For the last two years in this space, I've identified 10 rookies that I thought were in the best positions to succeed, and it's been a mixed bag in terms of my hit rate.
Last year, I put 2024 No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams in the top slot. Williams showed flashes in Year 1, but his season left a lot to be desired, as Chicago finished last in the NFC North with a 5-12 record. However, if we focus on the "and beyond" part of the criteria for this exercise, there is good reason for optimism about the QB heading into his second season. The Bears hired an innovative offensive mind this offseason in head coach Ben Johnson and added necessary offensive pieces to help Williams succeed.
Now it's time to look at a new crop of players ahead of the 2025 NFL season. Here are 10 rookies in the most favorable positions to succeed in Year 1 and beyond.
DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 3 overall
The defensive line was one of the few bright spots for the Giants in 2024, with a front led by Dexter Lawrence and Brian Burns helping Big Blue tie for the eighth-most sacks (45) in the league. The addition of the uber-dynamic Carter should make the unit even better, with defensive coordinator Shane Bowen able to deploy the Giants' three top edge rushers -- Carter, Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux -- in multiple ways. Carter was the consensus top edge rusher in this year's draft, boasting the skill set and tenacity to relentlessly wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks.
DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 22 overall
Hampton could not have landed in a better spot. Jim Harbaugh is known for wanting to pound the rock; the Chargers ranked 24th in rushing attempts and 25th in rushing yards in 2023 before improving under Harbaugh's watch in 2024 to 11th and 17th, respectively. So, even with Najee Harris joining the Bolts' backfield this offseason, the rookie should see plenty of opportunities. In fact, I believe Hampton will emerge as the starter at some point during the 2025 season due to his versatility and explosiveness. After all, Harris is averaging just 3.9 yards per carry for his career despite rushing for 1,000 yards in each of his four seasons in Pittsburgh. He'll wear defenses down, but Hampton should be the featured back in Harbaugh's offense this year and beyond.
DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 20 overall
The Broncos reinforced a strength in the draft, selecting Barron to pair with 2024 Defensive Player of the Year Pat Surtain II in the secondary. The rookie will be able to play multiple positions in Vance Joseph's scheme, having lined up outside, in the slot and in the box as a dime linebacker at Texas. His skill set will be maximized in a division where Denver has to face Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert twice a year.
DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 12 overall
The Cowboys have a history of finding elite offensive linemen in the draft, including eight-time Pro Bowler Tyron Smith (2011), nine-time Pro Bowler Zack Martin (2014) and two-time Pro Bowler Tyler Smith (2022). Now they have added a pro-ready guard in Booker. He's a tough, nasty and technical building block for Dallas' front. The Cowboys offense is at its best when the big boys in the trenches are controlling the line of scrimmage. Booker can help it return to being a prolific unit in the run and pass games.
DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 19 overall
With the Bucs promoting Josh Grizzard from pass game coordinator to replace Liam Coen, Baker Mayfield is playing for his fifth offensive coordinator in as many seasons, but something tells me Bucs fans shouldn't have much to worry about. Tampa Bay returns both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, meaning Egbuka can learn from them and make plays in the slot while the veteran duo garners all the attention on the perimeter. I envision Egbuka playing on a track similar to that of his fellow former Buckeye Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who was third fiddle to DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett early on in his career before eventually emerging as Seattle's leading receiver.
DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 27 overall
The Ravens secondary is loaded with talent, from safety Kyle Hamilton to cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins, one of my second-year breakout candidates for 2025. So, Starks won't have to be the biggest playmaker on the field out of the gate. The Georgia product has experience playing safety and nickelback -- much like Hamilton, whose move from playing primarily in the slot to a more traditional safety spot midway through 2024 sparked Baltimore's major defensive turnaround. Such versatility allows defensive coordinator Zach Orr to suffocate opposing passing attacks downfield.
DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 10 overall
The Bears have reshaped their offense to fit Ben Johnson's vision this offseason, improving the offensive line and adding playmakers at the skill positions. Enter Loveland, a 6-foot-6, 248-pound weapon in the middle of the field for Caleb Williams. Like we saw with Sam LaPorta in Detroit over the past two seasons, there might be times where it's more about quality than quantity for Loveland in Johnson's offense, but we should expect to see plenty of the sure-handed pass catcher in the red zone.
DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 31 overall
Campbell was the biggest steal of the draft. A top 10-caliber talent, he was still available late in the first round after undergoing shoulder injury in the spring. The Alabama product joins an already dynamic Eagles defense that just stomped the Chiefs in the Super Bowl, and he'll have a chance start immediately in place of Nakobe Dean, who sustained a knee injury in mid-January. Starring as an off-ball linebacker and pass rusher in his final season with the Crimson Tide, Campbell is a player that defensive coordinator Vic Fangio can utilize in multiple roles, much like Fangio did with Zack Baun last season. Campbell won't face the pressure of having to be the guy with so many talented players around him. Fangio has a history of working with dynamic linebackers (SEE: Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman), and Campbell, who has greater upside than even Baun, is the newest member of the club.
DRAFTED: Round 2, No. 38 overall
Henderson can make a major impact in both the run and pass games to take pressure off of Drake Maye, who carried the offense in nearly every way as a rookie. Henderson will pair with Rhamondre Stevenson out of the backfield, but the rookie looks to be the more dynamic runner right now, with Stevenson's yards-per-carry mark decreasing from 5.0 in 2022 to 3.9 in 2024.
When Mike Vrabel's teams in Tennessee were at their best, Derrick Henry was at the center of the offense. I'd like to think the new Patriots head coach envisioned Henderson taking on a similar role behind a rebuilt offensive line.
DRAFTED: Round 2, No. 58 overall
I already view Bech as the best wide receiver on the Raiders roster, as he's joining a room with Jakobi Meyers, Tre Tucker and a couple of Day 3 picks from this year's draft. It's no secret the Geno Smith-led offense will run through Brock Bowers and rookie running back Ashton Jeanty. That means Bech should have the opportunity to capitalize on some advantageous matchups, with so much of the defense's attention focused on Bowers, Jeanty and a quarterback who knows how to sling it. The Las Vegas offense should take a step -- maybe a few steps -- forward this fall.
