5 Underrated Rookies Who Can Make a Big Impact on 2025 NFL Season

Rookies spent rookie minicamp and the start of organized team activities acclimating to their surroundings. These young players are building momentum and learning what it means to be a professional football player.

While we take all of the shirts and shortened practices with a grain of salt, positive performances are like building blocks to the foundation of a successful transition to the NFL.

The next step is the training camp before the preseason and regular season. The rookies who are shining and building step by step are not the only big names.

Let's look at five underrated rookies who can significantly impact their new NFL franchises.

Jimmy Horn Jr., WR, Carolina Panthers

AP Photo/David Zalubowski

Jimmy Horn Jr. was a sixth-round pick for the Carolina Panthers. He was a reliable run-after-catch weapon when healthy for Colorado's offense. 

The 22-year-old joins a revamped wide receiver room with bigger, stronger playmakers. He brings a totally different skill set to the Panthers' offense as a dynamic and explosive playmaker who excels at getting the ball in space. 

Horn is a threat to turn short passes into bigger gains. He brings a deep speed element that has been missing for Bryce Young, albeit the quarterback needs to complete more than 38.6 percent of his passes traveling 20-plus yards in the air, per NFL Pro.  

Horn's most immediate impact should be felt on special teams as a returner. He can flip the field position for more favorable starts for the offense. His impact on the Panthers could be multifaceted in year one. 

Arian Smith, WR, New York Jets

AP Photo/Noah K. Murray

Arian Smith led the Georgia Bulldogs in receiving last season. When selected in the fourth round, there were a few receivers available who most in the draft community would classify as "better." 

Nonetheless, the New York Jets were excited about Smith’s potential. This offense needs to find a consistent running mate opposite star wideout Garrett Wilson. 

They are entering a new era with a new quarterback and coaching staff. Smith brings elite top-end speed to gash defenses down the field. He has been improving his route running and space creation, and his speed has impressed head coach Aaron Glenn. 

The 23-year-old has been spending extra time working on the jugs machine this offseason to cure his case of the drops that plagued him last season at Georgia. If he can cut down on the dropped passes, his path to being an impact rookie will be more straightforward. 

Smith’s speed and explosiveness work well with manufactured touches, like jet sweeps, pop passes and wide receiver screens. This New York offense should be similar to the Detroit Lions', and Smith could share similar usage as Lions receiver Jameson Williams. 

The Jets are testing Smith out as a returner on special teams, finding more than one way to get the football in his hands and allow him to be an explosive playmaker. If his momentum transfers to training camp and the preseason, Smith will surely have a sizable impact on this Jets team. 

Dont'e Thornton Jr, WR, Las Vegas Raiders

AP Photo/John Locher

The Las Vegas Raiders' offseason should be categorized as a home run.

They found their present quarterback to help elevate their offense, hired a highly experienced coaching staff with Super Bowl experience, and they made great decisions during the draft. 

Their draft went under the radar, but it's time to shine the spotlight on it. Of course, Ashton Jeanty is the belle of the ball with the sixth overall pick. Chip Kelly finds his bell-cow running back to feed the ball in both facets of the offense.

They triple-downed on adding offensive weapons with wide receivers Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton Jr. The latter finished as the B/R Scouting Department's 119th overall prospect on the pre-draft big board.

While Bech receives the fanfare, the highest ceiling belongs to Thornton. He’s a 6'5", 200-pound elite athlete and an explosive playmaker. His A-trait is winning the vertical plane and taking the top off the defense. His speed and stride are challenging to keep up with.

Per Mitchell Renz of the Raiders Report, he is beginning to receive reps with the first-team offense, which is a great sign and development.

Geno Smith is an accurate deep ball (20-plus air yards) passer, completing 41 percent of his passes—the seventh highest in the league in 2024, per NFL Pro. His effectiveness throwing down the field and outside the numbers meshes well with the explosiveness of Thornton.

There isn't another receiver on the Raiders roster with his skill set, abilities or body type. He should carve out a role, even if it’s a downfield specialist. His developmental upside is through the roof, and the Raiders should lean into ensuring he hits it.

If so, they have a potential star on their hands!

Tate Ratledge, IOL, Detroit Lions

AP Photo/Paul Sancya

The selection of IOL Tate Ratledge was a necessary one for the Detroit Lions.

The 24-year-old started three seasons (37 games) at right guard at Georgia and was brought in by Detroit to compete with Graham Glasgow and Christian Mahogany for one of the starting guard spots. 

The sudden retirement of starting center Frankie Ragnow puts more onus on Ratledge's versatility. Since the veteran's departure from the team, the former Bulldog has played first-team center in the Lions' OTAs and is expected to control that position into the regular season. 

Jared Goff is not a mobile or creative quarterback. He thrives in structure and with protection from his offensive line. Mitigating the loss of Ragnow will not be easy, especially for a rookie. 

Ratledge plays with the grit, nastiness and physicality the Detroit offensive line thrives on. His athleticism and lateral agility will be assets in adjusting and adapting to NFL defensive rush schemes. 

As the expected starter, the No. 57 overall pick will be an impactful player on the Lions' offensive success and effectiveness overall if nothing changes. 

Elic Ayomanor, WR, Tennessee Titans

AP Photo/George Walker IV

The Tennessee Titans added multiple pass-catchers in the fourth round of this year's draft. Multiple swings create more opportunities to hit one of the young receiving threats in hopes that someone will grow with No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward.

Elic Ayomanor was a top-100 graded prospect on our Scouting Department's pre-draft big board. He did not receive fanfare after being selected, but he has been making plays since rookie camp for the Titans.

I spoke with a source close to the team recently, and I asked specifically about the Stanford product's performance.

"Ayomanor is shining and projects to assume the X-receiver role in the offense. He's been learning from veteran Calvin Ridley, learning about route running and becoming a better player overall." the source said.

Ayomanor is among the few receivers on the roster with the requisite height, weight and talent to play as the boundary X-receiver. His ball skills at the catch point will offer Ward a different type of receiver than he's been accustomed to throughout his collegiate career.

The 22-year-old tracks the ball well and plucks it out of the air with strong hands, potentially showing a reliable red-zone threat.

Calvin Ridley is the unquestioned WR1 for the Titans offense while veteran Tyler Lockett mans the slot position, leaving the X-receiver spot up for grabs.

If Ayomanor takes his momentum from OTAs and minicamp into training camp, the role will be his to lose.