Offensive Rookie of the Week:
Luther Burden III / Chicago Bears
Defensive Rookie of the Week:
Xavier Watts / Atlanta Falcons
Quarterback
Tyler Shough / NO (Round 2)
Red hot Shough led all rookies by a mile with 33 yards passing on just 27 attempts, only five of which fell incomplete The 12.3 yards per attempt were second best in the league.. He also added two touchdowns to his season total and most importantly led the Saints to their fourth straight win, a first for the club since 2020.
Honorable Mention: Cam Ward / TEN
Running Back
Jacory Croskey-Merritt / WAS (Round 7)
Don’t forget those Thursday games! The seventh rounder Croskey-Merritt helped Washington nearly pull off the upset against Dallas with 105 yards rushing on just 11 carries. He scored two touchdowns and the rest of the rookie backs combined for just one.
Honorable Mention: RJ Harvey / DEN
Wide Receiver
Luther Burden III / CHI (Round 2)
The 2025 rookies were a favorite of Caleb Williams in their emotional loss to San Francisco Sunday night. Burden led all rookies with and the entire NFL with 138 yards receiving on eight catches with a touchdown before leaving the game early with an injury. Burden’s ability to impact the game is going to be such a weapon for the Chicago offense if they play in any bad weather down the stretch. He is a menace with the ball in his hands but is also proving he can get over the top.
Honorable Mention: Elic Ayomanor / TEN
Tight End
Colston Loveland / CHI (Round 1)
The other rookie to step up and score a touchdown from Williams was Loveland. That was one of his 6 catches that produced 94 yards, both of which led rookie tight ends. It was his highest yardage total since week 9. Loveland has had three or more catches in every game since week seven.
Honorable Mention: Oronde Gadsdsen II / LAC
Offensive Tackle
Armand Membou / NYJ (Round 1)
Membou is still playing a lot of bully ball as the Jets season has fallen apart from every angle. He was playing like it was the Super Bowl in terms of playing through the whistle and finishing blocks. He allowed just one pressure without any penalties against a motivated New England front.
Honorable Mention: Jalen Travis / IND
Guard/Center
Grey Zabel / SEA (Round 1)
Zabel’s game against Carolina was one of his best all season. Zero pressures allowed and zero penalties against a defensive front that has quietly been improving all season.
Honorable Mention: Tate Ratledge / DET
Edge
Abdul Carter / NYG (Round 1)
Carter remains red hot as he lengthened his mile-long lead over all rookies in pressures. He added eight in week 17 against the Raiders depleted line including three hits on the quarterback. For the fourth straight week, Carter finished with a sack and added a 10-yard tackle for loss, his seventh of the season.
Honorable Mention: Ashton Gillotte / KC
Defensive Tackle
Kenneth Grant / MIA (Round 1)
Grant was a key piece to the Miami upset win over Tampa Bay with his every down impact. He finished with three tackles (two stops at the line of scrimmage) and a defensive line-high four pressures. Better footwork and more assertive hands have made a big difference for the mammoth-sized tackle.
Honorable Mention: Tonka Hemingway / LV
Linebacker
Jihaad Campbell / PHI (Round 1)
Campbell led the rookie linebackers with seven tackles and four stops. He was also the only linebacker with multiple pressures and he continues to show how much impact he can have on the game, all downs.
Honorable Mention: Danny Stutsman / NO
Cornerback
Jacob Parrish / TB (Round 3)
Parrish lined up at three different positions against Miami and was as sticky as anyone in coverage. Quinn Ewers could only throw his way once all game and it resulted in a miniscule four-yard gain. He added five tackles, including a physical play at the line of scrimmage against the run. He also added a pressure.
Honorable Mention: Nohl Williams / KC
Safety
Xavier Watts / ATL (Round 3)
Watts stepped up in a big way in the home win over the Rams on a national stage, finishing with two interceptions and added six tackles without any misses. Watts made a name for himself as an All-American safety from Notre Dame because of his ability to force turnovers. He leads all rookies with five interceptions this year and no one else has more than three.
Honorable Mention: Malaki Starks / BAL