Rookies in Week 1 of the New NFL Season
It doesn’t matter how well you perform as a college athlete; you will ultimately be judged on how you play in the NFL.
As the new season has only just gotten underway, it might seem a little unfair to make any sweeping comments about how well the new class will do. But after week 1, we can evaluate how the new group of rookies got on.
Not all of the top-rated athletes from the NCAA last year will have featured prominently, as some head coaches and teams decide to ease them into the big league. But those who were taken early in the draft early in the year were chosen for a reason and their teams will be hoping that they soon affect win totals and feature positively in the best NFL sports betting markets.
There is still obviously a very long way to go with the 2025 NFL season and there is still plenty of time for the rookie class to prove that they belong. Here’s how some of those players performed in week 1, including the number one pick overall, Cam Ward.
Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns
As much as making it to the NFL in any way is a huge achievement for any college athlete, history has shown us that playing for the Cleveland Browns can be a thankless task. This has been an organization that has endured what seems like a disproportionate amount of bad luck over the years and it can be a tough place to be a pro.
Week 1 ended in a loss for the Browns but head coach Kevin Stefanski blooded a number of new recruits, largely to good effect. There was no Shedeur Sanders but another rookie showed he has what it takes. Harold Fannin Jr., a third-round pick from Bowling Green, had seven catches for 63 yards and impressed after an incredible final year at college. With such depth, he wasn’t expected to feature as prominently but he has obviously clicked with Joe Flacco and we might well see more of him in the weeks ahead.
Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders
Running backs may be back in fashion in the NFL but there were only two taken in the entire first round of the draft this year, with Ashton Jeanty considered the consensus top rusher in his class. The Raiders picked him out of Boise State in the hope that he could help fire up the offense and allow the black and silver to compete this year.
A clash against an unfancied New England Patriots team was probably a welcome introduction to the league for Jeanty and although the Pats largely contained his talent, he was able to make some good plays. He looked good making short amounts of yardage and eventually finished with 38 yards and a touchdown for the day. The Raiders will be hoping he strikes up a good understanding with Geno Smith in the weeks ahead.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Washington Commanders
Another rookie running back who scored a touchdown on his very first outing in the NFL was the Washington Commanders’ Jacory Croskey-Merritt. Much was made of the Giants top pick, Abdul Carter, and his ability to change the fortunes of his new team, but it was the Commanders rookie who made more of an impact.
Carter will undoubtedly do well in New York, but Croskey-Merritt led the game in rushing, with 82 yards and one touchdown from 10 carries. With a QB who blew the league away in his rookie year last season, it was good to see that the Commanders are continuing to put so much trust in their first-year athletes.
Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
There were a number of wide receivers who debuted in the NFL in week 1, but it was probably Emeka Egbuka who had the best day. Taken by the Bucs in the first round, he was an integral part of the championship-winning Ohio State Buckeyes team last year and has now proven that he belongs in the NFL.
Egbuka has joined a deep receiving unit at the Bucs, but has benefited from injuries to others and connected four times with QB Baker Mayfield for 67 yards. Most importantly, the rookie was able to score two opening day touchdowns, one of which won the game for the home team with just a minute to play. Tampa Bay didn’t really look in control, outside the end of the halves, but Egbuka has already shown that he can help this team improve and potentially make the playoffs once again.
Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans
So, what of the number one pick of the 2025 NFL Draft? It is never a guarantee that the most valued player in the rookie class will go on to success in the big league – and that is even more the case when it comes to quarterbacks. Jayden Daniels showed that first-year QBs can make an impression last year, though, so could Cam Ward turn around the fortunes of the Tennessee Titans?
It doesn’t help that the Titans are still not a very good team – and that any strength there might be is definitely on defense. But Ward did show that he can handle himself, and was let down by his receiving unit, if anything. He took two consecutive sacks at one point but still seemed calm in the pocket. Tennessee still ran the ball more than we would expect from a Cam Ward team – but it is early days and it does look if there is a future for him in the NFL.