The 2025 NFL season is in the history books with a dominating Super Bowl victory by the Seahawks. Which first-year debutants made an impact in 2025? Who will go on to bigger and better things as these youngsters progress in their careers? Several rookies made their presence felt throughout the league, particularly from the NFC, as the first team offense gets its star turn.
2025 All-Rookie Honors: NFC Passes First Team Offense Test
Quarterback
Cam Ward – Tennessee Titans
The first overall selection predictably had a rough go in his debut campaign, but showed signs of a shiny future with impressive throws all over the field. Ward was much better during the second half of the season after getting his feet wet and will work with an improved offensive coordinator in 2026. He earned the QB1 spot over a host of talented passers based on the total body of work, given contextual affirmation. The former Miami Hurricanes star carried the team on his back with a shoddy offensive line and skill group hampering the collective. However, he did have his fair share of mind-numbing sacks and turnovers at inopportune times like most rookies. He’ll need to improve on those blemishes to have better success.
2025 Statistics: 323 / 540 (60%) for 3,169 yards, 15 touchdowns, and seven interceptions
Running Back
TreVeyon Henderson – New England Patriots
The 2025 running back class is loaded with immense talent, and Henderson won the spot over a passel of talented runners. He had to endure the scathing dog house of Mike Vrabel before breaking out of the shell during the course of the regular season. The former Buckeyes star runner paced the Super Bowl runners-up with over 900 yards and nine touchdowns. New England deployed its running backs almost evenly among three running backs, but it’s clear that Henderson did more with his carries. He brings home run hitting ability, unlike the other two backs on the roster. If he’s fully out of the clutches of Vrabel’s doghouse, he can be a top-10 running back in the league.
2025 Statistics: 180 attempts for 911 yards and nine touchdowns; 35 receptions for 221 yards and one touchdown
Quinshon Judkins – Cleveland Browns
Joining his former Buckeyes teammate is the electric factory (of happiness), Judkins. However, his rookie season ended up being marred by a terrible leg injury late in 2025. The precocious rookie started every game that he was healthy for and managed over 800 yards and seven touchdowns on a horrific Browns team. Cleveland has an emerging star running back if he can bounce back healthy in 2026. Not since the days of prime Nick Chubb has a Browns runner been this talented. A bright future, indeed.
2025 Statistics: 230 attempts for 827 yards and seven touchdowns; 26 receptions for 171 yards
Wide Receiver
Tetairoa McMillan – Carolina Panthers
There’s a new WR1 in Charlotte after years of fruitless searching for one, and he is the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year. McMillian has the size and know-how to establish himself as a legitimate top ten receiver in the future if the Panthers can solve their quarterback mystery. The former Arizona star man lived up to his first-round credentials with a 1,000-yard season for the woebegone Panthers offense. Bryce Young has shown flashes of potential during the past couple of seasons, but hasn’t put it all together yet and is running out of time in Charlotte. McMillan played the role of catching nearly everything and made a play much like DeAndre Hopkins once did in his prime. Can Carolina find a quarterback worthy of his talents as a receiver to truly unlock his potential?
2025 Statistics: 70 receptions for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns
Luther Burden III – Chicago Bears
Burden didn’t have the best statistical year for any rookie receiver by any stretch of the imagination, but he played well down the playoff stretch. He’s due for a sophomore rise, even with so many mouths to feed in Chicago. The former second-round selection thrived late in the season after an adjustment period in the first half. DJ Moore is the clear number one option, with Rome Odunze and rookie tight end Colston Loveland eating into Burden’s targets. Odunze hasn’t set the world on fire thus far in his young career, so he might be expendable in favor of Burden. It will be interesting to see how head coach Ben Johnson deploys the former Missouri star going forward.
2025 Statistics: 47 receptions for 652 yards and two touchdowns
Emeka Egbuka – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Egbuka stepped up in 2025 with over 900 yards and six touchdowns, with future Hall of Famer Mike Evans hobbled and Chris Godwin recovering from injury. He provided highlight catch after highlight catch for the heavily injured Buccaneers. The former Buckeyes star receiver could be part of the next wave after Evans and Godwin slowly age out, and that future could come quickly as the indomitable Evans is a free agent. Egbuka missed some time as the season wore on, but overall, it was worthy of a first-team selection. The rookie receiver star power in the NFC is significant, and they passed their tests with flying colors. He was one of the few receivers to torch the vaunted Seahawks defense before the Bucs suffered a team-wide malaise to close the season. If the Buccaneers receive better health luck, the sky is the limit for this young receiver.
2025 Statistics: 63 receptions for 938 yards and six touchdowns
Tight End
Tyler Warren – Indianapolis Colts
Warren, with Daniel Jones leading the way, was the runaway favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year. Warren, without Jones, fell off a cliff like his offensive teammates. While Jones was healthy, the rookie tight end showed enough flashes to merit a spot on the first team offense despite a horde of fellow rookies coming for his crown. The talented rookie pass catcher has the potential to reach into the upper echelon at his position with some quarterback luck.
2025 Statistics: 76 receptions for 817 yards and four touchdowns
Offensive Tackle
Armand Membou – New York Jets
The rookie right tackle held down the fort for a miserable Jets team after becoming their latest first-round selection. PFF ranked him as the second-best rookie tackle with an overall score of 72.7. He proved to be a wise investment by the consistently rebuilding Jets. Membou possesses the potential to become one of the best right tackles in the league if the Jets can ever get it right. Gotham could have one of the more quietly great bookend duos in the NFL. The former Missouri Tigers standout played like he should’ve been the first tackle off the board instead of the second in 2025. There’s a bright future for him alongside 2024 All-Rookie honoree Fashanu.
Offensive Guard
Grey Zabel – Seattle Seahawks
The reigning Super Bowl champion Seahawks had a stellar draft class that played key roles in their run to the title. Zabel started his draft process with a bang at the Senior Bowl and hasn’t left the scene since that time, becoming the entrenched starter at left guard. The versatile lineman possesses the ability to play center and left tackle, but found his true calling at guard. PFF rated him as the 41st-best guard in the league with an overall score of 61.8, so there’s room to improve. He’s a name that fans will want to get familiar with in the years to come, much like Cody Mauch did for the Buccaneers for many seasons.
Offensive Guard
Tyler Booker – Dallas Cowboys
Booker was the 12th overall selection on the rebuilt Cowboys offensive line, and he acquitted himself well in his rookie season. PFF graded him as a top 20 guard in the league with an overall score of 72.0, which was good for being the highest rated rookie guard. Dallas has had the unenviable task of replacing two future Hall of Fame linemen, and they are well on their way with Booker leading the charge. The Alabama guard was well regarded during the draft process, and he lived up to the immense billing. He’s a key component in maintaining the glory days of Cowboys linemen into the future. Booker lined up at right guard and hasn’t left since.
Offensive Tackle
Kelvin Banks, Jr – New Orleans Saints
The former Texas Longhorn started every game at left tackle for the fledgling Saints, who competed hard for rookie head coach Kellen Moore. His future remains bright as the franchise blocker for Tyler Shough. The Saints drafted him with the ninth selection in the first round, and their ROI was pleasant. PFF graded him as the best rookie tackle with an overall score of 73.3, which ranked Banks as the 28th-best tackle in the league. He appears to have locked down left tackle for the foreseeable future in the Crescent City. Banks forms an outstanding bookend with young right tackle Taliese Fuaga, giving the Saints two critical building blocks.