Top 3 Offensive Rookies
Todd Monken has brought some big game hunting to the Browns’ offense despite unstable quarterback play and a receiver room depending on multiple rookies. Boston’s five catches of 25+ yards lead all first-year players, as do his 15.7 yards per reception and three touchdowns. Without him, this passing game would not be what it is and the Browns would not be sitting at five wins. The second-round pick was the seventh wide receiver drafted, and a strong case can be made that he is the one making the biggest impact in addition to posting the best production. Big plays and minimal mistakes (just one drop) is a great intersection to find yourself at.
Nobody has found their way onto the weekly Ourlads’ All-Rookie Team more than Fano, the first tackle selected in the 2026 class. He has played all 515 snaps so far for one of the most improved teams and offensive lines in football. Remember, when Todd Monken came over from Baltimore, his number one priority was to rebuild the trenches with veterans, but they entered draft weekend with a vacancy at the most important position. The gamble paid off, as Fano has allowed just two sacks with impactful run blocking for the five-win Browns.
Tate leads all rookies with 413 yards and 34 catches in seven games, while the three playmakers right below him have all played in eight. The first receiver in the draft has delivered on the promise that had him drafted that high, despite a passing game that ranks fourth-worst in yards and sixth-worst in yards per attempt. He is the biggest bright spot on an offense that has been held to 10 or fewer points and under 200 total yards three times this year. In four of the last five games, as Tennessee’s offense has improved, he’s finished with four-plus catches. He has also caught eight of nine contested targets on the year, the top rate among rookies.
Top 3 Defensive Rookies
One of the biggest surprises in the NFL this season has been on the defensive side of the ball in New York. Even though they lost their best player, Brian Burns, early on to a knee injury, they have been playing physical, sound football. The face of their new physical brand is Reese. Some will argue a linebacker does not make a big difference from a positional value point of view, but Reese has been pressuring the quarterback, forcing turnovers, and creating plays behind the line of scrimmage. He leads all rookies in solo tackles per game and is second in tackles for loss.
The teammate to the player above and the guy who was drafted just two spots behind him, Styles has been nearly every bit as effective as Reese across the board. Among non-defensive front rookies, he leads the class with eight pressures, and he also has a forced fumble and an interception under his belt already. The size and speed were the known traits of his game, but Styles has also evolved into the leader of the Washington defense in a short time.
The first defensive player taken in the draft has been, by a wide margin, the most impactful pass rusher among the rookie class. He leads all rookies in pressures with 26 (next highest is 23), hits with 11 (next highest is 7), and sacks with 5.5 (next highest is 3.5). No other rookie has accrued multiple forced fumbles so far; Bailey has three. His first step was the superpower he leaned on in college, and it is proving to be a usable weapon in the NFL. The hand techniques and power game have been better than advertised, which has made him a much more difficult rusher to plan for.