NFL Rookie Rankings: DBs, Houston Texans Excel In Week One
Houston Texans, offensive linemen, and defensive backs highlight the first NFL Rookie Rankings here for the 2022 season.
The NFL season is back in full swing, and that means the NFL blogosphere is back with clip sharing, player evaluation, and so much more. It’s a great time of year, so be sure to take in all in and enjoy every second. Here at NFL Mocks, making its long-awaited return, is the NFL Rookie Rankings. It was clearly something that was enjoyed as a weekly staple, so we’re back to the long hours of rookie evals to put this list together.
So many rookies took the field in week one, all set out to get off to a strong start. The most notable of said starts came from a couple teams, the Seahawks and Texans. As expected, the defensive back class already looks strong, and that’s without a pair in Minnesota playing a snap. Some receivers shined, as did some offensive linemen. Let’s dive in to the first edition of the 2022 NFL Rookie Rankings with a top 25.
NFL Rookie Rankings, 1-10
1. Derek Stingley Jr., Texans
In a debut against the Colts where he wasn’t often targeted, Derek Stingley Jr. looked the part of why he was so highly touted as a freshman. His transitions coming back downhill in bail technique were smooth, and when he was tested, Stingley notched a PBU against Alec Pierce in the end zone. It will be interesting to see if he sticks in a lot of bail and off coverage going forward or we see some press reps mixed in.
2. Jahan Dotson, Commanders
A masterclass from Jahan Dotson in week one. Two touchdowns, including the game winner, were excellent. He won on a slant on the first score, stemming with patience and exploding off his plant foot to get separation. The game winner was more the catch than the double move, as his arrogant hands and quarterback-friendliness took over.
3. Drake London, Falcons
Start throwing those perceived separation concerns out the window (which weren’t really there). Drake London showed that he could get open in a variety of ways against the Saints. His whip route against Marshon Lattimore was good. He found soft spots in zone with good depth, and worked to open space after walling off defenders by stemming at them.
4. Abe Lucas, Seahawks
The air raid scheme concerns with Abe Lucas aren’t looking like concerns anymore. He looked fantastic in pass protection with his quick feet and active hands, and really got after it working linearly in the run game, flashing the power and angles needed to be a starting tackle.
5. Kenyon Green, Texans
Kenyon Green was nearly immovable in pass pro for the Texans, and put in some good reps against DeForest Buckner and the loaded Colts interior. His ability to drop his hips and anchor is very good, and he was a mauler in the run game as well.
6. Trent McDuffie, Chiefs
Trent McDuffie looked fluid in both man and zone coverage for the Chiefs, and sank well to depth in zone while reading out route concepts. It’s a shame he now heads to IR, but he’ll certainly be back in the NFL Rookie Rankings when he returns.
7. Ahmad Gardner, Jets
The tackling concerns are still there with Gardner, but he looked as good as advertised in coverage. He was physically disruptive and looked smooth transitioning. More important, his communication was sound when pre-snap motion and post-snap route combinations were in effect.
8. Nick Cross, Colts
Sometimes, rookies just fit in so well that you don’t know they’re rookies. That was the case with Nick Cross, who looked fundamentally sound in his run fits in the box as he did on the roof of the defense for Indianapolis.
9. Travon Walker, Jaguars
Charles Leno got the best of him for a while, but Walker did notch a sack on Sam Cosmi rushing from the other side, and his processing skills versus the screen game were impressive, notching a tackle for loss and a pick on said plays.
10. Jalen Pitre, Texans
A third Houston Texans rookie rounds out the top 10, as Jalen Pitre was great at running the alley and sifting through the trash in the run game, finishing with a few tackles. He’s going to be a good leader on this defense for a long time.