In continuing with the most important rookies of the 2025 NFL season, expect a couple of quarterback competitions to spill over into the regular season as the situations in Cleveland and New Orleans are far from solved.
When will the Browns and Saints pull the trigger and go with their rookies? Those will be week-to-week questions for the fanbases of those two teams. Elsewhere, rookies in key spots could help their teams compete for division crowns.
Quick note: The players selected for this list are players drafted in the first three rounds of the draft
Here are NFL Mocks’ 50 most important rookies of 2025 (No. 45-41)
No. 45: Ozzy Trapilo – Chicago Bears (Selected Round 2, Pick 56, Boston College)
The Chicago Bears made moves to improve their offensive line in the offseason which included the selection of former Boston college offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo with the No. 56 overall pick in the draft.
A big tackle at 6-foot-8, 316 pounds, Trapilo did everything in training camp and the preseason to win a starting spot on the Bears’ offensive line. In showcasing his talent as a pass protector and aggressive style as a run blocker, Trapilo will start the season behind Darnell Wright, but if there are any signs of struggle, the Bears have a young player ready to step into the role and protect the blind side of Caleb Williams.
No. 44: Dillon Gabriel – Cleveland Browns (Selected Round 3, No. 94, Oregon)
The Cleveland Browns will go with veteran Joe Flacco to start the season, but if the offense gets off to a slow start, the Browns could pull the trigger and go with either of their two rookie quarterbacks who are second and third on the depth chart.
Third-round pick Dillon Gabriel is slotted to get the first shot if Flacco either shows his age or goes down with injury. In the preseason, the Oregon product was the more consistent quarterback showing off his ability to move the offense. Fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders looked both like a first-round pick and a player worth of late-round status in his appearances. These two are grouped together because either one of them popping in the Browns’ offense will say a lot as to what the team does in the 2026 NFL Draft where Cleveland will have two first round picks.
Can either of these first-year quarterbacks help solve the QB carousel in Cleveland or will 2026 be another year of multiple quarterbacks competing for the position again?
No. 43: Tyler Shough – New Orleans Saints (Selected Round 2, No. 40, Louisville)
The Saints surprised in the draft when they selected Tyler Shough with the No. 40 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. It turned out to be a smart move once Derek Carr announced his retirement, but was Shough the right QB to take?
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After competing and losing the starting QB competition to Spencer Rattler, Shough now sits and waits for his opportunity. That opportunity can come sooner rather than later as Rattler may have a short leash. Like the Gabriel, Sanders’ situation in Cleveland, the Saints will need to know what they have in Shough going into a 2026 NFL Draft that will be filled with quarterback talent. Even if Shough takes over the job, it will be smart for the Saints to select a QB, especially if they have a top pick in that draft. The importance of Shough is if he shows ability as a starter, he could be valuable trade bait for the Saints.
No. 42: RJ Harvey – Denver Broncos (Selected Round 2, No. 60, Central Florida)
The Broncos went into the 2025 NFL Draft looking for a high-quality running back to fit their offense and they got one with the selection of RJ Harvey with the No. 60 overall pick. The Central Florida product averaged 6.5 yards per carry over his career at CFU including back-to-back 1,400-yard rushing seasons. If he brings that production to the Broncos watch out!
After losing Javonte Williams in free agency, the Broncos did add bring in J.K. Dobbins to share the rock with Harvey. But it is Harvey who can help Bo Nix and the Broncos offense become more balanced with his dual-threat ability as a ball carrier and a pass catcher out of the backfield. With high expectations Harvey could help the Broncos be a major factor not only in the AFC West, but the entire AFC.
No. 41: Tate Ratledge – Detroit Lions (Selected Round 2, No. 57, Georgia)
One of the top guards entering the 2025 NFL Draft, Georgia product Tate Ratledge was selected into the perfect situation with the Detroit Lions. A three-year starter at right guard with the Bulldogs, Ratledge is a versatile interior offensive lineman who was drafted to help fill the void left by Kevin Zeitler.
While he did win the starting job at right guard, the Lions may look at Ratledge as a long-term solution at center. That is just how versatility and solid he has been so far through training camp and the preseason. As of now, he is a starting guard for a team with Super Bowl aspirations and an important part of an offense spearheaded by exciting running back Jahmr Gibbs and a QB in Jared Goeff who is highly effective when he has time to throw.