6 NFL Rookies That Already Look Like Draft Steals Entering Week 3

The 2025 NFL season may only be entering Week 3, but it's starting to become evident which rookies will be key contributors early on and which still have more development left to do before they can be trusted to play sizable roles.

The blue chip talents taken early in Round 1 aren't the only first-year players to get off to a red-hot start. There are several Day 2 and Day 3 selections who have been vastly outperforming the relatively low expectations of their draft slot and have already provided their teams with an immensely strong return on investment.

With that in mind, read on for a closer look at the rookies who appear to be the biggest draft steals after two weeks of play.

RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Washington Commanders

Drafted: Round 7 (No. 245 Overall)

The final running back to be selected in the 2025 NFL draft could wind up being remembered as one of, if not the best in the class.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt, nicknamed Bill, began turning heads shortly after entering the league. The New Mexico product's work throughout training camp and the preseason was so impressive that Washington's brass felt comfortable dealing incumbent starter Brian Robinson Jr. away so the team could elevate its breakout rookie into a more prominent role.

That decision paid off in the opener when Croskey-Merritt gashed the New York Giants for 82 yards and a touchdown on his 10 totes. While the rookie back came down to earth in Week 2 in a disappointing 27-18 loss, he still chipped in a decent 17 yards on a meager four carries against the Green Bay Packers.

With veteran starter Austin Ekeler suffering a potential career-ending Achilles tear in Week 2, JCM is now poised to take on an even larger workload going forward. He's been elevated to the Commanders' RB1 role and should get the bulk of touches over backups Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez.

The best is still to come from Croskey-Merritt. He's already massively outperformed expectations for a player drafted in a spot where even making the final roster is far from guaranteed. If he can capitalize on his newly expanded duties, Bill may even find himself right in the thick of the Offensive Rookie of the Year race.

TE Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns

Drafted: Round 3 (No. 67 Overall)

The Browns have a potentially transformative 2025 NFL draft class on their hands. While Cleveland is still seeking its first win, the rebuilding franchise appears to be set up well for the future with several rookies already carving out key roles.

Harold Fannin Jr. might be the best of the Browns' first-year bunch. He may not have been nearly as hyped as fellow rookies such as second-rounder Quinshon Judkins or fifth-rounder Shedeur Sanders, but the unheralded Bowling Green product has gotten off to a blazing start to his professional career.

Despite having to contend with entrenched veteran David Njoku for snaps and Cleveland's plethora of talented wideouts such as Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman for looks, Fannin has reeled in a team-high 12 receptions while ranking No. 2 in both targets (14) and receiving yardage (111).

That prolific production may not come as a surprise to those who witnessed Fannin during his final collegiate campaign. The tight end led the nation with a ridiculous 117 receptions and 1,555 yards to go along with 10 touchdowns in his junior season.

The Falcons even deployed Fannin as an occasional rusher, resulting in 159 yards and five scores across 33 totes during his tenure with the program. The Browns followed suit by giving Fannin a carry in the opener and could continue to utilize the versatile 6'4", 241-pound playmaker in a variety of unique ways.

With Njoku playing out the final year of his current contract and set to turn 30 years old after the season, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Cleveland move on from their longtime tight end and hand the position over to Fannin on a full-time basis starting in 2026.

CB Will Johnson, Arizona Cardinals

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Drafted: Round 2 (No. 47 Overall)

Will Johnson suffered one of the biggest falls of any player in the 2025 draft. Initially projected to be an early first-rounder, the Michigan product ultimately didn't come off the board until the Cardinals stopped his slide midway through the second round.  

Although a turf toe limited the cornerback to just six appearances during his final season in Ann Arbor and a hamstring injury suffered at the combine kept him sidelined for much of the pre-draft process, Arizona's dice roll has already started to pay off.

The injury concerns that caused Johnson's fall haven't gone away completely—he exited Sunday's win over the Carolina Panthers with a groin issue—but he's fared well enough early on that the team can rest assured he'll be a significant contributor when healthy.  

Johnson has already been on the field for 67 percent of the Cardinals' defensive snaps. During those plays, the 6'2", 200-pound DB has only allowed a 54.5 completion percentage in coverage and recorded an impressive four pass defenses.

Johnson's status for a Week 3 rivalry clash with the San Francisco 49ers remains up in the air, but he recently took to Instagram to make a post to stating "keep the faith". That may not mean he's sure to suit up as the up-and-coming squad tries to reach 3-0 on the year, but Arizona should have plenty of faith in Johnson's ability to become a fixture within their secondary if he manages to stay healthy for most of his rookie season.

WR Isaac TeSlaa, Detroit Lions

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Drafted: Round 3 (No. 70 Overall)

Isaac TeSlaa and the Detroit Lions seemed like a perfect match when the club drafted him on Day 2 of the 2025 draft, but on-paper fits don't always translate to on-field production. That hasn't been the case here, as TeSlaa has been making the most of his limited opportunities in a crowded Detroit receiving corps.

Although the Lions returned all seven of quarterback Jared Goff's top targets from the league's No. 2 passing attack last year, TeSlaa has still managed to contribute on the handful of reps he's received. Despite seeing just two targets come his way, the rookie converted both into catches that totaled 42 yards and a score.

That type of production should help TeSlaa become an even bigger factor for this Super Bowl hopeful going forward. He's already seen his snap count increase from just three in the opener to 17 in Week 2 and his snap share will only continue to rise as he becomes more comfortable in Detroit's system and gains more of Goff's trust.

Standing 6'4", 214 pounds while possessing elite athleticism and hands, the versatile TeSlaa can be utilized to create mismatches all over the field. That size and playmaking talent has helped him earn an incredible 91.9 Pro Football Focus grade over the season's first two weeks.

While it may be difficult to sustain that lofty rating over the course of an entire rookie campaign, TeSlaa has proven he has what it takes to become a force in the NFL. He's landed with the right team to unlock his talents as well, a dangerous combination for the rest of the league.

RB Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville Jaguars

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Drafted: Round 4 (No. 104 Overall)

Bhayshul Tuten was the first running back taken by the new Jaguars' regime, a prospect hand-picked for his potential to become a key cog in this long-suffering organization's backfield.

It became apparent just how high the duo of GM James Gladstone and head coach Liam Coen are high on the dynamic young rookie when the Jags dealt Tank Bigsby to the Philadelphia Eagles shortly after Week 1 wrapped up. Despite Tuten only seeing four offensive snaps in the opener and generating a pedestrian 11 yards on his three carries, the team elected to clear a path for the Virginia Tech product to shine as its RB2.

It didn't take long for that decision to pay off. While Travis Etienne Jr. continued his strong start in Week 2—the veteran has put concerns about regression to rest with a whopping 214 rushing yards over the first two games—Tuten quickly showed why Jacksonville's brass moved on from Bigsby and promoted him. The 23-year-old amassed 42 yards on eight carries and added 32 yards and a score on his two catches in a narrow defeat to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Perhaps most importantly, Tuten avoided turning the ball over in his first extended NFL look. There were significant ball security concerns surrounding him during the pre-draft process after he fumbled nine times in his final two collegiate seasons. It certainly didn't help Tuten's cause either when he put the ball on the ground during his first rep at OTAs.

While 13 touches without a fumble isn't exactly a reason to celebrate nor does it mean Tuten's fumbling woes are in the past, it's still a positive sign for the back's future. If he can continue to make plays as both a rusher and receiver for a Jacksonville squad that has desperately needed more playmakers to emerge, he'll become a foundational piece of the franchise.

S Xavier Watts, Atlanta Falcons

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Drafted: Round 3 (No. 96 Overall)

The Falcons appear to have a legitimate playmaker in Xavier Watts. The late-Day 2 pick earned the starting free safety gig early in training camp and hasn't looked back since.

Watts hasn't come off the field yet during the 2025 campaign. He's played all 105 of Atlanta's defensive snaps and has fared incredibly well during a vast majority of them. He's given up just five completions and zero touchdowns on the nine times he's been targeted while also racking up eight tackles and a trio of pass defenses.

After narrowly missing out on intercepting Baker Mayfield in the opener, Watts' first NFL pick came at the perfect time.

Playing in a primetime Sunday Night Football affair and desperate for a win to avoid starting the year 0-2, the Falcons were finally able to shut the door on a comeback attempt and sealed up a critical victory over the Minnesota Vikings thanks to Watts' late-fourth quarter pick.  

Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich heaped praise on the rookie defensive back after his big play, describing Watt's ball skills, instinct and feel for the game as "exceptional" (per SI.com's Arkesh Ray).

Watts' rapid development has provided Atlanta with one of the best safety tandems in the league. The combination of the rookie and star veteran Jessie Bates III will give opposing offenses fits and may even become the foundation of one of the league's top defenses this season.