NFL Week 1 Rookie Rankings: Surveying Rookie Class, Post-Preseason

The time has come for the 2015 rookies to make their regular-season debuts as NFL players. From No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston to a plethora of players drafted after him, first-year players on all 32 teams are expected to make immediate impacts on the field as Week 1 games kick off on Thursday, Sunday and Monday.

Throughout the season here at Bleacher Report, I’ll be tracking which rookies stand out above their peers with weekly rankings of the NFL’s rookie class. Each week, the top five NFL newcomers at each position, and top 50 overall, will be highlighted.

Over the course of the season, rankings will be determined based upon which rookies have had the best performance and production for the regular season as a whole. High draft picks won’t be given places on the rankings simply based upon their hype coming into the league—they’ll have to prove on the field that they belong.

For this week’s rankings, we take a look at which players performed best this preseason and put themselves in the best positions to be significant contributors for their teams in Week 1. Consideration has been given to where each rookie stands on his team’s depth chart, but the rankings aim to reflect how each player has performed thus far more so than what the expectations are.

Since preseason performances will be largely forgotten once the meaningful games begin, next week’s rankings will likely look drastically different, in part because some players will see significantly more playing time than others in the regular season. The players listed in the following slides, nonetheless, are the ones who stood out the most during the summer session.

Top 50 Overall

Rich Schultz/Getty Images

As the season progresses, we will track which players are moving up or down the board after having good or bad games. For this week, the listed movement simply reflects where every player is ranked in comparison to where each was drafted.

There are some high draft picks whose preseasons weren't good enough for them to land in the top 50 at all; conversely, there are some late-round picks and even undrafted rookies who stood out enough this summer to be among the top first-year players coming out of the preseason.

One thing that has remained constant since the NFL draft, however, has been the debate of who is better: Jameis Winston or Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota.

Both Winston and Mariota had varying degrees of success in the preseason. Each seemed to improve in various aspects as they played more, which is promising for their futures. Who you prefer right now is likely based of what playing style is to your liking.

Neither has an ideal situation with their surrounding talent. Tampa Bay has two great receivers, but its offensive line will keep Winston on the move and under pressure often. Mariota’s line is better, but his receivers are young and unproven.

Top 50 Rankings

Rank	Player	Pos.	Team	Pick	LW	Moving
1	Frank Clark	DE	Seahawks	2.31	N/A	Same
2	Paul Dawson	LB	Bengals	3.35	N/A	Same
3	La'el Collins	OG	Cowboys	UDFA	N/A	Same
4	Amari Cooper	WR	Raiders	1.4	N/A	Same
5	Michael Bennett	DT	Jaguars	6.4	N/A	Same
6	Tyler Lockett	WR	Seahawks	3.5	N/A	Same
7	Jameis Winston	QB	Buccaneers	1.1	N/A	Same
8	Marcus Mariota	QB	Titans	1.2	N/A	Same
9	Marcus Peters	CB	Chiefs	1.18	N/A	Same
10	Leonard Williams	DT	Jets	1.6	N/A	Same
11	Shane Ray	LB	Broncos	1.23	N/A	Same
12	Trey Flowers	DE	Patriots	4.2	N/A	Same
13	Danny Shelton	DT	Browns	1.12	N/A	Same
14	Nelson Agholor	WR	Eagles	1.20	N/A	Same
15	Ereck Flowers	OT	Giants	1.9	N/A	Same
16	Eric Kendricks	LB	Vikings	2.13	N/A	Same
17	Mitch Morse	OC	Chiefs	2.17	N/A	Same
18	Ty Sambrailo	OT	Broncos	2.27	N/A	Same
19	Vic Beasley	DE	Falcons	1.8	N/A	Same
20	Danielle Hunter	DE	Vikings	3.24	N/A	Same
21	Ladarius Gunter	CB	Packers	UDFA	N/A	Same
22	Todd Gurley	RB	Rams	1.10	N/A	Same
23	Carl Davis	DT	Ravens	3.26	N/A	Same
24	David Parry	DT	Colts	5.15	N/A	Same
25	Ameer Abdullah	RB	Lions	2.22	N/A	Same
26	Kwon Alexander	LB	Buccaneers	4.25	N/A	Same
27	Preston Smith	LB	Redskins	2.6	N/A	Same
28	Zach Zenner	RB	Lions	UDFA	N/A	Same
29	Daryl Williams	OT	Panthers	4.3	N/A	Same
30	Quinten Rollins	CB	Packers	2.30	N/A	Same
31	Jarryd Hayne	KR	49ers	UDFA	N/A	Same
32	John Brown	OG	Bills	3.17	N/A	Same
33	Jamil Douglas	OG	Dolphins	4.15	N/A	Same
34	Kevin Johnson	CB	Texans	1.16	N/A	Same
35	Jaquiski Tartt	SAF	49ers	2.14	N/A	Same
36	T.J. Clemmings	OT	Vikings	4.11	N/A	Same
37	Max Garcia	OG	Broncos	4.34	N/A	Same
38	Xavier Williams	DT	Cardinals	UDFA	N/A	Same
39	Brett Hundley	QB	Packers	5.11	N/A	Same
40	Mario Edwards Jr.	LB	Raiders	2.1	N/A	Same
41	T.J. Yeldon	RB	Jaguars	2.4	N/A	Same
42	Laken Tomlinson	OG	Lions	1.28	N/A	Same
43	DeVante Parker	WR	Dolphins	1.14	N/A	Same
44	Phillip Dorsett	WR	Colts	1.29	N/A	Same
45	Byron Jones	SAF	Cowboys	1.27	N/A	Same
46	Trae Waynes	CB	Vikings	1.11	N/A	Same
47	Landon Collins	SAF	Giants	2.1	N/A	Same
48	Andrus Peat	OT	Saints	1.13	N/A	Same
49	Tevin Coleman	RB	Falcons	3.9	N/A	Same
50	Maxx Williams	TE	Ravens	2.23	N/A	Same

Quarterbacks

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

As expected, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tennessee Titans will be trotting their first-round picks as the starting quarterback in Week 1. Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota were excellent collegiate players. Their next challenge is to help transform their respective franchise into a playoff-worthy team.

We’ll start with the No. 1 pick, Winston. His preseason performances gradually improved from one week to the next. That’s not surprising, since the first time we saw Winston in Week 1 of the preseason, his nerves seemed to cause him to miss throws he routinely made in college.

As Winston settled, so did his production for the most part. He looked more comfortable maneuvering in the pocket and stepping into his throws, which helps accuracy. The biggest concern with Winston is his porous offensive line. He may not have much time to stand tall in the pocket this season.

Mariota is the other Week 1 starter. Like Winston, Mariota had some turnover issues early on. His play settled after the first game, and he was able to move the ball downfield more effectively.

The concern with Mariota is whether he’s aggressive enough to lead a top-10 offense. His ability to extend passing plays must be a major facet of his game. He flashed this part of his toolbox a few times, but it’s an area that we will be watching for this season.

The rest of the quarterbacks on our top five are backups. Based off preseason play, Packers quarterback Brett Hundley looked readiest to play, although he was playing second- and third-stringers often.

Rank	Player	Pos.	Team	Pick	LW	Moving
1	Jameis Winston	QB	Buccaneers	1.1	N/A	Same
2	Marcus Mariota	QB	Titans	1.2	N/A	Same
3	Brett Hundley	QB	Packers	5.11	N/A	Up
4	Garrett Grayson	QB	Saints	3.11	N/A	Down
5	Bryce Petty	QB	Jets	4.4	N/A	Down

Running Backs

Rick Osentoski/Associated Press

The rookie running back landscape hasn’t drastically changed since the NFL draft, but there is some movement after the preseason. Several backs have emerged as bigger impact players as rookies despite their draft status. It’s looking like a potentially deep crop of backs will make their mark this season.

Despite not playing a snap yet, Todd Gurley still heads the pack entering the season. He’s simply too talented to push down, at least before we see him struggle. The Rams may be cautious with his workload early in the season, which may affect his ranking moving forward.

The preseason was very good to the Detroit Lions. Undrafted back Zach Zenner led the NFL in rushing yards, with 183 in four games. Second-round pick Ameer Abdullah also dazzled in limited snaps. The two could head a formidable starting duo for the Lions for the foreseeable future.

Exempt from this list is San Diego Chargers’ back Melvin Gordon. Gordon was dreadful in the preseason, averaging about two yards a carry in two games. The Chargers must get a better return on investment in the regular season.

Rank	Player	Pos.	Team	Pick	LW	Moving
1	Todd Gurley	RB	Rams	1.10	N/A	Same
2	Ameer Abdullah	RB	Lions	2.22	N/A	Up
3	Zach Zenner	RB	Lions	UDFA	N/A	Up
4	T.J. Yeldon	RB	Jaguars	2.4	N/A	Same
5	Tevin Coleman	RB	Falcons	3.9	N/A	Same

Wide Receivers

Tony Avelar/Associated Press

Injuries have taken their toll on the rookie wide receiver class, and we’re just now at the beginning of the regular season. Receivers such as Chicago’s Kevin White and Miami’s DeVante Parker weren’t able to fully showcase their talent in the preseason, if at all. That has allowed several others to rise up the rankings.

The major rookie standout so far has been Amari Cooper. That’s not surprising, if you followed his collegiate career at all. The former Alabama star has proven to be as NFL-ready as he had seemed to be.

Dynamic playmakers Nelson Agholor and Tyler Lockett have made strong impressions as well. Agholor looks like a perfect fit for Philadelphia’s spread passing attack. He can shred defenses with his elite acceleration and quickness. Lockett is a masterful return man and underrated route-runner.

First-round picks DeVante Parker and Phillip Dorsett round out the top five, despite not being overly productive early. Their talent level is still very high, and there’s no reason to think they’ll struggle too much. It’s just a matter of consistent playing time, which the preseason doesn’t offer for first-team players.

Rank	Player	Pos.	Team	Pick	LW	Moving
1	Amari Cooper	WR	Raiders	1.4	N/A	Same
2	Nelson Agholor	WR	Eagles	1.20	N/A	Up
3	Tyler Lockett	WR	Seahawks	3.5	N/A	Up
4	DeVante Parker	WR	Dolphins	1.14	N/A	Same
5	Phillip Dorsett	WR	Colts	1.29	N/A	Same

Tight Ends

Tom E. Puskar/Associated Press

We knew the tight end class was a weak one throughout the entire draft process, and that belief played out in the preseason. Not one rookie tight end eclipsed 100 receiving yards in four games. MyCole Pruitt of the Minnesota Vikings led the NFL in rookie production, with 92 yards in five games.

There wasn’t much to go off of in the preseason for this positional group. Thus, we’re going back to the draft to help determine this ranking as the season begins. The two highest-drafted tight ends, Maxx Williams and Clive Walford, figure to assume bigger roles as the season gets going.

Two rookies who may see more playing time than anticipated this year are Blake Bell and Tyler Kroft. Although backups, the 49ers and Bengals could use their services in the event of an injury, respectively. There are no rookie starters, though, which just continues to show the class' weakness.

Rank	Player	Pos.	Team	Pick	LW	Moving
1	Maxx Williams	TE	Ravens	2.23	N/A	Same
2	Clive Walford	TE	Raiders	3.4	N/A	Same
3	MyCole Pruitt	TE	Vikings	6.18	N/A	Up
4	Blake Bell	TE	49ers	4.18	N/A	Same
5	Tyler Kroft	TE	Bengals	3.21	N/a	Same

Offensive Tackles

Winslow Townson/Associated Press

Offensive line play is always somewhat difficult to evaluate unless you know the lineman's direct assignment. But we can find value in watching linemen competing and blocking the man directly in front of them. Power-gap schemes favor the heads-up style as opposed to the zone-blocking system. Whereas the zone-blocking system is all about blocking the defender closest to your assigned zone.

Either scheme can produce excellent players of great value to their team. Already we have seen several rookies put into starting positions at one of the most important spots on offense. The offensive tackle helps control the game, one play at a time.

With all that being said, there have been three standout tackles to this point and then a couple of decent performers. The best of the group, to me, has been Ereck Flowers. Flowers was thrust into the left tackle spot earlier than ever expected and has played rather well. He was drafted to be the run-creating right tackle, but he's adjusted well to the left side, which often requires more finesse than power.

The other two quality starters so far have been Ty Sambrailo and Daryl Williams. Sambrailo will be the Denver Broncos’ left tackle, so all eyes will be on him this season. The Broncos need him to be an effective player to protect Peyton Manning all season.

Williams will start the season as a reserve, but he was a dominant run-blocker. His massive frame at right tackle is a major reason why defenders had trouble shedding his blocks. Carolina may not be able to keep him off the field this entire season.

Rank	Player	Pos.	Team	Pick	LW	Moving
1	Ereck Flowers	LT	Giants	1.9	N/A	Same
2	Ty Sambrailo	LT	Broncos	2.27	N/A	Up
3	Daryl Williams	RT	Panthers	4.3	N/A	Up
4	T.J. Clemmings	RT	Vikings	4.11	N/A	Up
5	Andrus Peat	RT	Saints	1.13	N/A	Down

Offensive Guards

Ron Schwane/Associated Press

Unlike the tackle and center position, the rookie guard class looks very good so far. There are several rookie starters across the NFL and one very good backup. Depth is an issue for every offensive line group across the league, but this rookie class is looking to help solve those depth issues.

The top guard in the preseason was La’el Collins. The Cowboys’ backup could surely start for most teams, but credit to Dallas for building a tremendous unit. Collins was always a first-round talent, and the Cowboys were fortunate to get him as an undrafted free agent.

The rest of our top five are rookie starting guards. Denver’s Max Garcia, Buffalo’s John Miller and Miami’s Jamil Douglas were very impressive in the preseason. Each has exceeded early expectations to establish himself in his team's respective lineup.

Rounding out the top five is Detroit Lions guard Laken Tomlinson. Tomlinson ended the preseason with two strong performances, which entrenched him as a contender to start for the Lions. We’ll see who earns the starting job there, as veteran Manny Ramirez is listed on the depth chart as the starter now.

Rank	Player	Pos.	Team	Pick	LW	Moving
1	La'el Collins	OG	Cowboys	UDFA	N/A	Up
2	Max Garcia	OG	Broncos	4.34	N/A	Up
3	John Miller	OG	Bills	3.17	N/A	Up
4	Jamil Douglas	OG	Dolphins	4.15	N/A	Up
5	Laken Tomlinson	OG	Lions	1.28	N/A	Same

Centers

Rick Scuteri/Associated Press

One of the NFL's more nondescript positions is the offensive center. Rarely do centers have to do the brunt work a guard or tackle does, the center is usually the unit's brain. They must identify blitzers and the "Mike" linebacker. They’re incredibly important.

But the NFL has a lot of quality centers, and the rookie pool suggests that not many starters were needed. The NFL's only starting rookie center right now is Kansas City Chiefs center Mitch Morse. The second-round pick unsurprisingly quickly earned his spot with the team.

Everyone else on this list is second- or third-string. We may not see another rookie center play for quite some time, but they had better be ready if their number is called.

Rank	Player	Pos.	Team	Pick	LW	Moving
1	Mitch Morse	OC	Chiefs	2.17	N/A	Same
2	Greg Mancz	OC	Texans	UDFA	N/A	Same
3	Hroniss Grasu	OC	Bears	3.7	N/A	Down
4	Andy Gallik	OC	Titans	6.32	N/A	Same
5	Kristjan Sokoli	OC	Seahawks	6.38	N/A	Same

Defensive Ends

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

One of the NFL's most important roles is pass-rusher. Some pass-rushers have their hand in the dirt, while others stand up, depending on the defensive front. For the sake of keeping it simple, we’ve just sorted defensive ends and linebackers as a separate category, regardless of play style or specific role.

The draft had a deep crop of defensive ends. Some were more polished than others, and a few had major off-field questions. Nevertheless, the on-field play has separated these five players from their peers. We’ll start with Seahawks defensive end Frank Clark.

Clark was the most dominant rookie of all, regardless of position, in the preseason. He was incredibly disruptive against the pass and the run. He’s forced his way into a talented Seattle rotation.

Defensive ends Trey Flowers and Vic Beasley were studly as well. Both Flowers and Beasley were able to show a well-rounded game. This is key for the Patriots and Falcons, respectively, Each defensive unit will be relying on their young core to make an impact in 2015. So far, there’s no reason to think they won’t fulfill that need.

Rank	Player	Pos.	Team	Pick	LW	Moving
1	Frank Clark	DE	Seahawks	2.31	N/A	Up
2	Trey Flowers	DE	Patriots	4.2	N/A	Up
3	Leonard Williams	DE	Jets	1.6	N/A	Same
4	Vic Beasley	DE	Falcons	1.8	N/A	Same
5	Danielle Hunter	DE	Vikings	3.24	N/A	Same

Defensive Tackles

Don Juan Moore/Getty Images

There seems to be a late-round gem or two every year at the defensive tackle position. Whether it be due to scouts' mis-evaluation or the player excelling in a new scheme, some prospects end up as impact players despite their draft status. These players end up being major franchise steals.

There were several high-performing rookies in the preseason. Pass-rushers such as Jacksonville's Michael Bennett are rare, and it makes you wonder why he fell to the sixth round of the 2015 draft. The Jaguars will have a nasty duo with him and Sen’Derrick Marks at tackle now.

The rest of the top five is filled with stout run defenders. Cleveland Browns first-round pick Danny Shelton has looked excellent as he’s lived in the backfield often. And Ravens third-rounder Carl Davis is proving to be a standout run-stopper.

The most impressive rookies are undrafted free agent Xavier Williams and fifth-round pick David Parry. Both the Arizona Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts needed to find a starter-level nose guard, and each has stood out. Winning teams often get production from unexpected places.

Rank	Player	Pos.	Team	Pick	LW	Moving
1	Michael Bennett	DT	Jaguars	6.4	N/A	Up
2	Danny Shelton	DT	Browns	1.12	N/A	Same
3	Xavier Williams	DT	Cardinals	UDFA	N/A	Up
4	Carl Davis	DT	Ravens	3.26	N/A	Same
5	David Parry	DT	Colts	5.15	N/A	Up

Linebackers

Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

Whether a traditional middle linebacker or a dynamic pass-rusher, if a player is standing up, you’ll find them listed here. Compiling these players into one group has created a very talented list of five individuals. Each will be seeing a large number of snaps this season.

The two middle linebackers in the top five will be starting Week 1. Eric Kendricks and Kwon Alexander are new-age players, possessing excellent athleticism and plus instincts. Each can be three-down playmakers.

The edge-rushers are impressive, as well. Denver Broncos pass-rusher Shane Ray was the star of the preseason at his position. He logged three sacks, showing he deserves a rotational spot for the veteran Broncos defense.

Rookies Preston Smith and Paul Dawson were also good in the preseason. While each was a second-rounder for their respective teams, they’ve shown more instant impact potential than many of the players selected in front of them. Smith and Dawson could prove to be massive values for the Redskins and Bengals, respectively.

Rank	Player	Pos.	Team	Pick	LW	Moving
1	Paul Dawson	LB	Bengals	3.35	N/A	Same
2	Eric Kendricks	LB	Vikings	2.13	N/A	Same
3	Shane Ray	LB	Broncos	1.23	N/A	Up
4	Kwon Alexander	LB	Buccaneers	4.25	N/A	Same
5	Preston Smith	LB	Redskins	2.6	N/A	Same

Cornerbacks

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The 2015 NFL draft wasn’t a great class based off collegiate evaluations. That’s why, unsurprisingly, we struggled to find five quality rookie performers from the preseason. But there were three standouts, along with two that got better as the preseason advanced.

Facing first teams, Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters was as good as the team could’ve hoped. Just based on talent, he soars above the rest of the class. He has true No. 1 cornerback potential, which cannot be said for any other corner in the class.

Green Bay saw great play from their two rookies, Ladarius Gunter and Quinten Rollins. Each was allowed to show his prowess in man coverage, and neither failed at that challenge. Far from it, actually, as Gunter and Rollins excelled.

Other first-rounders, such as Trae Waynes and Kevin Johnson, improved throughout the preseason. Both clearly have the pedigree to be successful in the NFL, but the weak competition from other members in their class is a major reason why they’re starting the season in the top five.

Rank	Player	Pos.	Team	Pick	LW	Moving
1	Marcus Peters	CB	Chiefs	1.18	N/A	Up
2	Ladarius Gunter	CB	Packers	UDFA	N/A	Up
3	Quinten Rollins	CB	Packers	2.30	N/A	Up
4	Kevin Johnson	CB	Texans	1.16	N/A	Same
5	Trae Waynes	CB	Vikings	1.11	N/A	Down

Safeties

Winslow Townson/Associated Press

Similar to other positions in this rankings piece, the safety class was not a strong part of the 2015 draft. Only one player drafted in the first round is currently lining up at safety, and that’s Byron Jones of the Dallas Cowboys. That doesn’t mean others haven’t shown promise, though.

The San Francisco 49ers nabbed Jaquiski Tartt in the second round of the draft and are now playing him in a hybrid role. Similar to how the Arizona Cardinals use Deone Bucannon, the 49ers are allowing Tartt to play a linebacker-safety hybrid. This should maximize Tartt’s size and physical nature.

Two other strong run defenders are the Giants’ Landon Collins and the Colts’ Clayton Geathers. Collins will be starting for the Giants, and the former Alabama safety has the chance to be an impact player for a shallow secondary. His pedigree suggests he should adapt to the NFL quite well.

Rank	Player	Pos.	Team	Pick	LW	Motion
1	Jaquiski Tartt	SAF	49ers	2.14	N/A	Up
2	Landon Collins	SAF	Giants	2.1	N/A	Same
3	Byron Jones	SAF	Cowboys	1.27	N/A	Same
4	Clayton Geathers	SAF	Colts	4.10	N/A	Same
5	Durell Eskridge	SAF	Jets	UDFA	N/A	Up

Specialists

Tony Avelar/Associated Press

We’re pretty stuck as far as rookie specialists are concerned. Only three rookie place-kickers are NFL starters, and two belong to the Miami Dolphins. Thus, we’re including two return specialists as well.

The notable name on the list is Jarryd Hayne. Hayne is known for his terrific preseason and his interesting rugby backstory. He may earn running back snaps, but his major role right away will be as a return man.

Punter Bradley Pinion also plays for the San Francisco 49ers. He and Matt Darr will battle for the best rookie punter, but Darr was tremendous in the preseason. Darr beat out veteran Brandon Fields, which allowed Miami to move on from Fields.

Rank	Player	Pos.	Team	Pick	LW	Moving
1	Jarryd Hayne	KR	49ers	UDFA	N/A	Up
2	Matt Darr	P	Dolphins	UDFA	N/A	Up
3	Bradley Pinion	P	49ers	5.29	N/A	Same
4	Andrew Franks	K	Dolphins	UDFA	N/A	Up
5	J.J. Nelson	KR	Cardinals	5.23	N/A	Same

Stats are courtesy of CBSSports.com, unless noted otherwise.

Depth-chart information is courtesy of Ourlads.com.