- Tetairoa McMillan joins the top five: Although it was a modest week for the top-10 pick, he maintained his solid PFF overall grade while others struggled.
- Jihaad Campbell takes over at No. 1 as Mitchell Evans drops: The Eagles were on a bye in Week 9, but Mitchell Evans' 41.8 PFF overall grade for the week pushes Campbell into the top spot.
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Estimated Reading Time: 10 minutes
We're diving into the top rookies by PFF overall grade through Week 9 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. LB Jihaad Campbell, Philadelphia Eagles (83.2)
The Eagles were on a bye in Week 9.
2. RB Cameron Skattebo, New York Giants (80.5)
Skattebo is out for the season with a leg injury.
3. EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku, Dallas Cowboys (79.6)
The second-round pick from Boston College is up to No. 3 this week after a stellar 83.8 PFF overall grade on Monday Night Football (sixth among all edge defenders).
Ezeiruaku was all over the field for the Cowboys. He blew by the Cardinals‘ Kelvin Beachum for a sack late in the first quarter and later came across the line of scrimmage for a run stop in the second quarter, holding Emari Demercado to a one-yard gain. Ezeiruaku finished the game with five pressures across 26 snaps for a 19.2% pressure rate. He also finished in the top 10 at the position in pass-rush win rate (23.1%).
Ezeiruaku got off to a slow start as a pass rusher, recording a 4.5 pass-rush productivity rating through the first five weeks of the season. Since then, he’s gone over 10.0 in four straight games and ranks third with a 23.6% win rate. He also owns an 86.4 PFF pass-rushing grade in that span (eighth best), placing just behind departed Cowboy Micah Parsons (86.5).
Overall, Ezeiruaku continues to lead the rookie edge defender class in PFF pass-rushing grade (75.7). He also ranks first among the group in pass-rush win rate (14.4%) and quarterback hits (nine), while slotting into second in total pressures (22). His nine run-defense stops are the most among rookie edge defenders, too.
4. TE Mitchell Evans, Carolina Panthers (78.7)
Evans struggled in the Panthers’ tight win over the Packers, finishing with a 41.8 PFF overall grade — third worst among tight ends this week. He was not targeted in the game and played only one snap in pass protection. He did log 15 run-blocking snaps, and although he earned a 68.9 PFF run-blocking grade in zone looks (seven snaps), his 39.0 mark in gap schemes (second worst for the week) dragged him down to a 46.6 PFF run-blocking grade overall — sixth worst for the week.
Despite seeing zero targets over his past two games, Evans still leads the Carolina tight end group with a 74.3 PFF receiving grade. He has caught all nine of his targets for 90 yards, six first downs and two touchdowns. Evans also leads the Panthers’ tight end group in PFF run-blocking grade (72.2). He has recorded a 20.5% positive play rate across 175 snaps.
5. WR Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina Panthers (78.6)
McMillan had a better day against the Packers, recording four catches for 46 yards. Most of that production came in the first quarter via two 16-yard catches — one of which he snatched from Carrington Valentine’s hands, who was in perfect position to break up the pass. McMillan accounted for three first downs on the day, although Green Bay was able to limit his impact after the catch, holding him to 0.8 yards after the catch per reception.
McMillan now has 41 catches for 558 yards — a top-15 mark. He is also tied for second with 19 explosive gains of 15-plus yards.
Three of McMillan’s catches against the Packers came between the numbers, bringing him to 22 for 318 yards and 19 first downs (tied for second most) this season. He owns a 26.1% threat rate and a 76.6 PFF receiving grade between the numbers. He also ranks in the top 10 in explosive gains (10) and yards after the catch per reception (5.5) within that area of the field.
6. T Will Campbell, New England Patriots (76.6)
Campbell recorded a 72.1 PFF overall grade against the Falcons, leading the Patriots' offensive line in pass blocking (75.0) and run blocking (66.2). He was the only New England lineman to record 65.0-plus PFF grades in both facets.
The LSU product conceded three pressures, all to fellow rookies James Pearce Jr. and Jalon Walker. One was a sack for Walker in the third quarter, resulting in a nine-yard loss inside the red zone. However, Campbell still recorded a 95.0 PFF pass-blocking efficiency rating across 40 pass-blocking snaps. Most of his snaps as a run blocker came in gap schemes (21), where he finished with a 66.7 PFF run-blocking grade.
The fourth overall pick is the Patriots' highest-graded offensive lineman through the first half of the season. He has allowed seven pressures — including four sacks — in his past three games but is the team's only offensive lineman with a PFFF pass-blocking grade above 70.0 in that span (73.0). As a run blocker, Campbell has performed equally well in zone (63.8) and gap schemes (63.6), earning a 70.5 PFF run-blocking grade overall.
7. TE Jackson Hawes, Buffalo Bills (76.4)
Hawes’ rough stretch continues. He earned a 51.1 PFF overall grade in the Bills’ win over the Chiefs, again largely as a run blocker (22 run-blocking snaps). As a receiver, he managed to free himself up across the middle for an 18-yard catch midway through the second quarter. Hawes owns a 52.9 PFF overall grade over his past three games.
The fifth-round pick is now up to seven catches for 87 yards and six first downs this season. He continues to perform well on limited snaps in pass protection (17), as he has yet to allow a pressure through the midway point of the season. Hawes also continues to hold up well in run blocking overall, as he is back in the top 10 for the position (71.4 PFF grade).
8. CB Nick Emmanwori, Seattle Seahawks (76.4)
Emmanwori had a down game in the Seahawks' win over the Commanders, posting a 55.8 PFF overall grade. He recorded two hurries as a pass rusher, as well as a tackle in run defense. However, he allowed four catches on five targets into his coverage for 46 yards and three first downs — including two receptions of 15-plus yards. He did make a highlight play late in the third quarter, fighting through a screen block from Treylon Burks to record a one-armed coverage stop on a screen to Deebo Samuel. Emmanwori finished the contest with four tackles in coverage but surrendered a 105.5 passer rating when targeted.
The South Carolina product now has five tackles in run defense and ranks fourth among all cornerbacks in PFF run-defense grade (81.9). The second-round pick also ranks eighth in zone PFF coverage grade (81.2), holding quarterbacks to an 85.6 NFL passer rating when targeted in those looks. He has seven coverage stops this season but has allowed three catches of 15-plus yards in his past two games.
9. TE Oronde Gadsden II, Los Angeles Chargers (75.5)
Gadsden caught all five of his targets in Week 9 for 68 yards and two first downs. He has brought in all 10 of his targets for 145 yards in his past two games. He recorded two catches of 10-plus yards against the Titans in Week 9, including a 34-yarder in the first quarter against zone coverage. He later made a 14-yard catch in the third quarter with the Chargers backed up at their own one-yard line. Gadsden averaged 4.0 yards after the catch per reception and earned a 65.9 PFF overall grade for the outing.
The Syracuse product is the Chargers' second-highest-graded offensive player entering Week 10. The fifth-round pick is used much differently than rookie counterparts Mitchell Evans or Jackson Hawes, in that most of his snaps have come in passing situations (211) versus blocking (92). He also lines up in the slot 45.2% of the time.
Blocking has not been Gadsden's strength, but he has opened up the Chargers' passing game to lead the team in PFF receiving grade (81.3, tied for fifth among all tight ends). Gadsden has now caught 32 of 37 passes this season for 453 yards (fourth most) — with seven catches of 20-plus yards. He’s generating a 124.4 NFL passer rating for Justin Herbert when targeted.
10. CB Will Johnson, Arizona Cardinals (75.5)
Johnson bounced back from a rough two-week stretch (44.3 PFF overall grade) with a 76.7 mark against the Cowboys in Week 9 (seventh best). He did allow two gains of 15-plus yards in coverage, but he otherwise limited receivers to 54 yards across five catches. He also forced his seventh incompletion of the season early in the third quarter when he was able to close quickly on CeeDee Lamb and wrap him up before he could haul in the target.
The second-round pick out of Michigan owns the 10th-best PFF coverage grade among cornerbacks midway through the season (74.9). He’s tied for seventh in forced incompletion rate (21.9%) and is holding quarterbacks to an 87.1 NFL passer rating. Most of Johnson’s targets (20) have come in zone coverage, where he’s given up 12 catches for 118 yards. Five of his pass breakups have come as a zone defender, and he boasts a 79.2 PFF coverage grade from zone (11th best).
11. RB Quinshon Judkins, Cleveland Browns (75.3)
The Browns were on a bye in Week 9.
12. CB Denzel Burke, Arizona Cardinals (75.2)
While Will Johnson played well, it was arguably Burke who stole the show among rookie cornerbacks on Monday Night Football. He finished with an elite 90.8 PFF overall grade this week — ranking behind only the Bills' Maxwell Hairston (91.4).
Burke recorded two coverage stops in the third quarter, both on third-down plays. After holding CeeDee Lamb to a six-yard gain on third-and-9 to close out the third quarter, Burke forced an incompletion against Lamb on the very next play, this time recovering to knock the ball loose from his hands. The play forced a key turnover on downs, stealing a red-zone opportunity away from the Cowboys. Burke wasn’t finished, as he closed out the night with his first career interception, jumping in front of Ryan Flournoy on fourth-and-28 with less than two minutes remaining in the game.
The fifth-round pick from Ohio State owns a 77.9 PFF coverage grade through the first half of the season (seventh best). He ranks in the top five among rookie cornerbacks in completion rate allowed (57.1%) and forced incompletion rate (19.1%). Overall, Burke has allowed 12 catches on 21 targets for 141 yards. He has made six coverage stops and is holding quarterbacks to a 57.8 NFL passer rating (third best among rookie cornerbacks).
13. T Armand Membou, New York Jets (74.8)
The Jets were on a bye in Week 9.
14. LB Carson Schwesinger, Cleveland Browns (74.4)
The Browns were on a bye in Week 9.
15. TE Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears (73.9)
The hero of Week 9 for the Bears, Loveland capped off a shootout in the fourth quarter against the Bengals with a 58-yard touchdown to give Chicago a five-point lead with less than 20 seconds remaining. He found space against zone coverage and was able to adjust for the catch, bouncing off Jordan Battle and dashing to the endzone for the score. It was Loveland’s second touchdown of the day.
He also caught a five-yard pass earlier in the third quarter, converting the third-down play into points. They were the first career touchdowns for the first-round pick from Michigan.
Loveland finished the game with an 86.4 PFF overall grade. He caught six of eight targets for 118 yards and four first downs, forcing two missed tackles along the way. Loveland also performed well in pass protection, allowing zero pressures across five snaps. He earned a 67.6 PFF run-blocking grade.
Loveland has made 17 catches for 234 yards this season, with 10 first downs and four explosive gains. He owns a 74.2 PFF receiving grade. As a blocker, Loveland has performed best on run plays, where he ranks 11th at the position in PFF run-blocking grade (70.0). He sports a 69.9 zone PFF run-blocking grade across 54 snaps. He ranks second in the draft class in PFF run-blocking grade in gap schemes (66.2, 35 snaps).
Like Gadsden, most of Loveland's snaps come in passing situations (153). The Bears also like to move him around, as he leads all tight ends on this list in motion rate (17.5%).
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