- Jackson Hawes climbs to No. 2 with a big game: The Bills tight end logged a touchdown catch and stood out once again as a blocker in the team's Week 14 victory over the Bengals.
- Tyler Shough joins the top 15: The Saints quarterback led New Orleans to a Week 14 win with his legs and lack of turnover-worthy plays.
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Estimated Reading Time: 11 minutes
We're diving into the top rookies by PFF overall grade through Week 14 of the 2025 NFL season. To qualify, players needed to have logged at least 100 snaps. Changes may occur once Monday Night Football grades are released.
1. DI Walter Nolen, Arizona Cardinals (84.6)
Nolen did not play in Week 14 due to a knee injury.
2. TE Jackson Hawes, Buffalo Bills (83.5)
Hawes was the NFL's fourth-highest-graded tight end in Week 14, filling a valuable role in the Bills' comeback win over the Bengals.
He was outstanding as a blocker, placing in the top 10 in both PFF run-blocking and pass-blocking grades. He surrendered no pressure across seven snaps, earning a 78.8 PFF pass-blocking grade (third). He also notched a 71.8 PFF run-blocking grade (eighth), in part because of his strong performance in zone schemes (72.6).
Hawes was also on the end of a key touchdown late in the game, converting on fourth-and-3 with three minutes remaining to give the Bills a 10-point lead.
The 25-year-old is now the league's second-highest-graded tight end entering Week 15. He ranks in the top 10 in PFF receiving grade (80.2) and as a blocker.
He has caught 12 passes on 15 targets for 152 yards and three touchdowns and has yet to allow any pressure in pass protection this season (30 snaps), resulting in an 83.0 PFF pass-blocking grade (second). As a run blocker, he remains at his best in zone schemes, where he owns a seventh-ranked 81.9 PFF run-blocking grade.
3. RB Cam Skattebo, New York Giants (80.5)
Skattebo is out for the season with a leg injury.
4. EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku, Dallas Cowboys (79.5)
Ezieruaku struggled against the Lions, finishing with a 60.5 PFF overall grade for the game. Although he recorded two run stops and two hurries, he logged sub-60.0 PFF grades in both defensive phases.
Despite the off night, the second-rounder still ranks in the top three among rookies in PFF run-defense (68.5) and pass-rush (69.1) grades. He is now tied for third at the position in tackles for loss or no gain as a run defender (nine) and has racked up 15 run stops this season.
Ezeiruaku sports a team-high 20.0% positively graded play rate, which ranks 11th among all edge defenders. His 9.1% negatively graded play rate is also a team best. As a pass rusher, Ezeiruaku leads the Cowboys in quarterback hits (11).
5. WR Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina Panthers (77.9)
The Panthers were on a bye in Week 14.
6. TE Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears (77.4)
Loveland caught four passes for 29 yards and a score in the Bears' Week 14 defeat to the Packers. He was left all alone for a one-yard touchdown midway through the fourth quarter to cut the Packers’ lead to one. He gained three first downs and generated a 130.4 passer rating when targeted, the sixth-best mark of the week. He also earned a 60.8 PFF run-blocking grade across 17 snaps.
The 10th overall pick is up to 35 catches for 435 yards, four touchdowns and 21 first downs this season. He slots into the top 10 at the position in PFF receiving grade (77.7) and passer rating when targeted (125.8). Loveland is also contributing in the run game, sporting a 68.4 PFF run-blocking grade (tied for third best among rookie tight ends).
Loveland made two third-down catches against Green Bay, including his touchdown. He’s been targeted 17 times on conversion downs this season (tied for 12th most) and has brought in 15 of those passes for 146 yards and 10 first downs. Three of his four scores have come on late downs, and he ranks first in conversion down threat rate (22.4%) and PFF receiving grade (82.2) on such plays.
7. LB Jihaad Campbell, Philadelphia Eagles (76.4)
Campbell had a quiet outing on Monday Night Football, finishing with a 41.8 PFF overall grade across nine defensive snaps. He played four snaps in run defense, recording a second-quarter tackle after a 15-yard run from Omarion Hampton. That tackle was Campbell’s only defensive stat of the night. He saw one snap as a pass rusher and four in coverage without being targeted. He also played 11 snaps on special teams and notched a 66.7 PFF special teams grade.
The Alabama product remains PFF’s 13th-ranked linebacker by grade. He slots into the top 10 at the position in PFF tackling (80.5) and coverage (77.2) grades. Campbell also ranks second in the draft class in PFF run-defense grade (70.8), behind Carson Schwesinger (79.3). He has made 42 tackles and 13 stops with an eighth-ranked tackle rate (5.5%) among linebackers.
8. T Armand Membou, New York Jets (76.3)
Membou rebounded from a 44.0 PFF overall grade in Week 13 with a 69.7 mark against the Dolphins. He was charged with three pressures allowed, including a third-down sack in the third quarter, but still finished with a 71.7 PFF pass-blocking grade across 40 snaps. He also earned the 10th-best PFF run-blocking grade of Week 14 (76.0), fueled by an 86.0 mark in zone blocking schemes (sixth best).
The seventh overall pick has given up pressure at the seventh-highest rate (6.6%) among starting right tackles, with four sacks allowed in his past three games. He still boasts a 72.2 PFF pass-blocking grade, ranking third among rookie tackles.
Membou also continues to lead the class in PFF run-blocking grade (75.1), buoyed by his 84.7 grade in zone schemes and his sixth-best defeated rate (11.4%). His 13.1% impact-block rate ranks 11th among starting right tackles.
9. EDGE Jalon Walker, Atlanta Falcons (75.5)
Walker exited in Week 14 after suffering a quad injury in the second quarter, although the injury is not believed to be serious. He had played six defensive snaps at the time of injury, with no other statistics.
Despite the quick day, Walker actually rose to sixth in the PFF run-defense grade rankings with his 77.8 mark. He has the lowest negatively graded play rate in the draft class (4.9%), along with the group’s second-best positively graded play rate (18.7%) — behind the Cowboys' Donovan Ezeiruaku (20.0%). Walker's 69.7 PFF pass-rushing grade also ranks third in the draft class.
10. T Will Campbell, New England Patriots (75.5)
The Patriots were on a bye in Week 14.
11. WR Luther Burden III, Chicago Bears (75.4)
Burden recorded four catches for 67 yards in the Bears' loss to the Packers — his most yards in a game since Week 3 against the Cowboys. Each of his catches went for 10-plus yards to move the chains, and he averaged 6.8 yards after the catch per reception (eighth).
The rookie logged two explosive gains in the second half. He notched an 18-yard gain against zone coverage late in the third quarter, and he spun around Carrington Valentine on another reception for extra yards, resulting in a 27-yard gain with the Bears trailing by seven. Burden earned a 78.1 PFF receiving grade for the outing (10th best).
The 22-year-old second-round pick has now caught 30 of 40 targets for 395 yards. He has moved the chains 16 times and has racked up 11 plays of 15-plus yards. Burden is the fourth-most-targeted Bears receiver and leads the team in several categories, including catch rate (75.0%), threat rate (22.6%) and passer rating when targeted (114.1). He’s averaging 7.0 yards after the catch per reception and 2.23 yards per route run with five forced missed tackles — all team highs. He also leads the group in PFF receiving grade (76.9).
12. LB Carson Schwesinger, Cleveland Browns (74.0)
Schwesinger graded out as the eighth-best linebacker in Week 14 (81.7), putting together one of his best games of the season. He recorded four run stops, holding runners to a total of 12 yards across those plays. He also recorded four hurries across seven snaps as a pass rusher, finishing with a second-ranked 42.9% pass-rush win rate for the week. Schwesinger earned a 77.1 PFF pass-rush grade and a 74.0 PFF run-defense grade in the game.
Schwesinger was also active in coverage, breaking up a third-down pass intended for Van Jefferson late in the second quarter and holding Chimere Dike to a minimal gain on a red-zone catch in the fourth. He allowed three of four targets into his coverage to be caught for 14 yards and a first down, leading to a 69.4 PFF coverage grade for the day.
The rookie owns a 78.9 PFF overall grade over his past three games (eighth best), highlighted by his performance in run defense. The UCLA product is a top-five linebacker in run stops in that span (10), and his positively (17.3%) and negatively (7.4%) graded play rates both rank in the top 15 at the position. Schwesinger has notched a near-elite 88.5 PFF run-defense grade during that stretch.
13. EDGE Josaiah Stewart, Los Angeles Rams (74.0)
Stewart debuts at No. 13 this week after earning an 83.5 PFF overall grade against the Cardinals (third best). He chased down running back Bam Knight for a run stop midway in the first quarter, limiting him to a two-yard gain. He also earned the third-best PFF pass-rushing grade for the week (82.7) after recording three hurries on 17 snaps at a win rate of 29.4% (fourth best).
The third-round pick from Michigan owns a 63.8 PFF run-defense grade this season, powered by seven tackles, six stops and a 15.3% positively graded play rate. As a rusher, Stewart has 16 pressures, with two sacks and four quarterback hits. He ranks in the top three among the rookie edge class in pressure rate and win rate (both 12.6%).
He also ranks fourth among the group in PFF coverage grade (82.1), allowing three catches on five targets for only 13 yards with a forced incompletion and four coverage stops. He’s holding quarterbacks to a 64.9 passer rating.
14. T Kelvin Banks Jr., New Orleans Saints (74.2)
Banks graded out as the fourth-best tackle in Week 14 in the Saints' upset victory over the Buccaneers (79.9). He allowed a hit and a hurry in pass protection, finishing with a 68.2 PFF pass-blocking grade. He also ranked seventh in PFF run-blocking grade (80.9).
The ninth overall pick from Texas has gradually risen in these rankings, slotting in as PFF’s seventh-best starting left tackle since Week 9 (78.2). While he owns a 74.7 PFF pass-blocking grade in that span, it’s been his work as a run blocker that has stood out. Since Week 9, Banks is a top-10 left tackle in PFF run-blocking grade (74.2), as well as impact-block rate (14.1%). His 81.6 zone PFF run-blocking grade places third among rookie tackles in that span.
15. QB Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints (73.7)
Shough earned an 83.7 PFF overall grade (seventh best) for the Saints in Week 14, completing 13 of 20 passes for 144 yards. Although he did not record any big-time throws, he also didn’t log any turnover-worthy plays, with a second-quarter interception resulting from miscommunication on the play.
Shough made big plays with his legs with two second-half touchdowns — his first rushing scores of the season. The first came early in the third quarter on a designed play for 34 yards to give New Orleans a narrow lead. The second came on a scramble in the fourth quarter on which he broke out of a sack into space, diving for the 13-yard score. That play gave the Saints the lead for good. Shough finished with seven rushes for 55 yards, with three explosive runs and three missed tackles forced.
The second-round pick has a 71.2 PFF passing grade, having completed 120 passes for 1,212 yards and five touchdowns. Since Week 8, Shough is tied for 11th in adjusted completion rate (76.9%). He’s also tied for the ninth-best turnover-worthy rate (2.3%) and has six big-time throws in his rookie campaign.
Shough places second among rookie quarterbacks in PFF rushing grade (71.9). He has turned 28 attempts into 106 yards, seven first downs, five forced missed tackles and four runs of 10-plus yards.
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