NFL rookie report card: Grading every 1st-rounder's debut month
The first four weeks of the NFL season are in the books, and here's how every 2025 first-round pick fared in their debut month in the league.
1. Cam Ward, QB, Titans
Stats: 51.2% completion, 614 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs
Ward ranks 32nd in passer rating and 32nd in EPA/play, and he's been sacked an NFL-worst 17 times. Tennessee's supporting cast doesn't do him any favors, but aside from his wild first NFL touchdown pass, the No. 1 pick hasn't shown much.
Grade: C-
2. Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Jaguars
Stats: 13 catches, 118 yards; 11 tackles, 1 pass breakup
Hunter hasn't had a "welcome to the NFL" moment, and it feels like Jacksonville doesn't have a strong plan to maximize the two-way star's talents on either side of the ball. He's played 159 snaps on offense and 101 on defense. Although he made a tough third-down grab in Week 4, Hunter's season still lacks the highlight-reel plays that made him a Heisman Trophy winner.
Grade: C-
3. Abdul Carter, EDGE, Giants
Stats: 9 tackles (1 for loss), 0.5 sacks
Carter's numbers may not jump off the page, but the Penn State product leads this rookie class in pressures. He just had his best game, dominating a banged-up offensive line to help the Giants upset the Chargers. He also blocked a punt in his debut.
Grade: A-
4. Will Campbell, OT, Patriots
Stats: 4 starts, 8 pressures allowed, 3 penalties
Campbell took advantage of three favorable matchups in his first NFL month. He didn't look as good versus the Steelers' solid defensive front (four pressures), but it was a promising first month for the Patriots' new left tackle.
Grade: B+
5. Mason Graham, DL, Browns
Stats: 11 tackles (1 for loss), 0.5 sacks
There's a lot to like from Graham's NFL tape. The Michigan stud stood out against Green Bay's strong O-line two weeks ago and should be a key starter for Cleveland even if it takes him some time to fill the stat sheet. His seven pressures lead all first-round interior linemen.
Grade: B
6. Ashton Jeanty, RB, Raiders
Stats: 68 carries, 282 yards, 4 TDs (2 rushing)
Jeanty's talent is undisputed, but the Raiders' O-line issues held him back at times in September. He finally broke out with 155 yards and three touchdowns from scrimmage against Chicago after entering Week 4 averaging only 3.1 yards per carry. Jeanty ranks second in missed tackles forced and yards after contact among all running backs, according to PFF.
Grade: B+
7. Armand Membou, OT, Jets
Stats: 4 starts, 8 pressures allowed, 0 penalties
Membou has been one of the few bright spots for the Jets. The right tackle is the best 2025 rookie lineman so far, having allowed one or fewer pressures in two games. He's also PFF's 11th-ranked OT in the entire league.
Grade: A
8. Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Panthers
Stats: 18 catches, 278 yards
McMillan ranks second among rookies in receiving yards. Though he has yet to score his first NFL touchdown, he's already added a few eye-popping catches to his resume. Ridiculous one-handed grabs that don't count are becoming a weekly thing for him.
Grade: B
9. Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Saints
Stats: 4 starts, 16 pressures allowed, 3 penalties
No first-round lineman has allowed more pressures than Banks. He posted a near-flawless Week 1, but, like the entire Saints' offense, his September had more lows than highs.
Grade: C
10. Colston Loveland, TE, Bears
Stats: 3 catches, 43 yards
Loveland's grade comes with an asterisk because of a hip injury that sidelined him for most of Week 3 (after he had made his first 30-yard grab) and Week 4. Before the injury, he ranked only 65th among tight ends in yards per route run, according to PFF.
Grade: C-
11. Mykel Williams, DE, 49ers
Stats: 10 tackles (3 for loss)
Williams has yet to register a sack, but the Georgia product leads all first-year players in tackles for loss and is one of three rookies with at least 10 pressures created. With Nick Bosa out for the season, the Niners will need him to step up.
Grade: B-
12. Tyler Booker, G, Cowboys
Stats: 3 starts, 8 pressures allowed, 1 penalty
Booker has allowed only one sack as a Cowboy, but he's shown to be a better run-blocker than pass-protector anyway. Unfortunately, his first month was cut short due to an ankle sprain that will sideline him for weeks.
Grade: C+
13. Kenneth Grant, DL, Dolphins
Stats: 9 tackles, 1 pass breakup
Grant played 58% of Miami's defensive snaps in September, yet his impact was minimal. His best NFL highlight to date is a tipped pass against the Patriots.
Grade: C-
14. Tyler Warren, TE, Colts
Stats: 19 catches, 263 yards; 1 rushing TD
The only knock on Warren through one month is that he hasn't caught a touchdown yet. He found the end zone on a short run against the Rams though. He's already a key member of the overachieving Colts, ranking second in yards per route run at his position. His 263 yards are the most for a rookie TE in his first four games in the Super Bowl era.
Grade: A
15. Jalon Walker, LB, Falcons
Stats: 10 tackles (1 for loss), 1 sack
Walker has generated only three pressures, but he's stood out as a run defender, earning PFF's highest grade in that department among rookie edge rushers. It feels like a matter of when, not if, Falcons fans will see more splashy plays from him.
Grade: B-
16. Walter Nolen, DL, Cardinals
Nolen missed Arizona's first four games while on the physically unable to perform list due to a calf injury.
Grade: N/A
17. Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Bengals
Stats: 2 tackles
Stewart registered three pressures in his debut, but those remain his only ones this season. An injury has sidelined him for two games, affecting his grade.
Grade: C
18. Grey Zabel, G, Seahawks
Stats: 4 starts, 8 pressures allowed
No sacks allowed or penalties committed - that's how Zabel's debut month in the NFL went. Outside of a shaky Week 2 against Pittsburgh, the North Dakota State product looks solid in the pros.
Grade: B
19. Emeka Egbuka, WR, Buccaneers
Stats: 18 catches, 282 yards, 4 TDs
Egbuka leads the Bucs in most receiving categories and has been the best wideout of this draft class. The 22-year-old just had his first 100-yard game versus Philadelphia, powered by an incredible 77-yard TD. Egbuka's 128 passer rating when targeted ranks fifth among all NFL receivers (minimum 15 targets).
Grade: A+
20. Jahdae Barron, CB, Broncos
Stats: 8 tackles, 1 pass breakup
Barron's versatility and tackling ability are noticeable, but he doesn't have a large role in Denver's deep secondary yet. The 23-year-old has played only 74 defensive snaps, making it hard for Broncos fans to get overly excited about his game.
Grade: C
21. Derrick Harmon, DL, Steelers
Stats: 3 tackles (1 for loss), 1 sack, 1 pass breakup
Harmon missed two games with an injury and has played only 70 snaps. But he's helped make Pittsburgh's defensive line more balanced, recently tipping a pass that resulted in an interception against Minnesota. Harmon's five pressures rank second among rookie linemen over the past two weeks.
Grade: B-
22. Omarion Hampton, RB, Chargers
Stats: 54 carries, 270 yards, 2 TDs; 14 catches, 110 yards
Hampton didn't make a big impact right away, but he's the only player in the league with at least 120 scrimmage yards and one touchdown in each of the past two weeks. The 22-year-old, who leads all rookies in scrimmage yards, also ranks fifth in rushing yards over expected, according to Next Gen Stats.
Grade: A-
23. Matthew Golden, WR, Packers
Stats: 11 catches, 126 yards
We anticipated Golden being a big part of Green Bay's offense, but that hasn't happened yet. PFF ranks him 71st among qualified WRs and TEs in yards per route run. He's coming off two 50-yard performances but hasn't made the most out of the 14 targets he's received.
Grade: C
24. Donovan Jackson, OL, Vikings
Stats: 3 starts, 5 pressures allowed, 1 penalty
Jackson offers exactly what the Vikings need from a promising pass- and run-blocker. He didn't play Sunday due to injury but ranked seventh among rookie interior linemen in pass protection through the first three weeks, according to PFF.
Grade: B-
25. Jaxson Dart, QB, Giants
Stats: 65% completion, 111 yards, 1 TD; 1 rushing TD
Dart backed up Russell Wilson for three games before becoming QB1, and he immediately provided the Giants with the spark they needed to upset the Chargers in his first NFL start. He would get a C+ for his debut, but we can't judge his first month after just one game.
Grade: N/A
26. James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Falcons
Stats: 2 tackles, 0.5 sacks
Pearce places second among rookies in pressures despite playing only 84 defensive snaps, according to PFF. However, he hasn't been able to turn those into bigger plays and consequently carve out a larger role.
Grade: C+
27. Malaki Starks, S, Ravens
Stats: 24 tackles (1 for loss)
Starks has generated split opinions among Ravens fans. He's a full-time starter, and his instincts and leadership stand out. On the other hand, he's missed key tackles and hasn't been great in pass coverage, not to mention he dropped an interception in Week 1. It's been a challenging year for the Ravens' defense as a whole.
Grade: C
28. Tyleik Williams, DL, Lions
Stats: 2 tackles, 2 pass breakups
Williams hasn't really filled the stat sheet, but the 6-foot-3, 328-pound lineman is showing the physicality and strength Detroit needs in the trenches. Three of his five pressures came versus the Ravens in the Lions' best defensive performance of the year.
Grade: C+
29. Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Commanders
Stats: 4 starts, 13 pressures allowed, 4 penalties
Bad news: Conerly's four sacks allowed are tied for the most in the NFL. Good news: None of those sacks came in Weeks 3 and 4. The first-year right tackle is improving, but his transition to the pros remains a work in progress.
Grade: C-
30. Maxwell Hairston, CB, Bills
Hairston has yet to make his regular-season debut after landing on injured reserve due to a knee injury.
Grade: N/A
31. Jihaad Campbell, LB, Eagles
Stats: 22 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 INT, 2 pass breakups
Campbell's first month with Philadelphia couldn't have gone much better. The Alabama product has been directly involved in multiple wins for the 4-0 Eagles, showing great speed, tackling ability, and pass coverage skills. The duo of Campbell and Zack Baun is arguably the league's best linebacker tandem.
Grade: A+
32. Josh Simmons, OT, Chiefs
Stats: 4 starts, 10 pressures allowed, 3 penalties
Simmons was a major steal for the Chiefs, who seem to have solved their left tackle problem. He's a solid pass-blocker and has turned heads with his jaw-dropping speed.
Grade: A-