2025 NFL season: One pivotal rookie for each team

Drafted: Round 2, No. 41 overall

I initially had Maxwell Hairston penciled in for this spot, and while he still could prove to be the most pivotal Bills rookie in 2025, I’m not sure anyone knows when he’ll first see significant playing time. Tre’Davious White is clearly ahead of Hairston in the pecking order at corner as the first-round pick works his way back from a knee sprain. On the other hand, Sanders has flashed enough in camp to earn snaps as a rotational interior defensive lineman, where he can spell starter Ed Oliver at 3-technique or line up alongside Oliver in passing situations. With Larry Ogunjobi suspended for the first six games, the path is clear for Sanders to play a major role from Day 1. He has what it takes to create a push from the inside.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 13 overall

If the Dolphins are going to be a more competitive squad in 2025, they will have to play a tougher brand of football. Grant is the linchpin to that effort on defense. I could say the same thing about second-round pick Jonah Savaiinaea on offense, but the depth looks a touch stronger on the O-line, at least on paper. Grant has the potential to wreck shop from the middle of the D-line if he puts it all together. His run-stuffing ability is ahead of his pass rush at the moment, but he has the size and explosiveness to win in any situation. Miami is going to need quick and constant disruption from its front line to ease the burden on a secondary that is looking extremely vulnerable at cornerback due to a combination of injuries and the departure of Jalen Ramsey.

Drafted: Round 2, No. 38 overall

First-round pick Will Campbell and third-rounder Kyle Williams have cases to make for selection here, but I’m going with Henderson for the simple reason that I believe he provides the most juice to what was one of the league’s most moribund offenses last season. The Patriots have sorely lacked home run hitters, and now they have one in Henderson, who just averaged a whopping 7.1 yards per carry in Ohio State's national championship campaign. Whether Henderson's picking up yards in bunches on the ground, making plays as a receiver or sticking his face in the fan as a pass protector, Drake Maye now has a weapon who can do it all out of the backfield. Rhamondre Stevenson might still open the season as the RB1, but his yards per carry have trended down in each of the past two years. The Pats need Henderson to avoid the injury bug that was his bugaboo in college because he could be their most dynamic piece on offense.

Drafted: Round 2, No. 42 overall

Taylor was off to a fantastic start in camp -- he had probably locked down the starting job -- but a high ankle sprain will sideline him for a bit. Hopefully it won’t become a long-term issue because the Jets are looking very thin at receiver behind Garrett Wilson on the depth chart, with journeymen Josh Reynolds and Tyler Johnson potentially playing leading roles. We know Justin Fields leaned on his tight end during his run as the Bears’ starter, and Taylor was already beginning to emerge as the quarterback's new safety valve. Right tackle Armand Membou and safety Malachi Moore are also in line to start from Day 1 and will undoubtedly make a significant impact, but there’s no one else at tight end who can provide the pass-catching element that Taylor offers to Tanner Engstrand’s offense. 

Drafted: Round 6, No. 186 overall

Obviously, there are Ravens rookies who could prove to be much more deserving of a place on this list. I recently wrote about a couple of them. Loop didn’t even enter camp guaranteed a roster spot, but if this team doesn’t realize its full potential because it can’t find a reliable kicker, that will be a pain that sticks with the franchise for a long time. Baltimore parted with undrafted rookie John Hoyland last week, so Loop is clearly in line to replace all-time field-goal accuracy leader Justin Tucker, who was released in May amid allegations of improper conduct during massage therapy sessions. Is Loop, who made a 62-yarder last season, up to the challenge? This is a club with title aspirations, but it’s difficult to imagine Lamar Jackson and Co. achieving their goals without a kicker they can trust.

Drafted: Round 3, No. 81 overall

It’s flown a bit under the radar with the Trey Hendrickson saga and concerns about the defense dominating the headlines, but we should not overlook the potential for trouble on the Bengals' offensive line. You know, the group charged with protecting the single most important player to the team’s success, Joe Burrow. Cincinnati could be breaking in new starters at both guard spots, and some are ringing alarm bells about the depth up front. One development that would calm the waters: Fairchild proving he can provide stability at the left guard spot, where he’s been taking snaps with the first-team offense. He enters the league known more for his pass protection than his run blocking, and the Bengals certainly need him to play to his strengths. Seeing consistent leakage up the middle would not be a recipe for Burrow to have success.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 5 overall

I thought about including second-round linebacker Carson Schwesinger here -- the Browns have already lost their top two ‘backers from last season (Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah to injury and Jordan Hicks to retirement) -- but if Graham doesn’t do his job up front, Schwesinger probably isn’t going to be all that impactful. It all starts with defensive line for the Browns. They have arguably the league’s top defensive player in Myles Garrett and they’ve been searching for a consistent line-of-scrimmage disruptor to pair with him for years. Graham might not be the best athlete on the field, but he demonstrated the ability to create chaos throughout his Michigan career. If Cleveland is going to surprise some folks this season, a lockdown defense is going to have to lead the way, and Graham is now critical to the operation.

Drafted: Round 3, No. 83 overall

Despite a downturn late last season, the expectation is the Steelers’ defense will be good, if not great, in 2025. There is less to be convinced about on offense, which is why I’m going with Johnson over first-round pick Derrick Harmon here, even though I’m bullish on Harmon’s prospects of becoming a staple on the interior of the defensive line. Aaron Rodgers is going to have a hard time maximizing his potential at 41 years old without the threat of a strong running game. Jaylen Warren has yet to prove he’s capable of long-term bell-cow duty, leaving the door open for Johnson to claim the spot. Pittsburgh drafted him to be the quintessential one-cut runner who fights for the extra yards even though there’s not much razzle-dazzle to his game. 

Drafted: Round 2, No. 48 overall

Houston’s thunder/lightning duo out of Iowa State -- rookie WRs Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel -- is going to be fun to watch. However, the Texans’ success this season is predicated on a new offensive line jelling well enough to provide much better protection for C.J Stroud. The 6-foot-6, 331-pound Ersery is going to play a big part in deciding the unit’s fate. The second-round pick is slated to start at right tackle, but he could find himself protecting Stroud’s blind side at left tackle -- where Ersery played for the last three seasons -- if Cam Robinson sustains an injury or is ineffective. While his tremendous size and length are clear advantages, Ersery will have to overcome some tightness to win NFL matchups on a consistent basis.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 14 overall

If the Colts can’t get something at least resembling average quarterback play from Anthony Richardson and/or Daniel Jones, it’s going to be a long year in Indianapolis, but Warren is the type of player who can make life easier for his passer. In fact, he might quickly become the No. 1 target for the team (and one of the best tight ends in the league) if he keeps wowing us with one-handed grabs. To give you a better idea of what he’s capable of, NFL.com draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah described Warren as similar to Rob Gronkowski “in a lot of ways” this spring. The Penn State product provides an element Indy sorely lacked in 2024. Colts passers had a league-low 52.5 rating when targeting tight ends last season, per Next Gen Stats (the next-lowest mark was 77.4). Warren's ceiling might be limited by the squad’s QB questions, but a strong rookie year from the No. 14 overall pick would provide a dose of optimism.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 2 overall

First-year Jaguars GM James Gladstone made the blockbuster move of the draft, trading up three spots to land Hunter in Round 1. Can the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner possibly live up to the immense hype? Clearly, Hunter is pivotal to the Jaguars’ hopes, but he has a chance to be much more than a key ingredient to a bounce-back year for Jacksonville. Hunter might also quickly establish himself as a barrier-smashing trailblazer, at least in the modern era. He is playing on both sides of the ball in camp and plans to do the same once the real games start. We have already heard some ideas on how the opposition will attempt to thwart him, but I have more faith in Hunter than I do in foes’ ability to wear him out.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 1 overall

I think we can all agree on this one. Tennessee's hopes of moving in the right direction -- after losing 25 games in the past two seasons -- rest largely on Ward’s powerful right arm. While he hasn’t been announced as the team’s starter yet, we can see where this is going. The Titans have now drafted four quarterbacks in the top 10 since 2005 -- the most in the NFL in that span -- so they're clearly dying for a long-term answer at the game's critical position. The franchise will go as Ward goes, and if he can limit the risk-taking that got him in trouble at times during his college career, head coach Brian Callahan should at least be able to point to some progress in 2025.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 20 overall

While it’s still chugging along, the RJ Harvey hype train slowed at least a little with Denver’s signing of J.K. Dobbins in June. There’s a crowd in the backfield to sort out with Audric Estimé, Jaleel McLaughlin and Tyler Badie also competing for time, so it appears Barron is the Broncos rookie with the clearest path to a starter’s share of snaps. We know he has the confidence of defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, who called him a “can’t-miss prospect” last month. Barron gives Joseph a do-it-all piece in the secondary; the reigning Jim Thorpe Award winner can match up in the slot, play outside or mix it up inside the box. The Broncos have their sights set on a playoff run after making it to the dance last season, and they’re banking on an elite defense paving the way. Barron could be fundamental to that effort.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 32 overall

Is the Chiefs’ long nightmare on the offensive line ending? Things are certainly looking up, thanks in large part to Simmons, who has impressed in the early goings of training camp. That’s a significant development, given that there was initial uncertainty about when he would be ready to play coming off the torn patellar tendon he suffered last season. If he can lock down the left tackle spot, free-agent signee Jaylon Moore can continue on as a backup, which was his role with his previous employer, too. The Chiefs have their sights set on winning a Super Bowl for the third time in four years, but that’s only possible if Patrick Mahomes’ blind side is well protected.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 6 overall

It’s unusual to see a running back drafted in the top 10 these days and it’s even more rare to see one comped to a Hall of Famer before ever taking an NFL snap, but that's the story with the Raiders' ballyhooed ball-carrier. Pete Carroll seems to have his eye on an accelerated rebuild in Vegas, and Jeanty will have a big hand in that pursuit. This is not a team built to throw the ball around the yard a ton, even with an upgrade at quarterback in Geno Smith and a stud at tight end in Brock Bowers. The talent at wide receiver isn’t where it needs to be yet, which means defenses will be seeing a steady diet of the former Boise State star, who rushed for 2,601 yards last season (second-most all time). Jeanty is the Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite for a reason.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 22 overall

I like second-round wide receiver Tre' Harris, but let’s face it: Jim Harbaugh gets off the bus running. As my colleague Michael Florio recently pointed out, Harbaugh’s teams have ranked outside the top 10 in rush attempts only once in his five seasons as an NFL head coach (11th in 2024). He’s going to pound the rock, and Hampton is built to pummel defenses, ranking second in the FBS last season with 1,222 rush yards after contact, per PFF. Last year, he became the fourth FBS player to post 1,500-plus rush yards and 15-plus rush TDs in consecutive seasons since 2016. I know Najee Harris is on the roster and a threat to siphon carries, but he has yet to return from the eye injury he suffered in a fireworks incident last month. The RB1 job is Hampton’s to lose, and I expect him to run powerfully with it.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 12 overall

I’m intrigued by fifth-round RB Jaydon Blue, too, but at the moment, the Cowboys are down their starting left tackle and a quality depth piece on the offensive line. They can’t afford any more losses at the position and certainly don’t want to see what life is like without Booker, who was regarded as one of the safest prospects in this year’s draft. He’ll plug in at right guard, where he’ll be tasked with keeping Dak Prescott upright and helping to lift a rush offense that fell to 27th in the league last season. The rookie’s intangibles appear to be off the charts, and I’m expecting him to be an instant difference-maker who can quiet those questioning whether the 12th overall pick was too early a slot for him.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 3 overall

Jaxson Dart could end up playing the most pivotal role of any Giants rookie if he replaces Russell Wilson as the QB1 early in the season, but for now, Carter is the clear choice for this exercise. Some viewed him as the top talent in this year’s draft, and he’s already drawing rave reviews from teammates in camp. How he’ll be utilized is still one point of intrigue, as the Giants could line him up off the edge and at off-ball linebacker in an effort to get their best group of defenders on the field at the same time. If the offense doesn’t improve by leaps and bounds from where it was last season, the G-Men will need a stout defense to keep them in games.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 31 overall

The rest of the league didn’t let the next Micah Parsons fall into Eagles GM Howie Roseman’s lap ... right? Reigning Offensive Player of the Year Saquon Barkley didn’t sound so sure this week when he compared Campbell to the Cowboys’ perennial shop-wrecker from a physical perspective. There was a little trepidation about Campbell heading into the draft after he underwent shoulder surgery in the spring, but while those concerns might have contributed to him still being available late in Round 1, they seem to have quickly faded. He’s likely to see the bulk of his snaps playing off the ball, especially while Nakobe Dean is out recovering from injury, but Campbell has the versatility to rush off the edge, as well. Sounds like another dangerous weapon for wily coordinator Vic Fangio to deploy in one of the league’s top defenses.

Drafted: Round 2, No. 61 overall

While the expectation is Washington will field one of the league’s top offenses in Year 2 of the Jayden Daniels era, there’s far less certainty about what to expect from the defense. With a combination of length, instincts and ball skills, Amos could play a leading role in alleviating concerns on that side of the ball. The good news is he appears up to the challenge so far. Every day of camp has been a good one for Amos, per defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., who is counting on the rookie to lock down the outside corner spot opposite Marshon Lattimore while Mike Sainristil plays the slot. Amos isn’t going to transform the defense into an elite unit by himself, of course, but the Commanders will rise to a whole new level if a sticky secondary complements an elite offense.

Drafted: Round 2, No. 56 overall

There is a scenario where Trapilo doesn’t see the field much as a rookie, but that doesn’t seem likely. Even if Braxton Jones fends off competition from Trapilo in camp and holds onto his starting job at left tackle, the veteran has missed 11 games over the past two seasons due to injuries. There’s a very good chance the rookie will be called on to protect Caleb Williams’ blind side at some point in 2025, and if he’s not up to the challenge, any buzz about Ben Johnson’s offense could diminish in a hurry. First-round pick Colston Loveland is undoubtedly important to Chicago’s chances this season, but I feel better about the depth at tight end with Cole Kmet and Durham Smythe also on the roster.

Drafted: Round 2, No. 57 overall

The offensive line is the one constant the Lions have been able to hang their hat on for the last few years. Winning up front is a big part of their identity, but for the first time in a while, Detroit is facing some serious questions in the blocking department, specifically on the interior. Right guard Kevin Zeitler's free-agent departure hurt, but center Frank Ragnow's retirement really cut to the core. Graham Glasgow, an experienced veteran who started at left guard for the Lions in 2024, appears to be shifting inside to man the pivot. That means the guard spots will be filled by two youngsters: 2024 sixth-rounder Christian Mahogany on the left side and Ratledge on the right. As we know, Jared Goff is not the same guy when forced to make plays off-schedule, and the Lions are not going to be contenders without a respectable running game. Fundamental to both facets is a relatively seamless transition for Ratledge, whose gritty playing style seems the perfect fit for Dan Campbell’s crew.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 23 overall

Golden’s arrival was a massive development for Jordan Love, who has his own critics to quiet entering Year 6. Fortunately for Love and the Packers, the buzz around Golden in camp is befitting of a player GM Brian Gutekunst deemed worthy of snapping the franchise’s 23-year WR-less streak in the draft’s first round. With Christian Watson recovering from the ACL tear he sustained in January, Green Bay lacked the deep speed element the rookie brings to the table. The Packers will be counting on Golden to limit the focus drops that were occasionally an issue for him in college, but he could quickly emerge in a receiving corps that hasn’t had a 1,000-yard pass catcher since Davante Adams’ final season with the team (2021).

Drafted: Round 1, No. 24 overall

With only one pick in the top 100 and five picks total this year, options for the Vikings were limited. Fortunately, Jackson is a deserving candidate. He was the final piece to this offseason’s rebuilding of the interior offensive line, following the signings of Ryan Kelly and Will Fries. While Jackson filled in at left tackle with aplomb during the Buckeyes’ run to a national title last season, he’ll play left guard in Minnesota, where he’s the prototype at the position thanks to his excellent size and power. Jackson’s performance will be one of the keys to ensuring a smooth first year as a starter for QB J.J. McCarthy.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 26 overall

When it comes to struggling to create a pass rush, no team is on the Falcons’ level. Since 2019, no squad has fewer sacks (169) or a lower QB pressure rate (30.5%, per Next Gen Stats) than Atlanta. In fact, no other team has fewer than 198 sacks in that span. Enter Pearce and fellow first-round pick Jalon Walker, who are tasked with finally reversing the trend. Pearce came at a high cost, with the team giving up next year’s first-round pick to get back into Round 1 for him this year, which makes it even more pivotal to the franchise’s future that he pans out. Walker was the earlier pick and more highly touted prospect, but he’s missed the bulk of practices with a hamstring injury while Pearce is the talk of camp for the energy he’s bringing to the field each day. Will he harness all the aggression -- which has sometimes spilled over into fights -- and use it to lift the defense? The answer to that question will go a long way toward deciding the Falcons’ fate in 2025.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 8 overall

Carolina is counting on McMillan to help ensure Bryce Young’s strong finish to last season is not remembered as a fleeting moment in an otherwise-disappointing run as Panthers QB1. At 6-4, 219 pounds, T-Mac has the size to win jump balls down the field and dominate in the red zone. The question is whether he can hold his own against the physical coverage he’ll face on a much more regular basis in the pros. So far, the results are mixed. Carolina selected McMillan -- who was not universally regarded as the draft’s best pure receiver -- when some of the top edge rushers were still on the board. That decision surprised many of us, and the second-guessing will mount quickly if the wideout gets off to a slow start.

Drafted: Round 2, No. 40 overall

Quarterback is the most important position on the field, and outside of Cam Ward, Shough is the only other rookie passer at publishing with a decent chance to start in Week 1, which makes him an easy selection for this list. First-year head coach Kellen Moore is holding an open competition at the position and nothing has been decided yet, but I would imagine there are high-ranking people inside the building who want to see what their second-round pick can do sooner rather than later. Now, if Shough doesn’t outduel Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener for the starting job -- or if the injury woes that plagued him for much of his college career return -- first-round pick Kelvin Banks Jr. is the team’s front-runner for most pivotal rookie as the likely Day 1 starter at left tackle. 

Drafted: Round 1, No. 19 overall

Rookie CBs Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish both have a chance to earn a starter’s share of snaps in Year 1, with Morrison competing for reps on the outside and Parrish battling at nickel. They’re undoubtedly important players for the Bucs, but until I see Chris Godwin get back to being the same guy he was pre-injury, Egbuka is my pick here. With Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan also on the roster, the cupboard was never going to be bare at receiver in Tampa, but the potential of a Godwin absence that lingers into the regular season makes Egbuka an even more critical piece on offense. Head coach Todd Bowles and Baker Mayfield are already raving about his versatility and route running in camp. The former Buckeye seems primed to hit the ground running when the real games begin.

Drafted: Round 2, No. 47 overall

Johnson, once considered a top-10 prospect, fell to Arizona in the middle of Round 2 due to concerns about the long-term health of his knee. The Cardinals are trying to win now, though, and they've had an awful lot of trouble finding stability at outside cornerback in recent years. If Johnson can lock down one of those spots, that would be a huge lift to Jonathan Gannon’s defense, which has the upside to be one of the league’s better units. 

Drafted: Round 2, No. 46 overall

Are you fired up for some 12 personnel looks or what?! After trading out of the first round, the Rams made Ferguson their top pick of the draft midway through Round 2. With Tyler Higbee, Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen also on the roster, Sean McVay has the personnel to hit defenses with a good share of two-TE sets, something the coach seems excited about. Ferguson is not a strong blocker right now, but he has the ball skills and size (6-5, 247) to become a nuisance for defenses in the short-to-intermediate passing game, as long as his groin injury doesn’t linger. That’s the type of player Matthew Stafford was missing for much of last season, when the Rams ranked dead last in receiving yards by tight ends.

Drafted: Round 1, No. 11 overall

I’m confident the 49ers’ most pivotal rookie will be a defensive lineman. San Francisco went all in on upgrading the unit via the draft, spending three of its top five picks on the front. DTs Alfred Collins and CJ West should be important contributors from the jump, but Williams is the guy to be locked in on. Sacks might not come in bunches, at least not right away -- he never had more than five in a season at Georgia -- but Williams will be counted on to play a big role in the overall improvement of a defense that ranked 29th in points allowed and 18th against the run in 2024. Teammate Bryce Huff predicted before camp even started that the 6-5, 267-pounder will wreak havoc, and defensive coordinator Robert Saleh recently said he’s going to be “a hell of a football player.”

Drafted: Round 5, No. 166 overall

Horton hype is reaching a fever pitch, and I’m not about to throw any cold water around. I like first-round pick Grey Zabel and second-rounder Nick Emmanwori, too, but they’re not generating buzz like Horton, who is being referred to as “Jerry Rice Jr.” and the “steal of the draft” by his teammates. Horton might have gone much earlier in April if a knee injury hadn’t wiped out the second half of his senior season at Colorado State. He’s making the injury seem like a distant memory with his performance so far, making multiple plays each day, per head coach Mike Macdonald. Seattle revamped its receiving corps thinking Cooper Kupp and Marquez Valdes-Scantling would be the offseason-addition attention-getters in camp, but Horton has crashed the party, much to the delight of the Seahawks.