NFL Rookie Roundup: Best and Worst Week 1 Rook Performances

Tampa Bay WR Emeka Egbuka: We thought Egbuka was a steal even as he went 19th overall.  He didn’t take long to show what he can do as he put up a pair of receiving touchdowns in his NFL debut, including the game winner from Baker Mayfield with under a minute left in the game.

Washington RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Talk about an underdog success story.  Croskey-Merritt played just one game as a senior and wasn’t invited to any all-star games.  That is, until a last-second invite to the East-West Shrine game.  All he did there was show up late in the week and wind up being the best player on the field.  That got him drafted in the seventh round by Washington where he had an outstanding camp and debuted with 13 carries for 106 yards and a touchdown.

Carolina WR Tetairoa McMillan: Viewed by may as the top pass catcher in the class, McMillan had 5 catches for 68 despite the Panthers not being able to do very much on offense.

Indianapolis TE Tyler Warren: Warren led all rookie pass catchers with 76 yards through the air and looked good as a blocker as well.  None of this should come as a surprise to anyone who saw him play at Penn State.

Houston OT Aireontae Ersery: Quite the forgettable debut for Ersery who won a starting job out of camp but got beaten up pretty good in his debut.  His 29.4 pass blocking grade was the worst among all rookie linemen and he posted several reps in which he was essentially invisible.  It’s just one game, but boy was it a bad one for the rookie out of Minnesota.

Arizona CB Will Johnson: The draft’s top corner, Johnson earned PFF’s best coverage grade among rookies in week 1, but what his debut will be remembered for is nearly ending New Orleans wide receiver Chris Olave in the Saints backfield.

NY Giants edge Abdul Carter: Carter wasted no time showing what  a menace he’s going to be for opposing offenses.  In his NFL debut he picked up 4 pressures and a sack against one of the leagues most mobile quarterbacks in Jayden Daniels.

Dallas DT Jay Toia: A 325 lb tackle who was brought in to stuff the run, Toia was highly ineffective in the leagues first game of the season against Philadelphia.  Tough assignment for a rookie, so we’ll see how he bounces back.

Tennessee QB Cam Ward: If you go back and watch his actual performance, Ward delivered multiple perfect passes down the field that went right through the hands of his receivers.  Box score bad, real life good.

Atlanta S Xavier Watts: Watts made a couple of big plays in Atlanta’s loss, looking comfortable in  a pro secondary and picking up a pair of PBUs.

Cleveland LB Carson Schwesinger: The athletic Schwesinger looked very good in coverage and had a total of six tackles.  Look for a big year out of Schwesinger who is playing behind one of the best defensive lines in football.