NFL Rookie Report: Denzel Boston breaks out as Carnell Tate searches for a spark

Through the first two weeks of the 2026 NFL season, the draft class has put forth some impressive contributions. This is despite top pick Fernando Mendoza waiting for his opportunity on the sidelines, and top offensive draft picks Jeremiyah Love and Carnell Tate yet to make an explosive impact.

We saw third-round pick Antonio Williams take home the Pepsi Rookie of the Week award after his clutch Week 1 performance.

Which rookies came up clutch in Week 2?

In this Week 2 edition of the NFL Rookie Report, we delve into Denzel Boston's breakout performance, highlight five rookies who caught our attention, check in on whose stock is rising and falling, and identify one top pick who needs to make his presence felt in Week 3.

Rookie of the Week: Denzel Boston delivers his breakout moment

The Browns quarterback situation continues to grab the headlines in Cleveland. While a win temporarily silenced the noise, expect the play of Deshaun Watson to be a major storyline, win or lose.

Well, they won in Week 2, and it was due in part to the play of second-round pick Denzel Boston.

Given his performance at Washington in 2025, it is not shocking that Boston is making plays. After his draft stock dipped just a little, the 6-foot-4, 215-pound wide receiver is making his presence known down the field.

In earning a Rookie of the Week nomination, Boston followed a 2-catch, 59-yard performance with an eye-opening showing against the Buccaneers. The rookie hauled in 5 catches for 95 yards, including this 55-yard touchdown to tie the game.

The catch-and-run touchdown didn’t just show how physical of a wide receiver Boston is, it also showed his ability to break away from defenders, much to the appreciation of his quarterback.

"Boston is a heck of a player, a young guy that keeps improving each week," Watson said following the game.

While Boston is just one component of the offensive talent the Browns have surrounding Watson or whoever is at quarterback, he is an X-factor in this Browns offense because of the big-play potential he displayed above. With fellow rookie wide receiver KC Concepcion doing his thing, along with the performance of rookie O-line duo Spencer Fano and Austin Barber, the Browns draft class looks legit.

As Boston continues to grow in the offense, he looks like an NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate.

Actually, after Week 2, he’s a frontrunner.

Rookies who caught our attention

Josiah Trotter, LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Our Week 1 Rookie Defensive DNA spotlight followed up an impressive NFL debut with another strong performance in Week 2. Trotter was again the bright spot in the Buccaneers’ 23-19 loss to the Cleveland Browns.

Like in Week 1, Trotter was a tackling machine with 13 total tackles in the game. The performance earned him an NFL Rookie of the Week nomination.

With veteran linebacker Alex Anzalone struggling to start the season, the rookie looks ready for a more prominent role as an every-down linebacker.

Gabe Jacas, LB, New England Patriots

Another linebacker who made noise and caught our attention in Week 2 was New England Patriots second-round pick Gabe Jacas.

Following offseason contract disputes that led him to miss all the team’s spring practices, Jacas’ production to start his NFL career has been impressive. He recorded his first sack in Week 1 vs. the Seattle Seahawks and followed up that performance with 3 tackles, a quarterback hit and an interception in the team’s 20-3 win over the Steelers.

With Dre’Mont Jones suffering an injury in that game, it looks like there will be an increased opportunity for the edge rusher out of Illinois.

Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers are off to an 0-2 start, but there was a bright spot, and his name is Akheem Mesidor.

The first-round pick showed what made him one of the top edge rushers in the draft with a solid performance against the Raiders. In the game, Mesidor recorded two sacks and four quarterback pressures.

If the Chargers are to get back on track, they may need to depend on their defense to keep them in games. Mesidor becoming a dominant component of that defense will be a great boost.

Austin Barber, OG, Cleveland Browns

A big part of the Browns’ upset win over the Buccaneers was their offensive line play.

We know about top pick Spencer Fano, but the Browns have another young offensive lineman to build around in Austin Barber. In stepping into the starting right guard role, Barber has been impressive in the interior of the line.

He allowed zero pressures in Week 2 and is looking like the future at the position for a Browns team that was desperate to rebuild the offensive line going into the draft.

They got two very good ones in Barber and Fano.

Gracen Halton, DT, San Francisco 49ers

A favorite here at NFL Mocks, 49ers rookie Gracen Halton was impressive in Week 2.

As an interior defender, Halton made his presence known against the Miami Dolphins with 5 tackles, 3 quarterback pressures and 3 run stuffs.

Along with Romello Height, the 49ers are leaning on their young rookies to make an impact in Year 1. They are doing just that, and Halton looks like he is going to be a mid-round find.

Rookie stock watch

Stock up: Raiders rookie Hezekiah Masses is a big reason why the team is 2-0 to start the season.

A Week 2 Rookie of the Week nominee, the fifth-round pick out of California racked up 5 tackles, 2 passes defensed and two interceptions in the 26-14 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.

Stepping in for Darien Porter, Masses not only came up big, but gives the Raiders another cornerback they can rely on. With Masses’ emergence, the Raiders have a young group of corners in the secondary to build with.

Stock up: Zakee Wheatley made the most of his opportunity in Week 2. The fifth-round pick out of Penn State had a memorable debut.

In his first NFL snap, Wheatley forced a fumble in the team’s 34-3 blowout victory over the Atlanta Falcons. With 5 total tackles to go along with the forced fumble, Wheatley scored a PFF 93.7 overall defensive grade and should earn more snaps due to his versatility and high IQ as a secondary defender.

Stock down: We are still waiting for an explosive big play from Carnell Tate.

It’s only been 2 games, but the No. 4 overall pick has been relatively quiet, including Week 2, in which he caught 3 passes on just 5 targets for 27 receiving yards.

If the Titans’ offense is to get on track and be more consistent, they need to get their top rookie more in the mix. Maybe it will take one of those explosive plays we’ve seen at Ohio State to get the exciting wide receiver going.

Day 3 steal: Jonah Coleman is already rewarding the Broncos

Following his performance in 2025 at the college level, it wasn’t hard to identify rookie running back Jonah Coleman as a Day 3 steal for the Denver Broncos.

Selected with the 108th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Coleman was brought in to be the third running back behind J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey. Injuries to both increased Coleman’s playing time in the second week of the season, and he stepped up.

With 58 total yards in the game, along with his first career NFL touchdown and go-ahead touchdown, Coleman is living up to the hype and earned an NFL Rookie of the Week nod for his performance. He also earned praise from Broncos head coach Sean Payton.

“He played well,” Payton said following the game, via the team’s official website. “…he came up big and we needed it.”

Rookie to watch: Is Week 3 Rueben Bain Jr.'s breakout game?

There are several 0-2 teams that need a boost to get into the win column in Week 3.

The Buccaneers host the Minnesota Vikings and need their top rookie, Rueben Bain Jr., to have an explosive game to complement Trotter on the defensive side of the ball.

So far, he has been quiet to start his NFL career, and going up against a good Vikings offensive line will be a challenge. But Bain Jr. has the explosiveness to make an impact on the field consistently and make any offensive line squirm.

However, he has not found his comfort or his niche yet in the Buccaneers’ defense. With the way Trotter is playing, if he does, it could help turn the season around very quickly.

Look for Bain Jr. to record his first sack in Week 3.

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