The NFL’s 5 Best Rookies Heading into Week 9

The NFL season will be half over around halftime of the early afternoon slot of Sunday’s games. For now, the Kansas City Chiefs seem to inhabit the driver’s seat to win another Super Bowl.

The NFL’s 5 Best Rookies Heading into Week 9

Meanwhile, several rookies have performed wonderfully, scattered throughout the business and regardless of draft round.

The following five players represent the league’s top five rookies through the end of Week 8,  ranked in ascending order, according to Pro Football Focus.

5. Jared Verse (EDGE)

Team: Los Angeles Rams
PFF Grade: 82.8

Verse is the frontrunner to win Defensive Player of the Year, and his lead over Laiatu Latu isn’t small, per oddsmakers. Once-promising DROY candidates like Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker Dallas Turner have exited the race, paving the way for Verse to earn his rookie bacon.

He’s banked 32 pressures in seven games and can stop the run, too, which is sometimes rare for rookie EDGEs. If he improves his tackling form, the guy will become a Pro Bowler in no time.

4. Cooper DeJean (CB)

Team: Philadelphia Eagles
PFF Grade: 83.4

DeJean just makes the cut to qualify for award recognition and lists like these, playing about one-third of the Eagles’ defensive snaps. He’s accountable for an impressive 85.7 passer-rating-against, and Philadelphia’s secondary should be in fine shape for the next half-decade with DeJean and fellow rookie Quinyon Mitchell in the house.

The Eagles are quietly 5-2 and back in the saddle to threaten a deep NFC playoff push.

3. Jayden Daniels (QB)

Team: Washington Commanders
PFF Grade: 85.7

This is nearly “no caption needed.”

Daniels launched a Hail Mary into the heavens late Sunday that ricocheted off a lackadaisical Chicago Bears defender into the arms of wide receiver Noah Brown. Washington consequently toppled Caleb Williams and Co., upping its record to 6-2.

Like Verse with DROY, Daniels will win Offensive Rookie of the Year — handily.

2. Evan Williams (S)

Team: Green Bay Packers
PFF Grade: 87.4

Williams does a little bit of everything and plays about half the time. He’s notched a 45.8 passer-rating-against, 28 total tackles, a pick, and a tackle for loss.

Young defenders don’t typically make an impact from Round 4 of the draft, but Williams, for now, is a sweet exception.

1. Brock Bowers (TE)

Team: Las Vegas Raiders
PFF Grade: 88.4

Bowers has some of the league’s worst quarterback play accompanying him on Sundays, yet he’s still managed to stand out as the NFL’s top rookie. His targets, too, will only increase throughout the second half of the season, with Davante Adams jettisoned to the New York Jets.

He’s on pace for 111 receptions, 1,137 receiving yards, and 2 scores — a monster rookie campaign, especially for a man on a trashy team.

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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the Minnesota Vikings, with 4-7 episodes per week. His NFL obsession dates back to 1989. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL. 

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.