Nfl Rookie Report Card Grading Every 1st Rounder S Debut Month

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Nov 17, 2025, 5:23 PM

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. 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. 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. Halfway through a rookie season is not a large enough sample size to make determinations on how a career will play out, but it is worthwhile to take inventory on immediate contributions provided by... Who has been the best rookie performer for each team? Most disappointing?

CBS Sports also recently graded each first-round pick, but that player is not always "best." To build a case, injuries and positional depth are taken into consideration. For example, it is not fair to evaluate a rookie at a team's position of strength on the same scale as a rookie who had a clear path to playing time. Best: OG Dylan Fairchild, Georgia (Round 3, No. 81 overall) Fairchild by default? Edge rusher Shemar Stewart has shown some flashes, but there is not a clear choice for "best."

Most disappointing: LB Barrett Carter, Clemson (Round 4, No. 119 overall) The first term is pretty much complete, and it's time to issue report cards to the NFL's 32 first-round freshmen as we say goodbye to September. Obviously, a lot can and will change here, but first impressions are important. Here's a grade for each first-rounder at the four-week mark. .css-1582m2i{margin:0;font:inherit;font-weight:700;}1.

Tennessee Titans QB Cam Ward: C Support has been an issue, as Ward has taken a league-high 17 sacks while dropped passes have also been a factor. And to his credit, he's limited his mistakes. All of that said, his pocket awareness is a problem and his .css-wrcrjw{margin:0;font-size:1.6rem;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:Proxima Nova,Proxima Nova Fallback Helvetica,Proxima Nova Fallback Arial;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;letter-spacing:0rem;line-height:1.92rem;color:var(--br--palette-foreground__link__secondary__default-mainChannel);font-size:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;white-space:normal;}.css-3nqh9c{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:rgba(var(--br--palette-primary-mainChannel) / 0.4);margin:0;font-size:1.6rem;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:Proxima Nova,Proxima Nova Fallback Helvetica,Proxima Nova Fallback Arial;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;letter-spacing:0rem;line-height:1.92rem;color:var(--br--palette-foreground__link__secondary__default-mainChannel);font-size:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;white-space:normal;}.css-3nqh9c:hover{text-decoration-color:inherit;}.css-lu48cp{margin:0;font:inherit;color:var(--br--palette-primary-main);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:rgba(var(--br--palette-primary-mainChannel) / 0.4);margin:0;font-size:1.6rem;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:Proxima Nova,Proxima Nova Fallback... November 6, 2025, 9:49am EST 479 • By Alex Hoegler The 2025 NFL first round was packed with quarterback drama, surprise risers, and blue-chip defenders expected to become instant cornerstones.

Now that we’re halfway through the season, the early returns are finally clear. Some rookies have exceeded expectations and become immediate impact players, while others are still struggling to adjust to the league’s speed and physicality. From breakout stars reshaping their franchises to first-round gambles that haven’t paid off yet, we break down how every 2025 first-round pick has performed so far — and what their trajectory looks like heading... It’s unfair to fully blame Ward for the Tennessee Titans’ struggles. But like, Caleb Williams and Robert Griffin III had excellent rookie years on horrible teams with textbook coaching malpractice. Ward is barely completing over half his pass attempts, is in danger of finishing with more interceptions than passing touchdowns, and, oh yeah, has his Titans in a spot to potentially pick first overall...

Week 4 is in the books, and several of the NFL’s first-round rookies made their impact felt. We're once again breaking down their PFF grades, performances and principal opponents as they progress through their debut seasons. Ward battled through another tough outing as Tennessee’s pass protection failed to give him many chances for success. He was pressured on 51.6% of his dropbacks against Houston despite being blitzed less than 20% of the time. Ward’s lone big-time throw came on an early play when he rolled to his right and fired a deep pass to Elic Ayomanor, who was all the way back on the left hash. The Titans need to find a way to better protect Ward if he's going to consistently produce.

Game grades, positional splits and high-level metrics for Ward's 2025 season. Hunter’s snap count leaned more toward the offensive side of the ball this week, as he played just nine snaps at cornerback. His best play as a wide receiver was an acrobatic catch down the middle of the field that resulted in a 28-yard gain. Unfortunately, he earned just a 53.8 PFF receiving grade because he fumbled after one of his other receptions. Hunter made two tackles while playing cornerback and allowed one catch totaling seven yards. How did the notable rookies selected in the first round and beyond of the 2025 NFL Draft fare in their preseason debuts over the weekend?

Although there are many talented players who were taken in the top 32 overall, there's no doubt a fifth-round pick remains the center of attention, for both his name and his team. Elsewhere, there was one clear winner among the first-round QBs, and most of the expected immediate-impact receivers impressed. Here's grading those first exhibition impressions. Shedeur Sanders, QB, Browns (Round 5, No. 144 overall, Colorado) Sanders got extended action in Carolina, trying to secure the key top rookie reserve role behind Joe Flacco ahead of third-rounder Dillon Gabriel.

He took full advantage (14-of-23, 138 yards, 2 TDs, 106.8 rating) through multiple scoring drives and also ran well (4 carries, 19 yards) when needed. Across the NFL, rookies are being asked to step into starring roles faster than ever — and how well they’ve responded often mirrors their teams’ fortunes. With seven weeks of the season in the books, Yardbarker NFL writers graded every NFL team’s rookie class based on production, efficiency and long-term promise. Here's how the league's draft classes stack up so far: DALLAS COWBOYS (3-3-1) | Rookie class grade: D | Rookie right guard Tyler Booker is a good contributor on a potent offense. He's playing at an average level for his first year (Pro Football Focus grade of 60.3 percent, the 48th best of 114 guards).

Booker’s fellow rookies on defense have been relegated to depth pieces for one of the NFL's worst units. Second-round defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku has one sack. NEW YORK GIANTS (2-5) | Rookie class grade: A- | With each passing week, it looks like the Giants have found their franchise QB in Jaxson Dart, and RB Cam Skattebo and outside linebacker... While Dart is still rough around the edges, through four starts, he has 10 touchdowns overall and provided a desperately needed spark. Third-round defensive tackle Darius Alexander looks a long way from being an asset (no sacks and only one tackle). Welcome to The Athletic’s pick-by-pick grades for Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Which teams filled a need with a potential star? Which GMs might wind up regretting their decisions down the line? Because we won’t know those full answers until the incoming rookie class has been in the league for a few seasons, our immediate grades take into account a number of factors: pick value, trade... (Note: Scott Dochterman provided grades for odd-numbered picks, Nick Baumgardner for even-numbered picks.) Tennessee needed a quarterback and Ward is the best one in this draft. He has both talent and grit, which will endear him to his teammates and the fan base.

Although hypothetical and irrelevant, it’s fair to ask where Ward would have landed in last year’s draft, or if Tennessee would have selected one of the 2024 draft’s six first-round quarterbacks ahead of him. Regardless, Ward has the skill set to become a successful NFL quarterback. Whether he becomes a Pro Bowler — and, thus, ultimately worth the No. 1 pick — remains to be seen. Ward played at Incarnate Word and Washington State before transferring to Miami last year. There, he became one of college football’s best quarterbacks.

Ward set an NCAA record with 158 career touchdown passes, plus threw for 18,184 yards with a 65.1 completion percentage. Last year alone, Ward threw for 4,313 yards, 39 touchdowns and seven interceptions while completing 67.2 percent of his passes.

Nfl Rookie Report Card Grading Every 1st Rounder S Debut Month

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