With Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season kicking off on Thursday NFL Mocks predicts which players from the 2025 NFL Draft class will stand out when the dust settles at the end of the season.
Starting with 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year and 2025 Defensive Rookie of the Year, here are our predictions of which players will stand out as the elite of the rookie class.
NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year
NFL Mocks Pick: Tyler Warren, TE, Indianapolis Colts
After CJ Stroud and Jayden Daniels took home the award the last two seasons, a non-quarterback will take the node in 2025. No shade to Cam Ward, but there will be some notable playmakers who will impact the league in Year 1 of their NFL careers. Besides Ward, the favorites are Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty and Jacksonville Jaguars two-way talent Travis Hunter who will start the season as a starting wide receiver, but the prediction here is that a tight end finally takes home the prize. That player is Indianapolis Colts rookie Tyler Warren.
As the second tight end off the board, look for Warren to play a huge role in the Colts’ offense in 2025. In making this prediction, it is his versatility and the mismatch he causes in the passing game that will propel him to have similar rookie seasons as Sam LaPorta in 2023 and Brock Bowers in 2024. He will be somewhere between those two as far as production. Like Bowers, Warren will enter the league with some uncertainly at the QB position. But whether it is Daniel Jones (who will start the season) or Anthony Richardson, expect Warren to be a huge part of the offense and remind Colts fans of the days of Dallas Clark.
NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year
NFL Mocks Pick: Will Johnson, CB, Arizona Cardinals
The easy pick is New York Giants edge rusher Abdul Carter, but let’s go out on a limb is predict a player selected on Day 2 will have the biggest impact for their team. Don’t get me wrong, Carter will make an impact, but Johnson is in position to emerge as the Cardinals top cornerback and given his talent and the chip he has on his shoulder after falling out of the first round, the NFL version of Johnson will be the player projected as a top 10 pick prior to injury concerns.
Rookie running back to watch
NFL Mocks pick: TreVeyon Henderson, RB, New England Patriots
The Patriots second-round pick will make the biggest splash for the team in 2025. Jeanty will get all the buzz, but the dual-threat ability of TreVeyon Henderson will give the Patriots an explosive weapon they have been missing over the last few seasons. With offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels back in the mix, a back like Henderson should flourish in both the run game and passing game. He will be a big weapon for Drake Maye but will also challenge Rhamondre Stevenson for the lead back role as the season moves forward.
THE FIRST TIME HE TOUCHED THE BALL IN THE NFL!!!!@TreVeyonH4 | @NFL
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) August 8, 2025
📺: WBZ pic.twitter.com/NcT2a635nx
While Henderson won’t rush for 1,000 yards, he’ll total well over that in yards from scrimmage which will put him in the mix.
Rookie wide receiver to watch
NFL Mocks pick: Matthew Golden, WR, Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers fans won’t get tired of seeing Matthew Golden do the Lambeau leap. A solid route runner with blazing speed, the Jordan Love to Golden connection will grow as the season moves forward. With Christian Watson still recovering from a season-ending ACL injury, Golden will have every opportunity to shine with the Packers. He’ll come close to a 1,000-yard season in receiving yards. He will also have a couple of kickoff returns that will make the highlight reel.
Rookie offensive lineman to watch
NFL Mocks Pick: Will Campbell, LT, New England Patriots
There will be some great performances from rookie offensive lineman throughout the league, but Patriots left tackle Will Campbell will have the most to prove given the big deal that was made about his arm length pre-draft. The LSU product will go through rookie woes to start the season, but he will grow to be a solid blind side protector of Drake Maye. Where Campbell will really flourish will be in the running game and out in space. He showcased a bit of that in the preseason.
Top rookie defender not named Abdul Carter
NFL Mocks Pick: Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Dallas Cowboys
Selected in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Cowboys rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku will be leaned upon to help fill the void left by Micah Parsons. After terrorizing ACC quarterbacks, the Boston College product is hungry and prepared to make his mark in the NFL. By the middle of the season, Cowboys fans just may be saying “Micah Parsons who.”