It’s check-in time for the 2015 first-round rookies. Yep, that’s right—we’re going to delve into each and every one of the first 32 picks to tell you how much they’ve played and, more importantly, how well they’ve performed.
1. Jameis Winston, QB, Buccaneers
Snaps: 201
Grade: -4.0
Summary: His grade doesn’t really tell the story of the player he is. He was bad against the Titans in Week 1, but has settled down and looked the part the past two weeks. Winston is trending very much in the right direction.
2. Marcus Mariota, QB, Titans
Snaps: 210
Grade: -1.0
Summary: Mariota looked out of his element against Cleveland, but that performance has been sandwiched by two more accomplished efforts. He needs to play a little better against the blitz, but all in all, a very good start for the former Oregon Duck.
3. Dante Fowler, DE, Jagaurs
Snaps: n/a
Grade: n/a
Summary: Fowler will miss the entire season due to injury.
4. Amari Cooper, WR, Raiders
Snaps: 176
Grade: -1.7
Summary: Cooper dropped just eight passes in his 2014 collegiate season, so it’s surprising to see him averaging a drop per game with the Raiders. Back-to-back 100-yard games, though, show his potential, as does forcing seven missed tackles. That’s the second-most of all wide receivers.
5. Brandon Scherff, OG, Redskins
Snaps: 228
Grade: -3.2
Summary: Scherff hasn't missed a snap this season, but also hasn’t taken the league by storm like the 2014 rookie group of guards. He is struggling in pass protection, where he has already allowed five hurries.
6. Leonard Williams, DE, Jets
Snaps: 163
Grade: +2.2
Summary: Williams is taking advantage of Sheldon Richardson’s suspension to log a lot of playing time. That may decrease when Richardson returns, but Williams has made a case to still log plenty of action, especially with an impressive pass-rushing effort against the Eagles.
7. Kevin White, WR, Bears
Snaps: n/a
Grade: n/a
Summary: Is on the reserve/PUP list.
8. Vic Beasley, DE, Falcons
Snaps: 128
Grade: +1.1
Summary: All things considered, it's been a good start for Beasley. He hasn’t delivered much in the running game, but has flashed his pass-rush potential, despite going up against two of the top tackles in the game in the shape of Jason Peters and Tyron Smith. Beasley did perform well against the man picked right after him.
9. Ereck Flowers, T, Giants
Snaps: 102
Grade: -9.3
Summary: It was never the plan to plug and play Flowers at left tackle, but the injury to Will Beatty really put him in a position to be exposed—and exposed, he has been. Three penalties and an inability to stop rookie rushers Beasley or Randy Gregory turning the corner on him means the only thing saving this grade from being worse is that injury has forced him from the field.
10. Todd Gurley, RB, Rams
Snaps: 14
Grade: –0.7
Summary: Gurley saw his first action against the Steelers in Week 3, but his six rush attempts for 9 yards are hardly enough to pass any kind of judgment on.
11. Trae Waynes, CB, Vikings
Snaps: 42
Grade: +2.3
Summary: Waynes played poorly in preseason, so it was no surprise he wasn’t on the field in Week 1 or Week 2. Then injury meant he had fill in, and to the surprise of most, he delivered a quality performance, allowing just four of nine targets to be completed into his coverage.
12. Danny Shelton, NT, Browns
Snaps: 123
Grade: -2.1
Summary: Shelton has found life in the NFL much tougher than college. He has performed poorly as a pass rusher, and posted inconsistent production in the run game, though it should be noted he looked much better against Oakland in this regard.
13. Andrus Peat, T, Saints
Snaps: 15
Grade: 0.0
Summary: Barring injury or masses of garbage time, Peat is going to fill the role of sixth lineman, and nothing more.
14. DeVante Parker, WR, Dolphins
Snaps: 60
Grade: -0.5
Summary: After missing many of the offseason activities with an injury, Parker is starting to see more of the field. Garbage time saw him record three receptions against the Bills, but it will be how he performs in the coming weeks that really lets us delve into a player who was the most productive (by yards per route run) collegiate receiver against Power-5 opposition last year.
15. Melvin Gordon, RB, Chargers
Snaps: 92
Grade: +1.8
Summary: Gordon forced a healthy nine broken tackles, but his fumble still is a big red mark on him early in his career. He certainly looks dangerous, but we feel (or hope) the best is yet to come.
16. Kevin Johnson, CB, Texans
Snaps: 124
Grade: +0.4
Summary: Johnson doesn’t look like an every-down role is in his future, but he's still seeing plenty of action in the Texans' sub-package defense. He's coping well so far, though he did get beat for a touchdown in Week 3.
17. Arik Armstead, DE, 49ers
Snaps: 44
Grade: +0.9
Summary: After being buried on the depth chart in preseason, Armstead is starting to see some action as the season takes shape. He provided some pressure when he got on the field against Arizona, and while it was only a small sample size, it might propel him into more playing time.
18. Marcus Peters, CB, Chiefs
Snaps: 214
Grade: +2.2
Summary: Only Stephon Gilmore has been targeted more, but in the face of these relentless attacks, Peters can console himself with the knowledge that he’s won more battles than lost. Sure, he’s been beaten for more touchdowns than any other cornerback (four), but he ties the position for most picks (two) and leads it in pass breakups (six).
19. Cameron Erving, OL, Browns
Snaps: 12
Grade: -0.6
Summary: Move along, nothing to see here. Much like Andrus Peat, it feels like only injury will get Erving into the lineup. Erving is most definitely one for the future.
20. Nelson Agholor, WR, Eagles
Snaps: 174
Grade: -5.2
Summary: 2015 has not gone well for Agholor. He’s caught just four of seven targets, and has the fourth-lowest grade of all wide receivers. Has too much been asked of him too soon?
21. Cedric Ogbuehi, T, Bengals
Snaps: n/a
Grade: n/a
Summary: On the reserve/NFI list.
22. Bud Dupree, OLB, Steelers
Snaps: 100
Grade: -3.5
Summary: Two sacks really don’t tell the story with Dupree. He’s been extremely quiet, relative to the amount of playing time he’s had.
23. Shane Ray, OLB, Broncos
Snaps: 46
Grade: +0.3
Summary: Ray is really going to struggle for playing time with the options the Broncos have rushing the passer, so it’s good to see him making his snaps count (as he did against Detroit).
24. D.J. Humphries, OT, Cardinals
Snaps: 0
Grade: n/a
Summary: Humphries isn't hurt, just deemed not ready for the big leagues. Seems unlikely to take the field, barring significant injuries, with him third on the Cardinals' depth chart at right tackle.
25. Shaq Thompson, LB, Panthers
Snaps: 101
Grade: +3.7
Summary: We had some concerns about this pick, but so far, it’s panning out very nicely. Making an immediate contribution as a sub package contributor, Thompson has not looked out of place when teams have run at him.
26. Breshad Perriman, WR, Ravens
Snaps: n/a
Grade: n/a
Summary: Remains on the sidelines after re-injuring himself warming up against Bengals.
27. Byron Jones, CB, Cowboys
Snaps: 70
Grade: +1.6
Summary: Jones spent most of his time inside, either at slot cornerback or playing like a linebacker. The experiment has gone relatively well.
28. Laken Tomlinson, OG, Lions
Snaps: 108
Grade: -5.8
Summary: Tomlinson started in Week 1, but his problems in the running game mean his playing time now is more dictated by the injury to others than his own play. He's really struggling in the running game, as the Lions' offensive line tries to get itself to shape up.
29. Phillip Dorsett, WR, Colts
Snaps: 45
Grade: +1.1
Summary: Dorsett just isn’t a big enough part of the Colts game plan right now. The former Miami Hurricane caught just five passes, but one was a touchdown, and that might be his limit as a rookie. Low target numbers, high target to touchdown ratio.
30. Damarious Randall, CB, Packers
Snaps: 130
Grade: +1.6
Summary: The scheme of the opposition will likely dictate how much he plays, but the team must be happy that the rookie is holding his own so far with just four catches allowed on 15 balls thrown into his coverage.
31. Stephone Anthony, LB, Saints
Snaps: 193
Grade: -5.4
Summary: The NFC South is a world away from the ACC for Anthony. His five missed tackles are too many, but his big problems are coming in coverage, where he’s already been beaten for two touchdowns.
32. Malcom Brown, DT, Patriots
Snaps: 69
Grade: -5.7
Summary: The Patriots aren’t shy about throwing rookies into the firing line. They’re also not shy about taking them out when their play is not up to scratch. Brown has earned negative grades in each of his regular season games, proving somewhat ineffective against the run.
© 2024 PFF - all rights reserved.