should get more opportunities to showcase his talent.
Cincinnati Bengals: Shemar Stewart, EDGE
The Bengals desperately need someone on defense to step up. They had the best passing offenses in 2024, as Joe Burrow played on an MVP-level and Ja’Marr Chase won the WR triple crown. But their defense was one of the worst in the NFL, ultimately costing them a playoff spot. Stewart was one of the most gifted athletes in the Draft, and could find himself in the DROY conversation by the end of the season.
Cleveland Browns: Mason Graham, DT
The Browns are looking to rebuild once again. They shocked a lot of people when they traded down with the Jaguars in the Draft, passing on the opportunity to select Travis Hunter. They still ended up with one of the best players in the 2025 Draft in Mason Graham. He will wreak havoc in opposing backfields in all three downs and should get plenty of opportunities with the attention opposing offenses have to pay on Myles Garrett.
Dallas Cowboys: Osa Odighizuwa, DT
Even though Odighizuwa started every game for the Cowboys since 2022, he was mostly a rotational piece. With his snap percentage climbing from 60% in 2023 to 78% in 2024, his role should only increase in 2025. With career-high numbers in pressures, sacks, and QB hits, Odighizuwa is set for a prime role in the middle of the Cowboys’ defensive line.
Denver Broncos: R.J. Harvey, RB
The Broncos had a middling running game last year, finishing 16th in yards, 22nd in yards per attempt, and 23rd in rushing touchdowns. Part of this was due to an offensive line that is better in pass protection than run blocking, but it had a lot to do with the running backs. Harvey is an explosive runner with home-run ability and should make the Broncos’ offense a more balanced unit.
Detroit Lions: Brian Branch, DB
Branch is the best player in the Lions’ secondary and I’d argue he’s their second-best defensive player. I don’t know why he gets overlooked in the debate for best safeties in the league, but Branch is in the mix. He’s a versatile safety, capable of doing everything and doing it at a high level. It’s only a matter of time before he gets the recognition he deserves.
Green Bay Packers: Edgerrin Cooper, LB
Even playing less than 500 snaps, Cooper impressed in his rookie year. With 3.5 sacks, 87 tackles (13 for loss), and two turnovers, he was a force in the middle of the Packers’ defense. The four games he started were arguably his best, with 37 tackles and 7 for loss coming in these games. With his arrow pointing up, there’s no reason to believe Cooper won’t be even better in his second season.
Houston Texans: Jayden Higgins, WR
With Tank Dell likely missing the whole season after a nasty injury in Week 16 and Stefon Diggs’ departure, the WR2 spot is up for grabs. With his 6’4 frame and 80″ wingspan, Higgins should have no trouble getting it. He showed excellent catching ability at Iowa State, with just 3 drops in 210 targets. He also has great athleticism for someone his size, courtesy of his basketball days. With Nico Collins getting most of the attention, don’t be surprised if Higgins finishes his rookie season with 12+ touchdowns.
Indianapolis Colts: Laiatu Latu, EDGE
The first defensive player off the board in last year’s Draft, Latu was a rotational defender as a rookie, with just 54% of the snaps and one start. He showed flashes of his potential, though, with 23 pressures and 4.0 sacks in his rookie season. With Dayo Odenigbo leaving in free agency, the door is open for Latu to be the starter. He also had a knack for forcing turnovers with 3 forced fumbles in 32 tackles.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Travis Hunter, WR/CB
Travis Hunter is the player everyone wants to see. A very rare athlete, we will see if Hunter stays true to his word and tries to be a two-way player, something the league hasn’t seen in decades. I think he is a better corner than receiver, but the truth is that he’s special when he has the ball. If he plays on both sides, Hunter could win both awards for Rookie of the Year.
Kansas City Chiefs: Rashee Rice, WR
Rice had a good rookie season in 2023, finishing with almost 1000 yards and 7 touchdowns. As he was solidifying himself as a young receiver, an LCL tear in Week 4 cost him most of the season. Xavier Worthy was a good rookie, but if Rice can return as the player he was in those four games, he’ll quickly become Mahomes’ new best friend.
Las Vegas Raiders: Ashton Jeanty, RB
If Hunter is the rookie with the most excitement around, Jeanty is a close second. He led the country with 2601 yards in his final season at Boise State, and his 1970 yards after contact are an FBS record. He looked like a pinball machine, bouncing off tacklers (151 forced missed tackles) and exploding when in the open field (12 carries of 50+ yards). If the Raiders’ offensive line gives him the tiniest of gaps, Jeanty is capable of doing the rest. He should be the front-runner for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Los Angeles Chargers: Mekhi Becton, iOL
I’m a firm believer in the Becton’s resurgence arc. He was viewed as a bust after a bad stint with the New York Jets, but managed to have a good season with the Eagles. The biggest question around him is whether he really improved after switching to guard, or if he was a byproduct of great players around him and the best offensive line coach in the league. I truly believe he can solidify himself as a very good guard, which is something the Chargers desperately need.
Los Angeles Rams: Terrance Ferguson, TE
With Tyler Higbee turning 33 at the end of the season, and in the last year of his contract, the Rams chose to address the tight end position in the Draft. Ferguson, whom they selected in the second round, has the versatility to play in McVay’s offense. He will need to improve in a couple of areas, particularly in run blocking, but he has the building blocks to be a complete player. We all know how good McVay is at scheming players open, and Ferguson was a big-play machine in Oregon.
Miami Dolphins: Kenneth Grant, DT
Selecting Grant with the 13th pick in the Draft may have looked like a panic move by the Dolphins, but he has the ability and upside to quickly prove them right. Grant has the size of a nose tackle and the moving ability of a 3-technique, giving him three-down potential.
Minnesota Vikings: Dallas Turner, EDGE
The Vikings have two good options for this list in QB J.J. McCarthy and EDGE Dallas Turner. I opted for Turner because picking the QB is a little boring. Turner was viewed as the best defender in last year’s Draft, but he ended up on the team with two pro bowlers. This gave him time to hone his skills and truly grasp Brian Flores’s scheme. Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel are still the starters, but with the players the Vikings lost in free agency, there are more than enough snaps for Turner to prove himself.
New England Patriots: Drake Maye, QB
I just said that picking the QB here is boring, but how could I not choose Drake Maye? He was my #1 overall player in last year’s class, and the flashes he’s shown in a very bad Patriots team were great. New head coach Mike Vrabel spent a lot of resources on improving Maye’s surroundings. With better targets and protection, Maye can finally end the Patriots’ search for a franchise QB.
New Orleans Saints: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB
The Saints struck gold when they selected Marshon Lattimore in 2017. He made 4 Pro Bowls and was a lockdown cornerback for them. They hope McKinstry can fill his shoes, as Lattimore is now out. Although he’s still looking for his first interception, McKinstry’s rookie season was a good one, and he showed he can be the team’s new CB1. In a conference full of wide receiver talent, McKinstry will be battle-tested a lot in 2025, but he can emerge as an up-and-coming player.
New York Giants: Tyrone Tracy Jr., RB
Tracy was a very fun player to watch in 2024. As a 5th-round rookie, Tracy quickly became the Giants’ starting running back and had over 1000 total yards. A former wide receiver, Tracy was 4th in receptions for the Giants in 2024, just one behind Darius Slayton. The team drafted Cam Skattebo in the 4th round, but Tracy is the likely starter and will want to improve on a solid rookie season.
New York Jets: Justin Fields, QB
Call me crazy, but I’m still not giving up on Justin Fields. He lost the job to Russell Wilson after Week 6, however, he will arguably be in his best situation, now with the Jets. And I know this makes me look even crazier. But he will now be throwing to Garrett Wilson, rookie TE Mason Taylor, and will have Breece Hall as his running back. With three first-round players on the offensive line, his protection should be good, and Aaron Glenn can elevate the level of a defense like few coaches.
Philadelphia Eagles: Andrew Mukuba, DB
The second-to-last rookie on the list (I think you can figure out who the other is), Mukuba was a ball-hawker for the Texas Longhorns. On a team that bolsters one of the best defensive lines in the league, the rookie will have a lot of opportunities to show off his playmaking ability. With the ability to quickly come from depth to help in the run as well, is easy to see why Vic Fangio wanted Mukuba on his defense.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Joey Porter Jr., CB
Joey Porter Jr. had a nice rookie season in 2023, but had a somewhat sophomore slump in 2024. His completion percentage, yards, yards per target, and passer rating all went up in the last season. This is likely due to a worse pass rush, as opposing QBs had more time in the pocket. From what we’ve seen from Porter Jr., though (and an improved pass rush), is unlikely he won’t turn things around.
San Francisco 49ers: Ricky Pearsall, WR
Pearsall had to miss a chunk of his rookie season after getting shot right before the season. Thankfully, he fully recovered. With a great level of route running, particularly down the field, he can unlock a new element on Kyle Shanahan’s offense. He was a little buried on the depth chart, but after the departure of Deebo Samuel, it should be an open competition between him and Jauan Jennings for WR2. And Pearsall has the tools to come out on top.
Seattle Seahawks: Josh Jobe, CB
Probably the lesser-known name on the list, Jobe got his first opportunities in the NFL last season. After a stint with the Eagles as an UDFA, Jobe went to the Seahawks in 2024. Although the two main corners are set with Riq Woolen and Devon Whiterspoon, Josh Jobe played over 600 snaps in Mike McDonald’s defense, and showed he has starter-level ability. This gives the coaching staff freedom to move Woolen, Whiterspoon, and Jobe around, and, of course, more opportunities for Jobe.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Cody Mauch, iOL
The Buccaneers’ offensive line were one of the most improved units in 2024. A huge part of it was due to Mauch’s improvement. After a very rough rookie season, allowing 7 sacks and with 5 penalties (both near the bottom of the league), Mauch allowed just two sacks in 1130 snaps. His pass-protection win rate was also one of the best in the league, hovering around 95%. If Mauch develops even a bit more, he’ll end up as an All-Pro canditate.
Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB
Very creative of me to pick the first overall player in the Draft as a breakout candidate, I know. Even though they ended with the worst record in 2024, I don’t think the Titans were the worst team, as a few of their losses were due to turnovers by QB Will Levis. With solid pass catchers and offensive line, Ward is in a better situation than most players drafted first overall. Ward is a good processor and can buy time both inside and outside the pocket, which, paired with his strong arm, give him a good chance to quickly ascend in the league.
Washington Commanders: Sam Cosmi, iOL
Sam Cosmi had arguably his best season after sliding inside to play guard. Drafted as a very athletic tackle, Cosmi didn’t fully reach his potential outside. He had a good rookie season in 2021, but struggles and a thumb injury derailed his development. After the switch to guard, though, Cosmi apparently has settled. He was one of the best players in a surprising Commanders’ offense.
Even though he had a torn ACL in the playoffs, Cosmi could return in time for training camp. His presence alongside rookie Josh Conerly Jr. should make the right side of the offensive line a strength in the offense.
