Top 10 NFL rookie performances of Week 1: Emeka Egbuka & Cleveland Browns duo excel

Week 1 of the NFL season is in the books, and we already have some standout rookie performances. First-round picks like Emeka Egbuka impressed immediately, while late-round selections such as Jacory Croskey-Merritt are proving they were complete steals in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Top 10 rookie performances – Week 1

1. Emeka Egbuka, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa Bay’s first-round pick Emeka Egbuka showed why Ohio State keeps producing elite NFL receivers. In his debut, he hauled in four passes for 67 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning 25-yard grab in the back of the end zone with just 59 seconds left. Egbuka also became only the second player since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger to score a game-winning touchdown in the final minute or overtime of his first career game.

2. Will Johnson, CB, Arizona Cardinals

I said in my 2025 NFL Draft recap that Arizona landed the best value pick of the second round at No. 47, and Johnson wasted no time backing it up. The rookie corner from Michigan earned a 90.2 Pro Football Focus grade in his debut against the Saints, breaking up two passes and looking like he already belongs among the league’s top defensive backs.

3. Carson Schwesinger, LB, Cleveland Browns

One of Carson Schwesinger’s biggest strengths coming out of UCLA was his instincts, and they were on full display in his NFL debut against Cincinnati. The Browns rookie finished with eight tackles and a tackle for loss, highlighted by a clutch stop on Chase Brown for a five-yard loss late in the fourth quarter. 

4. Tyler Warren, TE, Indianapolis Colts

The Colts’ first-round pick Tyler Warren made an immediate impact, leading all NFL tight ends in Week 1 with 76 receiving yards. Pro Football Focus even graded him as the league’s top rookie performer. While he lands a little lower on this list, Warren flashed the potential to have a Brock Bowers-type impact this season. Against Miami, he consistently created separation and hauled in two chunk plays of 15-plus yards, showing he can be a true downfield threat.

5. Jihaad Campbell, LB, Philadelphia Eagles

In the NFL’s opening game, rookie linebacker Jihaad Campbell quickly stood out for the Eagles. His biggest impact came in coverage, breaking up a pass and allowing just one completion all night. That catch went for a loss of three yards. Those coverage skills are exactly why Bleacher Report ranked him the top coverage linebacker in the 2025 NFL Draft.

6. Xavier Watts, S, Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta’s third-round pick Xavier Watts entered the league with a reputation as one of college football’s premier ballhawks, leading the nation with seven interceptions in 2023 and adding five more in 2024. In his debut against Tampa Bay, he nearly came down with a pair of picks and finished with two pass breakups. Early signs point to Watts being one of the steals of the 2025 draft.

7. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Washington Commanders

Washington’s seventh-round pick Jacory Croskey-Merritt made history on Sunday, becoming the first player drafted outside the top 200 to rush for 75+ yards and score a touchdown in his debut. Against the Giants, he showed his breakaway speed with three runs of 10-plus yards on just 10 carries, including a 42-yard burst in the fourth quarter. Croskey-Merritt already looks like a late-round steal.

8. Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Carolina Panthers

Carolina’s passing attack sputtered against Jacksonville, but first-round pick Tetairoa McMillan was one of the few bright spots. He caught five passes for 68 yards, averaging 13.6 yards per reception and providing the Panthers’ only consistent spark through the air. If Bryce Young continues to struggle, don’t be surprised if a quarterback like John Mateer is the one throwing to McMillan next season.

9. Armand Membou, OT, New York Jets

Missouri’s Armand Membou entered the NFL hailed as the top run blocker in the 2025 draft by Bleacher Report, and he delivered in his debut against Pittsburgh. He earned a 90.3 PFF run-blocking grade, second-best among all NFL tackles that week, while facing a stout Steelers front that included TJ Watt. Membou also excelled in pass protection, allowing zero pressures on the day.

10. Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Cleveland Browns

Harold Fannin Jr. enters the NFL as the most productive tight end in FBS history, finishing 2024 with 117 receptions for 1,555 yards, both single-season records. He carried that production into his NFL debut, catching seven passes for 63 yards in Cleveland’s narrow loss to Cincinnati. Fannin also showcased his versatility, lining up at tight end, fullback, and even wildcat quarterback. He’s a reminder that elite college production can sometimes outweigh measurables.