- Kamari Ramsey earns the top rookie grade: The Texans safety posted a 94.8 PFF overall grade and recorded a red-zone interception in his preseason debut.
- Drew Allar leads the rookie quarterbacks: The Steelers quarterback earned an 80.5 PFF grade after throwing for 153 yards and two touchdowns while adding a rushing score.
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Following the opening weekend of the preseason football, our first assessment of the 2026 crop of rookies is in. Several rookies generated buzz throughout the summer, but preseason action put them under PFF’s microscope for the first time in their professional careers. Here are the rookies who got off to the strongest starts.
Due to the nature of preseason, we have a massive pool of rookie players to choose from here. On average, over six rookies were on the field for every snap of the preseason opener. That won’t be the case when the real games come around. Undrafted rookies out-snapped those who heard their names called on draft night, so don’t be surprised if there are a few unfamiliar names listed below.
Another caveat of the preseason is that plenty of players only play a couple of drives per game. To keep things somewhat fair, we’ll be limiting this rookie team of the week only to players who played 15 or more snaps in the opener.
Quarterback: Drew Allar, Steelers (80.5)
Fifteen rookie quarterbacks took a snap during the opening week of the preseason, and there were fortunately no nightmare performances among the biggest names. Six of the eight drafted quarterbacks earned overall PFF grades above 60.0.
Allar led the group, carving up the Packers defense for 153 passing yards on just 17 dropbacks. He didn’t record a big-time throw, but he also avoided any turnover-worthy plays. Allar threw two touchdown passes and added another score on the ground with a perfectly executed read-option keeper.
Running Back: Mike Washington Jr., Raiders (79.9)
Washington is the clear No. 2 option behind Ashton Jeanty in the Raiders’ backfield, and at 6-foot-2 and 228 pounds, he provides a powerful change of pace from the starter. The Cardinals felt the full force of that over the weekend, as Washington powered through defenders for 63 yards on just six carries, with 52 of those yards coming after contact.
Wide Receivers: Camden Brown, Cowboys (91.5); Malachi Fields, Giants (90.4); Kaden Wetjen, Steelers (88.0)
Camden Brown was the rookie storyline of the opening weekend of the NFL preseason. He made two spectacular touchdown catches, including a one-handed grab and another against the league’s highest-paid cornerback, Devon Witherspoon, that sent social media into a frenzy. The Georgia State product added another first down on a well-run dig route over the middle. He could hardly have asked for a better start.
The 74th overall pick, Malachi Fields, ran only 11 routes but moved the chains three times. That included an impressive contested touchdown catch on a scramble drill, a play he executed with the awareness of an established veteran.
Steelers wide receiver Kaden Wetjen was primarily viewed as a high-quality return specialist during the pre-draft process, but he showed considerably more in his preseason debut. He turned a catch nine yards downfield into a 74-yard gain, leaving defenders in his wake before a shoestring tackle denied him a touchdown. Wetjen found the end zone a few drives later on a pick play near the goal line. He is an extremely shifty receiver who offers plenty of versatility.
Tight End: Matthew Hibner, Ravens (92.6)
Hibner was the 10th tight end selected in a draft that saw the position heavily targeted on Day 2. With Isaiah Likely gone and Mark Andrews coming off the worst season of his career, there is an opportunity for Hibner to contribute immediately.
Five catches for 61 yards, including four first downs, was an excellent start. His run blocking was less consistent, with a handful of negatively graded plays giving the 24-year-old a clear area to improve.
Offensive Tackles: Carver Willis, 49ers (84.4) & Austin Blaske, Rams (80.9)
Fourth-round pick Carver Willis has the versatility to play both inside and outside. Allowing three hurries on 23 pass-blocking snaps wasn’t an ideal start, but his 90.1 PFF run-blocking grade was an encouraging sign.
The Rams already boast one of the league’s most well-rounded offensive lines, but Austin Blaske’s preseason is effectively an audition for a larger role next season, when several of Los Angeles’ offensive linemen are scheduled to hit free agency. Blaske split time between left tackle and left guard, allowing one pressure at tackle but otherwise looking comfortable at both spots.
Interior Offensive Linemen: Anez Cooper, Jets (91.0); Jacob Spomer, Chargers (82.0); Fernando Carmona, Titans (82.4)
Sixth-round right guard Anez Cooper was last seen keeping the Indiana defensive line from generating a pressure against Miami’s interior in the National Championship Game. He carried that form into his preseason debut, allowing no pressures across 20 pass-blocking snaps.
Chargers undrafted center Jacob Spomer played the entire game and was equally impressive. He didn’t allow a pressure in pass protection and earned an elite 90.0 PFF run-blocking grade across 16 outside-zone rushing attempts. That type of performance should catch Jim Harbaugh’s attention.
The Titans selected Fernando Carmona 142nd overall out of Arkansas. The 24-year-old didn’t stand out in the run game, but he was spotless in pass protection, allowing no pressures.
Interior Defensive Linemen: Christen Miller, Saints (90.5) & Bryson Eason, 49ers (77.3)
Bryan Bresee’s season-ending ACL injury in training camp put added pressure on 42nd overall pick Christen Miller to contribute immediately along the Saints’ interior. He is off to an excellent start, albeit in limited action. Miller generated a pressure on one of his few pass-rushing snaps, but more importantly, he recorded three defensive stops against the run, showcasing the elite anchor strength he displayed in the middle of Kirby Smart’s Georgia defense.
49ers undrafted free agent Bryson Eason produced a less spectacular debut, but he avoided any negatively graded plays in his first start, which was enough to earn a spot on our team. If we had room for a third interior defender, it would have been another 49er, as Gracen Halton earned a 73.7 overall PFF grade.
Edge Defenders: Caden Curry, Colts (89.5) & Malachi Lawrence, Cowboys (80.2)
Caden Curry was often overshadowed by a loaded Ohio State front seven in recent years, but his experience competing against elite talent has translated quickly to the NFL. Curry generated four pressures, including two hits and a sack, on just 17 pass-rushing snaps, producing a debut no other rookie pass-rusher matched over the weekend.
Cowboys edge defender Malachi Lawrence is the only first-round pick to make our Team of the Week. Despite entering the league as a somewhat raw prospect, he is off to an encouraging start. Lawrence played only 17 snaps but generated a pressure and added a defensive stop against the run.
Linebackers: Jacob Roberts, Vikings (92.6) & Mani Powell, Titans (83.5)
Roberts spent the past two seasons with the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders but looked like an early-round draft pick in his first NFL action. He recorded an interception in coverage and added two defensive stops against the run. As is typical in a Brian Flores defense, Roberts was also frequently used as a blitzer, rushing the passer on half of his passing snaps.
Undrafted free agent Mani Powell entered the preseason as an unknown to most NFL fans, including many Titans fans, but he made an immediate impression. He recorded half a sack on his only pass-rushing snap, added two tackles against the run and didn’t allow a reception in coverage.
Cornerbacks: Ayden Garnes, Buccaneers (91.8); Michael Coats Jr., Browns (90.0); Kenneth Harris, Patriots (86.1)
This trio of undrafted free agent cornerbacks significantly improved their standing in the preseason opener. Ayden Garnes and Michael Coats Jr. both recorded interceptions on remarkably similar plays, breaking perfectly from zone coverage on hitch routes. The difference was what happened afterward: Garnes returned his interception for a touchdown, giving him the rare distinction of recording a pick-six in his NFL debut.
Kenneth Harris played only 16 coverage snaps but was kept busy, drawing four targets. He allowed two receptions for just seven yards and also flashed his physicality with several impressive hits.
Safeties: Kamari Ramsey, Texans (94.8) & Jacob Thomas, Vikings (92.5)
The highest overall PFF grade among rookies to open the preseason belonged to Kamari Ramsey. As if head coach DeMeco Ryans didn’t already have enough defensive talent, his fifth-round pick looked like a star in one half of action. Ramsey capped his debut with a red-zone interception that he returned to midfield. He nearly had another pick earlier in the quarter, breaking perfectly on an out route before letting the ball slip through his hands.
Jacob Thomas — not to be confused with fellow rookie Jakobe Thomas, who plays the same position for the same team — produced an impressive interception of his own, tracking a deep ball down the sideline from his center-field safety position. Six safeties are listed ahead of the undrafted free agent on the depth chart, leaving him with an uphill battle to make the roster. However, Jamal Adams’ season-ending injury, combined with Thomas’ strong preseason opener, gives him a chance to stick.
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