Ranking the top 15 NFL rookies after the 2025 regular season
- Jackson Hawes ends the regular season with the rookie crown: The Bills tight end excelled as a blocker this season and even added three receiving touchdowns on his way to earning the highest PFF overall grade in the class.
- Colston Loveland is on a hot streak: The first-round tight end’s season isn’t done yet, but he closes the regular season as the NFL’s second-highest-graded rookie following a 10-catch, 91-yard performance in Week 18.
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Estimated Reading Time: 11minutes
We’re diving into the top rookies by PFF overall grade through the 2025 NFL regular season. To qualify, players needed to have logged at least 100 snaps.
1. TE Jackson Hawes, Buffalo Bills (85.2)
Hawes closed out the regular season with a 58.0 PFF game grade against the Jets. He was held to zero yards on his lone catch of the day. While he allowed no pressure on limited pass-blocking snaps (two), he generated a 26.7% negatively graded play rate as a run blocker, which led to a 59.0 PFF run-blocking grade.
The Bills were the sixth-best run-blocking team this regular season (75.7), with Hawes thriving in that department. The fifth-round pick played 335 run-blocking snaps at a team-high 70.4% rate. While Hawes struggled in gap-blocking schemes (55.8 PFF run-blocking grade), he earned the third-best PFF zone run-blocking grade (83.5) and ranked third at the position in overall PFF run-blocking grade (74.0).
Hawes’ positively graded play rate as a run-blocker (14.6%) ranked seventh among rookie tight ends, while his negatively graded play rate (15.5%) ranked fourth best.
The 25-year-old recorded the sixth-best PFF pass-blocking grade at the position (78.7), surrendering zero pressure across 43 snaps this season. He was beaten only twice on those plays.
The Georgia Tech product also proved to be a reliable receiving option, albeit on a small sample size, as he brought in 16 of his 19 targets for 187 yards and three touchdowns. Hawes gained 13 first downs, secured two contested catches and forced four missed tackles. He tallied six catches of 15-plus yards. That culminated in a fourth-ranked 84.1 PFF receiving grade (minimum 15 targets).
2. TE Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears (82.5)
Loveland caught 10 of 13 targets for 91 yards in the Bears’ Week 18 loss to the Lions. He gained four first downs, including a 27-yard gain midway through the fourth quarter against busted coverage after he was split out in a wide alignment. Loveland was brought down inside Detroit’s 15-yard line on the play, and he finished the drive off a few plays later with a one-yard touchdown catch to bring Chicago within two points. Loveland secured two contested catches and averaged 3.03 yards per route run in the game, earning a 79.2 PFF receiving grade.
Loveland logged 14 snaps in zone run-blocking schemes (64.4 PFF run-blocking grade). His 31.3% positively graded run-play rate in the game paced the rookie class, leading to a 62.0 PFF run-blocking grade. Overall, Loveland finished the week as the league’s 10th-highest-graded tight end (80.6).
The 10th overall pick from Michigan became a prominent part of the Bears’ passing attack in his first season, ranking in the top 15 at the position in targets (81), catches (58) and receiving yards (713). The 21-year-old gained 35 first downs (10th most) and caught six touchdown passes while recording 13 explosive gains of 15-plus yards. Loveland also secured nine of 18 contested targets on his way to a fourth-ranked 83.3 PFF receiving grade.
While Loveland struggled in pass protection this season (46.0 PFF pass-blocking grade), he was solid as a run blocker, ranking fourth among rookies in PFF run-blocking grade (68.6). Most of his snaps came in zone schemes (169), where he earned a 72.7 mark.
3. RB Cam Skattebo, New York Giants (80.5)
Skattebo did not play after Week 8 due to a season-ending leg injury.
4. WR Luther Burden III, Chicago Bears (79.4)
Burden tallied just three catches for 35 against the Lions, but each was a gain of 10-plus yards to move the chains in the second half. He averaged 9.3 yards after the catch per reception but dropped a critical pass with just over two minutes remaining and the game tied at 16, giving him three in his past four games.
The 22-year-old enters the playoffs with a top-32 PFF receiving grade (79.9, 22nd). He was the sixth-most-targeted rookie receiver this season (60), recording 47 catches for 652 yards. Burden ranked in the top two in the class in yards after the catch (342) and yards after contact (126), as well as sixth at the position in yards after the catch per reception (7.3).
The Missouri product caught two touchdown passes, gained 27 first downs and recorded 16 plays of 15-plus yards (third most). He also led all rookie receivers in forced missed tackles (10). Only Puka Nacua (3.71) and Jaxon Smith-Njigba (3.62) averaged more yards per route run than Burden (3.69) during the regular season.
Burden was used in a variety of ways within the Bears’ offense, but he especially stood out on deep and play-action targets. He caught five of six targets 20-plus yards downfield for 193 yards, earning the sixth-best PFF receiving grade on those plays (99.5). Both of his touchdowns this season came from deep targets.
Meanwhile, Burden also recorded the sixth-best play-action PFF receiving grade (91.2), catching 21 of 23 targets for 13 first downs and 10 explosive gains.
5. WR Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina Panthers (78.7)
McMillan had another strong game against the Buccaneers in their clash for the NFC South title, finishing with the 11th-best PFF receiving grade for the week (76.6). He caught four of six passes for 85 yards — all first downs — with two explosive plays in the second half.
McMillan recorded a 19-yard catch across the middle early in the third quarter with Benjamin Morrison in coverage. His biggest catch came with three minutes remaining in the game, as he split Jacob Parrish and Tykee Smith downfield for a 40-yard pickup on fourth-and-8, going down inside the Buccaneers’ 10-yard line with the Panthers down by nine. That catch helped set up a touchdown two plays later. McMillan also earned the fifth-best PFF run-blocking grade at the position for the week (79.9).
That 40-yard catch helped McMillan set a new Panthers rookie receiving record (1,014 yards) — a mark previously held by Kelvin Benjamin (1,008) in 2014. The 2025 eighth overall pick caught 70 passes in the regular season, finishing in the top 15 in receiving yards, touchdowns (seven) and first downs (55). McMillan also ranked 10th in plays of 15-plus yards (30).
McMillan, like Luther Burden III, enters the playoffs with a top-32 PFF receiving grade (78.7). He continues to thrive downfield, earning elite 95.0-plus PFF receiving grades at the Intermediate (97.2) and deep (96.3) levels of the field. He has caught 24 passes between 10 and 19 yards for 440 yards (11th most) and has brought in 10 catches 20-plus yards downfield for 277 yards and four touchdowns.
6. RB Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers (77.4)
Hampton missed Week 18 with an ankle injury. Head coach Jim Harbaugh said the rookie is “doing everything and anything he can to get back as fast as he can,” per beat reporter Alex Insdorf.
7. T Will Campbell, New England Patriots (76.6)
Campbell returned to the field after missing the previous five weeks with a knee injury. The fourth overall pick graded out as the 10th-best offensive tackle of the week, earning a 74.3 PFF overall grade against the Dolphins. Campbell was beaten three times in pass protection and surrendered a hit, earning a 69.4 PFF pass-blocking grade across 23 snaps.
Campbell fared much better in run blocking, tallying a 10th-ranked 74.4 PFF run-blocking grade for the week. He spent most of his time in gap schemes (67.7, 16 snaps), where he posted the fourth-best impact-block rate among starting left tackles (15.0%) as well as the sixth-best defeated rate (5.0%).
The 22-year-old LSU product has been the highest-graded rookie pass protector this season (76.1), surrendering 26 pressures across 449 snaps for a 5.8% pressure rate (10th best). Campbell has struggled a little more in run blocking (67.7 PFF run-blocking grade), with his impact-block rate (10.8%) ranking among the bottom half of starting left tackles. However, his defeated rate (10.8%) ranks seventh best among the group. The 6-foot-6 tackle has been at his best in zone run-blocking schemes, earning a 68.1 mark across 91 snaps.
8. T Armand Membou, New York Jets (76.5)
Membou finished as the 10th-best pass-protecting tackle in Week 18, earning an 82.2 PFF pass-blocking grade against the Bills. He played 24 snaps in pass protection without surrendering any pressure, closing his season with only one pressure allowed across his final three games (102 pass-blocking snaps). Membou struggled more in run blocking, earning a 65.4 PFF run-blocking grade across 22 snaps. He still finished the day with the 12th-best PFF overall grade among tackles (72.4).
The seventh overall pick from Missouri ended his rookie campaign with 70.0-plus PFF grades in pass protection (73.8) and run blocking (72.1). Membou allowed 33 pressures across 610 pass-blocking snaps, generating a rookie-best 5.4% pressure rate. The 21-year-old also ranked in the top two among starting rookie tackles in impact-block rate (12.7%) and defeated rate (13.7%) as a run blocker. He spent most of his time in zone blocking schemes (255 snaps), where he earned an 82.3 PFF run-blocking grade.
9. T Kelvin Banks Jr., New Orleans Saints (76.4)
Banks’ rookie season ended on a sour note after he suffered a leg injury in the first half against the Falcons. He played 14 snaps in the game, garnering an 83.6 PFF pass-blocking grade after giving up no pressure on 10 snaps.
The 21-year-old ninth overall pick finished the year with 70.0-plus PFF grades in both blocking phases. As a run blocker, he ranked second among rookie tackles in impact-block rate (11.4%) while performing exceptionally well in zone schemes (81.2), helping him finish the season with a 76.2 PFF run-blocking grade.
10. LB Jihaad Campbell, Philadelphia Eagles (76.2)
Campbell played 56 snaps in the regular-season finale against the Commanders. He recorded two run stops, holding runners to four yards on those plays, but he also missed a tackle en route to a 67.8 PFF run-defense grade.
Campbell was targeted four times in coverage, allowing three catches for 39 yards and two first downs. He was able to force an incompletion, tipping a pass intended for Deebo Samuel in the second quarter, and earned a 65.8 PFF coverage grade for the game.
The first-round pick from Alabama showed plenty of promise, despite a role reduction in the second half of the season. He placed third among rookie linebackers in PFF run-defense grade (69.7) after recording 29 total tackles with 13 run stops while generating the lowest negatively graded play rate among the same group.
Campbell’s 12 pressures tied him with the Browns‘ Carson Schwesinger, and he paced the linebacker class in pass-rush win rate (20.0%) and pressure rate (21.8%).
He remained at his best in coverage, where he tied for the sixth-best PFF coverage grade at the position (78.6). He allowed 24 catches on 32 targets for 271 yards (second-lowest yardage total allowed among rookie linebackers with at least 25 targets). He gave up seven first downs and a touchdown but also recorded six stops and two forced incompletions.
Campbell was a strong tackler, recording 81 tackles with 21 stops and posting the best missed tackle rate (7.3%) in the rookie class.
11. EDGE Abdul Carter, New York Giants (74.7)
Carter earned the fifth-best PFF pass-rush grade for the week (86.2), recording five pressures across 25 snaps. Although he missed a tackle in run defense that led to a first down in the second quarter, Carter finished Week 18 with the 15th-best PFF overall grade among edge rushers (82.0).
The third overall pick has already emerged as one of the NFL’s best pass rushers, ranking 10th in PFF pass-rush grade this regular season (84.5). He recorded 66 pressures (tied for 11th most) at a rate of 14.0% and ranked in the top 10 in hurries (43) and quarterback hits (18). He also logged five sacks and ranked in the top two among rookie edge defenders in pressure rate and win rate.
12. QB, Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints (74.6)
Shough had his ups and downs in the Saints’ season finale against the Falcons. He hit Ronnie Bell in the corner of the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown with just over a minute remaining in the game to bring his team within three points. But he also threw a pick on a third-down play on the previous drive.
Shough made two big-time throws in the game, with his touchdown accounting for one and the other coming on a perfectly placed downfield pass to Juwan Johnson late in the first quarter for a 28-yard gain. Outside of his interception, Shough made a second turnover-worthy play, also in the first quarter, with CJ Henderson breaking up a pass intended for Kevin Austin Jr.
The rookie completed 23 of 35 passes for 259 yards and a 53.6 PFF passing grade to close out his campaign. He was sacked four times but also had three rushes for 34 yards, including a 29-yard fourth-quarter scramble and a one-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.
The 26-year-old earned the 13th-best PFF passing grade in his 10 weeks as a starter this season (73.1). He ranked eighth in adjusted completion rate (77.0%) and passing yards (2,384). Shough threw for 10 touchdowns and six interceptions while recording the sixth-best turnover-worthy play rate (1.8%). He was the only rookie quarterback this season to tally a PFF passing grade above 70.0.
The second-round pick from Louisville threw outside the numbers often, ranking fourth in passing attempts (153). He completed 63.4% of his outside passes for 1,134 yards (sixth most) and an 82.2 PFF passing grade (ninth best). Eight of his 10 touchdowns this season stemmed from passes outside of the numbers.
13. CB Nohl Williams, Kansas City Chiefs (74.5)
The third-round pick from California made plays all over the place in the Chiefs’ loss to the Raiders. He was left alone for a sack on his lone pass-rushing snap of the day, and he added two tackles in run defense across 30 snaps en route to the fourth-best PFF run-defense grade (80.8) of the week.
Williams was particularly sticky in coverage, allowing only two catches on six targets for 17 yards. He also forced two incompletions and recorded a coverage stop, earning him a 76.4 PFF coverage grade. Overall, Williams graded out as the 10th-best cornerback in Week 18 (82.1 PFF overall grade).
Williams was a top-two rookie cornerback in almost every defensive facet this season. He recorded seven tackles with three stops in run defense, earning a 74.7 PFF run-defense grade on those plays. He also recorded three pressures on eight pass-rushing snaps for a 73.9 PFF pass-rushing grade.
Finally, Williams generated a 19.4% forced incompletion rate in coverage, allowing 20 catches on 36 targets for 227 yards. He surrendered a touchdown and eight first downs but also recorded 10 coverage stops across 257 snaps. Williams was at his best in zone coverage, where he led the rookie class with a 73.3 PFF coverage grade.
14. LB Carson Schwesinger, Cleveland Browns (74.4)
The Browns placed Schwesinger on injured reserve ahead of Week 18 due to a quad injury.
15. DI Walter Nolen, Arizona Cardinals (74.1)
Nolen suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 16 and was placed on injured reserve.
