Rookie Watch: Which NFL Newcomers Are Poised to Shock the League in 2025?
The 2025 NFL season is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in recent memory, with a fresh crop of rookies ready to make their mark. Last year, we saw several first-year players exceed expectations, and this year promises to be no different. With training camps on the horizon, anticipation is building to see which of these newcomers will rise to the occasion and become household names. Will a quarterback lead his team to an unexpected playoff berth? Or will a defensive standout emerge as a dominant force? Let’s dive into the players who have the potential to shock the league in 2025.
Quarterbacks Ready to Take Charge
Cam Ward (Tennessee Titans): Selected as the No. 1 overall pick, Cam Ward is stepping into a situation ripe with opportunity. The Titans are banking on Ward to be their franchise quarterback for years to come. Ward’s journey from a zero-star recruit to the top pick is a testament to his work ethic and determination. His arm talent is undeniable, and his willingness to stay in the playbook, as he stated after minicamp, is music to the ears of Titans’ offensive coordinator Brian Callahan. While the Titans may not be expected to turn heads immediately, Ward has the perfect platform to ease into the NFL and showcase his elite passing skills.
Jalen Milroe (TBD): Milroe is the most physically gifted quarterback in the 2025 draft class, but he is still far too inconsistent in when and how he delivers the football. In a perfect world, he would be drafted with a plan to let him sit and develop.
Jaxson Dart (TBD): Dart is a talented quarterback prospect who is drawing attention for his potential to develop into a high-end starter. While he may not be a first-round pick, Dart’s skill set and work ethic make him a player to watch.
Running Backs Set to Dominate
Ashton Jeanty (Las Vegas Raiders): Jeanty is walking into an ideal situation in Las Vegas. Head coach Pete Carroll is known for his commitment to running the football, and Jeanty is a three-down back perfectly suited for this approach. Some are even predicting that Jeanty could rush for 2,000 yards in his rookie season, a feat only accomplished by nine players in NFL history. Jeanty finished his time at Boise State with a 99.9 career rushing grade while averaging over 200 yards per game as a freshman. He also proved in 2023 that he could also be an elite receiving threat, averaging 3.2 yards per route run.
RJ Harvey (Denver Broncos): Harvey is poised to make an immediate impact in Denver’s offense. With limited competition in the backfield, Harvey is expected to serve as the Broncos’ RB1 from the start. His powerful and shifty running style should thrive in an offense that will likely focus on the run to support quarterback Bo Nix. Not only will Bo Nix be able to benefit from a bolstered run game, but the hope is that Harvey gives him a quick option to get the ball out underneath in the receiving game. I have to imagine Sean Payton will figure out how to use Harvey in multiple ways and for him to become a significant part of this offense in Denver.
Kaleb Johnson (Pittsburgh Steelers): The Steelers selected Kaleb Johnson with their third-round pick, just their second selection after trading away a second-rounder for DK Metcalf. With similarities to both Derrick Henry and Tyler Allgeier, Johnson is a perfect fit for Arthur Smith’s zone running scheme, which allows him to make reads, get downhill, and pick up speed in the second level of the defense. Johnson should be dropped right into the role Najee Harris vacated. But the outlook in an offense run by Aaron Rodgers, coupled with Johnson’s speed, could set him up for an even higher ceiling.
Wide Receivers Ready to Shine
Travis Hunter (Jacksonville Jaguars): Hunter is a unique talent who can excel as both a wide receiver and a cornerback. However, signs from rookie minicamp point toward Hunter making his earliest impact at wideout. An elite-level playmaker with all of the traits and tools to become a potential All-Pro at the position down the road, he and 2024 first-rounder Brian Thomas Jr. could quickly showcase one of the NFL’s premier young duos on the outside. The Jaguars didn’t move mountains for Hunter to slowly ease him into Trevor Lawrence’s offense. With teams needing to first respect Thomas on the outside, Hunter can eat right away as a rookie.
Emeka Egbuka (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): Egbuka’s steady and reliable nature makes him a strong candidate for an early starting role in Tampa Bay. His smarts, smooth route running, and willingness to block should allow him to contribute immediately alongside Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. All signs point to Egbuka, who played in 49 games over four years at Ohio State, making an impact in 2025.
Luther Burden III (Chicago Bears): There’s a long list of talent in Chicago with only one ball to go around, but Luther Burden III is expected to serve as head coach Ben Johnson’s de facto Amon-Ra St. Brown this fall and in the years to come. Rome Odunze, D.J. Moore, Cole Kmet, and first-round TE Colston Loveland are all expected to earn heavy touches as well, but Burden’s explosiveness with the ball in his hands, along with his natural hands and easy acceleration, showcase a three-level playmaker within any offense in the sport.
Kyle Williams (New England Patriots): Williams is a dynamic receiver who could quickly become a favorite target for Drake Maye. His ability to create separation and make contested catches should make him a valuable asset in the Patriots’ offense.
Tre Harris (Los Angeles Chargers): Harris has tremendous size for an outside receiver he’s 6’2 205 lbs he has okay speed. and then was drafted early on in day two to the best landing spot available to him with the LA Chargers. and with Justin Herbert harris fills the Chargers desperate need for a consistent or even maybe talented. high upside X- wide receiver. he can fill that X role perfectly for the LA Chargers.
Tight Ends Ready to Contribute
Colston Loveland (Chicago Bears): Standing 6-6, 241 pounds, Loveland is a tight end who runs routes with the fluidity of a wideout. That’s what makes him special. And that’s what made Sam LaPorta a rookie Pro Bowler under Ben Johnson in Detroit, so it stands to reason that Johnson will get the most out of Loveland in Chicago. With Cole Kmet in place to handle traditional in-line work, Johnson can let his beautiful football mind run wild when it comes to scheming up touches for his new toy. The Bears have a lot of mouths to feed in the passing game, but I anticipate this supersized separator will get a fair share of attention from young quarterback Caleb Williams.
Tyler Warren (Indianapolis Colts): Not only will Tyler Warren serve as the Colts’ security blanket on third down, for whomever starts under center, his presence up the seam and as a blocker in the ground game will expand the playbook. One of the 2025 class’ most versatile playmakers, Warren is a modern-day flex weapon that is too quick for linebackers and too big for safeties. The game is about finding mismatches, and Warren’s hands, toughness, and ability to find open grass from varying alignments showcase a high-floor, high-ceiling contributor.
Defensive Stars Primed for Success
Abdul Carter (New York Giants): Widely considered the best defensive player in this draft class, Carter is unsurprisingly the favorite for Defensive Rookie of the Year. His explosiveness off the edge jumps off the screen, but with Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux in place as the incumbent outside linebackers, what’s the plan with the No. 3 overall pick? Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen sees it as “a really good problem to have.” And he’s not wrong: You can never have enough good pass rushers.
Donovan Ezeiruaku (Dallas Cowboys): I love this pickup for the Cowboys, getting an edge rusher to line opposite Micah Parsons. The tandem is going to elevate this defense.
Derrick Harmon (Pittsburgh Steelers): Harmon can play several spots on the defensive line, and has the length, explosiveness and power to wreak havoc on opposing linemen. The Steelers needed more pressure players on the interior, and Harmon was among the best in college football at getting to quarterbacks last fall.
Maxwell Hairston (Buffalo Bills): Hairston was a guy the league was much higher on than the media was throughout the pre-draft process, and it showed with the Bills taking him in the first round. He instantly makes the Bills defense better and should slot right in opposite Christian Benford.
Kevin Winston Jr. (Tennessee Titans): One of my favorite stats for any prospect in the 2025 class: Winston did not miss a tackle on 506 snaps as a sophomore in 2023 while making 61 tackles, three of which were tackles for loss. After tearing a knee ligament in September, Winston was able to sneak in a workout right before the draft, and ran 4.51 at over 6-1 and 213 pounds. He’s a supercharged mover on the field with ridiculously long arms that help not only knock away passes but defeat blockers blocking his path to the football.
The 2025 NFL season is brimming with potential breakout rookies. From quarterbacks stepping into leadership roles to running backs poised to dominate and defensive stars ready to disrupt, these newcomers are set to make a significant impact on their respective teams and the league as a whole. As training camps unfold and the season approaches, all eyes will be on these players to see who truly shocks the league and etches their name into NFL lore.