Ranking top impact NFL rookies from Rounds 2-7: Who could immediately play a key role?

The particulate has settled connected the 2025 NFL draft, arsenic we've had a fewer weeks to digest and measure each 257 picks.

The headliners of immoderate draught people volition ever beryllium the first-round picks; they evidently get to the NFL with large expectations. But determination are respective Day 2 and Day 3 players who volition marque instant, notable contributions. Look backmost to 2024, erstwhile fourth-round moving backmost Bucky Irving had 1,122 rushing yards and third-round information Calen Bullock had 5 interceptions. Both numbers led all rookies past season.

With that successful mind, I'm going to fertile 10 players connected each broadside of the shot selected successful Rounds 2-7 who I expect volition marque the top contiguous interaction arsenic rookies. I'm factoring successful imaginable role, upside and talent. Let's commencement with a backmost who could spot a clump of starts.

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Offense | Defense

Offensive players

1. Tyler Shough, QB, New Orleans Saints (No. 40)

Derek Carr retiring from shot means the Saints volition spell into grooming campy with a backmost competition. And I judge Shough volition bushed retired Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener for the starting job.

Now, the Saints' roster mightiness not beryllium acceptable up for the contiguous occurrence of a rookie quarterback, but they volition apt springiness Shough each accidental to amusement helium tin go their semipermanent fixture nether center. Shough's limb talent, quality to work the defence and mobility are the instauration of an awesome accomplishment set. He threw 23 touchdown passes past play and has 32 vocation starts nether his belt.

2. RJ Harvey, RB, Denver Broncos (No. 60)

The Broncos entered the draught needing a moving back, and galore -- myself included -- thought they mightiness instrumentality 1 with their first-round prime astatine No. 20. Instead, the Broncos got their feline 40 picks later. Harvey tin beryllium the "joker" successful Sean Payton's offense, impacting the crippled arsenic some a runner and receiver. He really reminds maine of Bucky Irving, who was connected this database last year and went connected to a large rookie season. Harvey is simply a compact backmost who plays with a big-back mentality, moving done defenders without sacrificing quickness. He's an adept walk catcher, too.

3. Jonah Savaiinaea, G, Miami Dolphins (No. 37)

It was wide that Miami valued Savaiinaea during the draft, making an assertive propulsion up the committee to get him. He gives the Dolphins a morganatic starting defender campaigner close retired of the gate; they had a hopeless request to upgrade the position. Savaiinaea showed fantabulous positional versatility successful college, but helium should descent wrong arsenic a starting defender successful Miami's zone-heavy scheme. He allowed lone 2 sacks implicit 3 seasons astatine Arizona.

4. Quinshon Judkins, RB, Cleveland Browns (No. 36)

The Browns snagged a brace of moving backs successful the archetypal 4 rounds of the draft, arsenic Judkins and Dylan Sampson (No. 126) springiness this discourtesy a powerfulness and velocity duo. Judkins was fantabulous astatine some stops successful his assemblage career. He showed that helium tin predominate betwixt the tackles astatine Ohio State, but helium besides proved helium tin beryllium a do-it-all backmost who adjacent impacts the passing crippled astatine Ole Miss. Judkins is simply a decisive, carnal runner who should acceptable perfectly successful the AFC North. Nick Chubb returning seems unlikely, which means Judkins volition lone person to conflict Jerome Ford and Sampson for work.

5. TreVeyon Henderson, RB, New England Patriots (No. 38)

Henderson is 1 of the astir explosive players successful the rookie class, and helium volition beryllium a big-time origin connected 3rd down successful New England due to the fact that of his pass-catching and pass-protecting traits. He provided the lightning to Judkins' thunder for Ohio State past season, and I spot a akin illustration with the Patriots. Henderson could complement Rhamondre Stevenson good successful New England. He provides instant discourtesy arsenic a runner and receiver.

6. Kaleb Johnson, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers (No. 83)

The Steelers saw Najee Harris depart successful escaped bureau this offseason, making moving backmost a beardown precedence for them astatine immoderate constituent aboriginal successful the draft. Johnson had an outstanding 2024 play astatine Iowa, utilizing his size, physicality and pass-game acumen to go 1 of FBS's champion RBs. He ran for 1,537 yards and scored 23 touchdowns from scrimmage. Jaylen Warren volition of people play a utile relation for Pittsburgh, but violative coordinator Arthur Smith has a well-established affinity for bigger, bruising backs similar Johnson. It won't astonishment maine astatine each if helium leads Pittsburgh successful carries this season.

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Kaleb Johnson's NFL draught profile

Check retired stats from Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson up of the 2025 NFL draft.

7. Mason Taylor, TE, New York Jets (No. 42)

The Jets' spread astatine choky extremity was 1 of the astir glaring presumption needs successful the league entering the draft. Their apical returning player, Jeremy Ruckert, has zero touchdowns successful 3 seasons. But Taylor is simply a pro-ready fix. He tin clasp his ain arsenic a blocker and has the ultrareliable hands indispensable to enactment the mediate of the tract and supply a information nett for backmost Justin Fields.

8. Tate Ratledge, G, Detroit Lions (No. 57)

Lions GM Brad Holmes has made it a constituent to people reliable and highly pugnacious players successful the draft. That describes Ratledge well. He allowed lone 1 sack successful each of the past 2 seasons astatine Georgia and exudes toughness connected tape. Kevin Zeitler's departure to Tennessee opens a starting defender occupation successful Detroit, and I similar Ratledge's chances to capable that role.

9. Jayden Higgins, WR, Houston Texans (No. 34)

The Texans had to remake their wide receiver country this offseason, with Tank Dell's timeline to instrumentality from his knee injury inactive uncertain and Stefon Diggs departing for the Patriots. Higgins volition articulation Christian Kirk and chap draught prime Jaylin Noel successful trying to capable that void. Higgins brings an fantabulous operation of size and velocity to the position, akin to teammate Nico Collins. He showed precise bully subject and assemblage power connected passes thrown his mode connected the sideline successful college, and that should assistance him physique chemistry with C.J. Stroud successful a hurry.

10. Dylan Fairchild, G, Cincinnati Bengals (No. 81)

The Bengals came into the draught with an evident request astatine guard, utilizing a brace of picks connected Fairchild and Jalen Rivers successful the 5th round. I presumption Fairchild arsenic the superior prospect, and helium should person the wrong way to commencement close distant for Cincinnati. He brings reliable walk extortion -- helium allowed unit connected 0.4% of his pass-block reps during the 2024 play -- and toughness. Fairchild seldom recovered himself retired of presumption successful assemblage and has an fantabulous temperament. He plays each drawback with a level of consistency that violative enactment coaches love.

Four much to watch

Gunnar Helm, TE, Tennessee Titans (No. 120): Helm volition person the accidental to beryllium Cam Ward's champion person arsenic a information valve astatine choky end. Helm isn't going to supply explosive plays, but helium showed large hands and middle-of-the-field instincts astatine Texas. He finds brushed spots successful portion sum and is effectual staying live successful unscripted situations. He'll brace good with Ward successful this offense.

Jaylin Lane, WR/PR, Washington Commanders (No. 128): While Lane volition person a accidental to gain receiver snaps for Washington, what astir excites maine astir his aboriginal interaction is successful the kicking game. Lane is arguably the champion punt returner successful the draught class. Back successful 2021, helium averaged 15.5 yards per return, 2nd champion successful FBS. He's shifty and instinctive, and helium tin flat-out fly. Olamide Zaccheaus handled the highest fig of punt returns for the Commanders successful 2024 but signed with the Bears this offseason. Lane should assistance heap up hidden yards.

Robbie Ouzts, FB, Seattle Seahawks (No. 175): Ouzts did not spot the shot overmuch astatine Alabama (16 vocation catches), but helium is simply a rugged and versatile blocker. The Seahawks hired Klint Kubiak this offseason and volition trust overmuch much connected two-RB sets. Ouzts volition marque the determination to fullback and vie for that starting role. His operation of powerfulness astatine the constituent of onslaught and knowing of angles arsenic a tally blocker should let him to marque the presumption power comparatively seamlessly.

Brashard Smith, RB, Kansas City Chiefs (No. 228): There were respective late-round moving backs I could person chosen here, arsenic the exceptional extent of the people pushed galore of them down the board. Smith switched from wide receiver astatine Miami to moving backmost astatine SMU, which speaks to his unsocial versatility that should pb to schemed touches for him successful Kansas City. Smith is large aft the drawback and shows fantastic lateral agility and straight-line speed.

Defensive players

1. Carson Schwesinger, LB, Cleveland Browns (No. 33)

There is uncertainty surrounding Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah's wellness aft his neck injury past season, and that apt played a relation successful the Browns opening the 2nd circular with Schwesinger, whose question skills person immoderate shades of JOK. Schwesinger broke retired successful 2024, piling up 115 tackles and playing fantabulous coverage. His quality to transportation walk catchers up the mediate of the tract and find abstraction successful portion drops marque him an every-down subordinate for Cleveland.

2. Nick Emmanwori, S, Seattle Seahawks (No. 35)

Seahawks manager Mike Macdonald maximizes the endowment of safeties, and fewer safeties person entered the NFL with Emmanwori's carnal traits. The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder has 4.38 velocity and explosiveness. The Seahawks moving up the committee for him signals they judge Emmanwori tin acceptable successful determination from the jump. He surely has the velocity and scope to play halfway field, but I besides spot the size and physicality to play successful the container arsenic a "big nickel" safety/linebacker hybrid.

3. Will Johnson, CB, Arizona Cardinals (No. 47)

Man, what worth astatine No. 47, adjacent with the knee injury concerns. I really liked Johnson arsenic a acceptable astatine No. 16 for Arizona, fixed his accomplishment acceptable and the team's request astatine corner. Getting him successful Round 2 is adjacent better. Johnson has fantabulous shot skills and size, on with the instincts to thrive successful Arizona's zone-heavy scheme. The Cardinals played 61.0% of their sum snaps successful portion successful 2024.

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See wherefore Michigan's Will Johnson is simply a apical NFL draught prospect

Check retired highlights from Michigan CB Will Johnson aft he's selected by the Cardinals successful the 2025 NFL draft.

4. Demetrius Knight Jr., LB, Cincinnati Bengals (No. 49)

Cincinnati has worked to overhaul its defence this offseason and recovered a plug-and-play starter successful Knight, whose hard-hitting, carnal quality should bring an cognition accommodation to the Bengals' D. Knight finished his assemblage vocation astatine South Carolina and was astir the shot often. He had 3 forced fumbles, a brace of sacks and an interception past season. Remember, Germaine Pratt requested a trade, too, truthful determination could beryllium plentifulness of snaps connected the array for Knight.

5. Nick Martin, LB, San Francisco 49ers (No. 75)

The 49ers entered the draught with a request astatine 1 starting linebacker spot aft Dre Greenlaw near successful escaped agency, and Martin tin capable it. He lacks perfect size astatine 6-foot and 197 pounds, but helium makes up for it with electrical velocity and a fearless quality connected each snap. Martin showed morganatic pass-rush instincts successful 2023, too, with six sacks. And portion helium was injured for astir of 2024, his 140 tackles successful 2023 were the astir by immoderate Oklahoma State subordinate since 1984.

6. JT Tuimoloau, Edge, Indianapolis Colts (No. 45)

Regardless of wherever Tuimoloau ended up, I was ever going to consciousness truly bully astir his prospects of playing early. JTT was a three-year starter and four-year contributor astatine Ohio State, and helium displays terrific instincts, power, manus usage and detonation disconnected the edge. In Indy, I deliberation helium tin marque a existent interaction arsenic a walk rusher and tally defender. Tuimoloau had 12.5 sacks successful 2024, often looking his champion during the biggest moments.

7. Omarr Norman-Lott, DT, Kansas City Chiefs (No. 63)

Adding different antiaircraft tackle was a precedence for the Chiefs aboriginal successful this draft, considering they mislaid Tershawn Wharton successful escaped agency. Having different large assemblage connected the antiaircraft enactment tin marque beingness easier for Chris Jones. Norman-Lott is simply a standout walk rusher from inside, showing disruptive up-field unreserved skills that helped him to 9.5 sacks implicit the past 2 seasons. Playing adjacent to Jones should make plentifulness of one-on-one unreserved reps for him.

8. Nic Scourton, Edge, Carolina Panthers (No. 51)

I don't deliberation immoderate different borderline rusher successful this year's people takes his tally stuffing/edge mounting responsibilities arsenic pridefully arsenic Scourton. He's a heavy-handed, almighty and aggravated subordinate connected each azygous down. Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero volition spot Scourton successful immoderate concern fixed that dependability arsenic a tally defender and his pass-rush prowess. While his sack accumulation dipped successful 2024 (five), helium led the Big Ten successful sacks astatine Purdue successful 2023 (10). Scourton arrives successful Carolina with an precocious arsenal of unreserved tactics and tin lend close distant -- particularly since the squad cut Jadeveon Clowney.

9. Andrew Mukuba, S, Philadelphia Eagles (No. 64)

The Eagles' remodel of their secondary continued into the draft, arsenic they utilized the last prime of the 2nd circular connected the instinctive, pro-ready Mukuba. I emotion his shot IQ, and portion Mukuba has a smaller framework for a information (he was lone 186 pounds astatine the combine), helium packs a batch of powerfulness arsenic a carnal tackler. His versatility to play successful the slot a small spot should lone summation aboriginal playing time.

10. Jacob Parrish, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 84)

Tampa Bay doubled-dipped astatine cornerback connected Day 2, selecting Parrish successful Round 3 aft taking Benjamin Morrison successful Round 2. Parrish finished 64th connected my last board, and I judge helium tin construe his versatile crippled to the pro level. He played 395 snaps arsenic an extracurricular country and 201 snaps arsenic a slot country successful 2024. Parrish has premier velocity and susceptible shot skills, and helium is simply a precise skilled blitzer. That should radiance connected a Todd Bowles-coached team.

Three much to watch

Barryn Sorrell, Edge, Green Bay Packers (No. 124): The Packers were tied for the highest percent of snaps successful portion sum past play astatine 70.2%, but I deliberation antiaircraft coordinator Jeff Hafley wants much antheral coverage. He conscionable didn't person the close personnel. The champion mode to assistance corners successful antheral sum is having an impactful walk rush. Sorrel brings worth due to the fact that of his versatility, arsenic Texas did a precise bully occupation of letting him unreserved from aggregate alignments, including arsenic an interior rusher. That's a blueprint Green Bay tin follow.

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, DL, Minnesota Vikings (No. 139): Minnesota overhauled its antiaircraft enactment this offseason with a brace of big-ticket seasoned additions successful Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, truthful Ingram-Dawkins does not person a wide way to a ample role. But his versatility is key. Georgia played him successful aggregate spots on the antiaircraft front, and portion his sack accumulation was not robust, helium was a havoc wreaker with his length, burst and strength. Coordinator Brian Flores is among the astir innovative antiaircraft minds successful the league and volition propulsion retired immoderate wonky fronts that tin confuse quarterbacks. Ingram-Dawkins has the traits to beryllium a movable chess portion on the D-line arsenic extent successful Minnesota.

Jordan Phillips, DT, Miami Dolphins (No. 143): Phillips was a wrestler and weightlifter successful precocious school, and that shows up connected his tape. He is 1 of the astir carnal tally defenders successful the rookie people and plays with fantabulous leverage. Miami landed Kenneth Grant with its first-round pick, but Phillips volition besides assistance the Dolphins go overmuch much carnal and tougher connected the antiaircraft front.